From the IMAGE archives: Beauty Bulletin from the December 1977 issue

Every Sunday, we bring you beauty from the IMAGE archives. This week, we’re looking back on French perfumes, Max Factor lip balm, Wella hair products and ‘party perms’ from the December/January issue of 1977/1978.

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Believe it or not, some of the vases found in the Pharaohs’ tombs buried there in 3500 BC and opened in 1926 were still fragrant, so expert were the Egyptians at perfumery.

The aromatic art spread right through the civilised world over the following centuries and towards the late 18th century chemical fragrances were introduced to France. There is now no perfume that doesn’t contain synthetics to lend greater stability.

Recently the House of Prince Matchabelli in Paris launched a new perfume Aviance on the Irish market. A sophisticated fragrance with an initial floral bloom, sparkling undertones and musky tones, like most new perfumes it is the result of extensive research by a master perfumer and the result of a final successful experiment after hundreds of failures.

Designed as an ultra-modern perfume with a fresh introduction and warm characteristics that make it sensuous and tenacious so that it is always noticed on the wearer. Aviance is available as a concentrated perfume, eau de toilette, perfumed talc and perfumed dusting powder. At leading chemists and stores.

The girl who loves feminine fragrances will choose Aviance this Christmas. It’s one way of getting noticed.

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One thing about Max Factor Canada Dry Lip Potions is that they protect your lips against winter dryness and chapping. They add no colour only a glistening transparent shine and should be smoothed under or over your ordinary lipstick. Available now in four flavours at all Max Factor stockists throughout the country.

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There are very few women who don’t find a cosmetic or fragrance gift highly acceptable. And people of wouldn’t dream of pampering themselves and being extravagant love somebody to be extravagant and pamper them with a lovely frivolous gift. Max Factor this Christmas have some really luxurious presents in their range and many of them are highly unusual. For instance, there’s a deluxe Bath Puff on a bamboo-style handle which comes with Geminesse Talcum in a gold cylindrical shake, the two cost £9.50. Three peach sachet pillows cord-trimmed and tied with cost £5.50 and the Geminesse Fragrance Fan, £14.50, with plume feathers on ivory-coloured stems scents the air as it moves. A phial of Germinesse fragrance is included to rescent the wicks hidden in the frame. A truly magnificent gift is the Crystal Perfume Atomiser in cut crystal, with hand pump covered with a peach tassel, £30, and again in crystal is the Crystal Perfume Amoulet, £12.50. These and many more Max Factor gifts are available at leading department stores and chemists throughout Ireland.

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Wella, who make hair products which are widely used in top hairdressing salons all over the country recently launched a new hair colour formula on the Irish market. Colouring Perfection enables the colour pigments to combine with natural colour to give a really non-tinted look. When using this new product, scalp-staining ceases to be a problem and the colouring action has also less drying effect on the hair. Colouring Perfection is recommended for people with sensitive scalps. Available wherever you see other Wella products in use.

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Top cosmetics house Germaine Monteil have recently added yet another foundation to their range. Colour Matte is for women who want good quality smooth-on fluid makeup with high coverage and at a medium price. It joins the other Germaine Monteil makeups each designed to meet individual needs. Bio Miracle makeup, £6.95, firms the skin as it enhances it while also softening little expression lines and traces of fatigue. Supplegen Foundation, £5.50, is a member of the distinguished treatment range with Collagen. Super Moist makeup gives light coverage with a glow and hint of pearl, £4.35. The popular Super Fluid makeup at £2.75 and £3.95 gives medium coverage and comes in a wide colour choice. All available in Brown Thomas, Dublin.

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Finally on the subject of hair, now is as good a time to think about a perm so the hair has settled down, is easy-to-manage and can adapt of various hairstyles for the party season. Two styles designed by Glemby International Salons show the natural effect that can be achieved with a really good perm, provided it’s given by an experienced permist. The perm used for both these styles was L’Oreal Volutis and the effect, as you can see, is soft, feminine and incredibly natural and glossy.

Left: Tousled short style for the brunette, perfect for all day and evening and right; Longer hair and wispy curls that can be dressed up and down for parties. L’Oreal Volutis perms at the Glemby International Hair Salon at Brown Thomas.

The article originally appeared in the December/January 1977/1978 issue of IMAGE Magazine.