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Man with a Plan
By Melissa Miller
As a general rule, men don’t understand cosmetics. When I drag
my beau through stores and force him to smell or sample
anything, he usually proclaims that it "smells just like
something you already have," then adds, "I’m hungry. Let’s go
to the food court." Not helpful.
But I had the pleasure
recently of chatting with two men who do get the whole beauty
thing, and have created their own brilliant bath and body
lines.
Life after Kiehl's
Stephen Musumeci is the founder of an intriguing line called
Stephen est. 1985 (www.stephen1985.com),
which I stumbled across at Henry Bendel and felt compelled to
investigate further.
Musumeci is perhaps best known as the man who created most of
the Kiehl’s products. Before that, he worked as a chemist, as
well as in product research and development, for Estee Lauder
and Avon, and he also helped create the original Bobbi Brown
Perfect 10 Lipsticks.
When Kiehl’s was sold to L’Oreal, Musumeci left the company,
intent on using his knowledge and expertise to create his own
line of unique products.
Musumeci’s formulations are gentle, soothing and moisturizing;
his shampoos and body washes don’t contain harsh sudsing agents
and don’t strip the skin of oils. His Foaming Body Wash with
Glycerin ($21 for 8oz) is a sudsy body cleanser that will
leave your skin super-clean and silky.
It is available in Lavender, Grapefruit, Cucumber, Ylang Ylang,
Eucalyptus and Mango. My favorite scent is the crisp and clean
Cucumber, ideal for those I-can’t-haul-myself-outta-bed
mornings.
Stephen est. 1985’s Grapefruit Body Wash with Glycerin, which
smells just like a freshly-cut, sweet and tart yellow
grapefruit, is flying off the shelves at Henri Bendel.
One of Musumeci’s most inspired creations is Oil Based Body
Wash ($16 for 4oz, $24.50 for 8oz), which contains
nourishing safflower oil. This soothing body cleanser helps the
skin maintain its natural moisture balance—what a wonder to
emerge from the shower feeling soft, smooth and not the least
bit dry!
This body wash is a must for those with eczema, psoriasis or
irritated skin. Oil Based Body Wash is available in the same
scents as the Body Wash with Glycerin scents; I favor the
soothing, soft Lavender and invigorating Eucalyptus aromas.
Stephen est. 1985 makes only one body cream, and what a body
cream it is! Musmeci’s rich Moisturizing Body Cream ($30
for 8oz) contains a high percentage of hydrating and reparative
squalane. It absorbs immediately, leaving the skin satiny and
smooth.
This is one of the most moisturizing and least greasy body
treatments I’ve ever used; the moisture and softness lasts until
my next shower. It is unscented and works beautifully on even
the most sensitive skin.
The Stephen est. 1985 line also contains natural shampoos,
conditioners, facial skin care, lipsticks, lip glosses and
ComplimenToners that change the color of your lipstick to better
suit your coloring.
These are available through the company’s web site
stephen1985.com.
"I am the Owner"
When I attended the opening of the stunning new Tipton
Charles boutique
in New York’s West Village, I looked forward to meeting the
company’s owner and creator, Christopher Stanley, who has
created over 300 natural-based products.
I approached a very young, good-looking guy, who I assumed was
an assistant, and asked, "Is the owner here?" He replied
very politely,
"I am the owner" (I'd assumed that the creator of such an
extensive line would be much older; so much for assumptions).
Stanley’s background, he told me, is in finance and the beauty
industry. He began the Tipton Charles line—which is named after
Stanley’s great-grandfather—by importing Dead Sea salts, because
he wasn’t pleased with the quality available in the US market.
But the company quickly expanded to encompass a wide range of
facial, bath, body and hair care products and home fragrances.
 Of the Tipton Charles bath
and body products that I have sampled, my favorite is the
gentle, sodium laurel sulfate-free
Apothecary Shower Gel ($8.25 for 4oz, $16 for 8oz), in
the irresistibly creamy Orange-Vanilla scent.
I’m also smitten with the beguiling Basil-Nectarine scent, which
won me over with its perfect fusion of spicy herb and juicy
fruit.
It is a fabulous option for Tipton Charles’s Apothecary Body
Lotion ($11 for 4oz, $19 for 8oz), an emollient but light
emulsion packaged in an aluminum pump bottle.
Ocean fragrance is one of the best marine scents I’ve found—
brisk, clean and exotic. I sampled it in the Body Butter
($13.20 for 2oz), a blend of mango and shea butters that works
wonders on my hands, elbows, and feet.
Apothecary Hand Wash ($9 for 6oz) in Grapefruit is a
top-selling item. Brightly colored with natural vegetable dye,
this is cleansing and softening with a fragrant burst of
sparkling citrus.
And the all-natural Moroccan Hammam Olive Soap ($20 for
8oz) is a unique find, a cream soap rich in olive oil. It looks
like thick green mud, but who cares? It leaves the skin feeling
like silk, without the need for a moisturizer.
Authentic Spa Moisturizing Mists ($8 for 4oz) can be used on
the body or as a home fragrance spray. Try it in energizing
Lemon Verbena.
Tipton Charles products are available online at
TiptonCharles.com, in boutiques,
spas and resorts throughout the world. Top-selling
scents include Grapefruit, Basil-Nectarine, Orange-Vanilla and
their uniquely floral Sandalwood. New scents include
Mandarin-Guava, Ocean, Fairway, Cucumber, and
Tomato-Watercress.
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