Mary Kay Blog: Beauty That Counts

Pink Changing Lives

kmcafee — Mon, 20 May 2013 12:03:00 GMT

We love pink at Mary Kay? Can you guess the pink item that we love the most? (Ok, besides the pink Cadillac?) We love our pink hardhats at Mary Kay. We know when the pink hardhats come out that someone’s live is about to change for the better. Mary Kay employees work alongside independent sales force members and put on their pink hardhats to build Habitat for Humanity homes.

Mary Kay Inc. has sponsored several Habitat for Humanity homes and 10 homes in the Dallas alone. All of the homes were built by employees, volunteers and Mary Kay Independent Beauty Consultants.

Check out these photos of our most recent Habitat home build and dedication. Latasha Gray proves that “One Woman Can...” be a homeowner! Join us in congratulating her on her new home. For more on how Mary Kay Inc. is making a difference and all of our Pink Changing Lives initiatives, please visit www.marykay.com/socialresponsibility.

One Woman Can and Many Women Will

kmcafee — Thu, 16 May 2013 12:28:00 GMT

We are in the middle of graduation season – one of the most significant life accomplishments for a young adult. So many students are graduating high school and looking forward to the next phase in life. For some that means heading to college while others begin careers in the military and others may begin working immediately.

I’ve always had an interest in mentoring young women in this life phase. Needless to say, when I was invited to speak by the Graduate Women of MIT at their 3rd annual Empowerment Conference, I jumped at the chance.

It was a thrill to be invited as their keynote speaker but at the same time admittedly I was a bit nervous to speak in front of such accomplished group of students. And even more concerning – what could I say to help these young women see their potential as future leaders?

Statistics show that although women are more than 50 percent of our population, we hold less than 25 percent of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) jobs. Additionally, although plenty of women enter technical fields of study the dropout rate is extremely high as they reach middle management. In my career, I too personally have experienced that being a woman in male dominated research fields is tough. So what could I say to encourage these women to fight the uphill battle?

This topic of female leadership has been in the news quite a bit lately with Sheryl Sandberg’s book “Lean In.” She really stepped out with “Lean In” and started a dialogue about what is statistically and realistically happening to women in business. Women are still making less than men and not reaching the higher levels. Her advice is that women need to take more responsibility for their own careers.

I thought who knew better that women could do anything they set their hearts and minds to achieve than Mary Kay Ash? Well, once I decided to use Mary Kay Ash as an example my presentation came together easily. After all, it was Mary Kay Ash that taught the importance of taking responsibility for your own career and success. I spoke with the women about how to take charge of their careers, embrace their uniqueness as a female leader and the importance of being a positive female role model.

In a recent study by Catalyst, they found that companies with more than one woman on their board of directors were more profitable than companies with only one woman. Women are more successful when supported by other women.

Again, didn’t Mary Kay Ash tell us that enriching other women’s lives will make a positive difference in your life, too? I spoke for about an hour and then spent two hours afterwards fielding questions, everything from how to interview for a job to the best ways to dress to be taken seriously. I came away from the event inspired by their enthusiasm to success. The future for women looks very bright indeed. One woman can and will!

Pictured below: Dr. Beth Lange with MIT students and staff.

Today’s blog post is from Mary Kay’s Chief Scientific Officer, Dr. Beth Lange.

One “Mother” Can Be….. Amazing!

kmcafee — Sat, 11 May 2013 21:32:00 GMT

How special that Mother’s Day falls on May 12th this year – the same date as Mary Kay Ash’s birthday. Looking back on all of the many lives that Mary Kay touched, it is clear that, beyond her three children, one can also see that Mary Kay was a “mother” to many others. So, as a tribute to the life and accomplishments of Mary Kay Ash, and in celebration of ALL of the women who take time to love, teach, nurture and inspire, I offer the following:

Tribute to Mothers
They have strengths that amaze men. They carry children, they carry hardships, and they carry burdens, but they hold happiness, love and joy. They smile when they want to scream. They sing when they want to cry. They cry when they are happy and laugh when they are nervous. They love intensely.

They fight for what they believe in. They stand up for injustice. They don't take "no" for an answer when they believe there is a better solution. They go without new shoes so their children can have them. They go to the doctor with a frightened friend. They love tenderly.

They cry when their children excel and cheer when their loved ones get awards. They are happy when they hear about a birth or a new marriage. They are strong when they think there is no strength left. They know that a hug and a kiss can heal a broken heart. They love unabashedly.

Mothers come in all sizes, in all colors and shapes. They may tell you what you don’t want to hear, but they’ll always be in your corner. Mothers have a lot to say and a lot to give. They'll drive, fly, walk, run or email you to show how much they care about you. They cherish a kindergarten art project as much as an expensive gift.

The heart of a mother is what makes the world spin! They bring joy and hope. They give compassion and ideals. They give moral support to their family and friends. They love unconditionally. To all of the mothers, mothers-to-be and those who have a mothering heart, and all of you who love intensely, tenderly, unabashedly and unconditionally, I salute you.

Happy Mother’s Day!

All my best,
Sheryl

Today's blog post is from Mary Kay's Chief Marketing Officer and mother of two great sons, Sheryl Adkins-Green.

Are We There Yet?

kmcafee — Thu, 09 May 2013 12:25:00 GMT

Every year in the summer, I drive down to the beautiful Emerald Coast of Florida with my family to get a bit closer to heaven and take a relaxing break from the hustle-and-bustle of the world. It’s a pretty long journey, especially every hour-on-the-hour when my two little girls begin singing their favorite vacation song, “Mom, are we there yet?”

I’m a 'tenured vacation mom', so I’ve learned to answer “yes”despite the 50 times my children ask that dreaded question. Did I mention it's a long drive? 12 hours! Each time they ask, I just crank up a little Jimmy Buffett and begin thinking of the tropical gulf breezes and pure calming presence of the beach.

The first year we drove to Florida, I was so excited just to hit the beach and worrying more about putting sunscreen on my two little fair-skinned girls that I forgot to have my husband put sunscreen on my back. After just a bit in the sun, we went back to our hotel room and let’s just say that images of “ouch” was really evident. It looked like I had been rubbing against a concrete wall and rubbed off my skin.

I was fortunate though that I had brought my Mary Kay® Sun Care After-Sun Replenishing Gel. Let’s just say that it was instant relief. To be quite honest, growing up being really fair skin that was not the first time that this has happened. I used to wear a well-known brand, but after trying Mary Kay’s Replenshing Gel, I will never go back. I usually stock up once a year that it comes out as limited-edition.

The following year, I had put on my baseball cap, sunglasses, and of course, my Mary Kay® Sun Care Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 30 and I mean I put that stuff all over me. I normally lather up. The one area that I completely forgot were my ears and let’s just say, “hello” a little red lobster monster appeared. Thankfully that little After-Sun Replenshing Gel was handy and soothed the pain. Do you know how embarrassing or pretty gross it is when skin peels on top of your ears!! Not very beautiful!

You would think that I would have learned my lesson over the years. One time, I had failed to put on my Mary Kay® Sun Care Lip Protector Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 15 and instead put on lip gloss without that extra protection. Can you say, “Fry Baby Fry”? Now I swear the little brown spot on my lip is for not being cautious in protecting that area.

This year, we are going back to my favorite area – South Walton Beach. Can you tell that we are in love with Florida? That being said, I have tackled the sunscreen protection methods, especially in a place that is surrounded by surf and sun. It’s hard monitoring oneself in what time of day to go out to the beach, especially when you and your family “love” the water, so I have my Mary Kay® Sun Care Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 50 ready and of course, the After-Sun Replenshing Gel.

Our family will always follow the simple rules of protection from the sun, but taking all the protection Mary Kay has to offer is always in my family’s sun survival kit!

Today's blog post is from Jennifer Juric. Jennifer works in Mary Kay's U.S. Product Marketing Department and has completely mastered the long car ride with children.

Pictured below: Mary Kay® Sun Care After-Sun Replenishing Gel, Mary Kay® Sun Care Lip Protector Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 15 and Mary Kay® Sun Care Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 50

Pictured below: Jennifer's "Are We There Yet Choir" enjoying the beach.

We Love Orange, Too!

kmcafee — Mon, 06 May 2013 19:00:00 GMT

At Mary Kay, we believe every great look begins with great skincare. Today, we’re wearing orange to support the American Academy of Dermatology’s initiative to raise awareness about melanoma, other types of skin cancer and prevention. Check out these photos of Mary Kay employees wearing orange, and tell us about your favorite Mary Kay skincare product. To learn more about “Melanoma Monday” and the American Academy of Dermatology, visit http://www.aad.org/spot-skin-cancer/what-we-do/melanoma-monday/

One Woman Can…Drive!!

kmcafee — Thu, 02 May 2013 12:24:00 GMT

I didn’t think golf was “fore” me. While I had mastered miniature golf, playing with my sons over the years, I just couldn’t get excited about spending the majority of a Saturday walking a golf course when I could be walking through a mall! After having experienced my first LPGA tournament this past weekend, I’m ready to trade my shopping cart for a golf cart, and take some lessons!

For the first time in more than two decades, the LPGA held a tour event in North Dallas, and Mary Kay was proud to be a sponsor. While 140 top-rated golfers from around the world came to compete, the tournament was about much more than the $1,300,000 purse. It was about enriching women’s lives and showing the power of what one woman can do.

The event was hosted by the Nexus Club, a charitable organization with a mission to emphasize the importance of values such as character, integrity, sportsmanship, self-discipline and community involvement to young women. They’ve found that the sport of golf is a great way to illustrate and teach these values.

The event was hosted by the Nexus Club, a charitable organization with a mission to emphasize the importance of values such as character, integrity, sportsmanship, self-discipline and community involvement to young women. They utilize the sport of golf as a way to illustrate and teach these values.

It was great to get acquainted with Girls Golf Inc., and watch high school and collegiate female golfers competing in an 18-hole shootout while playing alongside some of the world’s best professional golfers.

The best part was getting to know some of the players. Mary Kay was able to connect with a number of golfers like Christina Kim and Kathleen Ekey via Twitter. It was also exciting see Brittany Lang’s boyfriend surprise her with by proposing on the 9th hole, after her last putt of the day on Saturday.

We congratulate all of the participants, with a special “One Woman Can!” shout-out to Inbee Park, who won the tournament. If you’re a fan of golf and the LPGA, we encourage you to please “Fore-ward” or share this post!

Today’s blog post is from Mary Kay’s Chief Marketing Officer, Sheryl Adkins-Green. You can follow Sheryl on Twitter @sherryag.

Pictured below: Photos from the North Texas LPGA Shootout at the Las Colinas Country Club in Irving, Texas.

LPGA hosts its first tournament in North Texas in more than 20 years.

The Mary Kay Booth at the LPGA.

Mary Kay Gift Box for the LPGA North Texas Shootout.

Autograph for a fan.

LPGA fans lined up for autographs.

Fans watching the tournament.

The Pink Panther. Golfer Pauler Creamer.

Mary Kay employees volunteer at the Mary Kay Booth.

Mary Kay welcomes golf fans to North Texas.

The Proposal. Congrats Brittany!

Inbee Park wins the LPGA North Texas Shootout.

#63

kmcafee — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 12:30:00 GMT

He smiles, flexes his arm and points to the tattoo on his arm and jokingly says “it says I love Kate.” Kate smiles, they laugh together and then it is time to get ready for the next shot. From my view on set, it is obvious that on and off camera the main stars of Univision.com’s newest webnovela, Arranque de Pasión, La Historia de Ela have great working chemistry.

Starring internationally acclaimed television and motion picture actress Kate del Castillo (as Ela), as well as popular leading men Carlos Ponce (as Checo) and Christian Meier (as Jordi), this novela or “Spanish soap opera” is centered around Ela, a talented NASCAR driver who encounters love, drama and competition on and off the track.

As sponsor of the novela, Mary Kay sponsors Ela’s race team with Mary Kay branding prominently displayed on her #63 race car which celebrates Mary Kay’s 50 year anniversary (1963 is the year this wonderful company began). Mary Kay appears throughout and is prominently featured in scenes where characters are using Mary Kay products.

As part of this integrated advertising program, celebrity makeup artists, Luis Casco and Mariela Bagnato share tips with viewers on how to replicate the characters’ looks which were established by Mary Kay. From Ela’s “Lista para ganar/Ready to Win” look featuring Mary Kay® NouriShine Plus® Lip Gloss in Café au Lait to Marite’s “Belleza clasica/Classic beauty” look with Mary Kay® True Dimensions™ Lipstick in Firecracker, Mary Kay product is in the spotlight.

Univision is the leading Spanish language brand reaching U.S. Hispanics. Partnering with the novela allows Mary Kay the opportunity to creatively weave Mary Kay product within programming and build creative extensions that will excite and engage consumers and give more opportunities for the salesforce to try new looks on their customers.

Does #63 win the Daytona 500? Well, you’ll have to watch to find out.

Tune in every Monday, Wednesday and Friday on Univision.com/ArranqueDePasion through May 3. No worries if you have missed an episode, as you can watch them all online. The novela will air in its entirety on broadcast on the Univision network on Sunday, May 5th at 9pm CST.

Pictured below: Ela’s “Lista para ganar/Ready to Win” look featuring Mary Kay® NouriShine Plus® Lip Gloss in Café au Lait

Pictured below: Marite’s “Belleza clasica/Classic beauty” look with Mary Kay True Dimension Lipstick in Firecracker

Today’s blog post is from Sylvia Molina, Mary Kay associate manager of advertising, public relations and integrated marketing.

One Woman Can...LPGA

kmcafee — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 10:00:00 GMT

In celebration of Mary Kay’s 50th anniversary, we are one of the sponsors for the first LPGA tournament in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area since 1991. More than 140 top rated golfers are teeing off at the North Texas LPGA Shootout.

The four-day competition with a purse of $1.3 million is hosted by The Nexus Club, a charitable organization with a mission to emphasize the importance of values such as character, integrity, sportsmanship, self-discipline and community involvement to young ladies through the sport of golf.

The LPGA tournament hosted by The Nexus Club is a natural fit for Mary Kay as it fits with our mission of enriching women’s lives. Check out a few photos from the event. Plus you can find more pictures on Twitter by searching the hashtag #onewomancan.

Pictured below: Mary Kay's welcome sign for the LPGA

Pictured below: Mary Kay's booth at the LPGA Shootout

Pictured below: Mary Kay's gift bag for the LPGA Shootout

Dance to Life

kmcafee — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 12:15:00 GMT

We’ve all been in tight quarters with someone who has seemingly taken a bath in perfume. All you want to do is run a million miles away because the person’s perfume is suffocating. It always makes me wonder what is the purpose of wearing a fragrance?

Is it to leave a fragrance trail wherever you go and overtake everyone with your favorite scent? I had just become the project owner for fragrance and body care category in Mary Kay’s U.S. product marketing department, and so I took a few moments to consider the answer to this question.

I reflected back on some of the more familiar fragrances that I grew up with. My best friend in high school always wore a floral scent. Whenever I catch a whiff of her fragrance today, I always laugh and memories of shopping, school, and crazy times would start flooding in and make me smile.

Then there’s the scent that my aunt wore which had more of an oriental flair to it. She always made the best lasagna and the scent of her perfume always reminded me of great family dinners and memories of happy times with my cousins.

My grandmother always wore the same fruity floral scent. Whenever she would hug me it enveloped me like a warm blanket. Then it dawned on me. This is what fragrance was all about - familiar scents linked to memories that are accessories to your wardrobe.

This is what I like about Dance to Life™ – Mary Kay’s new fragrance to commemorate our 50th anniversary. When I first saw the imagery and videos for the fragrance, I thought it was a great concept. The Dance to Life name is all about hope and pursing our dreams which is what so much of what our Company is all about. The thing that I love most about the fragrance is the scent itself. Soft and subtle, but distinct. A fragrance that leaves an impression without overstaying its welcome.

To learn more about the inspiration behind Mary Kay's Dance to Life™, click here. What is your favorite memory of a fragrance?

Pam Griffin works in Mary Kay’s U.S. Product Marketing Department. She work on fragrance and body care items and has been with Mary Kay since 1998.

Pictured Below: Special-Edition Mary Kay® Dance to Life™ Eau de Parfum.

Happy Earth Day!

kmcafee — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 10:00:00 GMT

Today is a wonderful day to celebrate nature and reflect on how we can make our lives a little greener. For me, every day is Earth Day through Pink Doing Green efforts. Our Pink Doing Green programs work to infuse environmental sustainability throughout Mary Kay.

At Mary Kay, it all starts with high quality, safe ingredients. These ingredients are then transformed into the Mary Kay products we all love. Many of our products are manufactured at our zero-landfill Global Manufacturing Site in Dallas, TX. By definition, zero landfill means that we can only send a maximum of 10% of our waste to a landfill. And most months, we send zero percent to the landfill! We do this by trying to reduce waste generated in the first place and by recycling everything we can. In fact last year, our Global Manufacturing Site recycled over 6 million pounds of paper, plastic, metal, cardboard, etc. and 29 tons of alcohol. After manufacture, products are packaged and sent to a distribution center. Did you know that even our US and Canadian Distribution Centers are zero-landfill?

Next, a Mary Kay Independent Sales Force member receives her product in a recyclable cardboard box filled with biopeanuts to cushion the ride. Biopeanuts are a compostable, biodegradable alternative to standard Styrofoam packing peanuts. Our biopeanuts are made of renewable corn and potato starch – and easily dissolve in water. Once you receive your Mary Kay product, it is your turn to be green and gorgeous with our refillable color compacts and Botanical Effects skin care line.

Lastly, I encourage you to help us complete the cycle by recycling your packaging. Our cartons can be recycled through most municipal recycling programs. In addition, Mary Kay Inc. will plant one tree in the United States, in partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation and the U.S. Forest Service, for every 10 flip-top caps and/or color refill cases sent back to us. For details, click here.

Today’s guest blogger is Dr. Beth Lange, Chief Scientific Officer. Dr. Lange leads Mary Kay’s Research & Development division and due to her natural passion for nature also champions our corporate environmental sustainability efforts.

The Great Gatsby

kmcafee — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 16:45:00 GMT

Spring 2013 is full of stunning beauty looks, which have been inspired by past trends and everyday women. I've seen runway looks and magazine articles that tie into the upcoming premiere of the highly anticipated movie, The Great Gatsby. The flapper girl look with the deep red lip, soft smoky eye and healthy beautiful skin are being popularized as a great spring trend because of this movie.

With so much buzz around the premiere of the movie, we partnered with and interviewed Celebrity Makeup Artist Marissa Nemes and Celebrity Stylist Lo VonRumpf to discuss how to re-create the beautiful flapper girl look that is showcased throughout the movie. We shared this information with beauty editors. As a result of this outreach, Dory Larrabee with HollywoodLife.com shared Marissa’s tips with her readers. She showed readers how to use Mary Kay products to re-create a look inspired by Carey Mulligan’s Daisy character as it was seen on the May issue of Vogue. I’ve included the text from the article. Hope you enjoy.
Cheers,
Laurie Enright
Mary Kay Inc. Product Publicity Team

Taken from Hollywoodlife.com

The actress stayed in character, channeling Daisy from her upcoming film ‘The Great Gatsby,’ on the May 2013 cover of ‘Vogue.’ Mary Kay Glam Squad Celebrity makeup artist Marissa Nemes tells you how you can get Carey’s pretty look below.

To achieve Daisy’s soft, smoky eye:
1. Apply Mary Kay Cream Eye Color in Metallic Taupe and blend a charcoal eye shadow like Mary Kay Mineral Eye Color in Coal over and into the eye crease.
2. Line the water and lash line with Mary Kay Eyeliner in Black, smudge the liner using a smudger brush and sweep Mary Kay Mineral Eye Color in Coal under the lower lash line to create depth.
3. Re-line the top lash line with Mary Kay Liquid Eyeliner and apply a generous coat of Mary Kay Lash Love Mascara for a set of heavenly lashes!
For Daisy’s iconic, bright red lip:
1. Apply Mary Kay NouriShine Plus Lip Gloss in Rock N’ Red for a vivid, glossy pop of color.
2. For a more versatile red lip, apply Mary Kay True Dimensions Lipstick in Sizzling Red. This lipstick can be applied as a balm, stain or a full bodied lipstick.

Pictured Above: Carey Mulligan, 27, looks stunning in her cover photo shoot for the May issue of Vogue. In the spread, she rocks 1920′s hair, makeup, clothing and art deco jewelry.