BellaSugar

Untie Your Luxurious Side With YSL's Bow Collection

BellaSugar — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 07:00:56 -0700

Just in time for the upcoming holiday season, YSL has just unleashed a new beauty collection featuring the bow. And since YSL often incorporated bows throughout his collections, what better way to celebrate the end of 2008 than with this tribute to such an elegant, sensual, and demure little knot? As the late Monsieur Saint Laurent once said, "One should always be tempted to untie a woman's clothes." Oh, behave!

The Bow Collection is luxury at its finest. While the prices may be steep ($19 to $90), do you think you'll treat yourself to a little splurge around the holidays?

View 7 Photos ›

For the price list, read more.

Limited-edition products:

New Shades:

La Laque Long Lasting Nail Lacquer in Dark Blue or Moonlight White ($19).
Golden Gloss Shimmering Lip Gloss in Golden Burgundy ($28).
Fard À Lèvres Rouge Pur Pure Lipstick in Honey Beige ($29).

Paul & Joe Pretties Things Up For Cat Ladies

BellaSugar — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 08:00:15 -0700

As you may know, I'm a bit of a cat lady. (Have you met Milo and Minou?) So it's no surprise that I'm hoping dear ol' Santy Claws will bring me this Paul & Joe holiday face kit. Available in two shades, it features a sheer lipstick and swirly cheek color. But the real attraction is this achingly twee little printed makeup pouch. It's so ridiculously girlish and over-the-top that it somehow becomes slightly subversive. Paired with sleek skinny jeans and a slim black tee, it would be a little sweet, a little tough - kinda like one pretty kitty.

Paul & Joe Beauté is hard to find, though it's stocked in Anthropologie. If you see this kitty kit, I wouldn't blame you if you were to pounce on it...

Nail Polish Collections For Holiday 2008

BellaSugar — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 10:00:59 -0800

If you're like me, you're really starting to get excited for the upcoming holiday rush. Have you thought about trying out a new nail polish color to spruce things up? Whether you're looking to add a little sparkle or try a different hue, have fun taking a peek at some of the current and festive seasonal nail polish collections below:

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How-To: Make Your Own Perfume Solid With Tips From Mandy Aftel

BellaSugar — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 09:00:11 -0800

According to Allure, "The trend toward using natural ingredients was pioneered by perfumer and author Mandy Aftel."

Well, guess what? Last week I had the pleasure of meeting with the famed perfumer in her Berkeley, CA studio. We covered everything from beautifully stanky scents to trends in the industry to advice on selecting fragrances. And when I asked her if she had any do-it-yourself ideas for holiday gifting, she definitely delivered.

In her book, Scents & Sensibilities: Creating Solid Perfumes for Well-Being (approximately $5), Aftel provides a "recipe" for creating your own solid perfume. While the talented perfume maker sells her Single Solids, Double Solids, and the ultra-luxe One-of-a-Kind Antique Cases on her website, you can create these thoughtful and easy gifts for your friends and loved ones on your own. Learn how to make these sweet smelling compacts when you read more.

How-To Make 'Em

In a beaker or small bowl, combine 1 teaspoon of jojoba oil with 20 drops of essential oil. Example: 7 drops of ylang ylang and 13 drops of grapefruit (see more of Aftel's combos below). She recommends Whole Foods or your local health food store as a go-to place for inexpensive oils.
Melt 1/2 teaspoon of grated beeswax over heat (she used a hot plate).
Mix oils and wax together, then pour into a small container. Aftel recommends using antique cases, small tins, or lip balm jars - basically anything that closes with a latch, is not too deep, and is rounded in shape for easier finger scoopage. Your solid will set in about 10 minutes.

Great Essential Oil Combos

Clary sage and rosewood.
Patchouli with either rose, ylang ylang, or frankincense.
Plain ol' vanilla extract will work, too - imitation not allowed.

Photo courtesy of Mandy Aftel

A Do-It-Yourself Holiday Gift: Pillbox Lip Palette

BellaSugar — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 12:00:39 -0800

What's bigger than a breadbox - er, pillbox? Why, a pillbox filled with some awesome lipstick shades - all chosen by you, of course. If you're on a budget for the holidays, why not go the route of DIY by making friends and family their own lipstick palettes?

Here's what you'll need:

A pillbox - Try this festive green Inventures Product Pill Box ($4.99) or head over to your local drugstore to seek out varieties that cost even less.
Inexpensive lipsticks - Seven or more, depending on how customized you want to get and how many palettes you want to gift. Pick a few neutral colors and some bold or unexpected ones, too. I recommend NYC lipsticks or Wet 'n' Wild Silk Finish Lipsticks ($1.16). Try to choose colors that fit your friend's own unique personality and shades that correspond with days of the week. Saturday deserves a bold red, don't you think?
A cutting object - A butter knife will do.
A microwave - To melt the lipsticks down.

To see how to make 'em, read more.

First, lop off your chosen shade and drop it in whichever slot you'd like. You'll probably be able to get two to three uses per lipstick, so eyeball accordingly. Fill in each slot with a different color. When you're done, it's time to nuke it - in about 10-second increments. The point is for the lipstick shades to settle into their new space by molding to the shape of the pill box. No bubbling liquid hot magma, mmkay?

While your loved ones can always use their fingers to dip into their new treat, consider tying a lip brush to the box, too. Also, if you're not feeling the whole "days of the week" theme, try decorating the pill box with stickers, and have some fun!

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Some Inspiration For Your Last-Minute Shopping

BellaSugar — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 07:00:30 -0800

Eeek! We're down to the final days of holiday shopping, but no worries. In case you are wondering what to get your friend, co-worker, or loved one, I've got a multitude of suggestions for you. If you're feeling ambitious, check out the rest of my beauty gift guides. And if you're feeling super ambitious, check out all of the gift guides throughout the Sugar network.

Gifts For Mom	For the Guy's Guy	Vegan Finds
Stocking Stuffers: Complete With Kohl	Wise Gifts: Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh	Hurry, Hurry: Last-Minute Gifting

Beauty Gift Ideas For Last-Minute Shoppers

BellaSugar — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 14:02:12 -0800

It's getting down to the wire on holiday shopping and maybe you've been procrastinating. (I know nothing of procrastination! NOTHING!)

We all know we can go the gift card route, whether it's drugstore, department store, or of the beauty emporium type. But in a last-minute jam, I also rely on a few standbys to prevent any shop-'til-you-drop moments: Purchase empty compacts (or bottles, à la Prescriptives) along with a gift certificate so your loved one can fill with colors of their choice. Or think about customizing, whether it's with their initials/monogrammed or color palettes selected specifically to fit their features. Of course, you could just go all out and give a palette with colors galore. Check out my widget below to get the ideas rolling, and be sure to check out all of our Holiday Gift Guides for more inspiration.

Magic Box GiftCard - $1,000.00	Custom Blend Essentials - $115.00
Almay Intense i-Color Powder Shadow Trio,Bring out the Green - $6.99	Nordstrom Holiday Wreath Virtual Gift Card - $25.00
Personalized Pair Soap & Dish Set - $24.00	Only at Bloomingdale's Happy Chanukah Gift Card with Box - $10.00
Prescriptives colorscope custom color shifter - $17.50	Pop Beauty Hello Gorgeous - $24.00
Laura Mercier Custom Eye Compact - $10.00	Smashbox O-Glow - $26.00
Smashbox 'OGLOSS' Intuitive Lip Gloss with Goji BerryC Complex™ - $22.00	Candy cane holiday gift card - $10.00
Sephora Brand Crystallized Palette Collector - $20.00	BeneFit Bad Gal Blue Brightening Blue Mascara - $19.00
Physician's Formula Shimmer Strips Custom Eye Enhancing Shadow & Liner, Brown Eyes - $10.99	DuWop - Eyecatcher - Green Eye Intensifier - 3g - $18.50

Gift Ideas For Your Emo Amiga

BellaSugar — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 10:00:03 -0800

You probably have a friend who is super emo - you know, the gal who cries at phone commercials and gets all welled up at the drop of a hat. So be gentle to your sensitive pal and treat her to some. . . what else? Sensitive-themed products.

No doubt, she'll become overwhelmed with emotion from your touching gift(s). Check out my widget below for some inspiration, like (of course) care package gifts, along with a few luxe items thrown in, too. While you're at it, don't forget to check out HolidaySugar for all of our holiday coverage and gift guides.

Holiday Gifts to Calm (or Caffeinate) Your Co-Workers

BellaSugar — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 12:45:39 -0800

When it comes to shopping for your co-workers, bath and body products always seem to do the trick. From relaxing and soothing to energizing and invigorating, I've got suggestions with varying price points that will help calm or caffeinate the folks that are so much a part of your daily life. While you're at it, don't forget to check out HolidaySugar for all of our holiday coverage and gift guides.

Gift Guide: Stocking Stuffers o' Beauty

BellaSugar — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 14:30:22 -0800

Last night, I hung the stockings with joy - unfortunately, they didn't come pre-embossed with a "Bella" or a "Mr. Bella." Go figure. Eh, it's nothing a little Crayola Glitter Glue Pens ($3.49) and my steady makeup hand can't handle.

So when it comes to stuffing these stockings, I'm thinking all things mini - or travel size, for that matter. The more the merrier, right? And of course, no stocking would be complete without some "kohl," even if you've been good all year long.

Oh, and after you're done perusing this widget, don't forget to visit HolidaySugar for all of our holiday guides.

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Soak scentless for your sensitive side wash - $1.99	Dior waterproof diorshow mascara - $24.00
Heart Soap in Gold Tissue by Gianna Rose - $9.90	Benefit De-Puffing Action Eye Gel, 0.5 fl oz - $28.00
Origins Clean Energy Gentle cleansing oil 6.7 oz. - $18.50	Mason Pearson Sensitive Bristle Hair Brush - $143.00
Bay-Lime Sensitive Care Deo Stick by Tom's of Maine - $7.33	Jurlique Rebalance Sensitivity Kit - $52.00
Frederic Fekkai Sensitive Scalp Shampoo - $22.00	Frederic Fekkai Sensitive Scalp Conditioner - $22.00
Dove Sensitive Skin Beauty Bar,Unscented - $7.49

"Aloe Vera" Biodegradable Liquid Body Cleanser - $16.50	Trish McEvoy Triple Candle Set - $45.00
Smith's Rosebud Salve - $7.00	Total Energy Pulse Point Balm - $16.00
Philosophy Cafè Au Lait Shower Gel - $16.00	Prescriptives 'Flight Mist' Refresher for Dehydrated Skin - $20.00
Jo Malone Lime Basil & Mandarin Soap Set - $50.00	Warm Amber Hand Wash - $10.00
Olive Oil Hand Cream by Olivina - $8.15	Bliss Blood Orange+White Pepper Body Butter - $35.00
Origins Incredible Spreadable Scrub¿ Ginger body smoother 8 oz. - $26.00	Fresh Hesperides Soap - $14.00
Honey & Lavender Bonne Mere Gift Set - $20.00

Jillian Dempsey for AVON Professional Kohl Eyeliner - $6.00	Frederic fekkai glossing™ "travel faves" set - $40.00
Shu Uemura Travel Brush Set - $55.00	Bliss High Intensity Hand Cream To Go - $8.00
Bellissima Makeup Tote - $28.00	Essie Winter Mini 4Pack - $17.00
CHI Mini Flat Iron and Dryer Collection - $150.00	Anastasia Mini Brow Kit - $25.00
mark Snap To It Mini Custom Color Palette - $4.00	Too Faced - Mirror Mirror Mini Lip Gloss Set - $25.00
Clarins 'Instant Beauty' Travel Kit - $110.00	Pop Beauty Beauty Goddess Clutch - $16.00
Tweezerman FileMate - $7.99	Bare Escentuals® Eyeshadow Compact Quad 2 - $28.00