BellaSugar

Doing Drugstore: Charles Worthington Big Waves Definition Creme

BellaSugar — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 10:00:49 -0700

Contrary to what Beyoncé says there are some things that are irreplaceable. I have been trying to find a low-cost alternative to Bumble & bumble Grooming Creme ($25) at the drugstore for ages. Often, other products are too heavily-scented, which at least is detectable without taking out my wallet. I had high hopes for Charles Worthington Big Waves Definition Creme ($5.99), which promises "defined, wavy, super shiny, full hair." The scent was stronger than I'd like but not offensive, so I gave it a try.

The first thing I noticed was that it didn't smooth through my hair as much as I wanted it to. When you have waves - or are trying to create them - getting product evenly over your hair is key. The directions say to apply "liberally" with fingers, but combing it through is definitely a better idea. With leave-in defining products, even application can easily be the difference between success and failure, which is why I gave this Big Waves Definition Creme a second chance after my hair dried with, for lack of a better term, glue-y chunks. I love other Charles Worthington products, but this didn't do it for me either time. Bummer.

Bring On The Bling, Part II: Pearls

BellaSugar — Tue, 08 May 2007 10:23:10 -0700

Welcome back to the second installment of Bring on the Bling. (Be sure to check out yesterday's post, Part I: Diamonds.) This series proves that nothing is too precious to put on our skin - literally. Today's featured products are infused with crushed pearls, which are believed to contain high concentrations of minerals and amino acids essential to healthy skin cells. I have yet to try these products, but if you have, please share your thoughts below.

Carita Pearl of Youth for Lips ($67) is an anti-aging lip treatment that helps to repair and smooth out fine lines and wrinkles on and around the mouth. It contains peptides that make lips look full and moisturized, as well as pearl powder to nourish the skin. Apply in the morning and evening to a perfectly clean pout.

For two more pearl-infused products, read more

Charles Worthington Dream Lustrous Locks Moisturizing Shampoo ($7) is a glossing shampoo created from pearl and silk extracts to add luster to dull hair. Not only does it pamper your senses with its unique fragrance, but it will also help moisturize and hydrate dry, lifeless hair. Available at Rite Aid stores nationwide.

Jenju Pearl Cream ($28) is a face cream fit for aristocrats. The Chinese royal court has been using crushed freshwater pearls as an age-fighting secret formula for centuries. The airy cream leaves a pearlescent glow on your skin and helps revive dull and dry cells.

How-To: Amanda Peet's Hipster Ponytail

BellaSugar — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 07:00:21 -0700

At a party in New York feting her Gotham magazine cover, actress Amanda Peet rocked a downtown style, from her Thakoon dress to her berry lips. Her messy, heavy-banged ponytail is the perfect top to her 1940s-ish makeup. Total girl-crush chic!

For step-by-step instructions on how to get the perfect messy pony, read more.

STEP 1: Wash hair, skipping conditioner if your hair is anything but ultra-dry. No need to brush out unless your hair is really knotty.
STEP 2: Apply a little bit of a product that adds volume and texture with a little hold, like Bumble and bumble Styling Creme.
STEP 3: Allow hair to air-dry. If you're pressed for time, blow-dry with a diffuser, making sure to get some lift near the crown of your head. If you have thick hair, twist it before drying to keep it from getting too huge. If you have bangs, blow-dry them forward with a small round brush. Don't neglect the pieces around your ears.
STEP 4: Spritz a salt spray, like Charles Worthington Big Waves Texturizing Salt Spray, all over.
STEP 5: Back-comb around your roots and pull hair back into a ponytail. Secure it with an elastic like Blax Snag-Free Hair Elastics (for best no-slip results, use a brand new one and wrap around as many times as possible) about two or three inches above your brows. It may take a few tries to get the perfect bumpy, hipster-girl ponytail.
STEP 6: Back-comb around the elastic and rub the ends of the ponytail between your thumb and index finger.

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Doing Drugstore: Sally Hershberger's Supreme Head

BellaSugar — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 08:00:18 -0800

A haircut with stylist Sally Hershberger normally runs $800-that is, if you can move to the top of her waiting list and you can deal with her unusual working style. But benefiting from her hair expertise is about to get a lot more affordable. Sally (shown here with Joan Jett) is launching Supreme Head, a collection of shampoos, conditioners, and styling products. WWD reports:

The line consists of six shampoos and conditioners (with variants for thin to normal hair, normal to thick hair and wavy hair), three Style Primers (a variant for each hair type), a Shagg Spray, Star Shine, Wreck & Roll Texturing Gel, Wreck & Roll Texturizing Cream and Supreme Lift for normal to thin hair.

To find out how the Web is coming into play with Supreme Head, and to find out how much it'll cost you (you might be surprised!), read more

Sally, widely considered to be the inspiration for the character Shane of The L Word, is taking extra steps to make sure this is more than a vanity project. "Consumers are more savvy than to buy something with someone's name on the bottle. It has to be smarter than that," she told WWD. "Marc Anthony, Charles Worthington, Samy don't really represent a real point of difference. It is just designer. It is played out."

To combat that perception, customers will be able to go online, enter a product's UPC code, and get Sally's step-by-step instructions on creating their own hairstyles. Supreme Head will be available only at Walgreens for its first year, and as of next month, you'll be able to buy it. Shampoos and conditioners will cost $9.50, while styling products will be $12.50-far, far less than the cost of a chop from Sally herself.

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Beauty Byte: The Louboutin Manicure

BellaSugar — Wed, 23 May 2007 12:57:51 -0700

I'm not usually a fan of so-called nail art, but this is just the coolest! A London-based manicurist named Zoe Pocock has created a "Louboutin manicure" based on the iconic look of Christian Louboutin shoes.

Like the famously red-soled designer heels, Pocock's manicure features a red-painted underside on the nail. According to the May issue of WWD Beauty Biz, the artist, who works at Charles Worthington salon, has also invented other fashion-inspired looks. Pocock has created a crocodile-textured manicure inspired by Mulberry bags and whipped up a finish using cocoa powder that looks like suede. How adorably clever.

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Beauty Byte: Self's 2007 Healthy Beauty Awards

BellaSugar — Fri, 04 May 2007 16:14:02 -0700

Self magazine just announced the winners of its 2007 Healthy Beauty Awards, which recognize skin-care, makeup, and hair products that are both good and good for you. I love lists like this, because they always give me ideas about new products to try (as if I needed more, but whatever).

The Self awards are a great mix of drugstore treasures and high-end brands. (Thanks to Beauty and the Blog for the tip!) To see the list of winners, read more

FACE

Best Normal-Skin Cleanser
Plank Cor Soap, $125

Best Oily-Skin Cleanser
Care by Stella McCartney Purifying Foaming Cleanser, $35

Best Dry-Skin Cleanser
NIA 24 Gentle Cleansing Cream, $30

Best Sensitive-Skin Cleanser
Skin Effects Redness Control Calming Gel Cleanser, $13

Best Normal-Skin Moisturizer
Skingenic Regenerating Moisturizer, $110

Best Dry-Skin Moisturizer
Lierac Hydra-Chrono, $45

Best Sensitive-Skin Moisturizer
Kinerase Cream With SPF 30, $135

Best Antiaging Moisturizer
Lancôme High Résolution With Fibrelastine Intensive Recovery Anti-Wrinkle Cream, $74

Best Night Cream
Roc Protient Fortify Lift and Define Night Cream, $20

Best Serum
Aveeno Positively Ageless Rejuvenating Serum, $18

Best At-Home Peel
Avon Anew Clinical Advanced Retexturizing Peel, $25

Best Face Scrub
C.O. Bigelow Brown Sugar Crystal Face Polish, $20

Best Acne Treatment
Sephora Face Concealing Blemish Pen, $14

Best Mask
Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Plump Perfect Firming Facial Mask, $58

Best Eye Cream
Guerlain Orchidée Impériale Eye and Lip Cream, $155

Best Antiaging Eye Cream
Clarins Advanced Extra-Firming Eye Contour Cream, $54

Best Eye-Brightening Cream
Burt's Bees Radiance Eye Creme, $15

BODY

Best Bar Soap
Dove Pro-Age, $4

Best Shower Gel
Boscia Jujube Rejuvenist Amino Body Wash, $22

Best Moisturizing Shower Gel
Caress Cashmere Luxury Silkening Body Wash, $3

Best Body Scrub
Murad Activating Body Scrub, $48

Best Body Treatment
Ahava Pure Spa Energizing Body Mud Mask, $18

Best Body Moisturizer
St. Ives Mineral Therapy Advanced Body Moisturizer, $5

Best Nighttime Body Moisturizer
Johnson's Softlotion Melt Away Stress Moisturizing Lotion, $5

Best Spray Moisturizer
The Healing Garden Sensual Therapy Passion Rose Body Mist, $7

Best Body Cream
Jergens Shea Butter Cream, $7

Best Body Cream for Irritated Skin
Eucerin Calming Itch-Relief Treatment, $9

Best Hand Scrub
Mary Kay Satin Smoothie Hand Scrub, $15

Best Hand Lotion
OPI Avoplex High-Intensity Hand & Nail Cream, $8

Best Nail Product
Revlon No Smudge Dry Oil, $7

Best Foot Scrub
Olay Thermal Pedicure, $9

Best Foot Cream
Earth Therapeutics Intensive Heel Repair, $8

MAKEUP

Best All-Around Foundation
Shiseido The Makeup Dual Balancing Foundation SPF 17, $35

Best Tinted Moisturizer
Cosmedicine Honest Face Skin Tint & Treatment SPF 20, $35

Best Oil-Free Foundation
Neutrogena Glow Sheers SPF 30, $12

Best Antiaging Foundation
La Mer The Treatment Fluid Foundation SPF 15, $75

Best Long-Lasting Foundation
Rimmel Cool Matte 16 Hr Foundation, $8

Best Pressed Powder
MAC Mineralize Skinfinish, $25

Best Loose Powder
Givenchy Prisme Libre, $63

Best Concealer
Prescriptives Custom Blend Concealer, $32

Best Bronzer
Physicians Formula Mineral Wear Talc-Free Matte Bronzing Veil, $12

Best Highlighter
Smashbox Photo Op Under Eye Brightener, $18

Best Powder Blush
Lorac Cheek Stamp, $22

Best Gel Blush
Sue Devitt Beauty Gel to Powder Blush, $20

Best Lipstick
Giorgio Armani ArmaniSilk, $25

Best SPF-Enriched Lipstick
Almay Hydracolor, $9

Best Lip Gloss
Sally Hansen Smile Brightening Lip Treatment, $7

Best Lipliner
Lauren Hutton Lip Liner, $14

Best Powder Eyeshadow
Victoria's Secret Very Sexy Mosaic Eye Shadow, $18

Best Cream Eyeshadow
Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Cream Shadow, $22

Best Makeup Multitasker
Benefit Rush Hour, $20

Best Eyeliner
L'Oréal Paris Carbon Black Le Kohl Pencil, $7

Best Lengthening Mascara
Clinique High Definition Lashes Brush-Then-Comb Mascara, $14

Best Thickening Mascara
CoverGirl VolumeExact Mascara, $7

Best Waterproof Mascara
Maybelline New York Volum' Express Turbo Mascara, $7

Best Multitasking Mascara
Chanel Inimitable Mascara, $27

Best Eye Makeup Remover
Dr. Andrew Weil for Origins Plantidote Mega-Mushroom Eye Makeup Remover Pads, $20

Best Palette
Sonia Kashuk Face Palette, $17

HAIR

Best All-Around Shampoo
Aura Spa Aromatherapie Balancing Équilibrant Verbena Ginger Shampoo, $8

Best Hydrating Shampoo
Sunsilk ThermaShine, $4

Best Straightening Shampoo
Nexxus SleekTress Sumptuous Smoothing Shampoo, $9

Best Shampoo for Curls
Aveda Be Curly Shampoo, $20

Best Shampoo for Color-Treated Hair
Matrix Logics Color DNA System Color Nourishing Shampoo, $20

Best All-Around Conditioner
Charles Worthington Dream Hair Radiant Shine Glossing Conditioner, $9

Best Hydrating Conditioner
Kiehl's Olive Fruit Oil Nourishing Conditioner, $19

Best Straightening Conditioner
Aussie Sydney Smooth Conditioner, $3

Best Conditioner for Curls
Redken Fresh Curls Conditioner, $13

Best Conditioner for Color-Treated Hair
Marc Anthony Brilliant Color Color Lock Conditioner, $8

Best Hair Mask
Alberto VO5 Fortify & Repair! Deep Moisturizing 3-Minute Masque, $3

Best Volumizer
Biolage VolumaThérapie Bodifying Crème Gel, $14

Best Shine Serum
John Frieda Frizz-Ease Thermal Protection Serum, $10

Best Gel
Garnier Fructis Style Brilliantine Shine Cream-Gel, $4

Best Curl Product
Suave Professionals Healthy Curls Anti-Frizz Cream, $2

Best Frizz Fighter
Herbal Essences None of Your Frizzness Smoothing Leave-In Crème, $3

Best Mousse
Wella Color Preserve Volumizing Mousse, $14

Best Straightening Product
Tresemmé Thermal Creations Straightening Gel, $4

Best Texturizer
Pantene Pro-V Texturize! Moussing Foam Wax, $7

Best Hairspray
Paul Mitchell Express Style Worked Up Spray, $15

Best At-Home Color Kit
Clairol Natural Instincts, $9

SUN

Best Face Sunscreen
Dermalogica Extra Rich Faceblock SPF 30, $48

Best Body Sunscreen
Banana Boat UltraMist Sport SPF 30 Continuous Clear Spray, $7

Best Face Glow Lotion
Nivea Sun-Kissed Facial Moisturizer, $7

Best Body Glow Lotion
Estée Lauder Body Performance Golden Naturally Radiant Moisturizer, $35

Best Self-Tanner
Lancaster Silk Bronze Moisturizing Milk Face & Body Self Tan SPF 6, $22

Best Body Bronzer
Dior Bronze Gelée de Monoi, $32

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