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...

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...

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...

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...

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...