BellaSugar

Eight Bronzers to Brighten Your Day

BellaSugar — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 11:01:26 -0700

Calling all sun goddesses. You know that I'll never advocate baking yourself in the sun, and that's why I'm such a proponent of SPF. 'Tis the season to get your glow on, so let's practice some safe sunning by means of bronzers. I've scoured the Product Reviews section to find the most popularly reviewed bronzing items. Whether your budget is tight or has a little more wiggle room, here are eight top-rated options. Source

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Doing Drugstore: Physicians Formula Wrinkle Therapy Wrinkle Therapy Concealer in Soft Yellow

BellaSugar — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 08:00:38 -0800

In my quest to find the ultimate concealer, I always look for something a little more than just under-eye circle coverage. My criteria: It has to be hydrating, non-caking, and able to neutralize unwanted bluish/purple tones. So, when I discovered Physicians Formula Wrinkle Therapy Wrinkle Therapy Concealer in Soft Yellow ($9) I thought I might have just hit the jackpot. Yellow tones are great for camouflaging pesky dark circles, but did this correcting concealer work?

Find out after the jump, and don't forget that you can review products, too. Even better? Enter our Product Reviews contest for the chance to win a $500 gift certificate from Benefit Cosmetics! And now, to see what I thought about this multitasking concealer, read more.

Unfortunately, I was disappointed. It's not because this concealer didn't neutralize my darkest of areas, because it did. It wasn't even the texture that was the problem since the formulation was lightweight, and didn't seem to settle into my fine lines and wrinkles (yeah, I have some). However, it was the dispensing mechanism that's to blame. The concealer comes in a tube with a brush at the end, and as I never could seem to regulate the flow when squeezing the tube, I always ended up with way too much product that tended to clump - not ideal for my perfect concealer criteria. Bummer. It had so much potential.

BellaSugar's Top Five Loose Powder Picks

BellaSugar — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 08:00:07 -0700

Loose powders are a fantastic way to provide light to medium coverage on your skin without having to apply a heavy or greasy fluid foundation. They help control shine, cover blemishes, red, spots, broken capillaries and under-eye circles - all without caking. Some of my favorite new loose powders also happen to be made from minerals, which also makes them good for your skin. Below are my top five favorites. Do you have a love for one loose powder in particular?

La Bella Donna Loose Mineral Foundation ($50) is a soft mineral face powder that contains SPF 20 and doesn't clog your pores. I've been using the shade Nicoletta for the past year (plus) and love how it gives my face flawless-looking coverage.
Prescriptives Custom Blend Powder ($45) is a customized, mixture of lightweight powder created to match your skin tone. You leave the store with a large jar and a mini travel jar which both include a puff. You can also pay an additional $15 for an extra container of pressed powder. Although it's costly, I think it's worth the splurge.
Physician's Formula Mineral Wear Talc-Free Mineral Loose Powder ($10.95) is a relatively new product that has been designed for sensitive and pimple-prone skin. It's non-irritating, it blends easily and has a natural finish. It comes with a brush, and I love the security of the snap-top close.
Bare Escentuals bareMinerals SPF 15 Foundation ($25) is one of the smoothest blending mineral loose powders that I've ever tried. You voted it your favorite foundation of 2007 because of its silky texture, non-irritating formula and fabulous coverage.
Laura Mercier Mineral Powder SPF 15 ($35) is a super-fine, oil-free loose powder that contains 15 amino acids that help achieve clear skin while providing a smooth finish. Not only do I love the tinted powder, but the translucent powder is essential for setting foundation, lipstick ... you name it.

Doing Drugstore: Physicians Formula New Eco-Friendly Cosmetics

BellaSugar — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 07:00:00 -0700

Physicians Formula has gone green! The brand has recently launched a line of eco-conscious, animal-friendly cosmetics called Organic wear. The packaging is made from (mostly) recycled paper as opposed to plastic, the brushes are goat hair, and every product is free of parabens, chemicals, preservatives, and fragrance. This is great news for those of you with sensitive skin.

Organic wear products are made from internationally certified organic ingredients that have been EcoCert-approved. I've tried several of the items and what I love the most is that they are natural-looking, build-able, and mattifying. I say if you have the option to indulge in something that is good for your skin and good for the environment, then why not make a choice that can help preserve our planet?

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I also love the goofy model, who reminds me of Cabbage Head. For the scoop on each of the products, read more.

Concealer ($6.95) is a creamy and smooth concealer that helps reduce the appearance of blemishes, under-eye circles and blotchiness. It is available in four shades including green and yellow for color correction.
Liquid Bronzer ($10.95) is a hydrating bronzer that creates a sheer, sun-kissed glow. Available in three shades: fair, medium and light.
Powder Bronzer ($13.95) is dual-shaded matte bronzer made from Italian powder that comes with a mirror and brush. Available in six shades.
Powder Blush ($11.95) contains a lighter and a darker shade to create a natural and matte flush. It comes with a mirror and brush and is available in six shades.
Face Powder ($13.95) is dual shaded mattifying pressed powder. It comes with a mirror and brush and is available in nine shades.
Loose Powder ($13.95) is a mattifying loose powder that comes with a mirror, kabuki brush and a sift lid for mess-free application. Available in six shades.
Tinted Moisturizer ($9.95) is a sheer and moisturizing base that helps even out the tone of the skin. Available in four shades.
Matte Finishing & Bronzing Veils ($13.95) helps create a matte, soft-focus finish on the skin. It absorbs oil, comes with a mirror on the cap, and is available in four shades.

Get Glowing With a Liquid Highlighter

BellaSugar — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 11:00:54 -0700

Not just for textbooks anymore, highlighters provide a very fun and flattering way to add a subtle glow to any makeup look. What's more, they can enhance or conceal flaws or features. Here are a few ways to wear them.

For an All-over Glow: A shimmer highlighter like Benefit's Moon Beam ($24) is a great multipurpose product. It has pink and gold undertones, so it works well with any skin type, and the formula is thin and light, so it can be blended easily. This kind of highlighting fluid can be used anywhere. Dab a bit of this on your brow bones, lips, and décolletage to create an overall luminescence.

Conceal: A great way to conceal a patch of redness, uneven skin tone, or dark circles is to reflect light off of the area with a highlighting concealer. Laura Mercier's Secret Brightener ($30) adds a faint tint and a light sheen where applied, replacing flaws with a fresh-faced glow.

To find out how to conceal and enhance certain features with a highlighter, read more.

Enhance: If you want to play up or reduce the appearance of a certain feature on your face, a highlighting fluid such as Physicians Formula Pearls of Perfection Multi-Colored Face Tint ($12) is just the ticket. Try dabbing a bit on the inner corners of your eyes to instantly brighten and widen the eye area, or use it on the bridge of your nose to make it look slimmer.

Pastel Products, Part II: Precious Face Powders

BellaSugar — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 15:10:34 -0700

Part two of my springtime pastel products series is all about luminosity. These powders help absorb excess oil while giving your skin that healthy glow. Blend them all over your face for a more noticeable "light," or add a touch to the tip of your nose, forehead, and cheekbones for subtle radiance. Here are three products I recommend, along with a few more that are too pretty to leave out.

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T. Le Clerc Loose Powder in Tilleul ($50) is one of the most finely-milled powders I've ever used. It goes on like sheer veil and comes in a vast array of colors. The blue helps to cover broken capillaries and counteract redness, and it's best suited for oily and fair skin. Simply dip, tap, and then blend your fluffiest brush all over your face for a soft wash of color.

For two more powders, read more.
Estée Lauder is about to launch a new limited-edition collection for Summer called Pearls of Light. I'll be telling you about all of the products next week, but for now, here's a sneak peek at the Shimmering Powder Pearls Face Illuminator. These loose powder, oyster pearl, pink, and peach beads allow you to create a soft, Summer glow on your face, shoulders, and décolletage.

I've been using my Physician's Formula Powder Palette Multi-Colored Face Powder in Highlighter ($12.95) for over a year now and I love it. Whenever I overdo my bronzer or blush, this is my saving grace to even out my complexion and add a little bit of pop to my cheekbones. Also, I use the white sections on the inner corners of my eyes and the green sections over pimples to help neutralize the redness.

Lookalike Products: Shimmery Shadow Palettes

BellaSugar — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 12:00:18 -0800

When I saw this new eye shadow palette called Physician's Formula Shimmer Strips, I recognized it right away; it was inspired by last summer's Bobbi Brown Surf and Sand Eye Palette.

Since the colors are sexy, shimmery and perfect for spring, I thought I'd highlight the similarities and differences of these seemingly similar items.

	Physician's Formula Shimmer Strips	Bobbi Brown Surf & Sand Palette	Advantage?
Colors	Contains sandy tones, blues and grays.	Contains sandy tones, blues and sea-greens.	Physician's Formula is more versatile. You can wet the dark gray and also use it as a liner.
Texture	Pigments are subtle, so you need more product to see results.	High pigmented silky soft color that blends easily.	Bobbi Brown. A little goes a long way.
Packaging	Opens vertically and comes with a brush	Opens horizontally; no brush	Physician's Formula saves you money, plus you get a shadow brush.
Availability	Available online now for Spring 2008.	It was limited-edition for last summer, but you can still score plenty online.	Physician's Formula, if only because it's easier to track down.
PRICE	$9.95	$42	Buying the drugstore brand saves you oodles.

Doing Drugstore: Physician's Formula Mineral Wear Talc-Free Mineral Lip Sheen

BellaSugar — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 09:00:22 -0800

I'm so excited because I think I've discovered the perfect clear lip gloss-and it's inexpensive! Physician's Formula has recently released new products for Spring 2008, including Mineral Wear Talc-Free Mineral Lip Sheens ($7.95). I've tried the quartz color and not only is it completely clear when it's on, but it gives your lips a brilliant shine without being sticky whatsoever.

The gloss is thicker than Vaseline, but it's not nearly as gooey as, say, Lancome Juicy Tubes. In addition, it has that fun, clicky pen style packaging that forces product through tiny holes in the top as you twist it. It has a smooth, rubbery angled tip to help with even application, and it's fragrance-free. Who's interested?

Bellissima! Physician's Formula 3-in-1 Brow-Tweez

BellaSugar — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 16:00:34 -0800

One of my all-time favorite drugstore brands, Physician's Formula, has come out with a 3-in-1 eyebrow tweezer, definer, and brow comb called Brow-Tweez. Intrigued? Here's how it works. One side of the wand contains a minisized pair of stainless-steel tweezers, and the other side houses the brow pencil. The cap of the pencil side also comes equipped with a minisized brow brush. It's pretty much everything you'd need for on-the-go grooming.

Brow-Tweez is available in three different shades (dark brown, light brown, and dark blonde) to suit most eyebrows and hair tones. Also, it is fragrance free, hypoallergenic, and safe for those who wear contact lenses.

The best part is that all of this costs just $7.95. Getting gorgeous brows doesn't have to break the bank. When I find a bargain this great, I just can't resist. What do you think of Brow-Tweez?

Beautiful Brightening Foundations

BellaSugar — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 15:00:26 -0800

Now that we've taken a closer look at brightening eye creams, under-eye makeup pens, primers and skin creams, the last genre to cover is brightening foundations. These three products below are the perfect pick-me-ups for your skin, especially during the dreary winter months. Not only do they create an illuminating effect, they also provide excellent coverage and will make you look picture-perfect for all of your holiday parties!

Physician's Formula Brightening Foundation ($9.99) contains pearlescent pigments to provide you with a subtle brightening effect, a soft skin tone and an overall healthier look. It is formulated with vitamins A, C, and E to help protect the skin from environmental damage, and the formula is non-comedogenic.

For two more beautiful brightening foundations, read more

Lancome Photogenic Skin-Illuminating Makeup SPF 15 ($35) is an oil-free foundation that adjusts the effects of the light on your skin. It also evens out your skin tone, contains SPF 15 and is made with a complexion-brightening blue pigment base for a natural effect.

Anna Sui Brightening Fluid Foundation ($39.50) creates a radiant, bright and youthful-looking complexion. It contains vitamins A and B to help eliminate dead skin cells, it protects your skin against free radicals and there are traces of melanin inside to shield your skin from UV damage.