Aging? The good, the bad and the ugly.

Ahhhh, aging. Although most of us would like to be fresh faced and makeup free as we approach those 40, 50 milestone ages, it's just not realistic for most of us. It is tough to get to the real deal when it comes to the way women feel about aging. There is how we SHOULD feel, and then there is how we really feel. Take our the Define Yourself, Which Type Are You poll and see how your aging mindset compares to other women across Canada.

Beauty, Self-Perception and Others

A fascinating piece on how we see ourselves in others' beauty decisions. Laura Kipnis also wrote a much-discussed book on women and monogamy and how social mores are evolving.

Nature or Nuture? Do I measure up?

Hard to miss Dove's latest evolution clip -- a build on its campaign for real beauty.

Dove is trying to send the message that natural beauty, no matter what you look like, is beautiful. The problem is that girls and women don't necessarily buy this. I am not sure we are ever going to change the way girls or women think about themselves. It is natural for girls and women to want to be pretty. It is a primal instinct. Even if we were going to eliminate media influences altogether it would still appear naturally in everyday life, in the schools, on the street.

Although Dove is doing a brilliant marketing and publicity job with this campaign, are they really hitting the mark with the intent to improve the self esteem of young girls today?

We all know that media images are manipulated. To invest heavily in communicating this message is simply underestimating the audience. Most social and peer pressures are much closer to home and certainly impossible to control or manage.

Feeling confident and good about oneself and having a strong sense of self esteem has less to do with outer beauty and more to do with the way we were raised and supported and our role models.

Although we all aspire to "you are beautiful just the way you are, honey..." that doesn't cut it for most.

As one blogger said... "then why didn't Dove put ugly fat women in their ads"? And, they still sell beauty products, don't they?

Nivea's human billboard

I love marketing, I love technology, and I love skincare. But Nivea's recent use of all three - walking and talking human billboard is not my cup of tea.

"The Adwalkers walk about in public places, malls, or other venues where the client's target audience is most likely to be, wearing a high-resolution video screen bearing the client's message across their chests. They are trained to have friendly conversations with interested consumers in order to qualify them for offers and promotional messages."

When it comes to shopping for skincare, women like personal recommendations and a comfortable environment. I honestly do not see myself being stopped in the street and voluntarily engage in beauty talks with a strange guy strapped in a techno vest...then be sent off to an exhibit. I mean, that is 15 mins of my life! Enough for me to check in with my girlfriends about the latest and greatest in the beauty world.

Maybe I just am not a Nivea girl.

Your Beauty, Your Vote!

Our poll on Cosmetic Enhancement is here!

Casting Call: Define Yourself

There has been a lot of talk about beauty defined in the media over the last few years. The topic of beauty is undoubtedly one of the most personal and complex subjects know to women today.

SWING is embarking on a very exciting project with a terrific client and we are looking for women with an opinion, -- any opinion-- , on cosmetic enhancement.


• Are you a woman in her 30's, 40's or 50's, not afraid of the limelight, who enjoys sharing her opinions on matters of self image and enhancement?

• Are you the type of personality who believes that while aging is mandatory, it does not mean that you should look OLD?

• Do you see cosmetic injections as a miracle invention and a way to regain control over the aging process?

• Do you feel strongly that cosmetic maintenance or enhancement is a personal choice?

• Are you feeling in need of a cosmetic intervention?

OR

• Are you not sure how you feel about cosmetic injections but are open minded and self assured

If any one of these describe the way you feel and you are based in Toronto, we would like to talk to you.

SWINGThink, a Toronto-based marketing agency specializing in understanding women is conducting a casting call for an exciting campaign on behalf of its client, a well known brand in the cosmetic injectable category. We are seeking women to participate in this campaign to be launched in early 2007.

If this sounds like something you may be interested in, please contact Catharine Fennell, Partner, SWINGThink for more details. Casting call is open until Nov. 8th, 2006.

Beauty, Self-Perception and Others

A fascinating piece on how we see ourselves in others' beauty decisions. Laura Kipnis also wrote a much-discussed book on women and monogamy and how social mores are evolving.