BellaSugar

Bella Book: About Face by Scott Barnes

BellaSugar — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 08:00:27 PST

Scott Barnes is known for giving Jennifer Lopez her distinctive look, and he's worked with just about every celebrity you can imagine (read my interview with him here). He's particularly known for his incredible ability to make skin luminous and seemingly perfect, so I was pretty excited when I heard he was publishing his own book, About Face ($18). To find out whether the book lived up to expectations, just read more/

Scott Barnes Talks About Face

BellaSugar — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 10:00:04 PST

Among makeup artists, Scott Barnes's work is instantly recognizable: fresh, glowing women who exude confidence and usually sport a fierce (faux) tan. He's the man behind Jennifer Lopez's iconic look, the creator of Body Bling, and he's worked on everybody in the biz. Now, in a new book called About Face, Scott reveals his techniques and creates beautiful looks for women of all skin tones, textures, and ages.

To find out what the maestro had to say about getting a great look, just keep reading.

BellaSugar’s Top Picks For Nude Lip Glosses

BellaSugar — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 08:00:11 PDT

Nude lip glosses are the end all, be all of makeup because they're so versatile. They can be worn on a bare face, with a dark or metallic smoky eye or with a touch of blush and mascara. They've been one of the top beauty trends among celebrities and It girls for the past few years and it doesn't seem like this pale lip look is going anywhere.

Below, I've listed my all-time top five favorite nude glosses - and let me just say, these were not slim pickings. There are so many to choose from, but I based my decision on color versatility, texture and scent. What's your top pick for nude lip gloss?

Besame Cosmetics Enchanted Lip Glaze in Latte ($23) is a thick, creamy and sweet vanilla-scented gloss that leaves lips feeling moisturized and looking off-the-charts shiny.
Scott Barnes Lip Slick in Suggestive ($22) is an over-the-top creamy lipsticky-lipgloss. It's a favorite of Jennifer Lopez and Kate Hudson and is available in five nude shades to suit all skin tones.
Laura Mercier in Petal ($22) is a rich, opalescent, beigy-pink shade that lasts long and has been recently re-formulated with a hint of vanilla. The shine is brilliant and the neutral color makes it a makeup case staple.
Estee Lauder Pure Color Lip Gloss in Quartz ($16) has remained one of my favorite glosses for over a year because of its smooth, non-tacky texture and wearable color. It's by far the palest of the nudes listed, and looks beautiful over a neutral lipstick or worn alone.
Dior Addict Ultra Gloss Reflect in Beige Velvet ($24.50) is a shiny, light-reflecting nude-pink lip gloss that blends into the color of your lips. This is my go-to gloss for subtle daytime color.

BellaSugar's Top Five Cream Blush Picks

BellaSugar — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 10:00:28 PDT

Ever since I started toying around with cream blush about a year ago, I've been hooked. I'm not really into anything too shimmery - I like to leave that to the more spreadable luminizers - but I've been having a field day with pinky-brown tones like By Terry's Rose de Rose Sheer Liquid Blush in Fresh Rose that I told you about earlier in the week. Each of these items leaves my face looking flushed, hydrated and even a little dewy in a natural way. It's as though I've just drunk a bottle of water and gone for a brisk walk. Here are my other four fave cream blush discoveries; what's your top pick?

Benefit Cream Blush in Hush ($18) is a sheer, thin and easily spreadable cream-to-powder pinky-nude-colored blush that adds a natural-looking warmth to fair skin.
Stila Convertible Color in Peony ($24) is the darkest of the bunch. I reserve this color for moments when I crave a rosy glow. The consistency is slightly waxy at first, so it's best applied with a sponge to facilitate blending.
Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge for Lips and Cheeks in Blushed Rose ($22) is extremely thick and rich in pigment. A little goes a long way and the result is a deep, stain-like finish.
Scott Barnes Cream Color in Sway ($25) is a moist, easily spreadable pinky-beige blusher that can also double as a lip and eye shade. Use a little bit for a natural effect, or layer for a deep, dewy look.

BellaSugar's Top Five Sex Kitten Lip Glosses

BellaSugar — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 11:00:40 PDT

Below are my top five favorite lip gloss options for sultry, sex-kitten lips. These pale pinks and peaches (sans shimmer, glitter or any kind of opalescence for that matter) cool down the natural flesh tone of your lips to an icy finish and look the hottest when paired with a smoky eye. Which of your lip glosses makes you feel the sexiest?

Scott Barnes Flossy Glossy in Meow ($22) is a peachy-pinky gloss that has a little bit of a chalky effect without the matte finish. It blends easily and looks amazing alone or over a nude lipstick.
MAC Lip Glass in Underage ($14) is a soft, pale-pink, high-shine lip gloss. Rumor has it that it's also Carmen Electra's fave (talk about a sex kitten personified)!

For two other glosses to make you purr,

Nars Lip Gloss in Turkish Delight ($24) is a creamy, cheeky pink that imparts semisheer color and a high-shine finish.
Flirt! Cosmetics Plushious Lip Gloss in Nude Kiss ($10) is the ultimate nearly sheer peach gloss. It feels light on your lips, has a sweet, subtle scent and leaves lips looking bright and without feeling too tacky.
Benefit Her Glossiness in Didn't Hear It From Me ($16) is a wear-anywhere nude that leaves lips looking shiny and sexy and feeling moisturized and soft.

Product Review: Scott Barnes Cream Color

BellaSugar — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 08:00:25 PDT

I first told you about the launch of Scott Barnes' Cream Color ($25) back in the Fall, but until I recently tried them I had no idea just what I'd been missing. It's no secret that I'm a huge Scott Barnes fan. Everything from his loose powder shadows, to his lip slicks tickle my fancy, but these take the cake.

All you need is the tiniest amount to create a natural looking, almost dewy (without looking too slick) finish. I'd love to say that Sway (a medium beigy-pink) is my favorite color for my cheeks, but the truth is that mixed with the smallest schmear of Flush (a bright peach) I look like a burst of sunshine.

Did I also mention that they can double as lip stains and even eye shadows too? I love Delish (light mauve), Native (deeper mauve) and Bloom (bright pink) for my lips, and Luster (pearl) creates a glowy, ethereal effect for eyes and upper cheekbones. To apply, all you've got to do is smile and in small, circular motions blend the blush from the apples of your cheeks along your cheekbone with your fingers. They also look terrific layered over powder, bronzer - anything you like really, without it creating a muddy, overdone effect. Welcome to the greatest beauty gift for under $25.

Trend Alert: Nude Lips at Idol Gives Back

BellaSugar — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 14:00:12 PDT

Sunday night in Hollywood sure isn't anything as relaxed as spaghetti night in my house. Instead, stars and American Idol supporters arrived to the Kodak Theater in Los Angeles for the taping of the philanthropic Idol Gives Back show.

Most of the women were wearing a pale, nude-colored lip. This super-hot beauty trend has been prevalent at the Oscars, the VMAs, the Teen Choice Awards, and the MTV Awards. You've even beauty marked dozens of your favorite nude lip shades!

My personal picks are Scott Barnes Lip Slicks in Suggestive and Provocative. Which celebrity singer do you think wore the most natural shade of nude lipstick last night?

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Product Review: Scott Barnes Eye Ice

BellaSugar — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 06:00:22 PST

Last week I told you about some of Scott Barnes' best bronzing products and this week I've been playing around with the jewel-toned, loose-powder eye shadow shades from the new Royals Eye Ice Collection. In particular, I've fallen hard for Empress, a deep aubergine and Imperial Gold, a medium gold.

When it comes to loose shadows, I'm used to saying that all you need is a little bit, but what I like about these is that you can really pile on the color for a deep and rich effect, or keep it light for a more subtle look. Unfortunately, this means that you need some extra time to apply and blend the shadows properly, but the results are worth it. And since the colors are soft at first, they can easily take you from day to night.

All of the shades are shimmery, buildable, and very wearable and the texture is also noteworthy. I rubbed them between my fingers to find a silky smooth powder - no wonder they blend so well. Also, I adore the packaging. It's cute how they come in square bottles to resemble ice cubes. For those of you looking for a more neutral shade, an older color I also love is sandstone; a pinky champagne reminiscent of Stila's bestselling kitten. When I have a little extra time to primp, eye ices are worth the effort. For the details on each of the five new shades,

Empress: a rich and deep purple
Majesty: a silvery, chrome grey
Imperial Gold: a medium bodied gold
Serpentinea taupey-bronzey-beige
Versailles: an opalescent white diamond glitter

See reader reviews of this product and add your own here!

Bellissima! Scott Barnes Glow Box

BellaSugar — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 09:00:18 PST

This newish makeup set from Scott Barnes is such an awesome buy I had to make sure you were in the know. Inside of this beautiful brown Glow Box ($75) are seven different items to help you create a gorgeous, golden, sun-kissed look. I've long been a part of the lengthy list of Scott Barnes fans who include, Kate Hudson, Jennifer Lopez and SJP, because once you try his products, it's pretty hard not to fall in love. I swear that the creaminess of his foundation and lip slicks alone are enough to send me head over heels.

Scott Barnes is definitely more of an artist than a commercial brand, meaning that new products only come out when the timing is right as opposed to launching four or so different collections a year. So having a basic set like this enables you to create a timeless look. Here's a list of the products as well as the cost of what they sell for individually (I just love a great beauty bargain):

Super Luscious Lash Mascara in black ($20)
Pressed Powder Bronzer in St. Tropez ($33) - a deep, matte shade
Loose Powder in Diamond Dust ($28) - a shimmery setting powder
Three (super shiny) Flossy Glossies in Pretty Penny, Heavenly and Wishing ($22 each)
and five Hydrating masks ($35)

View 6 Photos ›

Trend Alert: More Nude Lips at the VMAs

BellaSugar — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 14:00:39 PDT

Looks like the nude lip trend is hotter than ever this year. Just a few weeks ago we saw lots of pale pouts at the Teen Choice Awards, and here they are again at this year's VMAs. Celebrity attendees such as Britney Spears, Nelly Furtado, Rihanna, Mary J. Blige, Jennifer Garner, Rosario Dawson, Nicole Scherzinger and Hayden Panetierre all wore a neutral, flesh colored lip. Here are a couple of great nude lip colors that make for great additions to your collection.

Scott Barnes Lipslick in Suggestive ($22) is a creamy and sexy-looking lip lacquer that falls somewhere marvelously in between a lip gloss and a lipstick.

This is the famous product known for creating the seductive nude looks on Jennifer Lopez, Kate Hudson and Mary J. Blige (just to name a few). It is available in five fabulous colors to suit different skin tones.

For one more amazing nude lip color,

Bare Escentuals Quick Stick ($14) is both a lipstick and a lip liner. The advantage of this packaging gives you the opportunity to create a precise, creamy matte pout in no time.

lt also includes a super handy built-in sharpener on the opposite end. It's available in ten colors, but for a nude lip, try apricot, blush, fig, peony or spice.

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