Category Archives: skincare in movies

Maria (2024)

I was looking forward to watching the latest Pablo Larraín film documenting the last days in the life of Maria Callas (Angelina Jolie) because I *knew* (hoped) some interesting beauty products were in it and I was not disappointed.

The first product I spotted in the scene where Maria is sitting at her vanity is a white jar by Guerlain containing skincare. The exact product is unclear (it could be the Crème Stabilisante, shown in the 1975 advert above, the Collagena or the Crème Magistrale), but the choice is historically accurate, because this packaging was marketed in the mid/late 1970s.

Next, there’s a Dior amphora bottle, originally designed by Fernand Guéry-Colas. This bottle housed different Dior fragrances (Miss Dior, Diorissimo and Diorama), so once again it’s unclear which fragrance sits on la Divina’s vanity.

I was surprised to see a massive flacon chauve souris containing the Guerlain classic Shalimar, a fragrance created in 1925 by Jacques Guerlain. According to online reports, Maria Callas used to wear Chanel No. 5 and Revillon Detchema, but there’s nothing that can beat the impressive presence of this bottle on a film set, so I totally approve of this choice.

Another surprising presence is a box of Madame Rochas, a white floral fragrance created by Guy Robert and launched in 1960. It may not be accurate, if we assume that Callas never wore it, but it surely looks good on her vanity.

Later in the film, Maria sits at another vanity. There’s another flacon chauve souris on it but there’s also a Guerlain zigzag box, first introduced in 1967. Reading the front label is impossible, so its content is unknown.

The Substance (2024)

On the top shelf in Elizabeth’s bathroom cabinet there’s Eve Lom Time Retreat radiance essence.

On the top shelf there are two Zoya nail polishes in pink/neutral shades; on the bottom shelf there’s another nail polish by the same brand in dark red.

On the bottom shelf there’s another Eve Lom product – a jar containing the rescue peel pads. Next to it there’s a bottle of Davines Melu hair shield.

Later in the film, when Sue opens the bathroom cabinet, we can see both products from the Goddess Cleansing Ritual duo by Charlotte Tilbury – the citrus oil radiance cleaner in the yellow tube and the purifying charcoal cleanser in the black tube.

Coup de chance (2023)

Fanny (Lou de Laâge) and her husband Jean (Melvil Poupaud) are getting ready to attend a party. There are several interesting skincare products and perfumes on her vanity.

On the far right side of the table there are two products by Officine Universelle Buly – the Double Pommade Concrète hand cream and a bottle of Huile Antique.

On the same side there’s Guerlain Habit Rouge, an amber woody fragrance by Jean-Paul Guerlain launched in 1965.

Before they leave, Jean gives his wife a present – a Cartier necklace. The camera moves to the left side of the table and the movement reveals more items.

The white bottle with gold stopper is Eau Triple by Officine Universelle Burly. As with the Huile Antique, it’s impossible to identify the fragrance because the same bottle is used to house several scents.

There are two skincare products by Guerlain, both from the Abeille Royale line. One is Double R – Renew and Repair – advanced serum, the other is the advanced youth watery oil.

The blue bottle with copper stopper is Augustinus Bader The Rich Cream.

Last but not least, we can see a bottle of Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse Or, a multi-purpose dry oil that can be used on face, body and hair.

Christmas Evil (1980)

There are some interesting bottles on Jackie’s vanity.

One is the eau de toilette version of Robert Piguet Fracas, created by Germaine Cellier and originally launched in 1948.

The second is Jean Desprez Bal à Versailles, an amber powdery fragrance launched in 1962.

The third is the refillable atomiser of Guerlain Shalimar, a fragrance by Jacques Guerlain launched in 1925.

The fourth sits in front of the Guerlain atomiser: it’s the refillable atomiser of Chanel No. 19, created by Henri Robert and launched in 1970.

There’s also an Erno Laszlo jar, possibly containing face powder or moisturizing cream.

Thanks to Alessandra for submitting this post, to Alindri for the Desprez id and to Leylalight for the Chanel id.

Priscilla (2023)

The first two products Priscilla takes from her beauty case are a jar of Noxzema skin cream and a bottle of Cutex nail polish in an orange/coral shade.

Next, there’s a bottle of Chanel No. 5, the legendary floral aldehyde eau de parfum created by Ernest Beaux and launched in 1921.

She also takes a compact containing pressed face powder and a marbled jar containing a cold cream (this is what is written on its lid). I can’t identify the compact but I am sure the cold-cream jar is just a prop.

The last items are two lipsticks – one in a dark green case, the other in a gold case.

Quiz Lady (2023)

Jessica (Sandra Oh) turns the ordinary life of her sister Anne around when she moves in with her. Jessica doesn’t have a job, sleeps until late and is very serious about skincare.

Her beauty kit includes City Beauty line-smoothing hydro masks, a green jade roller, Anomaly dry shampoo and Kahi bounce balm.

This last product gets a special mention when the two sisters are in Philadelphia. They are sharing a hotel room and Jessica offers Anne the anti-wrinkle balm saying “it’s Korean”, which usually means innovation and quality.

The Killer (2023)

The opening credits feature a very brief moment in which some beauty products and fragrances appear on screen.

The gloved hand of the Killer is holding a bottle of Chanel Coco Mademoiselle. But this is neither the eau de parfum nor the eau de toilette, because the name of the product is printed in black on white paper. I believe the prop masters used the bottle of the Eau de Parfum Intense (bottle and stopper made of clear glass) and replaced the neck sticker, which is in this case gold with white stripes, with the one from the Eau Privée version, which is white with gold stripes.

In the background we can see a bottle of Caudalie Vinoperfect concentrated brightening essence.

The bottle on the right is supposed to be part of the Replica series by Maison Margiela. The bottle is the same, but the front label has been replaced (a different font has been used for the word Replica, for example), even though it still bears the name of the original product.