BellaSugar

DIY Spa Treatment: Good Smellin' Fall Cranberry Apple Mask

BellaSugar — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 09:00:00 PDT

I love the cool weather smells of the season, and what can be more warm and enticing than cranberries and apples? The combo is also, incidentally, an excellent exfoliant for dry Fall skin, and I've got a DIY recipe featuring these two ingredients, to give you the best of both worlds. For a divinely scented kitchen and naturally glowing skin, check out this easy, three-ingredient mask from Narine Nikogosian's new beauty home remedy book Return to Beauty ($25), due out next month. To get the directions, just read more.

Beauty Mark It Results: Beautiful Body Scrubs

BellaSugar — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 13:15:22 PDT

Last week we switched things around by updating our weekly Beauty Mark It feature. Instead of asking you to go out there and find products that correlate to a specific topic, I asked you to go to our ever-fabulous Product Review Site to give your honest opinions instead. The subject matter this time around? To tell me what you think about your fave/not so fave Body Scrubs and Exfoliants.

I loved reading everybody's opinions, and the following three reviews really stood out:

Stooped reviewed Victoria's Secret Stimulating Body Scrub ($9) - "I usually prefer scrubs with bran or finely ground seeds, as the sugar scrubs I tried dissolved too early to be effective on the body. VS scrubs don't dissolve right away so you can work in some scrubbing without irking your skin. The fragrances are a bit too sweet at first, but soon wear off to a subtle, pleasing smell. Plus, you can't beat the price. They are also often on a bogo sale in stores."

To see the other two reviews,

SweetSavant reviewed Giovanni Mint Lemonade Salt Scrub ($13.95) - "So refreshing, too bad it's not cocktail! Usually I'm a lover of refined sugar scrubs, but this salt scrub is so gentle and skin-refreshing that it is plenty sweet on its own! It sloughs off the dead skin while the essential oil rich formula moisturizes and replenishes. To simply put it, this stuff is awesome and affordable, a definite must!"
spirited786: reviewed Bliss Hot Salt Scrub, Rosemary + Eucalyptus ($36) - "This product truly lives up to its reputation! It warms, exfoliates, and leaves skin feeling oh-so-soft (even before using lotion!). It also has a soothing scent that makes you feel like you're pampering yourself - not just taking care of your skin. I just wish it were cheaper . . ."

Thanks to all of you who beefed up the new site with your fabulous star ratings, particularly our three readers - check your inboxes for a Sugar gift! So, go on over to check out a preview of product reviews - but be careful. It's addictive.

New Product Alert: Cornelia Essentials Retexturizing Thermal Exfoliator

BellaSugar — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 08:00:28 PDT

This product from Cornelia Day Resort is perfect for clearing out your blocked pores and getting rid of dead, dry, flaky summer skin. Cornelia Essentials Retexturizing Thermal Exfoliator ($45) launched in August and is perfect for achieving a fresh looking, flawless fall face. What makes this exfoliator just a little bit different is that it is made with calcium chloride to warm your skin upon contact.

Not only does this instantly open up your pores, but it increases oxygen flow to your skin, dissolves impurities, removes toxins and-supposedly-it feels amazing!

Using it is pretty simple: Gently massage a thin layer over a damp, clean face. Don't focus on one area only. Instead, use large circular motions so you don't scratch and irritate your skin. Rinse with warm water, and follow with a serum or moisturizer. It's safe to use once or twice a week.

Doesn't this sound great? It's like having a spa experience right in the comforts of your own home! I am anxiously awaiting mine in the mail and I'll be back with a product review soon.

Product Review: Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant

BellaSugar — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 07:00:47 PDT

An excellent facialist once told me that she uses only Dermalogica products, and so I decided to try out a few samples. Like any other line, Dermalogica is hit or miss. The Special Cleansing Gel wasn't all that special, for instance-at least, it didn't do anything better than Cetaphil cleanser does. Skip that one, but save your pennies for Daily Microfoliant ($47.50). It's not only a soap-free product, it's a non-liquid one, too. It's actually a rice-based powder that you start using by adding the dry product to damp hands. After working it into a paste, you just massage it into skin in small circular motions.

This might sound like a mere novelty, but this paste is actually an excellent exfoliator. It's gentle enough to use every day, and I like the fact that it contains salicylic acid-so it's ideal for dull or acne-prone skin. Another plus is that it's easy to bring along on vacations and trips, because you don't have to worry about the three-ounce rule at airports. My only problem is the packaging. After about a month, the holes of the shaker became clogged, and I had to take a needle and poke through the buildup. So I'm taking a half-star off for that, and another half-star because, well, $47.50 is more than I would normally spend for an exfoliator. Otherwise, this is fantastic stuff.

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

Guess Who? A Supermodel's Catty Complexion Secret

BellaSugar — Sun, 26 Aug 2007 11:51:34 PDT

A supermodel who's been in the biz for years has an unusual way of exfoliating her skin. This cover girl uses kitty litter on her face to get rid of dead cells. Could Fresh Step be the secret to her longevity?

Product Review: 5th Avenue Bath Co. Exfoliating Body Polish

BellaSugar — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 11:57:18 PDT

Judging by the name, you might expect 5th Avenue Bath Co. to hail from Manhattan's tony Upper East Side. Instead, the bath- and body-product company comes from suburban Columbus. I've been using its Exfoliating Body Polish with Shea Butter ($17.95) for about a month.

First, the good: I love the scent, Black Vetiver Cafe. 5th Avenue Bath Co. describes it as "a woody and ambery blend with a hint of citrus followed by notes of red cedar, sandalwood and musks." My nose isn't sophisticated enough to parse these notes, but lemme tell you, it has the "expensive and fancy, but natural" thing going on. Another plus is that because of the shea butter, coconut oil and jojoba oil, this scrub leaves a soft protective, moisturizing barrier on skin well after the shower. If you have dry skin, this stuff is a lifesaver!

For the rest of my review,

read more The only thing that I don't love about this polish is that it's really not a heavy-duty exfoliant. While I can feel the sugar crystals on my skin, they're not dense enough to give a large-scale sloughing. I like using this stuff right now, when my skin isn't flaky and overly dry-but during the winter months, I'll need a more serious scrub.

Cheap and Easy: An Affordable Way to Exfoliate

BellaSugar — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 07:00:18 PDT

The cheapskate in me has been inspired by an Ayurvedic spa treatment I recently had. Before beginning the massage, my esthetician used a stiff brush to briskly go over my dry skin. Not only did it exfoliate dead skin cells, it also increased circulation, and the herbal oil she used left me feeling luxuriously moisturized.

I was so impressed by how good the dry skin brushing felt that I've pulled a MacGyver and have started doing something similar at home. Before stepping into the shower, I gently buff my body with the rough side of a regular kitchen sponge. You can buy these patterned O-Cel-O sponges at your local drugstore for about a dollar, and as long as you use a light touch, you'll be able to get rid of dead skin. They're too rough for your face, so don't think about using this on your complexion; instead, use it on feet, elbows and any other tough, rough skin. After the shower, follow with moisturizer and you'll have the "aah" of the spa-without the "eek" of a high price tag.

Source

WTF?!

GiggleSugar — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 08:00:00 PDT

Oh, Bath Master, why would you want to do that!

Source

At Home Spa Treatment: Make Your Own Alpha Hydroxy

FitSugar — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 14:30:00 PDT

We all know by now that exfoliation is important for healthy skin and many folks use Alpha-hydroxy Acid (AHA) products, which are essentially fruit acids. These acids loosen the "glue" between dead skin cells so the cells fall away, leaving your face very smooth and soft.
Why not skip the middle man and the processing and go straight to the source? If you are looking to exfoliate you might not need to walk any further than your fridge for your next treatment.

Lemon juice, strawberries and grapes are common fruits with acids that can benefit your skin. Just applying a little of these on your skin every other evening can make your skin so much softer. Just dab some of the liquid on your face with your fingertips, let it set for ten minutes or so, then rinse with cool water. Don't forget to moisturize after you pat your face gently dry.

Remember, don't exfoliate in the morning since it makes your skin more sensitive to the sun. And don't forget the sunscreen the next day and everyday for that matter.

Fit's tip: This is a great thing to do with fruit that looks just a little too funky to eat. When the grapes feel a bit soft, I just use 'em on my face.

A Mini-Facial in an Instant

FabSugar — Thu, 05 Oct 2006 10:11:16 PDT

InstantPeel by Earthen is a natural dead-skin exfoliant that shows instant results-a perfect option for anyone afraid of chemical peels. Essentially, it is akin to a super-gentle spa quality facial that you can do at home in seven minutes.

This peel wipes away all of the dead skin cells, sebum (the gross stuff in your pores that causes pimples), and impurities your face, resulting in improved skin texture, elasticity, and firmness. Your skin is left feeling baby soft and looking radiant! Once you've tried it, you'll be addicted.

Thankfully, the box comes with six single-use packets. People with oily or normal skin should use one packet every other week, while those with dry skin should do the peel every three weeks. It's safe for all types of skin and works within a few seconds after you apply it. Now that's instant gratification! Buy a box here for $50. (It's already completely sold out of Bliss stores!)