BellaSugar

Four Makeup Tips You Won't Forget

BellaSugar — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 10:00:23 -0700

After chatting with La Prairie's color ambassador, Raychel Wade, I was impressed with her simple makeup tips. Earlier, I shared with you her advice on lip-color essentials for your purse and her foolproof way to wear a dark lip; today, it's all about her blush and concealer how-tos. They struck a chord with me, and I think they will with you, too. To check them out, keep reading.

Doing Drugstore: Maybelline Dream Mousse Blush

BellaSugar — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 10:00:00 -0800

After 27 hours of travel to get home for the holidays (yeah, really!), I arrived home looking a bit haggard. As I slabbed on the concealer and swept on the powder blush in attempt to hide my jet-lagged appearance, I couldn't help but wish I had some cream blush instead. The powdered blush just seemed a little flat and settled into my parched skin in the most unflattering way.

So, I made a pit stop at the only place that was open: the drugstore. I'd heard some decent things about Maybelline Dream Mousse Blush ($6.89) on the blush pages of our Product Reviews website, so I picked up two: one for my mom and one for me.

The Dream Mousse comes in six shades ranging from a bronzy brown to a bright pink. I tried Peach Satin, a slightly shimmery peaches 'n' cream glow, and my mom tried Soft Plum, a natural rose.

The verdict? We both agreed that a little goes a long way, making this light-as-air blush a great bang for your buck. We also liked how easy it was to blend and that it didn't get cakey or emphasize any rough patches or wrinkles. As for my mom, she was pleased as punch (her expression) that this creamy blush took the paleness out, leaving her with a natural radiance. As for me? I wish the color lasted just a bit longer, but all in all, mom's always right. This affordable whipped blush is a keeper.

BellaSugar's Top Five Cream Blush Picks

BellaSugar — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 10:00:28 -0700

Ever since I started toying around with cream blush about a year ago, I've been hooked. I'm not really into anything too shimmery - I like to leave that to the more spreadable luminizers - but I've been having a field day with pinky-brown tones like By Terry's Rose de Rose Sheer Liquid Blush in Fresh Rose that I told you about earlier in the week. Each of these items leaves my face looking flushed, hydrated and even a little dewy in a natural way. It's as though I've just drunk a bottle of water and gone for a brisk walk. Here are my other four fave cream blush discoveries; what's your top pick?

Benefit Cream Blush in Hush ($18) is a sheer, thin and easily spreadable cream-to-powder pinky-nude-colored blush that adds a natural-looking warmth to fair skin.
Stila Convertible Color in Peony ($24) is the darkest of the bunch. I reserve this color for moments when I crave a rosy glow. The consistency is slightly waxy at first, so it's best applied with a sponge to facilitate blending.
Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge for Lips and Cheeks in Blushed Rose ($22) is extremely thick and rich in pigment. A little goes a long way and the result is a deep, stain-like finish.
Scott Barnes Cream Color in Sway ($25) is a moist, easily spreadable pinky-beige blusher that can also double as a lip and eye shade. Use a little bit for a natural effect, or layer for a deep, dewy look.

Bellissima! By Terry Rose de Rose Sheer Liquid Blush

BellaSugar — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 13:15:30 -0700

I've got a crush on a new cream blush! Cosmetologist Terry de Gunzburg, creator of the iconic Yves Saint Laurent Touché Éclat and founder of By Terry, brings us a new (and, might I add, sensational) blush that I'd like to categorize as a cream blush. It's called Rose de Rose Sheer Liquid Blush ($52), but it's really a cross between a cream and a gel texture.

The luxe formula is outrageously silky, light and scented with a delightful, barely-there rose essence. It is made with rosaliss (an extract from white-, black-, and pastel-colored roses) and rosamine (a pigment that comes from rose petals). It creates a flush that's lighter than a stain, but deeper than a tint.

It's a relatively new product, yet already the lightest shade is sold out at Barneys. Clearly I'm not the only one infatuated with Rose de Rose. It is available in three shades (Fresh Rose, Coral Rose, or Amber Rose) and I consider it a must-have for attaining stunning, yet understated summertime skin.

Product Review: Scott Barnes Cream Color

BellaSugar — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 08:00:25 -0700

I first told you about the launch of Scott Barnes' Cream Color ($25) back in the Fall, but until I recently tried them I had no idea just what I'd been missing. It's no secret that I'm a huge Scott Barnes fan. Everything from his loose powder shadows, to his lip slicks tickle my fancy, but these take the cake.

All you need is the tiniest amount to create a natural looking, almost dewy (without looking too slick) finish. I'd love to say that Sway (a medium beigy-pink) is my favorite color for my cheeks, but the truth is that mixed with the smallest schmear of Flush (a bright peach) I look like a burst of sunshine.

Did I also mention that they can double as lip stains and even eye shadows too? I love Delish (light mauve), Native (deeper mauve) and Bloom (bright pink) for my lips, and Luster (pearl) creates a glowy, ethereal effect for eyes and upper cheekbones. To apply, all you've got to do is smile and in small, circular motions blend the blush from the apples of your cheeks along your cheekbone with your fingers. They also look terrific layered over powder, bronzer - anything you like really, without it creating a muddy, overdone effect. Welcome to the greatest beauty gift for under $25.

New Product Alert: DuWop Cheek Venom

BellaSugar — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 13:00:21 -0700

When I heard about this new Cheek Venom ($24) from DuWop, I had mixed feelings of fear and excitement. While I know that tons of you are fans of the famous Lip Venom, I feel it's far too spicy and tingly for my sensitive lips. The good news is that Cheek Venom still tingles when applied, but my cheeks are much less sensitive.

Believe it or not, Lip Venom has been out for 10 years already. This new product was inspired by the cult classic in the hopes of creating a new one (I guess you guys will be the judge of that). Like the gloss, this also has that same super-spicy cinnamon-gum scent and it works to stimulate your circulation to create a natural-looking flushed effect.

Cheek Venom provides long-lasting color and the texture is thin, smooth, and easily spreadable. It contains silicone, hyaluronic acid, and essential oils that even make it good for you. You can apply it with your fingertips or with a firm brush. Cheek Venom is available in two shades. For color descriptions, read more.

Sidewinder is a nude, spiced-tawny color.
Diamondback is a hot coral-pinky shade.

Product Review: Josie Maran Cosmetics

BellaSugar — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 08:00:26 -0700

As I wrote earlier, Josie Maran Cosmetics is a new, eco-friendly cosmetics line from the model Josie Maran. It features organic ingredients and is free of fragrance, parabens, and petrochemicals. The treehugger in me loves these ideas, but my inner beauty obsessive wants cosmetics that work well, too.

A lot of natural cosmetics I've tried just don't deliver good color or texture, but for the most part, that's not a worry with these products. In fact, one of them is superior to a lot of non-organic lines I've tried. For the full review and some color swatches, read more

I tried four products, so here's a rundown of each one:

Cream Bronzer ($30): Inside the packaging, the shade looked waaaayyyy too dark for my pale skin. What a pleasant surprise, then, that it blends well and looks believably natural when it's on the face. It gets more sheer as you blend, so I think this would be worth trying no matter what your skin tone is.

Lipstick ($18): This was by far my favorite product. I tried it in Flirtatious, a rich and creamy rose shade. It glides on smoothly, almost in a buttery way. And the color is gorgeous. If you try only one product from this line, make it the lipstick.

Concealer ($20): This was the one product I definitely wouldn't recommend. Even though the sample sent to me wasn't my shade, I tried it for the texture. Unfortunately, it doesn't have good "slip," and it's hard to blend. Plus, there are only three shades available, leaving the majority of women without a perfect match.

Cream Blush ($20): Again, the hue in the packaging seemed a little too Betty-White-on-the-lanai for me-but when it's on, the color is sheer and very flattering. When it's properly blended, it looks completely natural, like a normal and believable flush of color.

Beauty Marked: A Cream Blush For The Perfect Flush

BellaSugar — Tue, 06 Feb 2007 15:24:33 -0800

Ever since I saw that au naturale picture of the oh so gorgeous Gisele Bundchen walking her dogs along the Hudson River in NYC, I've been trying to find a comparable blush to attain her natural looking winter flush.

Since my cheeks get more dry than normal during the winter months, I try to use a cream blush to add a dewy texture to my skin. I bought MAC Blush Creme but as I mentioned, it made me break out and now I don't want to go near it again!

I asked you all to go beauty marking with me to help find the perfect cream blush for the perfect flush, that won't irritate my skin. To see all the cream blushes you've chosen click here.

Beauty Mark #1, found by WhiplashGirlChild, is a Victoria's Secret Sexy Little Things Naughty Little Me Blushing Stick, $15. It's a gel based formula that adds a rosy and natural color to create the perfect flush!

For a couple of more cream blushes, read more

Beauty Mark #2, found by lilxmissxmolly is called Creme Blush by Lola Cosmetics, $20. It will set your cheeks aglow! Just dab on a tiny bit of this oil free blush and blend it in small circles on the apples of your cheeks.

Beauty Mark #3, found by JessNess is Nars the Multiple, $36.50. This is the original all-in-one, cream-to-powder, multi-purpose makeup blush/highlighter. Available in 12 shades.

Reader Review of the Day: Almay Touchpad Blush

BellaSugar — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:01:12 -0800

Almay Touchpad Blush promises natural-looking color, but reader emalove says it's a little bit too natural:

I had such high hopes for this blush when I tried it a couple of years ago . . . the packaging was innovative at the time and I thought it would give pretty, sheer color to my cheeks. Plus, I love cream, gel, and liquid blushes. I tried this blush in a soft peach shade and was SO disappointed. It was super-watery and you could hardly see the color on my face. And I'm very pale-skinned; even light colors are usually very noticeable. But this blush was beyond sheer. Even after I reapplied a couple of times, it didn't really do anything for me. It was so watery that it almost seemed to disappear or rub off as I tried to blend it in.

Found a better blush? Or do you disagree? Let everyone know on our Product Reviews pages, where you can write up a review of more than 50,000 products (it might even get featured here!) and find a ton of info on all the newest beauty goodies.

How-To: Ashley Greene's New Moon Premiere Look

BellaSugar — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 10:03:42 -0800

Ashley Greene hit the red carpet for the premiere of New Moon looking gorgeously retro glam. Her awesome bouffant and curls were thanks to her new extensions, but her gorgeous pink lip and mod eye makeup were all celebrity makeup artist Vanessa Scali. "The look was classic '60s," Vanessa says. "Well-defined eyes with lots of lashes, a strong brow, and clean skin with subtle pink/coral cheeks and lips." To see what else Vanessa has to say about getting the look, just read more