BellaSugar

A Super-Luxe Shaving Brush

FabSugar — Wed, 15 Nov 2006 11:32:32 -0800

Who says shaving your legs and underarms has to be the pits? With this sparkly shaving brush, you can make the experience posh. As you can probably tell, I love anything bedazzled, so I simply can't resist this As You Whish Body Brush. The handmade tool is encrusted with Swarovski crystals and fitted with badger bristles designed specifically for a woman's body.

For a pampered shave, use the brush with a rich shaving cream and work it into a hefty lather on your skin. Not only will you achieve a closer shave, but you will also exfoliate your body. Buy a full-sized brush for $170 or a smaller version for $105 here. You can choose from 19 different colors of crystal to customize you own look, and each brush comes with a one year warranty.

Love It or Hate It? Whish Crystal-Studded Shave Brush

BellaSugar — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 05:50:09 -0700

Is there anything more unnecessarily luxurious than a shaving brush adorned with Swarovski crystals? Maybe not, but it's still pretty glamorous. This handmade Whish brush ($105, $180) comes in 19 color options and is the girliest shaving implement I've ever seen. What do you think? Is it over the top or something you'd love to have?

Bella Bargain: Save 25% on MAC Holiday Makeup

BellaSugar — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 09:00:42 -0800

Well looky here, it's another pre-holiday discount! MAC is shaving 25% off most of its holiday makeup on top of offering free shipping. It's a doubly good discount because these limited-edition collections were already providing some good deals. With the discount, we're talking five mini glosses for around $22 - not too shabby.

But if I were you, I'd consider picking up this set of five small-handled basic brushes; it's now on sale for $30, whereas buying the full-sized brushes separately would run a whopping $119.50. Invest in the right tools and you'll face 2009 feeling like a true makeup artist. Happy browsing!

The Latest in Travel Beauty

BellaSugar — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 09:00:05 -0700

If you're required to travel light anytime soon, check out the travel toiletries from Travelon, which come as paper thin, single-use sheets packed into colored plastic containers (think Listerine Pocket Pals). The sheets of hand soap, shampoo, conditioner, shaving cream, body wash and laundry detergent-all biodegradable and, of course, TSA-compliant-come in packs of 50, and will never spill in your shoes.

My favorite discovery was the ultimate travel toothbrush: Travelon's has a built-in reserve for toothpaste that you twist a knob to release onto the brush, like YSL's famed Touche Eclat, but for teeth. Not only that, the brush also has a cover, so you don't have to buy one of those four-packs at the drugstore that invariably don't stay closed. Pick up the sheets for $4.95 a container on Irvs.com and the toothbrush for $39.95 on Amazon.com.

Makeup Brush Hair Types, Part VI: Badger

BellaSugar — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 09:00:20 -0700

Badger hair has the firmest bristles, which makes it ideal for eyebrow brushes, fan brushes, bronzer brushes and for grooming. Badger hair typically comes from China and is similar to sable hair in the sense that it has a thicker middle and a thin top, tapering out into a conical shape.

High-quality badger hair has a light and dark brown color, while lower-quality badger hair is gray and is commonly found in shaving brushes. Although badger hair is extremely firm, it is also very soft and has an elastic quality so it will never scratch up your face.

This Shu Uemura Natural Fan Brush ($45) is a popular brush used for powder and liquid face color. It's great for blending and dusting with accuracy. Keep in mind that because badger hair is so soft and bouncy, it must be kept clean at all times.

Do You Brush Your Teeth in the Shower?

BellaSugar — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 06:00:43 -0700

Common products used in the shower: shampoo, conditioner, some kind of soap, shaving cream, face wash and toothpaste!? You see, several weeks ago at a dinner party, the majority of the guys in attendance admitted to scrubbing not only their bodies - but their teeth - while showering. It got me to thinking that maybe doing a little multitasking in my morning routine might not be that bad of an idea. So, tell me what you think about brushing your teeth while bathing.

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Best of Bella, 7/6

BellaSugar — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 07:01:19 -0700

Charlize Theron's makeup artist offers some tips.
Huzzah! The best shaving creams don't cost much money.
How well do you remember Disney-heroine beauty trivia?
Think you can't wear glitter? This gloss may make you think again.
Steal Amanda Peet's sultry makeup look.
Kerry Washington may or may not have developed this eye shadow palette, but it's a steal either way.
Lots of discussion about the politics of skin-whitening creams.
Paris haute couture hair and makeup: Super dramatic.
Do you know which celebs used to be beauty queens?
So, yeah. Not using makeup brushes leads to a total mess.
Check out my first thoughts on the Clarisonic skin-care system.
Blue pubes: cute or not so much?

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Heidi Klum Spills Her Red-Carpet Beauty Secrets

BellaSugar — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 11:24:09 -0800

Even though you and I won't be at the Oscars this weekend, it never hurts to know how to look red-carpet ready. I recently had the chance to chat with the gorgeous Heidi Klum and her team of professionals, including Victoria’s Secret makeup artist Linda Hay, and was able to pick up some great tips and tricks for looking your best at a glamorous event. Heidi also dished about what's in her handbag on the big night and how to photograph like a supermodel, so read on.

How can we cover up blemishes or undereye circles without it looking mask-like?
Linda Hay: My secret to a subtle cover-up starts with a sheer concealer that's one shade lighter than your skin. Apply it directly to the spot and blend with a concealer brush. Add a light sweep of powder to the area and the entire face, but don't pile on too much directly on the spot-otherwise it will look chalky and draw more attention.

To see what Heidi has to say about looking your best on the red carpet, read more.

Any tips or tricks to help us look more photogenic?
Heidi Klum: Models know how to make their faces look photogenic because they've had a lot of practice. Take a few shots on your digital camera or practice in the mirror to see what looks best. Find the spot where your chin isn't too high and you get a double chin-or too low, and you get a funny, distorted face. But on the red carpet, cameras come at you from all angles and it's impossible to pose perfectly for everyone. So I think you just need to have fun with it-because it shows if you don't!

Which types of products are essential for any evening bag?
Heidi Klum: Evening bags are getting smaller and smaller so I can only fit the bare necessities in my clutch for red carpet touch-ups. I keep Beauty Rush blotting sheets, a Very Sexy powder compact and small blush brush, and the Very Sexy lip gloss or lipstick shade I'm wearing for the evening. I check my makeup about every hour to make sure everything is in place. Then I'll use the blotting sheets, which are great alternatives to powder because you won't wind up with an inch of makeup on by the end of the night. But powder and gloss are equally important to keep your makeup looking fresh and pretty. My super-secret tip is I can't fit the powder compact into a very tiny evening bag, I'll take some shavings of the pressed powder wrapped in a tissue!

New Product Alert: Sonia Kashuk Spray Makeup

BellaSugar — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 10:00:07 -0700

I've been looking at DiorSkin Airflash for a few months, but I wanted to play around with this kind of product before dropping $60 on it. So finding these new spray-on products from Sonia Kashuk is a delight. The makeup artist's first limited-edition collection, available at Target, includes Eliminate Shine ($12.99) and Golden Summer ($12.99).

Spray products might seem like a gimmick at first, but they're actually legitimate. The particles are so small that they can be sprayed, which can help you get a smoother, more natural look. The key is to use a brush or sponge to apply the products - you don't want to spray them directly on your face.

Eliminate Shine is a light tan powder that helps mattify skin. Because it goes on so sheerly, it made my skin look more even-toned and less shiny after a busy day of blogging. There is pigment in this, however, so I don't think it would work well for women who have dark skin - it'll just make your skin look ashy. On the other hand, the bronzer, Golden Shimmer, would be beautiful on olive- or caramel-colored complexions. It adds a bit of warmth and a slight sheen, and it would be particularly sexy on just-shaved legs.