BellaSugar

Definition: Emollient

BellaSugar — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 12:15:06 PDT

An emollient is an agent used externally and/or topically to soothe and to soften dry skin. They keep water and oil together, which is why lotions and lipstick have a soft and creamy texture to them. They are often used to treat flaky skin and eczema. Some common emollients include olive leaf, fig, hollycock, almond, comfrey root and aloe.

Emollients range from milky lotions to heavy ointments. An easy way to tell if a product is a strong emollient is by its lipid to water ratio. If a product has a greasy and thick (messy) texture, it will be an effective emollient.

Source

Be Wary of Chemicals: The Safest Sunscreens on the Market

Jenny Sugar — Thu, 17 May 2012 12:42:05 PDT

It's hard enough to remember to put on sunscreen when you leave the house, but now you also need to make sure your sunscreen is safe to use. The Environmental Working Group has just released its 2012 Sunscreen Guide, and in order to make the list, a sunscreen must be free of oxybenzone and retinyl palmitate, not have an SPF above 50, and must be broad spectrum (protects against both UVA and UVB rays).

What's wrong with oxybenzone? Although it does a great job of absorbing ultraviolet rays, some studies show that it can be absorbed through the skin and into the bloodstream. The Environmental Working Group and toxicology experts believe this can disrupt hormones, damage cells, and potentially lead to skin cancer. Other experts disagree, like the American Academy of Dermatology, and oxybenzone has been FDA-approved since 1978 for use in children older than 6 months.

Keep reading to find out what else you need to consider when buying sunscreen, and for a list of the safest sunscreens on the market.

What We're Sweet On: The Lipstick For Lipstick Scaredy-Cats

Jaime Richards — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 03:05:07 PDT

If you love the idea of a red lip look, but tend to shy away from the intensity of it all, consider the product and development team at Make Up For Ever your personal heroes. The brand's new Rouge Artist Natural lipstick ($19) is a gorgeous, subtle option that provides sheer coverage that still packs plenty of punch. Emollient but not glossy, this ultracreamy lipstick leaves the prettiest translucent sheen of color behind. Think of this small but mighty offering as lipstick "lite." It's available in 50 shades, ranging from satin to pearly finishes, with standout hues including #N4 (a goes-with-anything pink-beige) and #N31, a subtle fuchsia that's the perfect bright for the upcoming season.

What We're Sweet On: Lips Like Candy (Corn)

Brittney Stephens — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 05:15:00 PDT

For all our fellow candy corn fanatics - and just in time for Halloween - comes a supersweet treat for your lips: Philosophy's I Love Candy Corn Lip Shine ($10). Joining the brand's line of Fall-flavored lip glosses like Caramel Apple, Sparkling Cranberry, and Cinnamon Buns, the sugary, sheer gloss is a must have for those with a sweet tooth.

Besides the spot-on candy corn flavor, the gloss contains a rich, natural emollient formula containing vitamin E and beeswax to soothe and soften your lips. The consistency is thick enough to hydrate without being overly goopy (because the last thing you want come Fall's windy days is hair sticking to your lips).

Eureka! I've Finally Discovered the Easiest, Fastest Brow-Filler Regimen

Jaime Richards — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 01:09:00 PDT

I've tried many brow-filling products as a result of a decade-old mishap involving an overly zealous tweezing experience, but recently I've struck gold (uh, taupe) with It Cosmetics' Brow Power Universal Eyebrow Pencil ($24). Lots of eyebrow pencils look harsh, but this one, thanks to its smooth, glide-on texture and natural-looking hue, appears faint and realistic on the skin.

Even better, the pencil needs no sharpening, and since its formulation is not overly emollient, it settles to a semimatte finish, staying put all day long. A soft spooly brush on the opposite end of the stick helps even out any harsh lines without erasing any of your work. The only unfortunate thing I have to say about the product is that Miriam, aka blond-haired Bella, is unable to use it because it's just too dark for her coloring. To see what other essential tool I now use for getting the perfect brows, just keep reading.

Found: A Two-Step Skin Care Regimen For Clearing Acne and More

Jaime Richards — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 04:00:44 PST

When I heard about Swell Skin's two-step skin care regimen, which includes a bar soap and an oil, I knew I had to try it. First, how easy is that? Second, products are made using wonder ingredient sea buckthorn oil, rich in antioxidant vitamins C and E, emollients, and essential fatty acids.

The brand's Face Treatment ($32), used in step one, is a very mild soap in bar form. It has just the perfect amount of sudsing action with a faint, fresh nonsynthetic aroma. Skin feels clean and refreshed after use, with no painful stinging sensations or can't-move-my-face tightness. See more when you keep reading.

Vena Cava Goes Back to the '90s

BellaSugar — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 19:10:19 PST

Reignite your dormant Jordan Catalano crush, because at Vena Cava, it was all about the ‘90s. See more photos and the full rundown after the jump.

We Try Semipermanent, Waterproof Mascara

Jaime Richards — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 10:39:15 PDT

There are a seemingly endless amount of products available for those of us wanting longer, thicker, and darker eyelashes. But one of the latest launches, pro-only CryBaby mascara, offers up a semipermanent solution. Katherine Goldman of Stript Wax Bar in San Francisco invited me to try it out, so to see what I thought of the custom service, just keep reading.

5 Leave-In Conditioners to Protect Lil Ones' Hair From Summer's Elements

LilSugar — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 05:35:13 PDT

A child's skin isn't the only thing that needs protecting during the Summer. Their hair needs protection too! The sun, chlorine, and salt water can have a drying, damaging effect on hair (and the scalp) that will last long after those pool parties and family trips to the beach. Protect and nourish your lil swimmer's locks with a leave-in conditioner that adds moisture while reducing fly aways that come out with Summer's humidity.

From left to right:

So Cozy Protective Conditioning Mist with Sunscreen ($14): A leave-in conditioner with sunscreen to protect hair and scalp from the harmful effects of the sun. This hair care product is specially formulated for children 1 to 12-years-old and has a cool coconut scent.
Original Sprout Leave-In Conditioner ($11): Made with natural and organic ingredients, it helps protect against sun and environmental damage. It also strengthens and improves hair structure with vegetable proteins and polymers.
Fairy Tales Coco Cabana Leave-In Sun Spray ($11): A rich conditioner in a spray pump to help keep hair conditioned and manageable. It's paraben free and contains coconut oil and jojoba.
California Baby Swimmer's Defense Hair Conditioner ($12): This conditioner contains a botanical blend of herbs, rich emollients, and natural sunscreens that combine to re-balance, repair, and rehydrate hair, leaving it soft and shiny.
Smart Girls Who Surf Care for Hair Leave-in Conditioner ($9): A leave-in conditioner and protein-infused detangler, specially formulated with vitamins and has SPF 7 sunscreen to protect the hair and scalp from the sun. It's paraben and oil free, and has a light kiwi scent.

5 Beauty Recipes From the 1700s That Really Work (and 3 That Really Don't)

Miriam Lacey — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 11:45:40 PDT

Eighteenth-century French women had a wealth of at-home beauty treatments, and luckily many of them survive in the Toilet au Flora, a book of recipes compiled by French naturalist Pierre-Joseph Buc'hoz. Some of the treatments are still great DIYs, and some are absolutely horrifying. Here are five simple, effective recipes you should try, plus three treatments from the book you definitely shouldn't.