Retailer to Create New Store Prototype, Upgrade Image and Improve
                              Marketing Strategy

                   Plans to Explore Strategic Alternatives

    COLUMBIA, Md., June 8 /PRNewswire/ -- The Cosmetic Center, Inc.
(Nasdaq: COSC) today announced the appointment of Betsy Burton to the position
of President and Chief Executive Officer and unveiled a comprehensive growth
plan to improve financial performance.  Ms. Burton succeeds I. Howard Diener,
who is leaving the Company.
    "We are delighted with the appointment of Betsy Burton to the position of
President and CEO," said Jerry W. Levin, Chairman of The Cosmetic Center, Inc.
"She is a seasoned veteran with over twenty years of experience with retail
and service companies.  Her extensive knowledge of Health & Beauty Aids,
Beauty Care, Drug Stores and Salon Services make her an ideal fit for Cosmetic
Center as it embarks on a new comprehensive growth plan."
    "We are disappointed in the financial results and the progress that we
have made to date in integrating the Company with Prestige Fragrance &
Cosmetics.  Our original strategy of combining these companies is sound.
Cosmetic Center is moving immediately and aggressively to address the issues
that have negatively affected its performance," said Mr. Levin.
    In addition, Mr. Levin said, "Our goal is to work diligently to increase
sales and efficiencies through, among other things, adding new stores and
closing underperforming stores as well as remodeling and refurbishing older
stores.  Market research indicates that consumers prefer to shop in smaller
more intimate stores.  We are currently developing a new store prototype and
improving our marketing and advertising strategy to provide our customers a
more glamorous shopping experience, significantly upgraded from the scenario
today.  We plan to have these model stores open by early fall and continue to
roll out our new concept throughout the entire chain.  At the same time, we
are improving inventory control and utilization of capital by reducing
overhead, upgrading our management information systems, and rationalizing
product lines through a significant reduction in SKU's.  Additionally, we are
focused on creating a stand-alone company and completing the functional
separation of Cosmetic Center from its parent company Revlon."
    As announced today, Revlon, Inc. (NYSE: REV) an 85% shareholder of The
Cosmetic Center, Inc., is implementing its previously announced strategy of
withdrawing from operating retail stores and has determined to dispose of its
interest in the Company.  The Cosmetic Center announced that it would explore
several strategic alternatives.
    Prior to joining Cosmetic Center, Ms. Burton served as Chairman & CEO of
BB Capital, Inc., a financial concern that she founded and operated that
invests in small to medium size retail or service companies which have the
potential to become large and national in scope.  Additionally, she was the
Chairman & CEO of both Supercuts Inc. and PIP Printing, where she was
responsible for their successful turnarounds.  Ms. Burton, 46, holds an M.B.A.
from the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business and a B.A. in
psychology and sociology from the College of William and Mary.  She currently
serves as a member of the Board of Directors of Staples, Inc., the office
superstore and Gantos, Inc., the women's specialty retail chain.
    The Company also announced other key management appointments including,
Steven R. Isko, Senior Vice President and General Counsel; Robin Esterson,
Vice President Business Operations; Maxine Schwartz, Vice President Strategic
Development; and Marc R. Shiffman, Vice President Business Development &
Investor Relations, who all played key roles with Mr. Levin at Revlon, Inc.,
The Coleman Company, Inc., or both.
    The Cosmetic Center, Inc. is a specialty retailer of brand name cosmetic,
fragrance, skin care, hair and personal care products and related items, sold
at value prices.  As of March 28, 1998, the Company operated 60 retail and 190
outlet stores in the U.S., operating principally under the names The Cosmetic
Center(R) and Prestige Fragrance & Cosmetics.  Retail stores operate in strip
shopping centers located principally in the mid-Atlantic region and Chicago
and offer a broad range of brand name prestige and mass merchandised products.
Outlet stores operate in outlet malls nationwide and sell first quality,
surplus and discontinued products from a wide variety of major manufacturers.
    Information in this press release which is not historical consists of
forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  In addition to factors that
may be described in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "Commission"), the following factors, among others, could
cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those expressed
in any forward looking statements made by the Company: (i) the unavailability
of funds from the Company's bank facility or sufficient cash flows from
operations or, the inability to secure capital contributions or loans from
affiliates or sell assets or additional shares of the Company, to fund the
Company's cash requirements, (ii) unanticipated costs or difficulties or
delays in integrating further the operations of  The Cosmetic Center, Inc. and
Prestige Fragrance & Cosmetics, (iii) unanticipated costs or difficulties or
delays in connection with store openings or closings, (iv) unanticipated costs
or difficulties or delays in connection with increasing net sales and
expanding the operations of the Company, (v) unanticipated capital
expenditures, (vi) actions by competitors, including combinations within the
retail industry, pricing pressure or successful new retail store concepts,
(vii) the lack of commercial success of the Company's new salon arrangement,
(viii) the unavailability of product or the loss of suppliers, including
secondary source suppliers, (ix) unanticipated difficulties or delays in
implementing the Company's comprehensive growth plan and business strategy or
lack of success of the Company's merchandising and marketing initiatives,
including new store prototypes, or initiatives to improve management
information systems, inventory control, utilization of capital, or
rationalization of product lines through a significant reduction of SKU's, (x)
general business and economic conditions, as well as other factors described
from time to time in the Company's reports filed with the Commission, and
(xi) the results of the Company's efforts to pursue strategic alternatives,
including disruption to the Company's business as a result of such efforts,
whether any strategic alternatives will ultimately be pursued or entered into
or the terms of any such strategic alternatives.  The Company assumes no
responsibility to update forward looking information contained herein.

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