FEATURE/State of the Reunion; Jafra Cosmetics' New Survey Looks at Looks, Women and High...

Feature/Lifestyle Editors

FEATURE...

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE FEATURES)--May 15, 2001

It's not about money.

It's not about success. It's not even about love. Attending a high school reunion is all about how you look, according to a new independent survey

The research was commissioned by Jafra Cosmetics International, makers of Jafra Intensive Retinol Treatment, a new product designed to help get skin reunion-ready.

In the online survey of 1,032 women ages 35-49, respondents said the main topic of conversation after the reunion would be "how people looked," not what they had been up to for all those years. And asked whether they would prefer to arrive at the party dripping with diamonds, on the arm of a gorgeous husband, with no gray hair, or without seeming to have a single wrinkle, almost half (48%) of respondents preferred the youthful face. Diamonds got only 27% of the vote, but more than twice the amount of the "gorgeous husband" (13%), which eeked by "no gray hair" (12%).

While travel distance and cost were most frequently mentioned as deterrents to attending reunion festivities, 33% of the respondents said that being unhappy with their looks might keep them away. 15% wouldn't go because they weren't as successful as they think they should be, and 5% would stay home because they weren't married or dating.

The research also reveals what women would do to prepare for a reunion, how much time it would take and how much they would spend. "The survey confirms that women want to put their best face forward for a reunion," said Cyndi Wall, product manager for Jafra Intensive Retinol Treatment.

Among key findings:

-- Think Ben Stiller was nervous in "Meet the Parents"? On the stress
scale, reunions rated higher than meeting future in-laws.

-- More than three-fourths of women polled would buy a "fabulous new
outfit," half would cut their hair and just under half would diet.

-- What would women spend to look their best? While just 12% wouldn't
spend a dime, 88% are willing to spend sums up to $1,000 or "whatever it
takes." The average amount women are willing to spend is $138 (women in
the Western states average higher at $164.)

-- 57% say they don't look as good now as in high school, often citing
wrinkles and weight gain as the culprits. On the other hand, 17% say they look
as good as they did and 26% think they look better now.

-- It's never too early to work on looking good for the big night. 31% of
women would start at least six months ahead. Relatively few (8%) would begin
only a few hours early or not bother at all. 15% would need three to six weeks
to get in shape.

-- Steal her look: From a list that included Madonna, Angela Bassett and Gloria
Estefan (all members of high school classes celebrating their 25th about now),
women were asked to choose the one they would most want to play them at their
own reunion. While votes were split among 11 famous names, Michelle Pfeiffer
(19%) emerged the winner. Jamie Lee Curtis was second, while Katie Couric and
Andie MacDowell tied for third.

In case Michelle is busy on your reunion night, there are lots of simple ways to look great without going to extremes. "The new Jafra Intensive Retinol Treatment is clinically proven to reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, pigmentation spots and pore size within one to two weeks, with dramatic improvement within three months," said Wall.

Jafra Cosmetics International has headquarters in Westlake Village, Calif., with operations in 17 countries. Jafra is the creator of premium skin and body care products, color cosmetics, fragrances and other personal care products sold at www.jafra.com.