BellaSugar

Bella Brand: Amplify

BellaSugar — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 14:00:13 -0800

I've just discovered Amplify, a product line from Matrix. It's been around for a few years, and five new products have just been added to the range. This hair care range features shampoos, conditioners and styling products that help create fuller and thicker locks.

The newest products I have just tried are from the Amplify Styling Collection and they're pretty fabulous. These products have been developed to increase the thickness and diameter of each hair strand.

The first time I ever heard of a product like this was when Frederic Fekkai came out with his MORE Hair Care System. The difference here is while Fekkai's product releases doses of niacin to your hair each day, it also tightens up the hair follicles to give hair the appearance of being fuller. In contrast, Amplify coats each hair to make it look thicker and more voluminous. The other difference is that Amplify costs much less.

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To read more about each of the five products (three new items and two reformulates faves), read more

ThickLift Liquid Volumizer ($14.95) is a heat-activated complex that helps strengthen and thicken fine, thinning, limp hair.
Full Body Texturizer ($14.95) is a non-aerosol texturizing product that adds density, thickness, body and volume to the hair.
Color XL Conditioner ($13.95) is a weightless conditioner that helps create volume and shine. It's safe for color and chemically treated hair.
Foam Volumizer ($14.95) is an existing product that has been reformulated to provide hair with volume and hold.
Hairspray ($14.95) is a fine-mist hairspray that offers strong hold to hair. This is great for creating lots of full-bodied styles. It prevents hair from getting static-y, it shields hair from humidity and it leaves a hair looking healthy and shiny.

Mally Roncal Shares Workplace-Friendly Makeup Tips

BellaSugar — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 06:00:11 -0800

There's a time and place for sparkly blue eye shadow, and 9:30 a.m. at work is not it. (Unless, of course, you work at Cirque du Soleil, in which case, have at it.) For most of us, looking professional is about looking polished. But how much makeup is appropriate for the workplace? For makeup artist Mally Roncal's tips on looking professional, read more.

How-To: Blake Lively's Oh-So-Pretty Curls

BellaSugar — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 13:00:52 -0700

Blake Lively always looks so pretty and friendly on the red carpet, and last night at the Where the Wild Things Are premiere, her look deserved a gold star. The makeup was pretty simple (pink champagne sparkle eyeshadow, glossy bubblegum pink lip), but her hair, in those perfect starlet curls, was the real standout for me. To find out how to get this glam look, which I'm thinking will be perfect for romantic dinner or some swanky night out in the near future, just keep reading

The Met's Costume Institute Gala: Cindy Crawford

BellaSugar — Mon, 04 May 2009 17:31:23 -0700

Confession: I used to work out to Cindy Crawford's fitness tape, Shape Your Body, a lot in the '90s. Cheesy? Yes, but no one could argue that her body wasn't, and still isn't, enviable. But while I was busy working my abs, I'd forget how truly gorgeous this girl is (physical exertion, apparently, makes me stupid). So tonight, I'm reminded just how lovely this corn-fed girl from De Kalb, IL is. Her makeup amplifies the obvious as she plays up her eyes with a dark blue hue that matches her dress, and keeps the rest of the look tonal with her pink pout and nude blush. Her long curls frame her structured face. What say you, are you loving Cindy's look?

Vote on all of my Costume Institute Gala polls here!

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How-To: Conceal Under the Eyes

BellaSugar — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 07:00:19 -0800

Whether it was a boozy late night or you inherited them from your Aunt Martha, dark circles under the eyes are often unavoidable. So, if you've been seeing the blues (or purples), I've got some easy directions on how to reduce the appearance of these unwanted tones below:

Choose the right concealer: Pick a color about one-half of a shade to one shade lighter than your foundation. Going too light will only amplify the area you want to conceal. Yellowish shades will work best for masking those bluish-purple tones. Try the cream-based Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer ($22) or Maybelline Cover Stick Concealer ($5.49).
Moisturize: Earlier, I shared with you some of my favorite makeup tips from Robert Jones, and among them, he says to prep the skin before concealing with a generous dollop of eye cream. Concealers are more dense than foundations and are formulated to cover, so you want to make sure that you're nice and hydrated to avoid cakey lines.

To see the rest of my tips, read more.

Apply: After your eye cream absorbs and your foundation is done, it's concealer time. With a light hand, apply a few dots of product only on the dark areas (usually in the inner corners and the areas right around your orbital bone). Keeping in mind that less is more, gently "stipple" with your ring finger or a concealer brush to blend, and then blend some more.
Smile test: If you're happy with the results, then smile. If any product has shifted or moved into some fine lines, lightly tap with a tissue to remove.
Optional highlighting: If you want to add a bit more brightness to your eye area, add a eye brightener on the inner and outer Vs with a brightening product such as Benefit Cosmetics Eye Bright ($20).
Set it: Give your hard work some lasting power with a light dusting of translucent powder. Try Physicians Formula Pearls of Perfection Multi-Colored Powder ($10.95).
In a pinch?: If you're out of concealer, apply a thin layer of foundation all over your face and then go back and apply another layer just to your under-eye area. You can also use the thicker residue from your foundation's bottle cap as a concealer substitute. Concealer not the right shade? Add a little yellow eye shadow to help.

How-To: Hayden Panettiere's Emmys Look

BellaSugar — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 14:00:53 -0700

Judging from Sunday's poll, Hayden Panettiere's look was an overall "love it" at the 2008 Emmy Awards. And that skin? Seriously, I just might need to contact Hayden's facialist, dermatologist, and/or makeup artist.

Well, guess what? We're in luck, because makeup artist Amy Oresman, who was responsible for Hayden's flawless face, shared the lowdown on how to achieve her "flat-out glamorous look." She used Neutrogena products, as Hayden is one of the brand's spokespeople. Check out the how-to below and learn exclusive tips from Oresman on how to achieve Hayden's dark, dramatic eyes:

Cheeks: For her trademark sun-kissed glow, Mineral Sheers Bronzer ($10.79) was dusted around the perimeter of Hayden's face, hairline, cheekbones, and lightly down the bridge of her nose. To tie the look together, the powder was applied to neck and shoulders as well. Next, a light sweep of Healthy Skin Blends Sheer Highlighting Blush in Fresh ($10.95) was added to the apples of the cheeks.

To learn what other shades were used on Hayden, read more.

Eye shadow: For a nude finish, Nourishing Eye Duo in Iced Coffee ($7.64) was applied on Hayden's lids, while the darker shade was swept into the contour.
Eyeliner: Use two brushes to turn eye shadow into eyeliner: a small, flat one for depositing color on the lid and a soft, fluffy brush. Oresman used the latter to, as she says, "carefully blend the seam between the smoke around the perimeter of the eye and the rest of the lid." Try Urban Decay Matte Eyeshadow in Perversion ($16), a matte black.
Mascara: "I used just a few individual lashes on the outside edges of Hayden’s eyes for her 'Rock the Red Carpet' look," says Oresman. "It elongates her eyes, creating a sultry, almond shape that’s both sexy and glamorous." Next, she coated the lashes with Healthy Volume Mascara in Black ($7.19). Then, she filled in the outer corner of her upper eyelid with a few individual lashes. "Generous layering of mascara is the key to amplifying the beauty of both natural and false eyelashes," Oresman says.
Lips: First, Lip Moisturizer ($3.89) was applied to keep Hayden's lips dewy and moist. For a sophisticated feel, Soothing LipSheers in Sparkling Nude ($8.09) was added for the final touch.

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Tuesday Giveaway! Bare Escentuals Big Tease Mascara

BellaSugar — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 23:30:51 -0700

All month long, we're pairing with Sephora to bring you daily giveaways-all featuring Bare Escentuals products!

Today's giveaway is for Bare Escentuals Big Tease Mascara. Remember back when hair was teased a mile high? Well, this lash lengthening and thickening mascara does the same for your lashes. Its unique brush has a thinner side that separates and lengthens lashes one by one, easily reaching the littlest of lower lashes and the thicker, short-bristled side builds volume for incredibly intense, amplified eyes. From root to tip, this lash magnifying mascara makes ordinary lashes into noticeably longer, fuller, flirty lashes in seconds.

To enter today's giveaway, leave a comment in the comments section below by 5 p.m. PDT / 8 p.m. EDT Tuesday, October 16, and we'll announce the winner tomorrow. Please, only ONE comment per person; duplicate comments will be discarded, so commenting more than once won't up your chances of winning. You must be a TeamSugar member to comment, so if you're not a member, please register here for an account. For all of the rules and regulations, click here. Congratulations to mssaint, who won yesterday's prize of Natural Lipcolor Rose Crepe Lipstick!

Beauty For Your Sign: Virgo (August 23-September 22)

BellaSugar — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 14:59:54 -0700

You already read your daily horoscope on DearSugar, right? Well, I've got a little astrology treat for you here on BellaSugar, too. Welcome to another installment of a 12-part series about beauty for your zodiac sign. I'll profile each sign as it comes, giving hair and makeup tips to bring out your best look. Last time, I gave suggestions for Leo ladies, and this time it's all about Virgos. If your birthday is far away, don't worry-together we'll circle the entire zodiac together over the next year.

You can often recognize a Virgo by an innocent-looking baby face, or by a helpful and sweet disposition. They're mainly known for being detail-oriented, which works both for and against them. On the plus side, they have skill and patience-which explains why Virgo Salma Hayek's looks flawless even when she's going for a low-key look. On the negative side, a perfectionist streak makes some Virgos too critical, focusing on "flaws" that nobody else notices. (You know your friend who's always freaking out about the "huge zit" that you can't even see? Ask her if she's a Virgo.)

To find out which colors and cuts work for Virgos (and which don't), plus a shopping list of lovely Virgo-appropriate finds, read more

What works if you're a Virgo Virgo is an earth sign, which means you look great in neutral colors that bring out your natural beauty. But don't go so natural that you look plain. If you choose a barely-there eye look, balance it with a bold lip (or vice versa). With hair, you can look glamorous by amplifying what you've got. Look at Beyonce, for instance: When she lets her curls out, she's stunning whether she's in a designer gown or jeans and a tee.

What doesn't work Brash, out-there, "look at me!" makeup and hair. Additionally, it's important to know what's age-appropriate. Watch out for certain trends that could be too juvenile, and you should be fine.

Need some Virgo-specific shopping ideas? Check them out in this handy widget!

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New Product Alert: Just For Redheads Hair Extensions

BellaSugar — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 07:00:08 -0700

Just when you thought that Just For Redheads was only a makeup company, it launches a line of Hair So Fair Hair Extensions. Redheads constantly write in complaining that there aren't enough products on the market for them, but now there are lengths, styles and colors suited just for them.

The six available colors are blonde, champagne, strawberry blonde, copper, red, and auburn and there are five different styles: the Diva Look (22" clip-on extension, $98), Medium Hair (14” clip-on extension, $79), the Hair Comb ($89), the Hair Headband ($79), and the Hair Scrunchie ($19).

All of the extensions are made from 100% synthetic Keraflex fiber and are made to look natural while amplifying volume. Designer Sonia DeMaria collaborated with JFR owner Paula Pennypacker to create something soft and silky that give you instant thickness and variety. To see the line and to watch videos on how to use the extensions, click here. Take it away, Red!