BellaSugar

Are Hair and Nail Supplements Bad For Your Skin?

BellaSugar — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 09:20:22 -0700

I feel like it's my duty to tell you guys when there is something I don't love just as much as it is to tell you about something I do love. I have thin hair and I bite my nails, so when I saw these Phytophanere Dietary Supplement for Hair & Nails, $50, I was convinced that this was going to help me out in a big way. Lots of my pregnant girlfriends swear that vitamin supplements have significantly sped up the growth process of their hair and nails and additionally improved their strength. (I'm sure hormones played a part too.)

I began my regimen and started taking these pills for two months. My nails did grow a little faster than usual, but I also began to break out. Little bumpy red zits appeared all over my face!

I decided to call my dermatologist and she told me that I could be having a reaction to these supplements. I immediately stopped taking them and my skin cleared up some. I am not saying they don't work - or that you will break out from them, but this was just my experience.

I thought I'd open this up for discussion. Has anything like this happened to anyone else? Do you care to share any stories where you've reacted strangely to a beauty product? I'd love to know!

Product Review: Dr. Brandt Antioxidant Water Booster

BellaSugar — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 13:00:53 -0700

I'm a skeptic when it comes to ingesting beauty-related supplements. I've tried the Phytophanere Dietary Supplements For Hair & Nails, which were supposed to make my nails and hair grow faster and stronger, but instead they gave me nothing but blemishes. So when I learned about this Antioxidant Water Booster ($35) from Dr. Brandt, I sort of dismissed the product altogether.

However, lately I've been reading lots of positive reviews about the blueberry flavor, so I decided to give it a go. Supposedly, the antioxidant content in one dose is the same as you'd find in 15 cups of home-brewed green tea.

My guess it that it's getting attention because there has been so much written about the powerful effects of antioxidants lately. They help protect your cells from free radical damage, keep your organs healthy, and they may even contribute to fighting cancer and heart disease.

As it turns out, the Water Booster is indeed delicious. I did a taste test to see what I was getting into before I drank the full glass of water. It's flavorful and sweet, but it doesn't contain any calories or even one iota of caffeine or sugar.

Each bottle (there are five different kinds) contains enough for 60 servings. All you have to do is shake it, add one dropper to eight ounces of water, mix, and chug. I've only had three cups and I don't notice a difference in my skin, but as the saying goes, you look better if you feel better. Knowing that I am doing something good for my body definitely makes me feel better, too.

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

Small Beauty Updates to Help You Fall Forward

BellaSugar — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 12:00:48 -0700

Today is the first day of Autumn, which means it's time to update your makeup regimen just a little bit. No need to revamp your entire look immediately: it's much more fun to slowly incorporate some of Fall's trends into your look. Here are some small changes you can make to ease into the new season:

Lay off the bronzer. This may seem like a no-brainer, but lots of people cling on to the last remnants of Summer by supplementing their fading tan with bronzing products. Rosy cheeks are the trend for Fall - on your way there, try a rosy cheek stain with a little bronzer over it. Jemma Kidd Rosy Glow Lip & Cheek Tint is my favorite - the stain really sinks in, so the texture won't mix weirdly with your bronzer.
Go for a metallic nail polish shade. Dark berry colors with reflective pigments and grays were all over Fall runways. Try Cover Girl Boundless Color Nail Polish in Plum Pudding.
Give up the gloss. Makeup artists have been telling me for months that sheer lipstick is replacing gloss, and I can't think of a better time to embrace that then when it gets windy (no one wants her hair stuck to a pair of chapped lips . . . ew!). Try Revlon Sheer Colorstay Lipcolor.
Practice your smoky eye. Save it for nighttime for now, but the smoky eye, especially with hints of silver or bronze, is big for Fall. Check out Oscar de la Renta's Fall runway to see what I mean.

Source

New Product Alert: Vitabiotics Perfectil

BellaSugar — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 07:00:32 -0700

It's silly, but any product with the word "perfect" in its name is bound to get my attention. Vitabiotics Perfectil ($16.99), already popular in Europe and Britain, is a vitamin supplement that promises to improve hair, skin and nails by providing 22 necessary nutrients. For instance, it contains grape seed extract to fight aging, copper to strengthen hair, and vitamin E to improve hair's strength and shine.

Perfectil is available now, and if I hadn't just started another vitamin-based skincare treatment (which I'll fill you in on shortly) I would probably give it a whirl. What do you think? Is this gimmicky or genius? Finally, thanks to KBella for pointing this out!