BellaSugar

Goodbye Old Friend: L'Oreal Black Cherry Lipstick

BellaSugar — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 10:59:46 -0700

After GiggleSugar read about the new Morbid Makeup trend, she looked over at me, shrugged and said, "Of course my signature L'Oreal Shine Délice Lipstick in Sheer Black Cherry has been discontinued now that deep reds, purples and maroons are officially back in style".

Poor Giggle! Although she was smart enough to stock up, she had to toss a few tubes once she realized how old they were. It stinks when your favorite product gets the kibosh, but before you go blasting Beyonce's Irreplaceable tune, I've done my best to match her L'Oreal shade with lipsticks that are still in production. I've got to get my girl giggling again! To check them out, read more

Mac Lipstick in Deep Love ($14) is a deep, warm blackened brownish, reddish matte shade of lipstick. This creamy texture lasts long and looks great paired with a chestnut-colored lip liner.

Clinique Different Lipstick in a Different Grape ($14) is a smooth comfortable feeling lipstick. It provides moderate coverage and is lightweight on your lips. It can be layered with lip gloss and liner or worn alone.

Beauty Byte: L'Oréal Considering Kate Winslet?

BellaSugar — Fri, 01 Jun 2007 13:54:45 -0700

In my opinion, Kate Winslet is one of the most beautiful and radiant women in Hollywood, so I hope this news turns out to be true. According to Women's Wear Daily, reports are circulating that L'Oréal may tap Kate Winslet as the face of one of its brands.

The Parisian beauty company is rumored to be in discussions with the actress about appearing in one of L'Oréal's advertising campaigns. A spokesperson for the company declined to comment.

Winslet has such flawless skin and great hair, it's hard to know what type of product she might end up modeling for. What do you guys think?

Source

My Makeup Routine: CocoChic

BellaSugar — Mon, 21 May 2007 05:58:17 -0700

Over in the Beauty Product Junkies group on TeamSugar, the members have been posting step-by-step breakdowns of their daily makeup routines, complete with before and after photos. What brave souls!

I absolutely love this idea, so I've asked several users if I can post their routines here. I also invite you to join the group and post your own routines. Who knows? You might just end up featured on BellaSugar too!

Today's makeup routine comes from CocoChic, who shared her tips for a simple but polished daytime look. (Her nighttime look, she admits, would be much more complicated.) To see her step-by-step routine, read more

Step #1: I start off with Cetaphil Facial Cleanser and Cetaphil Facial Moisturizer. My skin is really dry, and this is only cleanser that doesn't make my skin look like it's going to fall off my face after I wash with it.

Step #2: Ok, next, I use L'Oreal True Match Concealer (the lightest warm shade) and NYC Concealer in Light under my eyes and all of the splotchy little spots, respectively. Then I use BE SPF 15 Light 2 all over. I use Benefit's Georgia all over for a peachy glow and I use Cover Girl Soft Mink blush. Ah! Getting better!

Step #3: Next, I go to my eyes. I put the second lightest color in the Revlon Not Just Nudes palette over my whole lid and the lightest color in the inner corners a bit. I curl those lashes and use Sephora Volume Mascara in Black on top only. Then I line the bottom with the dark brown end of Rimmel Eye Twist.

Step #4: Almost done! I use a different lip gloss all of the time, so I just chose one from the pile. In this I have on Milani Glossy Tubes in Bermuda Bronze.

Here's CocoChic's before and after shot. I love how she looks finished by not overly made up by the end. Nice work!

Mascara Mania, Part III: The Best Drugstore Brands

BellaSugar — Fri, 10 Nov 2006 09:51:44 -0800

Since you guys have loved Parts I and II of my New Mascara Mania series, I've decided to bring you Mascara Mania, Part III: Drugstore Brands, in response to several reader requests for the best budget options. Here's a list of my favorites from both old and new products.

Physicians Formula F.L.A.T. Fabulously Long And Thick Mascara is the ultimate full-coverage mascara. Its customized brush has both long and short bristles to really grab hold of every lash for maximum results. It even has a handy mirror built right into the back of the shaft! Buy it here for $6.95.

How could any drugstore mascara post overlook L'Oreal's trusty line? My favorite happens to be the oldie-but-goodie,L'Oreal Voluminous Original Volume Building Mascara. This original formula really lengthens and thickens, separating each and every lash. Plus, it won't clump, flake or cake, and it also keeps your lashes soft. Buy it here for $6.99.

To see the rest read more

Maybelline Illegal Lengths Mascara gives you unbelievably long looking lashes. It goes on smoothly while separating and conditioning all of your lashes. I personally love the medium consistency of it and find that a tube lasts quite a long time. Buy it here for $5.89.

Max Factor 2000 Calorie Mascara makes lashes lush and full. When you are going for that smoky eye look, this is what you'll want to grab! It won't smudge or run, and it washes off with no problems if you use a little cleanser and water. Buy it here for $5.79.

Doing Drugstore: L'Oreal Infallible Never Fail Eyeliner

BellaSugar — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 11:00:10 -0700

As far as waterproof eyeliner goes, my current loves are the Bourbon and Zero Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On pencils ($17). But 24/7s are expensive, and they do smudge after a few hours, so I set out to find something a little less movable.

The best of the pencils I've tried so far has been L'Oreal Infallible eyeliner ($8). I tried the Black 511 shade, and although it wasn't the prettiest or most pigmented color by a long shot, the stuff sure did stay in place. Even after I washed my face before bed, it didn't move, which is impressive (if a little annoying). And I was very happy not to have little dark creases under my eyes. It's also got a built-in sharpener and a smudger, which just seems kind of tacked on. I also tried the Cinnabar shade, but I can't give it the same thumbs up because it was too light for me and the shade just made my eyes look irritated. Overall, I'd say for work or days you know you need to look nice but aren't going to be doing touch-ups, this is a good option. Have you had an experience with any of the other shades in this line? If so, what did you think?

Reader Review of the Day: L'Oreal Infallible Never Fail Makeup

BellaSugar — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 10:00:02 -0700

L'Oreal is always coming out with new products for its Infallible line, and while I'm not sure if L'Oreal Infallible Never Fail Makeup ($13) would be good for my skin type, reader ohmarie has had a great experience with it on her oily skin. She says:

"I have very oily skin, and this stuff works so well. It gives me great coverage, and I don't even need concealer. I do touch up at least once per day, but it really does last a long time. The only negative I have about this product is the container: the little spout gets clogged pretty easily, and it's a pain to try and clean. Also, you do have to work fast with this liquid, as it dries quickly. Overall, great product, great price."

Found something that works like a dream (or a nightmare)? Let everybody know by writing about it on our Product Reviews pages. There are more than 50,000 products up for review, and a ton of info on everything from Aveda to Z Bigatti.

Get the Look

Sponsor — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:00:23 -0800

No new look is complete without the ultimate accessory - gorgeous hair color that flatters your looks and expresses your personality. Discover how these Hollywood starlets get their unforgettable tresses.

View Slideshow ›

Hair Color Dos and Don'ts: Must-Have Tips For Perfect Results

Sponsor — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 10:30:01 -0700

When it comes to at-home hair color, all products are NOT created equal. Knowing what to look for can make the difference between so-so and stunning. Here are some secrets, including special tips from celebrity hair colorist and L’Oréal Paris expert Christophe Robin, for achieving beautiful, professional-looking results on your own.

DO choose a shade that complements your skin tone and eyes. “If you have fair skin and blue, green or gray eyes, your complementary shades will have ash or beige tones,” Christophe advises. “If your skin tone is golden, olive or dark and you have dark eyes, your complementary shades will have gold or red hues.” Have characteristics of both warm and cool tones? “Go with whichever is your preference.”

DO stick close to your own hair color if you want a subtle change. “If you’re not sure which shade to choose, go just 1 or 2 levels lighter or darker than your natural color,” says Christophe. “This will give you a noticeable change that’s not too dramatic and is easy to maintain.”

DO pick a product that’s specifically formulated to cover gray hair, which can resist coloring.

DO use products specifically designed to preserve your color, like Vive Pro Color Vive Shampoo and Conditioner for Color-Treated Hair.

DO choose a gentle formulation and indulge in regular deep-conditioning treatments.

DON’T be afraid to take a risk. Hair color offers a fun way to express your personality and experiment with a new style or attitude. “When a woman goes darker with her color, she’ll feel stronger,” Christophe notes. “When she goes lighter, she’ll feel more sexy and sensual.”

DON’T skimp on time. You might be tempted to cut corners to save a few minutes, but resist the urge. It’s crucial to allow the proper amount of time for each step - especially when you are going for a dramatic color change “You can’t rush hair color,” Christophe cautions.

DON’T judge a box by its cover. Although it’s a common misconception, you shouldn’t expect your hair color to turn out exactly like the model’s on the box. “Your personal result will be determined by the condition of your hair, your current hair color and the shade you’ve selected,” says Christophe.

DON’T overdo it. Coloring too often can compromise hair’s health and yield uneven results. A touch-up every four to six weeks is all that’s required to keep your shade looking fresh and vibrant.

DON’T forget the SPF. You protect your skin from the damaging effects of the sun, so why let your hair take the heat? “The sun is the number one enemy of color-treated hair,” says Christophe. Use shampoos and conditioners that contain UV filters to block damaging rays and prevent fade-out.

Reader Review of the Day: L'Oreal Hair Expertise Ever Pure Smooth Shampoo

BellaSugar — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 16:00:11 -0700

It's hard to keep up with all the "green" products on the market right now, so I haven't had the chance to try L'Oreal Hair Expertise Ever Pure Smooth Shampoo ($7). It's supposed to be gentle and sulfate-free, and although those are both good things, that doesn't mean that it's the right one for you. Reader xholdxmexunderx took it for a test-drive and wasn't terribly impressed, saying:

"I got this after dying my hair dark, and it didn't rinse out my color like most other shampoos do. However, I couldn't get pass the smell of it - a weird herbal scent - and it did not do a good job of actually cleaning the product out of my hair."

Looking for a gentle but effective shampoo? Want to tell everybody about a beauty product experience you've had recently? Hit up our Product Reviews pages, then. They're chock-a-block with info, and there are more than 50,000 products up for review.

Switch Up Your Color: Look Fabulous With a Radiant New Shade

Sponsor — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 15:00:01 -0700

Stuck in a hair-color rut? Thinking of trying a fresh shade on for size? Here are some great reasons to treat your locks to an exciting new hue.

Transform your image. New hair color lets you explore an alter ego, whether you’re looking for a dramatic change or just want to rev up your current hue. Always wanted to go platinum blond? Longing for fiery auburn locks? Think you should have been born a brunette? Now’s the time to try your dream shade.

Look 10 years younger. A hot new hair color can banish gray and take years off your looks. Make sure to pick a product that’s specifically formulated to cover gray. Superior Preference® offers fade-defying color that covers gray beautifully.

Update your style. You may keep an eye out for the latest fashion trends, but no stylish wardrobe is complete without the ultimate accessory - gorgeous hair color that flatters your looks and expresses your personality.

Go for the gloss. Nothing restores shine to lackluster locks like fresh hair color. Regularly coloring smooths hair’s surface, keeping it glossy, healthy looking, and vibrant.

Unleash your inner diva. Why settle for mousy, plain, or understated when you can be bold, vibrant, and outrageously stunning? Express your spotlight-stealing side with shades like luminous blond, rich brunette, radiant red, or warm cinnamon.