BellaSugar

BellaSugar's Guide to Beauty Products and Your Senses

BellaSugar — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 06:00:22 -0700

I hope that you've enjoyed my series on the five senses and how they impact the beauty items that you buy. After taking a long look into my own personal beauty product inventory, I've come to understand that I am drawn more to the way that products look and smell than the way they sound, feel, or taste.

If you've fallen behind on your reading this week (it's OK, I'll forgive you this once!), below is a five-post roundup on each of the five senses. Please share with me, in a comment below, some of the things that you've learned about your own shopping habits when it comes to beauty products and your senses.

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A Sense For Beauty, Part V: Taste

BellaSugar — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 11:00:22 -0700

While edible beauty items aren't on the top of my list (I take it they're not on the top of yours either since Jessica Simpson's Dessert makeup line went bust), it is important to me that what I use, especially on my lips, at least tastes palatable and not synthetic.

For example, what I love most about Sarah Happ's Lip Scrub is that it contains sugar, almonds, cinnamon, and all kinds of other sweet ingredients that you can lick right off of your lips! Also, minty lip glosses like the ones from Lola and vanilla-scented ones from Besame make me feel more kissable.

Joey New York has even created a line of lip glosses and lipsticks based around studies on how flavors and fragrances in lip products can help you battle the urge to smoke and overeat. Conversely, they can also help you become more alluring to the opposite sex.

Isn't it all just so fascinating? If you could design your own flavored beauty product, what would you want it to taste like?

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A Sense For Beauty, Part IV: Hearing

BellaSugar — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 15:59:31 -0700

OK, so the way that your compact snaps shut, or the sounds that your atomizer makes may not have the same effect on your senses as the way your body lotion feels on your skin, or the way a smoky eye makes you look sexy, but don't kid yourself, hearing does play a part on the the beauty products that you choose to purchase.

For example, Estee Lauder and Lancôme have both created a snug-fitting lipstick cap that makes a clicking noise when it's closed. This gives you the assurance to know that the cap won't fall off and cause any mess inside of your makeup case or purse.

Similarly, music is often played in the background at spas to help create a calm atmosphere in which to relieve stress and anxiety. Conversely, fast music is typically played at salons to create an upbeat, energetic environment. Do you have a favorite type of music that you play when you perform your at-home spa treatments?

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A Sense For Beauty, Part III: Sight

BellaSugar — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 12:00:11 -0700

Your sense of sight probably plays the biggest role in the beauty products that you purchase. For example, when you look in the mirror, you might not realize it, but you're deciding which features you want to play down or accentuate on that particular day.

Studies show that if you feel confident on the inside that you actually look more confident on the outside - so don't forget to smile or wink at yourself once in a while when you're primping!

Also, if you find yourself drawn to particular makeup colors because they are more aesthetically pleasing to your eyes than others, its no coincidence. These shades probably look better on your skin tone and eye color and you are making a subconscious decision to wear them.

For a few ideas about how to make yourself look better without having to apply tons of makeup, read more.

Get a manicure. Even if you're not wearing makeup, you'll feel like you look polished if your fingernails are filed and painted.
Apply some mascara. This beauty item instantly gives eyes definition and makes you look and feel more awake.
Apply clear lip gloss. This will make your smile look brighter, your teeth look whiter, and lip gloss tends to add a sparkle to your eyes.

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A Sense For Beauty, Part II: Smell

BellaSugar — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 14:00:22 -0700

Ever notice how smells evoke memories and create moods? When it's time to chill out, calming lavender and clary sage are great ways to relax your mind and body. Or, when you're feeling frisky, spicy, musky scents can be powerfully seductive.

I tend to be drawn toward faint floral scents, or anything infused with a hefty dose of essential oils. What's your aroma of choice when it comes to beauty products?

To find out a few different ways you can incorporate essences into the room help make your at-home beauty treatments more enjoyable, read more.

Douse your favorite essential oil on four cotton balls and place them in each corner of the room.
Fill up your sink with warm water and mix in a few drops of essential oils as you apply your makeup - inhale and enjoy!
Burn a scented candle to create a special and memorable meditative atmosphere.

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A Sense For Beauty, Part I: Touch

BellaSugar — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 13:00:22 -0700

Welcome to my series on the five senses and beauty products. You may not realize that you are drawn to certain items because they appeal to your sense of taste, touch, sight, hearing, and smell, but subconsciously these qualities have a huge influence over what you chose to purchase. This series is a great way for you to gain insight into your mind, body, spirit - and bathroom. Today's topic is touch.

Touch and beauty are correlated on many levels. For example, Body So Fine body balm by Benefit ($30) is one of the company's best sellers because of its unique velvety cream-to-powder texture. Also, products that have dense, oily, or milky consistencies can attract or deter people from using them.

Touch also plays an intricate role in a spa experience. Hands-on treatments (as opposed to saunas, steam rooms, and baths) are fantastic ways to boost your mood. Did you know that the human touch releases "happy" endorphins that can physically help reduce blood pressure, stress, and anxiety? Psychologically, touch can also make you feel less isolated and more secure. Do you love the way a certain bath, body, or hair product feels? If so, please share your thoughts with me in a comment below.

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Patrick Dempsey Talks to Us About His Latest Scent

BellaSugar — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 14:00:36 -0800

When Patrick Dempsey launched his first scent, Unscripted, late last year, I have to admit I was skeptical of another celebrity fragrance hitting the market. However, I was pleasantly surprised by the subtle, clean scent, and even Mr. Bella - whose idea of a fun night out involves climbing mountains and camping in the woods sans showers - is a fan.

Patrick has been bitten by the fragrance bug once again. The launch of his latest scent, Patrick Dempsey 2 ($30), pays tribute to the intimacy between two people. (That's his wife in the ad campaign.) Expect to see at least two more fragrance launches from Patrick in the future, but in the meantime, check out my one-on-one interview (sigh) with the sexy actor when you read more.

Love It or Hate It? January Jones's Messy Bouffant

BellaSugar — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:00:11 -0800

Betty Draper on Mad Men is known for her bleeding-edge fashion sense, and the actress who plays her, January Jones, is no slouch herself. Last night at the GQ Men of the Year Awards, she arrived looking stylish (check out her cute dress), with a hairstyle that combines the classic with the risk-taking. Do you think it's another fashion-forward triumph or not?

Float On: Bella Spends an Hour in an Isolation Tank

BellaSugar — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:00:57 -0800

Claustrophobics beware: this story is not for you. Everyone else, welcome to my float-tank adventure. If you've never heard of floating, the idea is pretty simple. A windowless plastic tank is filled with 800 pounds of Epsom salt dissolved in about 10 inches of water. You crawl into the tank through a hatch, then float on your back in complete silence and darkness. The theory is that after about 40 minutes, your brain shifts into theta waves, bringing you to another plane of relaxation and clarity. That sounded good to me, so I booked an hour-long appointment and got ready to float. For the scoop on how it went, keep reading.

The Recession Brings Deep Cuts - in a Good Way

BellaSugar — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 04:00:21 -0800

Are free haircuts for the unemployed a new trend? Last weekend, Christiano Cora salon in New York was offering gratis cuts to people who've lost their jobs, and I've heard stories about other stylists offering similar assistance. Since salons are one of the first businesses to suffer in an economic downturn, it makes sense that they'd be reaching out to their communities more - the stylists have some free time, and helping people now makes them loyal to you once they do get a job - but I still think it's a very kind gesture. Have you heard about free haircuts or deep salon discounts for people who've been laid off or hard-hit by the recession? And would you avail yourself of something like this?