Consumers Turning to Blogs for Beauty Advice on Everything From Lipstick to Foot Care Products

May 3, 2005 -- Before "blogging" became popular, digital communities took many forms, including Usenet, email lists and bulletin boards, enabling individuals with a common interest to interact and share their views. In 2005, "blogging" has evolved into an important avenue for personal expression, for shaping public opinion, and for obtaining information on every topic imaginable. According to the May 2, 2005, issue of Business Week, "Web logs are the most explosive development in the information world since the Net itself."

For those not tech-savvy, and who may still be wondering what all the hubbub is about, a blog is often best described as a journal that’s publicly available online. Most are run by one person, but sometimes several people contribute. Some are serious and some are quite personal. Originally called a "weblog," the shorter term "blog" was coined by Peter Merholz in 1999, and its usage spread. According to one of blogging's pioneers, Dave Winer of the Berkman Center at Harvard University, "Weblogs are often-updated sites that point to articles elsewhere on the web, often with comments, and to on-site articles. A weblog is kind of a continual tour, with a human guide [whom you get to know. There are many guides to choose from."

A blog has the advantage of basically being an easy-to-use web site, where people can quickly post their thoughts and respond to those of others. Typically updated daily, this revolutionary information medium uses software that allows people with little or no technical background to update and maintain them, and postings are almost always arranged in chronological order with the most recent additions featured most prominently.

Since personal appearance is a major concern to many, it's not surprising that among the first blogs to surface were related to beauty and fashion. Popular sites include www.thebroadroom.net, www.thelipstickpageforums.com, and Hilary Magazine's www.hilary.com/blog, where the beauty conscious can both seek and give advice about trends and new products.

Xenna Corporation distributes foot and personal care products. CEO Carol Buck says, "Some sites are clear and well-organized; others are a grammatical nightmare, but regardless of format, most actively collect information and spread it. Products that get carried alone in this flow with favorable comments benefit. Our NonyX Nail Gel is one example.”

Xenna’s patented NonyX Nail Gel speaks to the problem of embarrassing, discolored toenails and fingernails. NonyX Gel exfoliates the dark, yellow or thick granular material called keratin debris, which can build up under nails over time, making them unattractive. NonyX Gel softens, breaks down and then clears out unattractive keratin debris using natural ethanoic acid, and is safe for diabetic use. Ms. Buck believes, "Bloggers are unique as communication channels. They are refreshingly unedited. There is no gloss, no sales-pitch, just an attempt to feed the world information they feel is important or relevant to their niche interest. We don’t know how many customers bloggers have sent to Walgreens, Rite Aid or Longs for a bottle of NonyX, but we thank them for doing it!”

NonyX Nail Gel can be purchased in the footcare section of Walgreens, Rite Aid, Longs, HEB and Roundy’s, Brooks, and most Medicine Shoppe drugstores. It is also available from podiatric physicians, independent pharmacies and online at www.drugstore.com and www.xenna.com. Xenna Corporation is a privately-held company which develops and distributes natural personal care products for skin, hair and nails.