Beauty Acronyms | Beauty Terms

Here are a few lists of beauty-related acronyms (sometimes also known as beauty abbreviations) and terms. They will be constantly updated, seeing as it is that the beauty cosmos is evolving every day. Do feel free to add to them.*

AAB: Amazing Asian Beauty

AHA: alpha hydroxy acid

BA: beauty advisor

B&B: bath & body

BB CREAM: blemish balm cream

BBB: bleached blonde bombshell

BC: beauty consultant

BHA: beta hydroxy acid

BIN: buy it now

BN: brand new

BNIB: brand new in box

BNNB: brand new no box

BNWB: brand new with box

BNWOB: brand new without box

BO: body odour

BOGO/BOGOF: buy one get one free

CC: credit card/Cozycot.com

CCC: captivating caramel cutie

CO-WASHING: The use of conditioner to wash hair instead of shampoo

COOF: completely out of fashion

CP: custom purchase

CS: customer service

DC: discontinued/delivery confirmation

DC’ED: discontinued

DDD: dark darling diva

DS: drugstore

EL: eyeliner/eyelash

ES: eyeshadow

EBA: eBay acquisition

EDP: eau de parfum

EDT: eau de toilette

EMMU: Emakemeup.com

EOTD: eye of the day

EOTN: eye of the night

EPF: Environmental Protection Factor

FFF: fair foxy femme

FNDT: foundation

FO: fibre optic/fiber optic; used to describe dual fibre brushes (also known as skunk brushes)

FOTD: face of the day

FOTN: face of the night

FP: finishing powder

FT: flat top; used to describe brushes with a flat top head

GC: gift certificate/gift card

GGG: gorgeous golden goddess

GHD: good hair day

GWP: gift with purchase

HD: high-definition

HDB: heavy duty beauty

HE: high-end

HG: holy grail

IPL: intense pulsed light

ISO: in search of

KPF: Keratin Protection Factor

LBD: little black dress

LE: limited edition

LEMMING: The pursuit of or strong desire for certain raved-about products. One can lemming/create a lemming for/have a lemming for something.

LG: lipgloss

LHK: long-handled kabuki; used to describe a kabuki brush with a long handle

LL: liquid liner

LLL: light lovely lady

LNIB: like new in box

LP: loose powder

LS/LIPPY: lipstick

LOLA: lovely latina

MA: makeup artist/makeup advisor

MAKEUP STASH: the makeup treasures that one owns ;)

MLBB: my lips but better

MMM: marvellous medium mademoiselle

MMU: mineral makeup

MO: mineral oil

MUA: makeup artist/Makeupalley.com

NIB: new in box

NOTD: nail of the day

NP: nail polish

NWT: new with tag(s)

NWOT: new without tag(s)

OBO: or best offer

OTC: over the counter

PIGGY/PIGGIES: pigments

PL: private label

PPP: pale porcelain princess

PRO: professional

PSA: public service announcement

RAOK: random act of kindness

REG: regular

RIS: received in swap

RTV: returned to vendor

SA: sales associate/sales assistant

SEX: stash enhancement experience

SIB: still in box

SPF: sun protection factor

SWAG: stuff we all get

TAT: turnaround time

TDF: to die for

TM: tinted moisturiser

UV: ultraviolet light

WN: working name

WOC: women of colour

VFM: value for money

YLBB: your lips but better

YLBW: your lips but worse

YMMV: your mileage may vary

3CC: Three Custom Color SpecialistsAG: Annick Goutal

AS: Anna Sui

AV: Adrienne Vittadini

AZW: A Zaftig Woman

B&B: Bumble & Bumble

B&S: Body & Soul

BB: BeautyBlender/Bobbi Brown/Bonne Bell/Burt’s Bees

BBW: Bath & Body Works

BdK: Beauté de Kosé

BE: Bare Escentuals

BN: Ben Nye

BRTC: Bio Remedies Therapeutic Cosmetics

BT: By Terry

BWC: Beauty Without Cruelty

C&C: Clean & Clear

C&E: Crabtree & Evelyn

CC: Cherry Culture

CD: Christian Dior

CDLM: Crème de la Mer

CDP: Clé de Peau

CG: Cover Girl

CK: Calvin Klein

CM: Club Monaco

CND: Creative Nail Design

CR: Cynthia Rowley

CS: Coastal Scents

CSP: Comptoir Sud Pacifique

D&G: Dolce & Gabbana

DDF: Doctor’s Dermatologic Formula

DK: Donna Karan

EA: Elizabeth Arden

EDM/EM: Everyday Minerals

EL: Estée Lauder

ELF: Eyes Lips Face

EP: Esprique Precious

FF: Frédéric Fekkai

FS: Face Stockholm

GA: Giorgio Armani

GB: Garden Botanika

GHD: Good Hair Day

HBD: Happy Bath Day (from Kosé)

HC: Hard Candy

HD: Heavy Duty

J&J: Johnson & Johnson

JH: Julie Hewett

JI: Jane Iredale

JM: Josie Maran

JPP: Jelly Pong Pong

JS: Jill Stuart

KA: Kevyn Aucoin

KB: Komenuka Bijin

KM: Kiss Me

KMF: Kiss My Face

KP: Kesalan Patharan

KS: Kate Somerville

KV: Kosé Visée

KvD: Kat von D

LBD: La Bella Donna

LG: Laura Geller

LM: Laura Mercier

LRP: La Rosay Posay

LSOB: Little Shop Of Beauty

MAC: Makeup Art Cosmetics

MB: Molton Brown

MF: Max Factor

MG: Malin+Goetz

MK: Mary Kay

MM/MJ: Majolica Majorca

MMBB: My Mineral Bath and Body

MMS: Make Me Smooth

MMU: Make Me Up Cosmetics

MN: Merle Norman

MP: Mason Pearson

MQ: Mary Quant

MUAC: Makeup Artist’s Choice

MUFE: Make Up For Ever

MUS: Make Up Store

OoO: Oil Of Olay

OCC: Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics

OPI: Odontorium Products Inc.

P&J/PnJ: Paul and Joe

PB: Pop Beauty

PC: Paula’s Choice

PD: Paula Dorf

PE: Primal Elements

PTR: Peter Thomas Roth

Px: Prescriptives

QH: Queen Helene

QVS: Quality, Value, Service

R&R: Rock & Republic

RF: René Furterer

RL: Ralph Lauren

SH: Sally Hansen

SD: Sue Devitt

SG: Silkygirl

SK: Sonia Kashuk

SM: Stéphane Marais

SN: Silk Naturals

SP: Sony Plaza

SU/Shu: Shu Uemura

T&T: Tony & Tina

TBB: The Body Bakery

TBS: The Body Shop

TF: Too Faced

TM: Trish McEvoy

TSS: The She Space

UD: Urban Decay

VL: Vincent Longo

VS: Victoria’s Secret

WnW: Wet ‘n Wild

WTF: Who’s The Fairest?

YR: Yves Rocher

YSL: Yves Saint Laurent

YTC: Yes to Carrots

Becca

LSC: Luminous Skin Colour

MAC

BPB: Beauty Powder Blush

CCB: Cream Colour Base

FRE: Fast Response Eye Cream

HR: Hyper Real

MES: Mineralize Eye Shadow

MSF: Mineralize Skin Finish

P+P: Prep + Prime

SFF: Studio Fix Fluid

SS: Shadestick

Estée Lauder

ANR: Advanced Night Repair