RELEASE


KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

         That CARSON PRODUCTS COMPANY  ("Carson"),  designated as the "Releasor"
as that term is defined below, for and in consideration of the sum of One Dollar
($1.00) to the Releasor in hand paid by AM PRODUCTS  COMPANY,  formerly known as
AM COSMETICS COMPANY, INC. ("AM"), and AM COSMETICS CORP., formerly known as PAM
ACQUISITION CORP. ("AM Cosmetics"), and of other good and valuable consideration
the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged by Releasor,  has released,  remised
and forever discharged,  and by these presents does release,  remise and forever
discharge the "Releasees," as that term is defined below, of and from all debts,
obligations, liabilities, remedies, reckonings, promises, covenants, agreements,
contracts,  endorsements,  bonds,  specialties,  controversies,  suits, actions,
causes  of  action,  trespasses,   variances,  judgments,  extents,  executions,
damages,  claims,  counterclaims  or  demands,  in law or equity  (collectively,
"claims"),  which  against  the  Releasee  the  Releasor  ever  had,  now has or
hereafter  can, shall or may have from the beginning of the world to the date of
this  Release,  for,  upon or by reason of those  arising  out of or  related to
claims (a)  asserted  or which could have been  asserted in the action  entitled
Carson  Products  Company,  a Delaware  Corporation  v. AM  Cosmetics,  Inc.,  a
Delaware  Corporation,  Civil  Action No.  1999CV08276,  pending in the Superior
Court of Fulton County, State of Georgia;  and/or in an arbitration  proceeding,
entitled   AM   Cosmetics,   Inc.   v.  Carson   Products   Company,   Case  No.
13-181-01123-98,  pending before the American Arbitration Association; and/or in
the action entitled Carson Products Company v. AM Cosmetic Corp. and AM Products
Company,  pending in the  Superior  Court of the State of New  Jersey,  Chancery
Division, for Bergen County; and/or (b) arising out of or relating to any or all
of the following  agreements:  a Management  Agreement dated as of June 26, 1996
between AM and Carson, as amended,  a Manufacturing  Agreement dated as of April
30, 1997 between AM and Carson,  a Broker  Agreement  dated as of September  19,
1997 between AM and Carson, a Subscription Agreement dated as of June 26,1996 by
and among  MORNINGSIDE AM ACQUISITION  CORP.  and CARSON  PRODUCTS  COMPANY with
respect to the shares of the capital stock of MORNINGSIDE  AM ACQUISITION  CORP.
and/or a Commission  Agreement dated as of August 1, 1996 between AM and Carson,
copies of which are annexed to the Settlement Agreement dated as of February 25,
2000 by and  among  AM,  AM  Products  and  Carson  as  Exhs.  E, F, G, H and I,
respectively,  and/or any other agreements  between AM or AM Cosmetics or any of
their  respective  subsidiaries,  on the one  hand,  and  Carson  or its  parent
corporation,  Carson, Inc. ("CIC"), or any of their respective subsidiaries,  on
the other hand; and/or (c) relating to or arising from any business relationship
between AM or AM Cosmetics or any of their respective  subsidiaries,  on the one
hand, and Carson or CIC or any of their  respective  subsidiaries,  on the other
hand.

         The  term  "Releasor"  is  defined  to  include  Carson  and  the  term
"Releasee" is defined to include AM and AM Cosmetics,  and the terms  "Releasor"
and "Releasee" shall also be deemed to include all of their  respective  current
and former partners, directors,  officers,  employees, agents,  representatives,
servants, attorneys, parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, divisions, shareholders,
joint  venture  partners,  predecessors,  successors,  assignees,  grantees  and
fiduciaries.

<PAGE>

         In  all  references  herein  to  any  parties,   persons,  entities  or
corporations,  the use of any particular gender or the plural or singular number
is intended to include the appropriate gender or number as the text may require.

         This Release may not be changed orally.

         IN WITNESS  HEREOF,  the said  Releasor has executed this Release as of
the date set forth below.


Dated:   February 25, 2000




                                                    CARSON PRODUCTS COMPANY,
                                                        RELEASOR

                                                    By:  /s/Malcolm R. Yesner
                                                         Malcolm R. Yesner,
                                                         Chief Executive Officer
STATE OF GEORGIA  )
COUNTY OF CHATHAM ) ss.:


         On the 25th day February,  2000,  before me personally  came Malcolm R.
Yesner,  to me known,  who,  being by me duly sworn,  did depose and say that he
resides at 4 Modena Road,  Savannah,  Georgia 31411;  that he is Chief Executive
Officer of CARSON  PRODUCTS  COMPANY,  the  corporation  described  in and which
executed the  foregoing  RELEASE and that  deponent is authorized to execute the
foregoing RELEASE.


Sworn to before me this
25th day of February, 2000


/s/Sue J. Doyle
        Notary Public