Nail

SAN FRANCISCO — Slice, a maker of cutting tools for home, school, office and industry, has announced that it will debut at the upcoming Cosmoprof North America in Las Vegas a line of new beauty tools designed by architect and designer Michael Graves.
 
The initial 12 designs are the result of a two-year collaboration between Slice and Graves, and include six different models of tweezers, nail scissors, cuticle scissors, fingernail clippers, toenail clippers, a ceramic nail file and cosmetic pencil sharpener.
 

PORT WASHINGTON, N.Y. — Total sales of prestige makeup experienced healthy gains during the first five months of the year, thanks to trends in dramatic eyes, soft lip shades and bold and bright nail colors, according to new beauty market research by NPD.

Year-to-date — January through May — total prestige makeup sales increased by 9% to $1.4 billion in U.S. department stores, according to the market research company. For the month of May alone, makeup posted its strongest dollar performance (+11%) in the last three years.

Nail color continues to be a rock star in the beauty aisle, as many women have forgone the pricey salon and embraced the do-it-yourself trend, and as manufacturers increasingly launch innovative nail products.


“Lending a strong hand to the success of the makeup category was nail polishes, which [were] up by 20.4% in 2010 due to new product activity ad­apted to achieving at-home salon results and easy application,” consulting and research firm Kline & Co. recently stated in its Cosmetics & Toiletries USA 2010 report.


SUPPLIER NEWS — The Mentholatum Co. has updated the packaging of its lip care line Softlips to include a new logo and graphics, although the company retained Softlips’ signature slender sticks and the light flavors/formulas. The company also has kicked off a new marketing campaign called “Softlips. So You.”



NEW YORK — Nail treatment company Nutra Nail has announced the launch of two new products — Instant Smudge Repair and Flex-Shield nail hardener.

Nutra Nail Instant Smudge Repair brushes away smudged, nicked, smeared or dented polish. Just brush over the manicure mishap and instantly restore polish to a smooth, shiny finish without removal or reapplication of polish, the company stated.

SEATTLE — Consumers now can purchase Butter London products, including nail lacquers, nail treatments and pedicure essentials, in all 390 Ulta stores nationwide, the manufacturer has announced.

Founded in 2005, Butter London's lacquers are inspired by runway trends, Great Britain and rock and roll. The products are formulated without the use of such harmful ingredients as formaldehyde, toluene, dibutyl phthalate and parabens.

SUPPLIER NEWS — OPI is launching a new
limited-edition nail lacquer collection based on the
“Pirates of the Caribbean” film franchise. In line with the premiere of the franchise’s latest film, “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides,” OPI has developed six new nail lacquers, including a new Shatter polish, which leaves behind a crackled, two-texture silver finish when painted over any dry OPI hue. The collection will be available in May at professional salons and at such retailers as Ulta for $8.50 each.

NEW YORK — New swashbuckling colors are on the horizon as OPI gears up to launch a new, limited-edition nail lacquer collection based on the "Pirates of the Caribbean" film franchise.

In line with the premiere of the franchise's latest film, "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides," OPI has developed six new nail lacquers, including a new Shatter polish, which leaves behind a crackled, two-texture silver finish when painted over any dry OPI hue.

The limited edition line includes: