C: Is for the Firt of Vanessa Minnillo

Unless you have been under a rock it was the photographs of Lindsay Lohan holding a knife against Vanessa Minnillo's throat that sent her to rehab. Best known for dating singer Nick Lachey ex-husband of Jessica Simpson, this former Miss Teen USA and American television personality from Entertainment Tonight has parried all this negative publicity towards a cameo in Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer. She also graces the covers of Maxim (she's #15), Shape and Lucky. The later is the 2007 July issue. The reason for the Lucky Magazine? She is the new addition to the "Flirt! Cosmetics" line, debuting in August which will be available at Kohl stores and www.kohls.com as well as www.flirtcosmetics.com.
Twice a year, Flirt enlists the creative talents of personalities from pop culture to express their unique sense of style and creativity in cosmetics. The Guest Creator may work on a new color, a new product, a new accessory or an entire collection. Vanessa Minillo along with her beau showed off her contribution at BIG DROP New York City in Soho (look for an article on that Monday)! Unveiling the new shades of lip gloss and eye shadow in her limited edition collection, these colors, packaging and pricing are sure to make this line a success. Done in two palettes one reflecting the Autumn tones and the other a Amethyst/Rose. I must admit I not only like them but would use them. The lip glosses are not as impressive as the colors seem just a little off. In today's competitive market you can not afford that.

Flirt is the second Beauty Bank brand to be announced. Beauty Bank under American Beauty is the sole provider for Kohl's newly created beauty department. Beauty Bank is a subsidiary of Estee Lauder. Estée Lauder is beginning to have a monopoly on the beauty and perfume world. I include all their brands: Aramis, Aveda, Bobbi Brown, Bumble and bumble, Clinique, Daisy Fuentes, Darphin, Donald Trump The Fragrance, Donna Karan, Good Skin, Grassroots, Jo Malone, Kate Spade, Lab Series (a male skin care brand which is a spin-off from Aramis), La Mer, Kiton, MAC Cosmetics, Michael Kors, MISSONI, Origins, Prescriptives, Rodan and Fields, Sean John, Stila, Tommy Hilfiger and Coach Fragrances.

One of the best things about last nights event was a portion of the proceeds were going to Children's Rights (see Friday's column). It is nice to note that companies give back and that is a F.A.C.T.