BellaSugar

Products For a Pain-Free Bikini Wax

BellaSugar — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 10:00:41 -0800

Let's not underestimate the pain of a bikini wax. Taking a pain reliever about an hour before the big rip-off is a good idea, but if it's not enough, these topical anesthetics are designed to numb your pubis region to make waxing more bearable. I have yet to try them out, but my best friend swears they are her saving grace.

Relax and Wax No Scream Cream ($15.95) contains 20% benzocaine - a safe anesthetic ingredient that helps take the edge off. Some numbing creams can make the wax slip off, but this one claims to be safe with all types of wax.

Simply rub a small amount to your skin anywhere from 30-40 minutes before your appointment. (And need I remind you to apply the cream carefully?)

For one more numbing cream, read more.

Gigi Before Wax Numbing Spray ($11.49) gently numbs the surface of your skin. My waxer has a padded pole in her room for you to squeeze when the pain gets to be too much, so I am really excited to try this product out and not have to hang onto that sweaty pole any longer! Using this spray is simple; all you have to do is apply it to the area a few minutes beforehand and let it dry.

How-To: The Six-Minute Face From Bruce Grayson

BellaSugar — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 11:00:59 -0700

"I've done full makeup in less than six minutes," Bruce Grayson said when I interviewed the head of the Emmys makeup department. While many among us are used to doing our makeup in under six minutes - sometimes in a car mirror with screaming children - I thought you might like to know how a pro accomplishes such a thing. After all, unless you've got the paparazzi in the car behind you, your rush job isn't getting splashed across weekly tabs like Bruce's.

For a minute-by-minute plan based on his ideas, read more.

Minute one: Cover any pimples or red spots with a concealer.
Minute two: Apply eyeliner. "I use a gel eyeliner," Grayson says. "I know I can just make one dash across the eye. Maybe use a Q-tip to blend if you have a second."
Minute three: Sweep on an eyeshadow. "Don’t get into shading the eye or getting in the crease," he advises.
Minute four: Rub in a gel or cream blush. "I prefer them because they don't sit on top of the skin, they blend in," he explains.
Minute five: "You get really fast about mascara," says Grayson. Just sweep one one coat and forget it.
Minute six: Lip balm. Dunzo!

Beauty Byte: Japanese Clinic Offers IV Drips For Better Skin

BellaSugar — Tue, 13 May 2008 11:06:34 -0700

In Tokyo, beauty creams and supplements are so passe. At Tenteki10, a walk-in IV drip center in the luxe Ebisu district, you can roll up your sleeves to receive an IV filled with skin-supporting ingredients. For about $20 to $35, physicians will hook you up - literally - with a solution designed to combat complexion woes. Different packs address issues such as aging, hyperpigmentation, acne, and dull hair. (The "placenta" pack uses cell growth factor, and it's not clear whether this indeed comes from human placenta.)

All of this might sound like a scam at first, but Tenteki10 is a subsidiary of a medical clinic. The IV drips are given by trained physicians, but the service isn't covered by the Japanese healthcare system. Still, a Tenteki10 doctor insists that it the treatment isn't just cosmetic. He said:

It’s "preventive medicine." Also, we don’t publicize this service like a business, nor do we suggest it to anyone. We just leave leaflets at the clinic. We think of it as an option for people to raise their awareness of daily health management on their own.

Hmm. I couldn't help but notice that more than half of the treatment options address beauty concerns. Even if they did provide great results, you'd have to drag me kicking and screaming to jab a needle in my arm. Is this treatment something you'd be willing to try, or are you needlephobic like me?

Quick Quiz: What Is Oprah Winfrey's Favorite Face Cream?

BellaSugar — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 10:00:02 -0800

Every year before the holidays begin, Oprah Winfrey does a show called "Oprah's Favorite Things.'' You've probably seen the show-it's the one that drives the audience to scream with glee as Oprah reveals and gives away her must-have gifts.

After Oprah told the world that all she uses on her skin is a specific cream, sales of this product immediately revolutionized the brand. Apparently Oprah's endorsement has so much staying power that the product has become a long-term best-seller. The CEO of the company calls it the Oprah Effect. Can you guess this famous face cream?

Source

Take the quiz

Trend Alert: Patina Eye Shadow

BellaSugar — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 07:00:27 -0700

This shade of green is making a real scream! Patina is a sage-y, olive toned-green with flecks of gold to give it a metallic sheen! Okay, I'll stop rhyming now. Since we already know that lime green eyeliner is hot for summer, this is a beautiful and warm shade that makes for a gorgeous transition from summer to fall. Here are three patina-colored eye shadows new to the market that I think you'll love as much as I do.

Laura Mercier Eye Colour-Shimmer in Patina ($20) is part of the new Indian Summer Collection This shadow is a rich khaki-gold that contains light reflecting ingredients to create a "soft-focus" effect. This helps reduce the look of wrinkles and warms up the skin.

The color builds well,so it can be taken easily from day to night, and the texture is smooth, soft and easily blendable! All of the shadows in this collection can be worn wet or dry.

For two more more patina eye shadows, read more

Tarte Cosmetics Lock and Roll Eye Shadow Duo in Patina ($28) is a double sided eyeshadow (one side is creamy and one side is powder). I wish it were available in a range of colors, but for now, this new product comes in two shades only: Patina and Bronze.

Becca Cream Eye Colour in Patina ($25) is a highly pigmented shimmer cream shadow that glides on easily with your fingertips! Here's a helpful tip: these shadows tend to last longer if they are applied after your foundation and powder.

This color is so popular that it's actually already out of stock on the Becca website, so if you like it, I wouldn't wait too long to buy it or try it. See, I'm rapping again.