BellaSugar

Trend Alert: Tousled Waves at the Teen Choice Awards

BellaSugar — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 12:00:38 -0700

Last night at the 2008 Teen Choice Awards in Los Angeles, the overall beauty look on the red carpet was casual chic. Although I'm sure the gals took a long time primping for the big night, they managed to create an effortless, age-appropriate effect.

One of the hottest hair styles of the evening was quintessential summertime sexy beach waves. Creating this carefree hairstyle is easy to achieve with either store-bought or homemade beauty products. What do you think of this look? Is it something you'd like to don for a special event?

Source and Source

How To: Scrunched Summertime Waves

BellaSugar — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 08:00:52 -0700

Last year I talked to you about how to create the ever-popular sexy beach waves hairstyle, and this is a modification on that look. It's slightly more polished for a casual evening dinner or party that doesn't make you look like you've just come straight from the surf.

When I think of this hairstyle, Camila Alves, Jessica Simpson and of course Rachel Bilson come to mind. To find out how you can achieve scrunched summertime waves at home, read more.

STEP 1: While hair is soaking wet, comb out the snarls with a wide-toothed comb. Part hair and apply just a little bit of de-frizzing serum like Frizz-Ease by John Frieda to the lengths and ends.
STEP 2: Let it air dry a little bit and when it's damp (not wet!) generously mist it with either a homemade or store-bought sea salt spray and scrunch hair vigorously all over.
STEP 3: As a finishing touch (something that Rachel Bilson hasn't done here) gently tease your hair at the crown to create more overall height and volume, otherwise your hair risks looking limp and straggly.
STEP 4: To ensure shiny ends, apply some Renee Furturer Spray Gloss and then leave hair alone. Don't brush, comb or play with it or you'll only create separation and, heaven forbid, frizz!

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How-To: Handle Chlorinated "Green" Hair

BellaSugar — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 10:00:53 -0700

OK, it's time to get something straight right off the bat. The chlorine in pools isn't what is causing your hair to turn green; it's the copper in the water that's making you look like you've just been slimed.

Chlorine is a chemical that kills germs, and when mixed with the natural copper in the water, it can turn dark blonde hair yellow, make highlights brassy, or turn light blonde hair green. Even if your hair isn't light or chemically treated, chlorine can dry it out. Below are a few quick and easy precautions you can take to protect your hair's texture and color.

Before you get into the pool, rinse your hair with water from the shower or the tap and apply a conditioner to help coat your hair. This will act as a shield against the damaging chemical/metal mixture.
If possible, don't stay in the pool for more than a few hours. If you are planning to swim for an extended period of time, then it's a good idea to wear a swim cap.
As soon as you get out of the pool, shampoo and condition your hair immediately. A great suggestion is Swimmer's Normalizing Conditioner and Swimmer's Normalizing Shampoo ($7.70-$7.98 each) from Aubrey Organics. Work the shampoo into your hair, rinse well and repeat the process for optimal results.
Deep-condition more regularly to avoid brittleness and breakage. Shiny, hydrated, healthy hair is less likely to be affected.

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DIY Spa Treatment: A Quick Beach-Ready Pedicure

BellaSugar — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 08:00:06 -0700

Over the years, I've noticed that the sand and sea tend to deteriorate my pedicures more quickly than just about anything else. That's why I love this easy-to-achieve quick and simple pedicure that can be done in about ten minutes flat. It's easy to master, so it can keep your feet looking groomed all summer long. Here's what you'll need:

A bowl of hot soapy water

Toe spacers to separate toes

Toenail clipper

Base coat

Sheer pinky-peach nail polish

Topcoat

For four simple step-by-step directions, read more.

Step 1: Begin by soaking your feet in the hot soapy water to soften up your skin. Then, push back or trim your cuticles and file away any hard calluses under your toes or around your heels.
Step 2: Trim and file your toenails so that the ends of your nails are slightly shorter than the end of the skin on your toes.
Step 3: Swipe your toenails twice with nail polish remover (use the non-acetone kind if possible since it's less drying) and separate your toes with toes spacers. Then, apply a base coat and one coat of pale pink or beige nail polish.
Step 4: Wait about a minute and then apply a light layer of topcoat - voila, you're finished!

BellaSugar's Guide to SPF Beauty Products

BellaSugar — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 09:00:00 -0700

Sunshine is a natural source of vitamin D, which is great for your bones, your organs, and your mental health. (It's true, the sun makes people happy.) But as you well know, it's also dangerous, and it's a top cause of skin aging. Below is my seven-post roundup on noteworthy SPF-enhanced beauty products (there's even a DIY recipe in there too) so that you can safeguard your skin, your hair, and your lips at all times.

SPF Beauty Bonanza, Part III: Sun Care Hair Products

BellaSugar — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 08:00:20 -0700

Not only can the harmful rays of the sun affect your skin, they can also be damaging to your hair - especially if it is chemically and/or color treated. Below are three great SPF-enhanced products that will help protect your hair from drying out, breaking and oxidizing while you're frolicking away on a sunny day.

Capri Sun-Shield Spray ($20) is yet another new beauty product inspired by the jet-setting Italian island. The reason? Oscar Blandi loves the sunny locale and feels it's the ultimate Italian paradise. This hair mist works just a sunscreen would act on your skin. All you need is a little bit to lock in moisture, boost shine and protect hair from UVA and UVB rays.

Kerastase Voile Protecteur ($34) is a colorless spray that keeps your strands safe from drying out and oxidizing in the sun. It protects against UVA and UVB rays, salty seawater and the chemicals (generally chlorine) in swimming pools. Plus, it won't make your hair feel greasy and it washes out well.

For one more hair (and body) sunscreen, read more.

Shiseido Refreshing Sun Protection Spray SPF 16 PA+ ($27) offers broad-spectrum safety for your hair, scalp and even your skin while you are exposed to extensive UVA and UVB sun rays. It's lightweight, virtually odorless, water-resistant and comes in a sporty spray bottle that even spritzes if it's upside down.

Definition: SPF (Sun Protection Factor)

BellaSugar — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 06:00:22 -0700

I know what you're thinking: Who doesn't know what SPF is? But the truth is that every time I quiz a group of gals about their sun smarts, there's inevitably an unsure shrinking violet in the corner. I thought this would be the perfect chance to clarify what the SPF in all of the sunscreen-related beauty products actually means.

SPF, short for Sun Protection Factor, is a number that, according to the FDA, must be apparent on all sunscreens. The number indicates how long you can be exposed to the sun without turning red. For example, if you are someone who burns after 10 minutes and you apply SPF 15, then you will be shielded from turning red 15 times longer than if you didn't apply sunscreen.

Naturally, the higher number SPF you use, the more protected you'll be - and if you have fair skin, you'd be advised not to use anything less than SPF 50. It is also important to understand that sunscreens protect you by absorbing UVB and/or UVA rays. Most sunscreens shield against UVB rays, but if you really want to be sun savvy, I suggest reading the packaging carefully to ensure that it also offers UVA defense.

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Which Beach Babe Has Sexier Hair?

BellaSugar — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 11:40:22 -0700

Both of these ladies are known for their long, gorgeous brown and honey highlighted hair. Here are pictures of Gisele Bundchen and Jessica Alba both in Miami without any primping whatsoever. Who do you think has better beach hair?

Source and Flynet

Must-Have of the Moment: Tend Skin

BellaSugar — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 09:00:18 -0700

Readers have been steadily writing in asking about how to resolve your ingrown hair problem. Pesty post-waxing and shaving bumps look red, irritated and they can even itch a little bit. It's time you learn about Tend Skin Liquid.

This oldie but goodie has been a part of my life for years. I use it on my bikini line, and guys often use it on their face and on the back of the neck-essentially, wherever ingrown hairs usually form.

To use, dampen a cotton ball with Tend Skin and pat it onto the bumps you'd like to banish. You'll feel a little bit of a tingling sensation. That's okay; just wait about twenty to thirty seconds for it to dry and you're good to go for the day.

Now your bikini line will look beautiful for the duration of your beach days! Tend Skin is available in a four-ounce bottle ($20), an eight-ounce bottle ($35) and a 16-ounce bottle ($50). But if you're allergic to aspirin, take a pass: One of Tend Skin's main ingredients is acetylsalicylic acid, which is-you guessed it-aspirin.

Rich Hippie Summer of Love Perfume

BellaSugar — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 10:00:27 -0700

It's been 40 years since the famous bohemian summer, so Rich Hippie is right on trend with its Summer of Love scent. This fragrance is a little bit different than your standard perfume because it's in the form of an oil. And before I hit you with the cost, understand that it's highly concentrated, so the little vial lasts for quite a while.

Ok, so for a half of an ounce and $355, you can be the proud owner of the essence of Summer of Love. Doesn't that sound really sexy and romantic?

The perfume is made from only organic and wild-crafted ingredients such as jasmine, ylang ylang, vanilla bean, rose, litsea cubeba and orange blossom. Do you think you'd be willing to spend this much on a perfume? Sure, it's a few hundred dollars cheaper than Marie Antoinette's perfume, but the hippies of yesteryear couldn't have dreamed that they'd inspire a luxury scent!