It's Summer; 'Settle Down' with No Doubt

Gwen Stefani and crew are back with their first new album in 11 years but its sound looks even further back to their ska and reggae influences           


         
            


Not as much of that new wave gloss as 'Return of Saturn' and 'Rock Steady' and Gwen has definitely toned down the over the top costuming of her solo career retiring to her tanks and bad pants combo from the 2000's


Although the Love Angel Music Baby Asian ladies make cameos

As does a  L'oreal lip gloss cameo to remind us of the lady's post front-woman career

All in all, I personally prefer the sparkle and shine of late ND / solo Gwen, but I can't deny the ear worm this jam has already crafted in me noggin'.

L'Oreal Committing $1.2 Million to Non-Animal Testing Research

Because it's worth it! 

"Using state-of-the art methods, we hope to show that products can be proven safe for the consumer without the use of animals." 

Worldwide cosmetic giant, L'Oreal, in conjunction with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, has backed new chemical, non-animal based research tests that would scan all the components of a product before hand to rate their toxicology

(Image courtesy of L'Oreal France)

ToxCast is an animal testing alternative that might be the answer to remove unnecessary and ineffective research on bunnies, monkeys and such.

EPA official, David Dix, claims "ToxCast is able to rapidly screen thousands of chemicals in hundreds of tests and provide results that are relevant to various types of toxicity."


Beyond frontin' the cash, L'Oreal also is contributing data and samples of chemicals already used in their products. 


This would be a huge break for animals and consumers alike since with the "high costs and length of time it takes for animal testing, not all the chemicals in use have been thoroughly evaluated for potential toxicity." 

Black is Beauty-ful

With yesterday's announcement that Ethiopian model Liya Kebede is to be the latest face of L'Oreal, another lady of color joins the vast ranks of beauty ambassadors.


L'Oreal for one has Beyonce, Jennifer Lopez and Freida Pinto in its diverse roster already

(There's nothing "Slum"my about Ms. Pinto's beauty)

Revlon, of course, famously has ageless Halle Berry on board

(Most people would name Halle Berry as the face of Revlon)

Penelope Cruz and Dominican model, Arlenis Sosa are both proud Lacome spokesmodels

(Sosa is anything but so-so)

Estee Lauder showcases diverse beauty is "Ideal" in its new ads with Peaurto Rican model Joan Smalls and Liu Wen from China. 

(Nope, not a Benetton ad; rather an "Idealist" view of beauty)

So my point? When will fashion labels catch up with what beauty labels already know: the more range you show in your ads, the more people you connect with. Fashion is no longer just for pretty white people and with economies emerging in China, India, the Middle East and such, fashion labels have scrambled to open new boutiques there. Why not follow the beauty giants' lead and open themselves up to new markets visually too? 

After all, the only real color that matters in the world of business is green.