Issue Date: July 18, 2004

Cosmetic appeal for a diverse makeup

People of color represent nearly one out of three Americans. As our nation's ethnic makeup continues to diversify, it makes sense that our makeup, as in cosmetics, also reflects that change. Pakistani American Lubna Khalid, the founder of Real Cosmetics, launched nationwide last fall, offers 16 shades of foundation and powder with names such as Cairo, Havana, Madras and Karachi, she says, "to match every skin tone around the world."

She's not alone. Nearly every major cosmetics line has broadened its color palette to accommodate our diversity, and sales of ethnic beauty products are expected to soar by 20% to $1.9 billion by 2006, reports Packaged Facts, a division of MarketResearch.com.

Products aren't limited to makeup: Ethnic treatments -- simple, healthful and often ancient -- are tinting the American perception of beauty. Celeb fans of henna painting (Gwen Stefani, Madonna) have contributed to brisk business at Ziba Beauty Center, one of southern California's largest South Asian salons, which caters to 16,000 clients a month at three locations. Also popular: African oil massages and scalp treatment at Spa ONE in Minneapolis. And at L.A. boutique Apothia at Fred Segal, Nyakio Kamoche's body scrub is infused with coffee, which her Kenyan grandmother used to condition and tone skin.

Check-in time for Fido

Pet hotels are the latest indulgence for traveling owners who usually have to leave Fido or Fifi home alone. Petsmart plans to nearly triple its nine in-store pet hotels to 23 by year's end. For about $25 a night, pets sleep on a lambskin blanket, "talk" to their owner via a "bone booth" speaker phone and have 24-hour access to a vet. For $10 more, they get a larger room and watch pet videos. Competitor Petco recently hired a pet hospitality manager for its own planned hotels. Best Friends Pet Care, open since 1991, led the way; it now has 39 hotels in 18 states. Dogs stay in two-room suites with a patio and "24-hour access to exercise facilities." Why do dogs rate the royal treatment? Chain-link-fenced and concrete-floored kennels are no longer sufficient, says Petsmart senior VP David Lenhardt: "Customers on vacation feel guilty when they drop off their pets. They want to be sure [they're] taken care of." For $12 at Petsmart, Fido can even get a "pawdicure."

Central home vacuum systems

Think your house is getting clean every time you vacuum? Conventional vacuums spew dust and allergens back into the air. One solution: a central vacuum system approved by the American Lung Association. A University of California at Davis School of Medicine study reported improved allergy symptoms among patients in homes with the system. How it works: A strong-motored central vacuum has suction outlets in each room; plug a hose into an outlet and, as you clean, dust is piped to a collection canister in the basement or garage. Sales are booming, and more than 10% of houses built last year had the systems. Industry experts say at least half of new houses could have them by 2010; most existing houses can be retrofitted. Cost: up to $2,200 for most new houses; up to $2,800 for retrofits. W

Contributing: Brenda Biondo, Kalpana Mohan, Gary Stern