In Q3 of 2023, collaborations, collections, and limited editions presented the beauty industry with a diverse range of creative offerings. Jennifer Coolidge has made her mark once again at e.l.f. Cosmetics, creating a lip kit collection after the success of the duo’s collaborative Super Bowl ad last year. Lottie London teamed up with Warner Bros. to bring back its much-loved Vampire Diaries collection, which advocates for blood donation across the UK. Lancôme and the Louvre Museum paired up to position beauty as art. Recognizing the best of Q3, BeautyMatter highlights the collaborations, limited editions, and collections that broke through the noise:
Carla Seipp, Editor:
“I became fascinated with Alex Honnold’s dedication to his craft through watching the Free Solo trailer and realizing the magnitude of his athletic pursuit of climbing El Capitan with his bare hands (as someone with a fear of heights it is literally unthinkable). I was excited to see Dr. Squatch partner with him on a body scrub which sounds like a sensory retreat into nature. Jennifer Coolidge is a comedy icon and I am happy to see her getting the credit she deserves, so her e.l.f. Cosmetics partnership filled my heart with joy. Speaking of joy, I love that Malin + Goetz chose the unexpected note of strawberry for their latest perfume oil and candle outing. Lip Smackers are such a nostalgic product to me (especially the Dr. Pepper and birthday cake variety) so hearing them release a vault containing all the flavors over the past five decades was another delight. On a more serious note, the Dose of Colors x Trevor Barrett partnership which supports the It Gets Better Project was a perfect meeting point of cosmetic creativity and social initiative."
Dr. Squatch x Alex Honnold: The men’s personal care brand has teamed up with free-solo climber Alex Honnold to create a soap bar inspired by Honnold's ascent up Yosemite’s El Capitan, one of the largest granite monoliths in the world. The Free Solo Scrub ($8) is dermatologically tested and fortified with calming Oregon pine essential oil, exfoliating white rhyolite powder, and conditioning watercress extract. The scrub is scented with fresh scents such as pine, eucalyptus, and cedarwood.
e.l.f. Cosmetics x Jennifer Coolidge: After a successful marketing campaign with the star, which helped the brand's sales increase 78% in Q4 last year, Jennifer Coolidge has again teamed up with e.l.f. Cosmetics, this time launching a lip kit. Dirty Pillows Lip Kit ($25) contains e.l.f. Cosmetics O Face Satin Lipstick in shades Dirty Pillows (deep pink) and Swollen (baby pink), a Cream Glide Lip Liner in the shade Fill Frontal (brown-pink), and a circle-shaped compact mirror with the phrase "Lips are the mirror to your soul" stamped on it. The kit comes in a sleek black box with a pink satin bow.
Dose of Colors x Trevor Barrett: The cosmetics company has launched a new collection in partnership with influencer and activist Trevor Barrett to support LGBTQ+ rights. All sales will contribute 5% of the proceeds to the It Gets Better Project. This organization uplifts the LGBTQ+ community through resources, storytelling, and events that provide hope for a more inclusive world. Hypnotic Ink Dual-Ended Liquid Eyeliner ($32) features white eyeliner at one end and black on the other, with professional-grade brushes designed to spark creative application ideas, with a water-resistant and smudge-proof formula. Eternal Love Eyeshadow Palette ($52) is a 15-pan collection of shadows with nine color-shifting metallic and iridescent shades and six neutral matte functional shades, all talc-free to provide a velvet-soft look. Double Rainbow Plumping Lip Gloss ($22) is a hyaluronate-and-peptide-infused plumping product that imparts a glossy and shimmery effect, containing ultra-fine gold and pink reflects.
Lancôme x Louvre Museum: Fusing together the art and beauty world, Lancôme has teamed up with the Louvre Museum for a makeup and skincare collection. The line is inspired by nine pieces from the museum's sculpture department (Venus de Milo, Victory of Samothrace, Corine, Diane of Gabies, Nymph with the Scorpion, Echo, Hygeia, Venus of Aries, and Hermaphrodite), as well as the lights and color palette of the museum itself. The collection features four shades of L’Absolu Rouge Matte Lipstick ($35), the Advanced Génifique Serum ($88) with a new bottle design, and the five-pan Richelieu Wing Face and Eye Shadow Palette ($89).
Lottie London x Warner Bros.: In preparation for Halloween, Lottie London has revamped its best-selling Vampire Diaries Love Sucks Collection. Inspired by the love triangle of the series' main characters Elena Gilbert and the Salvatore brothers, Damon and Stefan, the collection includes Team Stefan and Team Damon Eyeshadow Palettes ($13.99 each), with 10 highly pigmented shades, including buttery mattes, foil-like metallics, and high-impact glitter finishes. Star Stamp Liner ($7.99), Superfake Mascara ($9.99), pH Colour Changing Lip and Cheek Stick ($9.99), Skin All Over Highlighter in a shimmery brown shade ($13.99), Blood Drip Lip Tints in a red shade, Bitten and purple shade, Witches ($7.99 each), and Stick To It Nail Stickers, Love Sucks, in deep blood-red designs ($7.99).
Sophie Pitt, Editorial Associate:
“I have always been fascinated by all things Paris and the Louvre, so a crossover into beauty with Lancôme x the Louvre Museum stood out to me. I like the idea of beauty products being seen as an art form, more than just the makeup held within the packaging. Maison Francis Kurkdjian’s product expansion caught my attention, the brand's fragrances are some of my favorite scents ever, so for these to be available in the form of candles and body products was very exciting to hear. Continuing the theme of scent, Tory Burch’s Essence of Dreams Layering Oils are something I'm a big fan of—as someone who often chops and changes fragrances, the idea of layering scents is one I can definitely get behind. Last but undoubtedly not least, Lottie London’s collaboration with Warner Bros. The Vampire Diaries was something I was very excited to hear of. Not only do I feel the brand got the SKUs for this collection spot on, I also love that the brand is dedicated to helping people through their products. The Blood For Beauty campaign linked to the launch encourages consumers to donate blood to the NHS, a worthy cause that hits Halloween marketing on the head.”
Malin + Goetz: The brand's fragrance portfolio had two new products on its roster. Strawberry Perfume Oil ($32) and Strawberry Candle ($60) are both a "reimagined interpretation of the garden strawberry," formulated with a blend of bergamot and pink pepper, mixed with warm musk, jasmine petals, and soft orris root to ignite a comforting and nostalgic feeling.
Lip Smacker: Celebrating its 50th birthday, the brand is marking the occasion by releasing its 50th Anniversary Vault Collection ($100). The range includes 50 lip balms that resemble cult-favorite flavors from over the years, including Coca-Cola and Watermelon, all with a conditioning formula and special emollients to keep lips soft, shiny, and moist. All of the lip balms come in a large tote bag that resembles the product's packaging, created with shelves inside that carry the SKUs.
Maison Francis Kurkdjian: The fragrance brand has expanded its offerings "to encompass a full body scent ritual," introducing a range of new SKUs. Es Cap Scented Candle ($95) is part of the Home Sweet Homes collection, created to "capture the atmosphere of a refurbished barn where minimal meets essential," and is said to have the fragrance of a fig tree. Scented Bar Soaps ($50) are fragranced with the brand's popular aromas Aqua Media Cologne Forte, Aqua Universalis Cologne Forte, Aqua Vitae Cologne Forte, and Aqua Celestia Cologne Forte. Scented body Lotions ($95) and Hand & Body Cleansing Gels ($85) are available in fragrances 724, À La Rose, Aqua Universalis, Baccarat Rouge, and OUD. The collection also includes Scented Hair Mists ($85) and Scented Body Oils ($95-$105), both available in the previously mentioned fragrance scents.
Tory Burch: Essence of Dreams Layering Oils ($60) is a new format in the brand's fragrance range, created to provoke a new way of thinking about fragrance wear, using multiple different scents instead of one. Essence of Rose hosts notes of Bulgarian rose, upcycled rose water, bergamot, and musk. Essence of Vetiver contains notes of Madagascan vetiver, ambrette absolute, bergamot, black pepper, and coriander seeds. Essence of Sandalwood combines notes of Australian sandalwood, balsamic, and cedar. Each of the offerings is formulated with avocado oil, vitamin E, and olive oil to create a long-lasting fragrance and hydrate the skin upon application.
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