The next time you’re walking along the beach and come across a grayish, unidentifiable blob, you might not want to ignore it. According to this report, one family in Australia was doing just that when they stumbled across a sample of ambergris worth over $1 million!

So why does this story make the Beauty Brains? Well, it turns out ambergris (or whale vomit) is one of the many natural materials used by perfume companies for creating fragrances. Apparently, one gram of the stuff is worth $20 (US). That’s over $9000 per pound!

The natural material is not used very often anymore because it is extremely rare and it comes from whales (a protected species). Fortunately, crafty chemists have devised suitable synthetic replacements. See, just because something is natural doesn’t mean it’s good. Think about that the next time you see advertising telling you differently.

Incidentally, if you are a US citizen and were planning on heading to the beach to seek your blobish fortune, think twice. In the US, possession of ambergris is a violation of the Endangered Species Act of 1978 and could result in significant fines and even some jail time.

It’s bad enough that men make more money than women for doing the same job, but this is just ridiculous. According to skin researchers in Germany, women’s skin ages faster than men’s! Life is so unfair.

In their study, the researchers used pulses of laser light to measure the amount of collagen and elastin in the skin. Collagen is responsible for giving skin its strength and elasticity. As you get older your body produces less collagen so skin looks droopy and wrinkled. These researchers found that women lose collagen at faster rates than men. So if it seems like you have to work harder to keep your skin looking good than the men in your life, you’re right.

Mid Brain reports:

This story about Bollywood star Shahrukh Khan’s endorsement of a skin lightening product demonstrates just how controversial a cosmetic product can be.  Khan, who’s been described as the Tom Cruise of Bollywood, is being criticized for reinforcing prejudices and stereotypes.  The product he’s pitching is called Fair and Handsome and it’s supposed to make users lighter-skinned and confident.  You can see the video here.

Their website lists the 4 key ingredients as Peptide, Licorice, Vetiver and Aloe Vera.  These aren’t likely to give any skin lightening effect.  It is more likely they are using technology similar to Meladerm since hydroquinone is banned in some EU countries.  They don’t have the same labeling requirements as the US so the actual active ingredients couldn’t be found.

Cosmetic Irony

It’s always seemed ironic that we all seem to want what we don’t have. People who are dark skinned want lighter skin. People who are pale want tanned skin. Women with straight hair get perms, those with curly hair get it relaxed.  For cosmetic companies, this is good.  There will always be a need for products to fix some perceived problem.  Unfortunately, I’m just not sure if reinforcing stereotypes and making people feel bad about their natural beauty is good for humanity.

Mid Brain reports:

In one of the oddest stories I’ve heard in a while, Kate Moss admitted that she thinks gasoline is one of the best scents in the world. According to the report I read at CosmeticsDesign.com (which I have to assume is partially tongue in cheek)  she is considering creating a gasoline-inspired perfume. This started me wondering what perfumes would cost if we bought them like we do gasoline – by the gallon!

Velvet Hour by Kate Moss

Description: With her new fragrance, Kate invites you to be part of her Velvet Hour, a brief, precious moment as dusk settles, when the air is electrified with possibility.  It is all about entering an intimate, almost ritualistic moment of intense sensuality and seduction.

Cost per ounce of fragrance = $40/ounce

Cost if it was a gallon of gasoline = $5,120/gallon

Angel by Thierry Mugler

Description: Evokes the emotion of tender childhood memories together with a sense of dreamlike infinity. (But then again, don’t we all?)

Cost per ounce of fragrance = $90/ounce

Cost if it was a gallon of gasoline = $11,530/gallon

No. 1 by Clive Christian

Description: Does it really matter?

Cost per ounce of fragrance = $2,150/ounce

Cost if it was a gallon of gasoline = $275,200/gallon

The Beauty Brains bottom line

Hmmmm, I think it’ll be cheaper to build the world’s first hydrogen powered car rather than use perfume as gasoline!

What’s the most you’ve ever spent on a bottle of perfume? Leave a comment and embarrass yourself in front of the rest of the Beauty Brains community.

Mid Brain reports:

It’s either the coolest girly gadget EVER or a sign of the approaching apocalypse: Sony Erickson has developed a line of scented cell phones. You simply insert a fragrance strip into the phone and you can chat and sniff for up to 3 whole months. I can only wonder how sick I’d get of their “Apple Pie” fragrance after 3 months!

Cell Phone or Smell Phone, which would you prefer? Leave a comment and tell the other Beauty Brainiacs if you’d ever buy a product like this.