Archive: October 2010

Jordin Sparks to Launch Her First Fragrance

Ben Hider/Getty

She may be headlining one of Broadway’s most popular shows, but In the Heights star and American Idol winner Jordin Sparks had practicality in mind when creating her first scent, Because of You. “When I was starting this project, I really wanted it to be affordable,” she tells WWD. “I looked at some other celebrity fragrances, and they were like $80. Even now, I look at a fragrance that’s $80, and I can’t bring myself to spend that much,” Sparks explains. “In this economy especially, my fans deserve a high-quality, reasonably priced scent.” Set to hit counters next week, Because of You will retail at an introductory price of $9.50 for a 2.5-oz. bottle before jumping to $14.95 on Nov. 1. The “fruity floriental” scent has top notes of clementine, white imperial currant and orange blossom; a heart of nectarine, sharry baby orchid and coral charm peony, and an undertone of sheer musks. “I wanted it to transfer easily from day to night,” Sparks tells WWD. And while this may be her first foray into fragrance, Jordin has big beauty plans in mind for the future, hoping to eventually do color cosmetics and skin care. In the meantime, fans can look forward to picking up Because of You at dots.com or Dots stores next week, before it hits Target stores in early November! –- Hana Choi

• Beauty,
• Celebrity Fragrances

Think Pink! Estée Lauder Breaks a World Record for Breast Cancer Awareness

Courtesy The Estée Lauder Companies

This morning, high above the hustle and bustle of Manhattan, British beauty Elizabeth Hurley joined forces with Evelyn H. Lauder, Sr. Corporate Vice President of Estée Lauder and Founder and Chairman of the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, to light up Rockefeller Center and the Empire State Building in shades of pink as part of a double effort to kick off Breast Cancer Awareness Month—and to break the Guinness World Record for “Most Landmarks Illuminated for a Cause in 24 Hours.” And it was mission accomplished for the glamorous duo, with Estée Lauder spokesmodel Hurley taking to her Twitter this morning to announce the good news. “Estee Lauder Companies has a Guinness World record! We’re thrilled. Great cause & great result. Thanks to everyone who helped xx,” she Tweeted. Estée Lauder began their Global Landmark Illumination Initiative in 2000 and have illuminated 534 landmarks since. But before the beauty giant could turn their brilliant pink dream into reality, 24 pre-approved landmarks had to be illuminated in pink for at least ten minutes in a 24-hour period. So the company set the bar even higher, securing 40 iconic landmarks around the world to light pink—including the Tokyo Tower in Japan, the Westerkerk in Amsterdam and N.Y.C.’s own Rockefeller Center. Estée Lauder kicked off this year’s initiative with the illumination of eight landmarks in Australia on Thursday and shined a light on N.Y.C. with this morning’s ceremony—instilling a very bright reminder of Breast Cancer Awareness. Find out more at bcrfcure.org. –Jessie Goldberg

Courtesy The Estée Lauder Companies

• Beauty

Lea Michele Models Semi-Topless for Marie Claire

Courtesy Marie Claire

If there’s one thing Lea Michele has learned from playing Glee‘s geek-chic misfit Rachel Berry, it’s that beauty comes from within. Starring on the cover of British Marie Claire in its November issue, the actress says the show has taught her to embrace her looks, flaws and all. “Glee has shown me that I am beautiful, no matter what I look like, what my weight is,” she says in the candid interview. Growing up in New Jersey, the 24-year-old admits she was never considered the most attractive girl at school, but the show has changed her attitude to beauty. “It doesn’t matter what you look like, beauty is on the inside,” she says with self-confidence. But doesn’t she get mad when the Glee scriptwriters make fun of her nose? It seems not. “You’ve got to laugh,” she says, although there is one matter of size she wants to clear up, once and for all. “They always talk about my boobs being too small and I’m like ok, let’s be real! Rachel does not have the smallest boobs in the club.” Of course, the actress is quick to point out that a small cleavage is nothing to be ashamed of, “but it’s not true!” Posing for the sexy photo shoot in a skimpy leotard and skyscraper heels in one shot and semi-topless in another, it’s clear to see that she’s a misfit no more. To hear more from Lea visit marieclaire.co.uk/leamichele or pick up an issue of British Marie Claire, on newsstands now. –Monique Jessen

Courtesy Marie Claire

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