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  1	
  
Introduction	
  to	
  design	
  studies	
  –	
  final	
  paper	
  
Done	
  by:	
  Sarah	
  lee	
  Shan	
  Yun	
  
	
  
	
  
Research	
  Question:	
  
How	
  does	
  the	
  design	
  of	
  Lancôme’s	
  Hypnôse	
  mascara	
  seduce	
  the	
  
female	
  consumer	
  by	
  indicating	
  feminine	
  ideals?	
  
	
  
(Fig.	
  1)	
  Lancôme	
  01	
  Hypnôse	
  Mascara,	
  photograph,	
  accessed	
  31	
  Mar	
  2015.	
  
<http://web.raxbeauty.com/image/data/product/Lancome/100877007002.jpg>	
  
  2	
  
Introduction	
  
	
   Founded	
  in	
  1935	
  by	
  Armand	
  Petitjean	
  in	
  France,	
  Lancôme	
  is	
  an	
  80-­‐year-­‐old	
  
cosmetics	
  brand	
  that	
  epitomizes	
  luxe	
  beauty.	
  It	
  was	
  acquired	
  by	
  French	
  beauty	
  
conglomerate	
  L’Oréal	
  in	
  1964	
  and	
  is	
  currently	
  housed	
  under	
  its	
  luxury	
  products	
  
division,	
  L’Oréal	
  Luxe.1	
  Lancôme	
  boasts	
  an	
  impressive	
  collection	
  of	
  mascara	
  
products	
  that	
  have	
  attracted	
  viral	
  attention	
  by	
  the	
  beauty	
  community.	
  In	
  2011,	
  
Lancôme	
  partnered	
  with	
  popular	
  beauty	
  vlogger	
  Michelle	
  Phan,	
  garnering	
  over	
  
30,000	
  viewers	
  to	
  their	
  YouTube	
  channel,	
  featuring	
  Lancôme’s	
  Hypnôse	
  Doll	
  Lashes	
  
mascara2.	
  The	
  Hypnôse	
  line	
  consists	
  of	
  three	
  different	
  products:	
  Hypnôse	
  Star,	
  
Hypnôse	
  Doll	
  Lashes	
  and	
  the	
  classic	
  Hypnôse	
  priced	
  between	
  US$27-­‐$29	
  a	
  tube	
  (see	
  
fig.	
  2).	
  Available	
  worldwide	
  in	
  most	
  major	
  department	
  and	
  drug	
  stores,	
  L’Oréal	
  
prides	
  itself	
  on	
  its	
  global	
  reach	
  and	
  wide	
  product	
  range,	
  which	
  it	
  says	
  caters	
  to	
  the	
  
“great	
  diversity	
  of	
  beauty”3	
  in	
  the	
  world.	
  
	
   Given	
  the	
  brand’s	
  immense	
  influence	
  on	
  the	
  industry,	
  what	
  are	
  the	
  
ramifications	
  of	
  the	
  product’s	
  implicit	
  messaging	
  on	
  the	
  minds	
  of	
  female	
  
consumers?	
  The	
  mascara	
  as	
  a	
  designed	
  product	
  holds	
  more	
  truth	
  about	
  the	
  
idealized	
  woman	
  than	
  meets	
  the	
  eye.	
  Its	
  shape,	
  form	
  and	
  function	
  contain	
  many	
  
indications	
  that	
  persuade	
  the	
  consumer	
  to	
  make	
  the	
  purchase.	
  In	
  essence,	
  this	
  essay	
  
will	
  outline	
  how	
  the	
  design	
  of	
  Lancôme’s	
  Hypnôse	
  mascara	
  seduces	
  the	
  female	
  
consumer	
  by	
  indicating	
  feminine	
  ideals.	
  
	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  
1	
  "Lancôme:	
  Makeup,	
  Perfume,	
  Cosmetics,	
  Beauty	
  Care."	
  L'Oréal	
  Group.	
  January	
  1,	
  2013.	
  Accessed	
  
March	
  31,	
  2015.	
  http://www.loreal.com/brands/loreal-­‐luxe/lancome.aspx.	
  
2	
  “Michelle	
  Phan	
  creates	
  The	
  Romantic	
  look	
  with	
  Lancôme	
  Doll	
  Lashes,”	
  YouTube	
  video,	
  3:39,	
  posted	
  
by	
  "Lancome	
  USA,"	
  September	
  12,	
  2011,	
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPskOED1cnk	
  
3	
  “L’Oréal’s	
  model	
  of	
  innovation:	
  strong	
  research"	
  L'Oréal	
  Group.	
  January	
  1,	
  2013.	
  Accessed	
  March	
  31,	
  
2015.	
  http://www.loreal.com/research-­‐innovation/our-­‐innovation-­‐model.aspx	
  
  3	
  
Formal	
  analysis	
  
Upon	
  first	
  glance,	
  the	
  mascara	
  
tube	
  is	
  streamlined,	
  slightly	
  hourglass	
  
but	
  not	
  voluptuous.	
  The	
  wand	
  of	
  the	
  
mascara	
  separates	
  from	
  the	
  tube	
  and	
  
into	
  a	
  thin	
  brush	
  held	
  by	
  the	
  user	
  by	
  a	
  curved	
  cap.	
  Its	
  bristles	
  are	
  sparse,	
  ideal	
  for	
  
creative	
  “buildable	
  volume”	
  and	
  “custom	
  lash	
  results”4.	
  Its	
  POWERFULL™	
  brush	
  is	
  a	
  
specially	
  designed	
  feature	
  that	
  contains	
  1000	
  sensory	
  bristles	
  that	
  promise	
  “perfect	
  
lash	
  separation	
  without	
  clumping”5.	
  Its	
  smooth	
  black	
  surface	
  hides	
  any	
  stains	
  or	
  
evidence	
  of	
  the	
  mascara	
  liquid,	
  acting	
  as	
  an	
  almost	
  elegant	
  and	
  flattering	
  flask.	
  The	
  
mascara,	
  however,	
  is	
  known	
  for	
  its	
  superior	
  formula	
  -­‐	
  made	
  of	
  a	
  special	
  SoftSculpt™	
  
base	
  which	
  is	
  a	
  fluid	
  texture	
  containing	
  soft,	
  emollient	
  waxes	
  and	
  an	
  exclusive	
  
PC/PA	
  polymer	
  system6.	
  The	
  liquid	
  is	
  described	
  as	
  thin	
  and	
  wet	
  in	
  order	
  to	
  facilitate	
  
layered	
  application.	
  The	
  plastic	
  tube	
  contains	
  10ml	
  of	
  product,	
  a	
  little	
  less	
  than	
  the	
  
13ml	
  provided	
  by	
  other	
  popular	
  drugstore	
  mascaras.	
  Sealed	
  with	
  a	
  gold-­‐rimmed	
  
cap,	
  the	
  product	
  is	
  also	
  stamped	
  with	
  Lancôme’s	
  signature	
  singular	
  rose	
  logo	
  and	
  
capitalized	
  brand	
  name	
  “LANCÔME”	
  with	
  the	
  subtext	
  “PARIS”.	
  
	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  
4	
  “Hypnôse	
  -­‐	
  mascara	
  by	
  Lancôme"	
  L'Oréal	
  Group.	
  January	
  1,	
  2013.	
  Accessed	
  March	
  31,	
  2015.	
  
http://www.lancome-­‐
usa.com/Hypnose/990516,default,pd.html?dwvar_990516_color=Deep%20Black&cgid=makeup-­‐
mascara#start=11	
  
5	
  Ibid.	
  
6	
  Ibid.	
  
(Fig.	
  3)	
  Lancôme	
  Hypnôse	
  Mascara,	
  
photograph,	
  accessed	
  31	
  Mar	
  2015.	
  
<http://www.sephora.com/produc
timages/sku/s764183-­‐main-­‐
Lhero.jpg>	
  
  4	
  
The	
  mascara	
  and	
  the	
  female	
  identity	
  
Pierre	
  Bourdieu	
  used	
  the	
  term	
  “key	
  cultural	
  intermediaries”	
  to	
  describe	
  
designers	
  in	
  19847.	
  They	
  differ	
  from	
  artists	
  in	
  that	
  they	
  have	
  a	
  purpose	
  to	
  create	
  
attractive	
  “artifacts”	
  that	
  sell	
  in	
  the	
  market8.	
  Products	
  have	
  to	
  perform,	
  and	
  that	
  
requires	
  them	
  to	
  carry	
  relevant	
  cultural	
  meaning	
  as	
  an	
  embodiment	
  of	
  the	
  
consumer’s	
  identity.	
  If	
  the	
  preceding	
  statement	
  is	
  so,	
  what	
  can	
  be	
  said	
  of	
  Lancôme’s	
  
Hypnôse	
  mascara	
  and	
  its	
  ideal	
  user?	
  Contrary	
  to	
  the	
  product’s	
  global	
  market	
  reach,	
  
Lancôme	
  as	
  a	
  brand	
  has	
  important	
  origins	
  in	
  France.	
  Its	
  founder,	
  Armand	
  Petitjean,	
  
is	
  described	
  as	
  a	
  “visionary	
  and	
  lover	
  of	
  French	
  elegance	
  and	
  women”9.	
  The	
  
Eurocentric	
  beauty	
  ideal	
  still	
  holds	
  true	
  in	
  the	
  DNA	
  of	
  the	
  brand,	
  in	
  both	
  its	
  product	
  
design	
  and	
  marketing	
  strategies.	
  The	
  mascara’s	
  tube	
  is	
  slim,	
  slender	
  but	
  curvy,	
  
mirroring	
  the	
  popularized	
  body	
  type	
  of	
  the	
  elegant	
  French	
  woman.	
  The	
  subtext	
  
“PARIS”	
  stamped	
  in	
  gold	
  at	
  the	
  bottom	
  of	
  the	
  logo	
  indicates	
  a	
  familiar	
  francophilia	
  
associated	
  with	
  the	
  luxury	
  fashion	
  industry	
  –	
  as	
  opposed	
  to	
  many	
  of	
  the	
  brands	
  in	
  
L’Oréal’s	
  consumer	
  products	
  division,	
  including	
  Maybelline	
  and	
  Garnier10,	
  which	
  
cater	
  to	
  a	
  broader,	
  more	
  diverse	
  market	
  of	
  consumers.	
  The	
  global	
  popularity	
  of	
  
Lancôme’s	
  Hypnôse	
  mascara,	
  especially	
  in	
  China11,	
  is	
  an	
  irony	
  in	
  itself,	
  speaking	
  to	
  
deeper	
  issues	
  regarding	
  global	
  currents	
  and	
  cultural	
  shifts	
  in	
  beauty	
  ideals.	
  
	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  
7	
  "The	
  Sony	
  Walkman."	
  In	
  Design	
  Studies:	
  A	
  Reader,	
  edited	
  by	
  Hazel	
  Clark,	
  by	
  Paul	
  Du	
  Gay,	
  S.	
  Hall,	
  L.	
  
Janes,	
  and	
  H.	
  Mackay,	
  349.	
  English	
  ed.	
  Oxford:	
  Berg,	
  2009.	
  
8	
  Ibid.	
  
9	
  "Lancôme:	
  Makeup,	
  Perfume,	
  Cosmetics,	
  Beauty	
  Care."	
  L'Oréal	
  Group.	
  January	
  1,	
  2013.	
  Accessed	
  
March	
  31,	
  2015.	
  http://www.loreal.com/brands/loreal-­‐luxe/lancome.aspx.	
  
10	
  "All	
  the	
  L’Oréal	
  brands.”	
  L'Oréal	
  Group.	
  January	
  1,	
  2013.	
  Accessed	
  March	
  31,	
  2015.	
  
http://www.loreal.com/brands/brands-­‐homepage.aspx	
  
11	
  "L'Oréal	
  Company	
  Profile	
  -­‐	
  SWOT	
  Analysis.	
  Lancôme	
  for	
  Global	
  Market	
  Growth	
  in	
  Premium	
  
Cosmetics	
  sec."	
  Passport,	
  Euromonitor,	
  45.	
  December	
  1,	
  2012.	
  
http://www.euromonitor.com/medialibrary/PDF/LOreal-­‐Company-­‐Profile-­‐SWOT-­‐Analysis.pdf	
  
  5	
  
According	
  to	
  Cheryl	
  Buckley,	
  it	
  is	
  important	
  to	
  analyze	
  the	
  role	
  of	
  women	
  as	
  
consumers	
  in	
  the	
  discussion	
  of	
  women	
  and	
  design12.	
  The	
  inherent	
  stereotype	
  that	
  
women	
  are	
  the	
  consumers	
  in	
  a	
  society13	
  holds	
  true	
  in	
  the	
  beauty	
  industry	
  –	
  most	
  if	
  
not	
  all	
  cosmetic	
  products	
  on	
  a	
  drug	
  store	
  shelf	
  caters	
  to	
  that	
  of	
  female	
  buyers.	
  
Companies	
  exploit	
  women’s	
  obsession	
  with	
  being	
  beautiful,	
  targeting	
  innate	
  
biological	
  yearnings	
  to	
  be	
  attractive	
  to	
  the	
  opposite	
  sex.	
  Long	
  lashes	
  evoke	
  the	
  
power	
  of	
  the	
  gaze	
  and	
  ideas	
  of	
  seduction	
  through	
  eye	
  contact	
  –	
  an	
  association	
  that	
  
marketers	
  often	
  utilize	
  in	
  advertisements	
  and	
  marketing	
  campaigns	
  (see	
  fig.	
  4	
  for	
  an	
  
example	
  of	
  a	
  print	
  advertisement	
  for	
  Lancôme’s	
  Hypnôse	
  mascara	
  featuring	
  model	
  
Daria	
  Werbowy).	
  The	
  gaze,	
  in	
  this	
  context,	
  is	
  empowering	
  and	
  heightened,	
  
demanding	
  the	
  attention	
  of	
  the	
  onlooker.	
  The	
  irony	
  holds	
  that	
  most	
  viewers	
  of	
  the	
  
advertorial	
  are	
  women	
  themselves,	
  leaving	
  the	
  seductive	
  tension	
  between	
  the	
  
female	
  consumer	
  and	
  the	
  idealized	
  image	
  presented	
  before	
  them.	
  In	
  a	
  2012	
  video	
  
campaign	
  for	
  Lancôme’s	
  Hypnôse	
  Star	
  mascara	
  featuring	
  Daria	
  Werbowy,	
  the	
  
famous	
  cartoon	
  character	
  Betty	
  Boop	
  says,	
  “all	
  stars	
  have	
  a	
  secret,	
  just	
  say	
  it	
  with	
  
the	
  eyes”14.	
  In	
  it,	
  Betty	
  convinces	
  Werbowy,	
  who	
  plays	
  a	
  struggling	
  actress,	
  that	
  by	
  
using	
  Lancôme’s	
  Hypnôse	
  mascara	
  her	
  eyes	
  will	
  captivate	
  the	
  audience	
  and	
  she	
  will	
  
become	
  a	
  great	
  success.	
  These	
  links	
  between	
  beauty	
  and	
  success	
  are	
  not	
  new.	
  Often	
  
times,	
  advertisers	
  create	
  messages	
  and	
  associations	
  surrounding	
  beauty	
  products	
  
and	
  female	
  empowerment.	
  As	
  the	
  social	
  and	
  economic	
  positions	
  of	
  women	
  have	
  
	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  
12	
  Margolin,	
  Victor,	
  and	
  Cheryl	
  Buckley.	
  "Made	
  in	
  Patriarchy:	
  Toward	
  a	
  Feminist	
  Analysis	
  of	
  Women	
  
and	
  Design."	
  In	
  Design	
  Discourse:	
  History,	
  Theory,	
  Criticism,	
  255.	
  Chicago:	
  University	
  of	
  Chicago	
  Press,	
  
1989.	
  
13	
  Ibid.	
  
14	
  Joann	
  Sfar,	
  “Lancome's	
  Betty	
  Boop	
  Hypnose	
  Star	
  Mascara,”	
  YouTube	
  video,	
  1:50,	
  posted	
  by	
  
"Sephora,"	
  July	
  12,	
  2012,	
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhtIBTEJfxU.	
  
  6	
  
changed,	
  more	
  and	
  more	
  women	
  are	
  participating	
  in	
  the	
  consumption	
  of	
  luxury	
  
products	
  with	
  the	
  intention	
  of	
  self-­‐prescribing	
  “success	
  indicators”	
  –	
  premium	
  
skincare	
  and	
  beauty	
  products	
  being	
  one	
  of	
  them.	
  Consumers	
  are	
  prey	
  to	
  the	
  idea	
  
that	
  by	
  spending	
  on	
  quality	
  beauty	
  products,	
  more	
  beauty,	
  attention	
  and	
  success	
  
will	
  be	
  achieved	
  by	
  the	
  individual,	
  and	
  thus	
  there	
  is	
  more	
  value	
  in	
  the	
  its	
  proposed	
  
retail	
  price.	
  
	
  
The	
  mascara	
  as	
  the	
  perfect	
  marketable	
  commodity	
  
	
   One	
  of	
  the	
  very	
  first	
  marketed	
  mascaras	
  was	
  made	
  of	
  coal	
  dust	
  and	
  Vaseline	
  
(see	
  fig.	
  5).	
  The	
  young	
  entrepreneur	
  T.	
  L.	
  Williams	
  was	
  inspired	
  by	
  his	
  sister,	
  
Maybel,	
  to	
  create	
  a	
  cake	
  product,	
  packed	
  in	
  a	
  paper	
  box	
  with	
  a	
  tiny	
  applicator	
  brush	
  
used	
  to	
  apply	
  the	
  black	
  powder	
  on	
  to	
  the	
  lashes15.	
  Now	
  known	
  as	
  Maybelline,	
  the	
  
brand’s	
  immense	
  notability	
  for	
  its	
  mascara	
  products	
  still	
  holds	
  true	
  today.	
  It	
  was	
  not	
  
long	
  before	
  the	
  first	
  cream	
  mascaras	
  were	
  developed,	
  packaged	
  in	
  functional	
  plastic	
  
applicator	
  tubes	
  that	
  could	
  be	
  designed	
  and	
  redesigned.	
  The	
  French	
  philosopher	
  
Roland	
  Barthes	
  said,	
  “Plastic	
  is	
  the	
  very	
  idea	
  of	
  its	
  infinite	
  transformation.”16	
  The	
  
impact	
  of	
  the	
  synthetic	
  polymer	
  on	
  everyday	
  commodities	
  was	
  unsurprisingly	
  
important	
  after	
  its	
  invention	
  in	
  1907.	
  Goods	
  could	
  be	
  made	
  cheaply	
  and	
  quickly,	
  but	
  
could	
  be	
  pliable	
  and	
  moldable	
  to	
  any	
  configuration	
  the	
  designer	
  seemed	
  fit.	
  As	
  a	
  
result,	
  the	
  mascara	
  became	
  one	
  of	
  the	
  most	
  perfectly	
  marketable	
  beauty	
  products,	
  
	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  
15	
  Baki,	
  Gabriella,	
  and	
  Kenneth	
  S.	
  Alexander.	
  "Chapter	
  4:	
  Color	
  Cosmetics."	
  In	
  Introduction	
  to	
  Cosmetic	
  
Formulation	
  and	
  Technology.	
  Hoboken,	
  New	
  Jersey:	
  John	
  Wiley	
  &	
  Sons,	
  2015.	
  
16	
  Barthes,	
  Roland,	
  and	
  Annette	
  Lavers.	
  "Plastic."	
  In	
  Mythologies.	
  New	
  York:	
  Hill	
  and	
  Wang,	
  1972.	
  
  7	
  
transformable	
  to	
  embody	
  an	
  aesthetic	
  unique	
  to	
  the	
  brand17	
  –	
  in	
  the	
  case	
  of	
  
Lancôme’s	
  Hypnôse	
  mascara,	
  a	
  slender	
  curvaceous	
  embodiment	
  of	
  French	
  elegance.	
  
It	
  is	
  also	
  critical	
  to	
  note	
  the	
  ability	
  of	
  manufacturers	
  to	
  stamp	
  prominent	
  logos	
  on	
  
such	
  commodities,	
  leading	
  to	
  even	
  more	
  brand	
  presence	
  in	
  the	
  minds	
  of	
  consumers.	
  
In	
  the	
  case	
  of	
  Lancôme,	
  its	
  singular	
  golden	
  rose	
  has	
  become	
  ubiquitous	
  in	
  the	
  world	
  
of	
  beauty	
  due	
  to	
  consistent	
  logo	
  placements	
  over	
  the	
  decades	
  spanning	
  the	
  brand’s	
  
inception.	
  
	
   Yet	
  there	
  is	
  an	
  element	
  of	
  contradiction	
  between	
  the	
  mascara’s	
  cheap	
  plastic	
  
material	
  and	
  its	
  premium	
  price.	
  According	
  to	
  marketing	
  studies,	
  women	
  are	
  more	
  
willing	
  to	
  pay	
  higher	
  prices	
  for	
  the	
  favorite	
  mascaras	
  compared	
  to	
  other	
  beauty	
  
products	
  like	
  foundations,	
  lipsticks	
  and	
  blushes18.	
  An	
  investigation	
  into	
  the	
  source	
  
of	
  this	
  added	
  value	
  and	
  perceived	
  quality	
  would	
  therefore	
  be	
  appropriate.	
  The	
  
multitude	
  array	
  of	
  wand	
  shapes	
  and	
  sizes	
  in	
  the	
  market	
  today	
  is	
  evidence	
  that	
  
consumers	
  recognize	
  value	
  in	
  functionality.	
  Often	
  times,	
  more	
  absurdly	
  designed	
  
products	
  can	
  attract	
  the	
  attention	
  of	
  buyers	
  by	
  standing	
  out	
  in	
  the	
  crowd	
  of	
  identical	
  
cylindrical	
  mascaras	
  (see	
  fig.	
  6	
  of	
  Givenchy’s	
  Phenomen’Eyes	
  mascara).	
  The	
  design	
  
of	
  Lancôme’s	
  Hypnôse	
  mascara,	
  however,	
  is	
  distinctive	
  due	
  to	
  its	
  small,	
  slim	
  nature,	
  
which	
  is	
  an	
  irony	
  in	
  itself	
  given	
  the	
  lack	
  of	
  value	
  with	
  its	
  small	
  volume	
  and	
  
minimalist	
  wand.	
  
	
   The	
  mascara	
  also	
  derives	
  a	
  good	
  part	
  of	
  its	
  value	
  from	
  its	
  trademark	
  
formulation.	
  L’Oreal,	
  as	
  one	
  of	
  most	
  competitive	
  beauty	
  firms,	
  prides	
  itself	
  on	
  its	
  
	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  
17	
  Mazzalovo,	
  Gerald.	
  Brand	
  Aesthetics.	
  Houndmills,	
  Basingstoke:	
  Palgrave	
  Macmillan,	
  2012.	
  
18	
  Bourgeois,	
  Jean-­‐Yves.	
  "The	
  Crazy	
  Market	
  of	
  Mascaras."	
  Premium	
  Beauty	
  News.	
  September	
  30,	
  
2008.	
  Accessed	
  April	
  21,	
  2015.	
  http://www.premiumbeautynews.com/en/The-­‐crazy-­‐market-­‐of-­‐
mascaras,254.	
  
  8	
  
“Research	
  and	
  Innovation	
  model”	
  (see	
  fig.	
  7)	
  and	
  its	
  investments	
  in	
  scientific	
  
advancements	
  of	
  its	
  products’	
  chemistries.	
  An	
  article	
  in	
  the	
  New	
  York	
  Times	
  
revealed	
  that	
  L’Oreal	
  filed	
  300	
  new	
  patents	
  in	
  2002	
  for	
  its	
  cosmetic	
  and	
  hair	
  
innovations19.	
  The	
  Hypnôse	
  mascara’s	
  SoftSculpt™	
  Formula	
  is	
  described	
  as	
  
‘exclusive’20	
  to	
  consumers	
  in	
  its	
  product	
  page	
  boasting	
  a	
  unique	
  polymer	
  formula.	
  
Even	
  without	
  this	
  product	
  knowledge,	
  consumers	
  evidently	
  identify	
  with	
  the	
  idea	
  of	
  
quality	
  through	
  self-­‐testing	
  and	
  recurring	
  use,	
  leading	
  to	
  re-­‐purchases	
  and	
  added	
  
brand	
  value.	
  
	
  
The	
  mascara	
  and	
  the	
  created	
  fantasy:	
  links	
  to	
  fashion	
  and	
  lifestyle	
  
	
   The	
  links	
  between	
  beauty	
  and	
  the	
  fashion	
  industry	
  are	
  no	
  secret.	
  The	
  
relationships	
  between	
  the	
  two,	
  in	
  fact,	
  are	
  so	
  strong	
  that	
  they	
  have	
  become	
  
inseparable	
  industries,	
  sharing	
  commonplace	
  during	
  trade	
  shows	
  and	
  major	
  fashion	
  
events.	
  Lancôme	
  has	
  partnered	
  and	
  collaborated	
  with	
  many	
  famous	
  fashion	
  
designers,	
  including	
  Proenza	
  Schouler	
  and	
  Alber	
  Elbaz	
  of	
  Lanvin.	
  Many	
  supermodels	
  
have	
  emerged	
  by	
  landing	
  major	
  beauty	
  campaigns,	
  earning	
  millions	
  of	
  dollars	
  per	
  
contract21.	
  Along	
  with	
  Daria	
  Werbowy	
  (see	
  fig.	
  4),	
  Lancôme	
  has	
  also	
  featured	
  
actresses	
  Emma	
  Stone	
  and	
  Kate	
  Winslet	
  in	
  their	
  campaigns,	
  creating	
  a	
  universe	
  of	
  
	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  
19	
  Riordan,	
  Teresa.	
  "Patents;	
  A	
  Reinvention	
  of	
  Mascara	
  Goes	
  for	
  Even	
  Thicker	
  Lashes.	
  Also,	
  There's	
  a	
  
New	
  Twist	
  on	
  an	
  Old	
  Cream."	
  The	
  New	
  York	
  Times,	
  January	
  20,	
  2003,	
  Business	
  sec.	
  Accessed	
  April	
  21,	
  
2015.	
  http://www.nytimes.com/2003/01/20/business/patents-­‐reinvention-­‐mascara-­‐goes-­‐for-­‐
even-­‐thicker-­‐lashes-­‐also-­‐there-­‐s-­‐new-­‐twist.html.	
  
20	
  “Hypnôse	
  -­‐	
  mascara	
  by	
  Lancôme"	
  L'Oréal	
  Group.	
  January	
  1,	
  2013.	
  Accessed	
  March	
  31,	
  2015.	
  
http://www.lancome-­‐
usa.com/Hypnose/990516,default,pd.html?dwvar_990516_color=Deep%20Black&cgid=makeup-­‐
mascara#start=11	
  
21	
  Marsh,	
  Julia.	
  "$3	
  Million	
  Catwalk	
  Catfight:	
  Model-­‐poach	
  Suit."	
  New	
  York	
  Post,	
  January	
  16,	
  2013.	
  
Accessed	
  April	
  21,	
  2015.	
  http://nypost.com/2013/01/16/3-­‐million-­‐catwalk-­‐catfight-­‐model-­‐poach-­‐
suit/.	
  
  9	
  
fantasy	
  around	
  the	
  brand.	
  According	
  to	
  Niaomi	
  Klein,	
  “Products	
  are	
  made	
  in	
  the	
  
factory,	
  but	
  brands	
  are	
  made	
  in	
  the	
  mind.”22	
  These	
  endorsements	
  of	
  high-­‐profile	
  
individuals	
  simply	
  re-­‐iterate	
  to	
  consumers	
  the	
  associations	
  with	
  the	
  brand	
  and	
  a	
  
luxurious	
  lifestyle,	
  something	
  that	
  the	
  fashion	
  industry	
  is	
  well	
  known	
  for	
  doing.	
  
They	
  represent	
  an	
  unattainable	
  fantasy,	
  what	
  Italian	
  designer	
  Diego	
  Della	
  Valle	
  calls	
  
the	
  “piccolo	
  sogno”23	
  or	
  the	
  little	
  dream.	
  The	
  Hypnôse	
  campaign	
  not	
  only	
  brings	
  
about	
  associations	
  with	
  brand	
  and	
  luxury,	
  it	
  also	
  emphasizes	
  an	
  unattainable	
  
physical	
  beauty	
  ideal.	
  This	
  is	
  a	
  great	
  irony	
  in	
  itself,	
  as	
  the	
  campaign	
  aims	
  to	
  sell	
  a	
  
beauty	
  product	
  –	
  a	
  good	
  that	
  one	
  purchases	
  to	
  attain	
  physical	
  beauty.	
  It	
  is	
  almost	
  as	
  
if	
  the	
  subject	
  is	
  taunting	
  its	
  audience,	
  daring	
  one	
  to	
  try	
  to	
  achieve	
  the	
  same	
  standard	
  
of	
  perfection.	
  The	
  only	
  obvious	
  answer	
  to	
  the	
  challenge	
  presented	
  is	
  to	
  replicate	
  the	
  
model’s	
  physical	
  appearance	
  by	
  buying	
  the	
  featured	
  beauty	
  product.	
  Consciously,	
  
the	
  viewer	
  knows	
  that	
  buying	
  a	
  mascara	
  is	
  not	
  going	
  to	
  make	
  one	
  a	
  supermodel	
  
overnight,	
  but	
  subconsciously,	
  the	
  consumer	
  is	
  persuaded	
  over	
  and	
  over	
  again	
  that	
  
this	
  sentiment	
  is	
  true.	
  The	
  imagined	
  consumer	
  for	
  Lancôme	
  is	
  therefore,	
  not	
  the	
  
representative	
  model	
  shown	
  in	
  the	
  advertisement	
  or	
  the	
  stereotyped	
  European	
  
beauty	
  that	
  inspires	
  the	
  product’s	
  shape,	
  but	
  the	
  woman	
  who	
  aspires	
  to	
  attain	
  that	
  
ideal	
  –	
  which	
  explains	
  the	
  paradox	
  of	
  the	
  brand’s	
  global	
  popularity	
  especially	
  in	
  
non-­‐European	
  markets.	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  
22	
  "No	
  Logo."	
  In	
  Design	
  Studies:	
  A	
  Reader,	
  edited	
  by	
  Hazel	
  Clark,	
  by	
  Naomi	
  Klein,	
  201.	
  English	
  ed.	
  
Oxford:	
  Berg,	
  2009.	
  
23	
  Seabrook,	
  John.	
  "Shoe	
  Dreams."	
  The	
  New	
  Yorker	
  80,	
  no.	
  11	
  (2004):	
  62-­‐69.	
  
  10	
  
Conclusion	
  
	
   In	
  conclusion,	
  the	
  design	
  of	
  Lancôme’s	
  Hypnôse	
  mascara	
  seduces	
  the	
  female	
  
consumer	
  by	
  indicating	
  societal	
  ideals	
  in	
  a	
  number	
  of	
  ways.	
  Firstly,	
  it	
  does	
  so	
  by	
  
embodying	
  a	
  Eurocentric	
  ideal	
  evidenced	
  by	
  the	
  product’s	
  shape,	
  color	
  and	
  brand	
  
history.	
  It	
  exploits	
  the	
  female	
  tendencies	
  to	
  be	
  attractive,	
  prompting	
  women	
  to	
  
participate	
  in	
  consumption	
  to	
  attain	
  that	
  said	
  ideal.	
  It	
  exploits	
  the	
  existing	
  sentiment	
  
around	
  women	
  and	
  success	
  to	
  further	
  seduce	
  the	
  consumer	
  into	
  paying	
  for	
  its	
  
premium	
  price	
  by	
  positioning	
  itself	
  as	
  a	
  luxury	
  product.	
  It	
  convinces	
  the	
  consumer	
  
of	
  its	
  value	
  by	
  containing	
  high	
  quality	
  ingredients	
  and	
  by	
  being	
  functionally	
  well	
  
designed.	
  Lastly,	
  it	
  seduces	
  the	
  consumer	
  by	
  symbolizing	
  an	
  unattainable	
  yet	
  
aspirational	
  lifestyle.	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
  11	
  
Appendix	
  
(Fig.	
  2)	
  Lancôme	
  Hypnôse	
  Mascara	
  line,	
  screenshot,	
  accessed	
  31	
  Mar	
  2015.	
  
<http://www.lancome-­‐usa.com/Hypnose/990516,default,pd.html>	
  
	
  
  12	
  
(Fig.	
  4)	
  Mert	
  Alas,	
  Marcus	
  Piggott,	
  Lancôme	
  Hypnôse	
  advertisement	
  featuring	
  Daria	
  
Werbowy.	
  2014,	
  print	
  advertisement,	
  accessed	
  31	
  Mar	
  2015.	
  
<http://www.cincinnatiartmuseum.stores.yahoo.net/frduwhboy.html>	
  
	
  
	
  
(Fig.	
  5)	
  First	
  Maybelline	
  pressed	
  cake	
  mascara,	
  2012,	
  photograph,	
  accessed	
  21	
  Apr	
  
2015	
  
<http://ak-­‐hdl.buzzfed.com/static/enhanced/web03/2012/8/10/11/enhanced-­‐
buzz-­‐16979-­‐1344611286-­‐4.jpg>	
  
	
  
  13	
  
(Fig.	
  6)	
  Givenchy	
  Phenomen’Eyes	
  mascara	
  ball	
  shaped	
  wand,	
  2011,	
  photograph,	
  
accessed	
  21	
  Apr	
  2015	
  
<http://www.makeupgeek.com/wp-­‐content/uploads/givenchy-­‐02.jpg>	
  
	
  
	
  
(Fig.	
  7)	
  L’Oreal’s	
  Research	
  and	
  Innovation	
  website	
  page,	
  screenshot,	
  accessed	
  21	
  Apr	
  
2015	
  
<http://www.loreal.com/research-­‐innovation/our-­‐innovation-­‐model.aspx>	
  
	
  
  14	
  
Bibliography	
  
Books	
  
• Baki,	
  Gabriella,	
  and	
  Kenneth	
  S.	
  Alexander.	
  "Chapter	
  4:	
  Color	
  Cosmetics."	
  In	
  
Introduction	
  to	
  Cosmetic	
  Formulation	
  and	
  Technology.	
  Hoboken,	
  New	
  Jersey:	
  
John	
  Wiley	
  &	
  Sons,	
  2015.	
  
• Barthes,	
  Roland,	
  and	
  Annette	
  Lavers.	
  "Plastic."	
  In	
  Mythologies.	
  New	
  York:	
  Hill	
  
and	
  Wang,	
  1972.	
  
• Margolin,	
  Victor,	
  and	
  Cheryl	
  Buckley.	
  "Made	
  in	
  Patriarchy:	
  Toward	
  a	
  Feminist	
  
Analysis	
  of	
  Women	
  and	
  Design."	
  In	
  Design	
  Discourse:	
  History,	
  Theory,	
  
Criticism,	
  255.	
  Chicago:	
  University	
  of	
  Chicago	
  Press,	
  1989.	
  
• Mazzalovo,	
  Gerald.	
  Brand	
  Aesthetics.	
  Houndmills,	
  Basingstoke:	
  Palgrave	
  
Macmillan,	
  2012.	
  
• "No	
  Logo."	
  In	
  Design	
  Studies:	
  A	
  Reader,	
  edited	
  by	
  Hazel	
  Clark,	
  by	
  Naomi	
  Klein,	
  
201.	
  English	
  ed.	
  Oxford:	
  Berg,	
  2009.	
  
• "The	
  Sony	
  Walkman."	
  In	
  Design	
  Studies:	
  A	
  Reader,	
  edited	
  by	
  Hazel	
  Clark,	
  by	
  
Paul	
  Du	
  Gay,	
  S.	
  Hall,	
  L.	
  Janes,	
  and	
  H.	
  Mackay,	
  349.	
  English	
  ed.	
  Oxford:	
  Berg,	
  
2009.	
  
Newspaper	
  articles	
  /	
  journals	
  /	
  documents	
  
• "L'Oréal	
  Company	
  Profile	
  -­‐	
  SWOT	
  Analysis.	
  Lancôme	
  for	
  Global	
  Market	
  
Growth	
  in	
  Premium	
  Cosmetics	
  sec."	
  Passport,	
  Euromonitor,	
  45.	
  December	
  1,	
  
2012.	
  http://www.euromonitor.com/medialibrary/PDF/LOreal-­‐Company-­‐
Profile-­‐SWOT-­‐Analysis.pdf	
  
  15	
  
• Marsh,	
  Julia.	
  "$3	
  Million	
  Catwalk	
  Catfight:	
  Model-­‐poach	
  Suit."	
  New	
  York	
  Post,	
  
January	
  16,	
  2013.	
  Accessed	
  April	
  21,	
  2015.	
  
http://nypost.com/2013/01/16/3-­‐million-­‐catwalk-­‐catfight-­‐model-­‐poach-­‐
suit/.	
  
• Riordan,	
  Teresa.	
  "Patents;	
  A	
  Reinvention	
  of	
  Mascara	
  Goes	
  for	
  Even	
  Thicker	
  
Lashes.	
  Also,	
  There's	
  a	
  New	
  Twist	
  on	
  an	
  Old	
  Cream."	
  The	
  New	
  York	
  Times,	
  
January	
  20,	
  2003,	
  Business	
  sec.	
  Accessed	
  April	
  21,	
  2015.	
  
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/01/20/business/patents-­‐reinvention-­‐
mascara-­‐goes-­‐for-­‐even-­‐thicker-­‐lashes-­‐also-­‐there-­‐s-­‐new-­‐twist.html.	
  
• Seabrook,	
  John.	
  "Shoe	
  Dreams."	
  The	
  New	
  Yorker	
  80,	
  no.	
  11	
  (2004):	
  62-­‐69.	
  
Websites	
  
• "All	
  the	
  L’Oréal	
  brands.”	
  L'Oréal	
  Group.	
  January	
  1,	
  2013.	
  Accessed	
  March	
  31,	
  
2015.	
  http://www.loreal.com/brands/brands-­‐homepage.aspx	
  
• Bourgeois,	
  Jean-­‐Yves.	
  "The	
  Crazy	
  Market	
  of	
  Mascaras."	
  Premium	
  Beauty	
  
News.	
  September	
  30,	
  2008.	
  Accessed	
  April	
  21,	
  2015.	
  
http://www.premiumbeautynews.com/en/The-­‐crazy-­‐market-­‐of-­‐
mascaras,254.	
  
• “Hypnôse	
  -­‐	
  mascara	
  by	
  Lancôme"	
  L'Oréal	
  Group.	
  January	
  1,	
  2013.	
  Accessed	
  
March	
  31,	
  2015.	
  http://www.lancome-­‐
usa.com/Hypnose/990516,default,pd.html?dwvar_990516_color=Deep%20
Black&cgid=makeup-­‐mascara#start=11	
  
  16	
  
• "Lancôme:	
  Makeup,	
  Perfume,	
  Cosmetics,	
  Beauty	
  Care."	
  L'Oréal	
  Group.	
  
January	
  1,	
  2013.	
  Accessed	
  March	
  31,	
  2015.	
  
http://www.loreal.com/brands/loreal-­‐luxe/lancome.aspx.	
  
Videos	
  
• Joann	
  Sfar,	
  “Lancome's	
  Betty	
  Boop	
  Hypnose	
  Star	
  Mascara,”	
  YouTube	
  video,	
  
1:50,	
  posted	
  by	
  "Sephora,"	
  July	
  12,	
  2012,	
  
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhtIBTEJfxU.	
  
• “Michelle	
  Phan	
  creates	
  The	
  Romantic	
  look	
  with	
  Lancôme	
  Doll	
  Lashes,”	
  
YouTube	
  video,	
  3:39,	
  posted	
  by	
  "Lancome	
  USA,"	
  September	
  12,	
  2011,	
  
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPskOED1cnk	
  

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Introduction to design studies - final paper

  • 1.   1   Introduction  to  design  studies  –  final  paper   Done  by:  Sarah  lee  Shan  Yun       Research  Question:   How  does  the  design  of  Lancôme’s  Hypnôse  mascara  seduce  the   female  consumer  by  indicating  feminine  ideals?     (Fig.  1)  Lancôme  01  Hypnôse  Mascara,  photograph,  accessed  31  Mar  2015.   <http://web.raxbeauty.com/image/data/product/Lancome/100877007002.jpg>  
  • 2.   2   Introduction     Founded  in  1935  by  Armand  Petitjean  in  France,  Lancôme  is  an  80-­‐year-­‐old   cosmetics  brand  that  epitomizes  luxe  beauty.  It  was  acquired  by  French  beauty   conglomerate  L’Oréal  in  1964  and  is  currently  housed  under  its  luxury  products   division,  L’Oréal  Luxe.1  Lancôme  boasts  an  impressive  collection  of  mascara   products  that  have  attracted  viral  attention  by  the  beauty  community.  In  2011,   Lancôme  partnered  with  popular  beauty  vlogger  Michelle  Phan,  garnering  over   30,000  viewers  to  their  YouTube  channel,  featuring  Lancôme’s  Hypnôse  Doll  Lashes   mascara2.  The  Hypnôse  line  consists  of  three  different  products:  Hypnôse  Star,   Hypnôse  Doll  Lashes  and  the  classic  Hypnôse  priced  between  US$27-­‐$29  a  tube  (see   fig.  2).  Available  worldwide  in  most  major  department  and  drug  stores,  L’Oréal   prides  itself  on  its  global  reach  and  wide  product  range,  which  it  says  caters  to  the   “great  diversity  of  beauty”3  in  the  world.     Given  the  brand’s  immense  influence  on  the  industry,  what  are  the   ramifications  of  the  product’s  implicit  messaging  on  the  minds  of  female   consumers?  The  mascara  as  a  designed  product  holds  more  truth  about  the   idealized  woman  than  meets  the  eye.  Its  shape,  form  and  function  contain  many   indications  that  persuade  the  consumer  to  make  the  purchase.  In  essence,  this  essay   will  outline  how  the  design  of  Lancôme’s  Hypnôse  mascara  seduces  the  female   consumer  by  indicating  feminine  ideals.                                                                                                                   1  "Lancôme:  Makeup,  Perfume,  Cosmetics,  Beauty  Care."  L'Oréal  Group.  January  1,  2013.  Accessed   March  31,  2015.  http://www.loreal.com/brands/loreal-­‐luxe/lancome.aspx.   2  “Michelle  Phan  creates  The  Romantic  look  with  Lancôme  Doll  Lashes,”  YouTube  video,  3:39,  posted   by  "Lancome  USA,"  September  12,  2011,  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPskOED1cnk   3  “L’Oréal’s  model  of  innovation:  strong  research"  L'Oréal  Group.  January  1,  2013.  Accessed  March  31,   2015.  http://www.loreal.com/research-­‐innovation/our-­‐innovation-­‐model.aspx  
  • 3.   3   Formal  analysis   Upon  first  glance,  the  mascara   tube  is  streamlined,  slightly  hourglass   but  not  voluptuous.  The  wand  of  the   mascara  separates  from  the  tube  and   into  a  thin  brush  held  by  the  user  by  a  curved  cap.  Its  bristles  are  sparse,  ideal  for   creative  “buildable  volume”  and  “custom  lash  results”4.  Its  POWERFULL™  brush  is  a   specially  designed  feature  that  contains  1000  sensory  bristles  that  promise  “perfect   lash  separation  without  clumping”5.  Its  smooth  black  surface  hides  any  stains  or   evidence  of  the  mascara  liquid,  acting  as  an  almost  elegant  and  flattering  flask.  The   mascara,  however,  is  known  for  its  superior  formula  -­‐  made  of  a  special  SoftSculpt™   base  which  is  a  fluid  texture  containing  soft,  emollient  waxes  and  an  exclusive   PC/PA  polymer  system6.  The  liquid  is  described  as  thin  and  wet  in  order  to  facilitate   layered  application.  The  plastic  tube  contains  10ml  of  product,  a  little  less  than  the   13ml  provided  by  other  popular  drugstore  mascaras.  Sealed  with  a  gold-­‐rimmed   cap,  the  product  is  also  stamped  with  Lancôme’s  signature  singular  rose  logo  and   capitalized  brand  name  “LANCÔME”  with  the  subtext  “PARIS”.                                                                                                                   4  “Hypnôse  -­‐  mascara  by  Lancôme"  L'Oréal  Group.  January  1,  2013.  Accessed  March  31,  2015.   http://www.lancome-­‐ usa.com/Hypnose/990516,default,pd.html?dwvar_990516_color=Deep%20Black&cgid=makeup-­‐ mascara#start=11   5  Ibid.   6  Ibid.   (Fig.  3)  Lancôme  Hypnôse  Mascara,   photograph,  accessed  31  Mar  2015.   <http://www.sephora.com/produc timages/sku/s764183-­‐main-­‐ Lhero.jpg>  
  • 4.   4   The  mascara  and  the  female  identity   Pierre  Bourdieu  used  the  term  “key  cultural  intermediaries”  to  describe   designers  in  19847.  They  differ  from  artists  in  that  they  have  a  purpose  to  create   attractive  “artifacts”  that  sell  in  the  market8.  Products  have  to  perform,  and  that   requires  them  to  carry  relevant  cultural  meaning  as  an  embodiment  of  the   consumer’s  identity.  If  the  preceding  statement  is  so,  what  can  be  said  of  Lancôme’s   Hypnôse  mascara  and  its  ideal  user?  Contrary  to  the  product’s  global  market  reach,   Lancôme  as  a  brand  has  important  origins  in  France.  Its  founder,  Armand  Petitjean,   is  described  as  a  “visionary  and  lover  of  French  elegance  and  women”9.  The   Eurocentric  beauty  ideal  still  holds  true  in  the  DNA  of  the  brand,  in  both  its  product   design  and  marketing  strategies.  The  mascara’s  tube  is  slim,  slender  but  curvy,   mirroring  the  popularized  body  type  of  the  elegant  French  woman.  The  subtext   “PARIS”  stamped  in  gold  at  the  bottom  of  the  logo  indicates  a  familiar  francophilia   associated  with  the  luxury  fashion  industry  –  as  opposed  to  many  of  the  brands  in   L’Oréal’s  consumer  products  division,  including  Maybelline  and  Garnier10,  which   cater  to  a  broader,  more  diverse  market  of  consumers.  The  global  popularity  of   Lancôme’s  Hypnôse  mascara,  especially  in  China11,  is  an  irony  in  itself,  speaking  to   deeper  issues  regarding  global  currents  and  cultural  shifts  in  beauty  ideals.                                                                                                                   7  "The  Sony  Walkman."  In  Design  Studies:  A  Reader,  edited  by  Hazel  Clark,  by  Paul  Du  Gay,  S.  Hall,  L.   Janes,  and  H.  Mackay,  349.  English  ed.  Oxford:  Berg,  2009.   8  Ibid.   9  "Lancôme:  Makeup,  Perfume,  Cosmetics,  Beauty  Care."  L'Oréal  Group.  January  1,  2013.  Accessed   March  31,  2015.  http://www.loreal.com/brands/loreal-­‐luxe/lancome.aspx.   10  "All  the  L’Oréal  brands.”  L'Oréal  Group.  January  1,  2013.  Accessed  March  31,  2015.   http://www.loreal.com/brands/brands-­‐homepage.aspx   11  "L'Oréal  Company  Profile  -­‐  SWOT  Analysis.  Lancôme  for  Global  Market  Growth  in  Premium   Cosmetics  sec."  Passport,  Euromonitor,  45.  December  1,  2012.   http://www.euromonitor.com/medialibrary/PDF/LOreal-­‐Company-­‐Profile-­‐SWOT-­‐Analysis.pdf  
  • 5.   5   According  to  Cheryl  Buckley,  it  is  important  to  analyze  the  role  of  women  as   consumers  in  the  discussion  of  women  and  design12.  The  inherent  stereotype  that   women  are  the  consumers  in  a  society13  holds  true  in  the  beauty  industry  –  most  if   not  all  cosmetic  products  on  a  drug  store  shelf  caters  to  that  of  female  buyers.   Companies  exploit  women’s  obsession  with  being  beautiful,  targeting  innate   biological  yearnings  to  be  attractive  to  the  opposite  sex.  Long  lashes  evoke  the   power  of  the  gaze  and  ideas  of  seduction  through  eye  contact  –  an  association  that   marketers  often  utilize  in  advertisements  and  marketing  campaigns  (see  fig.  4  for  an   example  of  a  print  advertisement  for  Lancôme’s  Hypnôse  mascara  featuring  model   Daria  Werbowy).  The  gaze,  in  this  context,  is  empowering  and  heightened,   demanding  the  attention  of  the  onlooker.  The  irony  holds  that  most  viewers  of  the   advertorial  are  women  themselves,  leaving  the  seductive  tension  between  the   female  consumer  and  the  idealized  image  presented  before  them.  In  a  2012  video   campaign  for  Lancôme’s  Hypnôse  Star  mascara  featuring  Daria  Werbowy,  the   famous  cartoon  character  Betty  Boop  says,  “all  stars  have  a  secret,  just  say  it  with   the  eyes”14.  In  it,  Betty  convinces  Werbowy,  who  plays  a  struggling  actress,  that  by   using  Lancôme’s  Hypnôse  mascara  her  eyes  will  captivate  the  audience  and  she  will   become  a  great  success.  These  links  between  beauty  and  success  are  not  new.  Often   times,  advertisers  create  messages  and  associations  surrounding  beauty  products   and  female  empowerment.  As  the  social  and  economic  positions  of  women  have                                                                                                                   12  Margolin,  Victor,  and  Cheryl  Buckley.  "Made  in  Patriarchy:  Toward  a  Feminist  Analysis  of  Women   and  Design."  In  Design  Discourse:  History,  Theory,  Criticism,  255.  Chicago:  University  of  Chicago  Press,   1989.   13  Ibid.   14  Joann  Sfar,  “Lancome's  Betty  Boop  Hypnose  Star  Mascara,”  YouTube  video,  1:50,  posted  by   "Sephora,"  July  12,  2012,  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhtIBTEJfxU.  
  • 6.   6   changed,  more  and  more  women  are  participating  in  the  consumption  of  luxury   products  with  the  intention  of  self-­‐prescribing  “success  indicators”  –  premium   skincare  and  beauty  products  being  one  of  them.  Consumers  are  prey  to  the  idea   that  by  spending  on  quality  beauty  products,  more  beauty,  attention  and  success   will  be  achieved  by  the  individual,  and  thus  there  is  more  value  in  the  its  proposed   retail  price.     The  mascara  as  the  perfect  marketable  commodity     One  of  the  very  first  marketed  mascaras  was  made  of  coal  dust  and  Vaseline   (see  fig.  5).  The  young  entrepreneur  T.  L.  Williams  was  inspired  by  his  sister,   Maybel,  to  create  a  cake  product,  packed  in  a  paper  box  with  a  tiny  applicator  brush   used  to  apply  the  black  powder  on  to  the  lashes15.  Now  known  as  Maybelline,  the   brand’s  immense  notability  for  its  mascara  products  still  holds  true  today.  It  was  not   long  before  the  first  cream  mascaras  were  developed,  packaged  in  functional  plastic   applicator  tubes  that  could  be  designed  and  redesigned.  The  French  philosopher   Roland  Barthes  said,  “Plastic  is  the  very  idea  of  its  infinite  transformation.”16  The   impact  of  the  synthetic  polymer  on  everyday  commodities  was  unsurprisingly   important  after  its  invention  in  1907.  Goods  could  be  made  cheaply  and  quickly,  but   could  be  pliable  and  moldable  to  any  configuration  the  designer  seemed  fit.  As  a   result,  the  mascara  became  one  of  the  most  perfectly  marketable  beauty  products,                                                                                                                   15  Baki,  Gabriella,  and  Kenneth  S.  Alexander.  "Chapter  4:  Color  Cosmetics."  In  Introduction  to  Cosmetic   Formulation  and  Technology.  Hoboken,  New  Jersey:  John  Wiley  &  Sons,  2015.   16  Barthes,  Roland,  and  Annette  Lavers.  "Plastic."  In  Mythologies.  New  York:  Hill  and  Wang,  1972.  
  • 7.   7   transformable  to  embody  an  aesthetic  unique  to  the  brand17  –  in  the  case  of   Lancôme’s  Hypnôse  mascara,  a  slender  curvaceous  embodiment  of  French  elegance.   It  is  also  critical  to  note  the  ability  of  manufacturers  to  stamp  prominent  logos  on   such  commodities,  leading  to  even  more  brand  presence  in  the  minds  of  consumers.   In  the  case  of  Lancôme,  its  singular  golden  rose  has  become  ubiquitous  in  the  world   of  beauty  due  to  consistent  logo  placements  over  the  decades  spanning  the  brand’s   inception.     Yet  there  is  an  element  of  contradiction  between  the  mascara’s  cheap  plastic   material  and  its  premium  price.  According  to  marketing  studies,  women  are  more   willing  to  pay  higher  prices  for  the  favorite  mascaras  compared  to  other  beauty   products  like  foundations,  lipsticks  and  blushes18.  An  investigation  into  the  source   of  this  added  value  and  perceived  quality  would  therefore  be  appropriate.  The   multitude  array  of  wand  shapes  and  sizes  in  the  market  today  is  evidence  that   consumers  recognize  value  in  functionality.  Often  times,  more  absurdly  designed   products  can  attract  the  attention  of  buyers  by  standing  out  in  the  crowd  of  identical   cylindrical  mascaras  (see  fig.  6  of  Givenchy’s  Phenomen’Eyes  mascara).  The  design   of  Lancôme’s  Hypnôse  mascara,  however,  is  distinctive  due  to  its  small,  slim  nature,   which  is  an  irony  in  itself  given  the  lack  of  value  with  its  small  volume  and   minimalist  wand.     The  mascara  also  derives  a  good  part  of  its  value  from  its  trademark   formulation.  L’Oreal,  as  one  of  most  competitive  beauty  firms,  prides  itself  on  its                                                                                                                   17  Mazzalovo,  Gerald.  Brand  Aesthetics.  Houndmills,  Basingstoke:  Palgrave  Macmillan,  2012.   18  Bourgeois,  Jean-­‐Yves.  "The  Crazy  Market  of  Mascaras."  Premium  Beauty  News.  September  30,   2008.  Accessed  April  21,  2015.  http://www.premiumbeautynews.com/en/The-­‐crazy-­‐market-­‐of-­‐ mascaras,254.  
  • 8.   8   “Research  and  Innovation  model”  (see  fig.  7)  and  its  investments  in  scientific   advancements  of  its  products’  chemistries.  An  article  in  the  New  York  Times   revealed  that  L’Oreal  filed  300  new  patents  in  2002  for  its  cosmetic  and  hair   innovations19.  The  Hypnôse  mascara’s  SoftSculpt™  Formula  is  described  as   ‘exclusive’20  to  consumers  in  its  product  page  boasting  a  unique  polymer  formula.   Even  without  this  product  knowledge,  consumers  evidently  identify  with  the  idea  of   quality  through  self-­‐testing  and  recurring  use,  leading  to  re-­‐purchases  and  added   brand  value.     The  mascara  and  the  created  fantasy:  links  to  fashion  and  lifestyle     The  links  between  beauty  and  the  fashion  industry  are  no  secret.  The   relationships  between  the  two,  in  fact,  are  so  strong  that  they  have  become   inseparable  industries,  sharing  commonplace  during  trade  shows  and  major  fashion   events.  Lancôme  has  partnered  and  collaborated  with  many  famous  fashion   designers,  including  Proenza  Schouler  and  Alber  Elbaz  of  Lanvin.  Many  supermodels   have  emerged  by  landing  major  beauty  campaigns,  earning  millions  of  dollars  per   contract21.  Along  with  Daria  Werbowy  (see  fig.  4),  Lancôme  has  also  featured   actresses  Emma  Stone  and  Kate  Winslet  in  their  campaigns,  creating  a  universe  of                                                                                                                   19  Riordan,  Teresa.  "Patents;  A  Reinvention  of  Mascara  Goes  for  Even  Thicker  Lashes.  Also,  There's  a   New  Twist  on  an  Old  Cream."  The  New  York  Times,  January  20,  2003,  Business  sec.  Accessed  April  21,   2015.  http://www.nytimes.com/2003/01/20/business/patents-­‐reinvention-­‐mascara-­‐goes-­‐for-­‐ even-­‐thicker-­‐lashes-­‐also-­‐there-­‐s-­‐new-­‐twist.html.   20  “Hypnôse  -­‐  mascara  by  Lancôme"  L'Oréal  Group.  January  1,  2013.  Accessed  March  31,  2015.   http://www.lancome-­‐ usa.com/Hypnose/990516,default,pd.html?dwvar_990516_color=Deep%20Black&cgid=makeup-­‐ mascara#start=11   21  Marsh,  Julia.  "$3  Million  Catwalk  Catfight:  Model-­‐poach  Suit."  New  York  Post,  January  16,  2013.   Accessed  April  21,  2015.  http://nypost.com/2013/01/16/3-­‐million-­‐catwalk-­‐catfight-­‐model-­‐poach-­‐ suit/.  
  • 9.   9   fantasy  around  the  brand.  According  to  Niaomi  Klein,  “Products  are  made  in  the   factory,  but  brands  are  made  in  the  mind.”22  These  endorsements  of  high-­‐profile   individuals  simply  re-­‐iterate  to  consumers  the  associations  with  the  brand  and  a   luxurious  lifestyle,  something  that  the  fashion  industry  is  well  known  for  doing.   They  represent  an  unattainable  fantasy,  what  Italian  designer  Diego  Della  Valle  calls   the  “piccolo  sogno”23  or  the  little  dream.  The  Hypnôse  campaign  not  only  brings   about  associations  with  brand  and  luxury,  it  also  emphasizes  an  unattainable   physical  beauty  ideal.  This  is  a  great  irony  in  itself,  as  the  campaign  aims  to  sell  a   beauty  product  –  a  good  that  one  purchases  to  attain  physical  beauty.  It  is  almost  as   if  the  subject  is  taunting  its  audience,  daring  one  to  try  to  achieve  the  same  standard   of  perfection.  The  only  obvious  answer  to  the  challenge  presented  is  to  replicate  the   model’s  physical  appearance  by  buying  the  featured  beauty  product.  Consciously,   the  viewer  knows  that  buying  a  mascara  is  not  going  to  make  one  a  supermodel   overnight,  but  subconsciously,  the  consumer  is  persuaded  over  and  over  again  that   this  sentiment  is  true.  The  imagined  consumer  for  Lancôme  is  therefore,  not  the   representative  model  shown  in  the  advertisement  or  the  stereotyped  European   beauty  that  inspires  the  product’s  shape,  but  the  woman  who  aspires  to  attain  that   ideal  –  which  explains  the  paradox  of  the  brand’s  global  popularity  especially  in   non-­‐European  markets.                                                                                                                       22  "No  Logo."  In  Design  Studies:  A  Reader,  edited  by  Hazel  Clark,  by  Naomi  Klein,  201.  English  ed.   Oxford:  Berg,  2009.   23  Seabrook,  John.  "Shoe  Dreams."  The  New  Yorker  80,  no.  11  (2004):  62-­‐69.  
  • 10.   10   Conclusion     In  conclusion,  the  design  of  Lancôme’s  Hypnôse  mascara  seduces  the  female   consumer  by  indicating  societal  ideals  in  a  number  of  ways.  Firstly,  it  does  so  by   embodying  a  Eurocentric  ideal  evidenced  by  the  product’s  shape,  color  and  brand   history.  It  exploits  the  female  tendencies  to  be  attractive,  prompting  women  to   participate  in  consumption  to  attain  that  said  ideal.  It  exploits  the  existing  sentiment   around  women  and  success  to  further  seduce  the  consumer  into  paying  for  its   premium  price  by  positioning  itself  as  a  luxury  product.  It  convinces  the  consumer   of  its  value  by  containing  high  quality  ingredients  and  by  being  functionally  well   designed.  Lastly,  it  seduces  the  consumer  by  symbolizing  an  unattainable  yet   aspirational  lifestyle.                          
  • 11.   11   Appendix   (Fig.  2)  Lancôme  Hypnôse  Mascara  line,  screenshot,  accessed  31  Mar  2015.   <http://www.lancome-­‐usa.com/Hypnose/990516,default,pd.html>    
  • 12.   12   (Fig.  4)  Mert  Alas,  Marcus  Piggott,  Lancôme  Hypnôse  advertisement  featuring  Daria   Werbowy.  2014,  print  advertisement,  accessed  31  Mar  2015.   <http://www.cincinnatiartmuseum.stores.yahoo.net/frduwhboy.html>       (Fig.  5)  First  Maybelline  pressed  cake  mascara,  2012,  photograph,  accessed  21  Apr   2015   <http://ak-­‐hdl.buzzfed.com/static/enhanced/web03/2012/8/10/11/enhanced-­‐ buzz-­‐16979-­‐1344611286-­‐4.jpg>    
  • 13.   13   (Fig.  6)  Givenchy  Phenomen’Eyes  mascara  ball  shaped  wand,  2011,  photograph,   accessed  21  Apr  2015   <http://www.makeupgeek.com/wp-­‐content/uploads/givenchy-­‐02.jpg>       (Fig.  7)  L’Oreal’s  Research  and  Innovation  website  page,  screenshot,  accessed  21  Apr   2015   <http://www.loreal.com/research-­‐innovation/our-­‐innovation-­‐model.aspx>    
  • 14.   14   Bibliography   Books   • Baki,  Gabriella,  and  Kenneth  S.  Alexander.  "Chapter  4:  Color  Cosmetics."  In   Introduction  to  Cosmetic  Formulation  and  Technology.  Hoboken,  New  Jersey:   John  Wiley  &  Sons,  2015.   • Barthes,  Roland,  and  Annette  Lavers.  "Plastic."  In  Mythologies.  New  York:  Hill   and  Wang,  1972.   • Margolin,  Victor,  and  Cheryl  Buckley.  "Made  in  Patriarchy:  Toward  a  Feminist   Analysis  of  Women  and  Design."  In  Design  Discourse:  History,  Theory,   Criticism,  255.  Chicago:  University  of  Chicago  Press,  1989.   • Mazzalovo,  Gerald.  Brand  Aesthetics.  Houndmills,  Basingstoke:  Palgrave   Macmillan,  2012.   • "No  Logo."  In  Design  Studies:  A  Reader,  edited  by  Hazel  Clark,  by  Naomi  Klein,   201.  English  ed.  Oxford:  Berg,  2009.   • "The  Sony  Walkman."  In  Design  Studies:  A  Reader,  edited  by  Hazel  Clark,  by   Paul  Du  Gay,  S.  Hall,  L.  Janes,  and  H.  Mackay,  349.  English  ed.  Oxford:  Berg,   2009.   Newspaper  articles  /  journals  /  documents   • "L'Oréal  Company  Profile  -­‐  SWOT  Analysis.  Lancôme  for  Global  Market   Growth  in  Premium  Cosmetics  sec."  Passport,  Euromonitor,  45.  December  1,   2012.  http://www.euromonitor.com/medialibrary/PDF/LOreal-­‐Company-­‐ Profile-­‐SWOT-­‐Analysis.pdf  
  • 15.   15   • Marsh,  Julia.  "$3  Million  Catwalk  Catfight:  Model-­‐poach  Suit."  New  York  Post,   January  16,  2013.  Accessed  April  21,  2015.   http://nypost.com/2013/01/16/3-­‐million-­‐catwalk-­‐catfight-­‐model-­‐poach-­‐ suit/.   • Riordan,  Teresa.  "Patents;  A  Reinvention  of  Mascara  Goes  for  Even  Thicker   Lashes.  Also,  There's  a  New  Twist  on  an  Old  Cream."  The  New  York  Times,   January  20,  2003,  Business  sec.  Accessed  April  21,  2015.   http://www.nytimes.com/2003/01/20/business/patents-­‐reinvention-­‐ mascara-­‐goes-­‐for-­‐even-­‐thicker-­‐lashes-­‐also-­‐there-­‐s-­‐new-­‐twist.html.   • Seabrook,  John.  "Shoe  Dreams."  The  New  Yorker  80,  no.  11  (2004):  62-­‐69.   Websites   • "All  the  L’Oréal  brands.”  L'Oréal  Group.  January  1,  2013.  Accessed  March  31,   2015.  http://www.loreal.com/brands/brands-­‐homepage.aspx   • Bourgeois,  Jean-­‐Yves.  "The  Crazy  Market  of  Mascaras."  Premium  Beauty   News.  September  30,  2008.  Accessed  April  21,  2015.   http://www.premiumbeautynews.com/en/The-­‐crazy-­‐market-­‐of-­‐ mascaras,254.   • “Hypnôse  -­‐  mascara  by  Lancôme"  L'Oréal  Group.  January  1,  2013.  Accessed   March  31,  2015.  http://www.lancome-­‐ usa.com/Hypnose/990516,default,pd.html?dwvar_990516_color=Deep%20 Black&cgid=makeup-­‐mascara#start=11  
  • 16.   16   • "Lancôme:  Makeup,  Perfume,  Cosmetics,  Beauty  Care."  L'Oréal  Group.   January  1,  2013.  Accessed  March  31,  2015.   http://www.loreal.com/brands/loreal-­‐luxe/lancome.aspx.   Videos   • Joann  Sfar,  “Lancome's  Betty  Boop  Hypnose  Star  Mascara,”  YouTube  video,   1:50,  posted  by  "Sephora,"  July  12,  2012,   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhtIBTEJfxU.   • “Michelle  Phan  creates  The  Romantic  look  with  Lancôme  Doll  Lashes,”   YouTube  video,  3:39,  posted  by  "Lancome  USA,"  September  12,  2011,   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPskOED1cnk