BellaSugar

New Product Alert: Benefit Lust Dust Shimmer Dusters

BellaSugar — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 13:00:56 -0700

It was only a matter of time before Benefit expanded its line of loose shimmer powders. First came the highly pigmented, bright Show Offs! eye shadows. And now, there's a line of sheer, shimmery powders for the eyes and face called Lust Dusters ($18).

The colors blend well, they are definitely shimmery and it's nice that you can use them as highlighters to your cheeks, nose, and décolletage. But let's just say that once you've seen one, you've seem them all. I hate to be like this, because I usually love all things Benefit, but I've asked around the office for additional opinions, and it's unanimous that unfortunately, they are no great shakes.

I do, however, love the cute names like Snow Bunny, Boom Boom, and Go Go Girl. They come in 10 colors (Big Daddy, a shimmery peachy-rust color is missing from the list online, but apparently that oversight is being fixed). If you really must have them (I know the feeling) then try using them over their Creaseless Cream Shadows for extra impact and let me know what you think.

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Product Review: Scott Barnes Eye Ice

BellaSugar — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 06:00:22 -0800

Last week I told you about some of Scott Barnes' best bronzing products and this week I've been playing around with the jewel-toned, loose-powder eye shadow shades from the new Royals Eye Ice Collection. In particular, I've fallen hard for Empress, a deep aubergine and Imperial Gold, a medium gold.

When it comes to loose shadows, I'm used to saying that all you need is a little bit, but what I like about these is that you can really pile on the color for a deep and rich effect, or keep it light for a more subtle look. Unfortunately, this means that you need some extra time to apply and blend the shadows properly, but the results are worth it. And since the colors are soft at first, they can easily take you from day to night.

All of the shades are shimmery, buildable, and very wearable and the texture is also noteworthy. I rubbed them between my fingers to find a silky smooth powder - no wonder they blend so well. Also, I adore the packaging. It's cute how they come in square bottles to resemble ice cubes. For those of you looking for a more neutral shade, an older color I also love is sandstone; a pinky champagne reminiscent of Stila's bestselling kitten. When I have a little extra time to primp, eye ices are worth the effort. For the details on each of the five new shades, read more.

Empress: a rich and deep purple
Majesty: a silvery, chrome grey
Imperial Gold: a medium bodied gold
Serpentinea taupey-bronzey-beige
Versailles: an opalescent white diamond glitter

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

Go For the Gold, Part II: Eye Shadow

BellaSugar — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 14:00:59 -0800

Welcome back to my five-part series on gold makeup. There are so many different gold eye shadows on the market right now that I found it challenging to come up with my three favorites. If you have any gorgeous and glimmery gold-metallic shadows that you especially love, please leave a comment with your recommendation below.

Bare Escentuals bareMinerals Glimmer in True Gold ($13) is a very sheer, almost translucent shimmer shadow that works to create a hint of subtle sparkle to your eyes. It's similar to gold dust in that it can also be worn on your décolletage and cheeks, but this also has a special quality because it can transform from wet to dry for a more dramatic effect.

For two more shimmery gold eye shadows, read more.

Glam Rocks by Lorac in Metallic Gold ($16) is a loose-powder shadow that is packed with richly-pigmented, sparkly color. This is the opposite of subtle, so go easy at first because it tends to spread. The good news is that it lasts really long. I also love this salt shaker–like packaging, which makes it easy and fun to sprinkle!

Too Faced Shimmer Veils in Angel Hair ($18.50) is a golden copper with gold-glitter shadow that provides crease-proof, medium coverage. It comes with a built-in wand for easy application and creates a super-shimmery, almost shiny look on your lids.

New Product Alert: Overshadow by The Balm

BellaSugar — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 07:02:13 -0700

Overshadow ($14) is a new series of amazing loose powder eye shadows from The Balm. This is the company's first 100% pure mineral product which is proudly free of talcs, preservatives, oils and fragrances - perfect for you guys with sensitive eyes!

Marissa Shipman, owner of The Balm, wanted to give a basic product like eye shadow an edge so that her clientele feels fresh for each new season. To stay in touch with all of the latest trends, Overshadow plans to release a new collection each season! Would you really expect anything less from this fabulous brand?

The first collection for fall is called The Sexpot Series and is themed around a sultry, smoky eye. To find out more, read more

To use The Sexpot Series, gently dip an eye shadow brush into the shadow and tap off the excess. Apply to your entire lid or your crease and blend well. The color is buildable, so always start off light and throw it in your purse for an easy transformation into night! The Sexpot Series shades include:

Work is Overrated – Pink Champagne
No Money, No Honey – Gold
You Buy, I’ll Fly – Copper
If You’re Rich, I’m Single – Mauve/Pewter

Mega-Hot Metallic Loose Powder Eye Shadows

BellaSugar — Thu, 31 May 2007 07:33:03 -0700

Loose powder metallic eye shadows are amazing and easy-to-apply bursts of color. Shimmery shades for eyes are very trendy right now, and these loose shadows are great for gals on the go.

You apply these shadows the same way you would loose face powder: Just shake some powder into the cap and dip your shadow brush in. You can use the shimmer on your eyes and to brighten your whole face. But use sparingly: Loose shadows spread easily, so just a touch will do the trick. Here are two of the latest loose powder metallic eye shadows for Summer.

Glam Rocks by Lorac ($16) are sparkly and sassy loose powder shadows packed in a small container that looks like a salt shaker. These easily blendable colors glide on smoothly and last a long time, so you can party the night away without worry. Glam Rock come in three shades: Metallic Copper, Metallic Pearl, and Metallic Gold.

For one more metallic loose powder eyeshadow, read more

La Poudre Aux Yeux by Lancome ($18.50) add just a touch of brilliance to your eyes. They are formulated with a highly saturated and intense shimmer pigment that can also be used to highlight your cheekbones or collarbone for some sexy sparkle! They are available in two colors: Golden Sunrise and Pink Seduction.

Loosen Up! New Loose Powder Eye Shadows, Part II

BellaSugar — Mon, 12 Mar 2007 09:32:53 -0700

Welcome to Part II of Loosen Up! New Loose Powder Eye Shadows. These shadows are perfect for Spring. They are high in pigment so a little goes a long way and they come in playful, bright colors to add some pizazz to your usual eye routine. I can't wait to hear your reviews!

ColoreScience Genie Sparkle/Matte Colore , $17.50, is a color you can use as a shadow, liner or highlighter. You can put it in your hair, your brows, on your cheeks or on your lips; just use your discretion based on the color.

The shadows (as well as all ColoreScience products) are: talc, oil, alcohol, dye, binder, filler and preservative free! They have SPF protection in them too and are great for sensitive skin. What I really love about them is that they are super sheer so that they really just enhance your essence as opposed to making you look overdone.

Use Genie Colore wet as a liquid liner or dry for a powder shadow or a brow accent. Just tap the color into a tissue or the back of your hand and apply!

To see two more loose powder eye shadows, read more

All Over Shimmer Eyes by Stila, $14, is a super soft, sparkly metallic shadow. It is made from an ultra light, pearlized formula that glides on easily and stays on for the long haul. They come packaged in a small shaker top jar and are available in four colors.

Loose Powder Eye Shadow by Bourjois, $16, is a professional quality powder shadow that results in an intense and glamorous look. The shadows come packaged in a cute little pot accompanied by their very own brush. The pot is designed to dispense just the right amount of color for each application. Available in 13 colors.

Loosen Up! New Loose Powder Eye Shadows

BellaSugar — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 09:29:24 -0800

Here are a few fun loose powder eye shadows for Spring. Theses shadows are high in pigment so a little bit goes a long, long way. They come in playful, bright colors to add some pizazz to your usual eye routine. Have fun with these new products, I can't wait to hear your reviews!

Hydro-Powder Eye Shadow by Shiseido, $23, are nine new intense and dewy shadows. They are actually a cream that transforms into a powder to create a shiny, shimmery shade. They are super long wearing and because of the technology that turns them into powder, they won't crease!

To see a drugstore brand, read more

L’Oreal HIP Shocking Shadow Pigments, $7, are brand new. They are not sold online just yet, but you can buy any of the six colors at drugstores and mass-markets wherever L'Oreal is sold. It comes with a professional brush as well as a built in sifter to release just the right amount of color. You can wear these colors alone or layer them to create a shade of your own.

What A Pair: Cream and Powder Eye Shadow Duos

BellaSugar — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 10:00:09 -0700

Usually eye shadows come in palettes that have either a powder or cream consistency, so it's rare when you find a few dynamite duos that contain one of each. Here are three amazing cream and powder eye shadow pairs that I think you'll love as much as I do.

A few days ago I promised you more info on the Laura Mercier Eye Colour Pot ($32) from the Gold Digger collection (which totally looks like the Senna Cosmetics Mineral Mix Blush & Tint). The top of the container houses a cream eye shadow and the bottom holds the loose powder shadow. The colors can be blended together (cream color is typically applied first) for an intensified eye, or worn separately. It comes in bronzed gold, solid gold, and white gold.

DuWop Smoke ($28) is a dual cream and powder eye shadow palette that makes creating smoky eyes a cinch. I have olive branch and plum wine and I use them all the time, day or night. All you have to do is swipe the cream shadow over your lid in the area between your top lashes and your crease and then add the powder shadow on top to set it. The compact comes with two mini-brushes and is available in four shades.

For one other cream and powder eye shadow pair, read more.

Sephora Colorful Duo Eyeshadow - Cream & Powder ($16) contains two shades of eye shadows. The color comes off slightly more sheer than the DuWop or Mercier options, which makes them perfect for daytime. They are also enhanced with green tea to help detoxify and soothe your eyes and are available in ten color-coordinated options.

Valentine's Day Beauty Part II: Bedroom Eyes

BellaSugar — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 11:00:14 -0800

My, what beautiful eyes you have. Welcome back to my series on Valentine's Day beauty. This post should help you create sexy, sultry bedroom eyes for the big night. Keep in mind that if you plan to wear a bold lip, then you'll want to play down your eyes with neutral colors. But if you want your eyes to fully captivate your beau during dinner conversation, here are three great products to lock in eye contact all night long.

Beauty Addicts SolutionEYES in Seduce ($35) is four-pan shadow palette of blendable black, white and grayish-silver matte and shimmery shades to help create a sensual, smoky eye. The black shade can also double as a liner, and the white shade can be used to create a glamorous glow in the inner V area of your eyes.

For more eye makeup products perfect for Valentine's Day read more.

Bare Escentuals PussyCat Eyes ($39) is a playful way to awaken your inner sex kitten. Without having to say too much, the name of this mineral eye shadow trio and shadow brush makes me blush. The set includes three deep shades of loose-powder eye shadows in black, yellow amber, and khaki - all of which can be blended together or worn separately.

Senna Cosmetics Foxy Five Eyes ($42) is an eye shadow palette that contains four fabulous shades of velvety-soft powder shadows, a light and creamy shadow base to ensure staying power and an applicator. Senna shadows blend really well and this palette is perfect for a lady on the prowl, since it's so versatile.

How-To: Glamorous Glossy Eyes

BellaSugar — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 14:00:25 -0700

Glossy eyes are a sexy, strong, and a notice-me makeup look for evening wear, but I'll give it to you straight - creating them is definitely not for the novice. It requires maintenance throughout the night and a conscious restraint from touching your lids, because they will smudge in an instant.

Although the application isn't difficult, it takes patience. I'd even suggest that you practice once or twice before you head out in the open. Who's up for the challenge? For five step-by-step directions (c'mon, I know you can do it), read more.

STEP 1: Prep lids with a dab of foundation and set them with powder, or use a product such as Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Eye Shadow Base to create a smooth canvas that will also prevent the shadow from creasing.
STEP 2: Apply loose powder under your lids to catch any shadow that will fall during the application process (trust me, it makes removal much easier). Then, add a cream or white shadow all over your lid and follow with a black or silvery powder shadow starting right above your lash line to the crease. Try something like SolutionEYES Seduce Palette for a smoldering look.
STEP 3: Apply your eyeliner, curl your eyelashes, and add false lashes if you like. If not, just add two coats of black mascara.
STEP 4: Next, to create a lacquered look, smear the dark area of your lid with a transparent-silver or sheer-gold lip gloss. Add some more to the inner V of your eyes and underneath your eyeliner on the bottom lashes. While it's very tempting to play with the lacquer, I urge you to resist temptation and let it be, or you'll cause smudging.
STEP 5: Wipe away any fallen shadow with a clean fluffy brush and just keep buffing until it's all gone. Lastly, bring your gloss with you when you leave the house so that you can touch it up if things start to fade and look dull.

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