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.

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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).

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.

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.

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.

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 Cheap, Easy Ways to Reduce Redness

Miriam Lacey — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 12:42:10 PDT

Summer heat can mean lots of skin redness, whether from open capillaries near the skin's surface, sunburns, or heat rash. But if you're having a ruddy old time of it, there are lots of ways to calm your skin down and tone things down. So if you're tired of turning into a splotchy, lobster-like mess, 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.