BellaSugar

Pastel Products, Part II: Precious Face Powders

BellaSugar — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 15:10:34 PDT

Part two of my springtime pastel products series is all about luminosity. These powders help absorb excess oil while giving your skin that healthy glow. Blend them all over your face for a more noticeable "light," or add a touch to the tip of your nose, forehead, and cheekbones for subtle radiance. Here are three products I recommend, along with a few more that are too pretty to leave out.

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T. Le Clerc Loose Powder in Tilleul ($50) is one of the most finely-milled powders I've ever used. It goes on like sheer veil and comes in a vast array of colors. The blue helps to cover broken capillaries and counteract redness, and it's best suited for oily and fair skin. Simply dip, tap, and then blend your fluffiest brush all over your face for a soft wash of color.

For two more powders,

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Estée Lauder is about to launch a new limited-edition collection for Summer called Pearls of Light. I'll be telling you about all of the products next week, but for now, here's a sneak peek at the Shimmering Powder Pearls Face Illuminator. These loose powder, oyster pearl, pink, and peach beads allow you to create a soft, Summer glow on your face, shoulders, and décolletage.

I've been using my Physician's Formula Powder Palette Multi-Colored Face Powder in Highlighter ($12.95) for over a year now and I love it. Whenever I overdo my bronzer or blush, this is my saving grace to even out my complexion and add a little bit of pop to my cheekbones. Also, I use the white sections on the inner corners of my eyes and the green sections over pimples to help neutralize the redness.

Back to Basics: The Best Black Eye Shadows

BellaSugar — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 15:00:16 PST

What makes one black eye shadow stand out from the crowd? For me, it should be pigment rich and easy to blend, so you only need to use a little bit to get the job done. Still, the number one reason why I might choose one black shadow over another is if it can be worn wet and dry - letting it double as an eyeliner without damaging the composition of the shadow.

The following blacks have been my favorites for years. They stay put, so by the end of the night they don't flake or wind up halfway down my cheeks. For those of you who have tried-and-true favorite black shadow as well, by all means let me know about it!

Laura Mercier Caviar Eyeliner in Black Caviar ($22) is categorized as an eyeliner, actually (oh the irony!) but I love to use it as a shadow as well. It's got a more textured consistency than a powder shadow, yet it's not quite a cream consistency either. The best part about it that it will never fall onto your cheeks, and it glides on easily with a brush. If you haven't yet tried it, this is a must-have.

For two more bellissima black eye shadows,

T. Le Clerc Eyeshadow Duo in Noir ($24) actually contains two colors: a golden, shimmery green on one side and the most luxuriously-rich deep-black matte powder shadow on the other.

This duo is a staple for any evening affair. Use the black on the lower part of your lids or as a liner, and use the green in the crease and in the inner corners of your eyes for sparkle.

MAC Eye Shadow in Carbon ($14) is an intense black eye shadow. It contains high pigment and it blends well. What I love about this color is that it's a real black - meaning it's dark and matte. It's always a great product to have on hand if you want to create a smokey eye.

Bellissima! T. LeClerc Corrector Palette

BellaSugar — Wed, 16 May 2007 14:08:21 PDT

This T. LeClerc Corrector Palette ($37.50) is more than a pretty kaleidoscope of pastels. It's also a terrific product to own all year round. Each pastel shade is actually a concealer with a specific purpose, such as covering dark circles, evening out blotchiness, or masking redness. To read about the specific functions of each of the colors,

Tilleul (Green): Since it is the opposite of red on the color wheel, this pale green helps cover blemishes, redness from sunburn blotchiness, or any general redness. If you like this, you would also appreciate Acti'mine Makeup base in Kiwi by Givenchy.
Banane (Pale Yellow): The light yellow concealer helps brighten your skin. You can use it on the upper part of your cheek bones to reflect light or under your eyes to mask dark blue circles.
Parme (Light Tan): This natural color can be used to brighten skin and camouflage discolorations. It also doubles as an eyeshadow base.
Beige (Neutral Beige): This is a great everyday concealer for most complexions. You can use this as the "white" in your palette to create other shades to suit your specific needs.
Orchidee (Lavender): This pretty purple is a lifesaver for hiding brown spots, age spots, and sun spots. It's also perfect mixed with beige on dark skin tones, but if your skin is very pink, you might want to steer clear of this one.