BellaSugar

Cyndi Lauper and Lady Gaga Get Lippy

BellaSugar — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 09:00:52 -0800

Following in the footsteps of people such as Ru Paul, Fergie, and Mary J. Blige, Cyndi Lauper and Lady Gaga are the next faces of the MAC AIDS Fund. Founded in 1994, the fund has raised more than $150 million to support AIDS research, treatment, and prevention initiatives.

MAC plans to release two lipsticks (Viva Glam Gaga and Viva Glam Cyndi, natch) in March 2010. Every cent of sales of the $14 lipsticks will be funneled to the MAC AIDS Fund. I'll also wager that there will be events and performances galore, so if you're a fan, you're in luck. I think both Gaga and Cyndi are great choices for the campaign. Do you?

DSquared Channels Young Hollywood For Fall

BellaSugar — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 04:00:49 -0700

Based on the runway makeup from their Fall/Winter 2009 runway show, twins Dan and Dean Caten of DSquared looked to the deliberately undone appearance of young Hollywood stars like Lindsay Lohan and the Olsen sisters for inspiration. "It's kind of 'rock-on' makeup, but it's effortless and not overly done or perfect," said Dean. Known for a humorous approach to fashion, like their recent take on glamping, DSquared has been partnering up with MAC since their first show 12 seasons ago. This time around, the MAC DSquared Fall/Winter Collection is edgy, purposefully disheveled, and not meant to be taken too seriously - or as MAC says, it's Ziegfeld Follies by way of Grey Gardens with a little Girl, Interrupted. Did you catch all that? It's all about a dark, glistening eye with a neutral face and nude lips.

For more photos of the collection, along with a quick how-to, just keep reading.

Models Get Inked at Rodarte

BellaSugar — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 12:00:00 -0700

When I first saw the photos from Rodarte's runway show, I couldn't help but be immediately drawn to the swirly, geometric arm tattoos worn by the models on the runway. It was a little bit Xena: Warrior Princess and Kat Von D combined. Fab was on the fence about the clothing, inspired by California condors, but as for that well-thought-out tribalesque arm makeup, I was definitely impressed. MAC Senior Artist Chantel Miller, who designed the look, was influenced by the Māori people, an indigenous group in New Zealand. "The idea for the tattoos stemmed from [designers] Kate and Laura’s desire to celebrate makeup as art not only for the face, but also for the body in a similar way that Indian culture uses henna. They want women to look at makeup as an accessory for an outfit the way you would a bracelet or a necklace," said Miller.

View 5 Photos ›

To find out more about the tattoos, just keep reading.

Reader Review of the Day: MAC Zoom Lash Mascara

BellaSugar — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 12:00:00 -0700

What do you look for in a mascara? Is it thickening power, the ability to lengthen, or a little of both? Whatever the case, I'm sure you're also looking for smudge- and flake-free results. That's exactly what reader Soapbox found in MAC's Zoom Lash Mascara ($13):

This is my go-to mascara nowadays. I do a lot of air travel - mainly flights over six hours. I apply this in the morning, roughly six-plus hours before the flight, and it doesn't smudge or flake. And I even sleep on the plane. It gives my lashes a lot length and friends/family used to ask if I was wearing falsies. The only issue I have with this mascara is that too much gets on the brush, which causes it to clump up. So you have to brush a little off on the inside of the tube and hold it a certain way when you use it. But once you get past this, it's smooth sailing.

What products have you excited these days? What products aren't working out so well? Tell us all about them on our Product Reviews website. We love hearing what you have to say!

Get the Look: Pleasing Purples at Vena Cava

BellaSugar — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 13:00:00 -0700

Yesterday's Vena Cava show featured neutral-toned clothing, with pops of bold orange thrown in for good measure. But, it was the purple lips that had me mesmerized, and so far, it's been one of my favorite looks at 2010 Spring Fashion Week. The tone remains edgy, but completely wearable, particularly when paired with MAC Coquette Eye Shadow ($14.50), a muted grayish-taupe shade that makeup artist LLoyd Simmonds used to create this look. "The collection is inspired by the graphic wall murals of the Ndebele tribe in South Africa, with a Maude Labowski take on styling, so we created a bold, graphic lip in violet," he said. To mimic the flattering shade, Simmonds blended Pro Lipmix in white, burgundy, red, and blue to create a matte, opaque, violet lip. But, you could get a similar, simplified look by blotting MAC Lipstick in Rebel ($14).

View 5 Photos ›

Take a Peek at the Trendiest Nail Polish Collections For Fall

BellaSugar — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 10:00:00 -0700

As far as Fall nail polish trends are concerned, I foresee lots of hot pinks, mushroom tones, smoky metallics, burnt oranges, deep, intense greens, and the return of purple - but with a little less smoke and a little more attitude. As far as textures go, think mattes, creams, and brushed, velvety finishes. But, if you're a fan of the shimmer, don't fret. There's plenty of sparkle to go around. Like most makeup collections, nail polish colors take inspiration straight from the runways, and since nails are a fashion accessory, after all, many of these recently launched polish shades come straight to us from the Fall catwalks. Let's just say I'm not bored.

View Slideshow ›

Black Lips Have Another Moment, Thanks to Twilight

BellaSugar — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 14:00:06 -0700

Last year, beauty brands hoped that black lips would be big. Unless I missed out on a convention of Bauhaus fans, the sooty-kiss look wasn't an enormous success - going dark just didn't work for most women. Will this season be different? From a sales standpoint, probably so, because Twilight Beauty has a black lip gloss. (The Cullen connection alone will mean they'll sell.) The Volturi Twilight Enrapture gloss ($12) in Arsenic is a licorice-scented sheer gloss with light gold shimmer - so your lips can sparkle like a vamp.

Of course, that's not the only place black is popping up. MAC is about to release an all-noir collection that includes three black lip glosses and two black lipsticks. Already on the market: Lipstick Queen in Black Tie Optional, Shu Uemura in Black 099, and NYX lipstick in Black Onyx. Want to take a baby step into this trend? Go for sheer washes over opaque colors, and consider using these sooty shades to darken your existing lip color.

MAC Gets Artsy With Marilyn Minter This Fall

BellaSugar — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 13:15:38 -0700

MAC has long been known for its creativity, and starting Aug. 20, the line between fine artist and makeup artist will be blurred with the release of three limited-edition collections by three notable artists. Among those featured is photographer Marilyn Minter, known for her extreme closeups, love of sparkle, and knack for highlighting the imperfect features that make us human. Her collaboration with the makeup line is somewhat erotic, complete with sequined-eyed glistening touches, using the brand's glitter pigments for effect.
"I work with a professional makeup artist named Rosina Harris and she applied the makeup perfectly," said Minter. "Then I went in and messed it up – sprayed it with water and glycerin," said Minter. "I like things to be gritty. Retouched models don't look human. Every place I work commercially they airbrush everything. MAC doesn't do that. That's why I like MAC."

See more images of the collection now.

Viva Glam Lipstick Is Feminist-Approved

BellaSugar — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 09:00:16 -0700

Thankfully, it's been a long time since anybody has brought out the ol' tired belief that "real" feminists don't wear lipstick. (Makeup application: so not a litmus test for one's political beliefs.) And now, feminists are applauding efforts from a cosmetics company. At this year's Ms. Foundation For Women Gloria Awards, the MAC AIDS Fund was honored with a Corporate Philanthropy Award for its support of women and HIV/AIDS advocacy.

Through sales of Viva Glam, MAC raises $20 million per year to support people affected by HIV/AIDS. Through the fund, the National Women and AIDS Collective, a policy group for HIV-positive women, has been able to thrive. "To have a corporation like MAC that understands that you can do well by doing good is so important," Gloria Steinem said of the Ms. Foundation's partnership with the MAC AIDS Fund.

In this case, feminism and lipstick go hand-in-hand. To see a (smart, engaging) video of Steinem and MAC AIDS Fund Executive Director Nancy Mahon discussing why HIV/AIDS is a women's issue, read more.

Source

11 Top-Rated Shadows For $20 or Less

BellaSugar — Wed, 27 May 2009 10:00:22 -0700

Summer is a great time for a little shadow play. It's a great time of the year to do some experimenting with bolder color choices and shimmery finishes. I've got you covered on a simple tip for applying shadow, and I've provided the basics of choosing the right shades. So now that you're off to a good start, go forth and check out eleven of the most popularly reviewed shadows for $20 or less on the Product Reviews website. Good times. Source

View Slideshow ›