BellaSugar

What We're Sweet On: A Silky Serum That Works While You Snooze

Jaime Richards — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 07:26:31 PST

Bare Escentuals is bringing new meaning to beauty sleep with its just-launched bareMinerals Active Cell Renewal Night Serum ($50). The lightweight formula, which works while you snooze, contains lavender to soothe, kombucha black tea to smooth, and antioxidant skin-protecting vitamins C and E. But perhaps the best part of applying the serum is just how good it feels when it hits your skin. It sinks right in to reveal a mug that's hydrated, firmed, and refreshed in the a.m. Think of it like a supercharger for your face. You'll also love that it's free from synthetic fragrances and parabens. So all you'll have to worry about is sleeping through your alarm.

Bare Escentuals Blindly Casts Its Fall Campaign

Jaime Richards — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 05:03:07 PDT

For Bare Escentuals' latest campaign, dubbed Be a Force of Beauty, executive chairman Leslie Blodgett and her team didn't look to celebrity spokesmodels to participate in the brand's ads. In fact, they didn't even look at the models to be featured in the campaign. In an approach pretty much unheard of in traditional advertising standards, the beauty company instead chose to run a blind casting call.

"We wanted to pick women based on what they stood for," Blodgett explained. "We thought, 'Are they people we want to spend time with? Do they have a voice, and do they have something to say?'" It all started with 271 women - a pool of models and actresses, (so how bad could the results really be?) - and an online questionnaire. To see more about how it all went down, just keep reading.

What Do You Know About These Milestone-Anniversary Beauty Brands?

Jaime Richards — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 05:00:00 PDT

It's a banner year for beauty brands, with many of them celebrating anniversaries spanning over 10 decades. That's a whole lot of lipstick. So join in on the festivities and see what fun facts you may know about the history of a few well-known cosmetics companies.

Take the Quiz

What Do You Know About Bare Escentuals' 35 Years?

Jaime Richards — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 14:50:00 PDT

Wheel out the birthday cake and do your best swirl, tap, and buff, because Bare Escentuals turns 35 this year. And to celebrate, the company is selling a limited-edition, silver-topped version of its famous SPF 15 foundation (pictured right), as well as launching a six-piece makeup kit dubbed Love and Happiness.

The brand, which opened its first store in Los Gatos, CA, and consists of a staff of about 90 percent female employees, has a great history. Want to learn more? Take the quiz to discover how CEO Leslie Blodgett and company got where they are today.

Take the Quiz

Bare Escentuals Shares the Birthday Love With 20 Percent Off

Brittney Stephens — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 11:00:18 PDT

Mineral makeup obsessives, take note: Bare Escentuals is celebrating its 35th anniversary, and to commemorate the event, they're spreading the love by offering 20 percent off all purchases today through Sunday, June 19. They're also offering up their Original SPF 15 Foundation ($25) in a limited-edition, blinged-out silver pot (which would look pretty sweet on your bathroom counter - just saying). You can use your discount on the Bare Escentuals site by using code LOVE at checkout or by printing it out and bringing it to your nearest BE boutique.

5 Fun Ways to Get Into the Mardi Gras Spirit

Jaime Richards — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 00:00:00 PST

Mardi Gras is one of the few times of the year where excess reigns supreme. Besides Halloween, there's never a more perfect time than now to show off your adventurous spirit. From some beautifully tame options to some wilder, glimmery finds, here are five ways you can get your Mardi Gras on right now:

With a royal purple eye shadow: The best part about Paula Dorf's Eye Color in Mardi Gras ($20) is that its flattering plum color will also look gorgeous the other 364 days of the year.
With some flashy lashes: They're a bit kitschy, but once these metallic Mardi Gras false lashes ($13) hit your eyes, it'll feel so good.
With sequined masks: Nothing screams Mardi Gras quite like a mask of green, gold, and purple, and these cat-eye masks ($3) fit the bill nicely.
With a pleasing perfume holder: Dale Tiffany's swirly Mardi Gras perfume bottle ($63) is not just pretty to look at, but it would make an excellent gift/temporary booze container, too.
With the a trifecta of New Orleans-inspired makeup: Bare Escentuals' Leslie Blodgett was inspired to create BareMinerals Where It's at: The Royal Treatment ($28) after visiting the Big Easy. The three-piece makeup kit comes with: King Eye Color, a peachy sheen; Crown Eye Color, a deep sea teal; and Lip Gloss in Beignet, and opal peach.

The Skinny on Buxom's New Smoky Eye Sticks

Miriam Lacey — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 03:15:00 PST

When it comes to sexy eye makeup, the smoky eye is one of the most wanted looks around. And when a brand comes out with a product that's supposed to make it easier, well, there's bound to be interest. The latest entrant into the easy smoky eye club is Buxom Waterproof Smoky Eye Stick ($18), which promises to line, shade, and smudge to make a smoky eye super easy. I tried the trendy new gray shade, Ice Pick. So to see a picture of how it looked after a day of wear and find out how it worked, just keep reading.

Prime Time: Testing Bare Escentuals' Foundation Primer

BellaSugar — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 09:00:00 PDT

So far, in my Prime Time series, I haven't met a primer I didn't like. Today, let's look at Bare Escentuals' BareVitamins Prime Time Foundation Primer ($21).

Prime Time is your standard evens-out-the-skin kind of formula, but what makes it different from the rest is that it's free from silicone, oil, or fragrance. Designed to be worn under Bare Escentals' ever-popular mineral foundation, I used it under liquid foundation and concealer, and had no problems with texture or pilling. Find out how it worked when you read more.

We Love, Love, Love This Eye Shadow. (Love!)

BellaSugar — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 06:00:40 PDT

I've fallen in love . . . with a dog. Actually, with 10 of them: Pug, Poodle, Black Lab, and seven more canine names that grace the new Buxom Stay-There eye shadows ($17). Ever since taking a sneak peek at these about a month ago, I've been gushing about them like an eye shadow evangelist. Here's why:

The bouncy texture is unlike anything else I've tried. It's soft, spongy, and springy - not dry, not too moist.
The color builds evenly. Apply it with your fingers for a more sheer wash of color, or use a brush for more intensity.
The formula is paraben-free, if you're looking out for that sort of thing.
It's lightweight, which is perfect when the weather is hot and humid.
This stuff really does stay put. No budging, no creasing, and it's waterproof, too.

So, yeah. Kind of obsessed. Plus, I love that Bare Escentuals is donating $20,000 to Canine Companions for Independence, a nonprofit that matches free assistance dogs to people with disabilities. These shadows have just launched at Sephora, so if you try them, let me know if you're as smitten. I think you will be.

5 Great Go-To Lip Colors Chosen by You

BellaSugar — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 08:00:07 PDT

Looking for a new lip color? Earlier this week, I asked you about your go-to lip shades, and you delivered. Whether you have warm undertones or your skin skews on the cool side, there's something here for everyone. From bold and bright to soft and versatile, here are five reader-approved lip shades. Get the details when you read more.