Agenda-setting intelligence, analysis and advice for the global fashion community.
It’s a bittersweet hello from me, as I welcome you to what will be the final edition of Haul of Fame (as you know it). From next week our column, which was created by the wonderful Faran Krentcil back in 2023, is going social-first. Make sure you’re following us over on The Business of Beauty’s Instagram, which will be the new home for our round ups of the hottest beauty launches of the week. And if there’s ever a launch you think we shouldn’t miss — or you have some constructive criticism — feel free to email it my way.
In this edition: Cécred, Dyson, Jell-o, Medicube, Rhode, Saltair, Tower 28 and Trinny London.
But first…
Beauty, lately, has felt very this or that. There’s the primary colour, kiddified, toy-slash-product camp which has transfixed the blossoming Gen Zalpha shopper, Pied Pipering them to Sephora in droves. Then, there’s the refined, minimalist, 10-minute routine for the grown up, luxury customer, many of whom seemingly just want to get on with their day.
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But, no matter their age, don’t girls just wanna have fun?
That’s what model Lara Worthington is betting on with Ommage, her new luxury makeup label debuting online and at Dover Street Parfums Market on Sept. 22, The Business of Beauty can exclusively reveal. With a design-led vision (Worthington worked with renowned graphic designer Brian Roettinger on the line) and highly curated selection, Worthington is hoping to inject equal parts sexiness and play into the often austere, luxury makeup segment.
“We kind of lost the sexiness, didn’t we?,” said Worthington. “A lot of the past eight years have been that beige world, and I had this strong vision to do something that was completely opposite.” Thus came Ommage with a simple concept: fun makeup, but for grown ups.
Ommage’s maiden trio of products span the First Base tinted face cream ($44), Lip Coat lipstick ($34) and a buffer brush ($36). Both clean and cruelty-free, the lipstick is manufactured in Italy, while the skin tint is imported from Worthington’s native Australia. It’s not the latter’s first time on the market: In 2014, the same formula became the hero product of Worthington’s previous beauty line, tanning and skin-finishing label, The Base. Since that label wound down, fans have been clamouring for the hydrating base to make its return.
It’s a clever move on two fronts. Bringing over a pre-made community to a newborn brand is, simply, good business. But it also gives Ommage some authority to enter the intensifying battle royale within the 40+ complexion category. In the last year alone, Laura Geller has gone viral on TikTok, while colour and skincare brand (and The Business of Beauty Global Awards finalist) Sarah Creal Beauty has just rolled out in SpaceNK. Victoria Beckham Beauty also had an absolute hit with its Augustinus Bader collab foundation drops, which helped the brand swing to profit this year.
But the most striking thing about Ommage is its design, which was influenced by a plethora of references from John Chamberlain to Carol Bove. Its slightly smushed, blurred edges were inspired by the “beauty of imperfections”, said Worthington. While that could easily veer trite, input from Roettinger (who has worked with Skims, Necessaire and Jay-Z on the rapper’s Grammy-nominated art direction) challenged Worthington to “make sure that it felt sexy, aspirational and luxurious.” It also elevates the collection into genuinely covetable objects, which will feel right at home at Dover Street Parfums Market.
Luxury makeup can often be beige, or take itself rather seriously (no offence, Westman Atelier), but the opposite approach presents a huge opportunity: Marc Jacobs Beauty 2.0, a visual feast of colours, textures and shapes, is the most recent example of a premium brand dabbling in this high-low space. But that label has become a runaway success amongst Gen Z — naturally, as it’s a Sephora brand (and is reportedly expected to hit $30 million in sales for the retailer by the end of this year.) Perhaps Ommage could capture the same success, but for a whole new demographic.
What else is new…
Makeup
Who: Jell-o x Tower 28
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What: Lip Jelly Duo ($24), Lil’ Pudding Snack Set ($20)
When: September 9
Why: Playtime is also far from over at Tower28, which partnered with Jell-o to bring its flavours to a range of shiny lip products. I know Bubble and Poppi already brought the nostalgic lip smacker back this spring, but since I like eating them so much, brands can keep ‘em coming.
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Who: Rhode
What: The rhode <3 Alexandra Leclerc Collection (from $11)
When: September 15
Why: I know, I know! I’m evangelising Rhode yet again. But the brand has truly perfected this whole “finger-on-the-pulse” marketing thing. It’s newest collection with beloved F1 wag Alexandra Leclerc hits shelves next week, and is limited-edition, so won’t stay there long.
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Skincare
Who: Trinny London
What: Fearless Skin Tint Drops ($56.00)
What: September 8
Why: Trinny, another big player in the mature skincare space, is also throwing her foundation into the ring. The new Fearless drops are lightweight and contain a mix of hydration (hyaluronic acid, biomimetic lipids) to avoid creasing on wrinkled skin.
Hair Care
Who: Cécred
What: Temple Oud Hair Perfume ($54)
When: September 10
Why: Cécred has joined the fragrance rat race, distilling its much beloved Temple Oud scent into a sleek hair perfume. As Cécred’s first fragrance-focused product, the brand joins the rising number of brands creating a ritual around non-wash day.
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Who: Dyson
What: AirSmooth ($249.99)
When: September 8
Why: Dyson unveiled its dedicated blow drying brush this week. Like many, the round brush was by far my favourite, most used attachment on my Airwrap before she went to the big electrical store in the sky. I’m pretty thrilled I would now only have to invest $250 — and not almost triple that — to use it again.
Body Care
Who: Saltair
What: Glycolic Renewal Body Smoother 10% Glycolic Acid Exfoliating Spray ($20)
When: September 9
Why: Body care shoppers have demanded facial-grade actives for some time, but are they ready for a toner? Saltair, one of the category’s leaders, thinks so: it just added an exfoliating, glycolic body spray to its rapidly expanding ‘treatments’ collection.
And finally…
Did you have ‘Medicube’ on your fashion month schedule? Me neither.
But on Wednesday, I found myself at the Medicube fashion show. Technically, it was a TikTok event, which combined the K-Beauty brand with Manchester-based loungewear label, Kaiia. I wondered if models would be walking down the runway, PDRN face masks plastered to their face. It wasn’t quite that intense — more a walking QVC with pore wipes and Booster Pro devices in tow — but it was quite a funny example of a skincare brand claiming their fashion week territory. (Much like fragrance brands during awards season.) That glow didn’t come from just anyone, you know!
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