LIM College

With cosmetics comes beauty and with beauty comes confidence. Times have changed drastically from the everyday blush, mascara and pink lipstick look, into a world bursting with glitter, feathers, and purple eye-shadow.

Every generation has pioneers, such as Marilyn Monroe in the 50’s, or Liza Minnelli in the 70’s, that push and inspire new trends in cosmetics. Lady Gaga and Katy Perry have taken on this role for our generation. Their unique and unconventional styles have encouraged many women to escape their everyday lives and strut their stuff in bright and beautiful ways. The fame and fortune these two ladies have achieved has allowed them to design and command two different aspects of the beauty world: nails and lips. 

Perry’s line of OPI nail polishes includes the trendsetting Black Shatter and Teenage Dream and brings back the widespread use of glitter and glam as well as spreading the animal print trend all the way down to our fingertips. 

Lady Gaga has inspired many fierce looks with her unique sense of fashion. MAC Cosmetics recently launched two new lip products to their Viva Glam collection glorifying the nude lip sensation. Lady Gaga inspired a warm beige lipstick with a polished finish, as well as  MAC's  version of lip-gloss, the lipglass in Viva Glam Gaga.

Celebrity-inspired beauty products do more than just change fashion. They also enable celebrity philanthropy. Every cent of the Viva Glam collection, for example, is given to the MAC Cosmetics Aids Foundation; so far the total is $202 million. Giving back in this way compliments the clear message that Katy Perry’s “Firework” and Lady Gaga’s “Born this Way” songs represent; be true to who you are, and don’t be afraid to show it.  In this way these innovative women inspire us all to have a more positive self-image through fashionable self-expression.

--Charisse Crammer

The homepage for Lady Gaga’s glam line:

http://www.vivaglam.com/

The homepage for Perry’s OPI:

http://www.opi.com/

A Teen Vogue review of Perry’s nail products:

http://www.teenvogue.com/beauty/blogs/beauty/2010/10/katy-perry-and-opi-collaborate-on-a-new-nail-polish-collection.html

Gay groups unhappy with Lady Gaga

http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2011-02-14/lady-gagas-new-single-born-this-way-makes-gays-turn-on-her/

Gaga praised for gay advocacy by actor Daniel Radcliffe:

http://www.aceshowbiz.com/news/view/w0011812.html

Gaga cancels deal with Target over gay rights http://www.aceshowbiz.com/news/view/w0011812.html