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Holiday Survival Guide: Go From Day to Night in 5 Easy Steps

Jaime Richards — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 10:00:31 PST

Do you feel it in the air? It's party season, and that means you probably have more than just one festive social function marked in your calendar. But it also probably means you have very little time to actually get ready for said soirées. That's why I've devised this quick and simple multitasking guide for going from work to holiday gatherings in a flash. To see the step-by-step list, just keep reading.

One Easy Way to Get More From Your Lip Products

BellaSugar — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 09:00:00 PDT

Want to know a super-quick way to illuminate the face in an instant with minimal effort? After your regular application of lipstick, lip gloss, or both, simply dab the excess product onto the cheeks and blend.

If the color's brighter or darker, lightly tap into the apples of the cheeks as a blush. If the color's lighter, use it as a highlighter and apply it right along the upper cheekbones. Not only will you get more bang for your buck with your lip products using this method, but you'll have a pretty glow, too.

Create Your Own Magic With 3-in-1 Lip and Eye Wands

BellaSugar — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 09:00:05 PDT

I don't know a woman around who isn't looking for inexpensive, multitasking beauty products. And that's exactly what cosmetic designer and developer Ben Bennett had in mind when he created Wanderlove's Lip Wand ($17). The three-in-one includes a lip liner, lipstick, and gloss, and the Eye Wand ($17) includes a black liner, creamy eye shadow, and highlighter stick. It's a clever idea, and these products could be perfect for travel, but do they deliver? Find out when you read more.

The Look For Less: Brilliant Brow Pencils

BellaSugar — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 12:00:55 PST

Over the past decade or so, Anastasia Soare has established herself as the expert in eyebrow grooming. Her company, Anastasia Beverly Hills, has a Go Brow Brow Pencil & Highlighter ($21). It's a dual-ended chunky pencil that features a universal brow color on one end and a highlighter on the other. For just half the cost, Soap & Glory Arch de Triumph ($10) is an excellent alternative.

While Soap & Glory's version isn't as creamy as Anastasia's, with its soft brown and champagne-toned shades, I had no problem using this lower-priced pencil to give my brows definition. I applied the soft pink portion under my eyes as an instant pick-me-up, yet another way to use a flesh-toned liner. I have even used the darker side as liner and shadow in a pinch. Have any lookalike products for less that you might like to recommend? Head over to the Beauty Dupes group in our BellaSugar Community and tell us all about them.

Six Ways to Apply a Highlighter

BellaSugar — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 12:00:46 PDT

Highlighters illuminate, while concealers cover. This was a very important lesson I learned while chatting with Yves St. Laurent national makeup artist, Dell Ashley, at the San Francisco Saks 5th Avenue. Perhaps you've heard of a little product called Touche Éclat ($40), a highly popular highlighting pen that helps to brighten and contour the face - but you weren't exactly sure how to use it? For six ways to give yourself an instant pick-me-up, plus my suggestion for a drugstore alternative,

Reader Review of the Day: Neutrogena Healthy Skin Blends Sheer Highlighting Blush

BellaSugar — Sat, 30 May 2009 08:03:41 PDT

Blushes with multiple colors are a great way to get the benefits of various colors, without having to buy an overabundance of product. Neutrogena's Healthy Skin Blends Sheer Highlighting Blush ($12.80) has a touch of color with a slight shimmery finish. Reader Laura220 is impressed, and here's why:

For me, this is expensive for blush, but it's so worth it. I'm very light-skinned, and this doesn't look silly on me at all. It matches my natural pink tones, and it blends well. I use it with a bigger brush than what is given in the compact because that's my preference.

What's your favorite blush or summery product? Let us know about it on the Product Reviews pages and I might just put it in the spotlight for all to see!

Five Easy Ways to Fake a Sun-Kissed Glow

BellaSugar — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 11:00:19 PDT

If you make frequent stops on the Bella train, then you'll know that I'm all about safe sunning - which means no tanning at all. But that doesn't mean you have to lose the look of a day at the beach. While I love the benefits of a self-tanner, sometimes I don't want to deal with the smell of DHA combining with my skin's chemistry or the affliction of streak-mania all over my body. So, I've come up with a few tricks to fake a tan, all without the sunburn or chemical reaction. Check them out when you

Reader Review of the Day: Smashbox Photo Op Under Eye Brightener

BellaSugar — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 07:00:00 PDT

I get darkness under my eyes, so I'm a fan of brighteners, which liven up the under-eye area in a flash. Instant refreshment. Reader Laratf highly recommends Smashbox Photo Op Under Eye Brightener, and here's why:

It's by far the best brightener/concealer I've used. It's not just sheer shimmer that makes you look like a freak in photos (anyone else face that problem?), it provides good coverage, stays in place, and brightens without making you look sick. I'm really pleased with it.

Now, it's your turn to review. Our Product Reviews page has over 50,000 items just waiting for your opinion. Better yet? Perhaps you'll be featured on this daily post.

Reader Review of the Day: MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Degradé

BellaSugar — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 10:02:02 PST

If you're a regular reader, you'll know that I love multitasking products. Loyal reader Emalove recently reviewed MAC's Mineralize Skinfinish Degradé ($28), a limited-edition palette of four shades that can be used all over the face as a blush, highlighter, eye shadow, and contouring powder. Find out what she had to say about the shimmery stuff below:

I just bought my first Mineralize Skinfinish - the Redhead shade in the new Brunette Blonde Redhead collection - and I am in love! It's made up of four strips of color, ranging from a pale goldish shade to a pretty peachy-pink shade. It goes on sheer and light in color, so it's perfect for my fair skintone. The product looks shimmery in the case, but on the face, it just makes it glow. The shimmer is so fine that it doesn't even really look like shimmer. . . so pretty! I use it as a highlighter after I apply my blush. Love it.

For what it's worth, I'm also a fan of this shade; it really gives skin a warm, romantic glow. If you'd like to have the chance to be featured on this daily post, it's quite easy to do. Just head over to our Product Reviews site and submit your opinion.

Reader Review of the Day: Benefit Cosmetics high beam

BellaSugar — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 07:00:58 PST

Highlighters are great, so don't just save them for special occasions; use them everyday for that wide-awake glow.

So, for today's reader review, we're looking at Benefit Cosmetics high beam ($24), a brightening complexion enhancer. Reader A Million Suns is loving this product, calling it an ethereal glow in a bottle. Here's what she had to say:

"Just a few dots of this on my brow bones, inner corners of my eyes, and cheekbones made instantly makes me look fresher and gives me that ethereal glow. Plus it lasts forever because you don't need to use much of it each time."

Want to add your own two cents? Check out our product reviews section to share your thoughts.