BellaSugar

What We're Sweet On: A Cooling Cleanser That Decongests

Jaime Richards — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 04:05:50 PST

It's an oldie, but a goodie: Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser ($25). Besides, it's actually kind of fun to use. The two-step treatment begins by washing the face with the creamy, cooling cleanser, rubbing it in with circular motions to release dirt and makeup. The second step involves polishing the skin with a muslin cloth that's included as part of the kit. Once you rinse off the cloth and check out your mug in the mirror, skin feels smoothed and softened, and looks clearer and brighter.

This rich cleanser contains cocoa butter to hydrate, hops extract to tone, and rosemary essential oil to invigorate. Eucalyptus helps to decongest clogged skin, and gives that cooling, tingly sensation. But the best part? The oddly exciting and strangely addictive moment when you see makeup melting into the cloth - including the stubborn kind of mascara that almost requires grabbing a chisel to remove.

DIY Spa Treatment: Plumping Facial Oil For Dry Skin

BellaSugar — Thu, 22 May 2008 09:00:59 PDT

When your hair suffers from chemical and environmental damage, you can help restore vitality by applying a hot oil treatment. Well, when your face becomes dry from the Winter or even from too much sun, I find that applying a facial oil is a helpful solution for replacing moisture loss and for filling in fine lines and wrinkles. I've found this terrific plumping facial oil recipe from Liz Earle that I think you'll love - the smell alone will send you over the moon! You'll need:

1 oz avocado oil

2 tsp rosehip oil

2 tsp argan oil

1 borage oil capsule

1 Vitamin E capsule

2 drops of neroli oil

3 drops of sandalwood oil

For step-by-step instructions on how to make your own facial oil,

BellaSugar's Top Five Hand Cream Picks

BellaSugar — Mon, 19 May 2008 09:00:35 PDT

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.

Product Review: Liz Earle Hand Repair

BellaSugar — Thu, 01 May 2008 10:00:34 PDT

If you haven't noticed, I have an affinity for hand creams. Every time I discover a new one, it feels like Christmas morning. I find some of them to be creamy perfection while others are far too greasy or strong-scented. Up until now, I thought I had just about experienced all of the good ones, but then I tested out Liz Earle Hand Repair.

Last week I overheard some girls talking about their beauty buys in a coffee shop and they pulled out a pump from their shopping bag. I of course immediately checked it out and fell in love with the results.

The texture is light, smooth and it penetrates those deep, dry layers of your skin without feeling the least bit oily. You only need a dime-sized amount for both hands and it works well to soften your cuticles too. The best part of all is the smell. It has that incredible spa, good-for-you aroma since it is made from a blend of essential oils, bergamot, chamomile, lavender and orange.

Prices range from $8 to $28.50 depending on the size you buy. Even a small tube should last you well over a month. As you can tell, I'm totally hooked - are you interested in testing it out?

Fantastic Firming Creams, Part V: Body

BellaSugar — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 13:00:07 PST

Welcome back to my series on firming beauty products. Today's topic is body creams. Before we go any further, you need to know that no cream can actually remove cellulite. By following a healthy lifestyle you can shrink lipids, but topical creams will only work to stimulate your skin and temporarily help smooth the appearance of cellulite. Below are three that I've tried.

Benefit Jiggle Gel ($26) is a toning, firming, and hydrating moisturizer for your hips, thighs, tummy, arms, and booty. It claims to act as an "invisible girdle." I can't attest to it being quite that effective, but the mental image definitely worked to help me feel firmer. Simply smooth it onto your body and allow it to dry. I just read that it's also recommended to help reduce swelling after long flights, so it might be good for frequent fliers.

For two more body firming creams,

read more. Liz Earle Hip and Thigh Gel ($33) is another toning and moisturizing clear gel designed especially for your hips and thighs. It's made from herbs, essential oils, and has an overriding eucalyptus scent. I like how my skin felt soft after I used it, and of course, massaging it in feels wonderful. For optimal results, apply at least once daily under your usual moisturizer.
Murad Firming Body Cream ($42.50) is a thick, smooth, and creamy body lotion made with soy, oat protein, vitamin C, and shea butter. It was designed to hydrate, tone, and smooth away visible wrinkles. While I didn't see much of a difference in the firmness of my body, it does serve as a great moisturizer.

Re-Balancing and Rejuvenating Facial Oils, Part I

BellaSugar — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 09:00:32 PST

I can understand why the thought of applying oil directly to your face might seem a little bit scary. After all, we've been told that oil-free products work best to keep your pores clear and to help keep oily skin matte. But try to strike this information from the record for a moment so that you can learn a little bit about a few non-comedogenic facial oils. These nighttime treatments are a great way to help replenish the moisture level of your skin during these dehydrating winter months.

A little while back I talked to you about Darphin's Tangerine Aromatic Care Oil. I've been using it religiously and the stuff is so amazing that I wish I could drink it! Here are a few more facial oils that are suitable for all skin types. While they are especially fab for those of you with dry skin, they won't make oily skin greasier. They work to hydrate the deeper levels of your skin with brilliant results.

Ole Henriksen Black Currant Complexion Oil ($32) helps calm red/irritated skin as well as shield skin from the drying effects of cold weather and wind. It contains vitamin E to moisturize; lemon, cypress and clary sage to energize; and tea tree oil to fight off bacteria that can lead to blemishes.

To use, cleanse and tone skin and then apply a light layer to the face and neck in the evening before bed. Massage into your skin and follow with a lotion of your choice.

For two more re-balancing and rejuvenating facial oils,

read more Liz Earle Superskin Concentrate ($68.25) is an absorbent facial oil that gets applied in the evening. It works to restore, soften and re-balance your skin as well as deeply moisturize. Make sure that you rub this in well so that none of the yellow color gets onto your pillow. Then simply breathe in to enjoy the wonderful and calming scent.
Bobbi Brown Extra Face Oil ($55) is a highly concentrated facial oil that provides intense moisture to help soothe dry, chapped or cracked skin. It is made from a blend of sesame, sweet almond, olive, jojoba, neroli, patchouli, lavender and sandalwood oils as well as Vitamin E which contains healing properties. Use in the evening and follow with a moisturizer.

The Party's Over: Skincare Detox 101

BellaSugar — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 13:00:37 PST

Last year I posted a series called wiping the slate clean, which was all about clarifying facial cleansers. This year, I thought we could talk a little more frankly about detox - detoxing our skin that is. I've been on planes, trains, and cars throughout the holiday season and let's just say that I've had a few too many late nights (New Year's Eve included) trying to make up for lost time with friends and family.

But now that the party's over, my skin's seen better days. If you're still suffering the effects of overdoing it during the holidays, here are some helpful hints from skincare expert Liz Earle to get your once radiant skin back in check. And this detox program is so easy, you can do it over the course of a weekend.

Did you know that eating a fruit-only diet for 24 hours can lead to increased energy and glowing skin and can help fight off free radicals? In particular, fruits such as blueberries, blackberries, and cabbage are high in antioxidants.
Exfoliate your skin to stimulate your circulatory and lymphatic systems. This helps to significantly reduce the toxins in your body. Each day in the shower, massage a scrub over your face and body to help rejuvenate your skin.

For three more helpful skin detox tips,

Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize! Choose any of your favorite body lotions or facial creams to help tired and dry skin rehydrate. Skin will look more supple, soft, and glowing almost immediately.
Try your best to eliminate caffeine from your diet. While it would be ideal to give it up for good, I'm just talking about for a few days to give your body and skin some time to detox. Replace your cup of joe with something like green tea, which will help cleanse and protect your liver as well as return moisture to your skin.
In combination with all of these tips make sure that you are exercising regularly. This will lead to renewed energy levels and the restoration of glowing skin.

Source

Go For the Gold, Part IV: Lips

BellaSugar — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 10:00:59 PST

Part four of my five-part series on gold makeup is all about gilded lips. Whether you apply a lipstick, a lip balm or lip gloss, gold lips are a perfect way to add a little bit of punch to your pout. Here are three lip products you won't want to miss this party season!

Liz Earle Sheer Gold Lip Shimmer ($9.75) is a barely-there lip balm that contains gold flecks to add a touch of subtle shine and shimmer to your lips. It's also deeply conditioning and moisturizing, so it protects your lips from chapping and drying during the Winter months.

For two more golden lip products,

read more KissKiss Gloss Golden Princess Lip Gloss ($26) is a limited-edition gloss that is infused with gold shimmer. This high-shine, ultra-sheer gloss glides on smoothly and looks great alone or over your favorite shade of lipstick.
Benefit 24k Sexy Gold Lipstick ($20) is a gorgeous pale, sheer-gold moisturizing lipstick that looks amazing paired with a smoky eye. Wear it alone or under any of your favorite gold lip glosses.

Bellissima! Liz Earle Superbalm

BellaSugar — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 14:00:38 PST

Liz Earle calls this product Superbalm because it comes to the rescue in a million different ways - much like Superman! This salve is a great remedy for dry cuticles, chapped lips, scaly heels, rough elbows and hands, frizzy hair, and as a barrier cream against extreme weather conditions. It is made from 100-percent pure plant oils and waxes, echinacea, vitamin E, soothing lavender, softening rose hip, and moisturizing avocado. Now you can understand where its amazing and calming aroma comes from!

Using Superbalm is easy: Just massage a little bit into your hands and spread it on your body. Be warned that a little goes a long way, so if you plan to use it on your lips, you really won't need much. Consider Superbalm your new and improved version of that jar of Vaseline that's been sitting on your bathroom shelf for ages. The formula is less greasy and even the big tub is light to tote around. Superbalm is available in a 1-oz. jar for $26.50 and in a .1-oz. mini container for $8. I can't wait to hear what you think!

Excellent Eye Brightening Creams

BellaSugar — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 06:00:38 PST

Welcome back to my second installment of brightening beauty products. Today's range of products concentrates on eye brightening creams. These light infused creams help diffuse dark circles, soften fine lines and brighten the skin around your eyes to create a more youthful appearance. They are also extremely gentle so they won't irritate your skin. With the overwhelming amount of products on the market targeted to help lighten up your tired looking eye area, I thought it might help you out if I featured a few products that I've tried and have really liked -happy shopping!

Liz Earle Daily Eye Repair ($22.50) provides a heavy dose of hydration to the delicate skin around your eyes. It is formulated with SPF 10, it reflects light and it contains vitamin E and echinacea to help treat dryness and dark under-eye circles.

And although it appears to be colorless, Eye Repair is actually quite a complementary sheer concealer for Asian skin.

For two more excellent eye brightening creams,

read more Kiehl's Line-Reducing Eye-Brightening Concentrate ($40) is a savior for those who suffer from sallow skin under the eye area, crows feet and suborbital wrinkles. It contains a high concentration (10.5%) of pure Vitamin C (fights aging) and haloxyl (combats dark circles). With continued use, your skin will look younger, tighter, brighter and more awake!
Clean & Clear Morning Glow Eye Brightening Cream ($5.99) is an eye cream that will add instant brightness to tired, dark and puffy eyes. It won't clog your pores, it won't make your skin look greasy and it also provides a hint of coverage to even out your skin tone. To use simply apply a small amount around your eye area and pat it into your skin until it's all absorbed.