BellaSugar

Definition: Jojoba Oil

BellaSugar — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 12:00:06 PDT

Jojoba oil is referred to as a vegetable oil, but it is actually a liquid wax that comes from the seed of the Jojoba, a shrub found in the Southwest. The oil is usually refined to be odorless and colorless.

When it became illegal in the United States to use sperm whale oil in 1974, funding was provided to investigate applications where Jojoba oil could take its place. Because Jojoba oil has a chemical structure that's very similar to sebum, it has a wide variety of cosmetic uses. Native Americans used the oil to heal wounds, protect the skin, condition the skin, and soften the scalp. The ingredient proved to have a wide variety of uses, from dissolving excess sebum from the scalp to protecting crops from white flies. Get yours in Dr. Hauschka Conditioner with Jojoba and Marsh Mallow, Aveda All-Sensitive Body Formula, or Creative Nail's Solar Oil.

Source

What We're Sweet On: Excellently Organic Eye Cream

Miriam Lacey — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 03:05:29 PST

Dried-out skin under your eyes isn't pretty, but it's a reality for a lot of us. The only thing that really helps is a moisture-trapping hydrator, which is why we've been using KTO Vitality Rose & Cucumber eye cream ($30). The primary ingredient is pure vegetable glycerin, which packs a hydrating punch and helps keep the moisture around, too, and the cream also has aloe, shea butter, jojoba, and a host of other excellent oils and soothers. It makes the little lines we get around our eyes from the in-office dry heat vanish completely, and after we put it on, our skin just feels a lot more comfortable, too.

And if you're wondering about the naturalness of the product, most of the ingredients are certified organic, and it's free of artificial preservatives, parabens, and sulfates. Plus, the price point is extremely reasonable for a product that works as well or better than some $80 products we've tried. All around an excellent bet if the windows to your soul are looking a little down at heel.

What We're Sweet On: Naturally Gorgeous Lip Color

Miriam Lacey — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 03:05:21 PST

It's been a while since we've been lip-sessed. You know the phenomenon: you try a new lip product and like it so much you find yourself applying it constantly, cuddling with it at night, etc. But it turns out that sometimes even jaded beauty editors get a second chance at true love, and the new object of our affection is Ilia lip conditioner ($24). This stuff is great for a whole slew of reasons. The marquee differentiator is that Ilia doesn't contain a single ingredient you haven't heard of before or wouldn't eat. Vegans, people with allergies, and those who're leery of ingesting lead and petrolatum should be happy about this one.

What we really love, though, is that there are nine organic oils in the formulation, everything from jojoba and sesame to orange and jasmine, so our lips get super hydrated and taste great. Our personal favorite shade is Shell Shock (it's the coral color on the far left), but we've also met people who swear by Arabian Knights (dark berry) and Nobody's Baby (soft neutral). Ilia's not a cheap treat, but if we have to choose between buying the latest fancy lipstick and this lip conditioner, we know which one we're choosing.

Oversensitive Tots: 8 Products to Soothe Sensitive Skin

LilSugar — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 12:01:07 PDT

Stop scratching! Kids with sensitive skin - and their parents - know that dry, itchy, or painful skin is no joke. There's no one cause of sensitive skin. It can be hereditary, caused by harsh products, or simply from spending time outside in the cold Winter or the hot Summer. Oversensitive kiddos aren't doomed to a season full of scratching. These products will help soothe their irritated epidermis, leaving everyone (and everything) a lot calmer.

Clockwise from top left:

Shea Moisture Organic Raw Shea Chamomile & Argan Oil Baby Head-to-Toe Ointment ($10): A good rule of thumb when looking for a kids' moisturizer is the greasier the better. Ointments are better than creams, which are better than lotions. Part of SheaMoisture's Organic Raw Shea Butter Baby Collection, this ointment combines the hydrating properties of shea butter with argan oil, which is naturally high in skin-softening Vitamin E. This is an amazingly multitasking product; it works great on baby's chapped lips, cheeks, hands, arms, and legs.
Dr. Sears Baby Wipes ($3): Developed by everyone's favorite cosleeping enthusiast, Dr. Sears, these wipes are made with biodegradable, ultrasoft bamboo fabric, an incredibly gentle way to clean babies' delicate bum.
Gentle Naturals Eczema Baby Wash ($5): Eczema is an extremely common, and uncomfortable skin ailment, for which there's no known cure. It's essentially a really bad, itchy rash, which can be red, rough, scaly, and oozing. It can't be cured, but there are ways to treat and prevent eczema flareups. It's especially important to use a mild cleanser, like this baby wash by Gentle Naturals - made with aloe, calendula, jojoba, and vitamins A, D, and E to gently cleanse, moisturize, and soothe itchy skin.
C.O. Bigelow Lotio Mentholus No. 002 ($25): Seriously itchy kids will get real relief from this nonprescription medicated cream - not recommended for kids under 2 years old.
Dr. Smith's Premium Blend Diaper Ointment ($13): Diaper rash is the most common skin ailment suffered by infants, and it can get bad. Applying a generous layer of a good, thick diaper cream like Dr. Smith's will create a barrier between baby's tender bum and the offending, rash-causing moisture
Earth's Best TenderCare Chlorine Free Diapers: One of the first recommendations doctors make when a baby has diaper rash is to try switching to a different brand of diapers. Made with soft, cloth-like, chlorine-free materials, these Earth's Best diapers are free of any latex, dyes, and perfumes, which can all cause major irritation.
Madii & Dyl Luxe Cleansing Flannels ($15): Specifically formulated for tots with skin issues, these cleansing flannels are super soft. The air spun cloth is made from eco friendly materials.
Carter's Sensitive Skin Baby Shampoo + Body Wash Duo ($8): Classic kiddie brand Carters recently launched a line of baby bath and body products - all chemical free and hypoallergenic. This moisturizing cleanser is made without any dyes or fragrances, leaving babies clean, moisturized, and comfortable.

5 Leave-In Conditioners to Protect Lil Ones' Hair From Summer's Elements

LilSugar — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 05:35:13 PDT

A child's skin isn't the only thing that needs protecting during the Summer. Their hair needs protection too! The sun, chlorine, and salt water can have a drying, damaging effect on hair (and the scalp) that will last long after those pool parties and family trips to the beach. Protect and nourish your lil swimmer's locks with a leave-in conditioner that adds moisture while reducing fly aways that come out with Summer's humidity.

From left to right:

So Cozy Protective Conditioning Mist with Sunscreen ($14): A leave-in conditioner with sunscreen to protect hair and scalp from the harmful effects of the sun. This hair care product is specially formulated for children 1 to 12-years-old and has a cool coconut scent.
Original Sprout Leave-In Conditioner ($11): Made with natural and organic ingredients, it helps protect against sun and environmental damage. It also strengthens and improves hair structure with vegetable proteins and polymers.
Fairy Tales Coco Cabana Leave-In Sun Spray ($11): A rich conditioner in a spray pump to help keep hair conditioned and manageable. It's paraben free and contains coconut oil and jojoba.
California Baby Swimmer's Defense Hair Conditioner ($12): This conditioner contains a botanical blend of herbs, rich emollients, and natural sunscreens that combine to re-balance, repair, and rehydrate hair, leaving it soft and shiny.
Smart Girls Who Surf Care for Hair Leave-in Conditioner ($9): A leave-in conditioner and protein-infused detangler, specially formulated with vitamins and has SPF 7 sunscreen to protect the hair and scalp from the sun. It's paraben and oil free, and has a light kiwi scent.

A Reader Gets Inspired by Katy Perry's "California Gurls"

OnSugar Blog — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 07:00:00 PDT

Here's an excerpt from a colorfully fun post by OnSugar blog Queen of the Quarter Life Crisis:

So welcome to my new series - Inspired By. The first edition? Katy Perry's "California Gurls." After watching the music video, I'm still a little confused as to what a cupcake bikini has to do with California, but nevertheless, it's cute and fun. . . just like California. Here's my roundup:

Pacifica Malibu Lemon Blossom Solid Perfume - This 100% vegan (so LA) solid perfume is an ode to the SoCal sun. Its scent has a lemony hint but not overpowering, like Pledge.
Benefit California Kissin' Lip Shine - Fact: LA is the land of the perfect smile. This lip product combines sexy shine with West Coast cool. The aqua blue sheen actually makes teeth appear whiter and it can be worn alone or with your favorite lipstick or gloss.
h.wood Ruby Lip Shine Pot - What's more Hollywood glam than red lips? This little lip pot is packed with powerful ingredients like jojoba oil, cocoa butter, and shea butter to help you get the perfect Hollywood pout.

Be sure to read the rest of Quarter Life's Cali girl suggestions, and when you're through, why not start an OnSugar blog of your own? You could be the next blogger featured on Bella!

Source

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

BellaSugar — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 09:00:11 PST

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

Eight Tips for Making Fragrance Last Longer

BellaSugar — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 09:00:14 PDT

You spend a nice chunk of change on your perfume, so you want to make it all worthwhile. The more you spray the longer it will last, right? Wrong and costly, in fact. Nix that over-zealous spraying finger of yours, because I've got some tips on how to make your fragrances stay put. Keep in mind that everyone's skin will react differently according to body chemistry, diet, and health, and check out these tips below:

Potency counts: Go with a better quality, more highly concentrated formula. Eau de parfum has a stronger percentage of essential oils compared to eau de toilette or eau de cologne.
No rub-a-dub-dub: Avoid dabbing your wrists together after spritzing on perfume, which can alter the chemical structure of the fragrance, causing it to not develop properly.
Moisturize: Fragrances don't take to dry skin quite as well. Provide a solid foundation by applying a touch of petroleum jelly, jojoba oil, or an unscented lotion before spraying.
Layer: Many fragrances come with a line of scented soaps, body gels and/or creams under the same brand name. If your fragrance doesn't include these products, you can always make your own with a blend of unscented bases mixed with coordinating essential oils.

To see more tips,