BellaSugar

Hollywood's 10 Hottest Ways to Wear Cat-Eye Liner

BellaSugar — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 06:00:49 -0800

Cat-eye liner is never out of style, but it's having a huge red carpet resurgence right now, and celebrities (with their stylists' help, of course) are coming up with increasingly cool and unique new takes on the classic look. Recently, I've seen a ton of gorgeous new looks on some of Hollywood's loveliest ladies, and since the rest of us don't have Pat McGrath to help us out, I decided to do step-by-step breakdowns for 10 of the best looks I've seen lately, so that you can do them yourself at home. They're pretty, sexy, edgy, and perfect for a holiday party. Are you as excited as I am? Then just click through.

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Love It or Hate It? Rihanna's Fuchsia Eyeliner

BellaSugar — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:01:03 -0800

Normally it's Rihanna's hair style and hair color that changes with great frequency, but last night in London, at the launch of her new album, Rated R, it was all about the eyes. Wearing a bright, cool-toned fuchsia eyeliner on her bottom lash lines, she topped off the look with a contrasting warm gold shadow on the lids and feathery falsies on the top lashes. For a similar funked-up look, try Make Up for Ever's Aqua Eyes in Fuchsia Pink ($17). Hint: you could always line just the top for a more subtle effect. What do you think of Rihanna's hot pink style?

Doing Drugstore: L'Oreal Infallible Never Fail Eyeliner

BellaSugar — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 11:00:10 -0700

As far as waterproof eyeliner goes, my current loves are the Bourbon and Zero Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On pencils ($17). But 24/7s are expensive, and they do smudge after a few hours, so I set out to find something a little less movable.

The best of the pencils I've tried so far has been L'Oreal Infallible eyeliner ($8). I tried the Black 511 shade, and although it wasn't the prettiest or most pigmented color by a long shot, the stuff sure did stay in place. Even after I washed my face before bed, it didn't move, which is impressive (if a little annoying). And I was very happy not to have little dark creases under my eyes. It's also got a built-in sharpener and a smudger, which just seems kind of tacked on. I also tried the Cinnabar shade, but I can't give it the same thumbs up because it was too light for me and the shade just made my eyes look irritated. Overall, I'd say for work or days you know you need to look nice but aren't going to be doing touch-ups, this is a good option. Have you had an experience with any of the other shades in this line? If so, what did you think?

How to Wear Glittery Liner in a Classy Way

BellaSugar — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 13:04:03 -0700

Who ever said that glittery makeup is only reserved for the middle-school crowd? At last night's New York premiere of Amelia, it definitely wasn't Hilary Swank. Wearing an unexpected silvery-blue shadow on both her upper and lower lash lines to coordinate with her steely blue-green gown, Hilary proves that sparkling, shimmery finishes don't have to look cheesy. In fact, the cool-based shade complements her brown eyes nicely. While the general rule of thumb is to pair a bold eye with a subdued lip, I'm all for breaking rules, but when glitter is involved, less is better. To find out some of my tips for wearing glittery liner when you read more.

Doing Drugstore: L'Oréal HIP Color Rich Cream Eyeliner

BellaSugar — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 08:00:00 -0700

I'm a big fan of Bobbi Brown's great Long Wear Gel Eyeliner ($21) for waterlining and intense pigment, but Bobbi doesn't make bright teal, which is one of my favorite shades to wear, so I turned to HIP Color Rich Cream Eyeliner ($12). I like it because it sticks nicely on the rims of my eyes, and therefore I don't have any trouble with bright blue smudges. If you're a fan of waterlining, I highly recommend this one. Just make sure you apply your eyeliner before your under eye concealer, so that you can clean up any inadvertent slip-ups. Bonus: Something about the blue-green shade will make you feel extra runway-ready. That, and it's totally '80s cool, without the dated, neon quality.

Definition: Kohl

BellaSugar — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 09:00:00 -0700

Used across the Middle East (where it's called kohl), South Asia (where it's kajal or surma), and West Africa (where it's kwalli), this ubiquitous eyeliner made of soot has been used for thousands of years with little change in its formulation. In fact, the smoky eye is older than the pyramids, and there are recipes for it dating back to the Bronze Age. Traditional kohl preparations still popular in many other countries are banned by the FDA because they're made with lead. (You might see these in specialty stores. Don't buy them; they're illegal.) But there are plenty of lead sulphide-free kohls out there that can give you the sexy eyes of the ancients. Real kohl comes as a loose powder that you moisten before application; Guerlain's Terracotta Loose Kohl Eyeliner ($34) is a nice traditional kohl formulation that's been updated with a little shimmer. L'Oréal's HIP Kohl Eyeliner ($13) is another traditionally packaged kohl, and having used it I have to say that it's a steal.

Get That Tightly Lined Eye Look With These Easy Steps

BellaSugar — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 13:00:02 -0700

I love the look of a dark eyeliner rimmed with precision around the lash lines. Not only does it make eye color pop, particularly when encircled by a contrasting shadow, but the dark tone creates a brightening contrast against the whites of the eyes. But do you have a hard time getting that liner to stay put, and does your waterline application never seem to go as planned? I hear you.

Earlier today, actress Olivia Wilde stepped out in Spain to promote Escada's new fragrance, Desire Me. She was sporting pale peachy-pink cheeks and lips, along with some trendy copper-toned eyeshadow and serious applied-to-perfection deep black liner. Looking to do a little waterlining of your own? To find out how to get smudge-proof results, just keep reading.

Reader Review of the Day: Almay Intense i-Color Eyeliner in Raisin Quartz

BellaSugar — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 09:00:30 -0700

Reader Hottpink received the highest of compliments after wearing Almay Intense i-Color Eyeliner in Raisin Quartz ($7.50). Green eyes paired with a purple-toned eyeliner, shadow, or mascara are an eye-popping combo. Here's what she had to say:

I have been using this eyeliner since it first came out. The color is perfect because I have very green eyes and it makes them even more green. The last time I visited my parents my mom actually asked if I was wearing green contacts! It glides on very smoothly, smudges easily, lasts all day, and washes off well at night. All in all, this is a keeper.

If there's a product that gives your baby blues (or browns, or hazels, or greens) that extra something, we want to know. Go straight to our Product Reviews section to submit your opinion, and if you're feeling extra adventurous, check out more of the daily Reader Reviews when you're through.

Reader Review of the Day: Clinique Cream Shaper For Eyes

BellaSugar — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 09:01:11 -0700

Creamy eyeliners are perfect for soft, smudgy looks, and Clinique’s Cream Shaper For Eyes ($14.50) would be just the ticket for creating that highly sought-after smoked-out effect. Reader Fashion_doll24 calls this product the “best eyeliner so far.” Here’s the scoop:

I have this one in Deep Cobalt, Black Diamond, and a duo in Cocoa Shimmer and Chocolate Luster. I'm a huge fan of them. You can use them for making a very clear-cut line or just dab them on for a more subtle look. Either way, they stay throughout most of the day while being easy to remove. Love them!

What eyeliners are so great, you just have to share them with us? Write up a post on the Product Reviews section, and I might just highlight you on this daily feature.

Is Your Makeup Aging You? Part Two

BellaSugar — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 09:00:01 -0700

I love the look of a heavily lined eye smoked out to perfection. What I don't love? When the smoke goes south, causing an unintentional "I haven't slept for days" shadowy appearance under the eyes. Hello, instant extra decade.

I've got you covered on tips for keeping your complexion youthful, so now let's move onto those windows to the soul. Here are five things to think about when applying makeup around your delicate eye area. Discover them when you read more.

Bare bottoms: If you have a tendency to get dark circles, skip the eyeliner and mascara on the bottom lash line and lashes altogether. Darkening this area can create the illusion of droopy, tired eyes.
Face-lift: Give yourself an inexpensive "face-lift" by using a pale-toned or iridescent shadow under the brows for a little pick-me-up.
Good-bye glitter: Glitter can be lots of fun when worn in the right circumstances, but its reflective properties and ability to settle into fine lines and wrinkles only accentuate what you might want to hide. If you need the sparkle, go with a shimmer, or even a more subtle glimmer finish.
Creeping creams: Creams are great for the face to create a soft, dewy look, but when used on the eyelids, they can creep into the creases. A silky powder-based shadow is best to reduce inadvertent wrinkling.
You're out of touch: While you don't have to follow every trend out there, dated makeup techniques and colors can be aging. Stuck in a different era? Check out my trend-finding tips to get up to speed.

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