Copy Cats are Nasty Folks

Ek. I've been on the phone a lot with our attorney. There happens to be quite a few copy cat companies out there who think it's perfectly OK to copy HELLA GOOD's products. I don't mean just create a competing product - I mean, literally take the words off the packaging and off the site and slap it on their products and site, and call it a day.

Uhm, hello?

The last time I went through this headache, the company's owner apologized after receiving her cease and desist letter and said she was "being lazy" - as if that is sufficient explanation as to why our bath scrubby's copy was verbatim on her similar product.

Not to be snarky (okay, a little snarky), but if a company is so lazy that they have to steal - yes, steal - someone else's creative ideas, then you really have to wonder what the quality of their products are like when they have so little integrity.

Infringing on our copyright creates confusion in the marketplace. Our customers see the copied product and think it's somehow related to us. They buy it (and it's not necessarily cheaper, either) and are dissatisfied by the overall quality. That's unfair to the customer and to us.

I urge you, if you happen to stumble across an obvious copy cat - oh, you'll know it when you see it - boycott their products and write them an email telling them that you don't support copyright infringement.

Posted in Random Musings_

Sephora's Marketing Campaign

Sephora spent $18,000 for a 250,000 coffee cup campaign to advertise their new store in NYC. The gimmick? Street vendors were handing New Yorkers their cups of coffees in a special cup with a printed pink lipstick smear near the mouth of the cup.

Personally, I would be grossed out, although I admittedly have a thing about seeing lipstick on a cup. Whenever I leave a lipstick mark, I immediately try to wipe it off. Only time will tell if this marketing campaign - "New York Pretty" - worked.

Posted in Random Musings_

BORBA Clarifying Chocolate Part 2

So, I wrote about this chocolate bar that is supposed to clear up your skin the other day. It is being sold exclusively at Nordstrom, but the information on how to use it (i.e. How often? How long before you see results? How many calories?) is missing from their site. I wrote Nordstrom to get some answers, and here is the email I received:

The bar is only to be used as a supplement with the Borba Skin
Balancing Water. When used with the Borba Skin Balancing  Water, it will
increase the effectiveness by 10%. The Bar will have no effect when used by
itself.

Each bar has 270 calories, it is recommended to consume one square each
day. Continuous use of this product will improve your skin's clarity.

There is no time span for usage. You may incorporate this into your
daily routine!

 Posted in Beauty Products_ 

My Letter to the Editor of Audrey Magazine

Have you ever heard of Audrey magazine? I hadn't until this past January. It's a glossy mag that's geared towards Asian American women. Being half-Asian, I really was intrigued by the magazine - and I ended up loving it! And, I had written to them to let them know what I thought.

Well, it turns out that in the June/July issue (on page 12) is my letter to the editor:

A friend recently loaned me her latest issue of Audrey magazine and I am ashamed to admit it, but I almost don't want to give it back! I don't know why I never head of Audrey, but I will definitely be signing up for a subscription. Keep up the amazing work!

Mei-Lynn Destouche

Los Angeles, CA

Check out the magazine if you happen to stumble upon it. It's really quite good.

Posted in Random Musings_

Feelin' Crafty? Make Your Own Bathtub Caddy!

If you're feeling crafty, I found great directions on how to go about making your own bathtub caddy.

You can find the directions here at HGTV.



Posted in Random Musings_

BORBA Clarifying Chocolate

Wow, remember the days when people used to say that chocolate caused break-outs? Well, BORBA - the skin care company that treats the skin from inside and out - has come out with a Swiss dark chocolate bar that they claim will improve your skin. According to them, it will "promote clarity, prevent breakouts and reduce irritation and redness."

I'm sure it's possible, but my question is, how many bars of chocolate do you need to eat a day? And, how many calories?

It's sold exclusively at Nordstrom. $8 for one 1.79 oz. bar.

Posted in Beauty Products_

Ack! I'm Sick!

Okay, so no posts from me in awhile because I have been sick with flu-like symptoms. Of course, I worried I had the Bird Flu and then worried I had meningitis. Of course, now that I'm starting to feel better except for a nasty sore throat, I realize I worry too much and have an overactive imagination.

Once I'm all better, I'll post more.

P.S. Thank you, Tara, for holding down the fort while I nurse myself back to health!

Posted in Random Musings_

Quote of the Day

"In Hollywood, the women are all peaches. It makes one long for an apple occasionally." - W. Somerset Maugham

I agree. Personally, I think Hollywood should get more apples. Don't you?

Posted in Random Musings_

What's Hot Now! Pumpkin Pie!

Typically popular during Autumn, HELLA GOOD's Let Them Eat Pie is the surprising best seller this past week. It is made with real pumpkin pieces, cinnamon and nutmeg, and milk - it's enough to make me hungry every time I make it!

Posted in Hella Good_

What I Want This Instant - Neutrogena's At Home Microdermabrasion System

Okay, a friend talked up the Neutrogena's At Home Microdermabrasion System and now I want it. It comes with a two-speed applicator, foam heads for the applicator and Micro-Oxide Crystallized Cream, which has the same aluminum oxide crystals used in professional microdermabrasion. Supposedly, after 11 uses with this kit, you'll see the same results as you would with two professional microdermabrasion sessions. At the end of 4 weeks, you should have skin that is significantly improved - less wrinkles and signs of photoaging.

Before use, read the important info guideline to ensure you're a right candidate for the product. Approx. $38 at your local drugstore.

Posted in Beauty Product_

Rare Bird Finds

I mentioned in the past that I have another blog called Rare Bird Finds - where my friend Sharla and I search out products that cause us to say "Wow!" I wanted to say that Sharla and I are now planning on posting 4-6 times a day on the blog, so if you don't see a post here - please drop by to the other blog to check out what's happening.

rarebirdfinds.blogspot.com

Posted in Random Musings_

Yesterday's Sephora Trip

Yesterday my friend Selene and I went to Sephora. For my birthday, Selene got me a giftcard to Sephora because she knows how much I love the place. The Sephora we went to is in Old Town Pasadena and is one of the smaller ones that I've been to, but make-up is make-up and it was fun to play! At one point, Selene looked at me and said, "You have sparkle all around your mouth and on your chin." Ah, that was a result of trying on Dior's new DiorShow Gloss Show lip glosses ($26) which are spiked with sparkles. I'm not sure how sparkles winded up on my chin, but I think when I wiped it off there was a sparkle explosion.

At one point I asked Selene what her favorite make-up line was.

"Almay," she said finally after some thought.

"You know that's going in my blog," I said.

"Oh no," was her reply.

Haha!

After much searching, I finally emerged from the store with my prize. I got JONATHAN's Beauty Water - the shower filtration system. Supposedly I'll see a difference in my hair and skin in 1 week - so I will report back!

Posted in Random Musings_

Ooh I Want This!

Anyone who knows me knows that I love baths and I just came upon the coolest bath accessory - spa lights! For approx. $11.95, you get a pack of 2 waterproof lights to add some glow to your bath. You can either stick it to the bottom or sides of your tub or let them free float. Ohmygoodness, I need to get this. When I do, I'll tell you if they're worth the money (but I have the feeling they do!).

Posted in Random Musings_