Urban Decay Cosmetics is still the same, Thank God!

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The French cosmetics giant has agreed to acquire Californian privately owned makeup company, Urban Decay Cosmetics LLC.  This was printed in 2012 and I am thankful L’Oreal has not changed the product ingredients.  And talking to my fellow MUA’s in the film industry they still have excellent reviews of the product! Let the reviews speak for themselves!

“Urban Decay is amazing. if you’re starting out I would buy the Urban Decay primer potion, a 24/7 eyeliner and a palette or just a couple of colors. there products all work extremely well and are very pigmented.”

“Yes, their eyeliners are amazing. They are high-quality and never smudge or fade from my eyelids. I love the colors, especially in the sets. However, if the quality wasn’t so good, I wouldn’t buy them because the price is so high.”

“They’re shadows are amazing! They all are so pretty and smooth, and they have billions of cool colors. I also like their colored mascaras (like in purple or blue) even though I only know one person who could pull them off, ME!”

Famous for cult favorites such as the much coveted Naked Palette, Urban Decay is well known for its “beauty with an edge” range of products that is popular among youthful, highly-involved cutting-edge consumers who are attracted by the fashion-forward image of the brand.  Currently, Urban Decay is available mostly in Sephora and through its online stores – but with this new development with L’Oreal, it is possible that the brand will be more accessible to the masses through multiple channels such as other brands under its wing such as Maybelline New York, and Lancome.  The closing is subject to regulatory approval, which is expected by the end of the year. What do you think of this new development? Excited to see if Urban Decay cosmetics would be more affordable now, or worried that the acquisition would affect the overall style of the brand that made it so appealing in the first place – not to mention their different practices in regards to animal testing?

This has been over a year now my friends, and the product is still the same. So they have no changed the ingredients of the cosmetic line at all. Urban Decay’s continued quality is put in question since UD is a department store brand, and for many people the first association they make with the name L’Oréal is the drugstore brand of hair products and cosmetics. However, L’Oréal is large corporation that owns many brands. Their portfolio actually includes more luxury brands such as Lancôme and YSL than what they term “consumer products,” which is where L’Oréal Paris falls. The fact that L’Oréal has such a diverse portfolio means that UD fans can rest easy when it comes to quality and the brand’s overall image, since L’Oréal’s acquisition history indicates that the company acquires brands because it can benefit from what the brand is already doing, as with The Body Shop’s 2006 acquisition, not to change the brand.  But now I can find it on the sales rack at ULTA.

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The matter of cruelty-free cosmetics is a trickier issue. While Urban Decay has committed to remaining cruelty-free despite the acquisition, can the same be said for all other brands in L’Oréal’s portfolio? The answer is complicated. Urban Decay’s website states that UD neither tests finished products on animals nor do they use raw materials that have been tested on animals. L’Oréal has not tested finished products on animals for 20 years, but the product ingredients have been tested on animals. This is not by L’Oréal’s choice: European Union regulations require ingredients to be tested on animals (L’Oréal is based in France). L’Oréal is also a big contributor to and a founding member of the European Partnership for Alternatives to Animal Testing (EPAA), an organization that aims to end mandatory animal testing by producing new testing methods that still ensure consumers’ safety.

So what will change for Urban Decay once the acquisition is final? On the surface, probably nothing. The brand will retain the same image and policies. But on a macro-level, buying Urban Decay will mean generating profit for L’Oréal, and L’Oréal is in a gray area when it comes to animal testing. On the one hand, L’Oréal appears committed to ending animal testing and supports an organization that is working towards this goal, but on the other hand it is impossible for L’Oréal to completely stop animal testing at the moment due to regulations.

The issue brings a sad connotation to the popular phrase: beauty is pain.

Beauty Industry Entrepreneurs, who supports them?

Beautiful Lies

You know what is amazing in my industry you can tell the “sheepple” the truth about their industry but they are still sheep. There are a lot of followers in my industry but the people I highlight in my film are true entrepreneurs. They are trying to make a difference within their profession. The manufacturers, so-called organizations, industry websites and magazines go ahead and advertise the (Icons) of the  beauty industry. Don’t get me wrong I love my craft, but the people they advertise as “Icons” are the ones who are doing the brain washing for the financial pyramid, within my industry. I always tell my friends or they ask me, Why do you make these films? There is no money in it!. Or I love this one, You will never make a name for yourself in this industry. I am not looking to be in an beauty industry magazine or website, etc. I follow my own path. God said to us all, “Follow the path less traveled”. And it is true, you have to be your own man or person in this world. And the main moral or value to this is, “Do what you feel is right”.  I have never been a follower in my life, I have my own business (Salon), and I enjoy writing and making Documentary’s.

I am not the best, but I learn from my prior mistakes and enjoy critics.

In my industry the major manufacturers sell to the commercial sector which is basically the consumer.. There was a time when all good hair care products, hair color, hair color treatments were done in the salon and sold only in the salon. This gave our profession more value more respect. But with the birth of the internet. Beauty manufacturers gave notice and realized that they could also sell their products and hair color to the world with little or no expense. Just build a web page and purchase a domain that has nothing to do with the parent company and sell and give next day delivery to the consumer. Little did they know how bad of a hurting they have done to my beauty industry.  Now in the year 2013 you can buy hair color, treatments and such on the internet. And these are the same products that are used in hair salons all over the United States. Yes even the hair color can be bought on the internet and delivered next day to the consumer. Even the keratin treatments can be bought on the internet. So as time went by little did they know (Major Manufacturers) were putting a hurting on my industry. The economy in the U.S is horrible now and clients will say to you I am living up north for a few months can I get my formula. And the hairdresser will give it to them, only to find out they never see them again. They now have the formula and can do it at home. So many professionals will give the manufacturer their loyalty, and there undivided devotion and purchase hair color, etc. from them.  But at the same time knowing the manufacturers make a hair color for the commercial sector to buy.  L’Oreal, Clairol, you name it. So where is the exclusive from the manufacturer to the salon owner or professional? Why would a salon professional buy from a manufacturer and basically they are competing for business with the manufacturer!

Where is the Manufacturer Loyalty?

There is none. And the sad thing about it is the so-called professionals will back up these manufacturers. They don’t realize that putting up a sign on the salon window from L’Oreal, Paul Mitchell, Clairol, that are giving the company free advertising. And they will carry these lines even though they are sold in the mass market. You are in competition with the manufacturer wake up everyone!

Some industry professionals make their own product lines, books, films, makeup etc. These entrepreneurs feel why not put the money in their own pockets instead of supporting the financial pyramid in the cosmetic industry. But it is hard for them to start-up. In an industry dominated by major manufacturers. The manufacturers can buy the movie stars,  do mass marketing etc. Which takes money, money, money. The entrepreneur will either formulate or private label the product line and then finish it. And hopefully will have the finances placed aside for marketing. A lot of entrepreneurs will do it in there local. Which will save on shipping for them.  Business is Business, I accept that. But in my beauty industry, magazines, websites, hair shows will go to the major manufacturers and have them buy advertising space, booth space at their hair shows at monumental prices. The magazines, websites, hair shows do that and charge them. Knowing they can pay that kind of money. The entrepreneur cannot do that.  And those funds sustain the beauty magazines, websites, hair shows. If they did not charge those fee’s they would not have their websites or magazine. Major manufacturers will also pay the magazines, and websites hair color or products’ in place of cash for their payment. The beauty industry magazine’s and websites will go ahead and sell those products’ online to get their money back for the advertising bought by the manufacturer. Believe in what I say soap in this industry is GOLD. An entrepreneur cannot do that so basically who is giving the small guy in the industry a bone? They learn to network together. They follow like-minded people and they blossom. Believe me not to the extent of the “Big Boys”. Because the major manufacturers will keep an eye on them!

Should we not be advertising the new in my professional or keep up feeding the Major Manufacturers who place chemical that are harmful in out products. They are kings of deceptive marketing. And they know how to stretch the law. No worry’s for them. If they get fined by OSHA, or the FDA. It will not even be penny’s to them.  So where does the little guy come in? They cannot afford the fee’s for advertising in an industry magazine on a consistent basis, hair show fee’s are huge, and industry websites only back the big boys on the beauty/ cosmetic industry. Rolling out a spread in an industry magazine for a few months can be the total amount of finances an entrepreneur has for the year. The entrepreneur is done after that. Time to hit the pavement and go door to door.

It’s all a big money pit for everyone except for the little guy (Entrepreneur) in the beauty industry.  They have to tooth and claw for what little they have in my industry.  God forbid you piss off the Big Boys they will stop financing the magazines and hair shows. Then what will we have, I can tell you a true beauty industry. Forget about it. It’s a money pyramid, not even the beauty industry’s so-called organizations could even have the slightest clue. If you look at the PBA most of the board are from manufacturers.  There too busy buying up hair shows and asking for financial help from the Big Boys so they can sustain themselves. They should teach in beauty school how to be your own man. The  entrepreneurs are scattering for the meager pieces of cheese that drop down from the top. And the sad thing about this is the industry professionals are the sheeple in an industry that rapes them each and everyday! They are mere salesmen and women for the Big Boys.

Ask yourself, “Who really is the ASSHOLE, the Manufacturer, Website or Industry magazine.  Who advertise these Big Boys who are sticking it up your ASS each and everyday.

Or is it the Asshole who makes the films to let you know who really is concerned about you.

So tell me who is really the asshole here.?

God forbid we stand up for the right things in our profession.

Best Regards Joseph Kellner