BellaSugar

Quick Quiz: What is the Best-Selling Perfume in the World?

BellaSugar — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 09:00:42 -0700

Have you been keeping up to speed on BellaSugar? The answer to this question is in a series from the last couple of weeks. Here's a hint: Fragrance sales dramatically increased when Marilyn Monroe was quoted saying, "All I wear to bed are two drops of ...." Can you guess which of these perfumes is the world's best-selling fragrance?

Take the quiz

Celebrate Your Wedding Night With Obsession Night

BellaSugar — Sat, 21 Apr 2007 16:44:44 -0700

Obsession Night by Calvin Klein, $62, is not the most recent launch, but that doesn't make it any less fabulous.

It was released in 2005 and is made from a concoction of seductive scents such as: bergamot, bitter orange, mandarin, white florals, angelica root, gardenia, rose, muguet, jasmine, vanilla, tonka bean, amber, labdanum and sandalwood and cashmere wood.

This is a hefty fragrance that stands for everything sexy, sensual and irresistible. It is complex yet the message it sends is simple and clear - yeah, you know what I'm talkin' about! Obsession Night is available in a standard 3.4 oz size for $62 as well as a 1.7 oz size for $45.

Doing Drugstore: Palmer's Dark Chocolate Peppermint Lip Butter

BellaSugar — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 10:00:59 -0800

I have a hard time going into Walgreens without picking up some sort of lip thing or other, and my initial purchase of Palmer's lip butter ($2) was no exception. I've always loved Palmer's cocoa butter - my dear mama swears by the stuff, and even sometimes sends me care packages with sticks of it - but I've only used it as a hair and elbow/knee moisturizer.

I assumed anything made with cocoa butter would be creamy and need a little heat to deliquesce, so I was pleasantly surprised by the lip butter's moist, gel texture (I think the result of added vitamin E). It's clear and not sticky, but gives you a little more shine than a Blistex or Lip Smacker, the dark chocolate peppermint flavor isn't at all artificial, and I didn't need to reapply all the time, which is a boon when you're trying not to look like a crazy lip balm obsessive. If you want a traditional gloss shine, this isn't the product for you, but at $2 it's a total steal, and it's made in the US, so you can feel good about its origins, too. My overall verdict: Yum!

Do You Get Buyer's Remorse?

BellaSugar — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:01:46 -0800

Ulta, Sephora, and the department and drugstore aisles are all playgrounds for the cosmetics-obsessed. But once you've made your purchases, do you get that familiar feeling of guilt in the pit of your stomach?

There's no denying that shopping is an emotional experience. In fact, a recent article in the Wall Street Journal points out that shopping creates a sense of euphoria. Then, the bad part happens. Once the credit card is swiped through the machine, feelings of guilt can start to accumulate. Now that the holidays are upon us, I'm sure people will be hitting up shops with greater frequency. Do you think you'll experience buyer's remorse, or do you have a good grip on preventing overspending on beauty items at the stores?

How to Give Yourself a Lymphatic Drainage Massage

BellaSugar — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 07:00:22 -0800

Back when I was but cub reporter Bella, one of the editors at the magazine where I worked had a singular obsession: lymphatic drainage. The woman talked about it as if it was the holy grail of spa services, and she'd return from her appointments glowing and, she swore, five pounds thinner. Lymphatic drainage is a massage technique designed to help the body rid itself of extra fluids, so for the water-retentive among us, it can mean a visible slim-down. Unfortunately, it's also pricey. But never fear! In her book Being Simply Beautiful, author Helen Noble gives a step-by-step tutorial on self lymphatic drainage. So to find out how to get the lymph out, just keep reading

Rachel Zoe Tweets About Her New Nail Polish Obsession...and More!

BellaSugar — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 07:00:12 -0700

The great thing about Twitter is that it gives us all a unique accessibility to celebrities. Take Dita Von Teese, for instance, who shared her favorite beauty items, from nail polish shades to lipstick to her bargain-buy foundation. Also known for her tweeting skills? Rachel Zoe, who brought us her warm-weathered nail polish pick in July. Since I'm a fan of the stylist's quirky personality and impeccable taste, I thought I'd give her Twitter page a look-see to discover what beauty items she's been using as of late - and just to make sure that she's not literally dying. To find out what bodycare items and nail polish shades she's been going bananas for, just read more.

Back to Basics: The Best Fragrances

BellaSugar — Fri, 23 Feb 2007 04:44:44 -0800

I know what you are thinking: how can I only pick three fragrances to write about. They have staying power; these classic perfumes have appealed to the masses for decades. Please let me know what your personal faves are. Here are just a few of mine! To read about my other Back to Basics posts click here.

Obsession by Calvin Klein, $45, was introduced in 1985 and has remained one of their best sellers ever since. It is a powerful and ultra feminine floral and spicy blend. It has an intoxicating aroma made from jasmine, orange blossom, vanilla, greens, sandalwood, spices and musk. The scent is strong and should last between six and ten hours.

To see two more of my favorite fragrances, read more

Cashmere Mist by Donna Karan, $75, was introduced in 1994 where it began as a body lotion in her stores. Her clients begged and pleaded with her to turn it into a perfume and the rest is history!

Cashmere Mist is intended for the mature woman. Its scent is soft and sensual - much like the feeling of cashmere against bare skin. It is made from: lily of the valley, suede, bergamot, ylang, jasmine maroc, sandalwood, orris, amber, vanilla, cedarwood, patchouli and musk. It can be worn in the daytime and has a long life on your skin.

Chanel Coco Mademoiselle, $85, was introduced in 2001. Although you may think this doesn't constitute as a classic, sales on this fragrance have not faltered over the past six years.

The scent is sexy, young and feminine. It is intended to be worn during the daytime since it has a light and refreshing aroma. It is made from bergamot, orange, jasmine, litchi, grapefruit, rose, patchouli, vetiver, bourbon vanilla and white musk. Mmmm.

Filmmaker Mitch McCabe Shares Her Thoughts on the Anti-Aging Obsession

BellaSugar — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 14:05:59 -0700

Tonight, do yourself a favor and watch Mitch McCabe's excellent documentary, Youth Knows No Pain. (It airs tonight at 9 p.m. on HBO, and it is great.) The film explores our societal obsession with looking forever young, but what makes it all the more interesting is McCabe's own backstory as the daughter of a plastic surgeon. Through interviews with cosmetic surgeons, Botox babes, and her own introspection, she's created a smart, fascinating, poignant, and funny film. Set your TiVo already, and read on as McCabe discusses her take on our age-phobic society in this interview.

It seems like 10 or 20 years ago women in their 20s weren’t so concerned about aging. Now a lot are - we even see 26-year-old Julia Allison go for fillers in the film. Why do you think there’s been that shift?
One thing Julia was talking about is that women’s fertility decreases after 25, and just from a biological standpoint, there’s an expiration date - biologically and therefore in terms of attractiveness. My Buddhist friend, we’d argue about the subject matter of the film and say attractiveness is only meant to attract a mate, your importance is supposed to come from the inside. So once your breeding days are over, of course your attractiveness is supposed to fade out. It wasn’t supposed to be important in the first place. Not that Julia Allison is a Buddhist, but she's speaking the truth of what happens out there. I mean, do we see women in their 30s and 40s being cast in many different roles out there? No. If women try to date on the Internet and post their real age, can they get as many dates as a woman who’s 28? No. If you really listen to a man who’s maybe had a couple drinks, he might be more honest about his views on older women.

For the full interview, read more.

Eva Mendes is Too Sexy For Her Shirt in CK Ads

BellaSugar — Fri, 23 May 2008 11:00:59 -0700

Calvin Klein's latest spokesperson, Eva Mendes, is rolling out the ad campaigns. First it was her kicky fashion pose, and now we're getting a look at her ad for Calvin's forthcoming perfume, Secret Obsession. WWD reports that the television spot, which has already been turned down by TV networks for being too sexy, features Eva having a "private moment" with "illicit thoughts." Cue the Divinyls.

Although Secret Obsession's bottle gives a nod to the original '80s Obsession, it's a different juice inside. The notes include plum, jasmine, tuberose, woods, amber, vanilla, and sandalwood; it sounds a little more floral and less spicy than the original. To see what Eva has to say about the fragrance, read more.

Eva, who's estimated to earn up to $5 million for her endorsement, told WWD:

"To me, Calvin Klein has always represented sexiness and a freedom to express yourself," said Mendes. "That was especially important for me, because I felt very awkward during my teen years. When I was approached by Calvin Klein, I thought that it would be so satisfying for me to be part of a campaign where I could show women and girls that it's okay to be different. I remember when the Obsession ads with Kate Moss came out - I thought she was so gorgeous. Kate wasn't a conventional beauty, her teeth weren't perfect and she wasn't blonde; my friends and I could relate to that. If I could provide that encouragement for someone with the Secret Obsession campaign, that would be amazing."

Ahem, that's a pretty amazing paycheck, too. I'm looking forward to smelling this new fragrance. Truthfully, the name is a little weird. I hear "Secret Obsession" and worry that the world will discover the extent of my embarrassing crush on economist Paul Krugman. But who knows? Come September, that might change.

Source

Don't Miss This Documentary on the Anti-Aging Obsession

BellaSugar — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 13:00:28 -0700

Set your TiVo, make plans with a friend who has HBO, do whatever it takes . . . but don't forget about Youth Knows No Pain, a documentary airing this Monday at 9 p.m. on HBO. Filmmaker Mitch McCabe, the daughter of a plastic surgeon, sets out to explore our society's relationship to aging - or rather, trying to prevent any and all signs of growing older. The resulting film, which covers the rise of fillers, cosmetic surgery, and other youth-preserving attempts, looks fascinating. To check out the trailer (really, you should) and to find out how you can get your questions answered by the filmmaker, just read more.