BellaSugar

Guerlain's Holiday Makeup Arrives Early (For Just One Day)

Annie Tomlin — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 06:30:43 PDT

The house of Guerlain is known for its iconic perfumes, so it's fitting that Vol de Nuit, a 1933 classic, inspired Guerlain's holiday makeup collection, Belle de Nuit. It's all very luxurious (would you expect any less?) and packaged beautifully. The perfumed shimmer powder ($87) is a dream item for those who love old-fashioned ways of scenting themselves, and the Météorites Perles de Nuit ($56, pictured) adds a gorgeous glow to skin. If you're dreaming of these items and want to get a head start on holiday shopping, you're in luck: today,
AHAlife is offering the collection before it lands on counters. If one of these items is an absolute must have in your book, don't dally - last year's Guerlain color collection sold out quickly.

Perfume Classic Shalimar Gets a Modern Update

Jaime Richards — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 11:08:00 PST

Shalimar fans, get excited. The classic scent from Guerlain, which made its debut 86 years ago, is getting a new, updated companion. Shalimar itself will not go away, but a more modern addition to the line, Shalimar Parfum Initial ($70-$132), has been added to target a younger audience. Fragrance-maker Thierry Wasser explained that when formulating the juice, he opted to remove some of the more intimidating notes, such as leather, from the formulation.

And while the new scent (an amber floral) will pay homage to the original, featuring centifolia rose, Italian iris, tonka bean, and vanilla, Initial will get an up-to-date boost with notes of caramel, Calabrian bergamot, and the hedione molecule (which makes the juice smoother). Initial is currently available in Guerlain's Paris boutiques, with a US launch slated for August.

Source and WWD

10 Ridiculously Luxe Beauty Gifts

Miriam Lacey — Thu, 23 Dec 2010 09:00:08 PST

Ever gotten a $1,000 headband for the holidays, or maybe been surprised with a jewel-encrusted perfume bottle so large that it has a spigot? Well, even if that's not how things usually go around your house, you can still be up on the lives of the wealthy and profligate. The following 10 gifts are some of the most luxurious and costly on the market. Check them out and see if they're worth their price tags.

Guerlain Won't Stand For Jean-Paul Guerlain's Racist Remarks

Jaime Richards — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 11:00:00 PDT

Last week on French TV, Jean-Paul Guerlain (the last heir of the Guerlain dynasty) used a racial slur not once, but twice, while talking about the work that went into developing Samsara, a fragrance launched in 1989. As you can imagine the perfume house is distancing itself from Jean-Paul as a result, noting that the 73-year-old hasn't been a shareholder since 1996 and actually retired back in 2002.

Jean-Paul apologized in a statement, saying, "My words do not reflect in any way my profound thoughts but are due to an inopportune misspeaking which I vividly regret." Guerlain (the brand), however, calls his racist remarks "intolerable," going against the "culture, values, and ethics practiced by the enterprise, which promotes the diversity of talents of all origins."

Obviously Jean-Paul's statements are inexcusable, but do his actions impact your opinion of the brand?

10 of the Loveliest Limited-Edition Fragrance Bottles

BellaSugar — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 09:00:29 PDT

Each Fall, perfumers roll out with new, limited-run bottles for their most popular scents, to the delight of the perfumes' fans. But not all fragrance bottles are equally covetable. This year there are some truly stunning fragrance bottles available, from lavishly bejeweled pieces with real stones to cut crystal and beautiful filigree. They may be small, but they pack a whole lot of pretty. Read through to see them all.

Make Mine an Old-Fashioned - Perfume, That Is

BellaSugar — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 10:59:14 PST

It seems like the stream of new fragrances these days is neverending, with every celebrity and design house pumping out at least a couple of scents every season. But what about the classics, the scents of the past? I'm not talking about Chanel No. 5, which has a cult following and survives as much on Coco's legendary life as on the scent itself. Instead, I'm talking about fragrances like Estée Lauder's classic Youth Dew, created in 1953, or Creed's Fleurissimo, concocted in honor of Grace Kelly's marriage to Prince Ranier of Monaco. Older fragrances unfold differently, usually over a longer period of time, tend to be more complex, and have a lot more sillage. To learn more about these old-fashioned perfumes and see a gallery of ones you can try for yourself, read more.

BellaSugar’s Top Picks For Coral Lipstick

BellaSugar — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 07:00:06 PDT

Even if you’re not typically a coral kind of gal, trust me when I say that you’ll love the way they look with a little bit of mascara and some bronzer in the summertime. Coral has that je ne sais quoi to make tanned skin look all the more radiant. Below are my favorite coral lipsticks, They are a little deeper than peach lipgloss without being overly orange. Do you prefer one lipstick color over another in certain seasons?

Stila Lip Color in Miranda ($17) is a shiny, creamy and super-sheer everyday coral lipstick. Last year, it was so popular that it was honored as one of In Style's Best of Beauty Buys. It's a good choice if you want to ease into the color trend.
Chantecaille Lip Chic in Geranium ($30) is a sheer, rich nudey-coral. This creamy formula stays moist for hours and looks great worn alone or with a sheer gloss on top.
I've already told you how gorgeous the new, creamy Diane Von Furstenberg Volcano Lipstick ($18) is. This golden, pale coral-peach shade looks killer paired with black mascara and bronzer.
Guerlain KissKiss Stick Gloss in Mango Fizz ($30) is a sheer and shiny hydrating lipstick that contains just a little bit of maxi-lip for plumpness without having too much of a tingle.
Lancome Le Rouge Absolou in Coral Gossamer ($26) is a creamy textured, medium-coral colored lipstick that contains a touch of shimmer for a pearlized, glowy finish and SPF 15 for sun protection.

What A Pair: Dual-Ended Mascara

BellaSugar — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 08:00:55 PDT

OK, so the concept of double-sided mascara isn't entirely novel. But after checking out Two-Timer Mascara from The Balm, I thoroughly enjoy having two options in one product to choose from. After a shopping trip, I noticed that more and more of these mascara pairs are being developed and I'm pretty stoked about it. If you share my enthusiasm, you'll love these three dual-sided mascaras too. And of course, if you know of any others - do tell!

Le 2 de Guerlain Mascara ($35) is a mascara that houses two different brushes on either side of the tube. The first brush curls, adds volume and length, while the second (mini-sized) brush gets to those tiny, hard-to-reach lashes on the inner and outer corners of the eye. I haven't tried it yet, but it sure looks supafly.

Elizabeth Arden Two Brush Mascara ($18) is a multi-functional, conditioning mascara that is available only in a deep black shade (however, I hear there are more to come). One side thickens, separates and elongates and the other brush is smaller to ensure that no lash will ever go naked.

For one other double-ended mascara,

read more. Lancome Cils Design Pro- Custom Design Double Mascara ($35) has two brushes to help create the ultimate lash. The fluffy side lengthens and the other smaller brush helps coat the fine lashes (again on the inner and outer corners) while combing out any clumps. Available only in black.

Guerlain's Palette Sells Out Online; Should You Seek It Out?

BellaSugar — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 09:00:04 PST

I've been hearing a lot of buzz about the limited-edition Guerlain eye shadow palette that recently came out for Spring. And when you look at the Fleur de Feu palette ($57), it's easy to see why people are excited about it. Hervé Van Der Straeten, who designed Guerlain's lipsticks, created this quad of shadows, and the floral motif is gorgeous.

Fleur de Feu is sold out online, but this weekend I trekked to Bloomingdale's and had a look in person. Sorry to be a party pooper, but I don't think the product justifies the hype for this pricey piece. The untouched palette really is beautiful, but the tester that I tried had already lost its design. Without it, it's just another palette of four pretty colors, with a dusting of shimmery pink on top. If I were filthy rich, maybe I'd be sad about missing out on this item, but for now, life will continue on just fine without it.

Source

Look Your Best, Even If You Didn't Get Your Beauty Sleep

BellaSugar — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 07:00:04 PST

Long weekend? Here are some great night-time skin products to ensure that you'll look bright-eyed and refreshed even if you've just come off of a sleepless night. I've already told you about the newest rage in overnight hair care from Kerastase as well as the fabulous Talika Eye Decompress Masks, so here are some soothing and rejuvenating night creams that will make your skin look revived and renewed.

Soothe. Guerlain Issima Midnight Secret ($106) is an oxygenating treatment designed to help you look refreshed when you're suffering from lack of sleep. It works to speed up the exfoliation process so that you don't wake up looking gray, tired or lackluster. Just slather it on and try and catch as many Z's as possible!

For two more restorative night creams,

read more. My aunt swears by this Kiss My Face All Night Long Cream ($9.19). She loves the sweet rose scent and the "not overly rich and thick texture." Also, it contains skin-calming ingredients such as chamomile, avocado flower oils and vitamins A, D & E that work their magic while you rest. Apply a small dollop to your face and neck before bed for optimal results.
Treat your skin to a nightcap with this Shea Butter Nighttime Dream Cream from Booth's ($14.99). It's like a tall drink of water for tired, dehydrated skin. It contains avocado oil, sweet almond oil and vitamins A, B and E to create a dewy, moisturized glowing complexion.