BellaSugar

Definition: Menthol

BellaSugar — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 09:00:57 -0800

The menthol found in lip gel, balm, and even soap is a crystalline alcohol derived from mint oils thus shares the odor and properties of peppermint. Application stimulates your cold-sensing nerve endings, and the cool feeling is from the activation of those senses. (If you don't believe me, put on a mentholated product outdoors on a crisp day – you'll feel other cold sensations as even colder!)

In addition to soothing dry skin, it's also a common active ingredient in topical anesthetics and anti-itch creams since it relieves pains from burns and stings. Still, some people complain that products including menthol irritate their skin. Find out a couple possible reasons when you read more.

Since menthol's part of the alcohol family, it shares skin-drying properties common with other alcohol-based products. Some people with dry skin are more affected by this dehydration and find the results to be more chapped and irritated than soothed.

Another reason is that menthol quickly penetrates the skin's layers and can easily carry other chemical compounds with it. There's a chance that it's actually one of the other ingredients in the product causing the irritation, not the menthol itself.

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A Philosophical Approach To Shine-Free Skin

BellaSugar — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 09:00:20 -0700

Brand-new from Philosophy is a range of mattifying skincare products called Never Let Them See You Shine. Each of the three items aim to cut down sebum production and reduce the look of oily skin, while leaving your face feeling refreshed. The light blue formulas have a minty, sea-inspired scent and are best suited for those with oily and acne-prone sensitive skin.

After trying everything out, I really liked the way my face reacted to the scrub the best. It's thick, but it spreads easily and the beads are smooth as opposed to feeling grainy and rough - so they don't irritate your skin. Plus, the menthol is the strongest in the scrub; after you wash it off, your face feels soft, smooth and cool.

For an up-close look at each of the products, read more.
Oil And Shine Control Cleanser ($20) gently breaks down deep-seeded dirt and grime in your pores without drying out your skin. It leaves your face feeling moisturized, clean and thanks to some added menthol, also a little bit tingly (in a good way).

Oil And Shine Control Scrub ($20) helps remove dead skin cells with the help from small blue polishing beads. To use, simply massage a little bit into your skin in small circles for one minute and then rinse with lukewarm water.

Oil And Shine Control Velvet Touch Primer ($20) is a mattifying pre-foundation, pre-powder primer that helps keep your face looking dry and oil-free all day long. It also calms, soothes and eases any redness and inflammation. It has a super-soft texture that leaves skin ultra smooth and helps reduce the look of large pores.

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Product Review: Anthony Logistics Shave Cream

BellaSugar — Wed, 28 May 2008 10:00:03 -0700

With Father's Day just three weeks away, there's no time like the present to start thinking about gifts for dear old dad. I was given a tube of Anthony Logistics Shave Cream ($16) to test out, but I thought it was a little bit silly for a gal to review such an important grooming staple for a guy. So I decided to give it to my better half to report back more accurate, male-minded findings.

He loved the fact that it was really slimy, that it spreads easily, and that you don't need very much to cover your entire face and neck. Apparently the slick and slimy quality (which kinda made me cringe) is a good thing for men; it means that the lotion connects to your face, providing a less-irritating shave. He felt that it stayed with the blade for the entire stroke, unlike other brands, which can skip and cause nicks.

The only drawback, in his opinion, was the lack of menthol. He appreciates the way menthol has a cooling and soothing aftereffect, which distracts him from the hot, burning sensation that goes along with shaving. At this price for a designer cosmetic product for men, I am definitely interested in stocking up for Dad. How about you?

DIY Spa Treatment: Peppermint Aftershave

BellaSugar — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 08:00:49 -0700

I've polled the guys in my circle of friends and they all agree that shaving creams or aftershave products that contain some kind of minty, menthol ingredient feel the best on their face. An aftershave splash is cooling, soothing, and it serves as an antiseptic against dirt and germs as the pores begin to close.

For those of you looking for a homemade Father's Day gift, this peppermint aftershave recipe (tweaked from this one) is thoughtful, inexpensive and easy to create. Just remember to go light on the mint. The goal is to create a little tingle and an overall calming effect, but if he nicks himself shaving, too much mint (or alcohol) will sting. Here's what you'll need:

1/8 cup peppermint essential oil

2 cups rubbing alcohol

1 cup witch hazel

1/8 cup lavender essential oil

1/4 cup glycerin

1/16 cup eucalyptus essential oil

A clean, empty bottle

For four easy step-by-step directions, read more.

STEP 1: Combine the ingredients (except the essential oils) in a jar and mix thoroughly.
STEP 2: Add the essential oils in slowly, especially the lavender since you don't want to overdo it.
STEP 3: Close the jar and shake thoroughly. Refrigerate the ingredients for three or four days and shake it about once a day.
STEP 4: Your aftershave is ready. Tip: Tell whomever you are gifting it to that it is important to shake the container before each application. The bottle should last about six to eight months.

Lovely Links, 3/20

BellaSugar — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 15:00:51 -0700

This compact makes Beauty Blogging Junkie feel like a million bucks, without spending it.
Fashionista has the scoop on the latest hair trends from across the pond.
Does she or doesn't she? Jezebel weighs in on Renée Zellweger's facial expressions.
Blogdorf Goodman and I are both obsessed this perfect shade of red polish from Butter London.
See which fragrance The Moment's Chandler Burr calls "a glow of sweet sugary fruit that blooms on your skin."
If you're looking to conceal a scar, birthmark, or severely uneven skin tone, Beauty Snob has found the cosmetics line for you.
Spoiled Pretty perfects her unruly brows with this great kit.
What is that tingling sensation in menthol, anyway? Beauty Brains clears its up (and it's not what you think).
See where Specktra had a euphoric haircut experience.
Shake Your Beauty discovers a mascara color that's surprisingly better than jet-black.
Makeup Bag gets up close and personal with the creator of the cult-classic Child Perfume.

The New York Times finds out that some makeup artists are famous. (You don't say.)

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Make-You-Laugh Makeup: Suggestive Names

BellaSugar — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 09:00:16 -0800

Part of the fun of shopping for makeup is checking out some of the creative, sexy and funny names that companies come up with for new products. While something like Thrrrob is outwardly sexy, some names are more discreetly suggestive. These in particular made me laugh, so I thought you might enjoy them too.

The Balm Plum Your Pucker Lip Gloss in Squeeze My Lemons ($14) is a translucent and gentle lip plumper made from folic acid, menthol, vitamin C and just a slight touch of Maxi-Lip plumper to help increase blood flow to the mouth.

All of the glosses from The Balm are cutesy, but I happen to think the name of this one in particular is adorable. We totally get what it means and can laugh about it without it feeling gross whatsoever.

For two more suggestive makeup names, read more

Urban Decay Matte Eye Shadow in Yeyo ($16). When I saw this I gasped out loud. I am not sure what other meanings this word has, but from what I understand it's a pretty perverse and direct way to talk about cocaine. I imagine that I'm not that far off base considering the description for the color is matte white. That's just poor taste, guys - think of the kids.

Ramy Whipped Liqui-Air Color in Room 369 ($19) is a weightless and whipped liquid cheek color. Think of it more as a sheer cream blush than as a foundation. It glides on smooth and can be worn on your eyes as well. It dries instantly and will last long so unlike a cream blush, you can't smudge it off.

I love the subtlety of this name. Ramy, keep 'em coming - your clever names always give me a good chuckle.

Love Your Lips: Lip Balms For Winter Weather

BellaSugar — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 09:10:12 -0800

Lip balms are practically a necessity in this blustery, cold winter weather. Here are three brands of super-strength lip balms that I had never heard of, yet they seem to be cult favorites around the world. (Gosh, I hate feeling left out.) Thought you'd be keen on reading about more of these as well. One note: Pay close attention to the prices since they vary drastically.

Dr. Harris Lip Balm ($8) is a smoothing, soothing and healing lip balm that works wonders on healing, dry, cracked or chapped lips. It is made with yummy-smelling cocoa butter and cooling menthol to create a fresh scent and a tingly sensation!

For two more winter weather lip balms read more.

Acqua di Parma Capri Orange Lip Balm ($28) is a protective lip balm made with coconut oil, beeswax, and shea butter to help nourish the lips and help restore moisture when necessary. When I first read about it I couldn't believe the cost, but then I saw that it was inspired by one of the most expensive places on earth, Capri - now it all makes sense!

Clark's Botanicals Ultra-Rich Lip Balm ($17) is made from natural moisturizers such as shea butter, aloe, jojoba, and sweet-almond oil as well as marine collagen microspheres to seal in water and ensure your pout is perfectly hydrated! Lastly, it's also formulated with vanilla and jasmine - I can only imagine what kind of sweet addiction this could cause.

Product Review: Astara Activated Sea Mineral Mask

BellaSugar — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 09:00:53 -0800

Yeow! My face feels like it's on fire. Okay, maybe not a full-blown blaze, but there's definitely some tingly heat going on thanks to the Astara Activated Sea Mineral Mask ($25–$42) I just applied. I'd always heard good things about Astara, and after using this mask I understand why there's so much buzz.

The mask has an unusual sort of sea smell, and that's not surprising. It features a lot of natural (and in some cases, organic) ingredients: oatmeal extract, five different kinds of mineral-rich seaweed, kaolin clay, and citrus extracts just to name a few. It also has menthol to cool skin, but as I said before, it tends to warm mine up more than anything. In fact, every time I've used this mask, it has one side effect I'm not crazy about. For a picture of that, read more

Well, there's no getting around this: This mask makes my face tomato-red for about 45 minutes to an hour. Sexy! The first time I used it was before Mr. Bella was taking me out for dinner, and I was nearly too embarrassed by my lobsterface to leave the house. So learn from my mistake: Use this mask only when you don't need to go anywhere immediately. Fortunately, the redness fades after a while, and then you get to enjoy the results.

And what results they are. Immediately after rinsing off this mask, my skin always feels incredibly soft and smooth-just like a baby's dupa. It also brings burgeoning pimples to a head sooner, and it definitely helps with blackheads. Makeup artist Charlie Green uses this mask on models at photo shoots to make the skin radiant, and I can see why. After the redness dies down, you get to bask in clear, healthy-looking skin. So is a little stinging and redness a fair exchange for the effects of this mask? I say yes.

Doing Drugstore: Neutrogena Wave Power Cleanser

BellaSugar — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 14:59:46 -0800

Last week I told you a bit about the new Neutrogena Wave power cleanser ($13.99), a handheld vibrating cleanser. The kit comes with 14 single-dose cleansing pads, the Wave unit itself, and a postcard for an online coupon.

The Wave is designed well; it's easy to grip in hands, even when a little bit of water splashes on it. Its attachment head has tiny Velcro-like grippers that securely hold the cleansing pads. To find out how well it works, read more

For an inexpensive gizmo, this cleans pretty well. My face feels soft after using it, and it refreshed my skin without drying it out. The menthol in the cleansing pads makes skin feel tingly, and the salicylic acid should help keep pimples at bay.

But as some of you have pointed out, a one-use cleansing pad is pretty wasteful. YumSugar caught me washing my face in the loo, and when I showed her the pads, she mentioned that she didn't like the scent. I agree; it's a little too sharply soapy. And if you have easily irritated skin, watch out: Sodium laureth sulfate is the second ingredient, so don't use this if you have sensitive skin.

So, should you buy it? It depends. It's not a dud product, but it's not an absolute must-buy, either. Personally, I have a feeling the novelty would wear off quickly, and I'd be back to washing with a cloth before long. But your mileage may vary.

(For what it's worth, the more prurient-minded among you may notice that this is a handheld, buzzing, vibrating gadget. So, you know, it might be something to look into if you're going home for the holidays and you need to pack a discreet stress-relieving product. What? I'm just sayin'.)

Cleanse Your Way to a Clearer Face

BellaSugar — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 09:58:33 -0800

The Murad name is synonymous with clear skin, and for good reason: Not only has Murad's Acne Complex Kit proven to decrease breakouts of more than 90 percent of the participants in an independent study, but more than two million have been sold. The proof, as they say, is in the pudding (if the pudding looked like your flawlessly clear face)! Luckily for you, fair reader, Murad is giving you an opportunity to try the first step in the regimen, the Clarifying Cleanser, for free.

The Clarifying Cleanser is a gentle, cooling cleanser that is especially good at calming irritated skin. It does this with the help of salicylic acid, which is a known acne fighter, triclosan which removes surface bacteria, and menthol which is both cooling and antiseptic. It also happens to be Murad's best-selling cleanser.

If you want to try a travel-size sample, click here, but hurry supplies are limited.

Thanks to Murad for sponsoring this post.