Put your lips together and sail
Well, this is rather unique. Holland America is adding an innovative lipstick blending bar to its onboard offerings. Just what women want? Maybe. Not so sure we want to spend time on a ship doing this when we could easily do it at a beauty counter at home.
But for passengers who may not have the time to shop for lip colorings on land, this might work out well.
Lipstick experts on board
Here's how it works: Holland America has partnered with MYX Blend Bar, a Dallas company that lets women create their own custom lipstick or lip gloss. Guests work with beauty consultants to choose pigments, finishes, flavors, and other additives to design a personalized lip product at the onboard lipstick lab.
The Blend Bar beauty consultants create signature lipstick or gloss products from more than 30 premium pigments. In addition to providing personalized hues for your mouth, the goal is to let you bring home a lasting memory from your cruise. The hands-on Blend Bar experience is guided by an expert beauty consultant who will help guests create a wearable memory of their cruise vacation.
Color chart
Blend Bar also offers a palette of more four luxurious finishes, and more than 20 signature flavors to craft a custom lipstick or gloss. Perfect for any age and bookable for individual or group experiences, Blend Bar is in the beauty section of the shipboard shops.
In addition to the 20-plus flavors and essences, dimension can be added with frost, shimmer or iridescent effects. Once blended, the custom formula is melted and poured into a lipstick mold or gloss tube. Guests can create a custom name for their lipstick, which will be applied to the tube upon completion. In addition, each guest receives their personalized product along with a formula card listing their selected ingredients for future recreations.
The Blend Bar is currently available on Nieuw Statendam, Eurodam, Westerdam, Oosterdam, Zuiderdam, Volendam, and Zaandam. The rollout of Blend Bar to the remaining four ships in the fleet will be completed by mid-November.
Added touches
“Today’s travelers are looking for more than just a vacation — they want exclusive experiences like Blend Bar that feel personal, immersive and meaningful,” said Carole Biencourt, vice president of onboard revenue for Holland America Line. “We’re excited to launch the first lipstick blending bar at sea, where our beauty-loving guests can express themselves and create a unique souvenir of their time on board.”
Raising the bar
Blend Bar uses products with the highest quality/integrity, free from parabens, sulfates, phthalates and GMOs, as well as cruelty-free, gluten-free and vegan ingredients, Biencourt said. The pigments are packed with antioxidants and SPF for everyday sun protection.
The Blend Bar experience costs $65 for a custom lipstick or liquid matte, and lip gloss costs $60 per tube.
