Melissa Meisel, Associate Editor11.30.10
Touted as a “glammed-out Russian nesting doll” by the Los Angeles Times, The Tea Room at H.Wood is an exclusive Wednesday nightclub at the Hollywood & Highland hotel in California. It serves “prohibition teas” spiked with spirits to famous faces such as Katy Perry and Paris Hilton and draws the young, hip and fabulous.
Brainstorming one afternoon over tea at the elite Hollywood locale, cosmetics industry veteran Rhonda Gorham decided to carve her own niche out of the beauty industry with a line of tea-infused personal care and cosmetic products.
The brand’s first launch is H.Wood.Lips, which features products such as a lip tea scrub ($24) handmade locally in flavors such as coconut chai, peppermint anise and vanilla caramel; as well as a lip shine stick ($16) made from camellia oil, mango butter and shea butter, to name a few ingredients, in colors such as Rose, Ruby and Poppy.
Up next are a tea-infused body scrub and tea-infused body lotion candle. She also recently debuted six triple-pigmented lipsticks at Henri Bendel in New York.
Up next are a tea-infused body scrub and tea-infused body lotion candle. She also recently debuted six triple-pigmented lipsticks at Henri Bendel in New York.
The H.Wood Beauty collection. |
“I loved the idea of working with a hot Hollywood night spot, bringing a bit of glam to every woman while delivering a product that’s good for you,” Gorham told HAPPI. “Tea is rich in antioxidants, as well as containing vitamins like C and E, and carotenoids and flavonoids, which enhance the skin’s texture, appearance and function. When tea is combined with other ingredients typically found in skin care products, a synergy occurs and the tea intensifies their effects promoting healthy, youthful skin from the inside out.”
So, why start off a line with lip products, which was the only color cosmetics category to post a decline in sales during the past year?
“The perfect look starts with the perfect pout,” said Gorham.
After all, the best beauty trends start with word of mouth.
More info: www.hwoodbeauty.com