TAYLOR SWIFT IS THE FACE OF COVERGIRL NATURELUXE

Taylor Swift is the new face of CoverGirl NatureLuxe.

Multi-platinum artist and four-time Grammy award-winning star Taylor Swift will represent new CoverGirl NatureLuxe, billed as a “new generation of luxury makeup” by P&G. Swift, who was first announced as a CoverGirl spokesmodel in May, will appear in NatureLux ads this month as the line hits retailers.

“Taylor’s naturally polished and beautiful look fits perfectly with the new luxury makeup line,” said Vince Hudson, general manager, CoverGirl Cosmetics. “We specifically designed this line for women who, just like Taylor, want high quality products that flatter her lifestyle and environment. NatureLuxe provides luxury that isn’t extravagant, but rather simple, modern elegance that is inspired by nature.”

Vaseline Intensive Rescue’s Dry Skin Patrol—a group of real life women selected by the brand because they have dry skin—is on the road, traveling the country to take part in some pretty brutal dry-skin torture tests in some of America’s driest, coldest and itchiest places. So far, they have stopped at the Philadelphia Marathon (Nov. 21, 2010), Aspen Winternational (Nov. 27-28, 2010) and the famed Coney Island Polar Bear Plunge on New Year’s Day. Next up is the Beargrease Dogsled Marathon in Duluth, MN (Jan. 29). At the events, Vaseline is giving out free samples and offering skin care advice.

Award-winning actress and star on TV Land’s “Hot in Cleveland” Wendie Malick is the team’s leader. Team members include Kari Elle Aceto (Green Valley Lake, CA), Kailani Okamoto (Ewa Bach, HI) and Michelle Lee (Ashville, NC).

The Vaseline Facebook page features profiles of the Dry Skin Patrol members, a forum where dry skin sufferers can submit questions to the team, rescue a friend from dry skin by sending a virtual gift and request a free product sample.

P&G has signed a multi-year partnership with National Hockey League (NHL) star Alex Ovechkin to serve as a Gillette brand ambassador. Ovechkin will appear in advertising and marketing activities in support of the world’s leading male grooming brand in Russia and Eastern Europe and will collaborate with Gillette to create charity programs that will contribute to youth hockey development in the region, as well as the Washington, D.C. area.

Ovechkin, who plays for the Washington Capitals, won the Lester B. Pearson Award in 2008, 2009 and 2010. The award is presented annually to the “most outstanding player” in the NHL as voted by fellow members of the National Hockey League Players’ Association. The first campaign includes two television commercials along with print and online advertisements, as well as pointof- sale materials featuring Ovechkin’s name and likeness.

“We are looking forward to working with him in Russia and Eastern Europe to help us launch the latest addition to the Gillette Fusion family and the new series of Gillette products for sensitive skin,” said Svetlana Stishkova, Gillette marketing director, Russia.

During the past 10 years, Mary Kay Cosmetics has increased its Latina independent sales force by 39%. Mary Kay credits this growth to values it shares with Latinas. When Mary Kay Ash founded her business in 1963, she stressed to the independent sales force—made up of only 9% women at that time—the importance of faith, family and career.

Kohl’s Corporation will expand Simply Vera Vera Wang into cosmetics by Spring 2012 in Kohl’s stores nationwide and Kohls.com. At launch, the Simply Vera Vera Wang cosmetics line will include makeup and color, skin care, bath and body products and beauty accessories.

First licensed by a subsidiary of Vera Wang Group to Kohl’s in 2006, the Simply Vera Vera Wang contemporary lifestyle collection also includes apparel, handbags, leather accessories, jewelry, footwear, bedding and bath.

“As part of my incredible partnership with Kohl’s, I will now be able to offer women all over America my own personal regimen for skin care and makeup. It is an easy, light, modern and effortless “As part of my incredible partnership with Kohl’s, I will now be able to offer women all over America my own personal regimen for skin care and makeup. It is an easy, light, modern and effortless approach to beauty and creativity,” said Wang. “I am proud to announce this whole new business we are about to launch. For sheer allure and enhancement, makeup can inspire individuality, creativity and exploration. Like fashion, makeup is also transformational. I love the artistry of makeup to accentuate, enhance, or create a mood for any time of day or occasion.”

• Near the end of 2010, Pledge held the “Pledge to Love Your Kitchen” contest. Launched in partnership with Jyl Johnson Pattee of MomItForward.com, the contest offered moms the chance to win $15,000 in gift cards for one or more major home improvement retailers to help update their kitchen along with a year’s supply of Pledge.

To enter the contest, entrants had to describe in 500 words or less how Pledge could help them love their kitchen and upload two photos of their kitchen to MomItForward.com. The contest ran from Nov. 15-Dec. 10, 2010.

Ecolab Inc. and the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute have created www.bedbugtoolkit.com, a free online resource to help hotel owners and operators stop bed bugs before they spread. The tool kit features downloadable information and materials on how to train staff to detect bed bugs early, as well as actions to take when they suspect a guest room is infested.

Wet Ones has enlisted Bill Nye to help spread the word about healthy hygiene practices.

To help teach families about the importance of clean hands and prevent the spread of germs, Wet Ones Antibacterial Hand Wipes has launched the Wet Ones Healthy Hands Zone website, an educational resource developed by renowned science educator Bill Nye, author of “Bill Nye the Science Guy’s Great Big Book of Tiny Germs.”

Score another one for Guthy- Renker. G-R’s latest coup is Caroline Wozniacki, the world’s No. 1 tennis player, as a spokesmodel for Proactiv Solution. The two-year deal with the Denmark native, who lives in Monaco, will pay her several million dollars, according to Guthy-Renker co-founder and co-chairman Greg Renker, who declined to disclose an exact dollar amount.

Wozniacki also shills for Adidas by Stella McCartney and has been tapped by Danish hair and body care company Allison.

Proactiv, which has been responsible for more than half of Guthy-Renker’s estimated sales of $1.5 billion, is expected to generate around $850 million in revenues this year. Earlier this year, the company said it would spend $200 million globally on the brand’s spots.

Scentsy, Inc., a growing party-plan company which offers scented, wickless candles and other fragrance products, has donated $1.25 million in plush toys to be distributed to Boys & Girls Clubs across the country. Boys & Girls Clubs of America will receive 50,000 Scentsy Buddies, a stuffed animal with a scent pack inside.

The Boys & Girls Club donation was part of a larger pledge by Scentsy worth $2.5 million in toys for nonprofit organizations dedicated to helping children. Other recipients included Kids In Distressed Situations and Kids In Need Foundation.

Crest Oral-B is recognizing registered dental hygienists who go above and beyond the call of duty daily with its new “Pros in the Profession” award program. Throughout the year, Crest Oral- B will reward five deserving professionals, as nominated by their peers, who truly make an impact on patients and for the oral health cause.

Now through April 30, 2011, nominations can be submitted to dentalcare.com/prosintheprofession or at the Crest Oral-B booth at upcoming dental conventions. Winners will receive a $1,500 monetary prize, an all-expense-paid trip to ADHA’s 88th Annual Session in Nashville, a pampering spa experience, recognition at major conferences throughout the year, and an exclusive trip to P&G headquarters.

Summit Brands, the Fort Wayne, IN-based manufacturer and marketer of specialty household cleaning products such as Super Iron Out, Dishwasher Magic, Plink and White Brite, has renewed its partnership with appliance maker GE Appliances.

The partnership gives Summit Brands the opportunity to educate new and current GE Appliances consumers on how to properly clean and care for their water softener with the help of Summit Brand products. Consumers purchasing a new GE Softener are provided with knowledge concerning hard water issues such as rust, helpful tips on preventing and removing rust stains and coupons to Summit Brand products like Super Iron Out.

Clarisonic has made a $500,000 donation to Look Good…Feel Better. “Our partnership with Look Good…Feel Better is a natural fit since we are both committed to empowering women to look and feel beautiful,” said Jack Gallagher, president of Clarisonic. “We are honored to contribute to this dynamic program that is helping thousands of women each year.”

Biotone products were voted “Favorite Bodycare Line” in American Spa’s 2010 Professional’s Choice Awards. Now in its sixth year, the awards are the results of readers’ votes in the following categories: favored spas, brands, equipment, properties and professionals.