A LaLa Land-ing; Burberry and Kilian Flank Their Best Smellers; Plus a TRNR x KYIR Skin-Hair Giveaway

Greetings, Blue Princes, from beautiful Southern California. As an expat, it’s always nice to drop into LA (and NYC too) and instantly feel a sense of familiarity in the hustle—like, oh right, my industry and peers are here! That is, as opposed to feeling like a reflectionless freelance amoeba out in the world, lol.

We’re staring down a week of brand/shop/PR/celeb groomer meetings in LA/OC/SD. On Thursday we head to Natural Products Expo West in Anaheim; should any of you be in attendance, I’d love to say hullo in person.

I’m drumming up this newsletter on jetlag, so I’ll focus on new launches and a particular fragrance trial of late. But first, a twofer giveaway:

This Week’s Giveaway: Skincare Essential Trio from TRNR Skin + Hair Fortifying Duo from KYIR

It’s our first-ever two-brand giveaway! This week, the prize encompasses both skin and hair. Three folks can win this trio of skincare essentials from TRNR Skin, co-founded by friend of Blue Print and trusted source, board-certified dermatologist Dr. Ryan Turner. (Includes TRNR’s exfoliating foaming cleanser; niacinamide 5% restorative serum; and probiotic moisturizer; value $137.)

And along with that, you will score KYIR’s hair serum duo; the spray restores dry, parched strands while the scalp serum promotes volume and fuller looking hair overall. The latter is thanks to two of my favorite ingredients for hair density: ashwagandha and saw palmetto. (Value $142.)

So together, you get a great foundational skin regimen and hair-boosting duo, valued at $279. You just have to answer a simple question (and be subscribed). You’ve got until Saturday, March 15 to enter. Must be 18+ in the US contiguous 48/DC. Full T&Cs here.

ENTER THE GIVEAWAY

New This Week: Cremo, Remedy, Reuzel, and Burberry

Here’s what’s new on shelves, as well as what’s new specifically to Sephora’s shelves.

Cremo Antiperspirant Deodorant: To know me is to know that I love antiperspirant. And to read my grooming content is to know that I want more antiperspirants on the market. It’s even better when a reputable and cost-effective brand like Cremo enters the space. This one comes in three scents—Italian Bergamot FTW. (And if you’re wondering, “can I put antiperspirant on my junk?”, then watch this…)

Remedy Dandruff Shampoo: I want to fast forward to the day when Remedy has 20 SKUs, because I love their problem-solution approach to grooming (which is how most men shop the category, too). The brand, from Doctorly’s Dr. Muneeb Shah, unleashed this salicylic acid shampoo that should be good at preventing dandruff and scalp itch. (I say “should be” because, yeah, I’m still traveling and can’t get a sample til April). The most notable thing for me is that it lists ketoconazole as an inactive ingredient, unlike most keto dandruff shampoos which have it as an active/hero ingredient.

Its key active ingredient is instead that 1.8% dose of salicylic acid. This tells me that this ‘poo is more of a regular-use “mitigation/prevention” solution compared to actively fighting existing outbreaks. (I’m sure it works fine to fight existing issues too, but I would sooner grab a 1% active ingredient keto formula for that.) I do love a salicylic acid shampoo overall; just let is set on the scalp to magnify those oil-balancing and exfoliating bennies.

Reuzel Grooming Tonic Texture Cream: For those of you with curly hair or on the “perm train” (hi Robbie); this texturizing cream from Reuzel could be a game changer. I love this Dutch barbershop brand, and the fact that their assortment really serves every need, texture, and finish. Their pomade lineup alone… woof! Also, one of last year’s launches, the texturizing surf tonic, has been a staple for André’s wavy/fine hair.

Burberry Hero Eau Parfum Intense: The brand new Burberry is as broody as the brand’s ambassador Adam Driver. Eau Parfum Intense is powered by cedarwood in triplicate (just like both earlier Heroes, EDT and EDP); this one also casts prominent leather and black pepper. I got a bottle in December, find it perfectly wearable for winter, but consider it the least interesting of this Hero trio. The EDP gave us a really nice contrast from the EDT, and this one seems less inclined to differentiate. Also, why is it launching in March but not November, when is feels so scripted for cold weather? I do like Hero EP Intense, but I can’t say that it feels necessary alongside two finer options.

Also, Biodance launched at Sephora: They’re the latest K-beauty mainstay to hit those prestigious shelves. Biodance makes the sheet masks beloved by every beauty editor and influencer—but they have many other fantastic SKUs, too, namely the standalone serums (which are found in those sheet masks).

So far the Sephora.com assortment is mask heavy, though it also includes this pore-mattifying cream (can endorse it!).

You can get those serums elsewhere in the meantime: the firming-hydrating and probiotic-hydrating serums are available on Amazon (where Biodance retails nearly all of its key SKUs); and my favorite serum, the pink-y pore minimizer, is available at both Stylevana and YesStyle.

AND, a Quickie Kilian Angels’ Share Paradis Review

Upon my LA landing, I was able to get a bottle of Kilian’s early February launch, Angels’ Share Paradis Extrait, a muscled and fruity flanker of their perfect gourmand, Angels’ Share. I adore all of Kilian’s “Liquors” lineup; for me, second to Angels’ Share is Apple Brandy on the Rocks, though I can’t say either is as wearable as it is near-drinkable.

As for the new AS Paradis: It’s a raspberry-forward remix on the original oaky/sandalwoody/cognac recipe. It subtracts the headstrong cinnamon, too, which is its primary detraction. Still, it’s a fitting addition to this top-shelf Liquors assortment. I know it possesses many of those same base notes as Angels’ Share (to justify it being a flanker), but I think it could have stood alone and deserved its own original name, without sharing that association to the original.

Time will tell if it benefits from the association to the best-seller, or if it gathers dust because it can only live in the shadow.

Funny enough, I also find this one more wearable than the original. I constantly go to my Angels’ Share bottle for a feel-good huff at the house; it’s cozy cognac-y, it de-stresses, it smells fantastic. But rarely do I have a chance to apply it, since it is so specific and tastes drinkable as opposed to wearable.

So, final verdict on the new Angels’ Share Paradis: I think I got my more wearable spin on the OG Angels’ Share—even if I technically prefer the overall scent of that original. Weird, right?

L’Oreal Backs to Borntostandout in Series-A Funding

Lotsa frag talk this week.

I’m stoked for this news though: the cheeky Korean fragrance house Borntostandout got a big Series A backing from L’Oreal, which should help them expand quicker into US and EU markets. It’s impossible to root against the disruptors, who launch new scents willy nilly without overcalculation, and who take an extremely irreverent position on perfumery; case in point, their store in Seoul has a giant animatronic hand whose middle finger greets customers upon entering. More proof of their irreverence: One of their scents, Naked Laundry, even has notes of skatole, which I’ll let you google.

L’Oreal’s “BOLD” investment fund also backs Amouage; you may have noticed that the Omani perfume house is becoming a global powerhouse of late, opening or plotting beautiful boutiques in nearly every major market. They even hosted one of my favorite press trips of all time in November. So… that could indicate where Borntostandout is headed, too. See y’all eds in Seoul soon?

My favorite scents from the Korean label include the carnal and patchouli-y Filthy Musk as well as the sweet-and-sour Indecent Cherry.

That’s a wrap for this week’s newsletter, kiddos.

Let’s hope that Timothée’s mustache and tousled tresses are on their A-game this Oscars Sunday (odds are 100%), and that everyone dresses to Colman Domingo’s standards.(Odds are 10%) Of the possible awards upsets, I’m rooting most for Flow in Animated Feature.

Parting shot: Here’s a peek at my friend Jeff’s very Angeleno fragrance wardrobe, which basically looks like the shelves of Scent Bar (one of my stops this week!). A couple of these potions are new to me, too… One instant fav is the laissez-faire sage and cannabissy Cra-Yon “The High Road” EDP. It is indie-spirit LA breezy, through and through.