BellaSugar

Everyone Needs Serums, Says This Skincare Guru

BellaSugar — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 08:00:44 PST

During his career as an esthetician, Marc Edward has performed literally thousands of facials. No surprise, then, that he has great advice on what kind of skin care actually works, and smart tips for soothing skin sensitized by cold weather. To check out his tips, just keep reading.

An LA Skin Guru Explains Which Facial Is Best

BellaSugar — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 10:00:25 PST

Marc Edward is one of skin care's rising stars. His facials have been voted Los Angeles's best, and he's scored features in magazines like Glamour and New Beauty; he even has his own product line. So I was glad to get a few minutes to pick his brain about spa care. He let me in on the newest skin care tech, what facials actually work best, and what kind of treatments you absolutely shouldn't try at home. To get the scoop, just keep reading.

This Skincare Product Could Make Things Worse

BellaSugar — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 06:01:20 PST

Marc Edward has been voted top facialist in LA, his skincare line is in all the award shows' goody bags this year, and he'll be making appearances in next month's issues of both Glamour and Allure. Busy guy. Marc has the professional's take on what you can do to head a zit off before it becomes a big, gross problem, and he told me what supposedly "helpful" product that we're all using is actually a nightmare for your skin. For his acne advice, just keep reading.

Serums, Serums Everywhere! Part III: Hydrating Serums

BellaSugar — Fri, 29 Dec 2006 04:27:10 PST

Welcome to the third and final installment of Serums, Serums Everywhere! Part III will focus on facial serums intended to hydrate your skin. Part I was about Lifting & Energizing serums and Part II showed some Vitamin C based serums.

Many of us suffer from dehydrated skin. Symptoms include: scaly, taut, dry and superfine lines that lead to wrinkles in time. Dehydrated skin is a result of the failure to drink sufficient amounts of water, not using adequate moisturizers, cigarette smoking and overexposure to the sun.

Skin dehydration can cause premature aging if you don't start nurturing it. Start now so you don't lose collagen fibers and the necessary elasticity in your skin to maintain your youthful appearance. Begin by taking this quiz to find out if you are drinking enough fluids to keep yourself hydrated. Then, take a look at my top three picks for pick-me-up hydrating facial serums.

I hope you have found a serum to best suit your skin's needs as well as learned a little something about the overall well being of your precious and delicate face!

Chanel Hydramax + Serum Intense Moisture Boost, $95 for 1.7 oz. and $68.50 for 1 oz., is a highly concentrated, ultra light, grease-less facial treatment. This is a powerful remedy for dry and lifeless skin. It helps control the hydration of your face by attracting and releasing water on the surface of your skin depending on the amount of humidity. It is made with Vitamins B5 and E as well as proteins and enzymes that act as traps to seal in moisture.

Darphin Hydraskin Serum, $90 for 1 oz., is a pale blue serum that is formulated to hydrate your skin. Along with restoring smoothness, softness, and suppleness, it will also leave your skin dewy and glowing! Suitable for all skin types.

To see the final serum,

read more Dior Hydraction Serum, $65 for 1.7 oz. is a deep hydration radical serum intended to instantly penetrate and quench thirsty skin. It's an ultra concentrated formula that has been developed to increase your skin's water reserve. It promotes circulation for long-lasting hydration and results in a more youthful-looking and radiant complexion.

Serums, Serums Everywhere! Part I: Lifting & Energizing

FabSugar — Tue, 26 Dec 2006 09:18:27 PST

I have recently written about hair smoothing serums, but serums for the face are entirely different. Facial serums have invaded the beauty market and with all the product overload I thought I'd break them down into categories for you to make your next beauty counter visit less overwhelming.

You may recall a post last week about the La Prairie Gold Face Serum and that was just the tip of the iceberg. This first installment of Serums, Serums Everywhere! will focus on lifting and energizing your dry winter skin.

Facial serums in general are intended to: firm and tighten skin, normalize oil production, prevent breakouts, help reduce the signs of aging, and increase your skin's ability to regenerate cells faster resulting in elasticity and more youthful and brighter looking skin. They are definitely on the pricier side of beauty products since they are so concentrated and full of vitamins, so finding the right one for your skin should be treated like an investment. Here are my top three picks for lifting and energizing serums. Enjoy!

La Mer Lifting Face Serum, $210 for a 1 oz. pump. This is a top of the line serum that Madonna and Jennifer Lopez are fans of. It trains your skin to maintain a softer, and smoother appearance by infusing your skin with energy. You will notice your skin looks brighter, clearer and firmer.

Estee Lauder Re-Nutriv Intensive Lifting Serum, $175. This addictive serum is made from rare ingredients paired with technology to provide serious results. It repairs your skin from the get go and provides protection from free radicals and other damagers. You will feel it working because of the light, tingly sensation when you apply it.

After some time, you will notice less fine lines and a more supple skin appearance. Also, dark spots on your face should fade. Just use one pump in the morning and in the evening and then follow with a hydrating facial moisturizer.

To see one more serum,

read more (MALIN+GOETZ) Replenishing Face Serum, $65, is intended for all skin types, even sensitive skin. This serum's claim to fame is its amino acid hydration technology that mixes proteins with plant extracts to help improve moisture, clarity and aging in your skin. It contains calming agents to even out your skin tone as well as fight redness and irritation. Vitamin E (an antioxidant) and Sodium PCA help nourish and hydrate the skin. This serum is also oil free so it won't clog your pores. It is great for when you get off a long flight and it's also ideal for prepping your skin for makeup. Just use two to three pumps all over your face, under your eyes and on your neck after you cleanse; follow with a facial moisturizer.

What We're Sweet on: an $11 Wrinkle Reducer

Miriam Lacey — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 10:09:10 PST

Retinol is one of the few topicals that are incontrovertibly proven to reduce fine lines and improve skin texture. You can get prescription retinoids like Retin-A, but if you want a gentler, over-the-counter option, you'll find that not all serums are particularly effective. Which is why the retinol facial serum ($11) from Sally Beauty Supply is an amazing deal. It contains a huge dose of retinyl palmitate in a gentle base, so you get immediate results without any "adjustment" period for your skin, and it's so inexpensive that you don't have to feel guilty about using it on your décolleté, shoulders, or anywhere else that needs to get its glow back. Just don't forget to use sunscreen, since it does make your skin solar-sensitive.

60 Seconds With Diane von Furstenberg

Real Beauty — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 03:10:21 PDT

We're happy to present this article from one of our favorite sites, Real Beauty.

When we sat down to interview Diane von Furstenberg about her new fragrance, Diane ($85), we were delighted that she's just as glamorous as we hoped, decked out in a pebble-pattern frock that actually mirrors the perfume bottle's design, chunky gold jewelry, nude fishnet tights and leopard platform sandals. She opened up about her inspiration behind the scent, how to be sexy and the best piece of advice she can offer. To see the interview, just keep reading.

What We're Sweet On: A Just-the-Right-Thickness Moisturizer

Jaime Richards — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 03:07:10 PDT

Some facial moisturizers are so thick that they're heavy to the touch, making them practically impossible to spread. Such is not the case with Swiss-based brand Alchimie Forever's Intensely Nourishing Cream ($77). Somewhat like a cross between a serum and rich, moisturizing cream, this hydrator feels amazing on the skin. It luxuriously soaks right in, making the complexion feel smooth, almost "plumped" up. It includes antioxidants to fight those free radicals and red clover to help promote collagen production, so there's also a does-a-body-good thing going on.

How to: Prep the Skin For Makeup

Jaime Richards — Tue, 10 May 2011 10:50:00 PDT

The easiest way to make your makeup look smoother and prettier (and last longer) is to first prepare your skin accordingly. So after you wash your mug and pat it dry, what's next? Find out your go-to guide for getting the skin ready premakeup when you read more.

Say Yes to Saving Some Green During Earth Week

Brittney Stephens — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 07:21:07 PDT

Earth Week is here, and eco-conscious skin care line Yes To is celebrating by offering 25 percent off all products sitewide, from April 18-24. You can save on natural hair and skin products like the Cucumbers Facial Towelettes ($6), Carrots Super Rich Body Butter ($13), and my personal favorite, Blueberries Intensive Skin Repair Serum ($20). All you have to do is pack your cart with fruity goodness, and enter the promotion code EARTH when checking out.