BellaSugar

Money-Saving Tip: Cut Facial Pads in Half

Jaime Richards — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 09:00:22 PDT

Whether you use them to even out your skin tone, like with Bliss's toner pads ($38), take off makeup, as with Neutrogena's eye makeup remover ($6), or keep acne in check as in the case of Peter Thomas Roth's complexion correction pads ($36), premoistened facial pads are a definite convenience. But the problem is many of these types of beauty products are costly, and most containers consist of just enough to last about a month. In order to prolong the life of your beloved pads, simply cut them in half with a clean pair of scissors. It may take some getting used to working with them at first, but once you get the hang of it, your wallet will thank you.

Here's How to Give Marc Jacobs's Hair Clip the DIY Treatment

BellaSugar — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 09:00:33 PDT

We like this Marc by Marc Jacobs safety pin barrette (pictured) but the $32 price tag isn't in line with our "save for vacation fund" plan. If you're feeling crafty, why not do it yourself?

To bond metal to metal, soldering is an option if you know what you're doing, but perhaps not the most practical. The easiest - and cheapest - way to go about it is to affix a large safety pin to a wire barrette backing (found at most craft supply stores) using Krazy Glue ($3). Clamp to set, and then go make some for friends, do "The Safety (pin) Dance," and revel in your cash-saving brilliance.

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5 Great Body Washes For Under $10

BellaSugar — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 09:00:00 PDT

Have you ever had a body wash you loved so much, you actually can't wait to get into the shower to suds up with it? Such is the case for me with Dr. Bronner castile soaps, especially the soul-soothing lavender scent ($8) pictured above. While luxury body washes can run upwards of $100, you can spend a fraction of the cost to get clean, smell good, and still have lots of funds left over. Find out more about the rest of my picks when you read more.

Love Looks For Less? Join Our Beauty Dupes Group!

BellaSugar — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 04:00:00 PDT

Whether it's the nail polish shade of the season or a classic lipstick color from a prestigious line, beauty products can be pricey. Not only that, a must-have status makes some products next to impossible to find. Enter, the Beauty Dupes group in the BellaSugar Community. Here, you can ask questions about looks for less or share your own discoveries.

Take, for instance: SnufaLuffaGus143's recent $2 find, a replicate of Chanel's Particulière; a half-the-cost brightening brow pencil; and this less-than-$5 version of NARS's famous Orgasm blush. Be sure to join in on the money-saving fun and fill us in on your favorite affordable alternatives, too. After all, who doesn't love a good beauty bargain?

Store-Brand Products We Love (and One We Don't)

BellaSugar — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 14:00:46 PDT

When it comes to products, sometimes the generic options don't live up to the original. Have you ever actually tried off-brand ketchup? Blech. At team Bella, we're always looking for a bargain, and that's why we've gathered together a few of our favorite generic beauty items - along with one option that just doesn't make the cut. Find out what they are now.

The "Styling Product" Behind Matthew Morrison's Curly Hair

BellaSugar — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 06:00:44 PDT

Sue Sylvester may have all sorts of hilarious one-liners about Mr. Schuester's hair on Glee, but here's one tip that's so useful, it will surely stop the wisecracking Cheerios coach in her track suit. The handsome actor's hair has become quite the phenomenon, but Matthew Morrison, who plays the lovable Mr. Schue on the series, actually uses Lubriderm Body Lotion ($8) to tame his curly strands. He said:

They use a lot of jokes about my hair in the show - that's all natural juices and berries, people! Come on now! This ain't no ultraperm. Honestly, I use two squirts of Lubriderm every day. Like the skin lotion.

It all makes perfect sense to me, particularly for people with curly hair whose hair tends to frizz out of control. I've used a dab of lotion on my hair before to give it a little style when I've been in a pinch, too. What about you? Have you ever used lotion, or some other unconventional product, in your hair?

Have You Been Using More DIY Products in the Past Year?

BellaSugar — Thu, 20 May 2010 15:11:47 PDT

Apparently, on the other side of the pond, British women are ditching medispa and salon services for a wide variety of at-home gadgets that promise similar results. Americans have also seen more home-use beauty tech lately, from the Clarisonic to the SensEpil I'm testing right now, but I'm not sure the shift has been as big. Given the recession, it makes sense that more women would be treating themselves at home, but given the high price of a lot of the gadgets on the market, there's clearly still plenty of money being spent on professional services. I'm curious to know: are you trying more DIY products now than you did in the past?

In This Recovering Economy, Nail Polish Beats Out Lipstick

BellaSugar — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 11:01:00 PDT

The lipstick theory states that when the economy is on the rocks, we'll see a spike in lipstick sales, as women are looking for affordable ways to treat themselves when times aren't so great. But a new study released by researching firm Kline & Company has discovered that it's nail polish - not lipstick - that's having a moment.

According to this new data, while sales of cosmetics and toiletries slightly decreased by 0.8 percent last year, nail polish actually experienced double-digit growth, with a 14.3 percent increase in sales. I think it's safe to assume this is because more people are doing their own manicures and that nail polish is cheap. To see what else the study found, just keep reading.

Do Oddball Hair Treatments Really Work? Yes and No

BellaSugar — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 13:00:00 PST

I've long been a fan of DIY treatments, particularly when they involve cheap and readily available ingredients straight from the kitchen. We've already seen one brave Bella take on going au naturel, but what does a hair and scalp expert have to say about the effectiveness of several at-home remedies? That's just what trichologist, aka scientist who studies the hair and the scalp, Philip Kingsley has explored for the Daily Mail. Beer, bananas, and mayo? It's all there. Check out what he had to say about these old wives' tale-style treatments when you read more.

BellaTV: Beauty Secrets From the Bathroom Stall

BellaSugar — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 09:00:51 PST

In this week's Bella Beauty Tip, learn a secret trick to combat oily skin straight from the bathroom stall. Easy to find and effective, toilet seat covers are a cheap alternative to oil blotting papers. Even Sarah Jessica Parker loves to use them!