Beauty

Beauty and Make Up

News From the runway : See the designer's preview Spring 2007 Models at the Milan fashion show

Italian women have been called the most beautiful in the world. Such actresses as Sophia Loren and Gina Lollobrigida lit up movie screens with their glamour and fashion-sense. Their thick, shiny, dark hair, big brown eyes and hour-glass figures made American women envious and anxious to learn their beauty secrets. Their lovely, but under-stated clothes, had a huge influence on American fashion.

Sophia Loren and Gina Lollobrigida are still beautiful and ageing gracefully. Italians believe that women can look good at any age as long as they take care of themselves. Actress Monica Bellucci (Born in 1964 in the Italian village of Citta di Castello, Umbria) now 40+ is nowadays considered one of the 10 sexiest women in Italy
Such handsome Italian actors as Marcello Mastroianni then and Raul Bova now epitomized the word 'cool' with their beautifully tailored clothes, and European sexiness.

Italian cosmetics companies, like their colleagues in the fashion trade, are now taking advantage of this talent for beauty and giving the French a run for their money! According to Research and Markets.com, "Italy is a strong producer of fragrances and color cosmetics, with several multinational cosmetics companies sourcing much of their production in Italy. Thus, Italy is a net exporter, which has a positive trade balance."

Since ancient times, spas have existed in Italy so that people can take advantage of the healing and beautifying effects of its famous thermal and mineral waters. Many of these famous spas, such as Terme di Saturnia and the Cali Beauty Farm, produce beauty products which are available overseas.

Fresh Italian ingredients, such as virgin olive oil, grapefruit, and even oranges, are used in moisturizers, cleansers and other creams. Many Italian companies make beauty lines with completely natural ingredients, which are very popular at the moment. Some Italian companies, like Milano, have developed dermatological skin care lines.

The Italian cosmetics companies, Borghese and Pupa, have maintained their high reputation in the field for a long time. Pupa's very useful color kits are a prestigious beauty item and make a lovely gift. Now there are many more Italian companies making cosmetics and using the bright and vivid colors prevalent in the landscape and Mediterranean buildings. Italian makeup is certainly as good as the French and American, if not better.

Italian scents have a long history and there are some very old Italian perfume companies, such as Borsari. All of the famous Italian fashion designers, such as Prada and Armani, offer their own perfumes.

In this section we hope to introduce you to the wonderful world of Italian beauty and perfumes, inform you about new products and provide beauty tips.

By Lisa-Anne Sanderson