BellaSugar

A Clean and Clear Face in 2007: Clarifying Masks

BellaSugar — Thu, 04 Jan 2007 06:23:53 -0800

Clarifying masks are a great way to deep clean clogged pores and awaken tired winter skin. They help get rid of dead cells on the surface of your skin as well as dry up blemishes that are beginning to form. Start off 2007 with a clean and clear face!

Gently apply these masks in a thin layer, avoiding your delicate eye area. Allow seven to twenty minutes drying time (whenever it feels crackly) and then rinse off with warm water in small circles to help exfoliate your skin. Here are my three top picks for clarifying masks sensitive enough for all skin types.

Lierac Soin Éclat Express Clarifying Mask, $35, is a mud-like, menthol facial mask derived from weathered volcanic ash that attracts and then absorbs toxins, free radicals and pollutants on your skin.

It also contains polyethylene microbeads which exfoliate dull skin as well as bearberry which acts as an astringent and antiseptic to deep clean your pores.

Lastly, the peppermint extract in the formula helps to soothe facial muscles. Use this mask two to three times a week and sit back, relax, and take deep minty breaths while it works its magic.

YonKa Masque 105, $32.95, is one of my longtime favorite clay masks since it is especially formulated to calm red, sensitive, easily irritated skin.

This sage green colored concoction helps to detoxify, tighten up your swollen pores and can even be used as a spot treatment for blemishes.

It also smells delicious since it's made from: lemon, savory and five quintessential essential oils. I find this mask to be relaxing and invigorating. After 15 minutes of this, you'll look and feel like you've taken a refreshing cat nap.

For one last clarifying mask, read more

Murad Clarifying Mask, $35, is intended to treat problem skin. This all natural, clay-based formula deep cleans, removes toxins from your face and helps to calm irritations/acne breakouts. It has also been known to help heal traumatized skin as well as prevent free radical damage. It has a lovely and light lavender smell.

Fabulous Clarifying Facial Cleansers, Part I

BellaSugar — Thu, 04 Jan 2007 13:54:10 -0800

Continuing our week on wiping the slate clean, I thought I'd talk about the myriad of clarifying cleansers out there. The right cleanser can help calm down red and irritated skin as well as kill off pimple forming bacteria that lie on the surface of your dermis. They help to keep your face problem free by preventing new pimples from forming.

Use morning and night unless directed otherwise. Follow with a toner and a moisturizer if you feel facial dryness. If you are really serious about clarifying your skin, don't forget to apply a clarifying mask at least once a week. Enjoy and stay tuned for Part II tomorrow!

H20 Acne Clarifying Cleanser for Face & Body, $28, is a deep cleansing clarifying wash that helps reduce, control, and prevent acne on your face and body. It has a triple action formula made from; salicylic acid, exfoliants and Vitamin E to treat breakouts, refine the texture of your face and body as well as moisturize your skin.

SkinCeuticals Clarifying Cleanser, $24, is new and has been created for acne prone skin. It combines salicylic acid with glycolic and mandelic acids to fight off clogged pores and heal problem skin. This cleanser also acts as an exfoliator. It is formulated with micro-beads to wipe away dead skin, whiteheads, oil and makeup build up.

For a drugstore clarifying cleanser, read more

AVEENO Clear Complexion Foaming Cleanser, $6.99 is a mild, soy based moisturizing facial cleanser that fights blemishes and helps improve the overall tone and texture of your face. It won't dry out your skin and leaves you with a smooth and even looking face. It smells great and is gentle enough for everyday use. This should help fight off your oily t-zone as well.

Fabulous Clarifying Facial Cleansers, Part II

BellaSugar — Fri, 05 Jan 2007 12:02:15 -0800

Welcome to Part II of Fabulous Clarifying Facial Cleansers. Below are three more fabulous cleansers that can help your skin: fight existing blemishes, stop redness and irritation, and kill new bacteria on your face that causes clogged pores and acne.

Cleanse your face morning and night, unless directed otherwise, and be sure to apply a clarifying mask at least once a week. Follow with a facial toner and a moisturizer if your skin feels dry or tight.

BIOTHERM Pure Bright Polishing Clarifying Cleanser, $18.50, was created for faces with a dull or uneven skin tone. Made with salicylic acid, a strong anti bacterial agent, this cleanser will also exfoliate your skin leaving it polished and clear!

Bliss Clog Dissolving Cleansing Milk $28, is a mild foaming clarifying cleanser that won't disrupt the moisture balance on your face. It contains orange water, antioxidants and four hydrophilic oils that help exfoliate and dissolve dirt. The moisturizing properties make this cleanser stand out because your skin is left feeling extra silky and soft.

For one more clarifying cleanser, read more

Vichy Detoxifying Cleansing Milk, $12, is a gentle, daily cleanser that contains Ubiquinone which leaves the good oils on your skin and washes away the bad ones! It will detoxify your skin and leave it fresh, clean and hydrated without breaking the bank.

Wednesday Giveaway! Clinique Acne Solutions Clarifying Lotion

BellaSugar — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 23:30:00 -0700

Fireworks? Who needs fireworks when you've got a chance to win the latest from Clinique? Thanks to our generous friends at Sephora, we're giving away a different product every day throughout the month of July, and we're starting with a week of Clinique products! Congratulations to Azucar_Maddy, who won yesterday's giveaway for Clinique Acne Solutions Cleansing Foam.

Clinique has just launched a new Skin Solutions line, and we'd like you to try it. Today we're giving away one Acne Solutions Clarifying Lotion ($13.50). The gentle, medicated formula exfoliates and unclogs pores. It also reduces excess oil, which reduces your breakouts!

To enter the giveaway, leave a comment in the comments section below by 5 p.m. PDT / 8 p.m. EDT Wednesday, July 4, and we'll announce the winner tomorrow when we post the next giveaway. Please, only ONE comment per person; duplicate comments will be discarded, so commenting more than once won't up your chances of winning. You must be a TeamSugar member to comment, so if you're not a member, please register here for an account. For all of the rules and regulations, click here. Good luck!

Three Ways to Get Some Clarity (In Your Hair)

BellaSugar — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 11:00:00 -0700

If you've got buildup from chlorine or styling products, or perhaps your hair is looking a little lackluster, I've got a few solutions. Just head to the pantry, grab a few ingredients, and stir up your own homemade brew.

Do you need some clarity? Then perhaps it's time for a little DIY action. Keep in mind that for color-treated hair, it's probably best to use a clarifying shampoo specifically formulated to protect your color from stripping out. Check out three of my tips after the jump.

Easy Tips on Preventing Product Buildup

BellaSugar — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 07:00:07 -0800

Some - but not all - low-priced products give your hair that silky feeling and light-reflecting gloss by coating the shaft with a wax, which doesn't always wash off completely. The result is a buildup that can keep hair from absorbing color or holding styles, dandruff, and breakage. During this time of year, piling on serum, spray, gel, cream, and mousse to protect hair from the wind and dry air can actually make it even drier.

According to New York City stylist Antonio Prieto, a common cause is using a larger quantity of styling products than recommended, especially if the product has alcohol high on its ingredient list. His solution? Use a clarifying shampoo and higher-quality stylers, especially ones with water soluble ingredients. Try washing hair with Bumble & bumble Sunday Shampoo ($18 for eight ounces), which removes residue, hard water minerals (another cause of dullness), and pollutants, or Frederic Fekkai Apple Cider Clarifying Shampoo ($23 for eight ounces), which rinses out buildup while nourishing with apple, verbena, rosemary, and kukui nut oil. Those with color-treated hair might stick to an even more natural shampoo, since it probably won't include stripping sulfates, like EO Clarifying French Lavender Shampoo ($6.59 for eight ounces).

Mmm Mmm Good: Fruit Flavored Shampoos

BellaSugar — Mon, 08 Jan 2007 08:23:40 -0800

Fruit flavored shampoos can instantly turn your shower experience into an aromatherapy pleasure zone! Clarifying shampoos are intended to remove dirt, residue and unwanted oily waxy buildup that has been left in your hair from the use of daily styling products. They are safe for chemically treated or color treated hair since they have been carefully pH balanced to neutralize your hair and scalp. Combine the two and you get these yummy clarifying shampoos:

Fresh Soda Shampoo, $24, bubbles up and fizzes just like soda does! It feels really cool and invigorating on your scalp as you work it into a frothy lather. This shampoo adds volume to your hair while removing residue.

Made from mint, lavender, and grapefruit your hair will be revitalized, vibrant and oil free! Great for all hair types. It is also available in a travel size for $10.

Frederic Fekkai Apple Cider Clarifying Shampoo, $19.50, is made from an old french recipe with an apple cider base. This shampoo smells deee-licious. It will remove nasty product buildup that's been weighing down your hair and will leave you with unbelievable shine and bounce.

For one more, read more

Naani's Naturals Cucumber Lime Clarifying Shampoo, $12.99, contains natural coconut oil cleansers, cucumber, aloe, lime, green tea, ginseng & rosemary. I am sure you can imagine just how mmm, mmm good this shampoo smells! It helps to renew dull lifeless hair while softening and making your hair feel more manageable, clean and full of body.

How To: D.I.Y. Spa Treatment - Easy, Breezy Facial

BellaSugar — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 08:02:22 -0700

I didn't start getting facials until around the time of my wedding. Although they are totally and utterly amazing, I guess I was just always more of a massage person. Spending my hard earned monies on both treatments was just getting too expensive, so I began reading up on mini facials that could be done at home.

I'm not going to lie to you - there's nothing quite like a professional spa facial to help you relax, open up your pores, remove black and whiteheads and polish your face. But when you can only do it professionally every few months, this treatment works great for maintaining a healthy glow.

To read more of my past D.I.Y. spa treatment posts, click here. For even more D.I.Y. ideas from FitSugar, click here. To
discover an easy breezy five step DIY at home facial treatment, read more

Begin by washing your face with a gentle cream or milk cleanser and exfoliate your skin softly and in small circular motions.
Next steam your face. Bring a large pot of water to a boil and if you like, you can add your favorite essential oil to the water for aromatherapy benefits.
Once the water is boiling, turn off the stove and let the water cool for about five minutes. Then, take a clean towel, and drape it over your head and stand a little bit less than a foot away from the water. Let the steam work its magic for about ten minutes and then wipe the water off of your face with a new, clean towel.
Here's the tricky part. Most people will tell you not to do extractions yourself at home, however, I tend to go for anything that looks white with a gentle and careful touch. If you dare try this yourself, never use your fingers to squeeze - use two Q-tips to apply pressure to the whitehead. If you don't have any whiteheads, skip this part and move right to a clarifying mask. Apply a mud, or a clay mask to your face and allow it to dry for about 15 minutes.
Then, rinse off your face with tepid water first and then finish with a cool rinse to close your clean pores. Lastly, apply a serum (if you choose) and then a moisturizer to your face and your eye area.

Source

Product Review: Arcona Kiwi Clarifying Peel

BellaSugar — Fri, 30 May 2008 10:00:01 -0700

A few weeks ago I talked to you about the Los Angeles based skin care brand Arcona. I've now had the opportunity to spend some time with the products and really get a feeling for how they affect my skin. One item that I've found noteworthy is the Kiwi Clarifying Peel ($85).

First of all, the smell is divine. It has a strong kiwi aroma and it even has the little black fruit seeds right there in the pot. The color is light green, but when you spread it on your face, it looks clear. The texture is thick and gooey and upon contact with your skin, you'll feel an instant tightening and cooling. The directions say to leave it on for ten minutes, but I ran to the bathroom after five. My face began to itch terribly from the fruit acids and I couldn't help but panic.

Thank goodness no damage was done. My face was pink for only ten minutes and I didn't suffer any burns or peeling, but my oh my, was that scary. Also, and I feel this is pretty important - I've had the peel for a few weeks now and have noticed that it's already beginning to smell rancid. Arcona suggests keeping their products for six months, and now I know why. The lack of preservatives must mean that they have a short shelf life.

I can understand why people love these products (they smell amazing and have a celebrity following), but I just don't think they are right for me. Does anyone else have any stories about disappointing skin care products they have tried?

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

Must-Have Of The Moment: Murad Clarifying Body Spray

BellaSugar — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 10:59:44 -0700

The new Murad Clarifying Body Spray ($35) is a fantastic product for summer, since you are constantly exposing your skin to the world. Bouts of body acne can be embarrassing and make you feel self-conscious- but worry no more, now you can bare it all.

This spray contains salicylic acid, retinol, allantoin and triclosan, which all work together to combat bothersome body acne. Not only will it prevent new breakouts from forming but it will also heal, treat and soothe-all the while maintaining the clarity of your skin. Also, the spray bottle is a simple but smart idea because it helps you make contact with those hard-to-reach areas. What else can I say? Gimme-gimme spot treatment!