BellaSugar

11 Fragrance-Free Beauty Products

BellaSugar — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 10:00:40 -0700

Fragrance-free products? No problem . . . or that's what I thought, anyway, when I was asked to recommend some. A friend is dating a man who is allergic to fragrance, and it's thrown a wrench into her beauty routine. Even though these still conjure up noticeable "smells" - after all, what's really odorless? - fragrance-free items get any scents from essential oils and natural extracts, nothing synthetic. Check out my top picks to treat your body without artificial fragrances when you start this slideshow.
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Product Review: Breakfast in Bed by Philosophy

BellaSugar — Fri, 16 May 2008 13:00:37 -0700

Philosophy always likes to create fun beauty products. Some I like more than others, but I find that they make great gifts because there are so many themes to choose from. One of its latest launches is a group of three sugary, breakfast-inspired bath and body washes called Breakfast in Bed ($30). The products have the same 3-in-1 concept as the Shower For the Cure, which means that you can use them as a shampoo, a bubble bath, and a body wash.

Although I love to eat sugary treats like waffles, donuts, pain au chocolate (you name it), I'm definitely not as into food-scented beauty products as you are, so the Belgian Waffles and Fresh Cream flavors were unfortunately wasted on me. However, the Cafe Au Lait scent is TDF (to die for).

I love the rich lather, and the subtle coffee scent stays on your body even after you dry off. It's so good that I'm hoping Philosophy will come out with a follow-up moisturizer (hint hint). If nothing else, this wash is a fun way to indulge your sweets craving without actually packing on any pounds. Which flavor would you pick as your pre-breakfast beauty treat?

See reader reviews of this product and add your own here!

BellaSugar's Guide to Strawberry Beauty Products

BellaSugar — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 09:00:33 -0800

Sweet and juicy bath and body products are a real weakness for me, and in particular, I'm a sucker for all things strawberry. My bathroom is filled with scrubs, lotions, lip balms - you name it and I'm addicted. Check out this roundup of strawberry beauty treats; four of the posts are product driven and the last is a D.I.Y exfoliator which is inexpensive, effective and easy to make.

Succulent Strawberry Scrubs

BellaSugar — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 10:01:12 -0800

Having these grainy and sweet body scrubs in the bath and shower is just asking for trouble. After just one whiff, I'll never want to get out. For those of you who want to take a break from the doldrums of January and indulge in a summertime treat, here are three succulent scrubs that'll do the trick. And hey, if you have any Winter strawberries in your fridge that you can't bear to waste, try making this strawberry scrub at home.

Fresh Sugar Face Polish ($55) is one of those oldies but goodies that you can never say too many great things about. It's made with ground-up wild strawberries and brown sugar, so it's deep cleaning and exfoliating. One of my friends swears by this stuff, and considering the fact that her skin is always soft and clear, it's enough for me.

This Fresh Ripe Wild Strawberry Scrub from Peter Thomas Roth ($35) is more for the body than for the face. It's a sweet-smelling scrub that uses strawberry seeds as exfoliating grains. Not only does it deep clean, it also sloughs away rough, dead skin.

100% Pure Strawberry Butter Body Scrub ($22) is an all-natural, rich, and thick body scrub infused with coconut oil and shea butter to help condition while exfoliating. It also contains antioxidants to help brighten and protect skin. I can't think of a yummier way to scrub-a-dub in the tub.

Bellissima! TePe Tongue Detox

BellaSugar — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 10:00:00 -0800

This new Tongue Detox Device from Tepe ($9.18) is all the rage in Europe and l've finally been able to find an online retailer that will ship it to America. When I first read about it, it reminded me a lot of the Breath Rx anti-bacterial tongue spray and tongue scraper, and as I researched it more and more, I came upon a dozen or so tongue devices created to kill bacteria and scrape away the white scummy film that causes bacteria build-up and bad breath.

Who knew this was such a diverse market? Apparently, tongue cleaning devices have been around for centuries. They help control plaque, bad breath and unwanted bacteria that can cause tooth decay and mouth and throat infections.

Tongue Detox stands apart from the crowd for several reasons. Not only is it double-sided, dishwasher safe and coated with mint to help with fresh breath, but it also comes in four bright colors, it is made from recyclable plastic, and has a slim design to help avoid the dreaded gag reflex.

Sounds to me like they've thought of everything. Are you even aware of the smell of your breath? To find out if Tongue Detox is something you should consider, lick the back of your hand, wait a few seconds and then smell your hand. If you sense any kind of an unpleasant odor, chances are you have bad breath.

Life-Saver Shavers For Sensitive Skin

BellaSugar — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 06:00:00 -0800

For those of you who have sensitive skin, most likely your face isn't the only part of your body that suffers from redness and reactions. I find that if I'm not careful about changing my razor blade frequently, or if I don't use ample amounts of lubrication such as shaving cream or moisturizing body washes, my legs, underarms and even bikini area often burned and become pink and swollen. Here are a few of my favorite sensitive skin shavers that have helped tremendously reduce inflammation and irritation - hopefully they'll be able to help you too.

Gillette Venus Divine ($9.99) has blades that are coated with aloe and plant oil infused moisture strips so that they will glide over your skin easily. The blades are also positioned so that each one cuts lower than the next. This results in fewer missed hairs and a closer shave.

The razor also features an ergonomic no-slip grip, a finger rest for better control, a wall hanger for in-shower wall storage and shower-safe refills (how convenient).

For two more sensitive skin shavers for females, read more

Bic Soleil Twilight Triple Blade Shavers for Women with Sensitive Skin ($5.79) comes with triple blades that are lubricated with aloe and vitamin E to help moisturize and soothe sensitive skin. It also comes with a curvy no-slip handle in fun pink and purple colors.

But best of all is that there is a lavender scent infused into the shaver handle for a more enjoyable and relaxing experience.

Schick Intuition Plus Shaving Kit for Sensitive Skin ($9.49) is a triple blade razor surrounded by a skin conditioning soap made with aloe, cocoa butter, shea butter and vitamin E so that you can lather and shave at the same time! Just wet the shaver and keep both your skin and the razor wet as you shave. This ensures that your skin is lubricated so that you have fewer nicks, a closer shave and wind up with less irritation. Also, I appreciate the indicator on the unit that tells you when you need to replace your blades.

Bella Brand: Gosh Cosmetics

BellaSugar — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 10:00:54 -0800

I've just found out about a Danish brand of makeup, skin care, fragrance, and bath and body products called Gosh Cosmetics. It's new to me, but it's been available for 25 years, with products now retailing in more than 60 countries. While the family-owned business began in 1945 as a pharmaceutical company, in the late '70s it shifted production into toiletries.

Full of bright, trendy, and fresh new color selections, Gosh is going for the youth market. The range of cosmetics contains high shine, shimmer, and even glitter - some of which are available through the 10 Minute Manicure express nail-salon chain.

DIY Spa Treatment: Thanksgiving-Inspired Body Scrub

BellaSugar — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 10:00:37 -0800

You've gone out and bought all of these fresh ingredients for Thanksgiving dinner, but you've still got some leftovers lying around. Instead of watching them go bad or killing yourself trying to concoct a makeshift meal with minimal groceries, indulge your body and pamper your senses with this fresh and yummy Thanksgiving-inspired body scrub. It's really easy to make - and now your insides and your outsides can savor the goodness of comfort food! Here's what to do:

In a medium-sized saucepan, mix together and heat 2 oz. of apricot-kernel oil, 1 oz. of sunflower oil, and 1 oz. of jojoba oil.
Next, turn off the heat but add in 1oz. of cornmeal, one teaspoon of sugar, one tbsp. of ground pecans, and six drops of lavender oil. Stir.
When everything is cool enough for your skin, stand on a large towel (this could get messy) and gently rub the mixture onto your body in circular motions. Don't forget about your toes, your neck, and your knees - but you will want to avoid your face.
Rinse off in a warm shower and don't use any soap. Allow the oils to moisturize your skin. When you are about to get out of the shower, give your body a cool rinse and then gently pat your body dry.

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Bella Brand: de~luxe

BellaSugar — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 12:49:37 -0700

If you've heard of this brand before, it's because it was a cult favorite of beauty shoppers until a year ago. At that time, both retail store and online stock was running extremely low, so the company decided to take a year-long hiatus and ramp up production.

Now de~luxe is back and it's even better than before. Not only do all of the old products still exist, but there's a whole new luxurious line of bath and body products. Ready for the list? Here you go: French milled bar soap, shampoo, conditioner, liquid soap, hand crème, body scrub, body wash, body balm, body lotion and bath and body mist.

All products are formulated with essential oils and top-notch ingredients like shea butter, aloe and Vitamin E which nourish and moisturize the skin. The five scents in the collection are Almond & Oatmeal, Rosemary Mint, Verbena, Vanilla Citrus and Lavender. Prices range from $1.49 to $14.99 and can be purchased online. I like them not just because they smell good, but because no matter how hard you try, these products won't break the bank!

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Think Pink: Philosophy Shower For The Cure

BellaSugar — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 10:48:46 -0700

Philosophy Shower For The Cure ($20) is a real bang for the buck! This rich, creamy gel can be used as a shampoo, shower gel or bubble bath. It is made from milk proteins and fruit essences that moisturize, cleanse and keeps the skin supple while providing a pleasant, fresh scent. The bottle is also noteworthy. Along with a pink ribbon, it features a powerful poem written by philosophy's founder, Cristina Carlino.

This product was created solely to help the fight against breast cancer, and 100% of the proceeds are donated to the Entertainment Industry Foundation's Women's Cancer Research Fund - an organization that helps support research, education, and outreach of all women's cancers.

Shower for the Cure is available online all year in a 16 oz size ($20). Throughout the month of October, an exclusive 24 oz bottle will also be available at Nordstrom stores ($24). If you're going to buy a Breast Cancer Awareness product, this one is a worthy candidate: It smells good, and the amount of money that benefits the cause is larger than most, too.