All posts by Born Unicorn

Pedantic archivist of beauty products in films and tv shows

Bugonia (2025)

Among the several products in Michelle’s bathroom I can see:

The tall blue bottle with bronze stopper is Augustinus Bader The Cream Cleansing Gel.

Right in front of her there’s a tube of Chanel La Mousse camellia cleansing cream-to-foam.

On the right side of the sink there’s a pump bottle of Byredo hand wash. Too bad it’s impossible to read the exact name on the front of the bottle.

After the Hunt (2025)

Lancôme Advanced Génifique youth activating concentrate can be seen reflected in the tri-fold mirror on Alma’s dressing table.

The selection of this prop is not surprising: Julia Roberts has been a brand ambassador since 2009.

Right in front of Alma (Julia Roberts) we can see a Mason Pearson boar bristle and nylon hair brush.

All-American Girl S01E07 (Mommie Nearest)

In this episode Katherine (Jodi Long) gets temporarily hired as a sales assistant at the cosmetics counter at Drummonds, which happens to be the same shop where her daughter Margaret (Margaret Cho) works. Katherine and her husband Benny run a bookshop together, but the cosmetics counter is a whole new experience for her.

The episode aired on October 26th, 1994, and it feels like a time capsule: the bottles sitting on the counter truly give a precise idea of the fragrance trends in that part of the decade.

We can’t really tie Nina Ricci L’air du temps to a specific time, because it’s a timeless fragrance, but it’s still nice to see the beautiful dove-topped bottle here. This floral spicy fragrance, created by Francis Fabron, was launched in 1948.

Another Ricci fragrance – Nina – makes its appearance here. This powdery aromatic creation by Christian Vacchiano was launched in 1987.

A sign of the times was definitely the heart-shaped bottles of Escada Margaretha Ley, a white floral fragrance created by Michel Almairac and launched in 1990.

Another sign of the times are the several Bijan bottles seen on and below the counter. Different fragrances and formulations, one brand: founded in 1976 by the Persian designer Bijan Pakzad and by his business partner Dar Mahboubi, Bijan is a men’s fashion house that first established a boutique in Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills, and later in New York. International politicians and celebrities wore Bijan clothes, but the brand successfully branched out by producing fragrances, too.

The trademark ring-shaped bottle we can see on the counter is Bijan Women eau de parfum, a white floral fragrance by Peter Bohm launched in 1986.

Below the counter we can see two versions of Bijan Men eau de toilette, an aromatic fragrance by Claudette Belnavis launched in 1987. Both of them have a spiral fluted stopper, but one is made of There’s the clear glass version and the one made of frosted glass.

The small bottle sitting among the bottles of Bijan Men is the pure perfume/extrait of Bijan Women.

Black Bag (2025)

Kathryn (Cate Blanchett) is getting dressed for dinner at home. She’s putting on a pair of earrings (a gift from her husband) while sitting at her dressing table, where we can see different make-up products and fragrance bottles.

The one she reaches for and sprays on her wrists has a peculiar stopper.

It’s The Revenge of Lady Blanche by Penhaligon’s, a green floral fragrance by Daphné Bugey launched in 2016.

Among the other bottles on the table, I can see Yves Saint Laurent Y eau de toilette and two fragrances from the Replica collection by Maison Margiela. Funny how the prop master decided not to “discard before use” the plastic stoppers on the Margiela fragrances.

Y is a fresh spicy fragrance by Dominique Ropion launched in 2017. The Margiela fragrances remain unknown because the front labels are not visible.

A skincare product that makes a brief appearance in a waste paper bin is Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine cream.

Thanks to Jane Daly and Jo for submitting this post.

Eleanor the Great (2025)

Eleanor (June Squibb) is 94 years old and is back in New York, after living many years in Florida. Adjusting to city life is not easy, but going out and keeping active will help her make new friends. I love that she still takes care of herself by getting manicures and pedicures, and by applying make-up whenever she goes out.

In the scene above, set in her grandson’s bedroom (temporarily her own bedroom), we can see a tube of L’Oreal Age Perfect BB Cover hydrating serum.

Later in the film, on the same desk seen previously, a drop bottle of Ilia super serum skin tint makes its appearance.

Noora’s Room (2020)

Farah Al Qasimi is an artist and musician from the United Arab Emirates living in New York who documents through photography, video and performance gender, colonialism and taste.

In 2020 she took this portrait of Noora, a woman sitting in her bedroom, in front of a mirrored vanity, surrounded by her belongings – mostly skincare products, fragrances and dolls. Her mother (or a relative) affectionately looks at her while lying on her bed.

Here are the products I have identified.

On the left side of the upper counter of the vanity there’s a pump bottle of Wine & Roses anti-aging body serum by the Thai brand Erb.

Next, a bottle of Gucci Flora, a floral fragrance launched in 2009.

The blue bottle with golden details is Versace Dylan Blue, a floral fruity fragrance by Calice Becker and Natalie Gracia-Cetto, launched in 2017.

The bottle with gold metal details is Noora perfume oil by Swiss Arabian. I wonder if the woman in the portrait bought it because it has the same name as her.

There’s also a bottle of Guerlain Mon Guerlain eau de parfum, a 2017 floral woody fragrance by Thierry Wasser and Delphine Jelk.

On the far right side of the table there’s Dove Powder Soft deodorant.

Moving on to the left side of the main counter of the vanity, I can see a tube of Pantene Pro-V conditioner (old packaging) and a container of Vaseline petroleum jelly. Last, the black bottle with pink label is another Erb product – Fleurfume d’intérieur room spray in Spellbound Rose.

Thanks to Samuel Derrera for submitting this post.