BellaSugar

Product Review: June Jacobs Redness Diffusing Masque

BellaSugar — Mon, 26 May 2008 10:00:22 -0700

June Jacobs recently launched a few new skincare products, and last week I gave her Redness Diffusing Masque ($56) a test run. I was particularly impressed with the creamy, thick consistency that never dried to a stiff finish like clay masks usually do. It goes on smooth and has a mild, fresh scent. Instead of hardening and feeling uncomfortable, it penetrates your skin. When it was time to wash it off, the layer was thinner, so it just slipped right off.

What was left over was most definitely a soothed and visibly less red complexion. The mask contains botanical extracts and vitamins that help heal aggravated skin while reducing inflammation and redness - and I like that there are no parabens or preservatives that sometimes irritate sensitive skin.

The mask can also be used as a treatment after a facial or waxing, since it's so soothing. The only drawback is that it comes in a hefty pot, which makes it difficult for travel, but on the flip side, you're getting a lot of product for your money. For anyone like me who struggles with occasional redness and blotchiness, I would confidently recommend this gentle calming mask to you.

BellaSugar's Top Five Hand Cream Picks

BellaSugar — Mon, 19 May 2008 09:00:35 -0700

I'm a hand cream junkie, so it is with great pleasure and conviction that I present my top five favorites to you. Over the past year, I've tested many a cream in search of my favorite, and I have two. The first is June Jacobs Green Tea and Cucumber Hand Cream ($46) because of its quick rate of absorbency, non-greasy feeling and soothing scent.

The second is L'Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream ($25) because of its rich, thick texture and unparalleled soothing results. If there's one thing I've learned from my experiences, it's that the key to a good hand cream is shea butter, and the higher the content, the better. Below are three runners-up that I use regularly to soothe dry, chapped hands. What's your all-time favorite hand cream?

Kiehl's Unusually Rich - But Not Greasy At All - Hand Cream with SPF 10 ($15.50) takes the cake when it comes to consistency since it's not too thick and not too runny. It's also not greasy whatsoever and it's a great sports cream since it contains SPF 10.
Liz Earle Hand Repair ($28.50) smells like heaven and works wonders on dry cuticles. A little goes a long way, and there's also a travel tube available for $8.
Yu-Be Cream ($15) is a high quality Japanese yellow-tinted hand cream that moisturizes on a healing level. I highly recommend this fast-absorbing lotion - if you can handle the strong camphor scent.

Fantastic Firming Creams, Part III: Eyes

BellaSugar — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 16:00:15 -0800

Eyes are the windows to your soul, and they are also the first tell-tale sign of your age. Firming eye products are believed to tighten the skin around your orbital area to help smooth away the appearance of fine lines. They are generally light in texture and should be applied by tapping your ring finger in a figure-eight pattern. Here are three irritant-free firming eye products for sensitive eyes.

June Jacobs Firming Eye Repair ($64) is suitable for all skin types. It lifts, tightens, moisturizes reduces puffiness and minimizes the look of crow's feet. You'll instantly feel a cool and invigorating rush - and it happens to smell really good because it's made from a mixture of botanicals, and fruit and flower extracts.

For two more fab firming eye products, read more.

Korres Eyebright Firming Eye Cream ($38.50) is a delicate Grecian eye cream made with wheat proteins to firm the skin. It also contains argan oil to hydrate skin while reducing puffiness. All you need is a tiny bit of cream (it's made with oils so it spreads easily) and within two weeks you'll start to see results.

I received a sample of this DermaNew Firming Eye Cream ($30) after a facial a few months ago. It's especially great for sensitive and dry skin. It has more of a clinical smell than a botanical-spa-product scent, but it's nothing bad or off-putting. Not only does it firm the skin around your eyes, but it also helps to reduce dark circles (not so much de-puff, FYI). It also claims that it is clinically proven to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines by up to 68 percent.

Valentine's Day Beauty, Part III: Alluring Fragrances

BellaSugar — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 10:00:22 -0800

Welcome to my third installation of Valentine's Day beauty products. Not only is it important to have the perfect pout and sultry bedroom eyes on February 14th, but it's also important to smell good. According to research, men associate the smell of vanilla and cinnamon with love. These scents actually rev up his pheromones, which increases his level of attraction to you. So, if you're looking to pull out all the stops to get your guy, here are three romantic fragrances to help do the trick.

L de Lolita Lempicka ($65) is the second fragrance from the designer. I've smelled a sample of this and it's got a musky, foody sensation that I find quite warm and inviting. Plus, the bottle is a stunning deep sea green adorned with a gold net. The fragrance is made from a blend of orange, cinnamon, vanilla, woods, musk and everlasting flower. Sounds like this is a home run scent for Valentine's Day!

For two Valentine's Day fragrances, read more.

June Jacobs Better Love ($90) is a brand new scent made from cinnamon, bergamot, cedar, incense, jasmine petals, vetiver, clove, sandalwood, benzoin and tonka bean. Although I haven't tried it, a friend of mine has and highly recommends it. She describes it as romantic, memorable and smooth. With its combination of woods, florals and spices, this is something I definitely don't want to miss out on.

Korres Vanilla Cinnamon Body Water ($18) is a stimulating sensory experience. Made of perfume and toners this is a body mist that smells great and also moisturizes the skin. It also contains a touch of woods to balance out the sweetness with a little bit of earth. I like that it's not overly expensive and that your skin is left feeling really smooth. This is a great product if you want a fragrance and moisturizer all in one.

Product Review: June Jacobs Green Tea and Cucumber Hand Treatment

BellaSugar — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 07:00:02 -0700

By now, I am sure you've figured out that I am a little bit sensitive to products with strong smells. So putting on a fragrant hand cream was never really up my alley-until now. For funsies, I decided to try out this June Jacobs Green Tea and Cucumber Revitalizing Hand Treatment ($46) because of its surprisingly light scent.

I was expecting something much heavier but in actuality it's very refreshing. In addition, the texture is unlike anything I've ever experienced. It's ridiculously thick and creamy, so all you really need is a little bit to cover both of your hands. It spreads evenly, absorbs quickly and penetrates deeply.

And I've come to find that if you rub a little bit extra into your cuticles, most of the puffiness and redness (caused by picking or trimming) diminishes overnight.

I am hopelessly in love with this product. In fact, it's sitting next to my computer so I can have easy access to it all day. (Hey, I never said I wasn't an extremist!) The only slight issue I have is with the packaging. It's kind of dull and boring, and I really wish they made this in a tube form. When your hands are slippery, it makes getting the cap of the jar back on a real challenge!

Bella Brand: June Jacobs Spa Collection

BellaSugar — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 08:00:14 -0700

I have just learned about a really great line of recently-launched bath and body products called June Jacobs Spa Collection. And to my surprise, June (who has been working in skin care for 20+ years) is also the co-founder of Peter Thomas Roth. Since she has been unable to find any really fantastic and innovative spa quality products in the marketplace, she decided to gather her development team and create the June Jacobs Spa Collection.

The line features more than 70 products, which suit the needs of most skin types and skin conditions. The handmade products incorporate botanicals and plant extracts from around the globe. The goal of the products is to soothe, calm and restore the skin, getting spa-like results in the privacy of your own home! I am very eager to try these goodies. Once I do, I'll report back to you-I hope you'll do the same!

Product Review: Kiehl's Unusually Rich - But Not Greasy At All - Hand Cream with SPF 10

BellaSugar — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 07:01:21 -0700

The verdict is in on this fairly oldie but goodie Unusually Rich - But Not Greasy At All - Hand Cream with SPF 10 from Kiehl's ($15.50). I've been testing it for about a month now, and I gave the rest of the tube to a friend who took it to work so that his cronies can get involved in the testing too.

Just as I suspected, the hand cream is a home run. It's the perfect consistency - not to thick and not too runny. It has a light, subtle and pleasant fragrance that offers sweet relief to dry hands and cuticles without leaving any oily residue.

I really like the flip-top packaging too, since there's nothing worse than having to fumble to twist a cap back on after your hands have been slathered in slippery lotion.

This unusually rich hand cream is actually much lighter than my other favorite, June Jacobs Green Tea and Cucumber Hand Treatment , so I love switching off between the two different consistencies.

Also, it contains SPF 10 which is great for days when I'm outdoors. Let me know if you have the chance to try it out yourself . Since Kiehl's is so fabulous about giving away free samples, this is something I definitely encourage you to try!

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

Treat Your Feet!

BellaSugar — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 14:00:51 -0700

In the summertime heat your feet take a serious beating pounding the pavement every day. The temperature makes them swell, and shoes that were once the right size, now feel constricting. At the end of the day, treat your tootsies to a soothing, calming and cooling refreshment. Here are three super-rich foot creams to help heal your tired heels.

Bliss Foot Patrol ($26) is a silky cream that contains a blend of peppermint and salicylic acid to help soften, exfoliate and soothe even the roughest and most calloused areas of your feet. Apply liberally morning and night for best results.

For two more foot treatments, read more

June Jacobs Tea Treat Foot Rescue ($48) is a therapeutic cream made from tea tree oil (to cool) and capsicum (for improved circulation). Suddenly your stiff feet will feel refreshed and relaxed. With continued use, it will also soften foot skin and toe cuticles.

Savannah Bee Orange Mint Overnight Foot Treatment ($12) is a four-ounce jar of an environmentally conscious cream that leaves feet feeling supple, revitalized and smelling fresh. Simply slather it on and then slip on a pair of socks and sleep peacefully while your feet soften overnight. This product is currently sold out, but is expected to be back in stock over the next two weeks.