BellaSugar

See a Cute, French Take on Hair Art

BellaSugar — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 08:00:24 PDT

French designer and performance artist Emilie Voirin has come out with a series of Curious Hair Objects that have a lot more whimsy than most follicular objets d'art. Her little ceramic bowl with its braided salt-and-pepper top is almost, dare I say, cute. Her hair "whip" and "shaving brush" are humorous and topical. Click through the gallery below and tell me whether you think these pieces are charming, or whether I've come down with a particularly pronounced case of Francophilia:

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A Super-Luxe Shaving Brush

FabSugar — Wed, 15 Nov 2006 11:32:32 PST

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.

Would You Ever Use a Shaving Brush?

Allure — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 10:00:04 PDT

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

I recently discovered eShave, a luxury brand dedicated to scraping the whiskers off men's faces in style. And while their shaving creams are impressively thick and the razors artfully sculpted, the product that really got my heart racing was—of all things—a classic shaving brush.

I have always been fascinated by these sophisticated throwbacks, also known as badger brushes, probably because they're about as far as you can get from the unglamorous, clunky can of shaving cream and pink disposable razor. But when I told the brand’s founder I had never tried one before, she sent me this sexy little black number immediately, swearing that plenty of women are ordering them for themselves.

Following her instructions, I dipped the brush into a jar of the almond-scented shaving cream and lathered up my legs. I was relieved to find the brush felt soft against my skin, nothing like I expected from the porcupine-looking bristles. The brush produced a rich, dense lather that left me smooth, without my usual bumpy patches. I have no idea if it really does exfoliates your skin to prevent irritation and ingrown hairs, as the company promises, but it definitely gave me a closer shave. Although it takes a few extra minutes the shower (I normally use a razor with a built-in block of shaving cream), I'm now hooked on this most traditional male of all beauty products. What do you think—would you ever try a badger brush or any other “boys only” beauty products?

6 Surprising Health Mistakes Even Smart Women Make

Prevention — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 04:05:18 PST

We are excited to share one of our fave stories from Prevention here on FitSugar!

When was the last time you got 8 hours of sleep or lifted weights at the gym? You're not alone if you can't remember: Even some of the most savvy women didn't get the memo about these health-wrecking habits. Find out if you're among them.
From the Editors of Prevention

You're supposed to watch saturated fat and eat lots of vegetables — that's why you usually pick up a salad for lunch and dinner (even when the kids get burgers). But you're not obsessed with the scale like some women you know. You brush your teeth twice a day, and you last flossed, oh, maybe two weeks ago. You exercise but avoid lifting so you don't bulk up. The tummy pains you got last week? Must have been gas — nothing serious. And hey, you'd like to get 8 hours of sleep, but the days are short, and it's hard to get everything done. Sound familiar? These so-called "good" habits may actually be derailing your health. Here, experts share the surprising things you're doing wrong — and how to recover.

1. You Always Order a Salad
Don't assume that bowl of lettuce is always the healthiest menu pick.

Truth is, a lot of take-out and restaurant salads are basically a burger in a bowl, says Brie Turner-McGrievy, RD, clinical research coordinator for the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) in Washington, DC. That's because add-ons like fried chicken, croutons, and full-fat dressing pack major calories, fat, sodium, and other unhealthy nutrients. One example: McDonald's Bacon Ranch Salad with Crispy Chicken and Newman's Own Ranch Dressing has 540 calories and 35 grams of fat; a Big Mac has 540 calories and 29 grams.

The fix: Don't scratch take-out salad off your menu; just use a few common sense rules before you order. Avoid high-fat add-ons such as sour cream, extra cheese, croutons, bacon bits, and creamy dressings like Caesar and ranch. Opt for salads that aren't just a fiber-free mound of iceberg lettuce dotted with a few carrot and red cabbage shavings. And plan ahead: Most fast-food chains supply nutritional info online so you can scout out the best options before you leave.

Avoid These Surprisingly Unhealthy Salads

2. You Rock Out While You Work Out
Do your ears ring after a long iPod-powered workout?

Check the volume on your iPod or MP3 player, advises Andrew Cheng, MD, an otolaryngologist at New York Medical College. The normal range of an MP3 player is 60 to 120 decibels; persistent exposures above 85 may cause hearing loss. If you're concerned, ask a friend to stand next to you while you listen: If she can hear your music, it's too loud.

Learn the fix and four more other common mistakes, when you read more.

10 Weird but Wonderful Hair and Nail Secrets

Miriam Lacey — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 06:00:21 PDT

When you're in a jam and desperate for hair or nail help, the perfect fix can come from some highly unexpected places. Whether you tore a nail and can't get to the salon, need a manicure to dry fast, or forgot your curling iron before a big event, there's slightly bizarre but excellent assistance for you when you keep reading.

The 7 Deadly Hair Sins

Miriam Lacey — Mon, 23 May 2011 05:01:35 PDT

There's a point at which you stop being a creative hair DIY-er or a trendsetter and start being an idiot. Yes, the desire to be fashionable and/or funny has led many an otherwise sane and intelligent person down the road to ruin, and you'll only know you've gotten there when it's way, way too late. Just so you know, though, there are seven things that, if you do them, will not earn you any pity here. To see the seven unforgivable hair sins, just keep reading.

Urban Decay Goes on Sale in a Big Way

Annie Tomlin — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 01:00:57 PDT

It's out with the old and in with the new for Urban Decay. The 15-year-old cosmetics brand has been launching a flurry of new beauty products, and to make room, its online store is having an enormous sale. Color pigments, formerly $20, are shaved down to one measly dollar. Cream eyeliner (with a brush!) is only $3, down from $22. And a seven-bottle collection of nail polish is $8 - including a carrying case. You know the drill: supplies are limited, so if you've got to have that green eye shadow, click quickly.

The Breaking Dawn Cast Talks Wedding, the Birth Scene and Shows Off Some Sexy Footage at Comic-Con!

Shannon Vestal — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 14:55:46 PDT

Twilight's principal cast of Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart, and Taylor Lautner hit Comic-Con to talk part one of Breaking Dawn. Along with director Bill Condon, they addressed the film's most anticipated scenes, like Edward and Bella's wedding and their ensuing honeymoon, as well as the infamous vampire-human baby birthing scene.

In addition, we got to see a couple of scenes in the movie that are not in the book. One showed Jacob talking to Carlisle and Esme about protecting Bella, and then having a confrontation with his own wolf pack, who see him as a traitor for helping the Cullens. The other scene we were shown got a ton of catcalls from the audience because it was a clip from Edward and Bella's honeymoon. In the sexy scene, Bella preps for a big milestone (brushing her teeth, shaving her legs . . .) and then meets her new husband on the beach in the moonlight - wearing nothing but a towel. The cast had lots of juicy tidbits to share about the film, and I've shared highlights from the panel below.

Kristen talked about what it was like to shoot the wedding scene, which she said she'd been "ramping up to shoot for four years" because she regarded it as the "most important part of the whole thing." She said it was "so beautiful" when she got on set and saw everyone in the pews, and was as nervous and terrified as she expected herself to be. However, she got into "wedding mode" when she put the dress on - but was locked away in a room to protect the dress and images of her in it, which required her to be under "Secret-Service-style crazy security."
On shooting the honeymoon in Brazil, Robert said the climate was amazing and beautiful on the first day, and then it started raining and turned into "hurricane storms." He said crappy weather made it feel like they were "having a honeymoon in England, playing board games, instead of making love on the beach."
Taylor said Jacob starts out as the same character we've always known at the beginning of Breaking Dawn Part 1, "then he gets his heart crushed." He said Jacob "becomes a totally different person, who is forced to mature and become his own man." Taylor said Jacob's journey was exciting to him and that he can't wait for the audience to see it too.

To find out more about the Breaking Dawn panel at Comic-Con, including what Kristen, Robert, and Taylor each think of the birthing scene, just

So, about that birth scene. Rob said it was his favorite scene to shoot because Edward is so different than he usually is, describing him as "very frail and human" in the scene. He's "so aware of his own helplessness" and is desperate to help Bella. For her part, Kristen described the scene as "so cool" because it's not your typical birthing scene (the understatement of the year). "We go hardcore," she declared, mentioning the detail that Bella is choking on blood at one point, because she'd been drinking it.
Taylor couldn't say enough good things about the birthing scene and emphasized that all the credit goes to director Condon. The end product, he said, is "stunning" and "phenomenal."
Other tidbits about the final parts the cast revealed? Kristen mentioned that the vampire contacts "suck SO bad, because you can't see anyone," and Taylor talked about getting punched by Robert when Jacob imprints on his daughter.
Other cast members like Ashley Greene, Nikki Reed, Elizabeth Reaser, and Julia Jones joined the rest of the cast on stage for a few questions, and everyone talked about how much they'll miss hanging out together. Jones joked that you have to make a commitment to seeing each other, which includes "being in LA."

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Double-Duty Beauty Products to Pack For Your Summer Getaway

Brittney Stephens — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 03:00:52 PDT

With the ever-changing airline baggage regulations, not to mention the hassle of lugging around a barely zippable bag, is it really necessary to cram 2,294 products into your toiletry case? Summer should be all about fun, sun, and relaxation. That's why we've rounded up some multifunctional items that will keep you looking great while saving you time. Something as simple as a blush and bronzer in one ($26), an exfoliating face wash ($34), or double-sided makeup brushes ($22) can shave minutes off of your beauty regimen. Whether you're headed to the beach, to the city, or on a camping trip this holiday weekend, check out the 10 best double-duty beauty products to bring along.