Branded cosmetic items are nothing new, a quality promotional product supplier like Gift Selection can offer a great range of branded beauty and grooming gifts. Recent research has shown that we would have appreciated some promotional make up, far longer ago then we first imagined.

Scientists in Murcia Southern Spain, claim to have found the first persuasive evidence that cave men, wore body paint and make up approximately 50,000 years ago. Their team reported their findings to the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), showing that shells containing pigment residues were used as Neanderthal make-up containers.

The team said their findings end “the view of Neanderthals as half-wits” and shows they were capable of symbolic thinking. I’d like to mention that I’ve seen plenty of women in the Preston area wearing plenty of make up, which I wouldn’t say guaranteed any sort of thinking, symbolic or otherwise.

Professor Joao Zilhao from the Bristol University in the UK, told the BBC that; “this is the first secure evidence for their use of cosmetics… the use of these complex recipes is new. It’s more than body painting.”

A simple but effective promotional product relating to the cosmetic industry, would be a printed lip balm. My favourite style of printed Lip Balm, are the little round pots which can be branded in vibrant full colour. Printed lip balm pots can not only be printed in full colour, but are available in really vibrant and attractive colour ways too.

Whether you want branded lip balm sticks, branded lip balm balls, branded lip balm lanyards or branded lip balm boxes - Gift Selection in conjunction with Promostore can be of service.

High street coffee chain Coffee Republic is having a make over, after research suggested that female customers are put off by the existing dark interiors. As well as brightened up the place, chief executive Tariq Affara includes plans to introduce another two outlets in the UK within twelve months. 

I didn’t think coffee bars where particularly macho places anyway, but Affara said: ‘We want to broaden the appeal of the brand. We want to reach out to a wider market and make our bars even more attractive to spend time in”. As ever the first new look café will open in London, before being introduced across the UK and overseas.

If you wish to use promotional products to appeal to women, Gift Selection has a wide range of corporate gifts designed specifically for the fairer sex (or for very camp males). Please note, giving a lady a pink calculator probably won’t impress her – so be more imaginative.

Call me old fashioned but gifts for ladies fall into two categories, those that are shiny and those with a high fat content. On a serious note, their promotional beauty products, would make a fantastic staff incentive for your hard working female employees. Promotional nail files, branded vanity mirrors or personalised lip balms are inexpensive but handy gifts, while upmarket engraved trinket boxes make for quality corporate gifts.

If you have any questions related to promotional products for women in particular, then contact the friendly team at Gift Selection.

Barbie sure doesn’t look bad considering she’s now the wrong side of 50, and is still a popular product for young girls and camp men alike.

Innocent looking Barbie has lead a surprisingly controversial life, having being under attack from a number of lawsuits. As well legal problems, she faced criticisms of portraying an unattainable image for young girls to aspire too. In her defense as the youth of today are getting chubbier, Barbie’s own waistlines have also increased.

If your business is linked to the fairer sex - the more deadly species as someone once said, and then you may be interested in cosmetic promotional products. Giftselection has a wide range of attractively designed promotional beauty items that could slip into any ladies handbag.

A printed nail file for example, would make for a really cost effective mailer for new salon or spa. Promotional beauty items are often overlooked in the corporate gift world for the potential impact they could have on your clients. Obviously having the right market is essential, printed lipsticks with “Dave’s Gym” on the side might not go down quite as well.

Whether you’re looking for printed cosmetic sets or inexpensive nail files, Giftselection is well worth considering for all printed promotional beauty items.

The Guinness world record holder for the person with the longest fingernails in the world has lost them in a car crash – only in the US. Lee Redmond, of Salt Lake City, Utah, sustained serious but not fatal injuries in the accident. Whether these injuries were the result of her ridiculously long nails or not I’m unsure.  Her once record-breaking nails, which hadn’t been cut since 1979, measured in at 35 inches before the accident.

I think this was God’s way of hinting that better personal hygiene was in order. If your staff are looking like they could do with a manicure - then promotional nail files makes a handy corporate gift. Personalised nail files make for a cost effective marketing tool, that would work well as a mailer.With this personalised nail file and polish set, your clients and staff will keep looking their best. This promotional beauty product would make a welcome addition to any ladies handbag. Alternatively it would a great promotional product for any business involved with the beauty industry.

Last night I saw the multi Bafta winning ‘Curious Case of Benjamin Button’.  This eye opening film is based on a short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald and is about a man who is born in his eighties and ages backward. Despite the Sunday Times only giving this an underwhelming two stars, it has been nominated for a whopping 13 Oscars.

The leading lady (Kate Blanchett), finally realises her true feelings for Benjamin after years of messing about. What women wouldn’t feel anxious about ageing, while the handsome Brad Pitt becomes more youthful every day? What Kate would have appreciated is some quality promotional beauty products as a corporate gift. A personalised vanity mirror for example, would make a stylish promotional item that any lady could keep with her at all times!

A really cost effective promotional item is lip balm, which can be imprinted with your logo and easily distributed to potential clients. Giftselection has a great range of imprinted manicure & grooming sets, and personalised recovery packs which will appeal to both men and women.