BellaSugar

Cult Favorite: Nars Blush in Orgasm

BellaSugar — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 11:00:07 -0700

Since this week is super blush-centric, I thought I'd pay tribute to the queen of all blushers: Nars Cosmetics Blush in Orgasm ($25). When it first launched, girls giggled then oohed and aahed over the sexy name. In time, product sales shot to the moon and the lengthy wait lists became no laughing matter - attaining Orgasm was nearly impossible! Luckily, production came through and now there's enough Orgasm to go around.

This blush has the largest following I have ever seen. It's a shimmery pinky-peach shade, typically reserved for those with olive skin tones. However, this particular color has a special je ne sais quoi that makes it universally flattering.

If you don't believe me, check out the range of celebrities who live for their Orgasm: Amanda Peet, Jennifer Lopez, Katie Holmes, Mandy Moore, Marcia Cross, Mary Louise Parker, and Victoria Beckham. (And you wonder why they always look so shiny and glowing!)

Two Easy Lipstick Tips You'll Use Every Day

BellaSugar — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 07:00:49 -0700

La Prairie has long been known for its luxurious skincare line, with stars like Victoria Beckham and Katie Holmes counted amongst its large celebrity fan base. The brand has definitely established a cult following since its inception in 1978, but did you know that La Prairie has a line of makeup as well?

Raychel Wade, the brand's color ambassador and founder of cosmetic consulting firm Cheek to Chic, has offered up some very helpful ideas for all of us. More on her makeup advice later, but to find out my two favorite lip-color tips, just read more.

Does a Celebrity Influence Your Shopping Decisions?

BellaSugar — Fri, 08 May 2009 06:00:11 -0700

Celebrity endorsements are one of the oldest marketing tricks in the book. Take, for instance, Jessica Szohr of Gossip Girl fame. The actress was spotted checking out fragrances like DKNY's DKNY Be Delicious Fresh Blossom EDP Spray ($55 to $70) and Island Michael Kors Bermuda EDP Spray ($62) in these totally candid and not-at-all-staged photos.

So whether it's an age-old celebrity endorsement or product of their own, like Jessica Simpson's cult-favorite Fancy, does any of that make an impact on your purchasing decisions? Let me know below, and then have some pure, unadulterated fun by testing what you know about star endorsements in parts one and two of my celebrity infomercial quizzes.

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Reader Review of the Day: Clinique Almost Lipstick

BellaSugar — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 09:02:43 -0700

It's not quite a lipstick and it's not quite a lip gloss. It's the cult-favorite Clinique Almost Lipstick ($14), with the award winning Black Honey as probably the most popular shade. Reader Breesays calls it her daily must-have. Here's what she had to say:

I don't wear much lipstick, but I've been through about four tubes of this since I started wearing it. I like that it's not super-glossy, can be mixed with liner for a more dramatic look, and isn't impossible to get off.

We've got lots of products for you to check out on our Product Reviews site. Fill out some reviews while you're there and let us know what you think.

Win a Set of Juicy Tubes Chic Delights Lip Gloss!

BellaSugar — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 11:00:33 -0800

Lipstick may have dominated the runways at fashion week, but gloss remains a perennial favorite. One of the biggest launches in the past decade is Lancôme's Juicy Tubes. Eleven of the cult-classic lip glosses are sold around the world every minute. Who knew one gloss could be so popular?

Mollie Winerock of Lancôme shared a few details about how the glosses are developed - plus, just in time for the holidays, Juicy Tubes Chic Delights, we're giving away a set of eight glosses. For a quick Q&A and the scoop on entering the giveaway, read more.

Gloss is usually considered a young woman’s cosmetic, but can women of all ages wear it? Any tips for those of us who remember the Reagan administration and beyond?
Women of all ages can certainly wear gloss. Juicy Tubes can be applied over lipstick or alone for a more natural look. Your lips can appear thinner as you age, and gloss helps to add volume so they appear fuller.

How far in advance does the Lancôme team come up with its color trends?
We are always working over a year in advance. We attend trend and color presentations, and we're always aware of what is going on in the fashion industry and what’s happening on the runways.

What kinds of things influence the color choices?
My inspiration comes from so many different places. I am always inspired by the changing of seasons. Spring shades are inspired by light colors and textures while holiday shades and themes come from moods I might be in or places I have recently visited. I live in New York City, so I am lucky to always be inspired by the interesting people around me. I’m a Juicy Tubes fanatic, so I create shades and designs of things I would love to wear and have in my purse.

What’s your favorite versatile color that seems to look good on anyone?
Shades that look the best on anyone typically are neutral tones with a light shimmer. I would recommend Spring Fling or our clear Juicy Tube Pure. Pure is a great shade because you can wear it alone or over your favorite lipstick to add shine and luster.

Enter to win!
To enter, share your favorite lip gloss story in a comment below, and we'll randomly choose a winner at 5 p.m. (PST) on Friday, Nov. 21. You need to be a TeamSugar member to enter, so if you're not already one, register for an account. One comment per person; all repeat quizzes will be ignored. Prizes can be shipped to US destinations only. For the complete rules, click here. Good luck!

Product Review: Terax Crema Conditioner

BellaSugar — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 10:00:52 -0800

By now it's no secret: I'm a slave to moisture. So I love it when I find a product that is full of the moisture that I crave. Terax Crema Conditioner ($22-$48) is something of a cult favorite, but I hadn't given it a try until recently. My expectations were high. After all, this is a product that claims to alter the pH of the hair, allowing the cuticle to open and the moisture to penetrate deeper than other conditioners.

I often find myself let down by "cult favorites," probably as a result of my unreasonably high expectations. But Terax Crema was just right for my dry, yet fine hair. It has a nice, light scent from the rice flower, shea, and bergamot. It feels smooth and creamy, yet not too heavy, and it left my hair soft and bouncy. Not everything I try gets a permanent spot in my shower, but I'm definitely making room for this little blue bottle.
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See reader reviews of this product and add your own here!

Beauty Mark It! Recession Obsessions

BellaSugar — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 14:00:22 -0700

After last week's challenge where I asked you to "get your splurge on," I thought it would be fun to do the exact opposite and honor these times we call recession. So for this week's challenge, it's all pinching pennies; I'm talking products under $10.

I'll start you off with the cult favorite, Smith's Rosebud Salve. It's the perfect choice as it retails for $6 and can be used for multiple purposes: chapped lips, minor burns, dry skin, it can even treat diaper rash. That's how I'm going to spend my hard-earned cash, how about you?

Share your choices by bookmarking items from around the web and tagging them with the phrase Recession Obsessions. I'll feature your favorites here next Tuesday.

To learn about Beauty Mark It challenges and how to add your picks, check out this how-to. To see some of my favorite online beauty stores, read more.

Saks Beauty Place
Sephora
Saffron Rouge
Drugstore.com
Fred Segal Beauty
Folica
Amazon.com Beauty
Strawberrynet.com
Nordstrom
Bergdorf Goodman
Beauty.com

The Results Are in on Great Lash

BellaSugar — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 06:00:10 -0700

Out of curiosity, I asked you to share your opinions of Maybelline Great Lash mascara. It's never been my favorite, but it's a perennial best-seller. Over in the land of Product Reviews, opinion is split directly down the middle, earning this mascara an average rating. I loved reading everybody's opinions, but these three reviews really stood out:

The Italian Jem: "I find Maybelline Great Lash Royal Blue to be a very fun color, and cheaper than any other blue mascara. ... Putting the blue Great Lash over a single coat of a well-loved black mascara can help the lashes look fuller."
Coachluvr33: "I don't see it. I don't get it. What is the fuss surrounding this cult classic mascara? It produced clumpy, dense, spider-like creations on my eyelids that were hardly attractive and a real pain to get rid of."
Fab_domini: "I love this mascara. It might not live up to all the hype because it doesn't do anything out of this world, but its enough for a natural look."

Thanks to everyone who shared opinions! Thanks, too, to these three readers - check your inboxes for a Sugar gift! If you'd like to check out our preview of product reviews, have a little poke around the place.

Model of the Week: Teiko Dornor

BellaSugar — Wed, 14 May 2008 07:00:24 -0700

My friend Frank is an uber-talented designer, and when he showed me the look of this Nicolay and Kay release, I had to know who the gorgeous woman on the cover was. Turns out that she's a London-based model named Teiko Dornor - and she's much more than just a pretty face. She's a working model, a law student (who's on a break), a television presenter with OBE-TV, and the organizer of a pageant called Miss Plus Africa. The Ghanaian-British beauty took a few minutes to talk about being a plus-size model, learning to appreciate herself, and, of course, her best beauty tips.

Did you struggle with your appearance while growing up? How has modeling changed the way you see yourself, if at all?
While I was growing up I was rather on the skinny side (little did I know I would become a plus-size model) so my parents where concerned which then made me a little paranoid. Modeling has changed the way I interact with others. I’m naturally introverted and rather shy, so it's really forced me come out of my shell; it has changed how I see myself and made me a stronger woman. I’ve really come to terms that it's what I think about Teiko that’s most important.

View 11 Photos ›

For the full interview, read more.
You’ve said that you’ve felt pressure to lose weight. I think most women feel that same kind of pressure because of the bizarre cult of thinness that reigns in fashion/beauty. Any advice for regular women as far as self-acceptance is concerned?
It's so strange: The fashion and beauty industry celebrates us and inspires us but sometimes it creates the opposite effect. Self-acceptance is something I’ve unfortunately struggled with. I would know exactly what I wanted to change about myself to an obsessive point, and all I can really say is start from the inside and ask yourself what really determines your happiness and inner peace. I’m happy now - not because I’ve dramatically changed my appearance, but because I committed time and energy into accepting myself, my relationship with God has brought me a long way, and I’m making better choices and happier now.

Anybody who’s been paying attention to the fashion shows knows that women of color and plus-sized (read: average and normal!) women are few and far between. What do you think it will take to make the industry more diverse?
Gosh, truth hurts, huh. Those are unfortunately two very valid points. Slowly but surely, I'm seeing changes. Jourdan Dunn being featured in the Prada show was encouraging. I would love to see plus-size models front mainstream campaigns, doing high-fashion, not just commercial work. I wish I knew exactly what it will take, but with most issues around equality and representation, once the problem is identified, a solution is not far away. Let's hope it’s the same here!

Tell me about Miss Plus Africa. How did that come to be?
Miss Plus Africa was borne out of passion and frustration! In 2006 myself and Joi Onyeukwu decided to establish a pageant that celebrated women with curves, and the African culture which has almost become synonymous with poverty and disease but is so much more than that. Joi and I also wanted a way to give back to our continent, with a percentage of funds generated going to organisations that support development in Africa.

I love being part of this because I know firsthand that it's not the easiest thing when you see the same type of woman being the prototype for beauty all day, every day. The women who have come forward are plus size and proud! I love seeing that because its so easy to light up when someone asks if you’ve lost weight and slum into depression when someone suggests you’ve put on weight, No one is promoting obesity, but as long as you stay healthy there is nothing wrong with being a bigger woman. Miss Plus Africa is an organization that celebrates this fact, encouraging women to embrace themselves.

How do you take care of your skin and hair?
My skin? It's been said a zillion times but drinking loads of water is a simple way of keeping my skin hydrated and healthy. There is a lot of pollution in London, which can leave my skin congested, so I have a deep cleansing facial at least once a month and exfoliate on a weekly basis with Japanese cleansing grains, leaving me radiant. My hands can get really dry, so I stock up on shea butter when I go to Ghana - I love its texture. I'm studying holistic massage at the moment, so I massage my face every evening for around 30 seconds to stimulate circulation and I’m certain it leaves me glowing!

I always seems to be adding or taking away from my hair. I change styles regularly; whatever hairstyle I have, I ensure that my hair is always well-conditioned, whether this means hair masks, hot oil treatments or steam treatments.

What are some of your best beauty secrets?

Always wear SPF. I’m Ghanaian-British, and also dark-skinned, but I have made it a rule not to think that’s any excuse to not cover up!
Blushers are great. Blush can really alter your look and lift the colors and life in your face.
Always carry lip balm!
When you are happy its almost like an instant beauty treatment. So stay happy, people!

And what are some of your favorite beauty products?
I have loads. Australian company Aesop has some great products; when I’m flying I use their Ginger flight therapy. I just roll it onto my pulse points and I’m good. Aveda does a great lip glaze in Mango Juice, and Carol's Daughter’s hair smoothie Khoret Amen, is a great conditioner. Iman has some great products, and her blush in Freesia is an instant lift. MAC have a good range of glosses; Wet Wild and Wonderful is a personal favorite. I’ve just discovered i.d. mineral makeup. It's light and flawless and lasts a while.

Finally: When do you feel the most beautiful?
I feel most beautiful when I’m surrounded by love, surrounded by positivity and enjoying the endless possibilities life has to offer.

Coming Soon: Nars Bridal Palette

BellaSugar — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 13:00:11 -0700

Yesterday, I showed you what was coming for Fall, but in just a few short weeks, Nars Cosmetics is going to launch a stunning four-colored eye, three-colored lip, and two-colored cheek Bridal Palette ($65), which will be available exclusively at Saks Fifth Avenue stores. The sleek, rubbery black case, looks just like their other famous, artist palettes, only this one is filled with nine of Nars' best-selling shades.

This palette is all you'll need for your honeymoon or even for the big day (well, while you're at it, throw in some foundation and mascara, too). In fact, it reminds me a lot of one of their discontinued palettes, which I used to haul around with me on holiday and to the gym - it's that amazing. There are a few changes in this version that are definitely for the better such as Albatross, a new powder highlighter and a perfect-pink lipstick in Roman Holiday - and trust me when I tell you this is something you won't want to miss. Can't take the suspense? To find out exactly what's inside, read more.

EYES

Powder eye shadow in Ondine is a medium-brown plum with gold shimmer.
Powder eye shadow in Nepal is a pale rose with subtle, soft shimmer.
Powder eye shadow in Edie is a bone-base color with shimmer.
Powder eye shadow in Night Fever is black with red pearls so it looks like a deep purple. I love using this in the crease or as a wet/dry liner.

LIPS

Lipstick in Mitzi is a creamy, shimmery strawberry pink.
Lipstick in Roman Holiday is a soft and delicate pastel pink.
Lip Lacquer in Baby Doll is a cotton-candy pink.

CHEEKS

Highlighting Powder in Albatross is a soft iridescent cheek, brow, and nose highlighter.
Blush in Orgasm is a shimmery peachy-pink cult favorite.