BellaSugar

Protect Yourself Before You Wreck Yourself - With Cheap Sunblock!

BellaTV — Thu, 06 May 2010 22:20:56 PDT

Using SPF is a no brainer, but before you splurge on that expensive sunblock, consider buying drugstore brands as well. Annie shares insider information in this video on why it's just as important to use cheap sunblock on a daily basis. This is a summer tip-off you won’t want to miss!

How Much Did These Beauty Products Used to Cost?

BellaSugar — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 08:00:00 PDT

In the mid-1970s, the average cost of gasoline was about 60 cents per gallon, and stamps cost just 13 cents each. Flash forward a little over 30 years later and thanks to inflation, gasoline now hovers around $3 per gallon, and stamps are up to 44 cents apiece. But that's not all that has changed. The price of beauty products has risen with the times, too. Are you sensing where I'm going with this? I'll give you the product and the date, and you see if you can guess how much said item used to cost back in the day. And be sure to take my first vintage prices quiz, too.

Take the Quiz

Seven C-Section Scar Healers

LilSugar — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 06:00:01 PDT

Doctors may stitch and staple postpartum mothers up on the operating table, but once they get home the physical results of a c-section are a battle scar women carry for the rest of their lives. After the pain and numbness surrounding the scar fade, many ladies seek lotions and salves to help dissolve the little red line into oblivion. While no one potion is guaranteed to rid you of your scar, many have loyal followings. Check them out!

How-To: Instant Shimmer Lotion

BellaSugar — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 11:59:35 PDT

So let's say you are clumsy - not that I'd know anything about that. (Nope, not at all.) Perhaps you've knocked an eye shadow over and it's all crumbly. While you may be able to repair it with these instructions, you could always keep it on hand to create a shimmery lotion. Just take a tiny pinch of eye shadow - obviously, it's best if it's a champagne, bronze, or pink shade - and mix it into a few dollops of plain body lotion. Spread it on your shoulders, collarbone, and shins to create a light-capturing glow quickly and inexpensively. Easy!

Source

Why You Don't Necessarily Need to Feel Bad About Your Neck

BellaSugar — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 10:08:41 PDT

Remember Nora Ephron, the screenwriter of When Harry Met Sally...? Lately, it seems like all she wants to talk about is how she feels bad about her aging neck. "The neck is a dead giveaway," she writes. "Our faces are lies and our necks are the truth. You have to cut open a redwood tree to see how old it is, but you wouldn't have to do that if it had a neck."

Maybe so, but your neck doesn't have to be any less gorgeous and healthy than your face. The key to avoiding "turkey neck" in your golden years is to stop it before it starts, and fortunately, doing so is easy. Wear sunscreen every day (even on cloudy days and in winter). When you apply your moisturizer each morning, cover your entire face, then apply lotion on your neck and decolletage, too. With vigilant use, the book you write in your 60s will be I Feel Great About My Neck. As for writing hit romantic comedies, well, you're on your own with that.

New Product Alert: C.O. Bigelow Mentha Body Collection

BellaSugar — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 12:27:35 PDT

One of C.O. Bigelow's most popular products is its Mentha Lip Shine (and since Fab is a fan, you know it's good stuff). This week, the apothecary is introducing Mentha Body, a collection of mint-infused soaps, creams and lotions. I got a sneak peek at the products and I like them quite a bit. The fresh, invigorating scent is reminiscent of a candy cane, but it's not so overwhelming that you'll walk around smelling like one of Santa's little helpers. For a rundown of my favorite products, and to find out why guys will like them too,

I tried a few items from this line, and I would recommend them for anyone who likes to "wake up" in the shower rather than wind down. My favorite was the exfoliating soap ($7.50), a bar soap with crushed walnut shells to exfoliate dead skin. (If you're not a fan of bar soaps, you might like the Smoothing Body Buffer ($14), which uses sugar crystals to slough away flakes and dull skin.) I also liked Vitamin Body Lotion ($14). It's a good moisturizer for average skin; I keep it at my desk so I can keep my paws soft throughout the day. And then there's the Vitamin Body Wash. I had mixed feelings on this one. The scent is wonderful and it's a big pick-me-up when I'm sleepily showering in the morning. But, like so many minty products, you really don't want to use this stuff on the, er, sensitive body parts. So just be careful with it around your nether regions.

Overall, the Mentha Body line is great to stock in the shower-especially if you live with a guy roommate, a boyfriend or a husband. The fragrance is minty, and in my completely unscientific test, it pleases the male beast. After I quietly put this in the shower, a freshly washed Mr. Bella specifically mentioned that he liked the body wash. The body wash is launching with a special promotional price of $5, which is reasonable, so why not give it a whirl?

10 Toxic Cosmetic Ingredients to Avoid

FitSugar — Thu, 12 Apr 2007 03:00:00 PDT

What you put on your body is just as important as what you put in it. Your skin is the largest organ in your body, and it absorbs everything including toxins. If you are concerned about not eating unhealthy foods like trans fat, then you'll definitely want to know which synthetic ingredients you should watch out for in the products you use.

Methyl, Propyl, Butyl and Ethyl Parabens: Used as a preservative to inhibit microbial growth and extend shelf life. Unfortunately, it can cause allergic reactions and skin rashes. Preliminary research found parabens in human breast cancer tumors.
Diethanolamine (DEA), Triethanolamine (TEA): These are used as foaming agents, but can cause allergic reactions, eye irritation, and dryness of the hair and skin. DEA and TEA are toxic if absorbed into the body over a long period of time, and are associated with cancer in lab animals.
Diazolidinyl Urea, Imidazolidinyl Urea: Often used as preservatives, the American Academy of Dermatology has found these chemicals to be a primary cause of contact dermatitis (irritation caused by foreign substance). Both these chemicals release formaldehyde, which can be toxic.
Sodium Lauryl/Laureth Sulfate: This is a cheap, harsh detergent used in many shampoos for its ability to cleanse and foam. Often derived from petroleum, it causes eye irritation, dry scalp, skin rashes and other allergic reactions. Be on the lookout for pseudo-natural products that list this ingredient with the phrase "comes from coconuts" - it's still bad for you.
Petrolatum: Also known as petroleum jelly, this is a mineral oil derivative that can clog your pores. This in turn disrupts your body's natural ability to moisturize its own skin, leading to dryness and chapping. Manufacturers use it because it's really inexpensive.

Want to know what else you should avoid? Then

Propylene Glycol: Ideally this is a vegetable glycerin mixed with grain alcohol, both of which are natural, but it's usually made from synthetic chemicals. It has been known to cause hives and eczema. Beware of related chemicals labeled PEG and PPG.
PVP/VA Copolymer: A petroleum-derived chemical that's used in hair styling products and some cosmetics. Considered toxic since if inhaled, it can damage the lungs.
Stearalkonium Chloride: This toxic chemical was designed by the fabric industry for use as a fabric softener. Companies use it in hair conditioners and lotions because it's much cheaper than natural conditioning ingredients such as proteins.
Synthetic Colors: Labeled as FD&C or D&C and followed by a number, these make products look pretty but can be carcinogenic.
Synthetic Fragrances: Labeled simply as "fragrance," there's no way to tell what chemicals are actually in the product. People can get headaches, dizziness, rashes, and respiratory problems from them. People may also experience hyper-pigmentation, which means this chemical may cause brown spots to form on your skin.

Fit's Tips: Before buying beauty products, check the ingredients list. These ingredients can be found in make-up, lotions, shampoos, conditioners, perfumes, baby care products, sunscreens, toothpastes, nail products, and deodorants. If you're looking for a good brand that doesn't contain these nasty ingredients, check out Aubrey Organics.

Aubrey Organics is 100% Natural

FitSugar — Tue, 10 Apr 2007 14:30:00 PDT

I'm sure when you're in your favorite health food store, you've perused through the beauty section once or twice. Have you seen products made by Aubrey Organics? Chances are high you have since they have been making hair, skin and body care products for over 40 years.

Aubrey Organics products are 100% natural, and were the first certified organic processor. I love that these body care products are environmentally friendly, completely biodegradable, and their bottles are recyclable.

All Aubrey Organics products are completely natural, made with herbs, essential oils, and natural vitamins. No synthetic chemicals of any kind are ever used in any of their formulas.

They use liquid coconut oil in their soaps and shampoos, and coconut fatty acids and essential fatty acids in their creams and lotions, and a natural preservative of citrus seed and vitamins A, C and E. All of their formulas are still made by Aubrey Hampton (the creator), and hand-crafted in small batches in their Tampa, FL, manufacturing plant.

Aubrey Organics makes over 140 different all natural products for the hair and skin. From soaps, to hair color, to makeup, and even beauty products for your pets! Fab also clued me in to Aubrey's Organic perfumes. They're made from 100% essential oils.

Fit's Tips: You can order Aubrey Organics online, but if you're like me, you like to see and smell products before you buy them. In that case, you can look for a store near you that sells them.

What is Lanolin?

FitSugar — Tue, 13 Mar 2007 12:00:00 PDT

Lanolin..I've seen it listed as an ingredient on many a bottle of lotion. That got me wondering what exactly it is and where does it come from? Well, I learned that lanolin is a fatty, yellowish substance that comes from the wool of sheep. It is excreted by the sebaceous glands on their skin, and acts as waterproofing so they don't get cold. You might also hear it called wool fat, wool wax, or wool grease. I prefer to call it lanolin - it just sounds classier.

Sheep are not harmed in the process of "harvesting" (for lack of a better word) lanolin. When sheep farmers sheer their sheep to get the wool (about once a year), they then extract the greasy Vaseline-like lanolin from the sheared wool before they wash it. Sheering the wool doesn't hurt the sheep, it's basically like getting a haircut.

Lanolin can be found in soaps, cosmetics, ointments, creams, as a lubricant, and in finishing and preserving leather. Surprisingly it is also an ingredient in some varnishes and paints.

Although lanolin is natural, many people have allergic reactions to it. It can also clog your skin's pores and may cause you to break out.

Fit's Tips: If you've used products with lanolin, and haven't had any bad reactions, it's fine to keep using them because lanolin is a completely natural ingredient.

The Ultimate Dry-Skin Solution

FabSugar — Wed, 25 Oct 2006 17:17:41 PDT

As a beauty-products junkie, I'm constantly sampling new make-up, lotions, and hair products to write about here. But I'd be remiss if I didn't tell you about the first "beauty" product I ever used: Eucerin Dry Skin Therapy Original Moisturizing Cream. I first tried this heavy-duty lotion when I was about 4 years old, and I've applied it nearly every day of my life since then.

This thick, creamy lotion is hands-down the best treatment I've found for severe dry skin, particularly in the harsh winter months. You know when your skin gets super-dry in cold weather and you feel like you're applying hand lotion every five minutes? That won't happen with Eucerin. Yes, it's got a consistency that's sort of like Crisco, and it's so thick you have to rub it in with all of your strength, but it can fight off even the driest skin and keep you moisturized all day. Seriously, I've tried other treatments over the years, but I just keep coming back to Eucerin. You can buy a 16-ounce jar for $11.99 here