Procter & Gamble says even skin tone, not facial symmetry, is key to perceived beauty

Procter & Gamble scientists said a new study has shown that even skin tone is more integral than facial symmetry to people's perceptions of beauty. That works out well for P&G, which is in the business of skin care, not plastic surgery, but it's interesting, nonetheless. The Daily Mail of the UK noted Halle Berry and Kate Winslet as "enduring" actresses who exemplify the good skin theory, and I remember Brad Pitt and Elizabeth Hurley being touted as celebrities with the best facial symmetry scores.

Skin care analysis tool that's not tied to a skin care brand

Electronics company Philips is coming out with a skin care analysis device that uses a video camera normally used for medical purposes to take close-up pictures of various parts of the face and then uses software to analyze the skin for four conditions: skin type, redness, sun damage and smoothness. The "Crystalize" machine then spits out a series of recommended products from a variety of price ranges based on your reading. This sounds good for a couple reasons - No. 1, it sounds more scientific than a department store sales person looking and touching your skin to figure out your needs, and No. 2, it's not tied to a specific skin care line, so it will recommend products from different brands. On the downside, it costs $90 and is only currently available at the Fred Segal store in Santa Monica, Calif. Crystalize is expected to be rolled out worldwide next year.

Good question at Estee Lauder shareholder meeting

Reuters reported a cute little tidbit from Friday's Estee Lauder shareholder meeting - a female shareholder asked Executive Chairman William Lauder why Clinique Long Last lipstick is so dry. He turned the question over to Clinique President Lynne Greene, who said she loves Long Last and that the dry formula actually imparts the long-lasting finish. Moments later, Senior Vice President Evelyn Lauder piggybacked on Greene's answer by saying that all long-lasting lipsticks are dry, and if it's bothersome to you, you should apply gloss on top of the lipstick or only if the middle of your bottom lip if you're over 40 (so that the gloss doesn't make the liptstick migrate into fine lines).

Hair product reviews from Ireland's Evening Herald

Ireland's Evening Herald reviewed several hair products, including Aussie Three-Minute Miracle: Frizz Remedy Deep Treatment and John Frieda Straight Fixation Smoothing Creme, which were praised for providing the reviewer with the look of salon blowout. In her negative review of both L’Oreal Elnett Very Volume Hair Spray and Garnier Fructis Bamboo Maxihold Hairspray, the reviewer said Kiehl's Climate Proof Shine Enhancing Non-Aerosol Spray was superior to both but difficult to find in Ireland. She was not impressed with Osmo Essence Color Mission Shampoo and Conditioner or John Frieda Spiral Style Curl-Defining Spray Gel, however.

Estee Lauder social-networking photos

According to Happi, Estee Lauder is offering its social-networking photo sessions all the time now. The article says, "With 'Your Beauty. Your Style. Your Profile' service, an Estee Lauder beauty adviser applies some of the brand’s latest makeup looks, takes a photo and even e-mails it to you so you can immediately upload it to your social network profile, cell phone or smart phone—all for free." I got my profile photo taken during an EL promotion in October, and it thankfully involved lots of good lighting, a professional photographer and most importantly, a software program called Portrait Professional. Honestly, I did not think the EL makeup artist did a very good job - my foundation was not even close to my normal skin tone, she did nothing to my brows, and it just seemed generally unfinished. That computer program was amazing though - it made my eyes bigger, took away wrinkles and made me tanner. They gave me a hard copy of my photo and then made me buy something in order to get the digital photo sent to my e-mail. I wonder if the everyday promotion that Happi refers to will be an ongoing thing. Without the Portrait Professional (which the photographer said is what People magazine uses), my experience with EL was not that great.

If you like Max Factor or Prescriptives, stock up

Procter & Gamble announced in June that it would stop distributing its Max Factor brand in the U.S. early in 2010, so if you have any Max Factor products you favor, stock up. On the same note, Estee Lauder announced that it will end wholesale distribution of its Prescriptives brand by Jan. 31, so those products will eventually peter out from cosmetic counters.

Neutrogena Web site offering free shipping on $25 purchase

If you use any Neutrogena skin care, check out the company's new holiday Web site. It's offering free shipping on orders over $25, 25 percent off of purchases of three or more products, and free samples with every purchase.

Tarte launching volumizing lip stains

Tarte Cosmetics is launching a line of volumizing lip stains in the spring, according to Happi. This sounds pretty cool because it seems the only options you have right now for lip-plumping cosmetics are lipsticks and glosses that can be sticky and are almost always shiny. I'm hoping these stains can bring the volume, while keeping the sheer, non-shiny look that make stains special.

Consumer Reports' review of antiwrinkle eye creams

Consumer Reports did an article on eye creams earlier this year that is now only available to subscribers. Luckily, The Washington Post reported on it today in a story titled "It's hard to see creams' value." Among the antiwrinkle creams deemed "worth a try" were Dr. Brandt Lineless Eye Cream and Olay Total Effects 7-in-1 Anti-Aging Booster Eye Transforming Cream. I was at Sephora over the weekend to look at the Dr. Brandt Lineless cream and was kind of dismayed that it does not have the special proprietary ingredient "hydroxyprolisilane CN" that's available in the Dr. Brandt Lineless cream for face. That ingredient could be too irritating to use near the eyes, but I didn't see anything in the Lineless eye cream that would seem to produce cumulative, corrective results, rather than just temporary, protective benefit. It sounds like none of the creams really knocked Consumer Reports' socks off.