BellaSugar

Black Up Comes to the US

Miriam Lacey — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 12:00:40 PST

If you've spent time in Paris, you've probably already seen Black Up Cosmetics and know about its stellar range of foundation formulas and generously pigmented makeup. Now the line, which is designed with women of color in mind, is launching online in the US and will be available for orders starting Dec. 1. It would be nice if it had at least a couple of shopfronts open where you could try its shades out, but it's exciting that fans won't have to have their products shipped all the way from France anymore. Black Up is one of our five must-know French brands, so will you check it out now that it's available stateside?

Paul & Joe's Holiday Makeup Is Music to Our Ears

Miriam Lacey — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 07:00:46 PDT

If you're a sucker for cool packaging and pretty colors like I am, then the new Paul & Joe Symphony holiday makeup collection should be right up your alley. The old-fashioned floral motif and delicate colors are reminiscent of an earlier era, and the "sheet music" eye shadow singles are beautiful and super-convenient. For my money, I'd say the Holiday Eye and Lip Color Kit in Adagio ($58) is definitely the best bet, but the Autumn Nail Enamel in Sonata or Orchestral ($14) is also on trend and eminently covetable.

Diane von Furstenberg Returns to Beauty

Miriam Lacey — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 11:00:46 PDT

If you love Diane von Furstenberg's aesthetic, you'll be excited to know that the fashion doyenne is creating an all-new fragrance and color cosmetics line. This isn't brand-new news - two years ago, she spoke of collaborating with former YSL Beauté President Chantal Roos - but now, the products are almost ready.

Diane said that she decided to give makeup and fragrance another try because, as she told WWD, "all I want is to make women feel like they can be the women they want to be. That message is so strong that now we have to put it in a bottle, in a tube, in a spray, in a jar and in a color." The fragrance is supposed to hit stores sometime in the next couple of months, to be followed thereafter by makeup and skin care products. Will you take a look?

If Forced To Toss Your Makeup at Airport Security, Would You...

BellaSugar — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 11:00:16 PDT

Happy Birthday, Jessica! Looks like the blonde-again Miss Simpson came prepared to fly as she eased her way through airport security with a plastic baggie filled with FDA-approved liquids (that's three ounces or under, for those not-so-frequent-fliers out there). I am dying to see what she's got in that Zip-loc bag, but I can't manage to zoom in far enough to recognize anything. Are you as calm as Jess when you go through security?

Pacific Coast News

Brand-New Brand: Just for Redheads

BellaSugar — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 10:55:44 PDT

Just for Reheads has just been brought to my attention, although it has been around for over 14 years. It was created by Paula Pennypacker, (a redhead), who felt that fair skinned women with red hair and freckles needed special attention. She invented a line of products that include: cosmetics, nail polish, hair care products, sun and skin care products - all for redheads!

Their star product is also their newest product. Mascara Ultresse, $15, in GingerHenna, is a rich more natural looking color mascara than black or navy. It is a reddish–brownish shade that looks fantastic on auburn, orangey red, or strawberry blond redheads.

It adds warmth to the eye, without making them look too dark and harsh. It also adds volume to thin lashes, it is waterproof, smudge proof and contains panethol and vitamin E to soften and keep lashes clump free.

There are also two companion products available for the mascara. A brow tint gel in GingerHenna, $15, and a tinted Brow Stick in GingerAuburn for $11. For those of you out there who don’t have red hair and are wondering if you can use it, the answer is yes. I have medium brown hair and it looks great on for a daytime look! Have fun!

New Makeup Alert: Mode Cosmetics

BellaSugar — Wed, 18 Apr 2007 04:02:22 PDT

Last week I had the pleasure of interviewing Cristina Samuels, co-owner and co-founder of Mode Cosmetics. Mode, which also means fashion in French, is the end result of a sister pair who were raised around the family's cosmetics business their whole lives.

Growing up in Albany, New York, Cristina and her sister Jennifer Isaac would mix their own special colors and create new cosmetics using natural ingredients that they liked for their bodies. For example, they loved the way that shea butter felt on their hands, so they thought: why not add this to lipsticks?

The sisters always had a huge passion for color and creation and today, Mode Cosmetics now has over 250 products and colors. They have over 90 colors of nail enamel alone - pretty amazing! Their collection consists of: lip balms, aromatherapy lip glosses, lip tints, lip lacquers, lipsticks, lip liners, roll on lip glosses, mascara, roll on (pure mica) mineral eye shadows, mascara, cream blush/highlighter sticks, and nail polishes.

To read about all of their upcoming products,

Coming soon are even more products such as: concealer, pressed blush, mineral powder foundation, liquid mineral foundation, loose powders, lip plumpers, lip juice and pressed eye shadows. The entire line sells for $5 or less which I also really love. They feel that makeup is something that should make you look and feel good, not put you in debt just to experiment with new colors. Stay on their site and play a while. They have fun images and hundreds of colors and products to explore!

Brand-New Brand: La Bella Donna

BellaSugar — Wed, 11 Apr 2007 04:22:22 PDT

When I first read about La Bella Donna in a magazine, the mineral based high end cosmetics line really caught my eye. After doing some research on their website, I've learned all about the ins and outs of this pioneer mineral cosmetics line. Created by the beautiful mother - daughter pair Kathy and Nicole Tracy, they believe that minerals are exceptional for the health and beauty of your skin.

Minerals are healing agents, they're hypoallergenic, they provide excellent coverage and they offer sun protection. La Bella Donna is proud to say that they are made purely from four major minerals: micronized titanium dioxide (sun block SPF 20), iron oxides (color source), bismuth oxychloride (anti-inflammatory) and zinc oxide (soothes the skin). The line is sold in about 300 luxurious spas and retail locations nationwide.

The collection includes a full range of: face, cheeks, eyes, lips, brushes, a primer and even a product for men! Minerals for Men is waterproof, contains SPF 20, isn't greasy and is totally invisible.

Their bestselling products include glacial colours, a face luminizer in a lip sheer container and candlelight cream colour which is a gloss/brightener for your face.

However, their most notable bestseller is a primer called co-exist. This is a gel-creme that co-exists beautifully with their loose mineral foundation. It also helps build up the moisture barrier in your skin which dissipates with age. Enjoy, I think La Bella Donna is bellissima!

Brand-New Brand: Lipstick Queen by Poppy King

BellaSugar — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 12:15:33 PDT

The Australian lipstick addict, Poppy King, is the creator of a posh new lipstick only line called Lipstick Queen, $18. Poppy is no newcomer to the world of lips. After feeling frustrated that she wasn't able to find the perfect red matte shade at the tender age of 18, she created her first lipstick line called Poppy.

The company lasted 12 years until she decided to close up shop and move to New York City for a job opportunity at Prescriptives. After three and half years there working on products and packaging, she decided to go out on her own once again and go back to her roots - creating the perfect lipstick. Hence the creation of Lipstick Queen. This line is unique, fun and innovative. It is comprised of ten different shades available in two very different formulations.

The first category is called Sinners, which is 90% pigment and 10% viscosity. It is a heavy dose of gorgeous matte color for the serious lipstick goer.

The second category is called Saints which is 10% pigment and 90% viscosity, so the result is a very sheer wash of color. It gives you more of a glossy, pimped out chap stick feel which is perfect for traditional gloss wearers.

Their next product due out in a few weeks is a matte gloss called oxymoron. From what I hear both the names and the shades are fab!

New Makeup Alert: Go Light on My Lips

BellaSugar — Tue, 27 Mar 2007 10:20:22 PDT

Go Light On My Lips is a fab new company that makes lip gloss, $19, and mascara, $24. What makes them special is that each product includes a built in mirror and a light up wand! Created by celebrity makeup artist Elena George, these fun light up glosses are also really practical. Elena knows what women want!

They're perfect for touch ups when you're out at night and the lighting is low. These are a must have for party girls!

The glosses are available in five colors and are designed to flatter all skin tones. The color choices are: Chili Spice, Popping Pink, Brown Sugar Baby, Invisible and Red Carpet.

The mascara is available in black only. The cases however have endless possibilities! For $38, you can order a monogrammed initial lip gloss, and for $150-$250 you can order the gloss encrusted in Swarovski Crystals which are all hand made and hand placed. You can either choose your initial or you full name. These come in any color stone combination.

To read about which celebs light up their lips and for more info on other light up lip glosses,

We hear that stars like Oprah, Mariah Carey, Vivica Fox, Kim Cattrall and Michelle Williams are addicted to Go Light on My Lips too! If you like the idea behind lighted makeup, then check out these lip glosses as well!.

New Makeup Alert: Hourglass Cosmetics

BellaSugar — Tue, 13 Mar 2007 11:04:44 PDT

Introducing LA's newest makeup brand, Hourglass Cosmetics. This new line of luxury makeup is hip, chic and loaded with skincare benefits. It's also on the down low. Currently Hourglass does not do any advertising, yet has a star studded fab following with clients such as: Angelina Jolie, Uma Thurman, Demi Moore, Nicole Kidman, Julianne Moore, and Naomi Watts.

The line consists of: liquid VEIL foundation, powder, concealer, bronzing powder, blush, lipstick, lip gloss, eye liner, lip liner, mascara and many brushes.

My favorite items are the eye and cheek Hourglass Passage and Color Link Palettes. These palettes contain six eye shadows and two silky powder blushes which all contain Vitamin E to fight aging.

There are five versions of the Color Link Palette ($55) and they come in a beautiful Passage Leather Case ($75). Once you buy the case, you can pop the other palettes in and out for versatility!

Also, did I mention that their powder is made with caffeine to help reduce puffiness? Now that you're in the know - shop away. Prices range from $15-$145.