In her latest Mother Of Wisdom column at CEW today, Lauren Brody explains why she left Girl Boss culture behind, and shares some of the key insights she has gained through her experiences. A former magazine editor and now CEO of The Fifth Trimester, a gender equity firm, and a co-founder of nonprofit Chamber of Mothers, Brody is well-placed to unpack the impact that the belief “we could and should have it all” has had on working mothers. “Over time, I began to see the little fibs we’d all been telling ourselves about leadership,” writes Brody in her frank and personal piece, in which she offers advice—from refusing to “fake it till you make it”, to viewing vulnerability as an asset.

During Black History Month over the past two years, Circana reports that the sales of Black-founded beauty ranges spike, outperforming the rest of the U.S. prestige beauty market. At CEW, we report on the data revealing that, through February 2023, there was an uptick in sales across all categories (makeup, skin care, fragrance, and hair).

In brick-and-mortar news, Lashify is opening the doors to its first ever store on Melrose Place, Los Angeles. Founder Sahara Lotti has seen her brand of luxury DIY lashes take off over the last year, with sales increasing from $67 million in 2022 to just over $80 million in 2023. The boutique will also be home to VIP lounge, for those belonging to Lashify’s membership program (130,000 members and counting).

Meanwhile, in beauty tech, Planity—the leading appointment booking platform in France—has raised 45 million euros in Series C funding.

Catch up on these and other stories at the links below. 

Cancelling Girl Boss Culture. Former magazine editor Lauren Brody shares her personal experiences and offer tips for working mothers. (CEW)

Black-Founded Beauty Sales Boosted During Black History Month. Circana’s data reveals that sales of Black-founded brands, across all categories, have spiked over the last two years during the month of February. (CEW)

First Lashify Store Opens. Founder Sahara Lotti has opened her first boutique at 8428 Melrose Place, Los Angeles. (WWD)

Planity Raises 45 million euros in Series C Funding. The company is France’s leading beauty booking platform. (BEAUTY MATTER)

Beekman 1802’s “Kindness Krew” Ambassador Program. Beekman’s business is 30% DTC e-commerce, and the products are also available via QVC, Target, and Ulta Beauty. The brand surpassed $150 million in retail sales in 2020. (GLOSSY)

Beauty Mourns The Loss Of Janet Allard Cook. A former President of Estée Lauder North America, Allard Cook continued to support philanthropic foundations including the Breast Cancer Research Foundation and the Clean Water Foundation. (BEAUTY PACKAGING)

What Makes A Cautious Beauty Investor Take The Plunge? Beauty Independent unpacks what moves the needle for strategic investors and buyers. (BEAUTY INDEPENDENT)

New Wash Out Color From Fun In By Sun. The launch of the temporary, brush-in system is timed to coincide with festival season. (HAPPI)