BellaSugar

Milk Does a Beauty Good

BellaSugar — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 14:00:00 -0700

Heidi Klum will be the latest addition to the long list of celebrities who have appeared in the wildly popular "Got Milk?" ad campaign, Vogue UK reports. The German model and Project Runway host will be featured wearing a customary Bavarian maid outfit, alongside a milking cow - just in time for Halloween.

All this talk about this healthy, white drink got me thinking, just what is it about milk that does a body good, in terms of beauty, of course? According to the California Milk Processor Board, people have been using milk for beauty purposes for hundreds of years. In fact, Bella favorite, Cleopatra, used to bathe in milk for radiantly smooth skin. To check out some more milk beauty benefits, keep reading.

The Solution's Founder Dishes on Skin Care

BellaSugar — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 12:00:36 -0700

So, I had heard the buzz about a major multitasking face cream called, The Solution ($74). Forget your day and night creams, they said. Eye creams, serums, and makeup primers? Toss those out, too. You could say I was intrigued.

The lightweight cream is formulated from natural ingredients and contains antioxidants to lift, firm, hydrate, and promote radiant skin. In fact, the product is so pure, only natural preservatives are used, and the pump blocks out contaminants and oxygen, both of which can render ingredients less effective. Like all things, it takes weeks to see results. I'm still waiting for my wrinkles to go away (ha!), but I like how it adds a glow to my skin, especially under the eyes.

Last week, I chatted with the creator of this product, Kimberly Snyder, yoga teacher and living-food expert, who took two years to develop The Solution. Here's what she had to say:

Throughout all of your world travels, what common ground did you see amongst women?
The commonality of all women is the desire to seek luminous, beautiful skin. I saw a lot of [use of] local herbs, berries, plants . . . and crushing it and applying it to the skin. I took the best of those ingredients and put them in The Solution, as well.

To see what Kimberly has to say about taking care of your skin, read more.

What advice can you give women of all ages regarding their skin?
I think that simple is better. There's just way too much going on people's faces. A major issue I'm seeing is that the quality of the skin becomes dull, lifeless, clogged, and acne-prone. There is premature wrinkling and lines because the skin can't breathe. So again, in designing this product, I just wanted something simple.

Her tips on daily skin-care regimen:

Use the right cleanser for your skin type.
Use one thing that works. "Don't put layers and layers and fillers on your face," she says. "That is the best skin-care regimen."
Prevent wrinkles and lines not only with products, but also through diet. "The cleaner your blood, the healthier your skin," she says.

A Skin Recovery Mini-Facial: Scenario 4

BellaSugar — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 13:00:22 -0700

Welcome to part four of my Bella miniseries on the mini-facial, where I'll detail specific fast skin-recovery routines for those mornings where a face wash isn't enough. Sometimes your skin needs a little extra boost before you face the day, and we all know trying to mask a skin problem with makeup alone can only make it worse. So, check out our tips for righting what went wrong overnight.

Scenario 4: Your best friend's boyfriend broke up with her, so you spent the evening listening to how much she's going to miss her "boo bear" while she chain smoked. Now it's the morning, she's on your couch with an empty bottle of vino and your face feels like it was rubbed in an ashtray.

Here's what to do:

Wash your face with an oxygenating cleanser, like Clean & Clear Oxygenating Fizzing Cleanser ($6.99).
Apply a mask for dull skin, like Bliss Triple Oxygen Instant Energizing Mask ($52).
Try a serum with vitamin C to brighten skin, like Philosophy When Hope Is Not Enough: Age Control ($38), Fresh Appleseed Brightening Essence ($90), or Avalon Organics Vitamin C Vitality Facial Serum ($16.79).
Smooth on a light-reflecting tinted moisturizer, like Aveeno Active Naturals Positively Radiant Daily Moisturizer SPF 30 ($14.39).

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BellaSugar's Guide To Tea Tree Oil Products

BellaSugar — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 09:43:55 -0700

Tea tree oil is derived from the leaves of the melaleuca alternifolia plant which grows exclusively and in abundance in Australia. The leaves are distilled, pressed and can then be used topically or aromatically (inhaled). Tea tree oil can be found in many over-the-counter beauty, household and first aid items.

Take a look at my five-post roundup on tea tree oil for a more in-depth look at a sample of the wide variety of face, body and hair care products on the market today. I hope that you've enjoyed this series, so please let me know what you think!

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Do You Think Facials Are Helpful?

BellaSugar — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 05:38:40 -0700

A few years ago, I had a great facial. It was so great, in fact, that when I met my friend Trevor for lunch afterward, he said, "Wow, your skin's all... glowy." (Rule of thumb: If a guy notices your skin without being prompted, you know it's a good facial.)

Of course, since then, I've had some blah facials, too. It doesn't help that lots of dermatologists say that while facials can be relaxing, they don't offer any real benefits otherwise. What do you think? Do you think facials really help your complexion clear up, or is it just a relaxing treatment?

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Definition: Skin

BellaSugar — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 16:30:34 -0700

According to Shellie Goldstein, founder of the AcuFacial, Skin can be defined as an organ comprised of layers of tissue that cover and protect muscles and vital organs of the body. There are three primary layers of skin:

Subcutaneous Layer - the deepest layer which is made up of fat, blood vessels, nerves and cells.
Dermis - the middle layer which is made of collagen (90%), elastin (5%), nerve receptors, sweat glands, hair follicles and blood and lymph vessels.
Epidermis - the top layer which is made of many layers of cells that contain water, and eventually rise to the surface. As cells reach the top, they begin to dry out and die. The very top layer is called the Stratum Corneum. This layer contains dead cells which help protect the other layers.

As we age, it takes longer and longer for our cells to migrate to the surface. Skincare products affect the epidermis layer of our skin; however, it is believed that it is the activity that occurs in the dermis layer our skin that determines its health. Healthy skin looks and feels dewy-not red, blotchy or full of blemishes.

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Giveaway of the Day! Bare Escentuals Sun Worshipper Face & Body Collection

BellaSugar — Mon, 28 May 2007 17:06:17 -0700

To celebrate the very exciting launch of BellaSugar, we're giving away a different product every day in May, thanks to our very generous friends at Sephora. Tune in Tuesday morning, May 29, to find out who won yesterday's giveaway for the Eau de Cartier Concentree Edition Limitee fragrance.

Today's giveaway is Bare Escentuals Sun Worshipper Face & Body Collection, a fabulous five-piece set with an $85 value designed to give you perfectly tanned, sunless beauty. The kit includes Bare Escentuals Faux Tan for body, BareMinerals Faux Tan All-Over Face Color and an applicator brush, BareMinerals Nude Beach Glimmer, and Wearable Bronze Lip Gloss. Honestly, what more could you ask for than all your bronzing needs in one box? If you've tried any of these products, let me know what you think.

To enter the giveaway, simply leave a comment in the comment section below by 5 p.m. PDT / 8 p.m. EDT Monday, May 28, and we'll announce the winner on Tuesday, May 29. Please, only ONE comment per person; duplicate comments will be discarded, so commenting more than once won't up your chances of winning. Also, you must be a TeamSugar member to comment, so if you're not a member, please register here for an account. For all of the rules and regulations, just click here. Good luck!

SPF For Your Skin Type: Normal Skin

BellaSugar — Sat, 28 Jul 2007 08:56:59 -0700

Welcome back to my five-part series, SPF For Your Skin Type. Today we'll dip into sunscreens specific to normal skin. As you know, having normal skin means that your complexion is clear, the texture is a little bit dewy and the under-tones are pinkish and glowy. You, my dears, are the luckiest of the bunch since most sunscreens are suitable for your skin. As for the rest of you with oily, dry or sensitive skin, check out parts I, II and III for sunscreen suggestions for you.

Kinerase Cream with SPF 30 ($135) is made from a mixture of titanium dioxide and encapsulated ethylhexyl methoxycinnimate, both of which keep skin protected from UV rays without that thick white chalky coloring that other high-protection sunscreens have.

We know that Courteney Cox is a huge fan of this line, and have you seen her fabulous skin lately? She's definitely doing something right. For best results, use in the morning only.

For two more sunscreens for normal skin, read more

SkinMedica Daily Sun Protection for Faces SPF 20 ($30.40) is a non-oily, full spectrum facial sunscreen that is formulated with clear zinc oxide to reflect UVA and UVB sun, as well as vitamins A, C & E to help fight signs of aging.

Zia Natural Ultimate Age-Defying Solar Care Face SPF30 ($16.95) is a great high-performance sunscreen since it is both water- and sweat-resistant. It is oil-free, and it goes on smooth and never feels sticky. It is made from a blend of green tea, ginseng and vitamin E so it helps repair the skin from sun damage while also protecting it from both UVA and UVB rays.

Would You Vampirize Yourself?

BellaSugar — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 12:00:33 -0800

Maybe Dracula had it at least a little bit right: apparently blood really can keep you young, but only if it's your own.

In the UK, the hottest new antiaging procedure is "S3" or Stimulated Self Serum skin therapy, which is a pretty alliterative euphemism for injecting your own blood into your face. Well, not your blood, exactly, but the clear serum that's left over once your red blood cells and platelets have been removed. The doctor draws blood from you, separates it, mixes your serum with amino acids and other vitamins, and then injects the slurry right back into your face. Apparently, a similar procedure has long been used to help regrow gum tissue in those with receding gum lines, so doctors figured it would work to regenerate skin cells, too.

This sounds like it could work, although it doesn't seem that different from mesotherapy or injectables to me. Maybe it's intended for people who want a slightly more "natural" outpatient procedure, though. What do you think? Would you try this as opposed to Botox or Restylane, or is it just another cosmetic procedure with a slightly vampiric twist?

New Skin Care Alert: Amore Pacific

BellaSugar — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 04:11:22 -0700

I have just discovered this amazing new brand of skin care called Amore Pacific. This ever popular brand in Asia has arrived in the U.S. with a bang. The signature ingredients are three Asian botanicals: pure homegrown Korean green tea, bamboo and red ginseng.

The secret behind the green tea is that it is specially grown for the company in farmland located at the foot of Halla Mountain on Jeju Island. It is there that fresh water and volcanic soils lie and the climate is ideal for the growth of the tea. The elements in the products reach the deepest layers of the skin and are intended to help increase the rate at which your cells reproduce themselves.

The Research and Development center at Amore Pacific is one of the largest in the world for cosmetics companies. They are constantly testing new Asian botanicals to help innovate the world of skin care.

Their most notable product is their Time Response Skin Renewal Creme, $400. This anti-aging therapy helps restore skin to its optimal youthful, hydrated and elastic state.

Although the products are rather costly, those who have tried them truly love them. They have also just opened up a beauty gallery and spa in downtown New York City where the treatments are inspired from five different Eastern traditional elements: water, metal, earth, fire, and tree. Sounds fabulous!