BellaSugar

Rub Your Way to Shiny Smooth Strands

BellaSugar — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 08:00:05 -0800

One of the keys to successful hair serum results is to use a very small amount – it goes a long way! However, I picked up another tip from my stylist that I thought might help you.

Instead of putting a little drop on your fingers to spread on your hair, apply it to the palm of one hand then rub your hands together vigorously. This emulsifies and breaks down the ingredients as well as adding heat to the product. So, not only will you help the active ingredients work better, you'll spread it out for even distribution easy as one, two, three.

Reader Review of the Day: Caudalie Vinoperfect Serum

BellaSugar — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 09:00:58 -0800

I like to think of serums as vitamins for the face - like magical potions that help make the skin glow. Recently, an anonymous reader tried Caudalie Vinoperfect Serum ($79), and was none too pleased with the sticky and shiny results. Take it away, mystery reviewer:

"Apparently people swear by this, but after a week using it, I saw absolutely no difference other than the fact that it left my skin a bit sticky and shiny, even underneath my moisturizer. I will say that my skin felt tighter - which for me, with dry skin, was a negative, but might be a plus for others. I can't see how it's worth the price."

Do you have a product you'd like to review? Just head over to our Product Reviews website, type up your opinion, and maybe I'll feature you on this daily post for all to see.

New Product Alert: Darphin Intral Redness Relief Soothing Serum

BellaSugar — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 09:00:52 -0700

French skin care company Darphin has just released a four-product collection called Intral. The gentle items are made from plant extracts, (namely grape, centella, hawthorn, chamomile and peony) and they're meant to soothe, comfort and calm, red, irritable, sensitive skin.

I've tried a sample of the Redness Relief Soothing Serum ($110) and I really loved the texture, the clean scent and the results.

It has a watery consistency, but absorbs quickly to a matte finish. It smells like peonies and botanicals mixed together giving it a heavenly and relaxing aroma. I've only used it twice so I can't attest to it changing my skin completely, but I like the cool feeling on my face and that the redness was reduced considerably in just a few hours. I would happily recommend this product, but it's expensive. Do you think you'd buy a facial serum for $110?

Product Review: N.V. Perricone M.D. Ceramic Skin Smoother

BellaSugar — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 07:00:34 -0700

With some products, I know right away whether I love it or feel indifferent toward it. Others, like N.V. Perricone M.D. Ceramic Skin Smoother finishing serum ($75), take more time. I'm particularly fussy about pricey products. Even though some, like this one, are sent to me for review, I always think, "Would I buy it for this price?" And that's why it too me so long to write this review.

Like many of Dr. Perricone's products, Ceramic Skin Smoother contains age-fighting antioxidants and DMAE, which helps skin feel firmer. Although this serum is meant to be the last step in skin care before applying foundation, it's not strictly a makeup primer. It's much lighter than, say Smashbox Photo Finish, and it sinks into skin rather than sitting on top of it. Even so, I find that foundation does go on more smoothly over it; some people claim that they can go without foundation entirely with this product, but I prefer a little help. I love the lightweight, oil-free texture, and using it minimizes the look of my pores.

But let's go back to the "Would I buy this?" question. After I make my millions off of my Milo-endorsed gourmet pet food line, yes. Yes, I would. But for now, I have student loans to pay off, so I can't add this to my must-buy list just yet.

Over-The Top Serum Splurges

BellaSugar — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 09:00:00 -0800

Sometimes you just feel like indulging yourself in ridiculously expensive beauty products from time to time. Maybe it's your birthday, you've received a bonus, or perhaps you just have a chunk of change that's been burning a hole in your pocket. Regardless of how you've saved your pennies, here are a couple of over-the-top new beauty indulgences to check out. I personally haven't been able to strike gold and try out these items yet, so if you have, I'd love to know how they compare to more affordable brands. Keep in touch!

This month, Chanel is releasing Sublimage Sèrum Essential Regenerating Concentrate, a highly concentrated and powerful anti-aging treatment to partner with its popular Sublimage Cream. The Chanel research team has spared no expense in developing this lightweight serum to help combat wrinkles, firm and hydrate the skin.

So, if a rejuvenated and youthful complexion is what you crave, you can purchase radiance in a one ounce airless pump bottle for $385!

For another totally over-the top serum splurge, read more.

ReVive Intensite Volumizing Serum contains a molecule called KGF that aids in plumping and creating a more dewy overall texture to your skin. It also subtly whitens your face for a brighter complexion and offers UVB protection.

The serum comes in a 30ml bottle which costs-wait for it-$600. I guess it costs less than having a major procedure, however, this is a pretty penny to part with for a topical treatment. What do you think of these pricey products?

Doing Drugstore: Citre Shine SHINE MIRACLE

BellaSugar — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 08:00:16 -0800

Citre Shine has recently released SHINE MIRACLE, a six-product collection created to fight frizz, combat fly-aways and add serious shine to your hair at affordable prices. Here are two of the products that stand out from the rest.

Citre Shine SHINE MIRACLE Highly Laminating Glossing Pomade ($4.26) is a non-greasy styling product that provides medium hold and tons of shine to all types of hair. It's a lightweight formula, so it will control the hair without leaving behind any heavy residue.

Citre Shine SHINE MIRACLE Highly Laminating Anti-Frizz Spray Laminator ($4.04) is a mouthful to say. (Imagine asking your pharmacist where you can find it!) It's a fruit-scented, silicone-based serum that helps protect hair from heat styling and UV damage. It is made with grapefruit, lime and mandarin extracts to give it a really refreshing smell.

New Product Alert: Immortelle Very Precious Eye Serum

BellaSugar — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 09:00:43 -0800

L'Occitane recently launched a new line called Immortelle and the star product is the Immortelle Very Precious Eye Serum ($50). For those of you who have never heard of immortelle, it's an evergreen shrub with small flowers that grows in warm, sunny climates. All immortelle in the L'Occitane products come from Corsica, an island off the coast of Italy.

Its flowers contain helichrysum italicum, a fruity and honey-scented essential oil that promotes new cell growth. It also has antiallergenic, antiinflammatory, and astringent properties. Immortelle is also commonly known as "an everlasting flower" since it holds its shape and color when it dries.

The serum contains a concentration of immortelle oil and other nourishing ingredients believed to prevent wrinkles, reduce dark circles, depuff and tone the delicate skin around the eyes. To use, simply pump once onto your fingertips and gently tap the serum around your orbital bone. The formula absorbs quickly and has a velvety texture that will work its magic way into the wee hours of the night! Now that you know all about immortelle, do you think this range of products is something you'd be interested in trying?

Think Pink: Darphin Rose Aromatic Care

BellaSugar — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 09:00:22 -0700

Darphin Rose Aromatic Care ($75) is a nighttime facial serum that hydrates, soothes, softens and smooths unbalanced, dry, and tight skin. It is made from rose oil, hazelnut, primrose, sweet almond oil, Vitamins A, E, C and horsetail extract which also helps protect skin from free radical damage.

15% of the proceeds from all October sales will be donated to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation, an organization that provides funding for clinical and genetic research as well as outreach and public awareness of breast cancer.

By creating this special and limited-edition pretty pink bottle and donating a portion of its profits, Darphin joins the fight against Breast Cancer. To use, simply apply five drops of the serum to your face and neck in the evening and rub it in with gentle circular motions. Follow with a moisturizer.

Think Pink: Duchess Marden Damascena Neck & Décolleté Serum

BellaSugar — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 15:05:26 -0700

Throughout the month of October, the skin care brand Duchess Marden will donate 10% of all sales from their Damascena Neck & Décolleté Serum ($64) to the Young Survival Coalition. The YSC is the only international non-profit organization that helps to educate the medical community, research teams, breast cancer and legislative arenas.

For those of you who aren't yet familiar with the Duchess Marden Skin Care brand, all of its products come from pure, natural, plant based elements so not only do they smell great, but they are also great for you!

This special serum is a beauty booster for anyone looking to help firm, tighten, lighten and speed up the regeneration of their facial cells. It also restores serious moisture to dry, damaged and dehydrated skin. Whaddya say-Do you think you'd be interested in trying a new neck-nourishing solution like this?

Is This $500 Serum Worth The Pretty Penny it Costs?

BellaSugar — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 09:20:00 -0700

If you're like me, you probably look at the price tag of Amore Pacific Time Response Pure Essence 100 Skin Renewal Serum and sloowwwly back away from the cosmetics counter. The spendy serum has a price tag of $500 for a one-ounce bottle. Yowza.

Fortunately, a story explains why the serum costs what it does-and consults experts to see if it's worth the cash. For instance:

Vegging out: More than 100 botanical ingredients fill every bottle. Yes, extracts of broccoli, grape and carrots may read more like a salad-bar menu than the components of an antiaging serum, but they help other active compounds penetrate the skin and counteract the effects of UV rays.
Expert opinion: [University of Alabama dermatology researcher] Santosh Katiyar supports using fruits and veggies on the face, but, he adds, they’re not exactly hard to come by and therefore shouldn’t be so costly.

Another dermatologist weighs in, too, and while both experts agree that the serum is a good one, the final consensus is that "the benefit of these ingredients doesn’t necessarily warrant the product’s cost." I can't say I'm surprised-what about you?