BeChicMag.com

Thanks to Procter and Gamble- the parent company to brands like Pantene, CoverGirl, Olay and Tide to name a few- I had an exclusive opportunity to tour the hair and cosmetics science labs in the P&G headquarters in Ohio!

P&G selected 11 online beauty reporters for a two day, all-expenses paid trip to Cincinnati where we tried our hands at making lotion in the Olay labs, learned about Pantene formulas and how CoverGirl came to design their LashBlast mascara!

We received tons of information! Did you know that 86% of women go light to dark when choosing foundation shades but only 15% choose correctly when self selecting? Did you know that American women want shampoo to lather in 40 seconds, and that Mexican consumers like less lather while Ukrainians like more? Or, that products go through rigorous testing and may be reformulated several times before being shipped? Something to think about next time you’re on the check out line, right? Check out our brief interview with Procter and Gamble’s Wendy Kennedy below!

By ARLENY

I recently got my hands on DARE ME- Kimora Lee Simmon’s fifth and latest fragrance. From the name, to the scent and even the packaging, I am a fan!

This perfume opens with a smooth coconut top note that blends into a heart of velvety blackberry crème and vanilla orchid with a sophisticated warm drydown of crème de musk and sandalwood. DARE ME is said to fully express Kimora’s dedication of inspiring young women to play the game of life by their own rules.

“I wanted to create a fragrance that makes women feel like they can conquer anything their hearts desire,” says Simmons. “To me, DARE ME is the absolute essence of girl power. I went from being a shy teenager to the woman I am today by daring to be bold, fearless and comfortable in my own skin. My new fragrance embodies all of these aspects of how I want women to feel and I cant wait to share it with my fans.”

Its fruity scent is perfect for the upcoming months. I’m already wearing the fragrance, but I have one complaint: The scent doesn’t last long enough…

DARE ME is available in select stores nationwide such as Walgreens, Target and Kohl’s.

By MERCEDES

Waking up early on a Saturday morning never felt so good, especially for a private Pilates class in Greenwich Village with fitness expert Ana Caban.

Besides being one of the top instructors in the country (there’s talk about Ana having her own show), she’s also a successful businesswoman. Caban has sold more than $25 Million from her programs and merchandise which include exercise videos.

Watch below for simple at-home moves Ana Caban gives exclusively to our BeChic readers, plus find out where you can get organic fitness apparel.

By MERCEDES SANCHEZ

Your eyes are not fooling you. That really is Anna Wintour speaking with me on the red carpet at the 45th Annual National Magazine Awards also known as the Ellies. The Vogue Editrix was honored with the Magazine Editors’ Hall of Fame Award.

Want to know what she said? Well, hear it for yourself on the video below or on our BeChicTV channel. We also caught up with People Editor Larry Hackett, Project Runway’s Nina Garcia, Bravo’s Andy Cohen and lifecaster Julia Allison who shares why she went on an Internet hiatus.

By MERCEDES

When Pantene announced its search for the World’s First Reality Hair Star, I was curious to learn what the contest required. During the past few weeks, contestants submitted a one minute video sharing why they should be Pantene’s Hair Star. The winner will receive cool prizes including the chance to appear live on an upcoming commercial! I’m not afraid to admit my long life dream of being one of those Pantene women- even if it’s just for a day. So I too submitted my short and simple video and was named “Fan Favorite” the first two days. I’ll keep you all posted on the progress of the contest!

Today is the last day to vote, so please cast your vote here!