Every time I shop I see it. A well-meaning client asks for a product or the where-abouts of a brand and butchers the foreign pronunciation of the name. As cringe worthy as some of those pronunciations are, let me help you avoid the pursed lips of a Consultant who doesn't know how to delicately educate you.
Borghese bor-gay-zeh (-za) NOT bor-gay-zeeHow a luxury brand, that soon became known simply as Borghese, was born : In 1938 a 17-year-old Italian girl named Marcella Fazi married a widowed nobleman named Paolo Borghese and promptly became a Princess. Princess Borghese loved beauty products and had her toiletries specially made for her, using only the finest natural ingredients found on the grounds of her villa in Rome. With aspirations of developing a lipstick line of her own that would boast a wider array of hues than those that were readily available in those days, she finessed an introduction to the founder of Revlon, Charles Revlon, in 1956. Soon her eponymous line launched a collection of bright lipsticks and nail polishes that complemented her couture designer pal Emilio Pucci's famed knitwear.
Bourjois boor-jwah
Back in 1863 a French man named Alexandre Napoleon Bourjois came to the rescue of Parisian actresses when he created "the world's first powder blush."
His invention, Pastel Joues, was much more comfortable to wear than the heavy, greasy stage makeup the women were used to and it caught on like wildfire.
Back in 1863 a French man named Alexandre Napoleon Bourjois came to the rescue of Parisian actresses when he created "the world's first powder blush."
His invention, Pastel Joues, was much more comfortable to wear than the heavy, greasy stage makeup the women were used to and it caught on like wildfire.
Chantecaille shan-tuh-kigh Family-owned and operated brand Chantecaille is run by mom Sylvie, a French woman with more than 25 years in the beauty business. Her husband Olivier and their two daughters Olivia and Alexandra also work for the company, which is based in New York City.
Guerlain gerr-lah (the n is silent)
The Guerlain family fragrance business stretches back over five generations and is among the oldest in the world. In 1828, perfume maker Pierre-Francois Pascal Guerlain hung his first shingle on 42 Rue de Rivoli in Paris. For 12 years he and his two sons created custom fragrances for an exclusive clientele and in 1840 opened their flagship boutique on Rue de la Paix. By the mid-19th century, the house had been named "His Majesty's Official Perfumer" by France and they soon created fragrances for many members of European royalty including Britain's Queen Victoria.
The Guerlain family fragrance business stretches back over five generations and is among the oldest in the world. In 1828, perfume maker Pierre-Francois Pascal Guerlain hung his first shingle on 42 Rue de Rivoli in Paris. For 12 years he and his two sons created custom fragrances for an exclusive clientele and in 1840 opened their flagship boutique on Rue de la Paix. By the mid-19th century, the house had been named "His Majesty's Official Perfumer" by France and they soon created fragrances for many members of European royalty including Britain's Queen Victoria.
L'Occitane en Provence lox-ee-tann uhn pro-vaunce Not la-oss-eh-tane1976, Frenchman Olivier Baussan, who had long been selling handmade essential oils at open air markets, launched L'Occitane en Provence to share the traditions of his native Provence with the world. L'Occitane -- or "of Occitania" -- was so named to celebrate the women of the region. Existing in the middle ages, Occitania encompassed areas of southern France, northeast Spain and northern Italy and the language, Occitan, remains a second-language for many in the area today.
NYX nix not N.Y.X.
Founded in 1999 by Los Angeles native Toni Ko, NYX was named after the ancient Greek goddess who ruled the night. NYX's mission? To create and sell quality cosmetics at affordable price points. Mission accomplished.
Founded in 1999 by Los Angeles native Toni Ko, NYX was named after the ancient Greek goddess who ruled the night. NYX's mission? To create and sell quality cosmetics at affordable price points. Mission accomplished.
Rimmel rim-l Although it's now owned by makeup giant Coty, Rimmel London was founded way back in 1834 by French perfumier Eugene Rimmel who has become known as one of the first manufacturers and marketers of cosmetics. Rimmel, who as a young man moved to London when his father was asked to run a perfume store there, is most famous for having concocted the first-ever non-toxic mascara. That's why the word Rimmel means Mascara in seven languages including Italian, Portuguese and Turkish.
Sheiseido sheh-say-do
A Japanese word, Shiseido can be translated to mean "praise the virtues of the earth which nurtures new life and brings forth significant values." The company was founded by a pharmacist named Arinobu Fukuhara in 1872 and the first beauty product it sold, a lotion called Eudermine, $54, is a time-proven favorite that is still available at all Shiseido counters today.
Shu Uemura shoe oo-eh-moor-ah (Or, as the company says, "if you want to be really authentic, soften the R and make more of a D sound.")
Shu Uemura (June 19, 1928 – December 29, 2007) was a Japanese makeup artist who founded his eponymous brand in 1960. Uemura left his native Tokyo for Hollywood in the late 1950s to pursue a career in film and television makeup. His philosophy, which, in turn, transferred to his brand, was that the health of one's skin was of primary concern. Subsequently, his first manufactured product was a cleansing oil that worked better than soap at purifying pores, but also left the skin well-hydrated. In 2004, three years before his death, Uemura sold his company to L'Oreal.
Stila stee-lahStila comes from the Italian word "stilare" meaning "to pen" or "to write." Celebrity makeup artist Jeanine Lobell, who's worked with stars like Cameron Diaz and Natalie Portman, founded the company in 1994 and called it Stila because she believes that "every woman's makeup should be as individual as her signature."
Source: TotalBeauty, bloomies, Chantecaille, rimmell, L'Occitane, stila