Revlon

The bald and the beautifulNever mind Demi Moore, whose scalp was perhaps the last of her body parts left to bare. Never mind model Eve Savail, whose baldness and skull tattoo are a signature. The fact is that many young women are taking to the same buzz cuts that are this summer's favorite guy style. Skinheadedness may not become the official mall-girl do, but it's gaining with artsy fashion rebels."They're usually homemade hairdos, but we've had buzz requests," says Neal Foore, owner of Neal's on Read Street.

The words on the lips of almost every cosmetics company these days are "long lasting." In their search for makeup that stays put, companies are focusing right on the kisser.For decades, cosmetics makers have attached long-wearing claims to their products. But making a lipstick that really sticks has been the big challenge. Unlike eye shadow or even foundation, lipstick is worn off by eating, talking and contact with coffee cups.Now many companies say they have discovered the secrets for lipstick that lasts at least a full workday, as well as for other long-wearing color cosmetics.

Charles J. Busta, general manager of the Cover Girl makeup line and a longtime executive of Procter & Gamble's cosmetics and fragrance division in Hunt Valley, has accepted a top position with Cover Girl's arch-foe, Revlon Inc.Mr. Busta, who was a Procter & Gamble vice president and general manager, and whose colleagues call him "C.B.," won't be replaced. Cover Girl will be managed directly by Beth Kaplan, Mr. Busta's former boss, who is vice president of cosmetics and fragrance products, said spokeswoman Kimberly Stewart.

Harrowing experience: Mental alacrity of Alberto Tomba again being questioned after Italian ski superstar was caught in a power outage at an Oslo department store and trapped on the escalator for two hours.The White House on Line 1: President Clinton's congratulatory call to gold medalist Dan Jansen included this abrupt aside: "Bosnia -- do we bomb or what?" After a startled Jansen replied he had no foreign policy experience to speak of, the president smoothly shifted gears and asked if Jansen had seen "Ace Ventura, Pet Detective."

Faithful readers of fashion magazines no doubt noticed the dual stories in September's Glamour and Vogue celebrating the personal style -- and the big new Revlon contract -- of supermodel Veronica Webb.So what's so different about another model getting an exclusive contract with a huge cosmetics company? Christy has Maybelline, Cindy and Claudia have Revlon, Paulina has Estee Lauder and Vendela has Elizabeth Arden.Veronica Webb is the first black model to join the club.With the launch of Revlon's new line -- ColorStyle, targeted principally at black women -- Ms. Webb is set to become a high-profile role model of black beauty.

Acknowledging the changing complexion of America, several of the nation's largest cosmetics companies are plunging into a new competition with shades of makeup designed for black, Hispanic and Asian women.The new lines by Revlon, Estee Lauder, Maybelline and others are partly a response to to the rising number of Americans of non-European descent, analysts say.But in addition, minority women are becoming increasingly desirable customers, because as a group they are now younger than Caucasian women and they are more likely to spend money on cosmetics, marketing studies indicate.

NEW YORK -- Halston, a designer whose personal life attracted as much attention as his fashions, will be examined from both sides this fall. "Simply Halston," a biography by Steven Gaines, is scheduled for publication in September.Advance copies of the book, which is an account of stormy business and personal relationships, drug use in the heyday of Studio 54 and a successful battle with cancer years before he contracted AIDS, have been sent out by the publisher, Putnam's. Halston died in March 1990.

Procter & Gamble Co. said yesterday that it will move the headquarters of its recently acquired Max Factor brand lines to Hunt Valley from Los Angeles by March as part of the consumer products giant's plan to make the Baltimore suburb a strategic site for its U.S. cosmetic and fragrance business.The Max Factor offices will be at 11050 York Road, sharing the same building with Noxell Corp. -- the maker of Cover Girl, Clarion and Navy perfume. P&G purchased Noxell about 18 months ago.James Schwartz, a Noxell spokesman, said that it was too soon to tell how many jobs the Max Factor move will create for Marylanders, but he said that Max Factor's headquarters at Revlon Inc. in Los Angeles employs about 125 people in finance, marketing, research and development, sales and administration.

NEW YORK -- Procter & Gamble's agreement yesterday to buy Revlon's Max Factor and Betrix cosmetics companies for $1.14 billion could have major implications for Hunt Valley-based Noxell Corp., acquired by Procter & Gamble only 18 months ago.Procter & Gamble has already made several shifts in Noxell's businesses, including transferring to its Cincinnati headquarters responsibility for both Lestoil, a household cleaner, and the international operations for Noxell's cosmetics business. Bigger changes may follow.

YOUR TURNEach Thursday we're going to bring you money-saving tips for all members of the family, and we want ideas. Perhaps you know of a super source for stylish bargains or brand of pantyhose that never runs or maybe you just have a question.You can call any time using SUNDIAL. With a touch-tone phone, you call 783-1800 (or 268-7736 from Anne Arundel County) and enter code 4620.Or you can send a letter to Catherine Cook, Features Department, 501 N. Calvert St., Baltimore 21278.A second chanceAs the conservative '90s replace the extravagant '80s, retailers are enticing consumers with new lower-priced lines that offer the cachet of a designer name at one-third to one-half the price.