BellaSugar

Definition: Lavender

BellaSugar — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 10:00:22 -0700

The color lavender is a pale shade of purple, however the Lavender plant has leaves, seeds, flowers and a rich scent which is often used in foods, medicines and dyes. Its name is derived from the Latin root, "lavare" (to wash) since the Romans used to add lavender to their baths.

Lavender has many uses. Not only is it part of Herbes de Provence and can be added to both sweet and savory cuisines (it's actually part of the mint family), but it can also be dried and made into sachets and potpourri.

In the beauty world, lavender oil is used frequently because of its calming, soothing and antiseptic qualities. It can be found in shampoos, soaps, bath and body products, fragrances and cosmetics. Do you have a favorite lavender scented product?

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You Can Look Pretty in Purple Shadow, Too

BellaSugar — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:00:22 -0800

Emma Stone sure knows how to glam it up, doesn't she? At last night's GQ Men of the Year event in LA, the actress wowed in this subtle lavender shadow. Encircling the eyes with makeup can look raccoon-like, but Emma manages to pull it off, thanks to a light touch and a soft-toned shade. The great thing about this cooler-toned shade is that it looks great during all seasons, and it just happens to be very of-the-moment. You can look pretty in purple shadow, too. To get some tips on wearing it without looking Grimace-y, just keep reading.

Fragrance Review: Jil by Jil Sander

BellaSugar — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 08:00:11 -0800

You might know Jil Sander as a German designer with a minimalistic style, and that's exactly the kind aesthetic you'll get with her new fragrance, Jil ($58-$70), a floral amber that just launched last week. The scent, which has powdery characteristics, contains top notes of pink pepper and tangerine for a bit of brightness, with lavender mellowing it out. At the heart is where you get most of the action, with lily of the valley bringing a hint of sweetness, orris lending an earthiness, and heliotrope providing a musky quality. To round it off, musk, vanilla, and ambergris make for a slightly exotic, sensual finish. To find out what I thought about the fragrance, just keep reading.

How-To: Banish Those Pesky Post-Waxing Eyebrow Bumps

BellaSugar — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 08:00:00 -0700

Yesterday, Yum came to me with a dilemma. She had her brows waxed over the weekend, and much to her dismay, was left with reddish bumps as a result. She had done nothing different than usual, taken any medications out of the ordinary, or even gone to a new waxing lady, but still ended up with itchy, irritated skin. To find out my tips on helping Yum get her brows back to normal, just keep reading

How to Choose Eyeglasses by Your Eye Color

BellaSugar — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 08:00:08 -0700

There are many factors that go into choosing the right eyeglass frames. You can look to your face shape, skin tone, hair color, and of course - personality. Like I've said before, there is no magic formula. But if you're looking for some help in choosing your frames, you've come to the right place. Much like there are eye palettes to enhance your eye color, you could try employing the same technique with your glasses, choosing either a complementary or coordinating color to make your lovely eyes stand out even more. It's a fun option, considering you can always keep the old standard black, tortoise, or wire frames as well. To see some suggestions, with help from LensCrafters, just keep reading.

Jemma Kidd Has Easy Eye Makeup Basics

BellaSugar — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 10:00:18 -0700

When it comes to applying your makeup, what area do you find to be the trickiest? If you're like me, it's all about the eye area. While I love trying trendy shades and techniques, sometimes I just want a quick and easy routine. And since I can never get enough eye makeup tips, when I came across five suggestions from makeup artist Jemma Kidd on going back to the basics with your eye makeup application, I took notice. To find out her easy-to-follow tips, read more.

DIY Spa Treatment: A Lovely Lavender Liquid Body Wash

BellaSugar — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 08:00:11 -0700

For all of you who have really enjoyed my at-home beauty recipes, I really think you'll love this easy to make scented body wash. Not only is it a fraction of the cost of most store-bought products, but it's something special that you can share with house guests - you wouldn't offer them your used soap bar, would you? Here's what you'll need to create this luscious liquid body soap:

One bottle of unscented shampoo

1 tsp xanthan gum (optional)

15 drops of lavender essential oil

5 drops of peppermint essential oil

5 drops of rosemary essential oil

5 drops of tea tree oil

For three fool-proof directions, read more.

Step 1: Take a large, glass mixing bowl and pour in one and a half cups of shampoo. It doesn't need to be expensive, it just needs to be unscented.
Step 2: If you're someone who likes your body wash to be extra thick, add in a thickening ingredient such as Xanthan gum and mix well.
Step 3: Next, add in all 30 drops of essential oils to the bowl and blend well. Feel free to choose whatever oils you like best. I like this effervescent combination for the shower because the lavender is calming, the tea tree oil works as an antibacterial (and it smells great), and the peppermint and rosemary are invigorating.

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Reader Review of the Day: Almay Pure Blends Makeup

BellaSugar — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 10:00:58 -0700

Almay Pure Blends Makeup ($12) is part of Almay's recently launched eco-friendly line. I'm usually a little bit cautious about drugstore stuff that says it's "natural," especially when it comes to skin care, because it sometimes means essential oils that irritate my skin, but reader longhornlass04 has had a great experience with this one. She says:

"I actually bought this on clearance, because I think they just updated the packaging. I'm big on spending very little on foundation if I've never tried it before. I got nervous when I first put it on, because I sometimes have a reaction to lavender, and the smell is lavender-heavy. However, my skin didn't flare up and it left it even-toned. After a week or so of using it, I noticed my pores began to look smaller. Wasn't expecting that. It's also very dewy, which I love on my combination skin. I just brush a little mineral powder on my t-zone and it's pitch perfect."

Found a foundation you adore? Or in the market for a new one and need the lowdown on what's hot? Pop over to the Product Reviews pages, where there are over 50,000 products for review, and a whole lot of info from other readers who've tried just about everything out there.

Four Trends for Fall That You Won't Want To Miss

BellaSugar — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 13:00:58 -0700

What's your favorite part about a change of season? Is it the variance in temperature from warm-weathered days to cooler, crisper afternoons? Perhaps it's the release of a new fashion accessory that gets you going. For me, it's all of the above. Plus, I really look forward to what products, colors, and application techniques will be released by the various makeup companies. Recently, I talked with makeup artist Brett Freedman, on that very topic. Will we be seeing black lip gloss again? To find out what did make his list of hot items, just keep reading.

Link Time!

BellaSugar — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 07:00:32 -0700

Lavender oil might not be so great for you - Future Derm
Hard Candy is coming back . . . to Wal-Mart - Temptalia
The top five worst skin mistakes - Beauty Snob
Amusingly bad hairstyles - Lemondrop
Try mod makeup, snare your own Paul Weller - Stylelist
Primer plus powder equals cream blush - Makeup and Beauty Blog
Which beauty brands raked in the most cash last year? - FabSugar UK
Is Kat Von D an idea thief? - The Beauty of Life