BellaSugar

Pistol Soaps: Whimsical or Bad Idea?

Miriam Lacey — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 06:12:12 PST

If you've got a mold and some willpower, you can make soap look like anything you want, so it follows that these pistol-shaped soaps ($4 for two) recently appeared on Etsy. Their creator definitely gets kudos for creativity, and the red and blue shades are unrealistic enough to be nonthreatening, but life-size soap that looks like an actual gun could be another thing altogether. The shop owner even asks that buyers "just use this like normal people use soap . . . don't go trying to stick up the party store with them." It's a little tongue in cheek, but if you feel compelled to issue that kind of statement (even half in jest), does it indicate a larger problem with the product?

30 Fan-Made Twilight Beauty Items You've Got to See to Believe

BellaSugar — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 03:05:05 PST

Sure, there's already an official Twilight makeup collection (and perfume, and nail polish). But when it comes to Twilight-inspired creativity, the store-bought stuff's got nothin' on fan-made beauty goods. We've used our keen werewolf-like noses to sniff out 30 of the cutest, wildest soaps, hair accessories, perfumes, and more inspired by the saga of Bella and Edward (and Jacob, kinda). Whether you're a huge fan or so over the vamp craze, there's something here to make you show off those fangs -in a smile, of course.

These Soaps Are Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice

Jaime Richards — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 11:34:02 PDT

Besides pumpkin ale and other spiced boozes, seasonally scented soaps are the perfect hostess gift to give, like these adorable, handmade sugar skull soaps ($9 each). Perfumed by the folks at Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab, these cute cleansers include a blend of five sugars along with a hint of candied fruits.

But if you're looking for something with less of a playful design, go with the brand's Honey Pumpkin Stout offering or try Samhain, a mix of fir needle, damp woods, black patchouli, and pumpkin pie spices. You can also go bobbing for apples (well, almost) with Streuobstwiese, a bright green soap featuring the forbidden fruit, apricot, and grassy scents.

Lush Launches Adorable Shark Soap For a Good Cause

Jaime Richards — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 06:05:02 PDT

Sharks may induce fright among some people, but they're an essential part of the balance of marine life. Unfortunately, tens of millions of sharks are killed each year for their oil, cartilage, and fins (the latter is often used to make shark fin soup). It's a rough practice: after being captured and de-finned, sharks are tossed back into the water only to eventually suffocate, bleed to death, or be eaten.

Hoping to put an end to the practice, Lush has just released a limited-edition Shark Fin Soap ($6). All proceeds from the exfoliating cleanser, which is formulated with fine sea salt, softening seaweed, and lime oil, will go to Shark Savers, a nonprofit that works to protect and preserve sharks. Soft skin and happy critters at sea: what's not to like?

I Use Soap Weirdly, and Here's Why

Miriam Lacey — Sun, 24 Apr 2011 07:05:00 PDT

I came to an odd realization this morning: I love soap, but I never actually use it on my body. When I get a fancy bar, in fact, I recoil at the suggestion that I would ever actually put it in the shower. It's not that I'm a soap hoarder, or even that I have a problem with using soap to clean yourself up. To see what actually makes my soap usage out of the ordinary, just keep reading.

These Soap Cakes May Be Prettier Than the Real Thing

Miriam Lacey — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 12:00:56 PDT

There are few things sweeter, in a number of senses, than a beautifully decorated cake. But with the risk of developing insulin resistance from all the sugar and the ever-present danger of crushing the icing when the cake slides around in the box, perhaps we'd all be better off with these oh-so-pretty Yorkshire Soap Co. soap cakes.

The company hand-makes soap cakes to order, and the finished products look almost better than the real thing. Would you buy one of these for a sucrose-averse loved one? And which cake do you think looks the most real?

Source: The Yorkshire Soap Co.

Cute Alert: Check Out These Adorable Peeps

Miriam Lacey — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 06:04:23 PDT

Spring has sprung, and with it comes that most delectable of seasonal confections, the Peeps bunny. As a vegan, I'm not inclined to eat the real thing, but these Peep soaps ($12) make a nice substitute. They're hand painted, covered in sparkles, and come in three Peeps-accurate colors. An adorable way to be nostalgic without actually consuming a ton of gelatin and high fructose corn syrup (delicious as they are).

From Cheesy to Classy: 10 Royal Wedding-Inspired Beauty Goods

Jaime Richards — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 05:00:00 PDT

The nuptials of Prince William and Kate Middleton are still over a month away, but there's no shortage of royal wedding merchandise and memorabilia to get you ready for their big day. From Kate Middleton-inspired nail polish and engagement nail decals to a fragrance formulated just for the imperial pair, check out some of the regalia manufacturers have to offer.

WireImage

Check Out This Adorable Origami-Wrapped Soap

Miriam Lacey — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 03:05:00 PST

French soap maker Compagnie De Provence Marseille has come up with some truly adorable packaging to help celebrate the company's 20th anniversary. Right now, you can buy the brand's extra-large 180 gram soaps ($8) wrapped in origami paper. That way, when you open up your bar, you just follow the directions to make your own sweetly-scented little paper critter. You can even see a short unwrapping stop-motion video by Studio Plastac, which designed the origami wrappers. Which fun foldable would you most like to make?

Lush's New Soap Is Going to the Dogs

Annie Tomlin — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 04:00:10 PST

Last April, 100 sled dogs were slaughtered near Whistler, Canada after a company saw a downturn in business. As part of a campaign with the Vancouver Humane Society, Lush Cosmetics is demanding a ban on dog sled races in British Columbia. Lush stores in the province will have leaflets explaining how sled dogs suffer because of the industry, but if you're not in Canada, you can still help the cause. One hundred percent of proceeds from PAWS soap ($6, available online) will help fund work to stop dog sledding. And of course, it's vegan.