Almost three years after teaming up with Amazon to introduce Haus Labs, Lady Gaga is taking an old school approach to beauty retail when she re-launches the makeup line with Sephora next week.

With viewers preoccupied by real-world events, even Kim Kardashian’s platinum blonde hair can’t provide an escape.

Sales of bold scents inspired by far-off destinations led to a fragrance boom during the pandemic and the return of travel hasn’t slowed momentum.

Both are recent entrants in a crowded field of actors, singers and the occasional cartoon character launching beauty lines. Success means creating a product that could stand on its own even without a famous founder.