Category Archives: bodycare in movies

Carne trémula (1997)

Clara (Angela Molina) is finally leaving her abusive husband Sancho, so she’s quickly packing some toiletries. In her bathroom there are many beauty products.

shiseidobenefiancelotion_bornunicornOn the glass shelf there are two Shiseido Benefiance products – a toner and a cleansing milk.

l_oreal-elnett-hairspray_bornunicornThere’s also L’Oreal Elnett Satin hairspray, which has an important function in this scene.

chanelcompact_bornunicornIn classic Almodóvar style, Chanel products make their appearance. In this case, there are a compact and a bottle of bi-phase make-up remover (or toner). There’s also a black box with gold band I haven’t been able to identify. It may be related to No. 5, but I have no idea what it can be.

talcoausonia_bornunicornUnder the glass shelf there’s a cardboard bottle of Ausonia talc.

guerlainchampselysees_bornunicornNext to the Chanel make-up remover there’s Guerlain Champs Elysées in a beautiful gold bottle designed by Robert Granai. The perfume, created by Jacques and Jean-Paul Guerlain, was launched in 1996.

guerlainmeteorites_bornunicornBut Champs Elysées is not the only Guerlain item in Clara’s bathroom. On the top glass shelf there’s a round gold box containing Météorites face powder pearls.

Carne trémula (1997)

Helena (Francesca Neri) is soaking in the tub after having sex with her husband David.

guerlainhabitrouge_bornunicornBehind her we can see a Chanel bottle, probably containing a bath gel. Next to it, there’s Guerlain Habit Rouge, one of the most famous creations by Jean-Paul Guerlain, launched in 1965.

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chanelcocobathgel_bornunicorn1989-ines-de-la-fressange-coco-chanelDavid (Javier Bardem) is bathing in the same tub. Behind him we can see Chanel Coco bath gel and Coco eau de toilette.

Molly’s Game (2017)

molly's game_bornunicorn (3)There are many beauty products and make-up items on Molly Bloom’s bathroom counter. Among them (from left to right):

elizabetharden_refiningtonerlotion_bornunicornElizabeth Arden refining toner lotion (now discontinued)

nuxe_huileprodigieuseseche_bornunicornNuxe Huile Prodigieuse multi-purpose dry oil

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A Mason Pearson hair brush

chanel_nailpolishes_bornunicornSome Chanel nail polishes

chanelbodycream_bornunicornChanel fresh body cream

lancometoniquedouceur_bornunicornLancôme Tonique Douceur hydrating lotion

pecksniffs_almondandsheahandduo_bornunicornThe Almond & Shea hand care duo by Pecksniffs, which includes a moisturising hand & body lotion and a nourishing hand wash in pump bottles.

John Wick (2014)

One of the opening scenes is set in the protagonist’s bathroom. He’s standing alone in front of the mirror, but he’s looking at the other side of the counter, where many beauty products are. A close-up on this side shows us that it used to be Helen’s, his dead wife.

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jomalone_bornunicornIn the central part of the counter I’ve spotted a bottle of Kiehl’s Creme de Corps, Marvis toothpaste in Cinnamon Mint and some Jo Malone perfumes.

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narslipsticks_bornunicornThere are other products around the washbasin, among which a small bottle of L’Occitane Verveine shower gel (old packaging) and a NARS lipstick.

Single White Female (1992)

The opening credit sequence is set in a bathroom, where one girl is putting make-up on her twin. Later in the film, we will see these are Hedy (one of the protagonists, whose real name is actually Ellen Besch) and her twin sister. Many bottles are on the tiled counter.

englishleather_bornunicornoldspice_originalcologne_bornunicornOn the right there are English Leather and Old Spice colognes.

revlonjeannate_bornunicornThe tall bottle with round black stopper is Jean Natè after-bath splash.

Sixteen Candles (1984)

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Ginny (Blanche Baker) is a bride-to-be who’s being totally focused on the preparations of her wedding day. She’s unsympathetic with her sister Samantha and is very rude to her. Under this behaviour there’s a lot of unhappiness, in my opinion [1]: she doesn’t really love her fiancé (he’s the only one who’d been in love with her for six months straight) but feels this is the only chance she has to get married.

Some interesting beauty items can be seen on her busy dresser.

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The white bottle with blue cap next to the lamp is the suntan lotion QT Quick Tanning by Coppertone.

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On the golden tray on the right there’s a bottle of Avon Timeless, a floral chypre perfume released in 1974.

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The hot pink bottle is Tickle roll-on deodorant.

[1] Sixteen Candles has never been among my favourite 1980s films, but after recently re-watching it, I’ve realised it’s a deeply disturbing and problematic movie. Here 16 reasons that prove it.

Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore (1974)

vlcsnap-2018-07-20-02h05m25s221Alice (Ellen Burstyn) is a widow who wants to move back to her home town, Monterrey, by the end of the summer. On the way home, she tries to find a job and to earn some money. She wants to make an impression on potential employers, so she gets her hair styled and buys a new dress. The beauty products she uses reinforce the idea of a woman who wants to make an impression.

On a table of the motel room where she’s staying with her son Tommy (Alfred Lutter III), we can see some luxury items.

lanvinarpegetalc_bornunicornlanvinmysindustingpowder_bornunucorn.jpgThe black and red round bottles with gold stoppers are perfumed talcs by Lanvin, respectively Arpege and My Sin.

alicedoesntlivehereanymore_bornunicorn (3)lucienlelongopeningnight_tallbottle_bornunicornThe tall glass bottle is the trademark container of Lucien Lelong fragrances. This one, with the black label, is for Opening Night cologne.

I was wondering why the movie prop masters selected these items for the character. She’s struggling with her current life situation, with a “very weird” kid and with money; for these reasons, Lanvin talcs (two of them!) and the Lelong perfume are likely to be symbols of a wealthier past.