mark. cosmetics

Avon has managed to find it's youth in the form of mark. cosmetics. Let's face it. No one really wants to shop at the same store as their moms and especially not their grandmas. I know this for a fact because even way back when I was in the 8th grade, my grandma would buy me the most detestable short suits. She called them adorable. I even had an "adorable" hairstyle to match. I'm still embarrassed by the memory. That's not to say the outfit was hideous, but it was... mature. Grandma would have looked great in the same short suit.

The same holds true in the fiercely competitive cosmetic market. Brands like Mary Kay and Avon have grown into respectable, quality lady products with a loyal following. But as the loyalists mature, these brands need to attract the younger subset or watch market share dwindle.

But, how do you get the granddaughter to wear her grandmother's short suit? Elementary my dear Watson, just reinvent the short suit. Make it shorter. Lose the shoulder pads. Please ditch the polyester. Plop it in the Forever 21 category -- fresh, new, and affordable, and drench it in publicity.

And that is how mark. was born. Insert satisfied sigh here.

Allow me to gush for a moment, the marketing behind mark. is pure genius. They signed It girl, Lauren Conrad from The Hills and Laguna Beach as their Spokesperson, putting them right in front of their target market -- the MTV generation -- via reality TV and Lauren's budding career in the fashion industry.

Then there's the packaging. Sleek. Attractive. Compact. Love it.

The Website - Has video clips of how to apply the makeup. I saw the short clip on Scandalash Mascara, and signed up to be a mark. girl in less than a day. And that's another thing, for just $20, a young lady with a keen eye for marketing can start her own business.

And that's how Avon found it's fountain of youth and it's way into my make-up bag.

Other brands I love:
Two Faced - Magic Wand Foundation - Love the packaging and the product inside
Dior The Show - Lashes beyond belief
Bare Minerals - Love this stuff

Love God, and my lashes. Big kiss... muuuaahh!