BellaSugar

Cosmeceutical Beverages Want You to Drink Up

BellaSugar — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:10:59 PST

Ah, drinks that are supposed to improve your skin. You all may remember my not-so-amazing encounters with Glowelle and Borba, and at this point I don't think I ever want to put another vial of powdered "nutraceuticals" in my water bottle. But just when I thought the Splenda headaches and weirdly thick tinctures were behind me, I find out that there are a whole bunch of new drinks, including an antiaging version, an organic version, and one made, appealingly, with cow mammary gland proteins, slated for release over the next several months.

This segment of the beauty biz keeps growing, but I have yet to find a miracle drink. I can only conjecture that the manufacturing costs must be so low and the profit margin so high that even something that sells poorly still turns a profit. Maybe there is some wonder beverage out there just waiting for me to drink it, but I'm definitely in the doubting camp. Plus, maybe I'm a paranoid hypochondriac, but I worry about vitamin overload. Have you ever had a positive experience with a beauty drink, or are you sticking with water like me?

Can This Laundry Detergent Make Your Skin Softer?

BellaSugar — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 11:00:09 PDT

Just when I thought beauty products couldn't get any more unusual, out comes Borba Fabric Fusion 2-in-1 Eco-Laundry Wash. The green-leaning detergent is free of petrochemicals, which should satisfy the ecologically minded; as a regular user of Nancy Boy eco laundry soap, I can say that gentler laundry detergents work well. What's unusual about Borba's version, however, is that it claims to "help skin feel softer and healthier" through its incorporation of pansy extracts, sea moss, and glycerin. Additionally, it promises to rehydrate dry skin and provide free radical protection. I haven't tried it - and because it costs $25 plus $8 shipping, I am unlikely to - but I have a hard time believing that a laundry soap can do all of that. Your thoughts?

The Great Borba Experiment: The Results Are In!

BellaSugar — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 11:00:12 PST

Back in early December, I embarked on an experiment to see if Borba Aqua-less Crystaline would clear up my spots as it promises. The pomegranate-infused $100/month regimen promises to combat oily skin, clogged pores, and impurities. Sounds great, but the skeptic in me wanted to try it out. Every morning, I'd wake up and mix the powder into water, then drink it down. It doesn't taste bad at all; it's kind of like a less bitter SweeTart.

So does it work? Sadly, no, it does not. (I promised before-and-after photos, but honestly, considering the number of pimples on my chin after a month, I just couldn't subject you to my pizzaface. Trust me, it's better for us both.) Borba didn't make my skin worse, but it certainly didn't improve it; I didn't see the promised results. And the sucralose (brand name: Splenda) in the formula gave me headaches. No fun. While Borba does deliver nutrients that can help skin, you could get those nutrients elsewhere - or you could afford to eat a whole pomegranate each day. Unless your bank account rivals the GDP of Monaco, I'd take a pass.

The Great Borba Experiment

BellaSugar — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 07:00:23 PST

When Borba launched on the market a few years ago, people were hoping that it would be a magic elixir that cured all of our skin's woes. I was skeptical. While I do think that a healthy diet helps your complexion look its best, I wasn't so sure that drinking a pricey beauty concoction would do the trick.

Ah, but I've decided to go all John Stossel on you by trying it out. I've started with a month's supply of Borba Aqua-Less Crystalline ($100/60 packets) in the Clarifying variety. It promises to "combat oily skin, clogged pores, and impurities." In 28 days, I'll post before-and-after photos so you can see what kind of effect Borba has had on my skin. To use it, you just pour the powder into water, mix it, and drink it twice a day. Some people have complained about the flavor, but I didn't find anything to dislike. It's sweet and tart at the same time - less sugary than Kool-Aid, more so than Vitamin Water.

To find out what I like - and don't like - about the ingredients,

On the plus side, Borba has antioxidant-rich pomegranate extract and vitamin E, along with vitamin C. These are all healthy ingredients that have been shown to help skin stay healthy. On the not-so-great side of things, Borba says it's sugar free, but it contains dextrose (a simple sugar) and sucralose (which is Splenda). The latter doesn't thrill me, as I am freakish about avoiding unnecessary sweeteners. My system isn't used to fake sugar, and I've been getting more headaches since I started guzzling Borba.

Another thing that reinforces my skepticism is the "science" reported on the box. Take a look at this graph:

Since the squares indicate people who reported any reduction of blemishes, only nine people out of 25 reported fewer spots. Elsewhere, the box says that "independent respondents reported a reduction in breakouts by 52 percent." That's explained as "of respondents reporting a reduction in breakouts." So, it seems to me that nine out of 25 people had fewer blemishes, and of those nine, they saw about half of their blemishes go away. No great shakes.

But we'll see. I'm going to be faithful to my Borba regimen, day in and day out, to see how it goes. Have any of you tried Borba? Have you seen results, or no dice?

Bellissima! Borba Replenishing Hangover Recovery System

BellaSugar — Sun, 10 Jun 2007 06:14:28 PDT

I don't know about you, but when I have a hangover - as many of your might on this Sunday morning - all I want to do is refuel with food, replenish my skin, and drink lots and lots of water. So I can really get behind this Borba Replenishing Hangover Recovery System ($45). The giftworthy kit includes Borba's age-defying facial cleanser, age-defying concentrate, silk fiber orbital eye rejuvenator, and age-defying day repair and night repair emulsions.

I've actually never tried any products from Borba, which makes edible beauty concoctions, like drink mixes and gummy candies, as well as facial scrubs and lotions that help your complexion. This handy kit might have to be my first Borba purchase. If you've tried any of the company's products, let me know what you think.

Trend Alert: Nutritious and Delicious Lip Glosses

BellaSugar — Tue, 29 May 2007 04:28:45 PDT

Here's a horrifying statistic from the Tarte Cosmetics website: The average woman ingests between two to four pounds of lip gloss in her lifetime. Yuck, right? Thank goodness for a new trend in makeup that will make you feel better about licking your lips. Cosmetics companies are partnering with wellness brands to create lip glosses infused with good-for-you ingredients. Here are two of the trend-setters.

DuWop Elixrstix ($22) are super-smooth lip glosses with medium coverage that aren't gooey or sticky. But what really sets them apart is that these glosses are infused with ancient Chinese medicinal tonics, thanks to a collaboration with Elixr Tonics & Teas.

Elixrstix are available in four shades, each of which comes with a different healing promise. Clarity (nude) is said to enhance your mental agility, Energy (sheer pink) promises to keep you going, Harmony (rose) aims to center your mind and spirit, and Serenity (melon) is designed to relax the senses.

For another healthy lip gloss,

Tarte Inside Out Lip Gloss ($21) is a moisturizing formula infused with vitamins and Borba nutraceuticals. When the glosses are ingested - as they inevitably will be - the ingredients are intended to reduce skin irritation, promote collagen, and add luminosity to your skin. All three varieties are scented with pomegranate and have a shimmery shine. The shades include Om (pale pink), Apple-A-Day (hot pink), and Liquid Sunshine (nude).

Simply Fab: Tarte Inside Out Vitamin Lip Gloss

FabSugar — Wed, 17 Jan 2007 13:24:56 PST

You all got a kick out of my post on Borba's Clarifying Anti-Blemish Chocolate Bar and now the nutraceutical company has teamed up with fab makeup company Tarte. Check out this Tarte Inside Out Vitamin Lip Gloss, $21. It combines Tarte's long-lasting, moisturizing lip gloss with BORBA's vitamins delivering powerful skin protecting ingredients. The pomegranate-scented lip gloss is mouth-wateringly gorgeous with its hint of sexy sheen, but it's the vitamin cocktail that will keep you coming back for more. It comes in three flavors: Apple-A-Day (shown), Liquid Sunshine and OM. This gloss contains complexion-refining acai, green tea and grape-seed extract. Double yum!

I always wondered how much lip gloss I actually consume. Now I can argue that lip gloss is good for you!

A Chocolate Bar That Helps Clear Your Complexion?

FabSugar — Wed, 03 Jan 2007 15:41:49 PST

Attention all choc-o-holics! Could it be true that a chocolate bar can actually help to clear your complexion? Believe it or not, the masters behind the Borba Clarifying Anti-Blemish Chocolate Bar, $8, claim their Swiss, dark chocolate bar is formulated to remove toxins, prevent breakouts and reduce irritation and redness on your face.

Scott Vincent Borba, of BORBA Nutracueticals, and Kristy Choo of Jin Patisserie, have joined forces to challenge the oldest chocolate related fallacy known to man.

This petite bar of chocolate is made with extracts from the Acai berry, green tea and biogenic Vitamin C to help strengthen your capillary walls as well as restore radiance to your skin. Lastly, the special cultivated bio-vitamin complex also found in the bar helps your skin cells regenerate more rapidly.

In a recent study, 52% of the sample group who ingested this chocolate bar regularly over a 28 day period reported their breakouts were significantly reduced. I can hardly believe that chocolate could be the answer to my breakouts. This is revolutionary!

Mila and Justin Indulge in Some French Fashion

Lindsay Miller — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 14:37:56 PDT

Mila Kunis and Justin Timberlake spent their Saturday shopping separately around Paris. The Friends With Benefits stars took a break and visited French boutiques after debuting their romantic comedy in both Moscow and Berlin earlier in the week. Justin was spotted at Hermès, while Mila stopped by several designer outposts, including Isabel Marant, Givenchy, Chanel, and Céline. Mila has been sporting a healthy glow during their overseas trip, which may be partly due to her rumored investment in a pricey new beauty treatment. Mila reportedly spent $7,000 on a Borba facial that uses rubies and diamonds to exfoliate! Meanwhile, Justin recently made a big purchase of his own, teaming with an advertising company to put up $35 million for an ownership stake in MySpace.