BellaSugar

Bella Brand: Apothia

BellaSugar — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 08:00:43 PDT

Meet Apothia Aromatic, a California-based company that creates home fragrance candles, diffusers, and bath and body products inspired by Los Angeles experiences. All products are blended and made from premium ingredients, and both the home and personal fragrance lines feature sleek, award-winning packaging.

I had the chance to sit down with Apothia's founder, Ron Robinson, a couple of years ago. He was warm and friendly, and genuinely excited about his line. (Really, he was like a giddy kid unwrapping presents as he told me about each product.) He's a perfectionist when it comes to finding the precise notes to create the scents, and his work pays off-the fragrances are multifaceted and genuinely unique.

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For a detailed description of each of the Apothia aromas, read more If you've shopped at Barneys New York, you've probably seen the line of home candles ($46), which burn for 60 hours. I have one and find that to spread the scent to my apartment, I only need to leave it burning for 20 minutes or so. The rest of the Apothia Collection consists of aromatic diffusers ($78), eau de parfum ($30–$75), body wash ($28) and body lotion ($30). These are the available scents, but note that not all of them are available in all forms.

VELVET ROPE is inspired by a dry martini, spiked with notes of vanilla, jasmine and grapefruit. (I have this in a candle, and my guy friends always ask about the smell.) It's available as a candle and in the body care/personal fragrance line.
IF is more distinctly feminine. It's largely a citrus scent, but it builds to a floral, then finishes with musk. It's available only in the body care/personal fragrance line.
L is for all my Sapphic girls out there. Inspired by The L Word, it's something of an earthy scent, with notes of green violet leaf and woods. It's not available as a candle, but it's available as a fragrance.

PLUSH is made from citrus notes of mandarin, lime and pomelo.
WAVE is symbolic of a morning at the beach, smelling of driftwood, flowers, sea grass, white grapefruit, mandarin and yuzu.
SCENE is the ultimate urban guilty pleasure. Think glittering lights and sexy flashes of skin. This scent is made from fig, juniper berry and pear nectar.
CHRISMUKKAH reminds me of the OC! It smells of fresh green fir, clove, and ocean air.
SPIRITUAL is meant to be calming and peaceful, with hippie-chic notes of patchouli, amber, sandalwood, green mint and basil.
SOUL sounds really sexy to me. It has notes of African ginger, mahogany, Taboti wood and Grains of Paradise.
JUICED is all about health. This fresh scent is energizing, with notes of sparkling red currant, geranium and tomato leaf.
BRONZED is the perfect name for an LA fragrance, yes?Orange flower, petitgrain, bergamot and jasmine make up this scent.
CASA is something I'll have to tell, uh, Casa about. It is made from Casablanca lilies, newly cut grass, and fresh air.

Cheers To Vinotherapy!

BellaSugar — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 07:00:22 PDT

Vinotherapy is a term coined by Caudalie founders Mathilde and Bertrand Thomas. It's the process of pampering your skin with products made from grade seeds and grape skins. Grape Seed strengthens blood vessels as well as contains polyphenols (antioxidants that combat free radicals).

Other properties of vinotherapy include reservatol, which promotes skin cell renewal and viniferine, an ingredient that reduces dark (liver or sun) spots. Here are a couple of products from the Caudalie product range that contain vinotherapeutic properties. The best part is that there's no hangover whatsoever!

Caudalie Sauvignon Scrub ($35) is a soft, whipped, creamy scrub that smells like grapefruit, essential oils and honey. It provides a matte finish. It's great for sensitive skin (since the formula is very gentle) and it is safe for both the body and the face. Use up to twice a week on wet skin for a buffed, silky smooth and glowing complexion.

For one more vinotherapeutic product,

read more Merlot Shower Gel ($19) is a skin-softening body cleanser that leaves a gentle smell of blackberry, blackcurrant leaf, tarragon and fresh bergamot behind. It is paraben-free, phenoxyethanol-free and soap-free, so it won't irritate sensitive skin.

New Product Alert: Victoria's Secret Beauty Rush Collection

BellaSugar — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 07:04:44 PDT

New from Victoria's Secret is the Beauty Rush Body Care Collection. The scented bath and body line was inspired from the enormously popular Beauty Rush Lip Gloss that made mouths water all over the world. Not only is the gloss juicy and ridiculously shiny (I mean that in the best possible way, of course) but the catalog photos definitely helped to put the rush in Beauty Rush!

The new collection consists of six fruity scents and flavors: Appletini, Grapefruit Blast, Strawberry Fizz, Passion Fruit Pop, Grapesicle and Slice of Heaven. Each flavor has its own Body Mist, Body Drink Lotion, Body Zing Moisturizer Gel and Body Glimmer Wash. Currently, you can purchase any two products within a flavor line for $18. Get ready to spritz, slather, smooth and lather up for a sexy and delicious summer!

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Love Your Laptop: 8 Tips For Keeping it Healthy and Happy

Kristy Korcz — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 04:23:02 PST

Valentine's Day doesn't just have to be about giving affection to your significant other. It can be about showing your appreciation for the people and things that make your life awesome. Take your laptop, for example. Your window to the vast Internet, your laptop works really hard for you without asking much in return. Give your laptop a little TLC this Valentine's Day with these tips that will keep it happy and healthy all year long.

Clean it up - Giving your laptop (or desktop) a thorough cleaning is essential to extending its life. Back up any data you may already have stored (on an external hard drive or a portable flash drive), organize your desktop icons, empty your computer's trash on a regular basis, and clear out any programs you don't use. This will help free up space and keep you on the fast track to productivity.
Practice proper shutdown habits - Shutting down all open programs and putting your laptop to sleep instead of just closing the lid will help your computer stay cool and safe while in transport. But if you've had your laptop in a cold environment, let it warm up to room temps slowly before turning it on. This will keep condensation and dew at bay, which can ruin your computer's sensitive guts.
Protect your investment - If you're going to be lugging a laptop around, make sure it's protected in a padded case!

See the rest of my tips after the jump.

Bath & Body Works Has a Boo-tiful New Halloween Collection

Miriam Lacey — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 10:47:52 PDT

If you'll be handing out Halloween lagniappes to your friends this All Hallows' Eve, these ghoulishly cute minis from Bath & Body Works would be just perfect. The packaging is great, they're all travel size, and the line has everything from Wicked Witch color-changing lip gloss ($8) to Black Candy Apple body lotion ($5) and Vampire Blood hand sanitizer ($2). We're not sure about the scents - plenty of people adore Bath & Body Works, but their stuff isn't everyone's cup of tea - but with the cute packaging and nice prices, we'd definitely be willing to give them a try.

A Look at PETA's Seriously Sexualized Stunts

Annie Scudder — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 10:06:22 PST

Whether or not you wear or eat meat, PETA's overtly sexualized publicity campaigns might leave a bad taste in your mouth. In addition to billboards featuring stars like Pamela Anderson and Olivia Munn going naked for the cause, the animal rights group often holds live spectacles in public places featuring attractive young women, models, or minor celebrities wearing little. For example, UK reality star Chantelle Houghton dressed up like a caged tiger in her underwear, black pumps, and body paint to protest the government's decision not to ban wild animals on cruises. She addressed a serious issue in what looked like an ambitious sexy Halloween costume.

Whether it's a nude girl-on-girl bath for World Water Day or a sexy pilgrim outfit for Thanksgiving, PETA has mastered the sexualized-woman-as-activism genre. Take a look at some of the most recent public displays and tell me if you think potentially objectifying women is worth the attention it brings to animals.

Fresh Start Resolution: Cut Yourself Some Slack

SavvySugar — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 03:23:53 PST

It's a New Year and a new you! We're offering 12 tips to start off the year right. We've already given you advice on mastering time management and improving your public speaking, so here's another way to start afresh in 2012.

Make this the year that you finally give yourself a break. It's easy to get caught up in stress and to be hard on yourself when it comes to work, finance, and relationships, but the best way to stay happy and healthy is to lighten up a little bit. Here are four ways to cut yourself some slack in the upcoming year:

Schedule time for yourself. In between work commitments and everyday errands, it can be tough to find time for the things that fulfill you. Still, it's crucial to step back and let yourself indulge. Whether it's exercise, spa treatments, lunch dates, or just 10 minutes to sit and breathe, give yourself the gift of leisure. Even tiny moments of joy will have an impact on your mind-set.
Use your vacation days. Companies want eager, enthusiastic employees, so take advantage of your benefits package and schedule a vacation early in the year. With a trip to look forward to, you'll find yourself energized and more satisfied with your workplace. After your break, you'll return to the office with a calmer spirit and the drive to do better - especially since greater success usually means extra days off.

Read on for more stay-sane tips

The 55 Best Bikini Moments of 2011!

Mackenzie Wagoner — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 02:47:20 PST

Hollywood's hottest starlets took to beaches, pools, and yachts in their best bikinis this year. Whether they were modeling for photo shoots like Miranda Kerr, saving their two-pieces for family vacations a la Gwyneth Paltrow and Beyoncé Knowles, or ringing in birthdays in bathing suits like Halle Berry and Jennifer Lopez, the A-list looked their best all year long. See all the gorgeous celebs in our roundup of 2011's best bikini bodies!

Also, don't miss all our Best of 2011 coverage across the PopSugar Network!

6 Quick and Easy Last-Minute Holiday Gift Ideas

Jaime Richards — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 03:05:07 PST

The holidays have a funny way of sneaking up, but just because it's the 11th hour, doesn't mean you can't still find amazing gifts. So if you're a bit behind on your shopping list, no fret. See six quick and easy ways you can make it all come together now.

Bath & Body Works New Velvet Tuberose Fragrance

BellaSugar — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 16:00:22 PDT

On October 15, Bath & Body Works launched a new fragrance line called Velvet Tuberose. It's a sensual blend of tuberose, orchids and cashmere accord.

The fragrance is made from citrus, magnolia, apricot, ylang ylang, green, white tuberose, white freesia, cyclamen, diamond orchid, gardenia, jasmine, amber, sandalwood, exotic spices, fig, cashmere accord and musks. Initially, it has a strong floral and feminine smell, but as it wears, it dries to a heady, sexy almost woodsy and spicier scent.

The Velvet Tuberose collection includes a shower gel ($10), bubble bath ($10), body Lotion ($10), silk body lotion ($17.50), body cream ($11), body butter ($14), wallflower scents ($12.50), a candle ($17) and home fragrance oil ($7.50).