Beauty Maverick

Estée Lauder to Acquire Smashbox

Smashbox is said to be the latest addition to Estée Lauder's ever-expanding portfolio.

L'Oréal Acquires Essie

L'Oréal USA is now the proud parent co. of Essie Cosmetics, the maker of salon nail polishes and select body care products, reports WWD.

According to a joint statement, this acquisition enables L'Oréal to increase its share of the nail care market, whilst providing Essie with the support needed to flourish as a brand...

No word yet on whether founder Essie Weingarten will remain on board after the cheque clears. (I'd escape to a private, Blackberry-less paradise, but that's just me.)

Shu Uemura to Exit U.S.

L'Oréal just announced that they'll be closing all U.S. operations of Shu Uemura Cosmetics (date TBD), leaving ShuUemura-USA.com as the sole point-of-sale.

Toothpaste, Cotton Swabs and... Facials?

A new generation of drugstores hopes to lure department-store loyalists with the promise of a full-service experience at a fraction of the cost, reports The Wall Street Journal.

The End of Period Pains?

A pill that could cure the cause— and not just the symptoms— of period pains is currently being developed by British scientists, according to London's Telegraph.

"The Biggest Beauty Breakthrough Since Retinol"

Luxury brands may have a run for their diamond dust with Johnson & Johnson's new Cytomimic technology.

The Return of Lipstick

Attention lip gloss addicts:

CHANEL has declared 2010 as the year of lipstick's great return.

“Women seem to have forgotten how to apply lipstick,” laments Peter Philips, CHANEL’s Global Creative Director for Makeup. “We have a whole generation of lip gloss girls. Now, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with lip gloss— but there is something so feminine about the act of applying lipstick. I want to make lipstick as easy to apply as lip gloss, and for a long-lasting formula to feel comfortable on the lips.”

So how does the iconic French brand plan to seduce consumers back into the habit of wearing opaque lip color? With a new long-lasting lipstick collection, naturally.

The range, out later this year, will be called Rouge Coco Hydrating Creme Lip Colour, and is said to include 30 shades— each named after a part of Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel's life.

Pop a Pill, Change Your Hair Texture

It appears that researchers in Australia are working overtime to beautify the human race.

Their latest discovery comes courtesy of Queensland Institute of Medical Research, and involves a gene that predicts curly hair— a find that could soon result in texture-altering supplements, making chemical treatments and styling tools a thing of the past.

Click here to learn more.

Lancôme Signs Julia Roberts

The iconic actress has signed on to serve as Lancôme's "Global Ambassadress" come 2010, though it remains unknown whether she'll be replacing fellow Oscar-winner Kate Winslet.

Youcef Nabi, the president of Lancôme International, tells WWD: "Julia Roberts is an emblematic woman of her time ... Her exceptional talent, her radiance and her strong commitments perfectly echo Lancôme’s values."

Arrest Me, Please

So that I, too, can sue the state for a series of electrolysis treatments.