BellaSugar

What Everyone Should Know About Wearing SPF and Makeup

BellaSugar — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 07:00:00 PDT

If you've ever been confused about the ins and outs of SPF for the face, especially while wearing makeup at the same time, I've got you covered - literally. Recently, reader isahrangme posed a question in the Bella Sugar Q and A group, wondering about the best way to reapply face sunblock while wearing makeup.

To find out the answer, I asked Dr. Neil Sadick of Sadick Dermatology in New York to provide us with some clarification on the topic, along with a few tips on what we should be doing to make our SPF all the more effective. Find out his advice when you read more.

SPF For Your Skin Type: Combination Skin

BellaSugar — Sun, 29 Jul 2007 09:44:00 PDT

Welcome to the final installment of SPF For Your Skin Type. For the culmination of this series, I've isolated a few sunscreens that work best for combination skin. This is skin that most commonly has an oily T-Zone, yet has patches of dry skin on the areas of the face as well. Ideally, two types of sunscreens would work best on this skin type, but not only is that unrealistic, but you can't risk missing a spot by complicating the application! For the rest of you who don't have combination skin, you can find the best sunscreen for your skin type here.

MD Skincare Auto-Balancing Moisture Sunscreen SPF 10 ($42) is a moisturizer that also includes SPF. What's special about this sunscreen is its ability to adjust the level of hydration on certain areas of your skin, making it great for normal to oily or combination skin. The non-greasy formula also firms and tightens skin.

For two more sunscreens for combination skin,

read more Jan Marini Skin Research Antioxidant Daily Face Protectant SPF 30 ($49.50) is a powerful sunscreen that provides all-day protection for your skin. It is also waterproof, sweaproof and it will never leave your face feeling oily. Since it has invisible microscopic sponges, it hydrates the skin as it absorbs grease, and it leaves your skin with a beautuful matte finish now that's pretty fantastic!
Kiehl's Ultra Protection Water-Based Sunscreen SPF 25 ($27) is a great sunscreen for combination, since it is water-based. Not only is it super light, it's also a great primer for under makeup since it absorbs quickly and easily.

SPF For Your Skin Type: Sensitive Skin

BellaSugar — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 09:02:10 PDT

Welcome back to part three of SPF For Your Skin Type. In this installment, we take a closer look at sunscreen for sensitive skin. Many sunscreens tend to clog pores, and they often contain parabens, fragrances and oils that can aggravate sensitive skin. Throw some sweat and strong sunshine into the mix, and you could be faced with an unpleasant reaction. Here are a few sunscreens that block out harmful sun rays but are so gentle that they can even be used on babies and children.

Luzern La Defense SPF 30 ($38) is a gentle and 100% mineral sunscreen created for those with sensitive or rosacea-afflicted skin. But what makes this sunscreen even more special is that it protects the collagen in your skin from breaking down-a common activity from sun exposure that leads to lines, wrinkles and age spots.

Apply before sun exposure, and allow 20 seconds for it to dry before you apply any other products to your face or body.

For two more sunscreens for sensitive skin

read more Jason Natural Sunbrellas Mineral Based Physical Sunblock SPF 30+ ($14.91) is a mild botanical, hypo-allergenic, fragrance-free and paraben-free mineral based sunblock safe enough for even the most highly sensitive skin. It is formulated with chamomile and marigold extracts to both protect skin from the sun as well as soothe and calm sensitive, irritated skin.
Lancome UV Expert SPF 20 Sunscreen ($35) has Mexoryl SX, the first new filter that has been approved by the FDA in more than 18 years. It protects the skin from UVA and UVB rays and it is gentle enough so that it won't even the most sensitive skin.

Bellissima! Lumene Sun On The Go For Face & Lips SPF 40

BellaSugar — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 10:00:05 PDT

This cute little two-in-one Lumene Sun on the Go Protective Sun Care For Face & Lips SPF 40 ($15.19) is a must-have product for a weekend away at the beach. In one shot, you get a tube of SPF 40 for your face as well as an SPF 40 lip balm.

The lotion is made with cloudberry seed to strengthen and protect your skin, carotenoids and omega 3 acids to reduce skin damage and antioxidants to fight off free radicals. So your skin will feel soft, smooth and protected from both UVA and UVB scary sun rays.

The creamy vanilla lip balm is the coolest part of the package. It's housed in its own area in the cap of the tube. And since it is infused with macadamia nut oil, it feels ultra soothing on your smackers!

Apply liberally anywhere from 20-40 minutes before going in the sun and since this formula isn't waterproof, you'll need to reapply immediately after being in the water.

Sensitive SPF 30 For Your Face, Part II

BellaSugar — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 13:03:33 PDT

Welcome to Part II of Sensitive SPF 30 For Your Face. Since there were just too many yummy and safe SPF 30s for sensitive skin out there, I couldn't help but write about a few more. Here are three additional sunscreens to help prevent premature aging and skin damage for all of you sun worshippers.

Estee Lauder Multi-Protection Sun Lotion for Face SPF 30, $22, is new and not only water resistant, but also combats the appearance of dark spots on your skin with its new ASP (anti-spot protection) formula.

ASP ensures that you tan evenly without getting any of those blotchy, patchy sun spots. This formula also helps protect your skin from environmental damage that can occur while you're in the sun.

In addition, special hydrators to guard your skin against unwanted and dangerous peeling and anti-oxidants have also been incorporated to ward off free radicals. This sunscreen is great for delicate, sensitive skin. It won't clog your pores and it smells fresh and beachy.

A couple more, so

read more Skinceuticals Physical UV Defense SPF 30, $34, is great for those of you with hypersensitive skin. It's so gentle, it's even ok for children. I love the sleek silver tube, as well as the fact that it doesn't whiten on your face when you apply it. This special sunscreen contains moisturizing and healing properties and is also PABA, oil and fragrance free. You can apply it under your makeup or for a day at the beach!
Clarins Sun Wrinkle Control Cream with SPF 30 , $27.50, is a lightweight, oil-free sun cream with the most incredible texture. It is heat resistant so it won't drip into your eyes, contains UVA, UVB and infra red sun protection all the while hydrating and nourishing your skin.

Sensitive SPF 30 For Your Face, Part I

BellaSugar — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 16:24:33 PDT

Indulgences usually come with a price. Envision your body getting toasty warm and turning a gorgeous golden color. While that used to be fun as a child, if you haven't already learned by now - exposure to the sun without sunscreen can result in premature aging as well as skin damage and skin cancer.

The summer months are soon approaching and now is the time to respect and protect yourself. As I am sure you already know (but reminders never hurt), sunscreen should be applied evenly to your skin 30 minutes before exposure. Re-apply throughout the day and especially after swimming. Here are three of my favorite sensitive sunscreens for your face:

Apivita's Propoline High Protection Face Cream SPF 30 , $21, is suitable for those with sensitive/dry skin. It uses organic filters and is water resistant.

Its special ingredient is grape seed which is a natural botanical that helps fight aging by neutralizing free radicals. This sunscreen will help block out harmful UVA and UVB rays, hydrate your skin as well as strengthen your skin's natural defense system. Oh, and it smells amazing!

To see more facial sunscreens with SPF 30,

read more Lancaster Ultra Soothing Lotion for Delicate Skin, $24, is a very gentle, luxurious light cream formulated to offer high sun protection (blocks both UVA and UVB rays) without clogging your pores. It combines moisturizing and sunscreen which is ideal for those times where you are going to be exposed to the sun for long periods of time and is also water resistant. This product will be available online for purchase on May 1st but is currently already in specialty stores.
Clinique UV-Response Face SPF 30, $14.50, is a water resistant, broad spectrum sun protection lotion that helps fight early signs of aging. It is also formulated to provide antioxidant protection that increases with the intensity of the sun. It's oil free and is great for those with sensitive skin.

5 Tips From a Pro: How to Create a Beautiful Bronzed Glow

Real Beauty — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 15:07:27 PST

We're happy to present this article from one of our favorite sites, Real Beauty.

When trying to create a natural, sunless tan on your body, mistakes are expected and accepted. If things go too awry, you can just opt to wear pants until the color wears off.

Bronzer or self tanner: which is right for you?

But a botched fake tan on your face? Completely out of the question. Here, five foolproof tips on how to get gorgeous bronzed skin.

6 Bad Beauty Habits to Break Now

Michelle Phan — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 04:10:00 PST

YouTube star and beauty guru Michelle Phan is all about beauty, and she's here to help you start your year off fresh. This week, Michelle admonishes us against six bad beauty habits we should all break in the new year:

Hi everyone, Whether it's not always washing your face or not always washing your brushes, we are all guilty of a few bad beauty habits that we know we ought to break. What better time than the start of a new year?

See why clear lip gloss is a makeup lover's must have

Here is a list of the six bad beauty habits that I challenge everyone to break in 2012. And yes, I am guilty of some of the things on this list. (Hey, nobody's perfect! We all need to try harder!) See them all below.

Are You Making These Hair Mistakes?

Jaime Richards — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 03:03:00 PST

Hair product can be a girl's best friend, but when used incorrectly, it can look like you've stepped off the set as an extra in The Birds. Chaz Dean, founder of Wen hair care, explains a few things to avoid when applying your favorite products. (Full disclosure: Wen, a sponsor of the Miss America pageant, flew me to Las Vegas to attend the show over the weekend.)

Starting in the front: Since hair is more thick and dense in the back, product should be applied there first and then lightly diffused through to the front. If you do the opposite, the finer hair near the hairline can actually look weighed down and greasy - not a good thing.
Overkilling the volumizer: "The less volumizer you use, the better," says Dean. In fact, using too much can give the opposite effect. To get hair that's more wowza than weighed down, he recommends spritzing a volumizer into the hands first and then lightly applying it to the hair.
Allowing cream products just "sit" on your strands: Dean likens cream-based hair products to sunscreen. Would you just let your SPF sit on your face? No, you'd gently work it into the skin. The same applies for your hair lotions and creams: gently squeeze and press them into your hair for optimal results.

3 Rules For Great Skin

Allure — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 06:00:48 PST

We're excited to present this story from our friends at Allure:

To start the new year off right, vow to stick to these three simple rules.

Wear SPF daily (and not just in the summer). People tend to apply sunscreen on days when they're in the sun most, but that strategy won't cut it, says Ranella Hirsch, a dermatologist in Boston. "You're not getting the bulk of your sun from that one day; you're actually getting about 85 percent of your sun just driving your car, walking to the subway, and sitting at your desk [if you're near a window]," she says. "Find a way to make applying sunscreen easy on yourself." Instead of adding a new step to their routine, Hirsch advises her patients to trade in basic moisturizer for one with SPF, such as Neutrogena Healthy Defense Daily Moisturizer SPF 50, and to apply once in the morning and then again if they've been sweating. Look for moisturizers with SPF 30 or higher.

Don't neglect your hands. Nothing gives away your age quite like they can—but you don't need to work too hard to help prevent the signs of aging. Simply rub the same moisturizer and anti-aging formulas that you use on your face on your hands. "Patients are used to being you told you need 14 products for morning, and 14 for night," says Hirsch. "But make it simple. If you're doing it on your face, just do it on your hands."

Take off your makeup before bed. After a long day, that's easier said then done—and it's okay to give yourself a little bit of leeway, says Heidi Waldorf, associate clinical professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City. "If you went to the gym or a party and have been sweating while wearing makeup, that's when it's most important [to remove it at night]," she says. If you're feeling lazy, use a makeup remover wipe—it's almost as good as washing your face with water, and a vast improvement over hitting the hay with a dirty face. Try Pond's Evening Soothe Wet Cleansing Towelettes with Chamomile & White Tea.