BellaSugar

Bella Guide: Facial Creams For Your Skin Type

BellaSugar — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 05:45:24 PDT

I am always being asked for my expert opinion on great face creams, but sometimes it's tough to know which product to recommend if I can't see your complexion to make a proper analysis. So I've created a guide to fantastic facial creams best suited to each of the five skin types. Here are my definitions of the five skin types and my recommendations for the best moisturizers for each.

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Definition: The T-Zone

BellaSugar — Tue, 22 May 2007 11:35:38 PDT

People have different skin types that can be divided into five categories: oily skin, dry skin, normal skin, sensitive skin and combination skin, which is the most common. Having combination skin means that your face most likely has an oily zone that includes your forehead, nose, and chin, while the rest of your skin has normal to dry patches.

If you were to draw a line through these areas, it would look like the letter "T" - hence, the commonly used beauty term, the T-Zone. The T-Zone is oilier than the rest of your face because it has a higher percentage of oil glands. These areas tend to break out more often and have a higher tendency toward blackheads, whiteheads, irritation, sunburn, and redness.

Caring for your T-Zone is easy: Just remember to keep your hands away from your face, and use a toner or astringent in addition to your cleanser to help keep the area clean.

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What We're Sweet On: Hard-Core SPF For Daily Makeup Wearers

Jessica Cruel — Fri, 04 May 2012 03:05:00 PDT

Algenist's Ultra Lightweight UV Defense Fluid SPF 50 ($38) packs all the punch of a heavy-duty sunscreen, but without the tacky texture or the telltale scent. Chock-full of alguronic acid (the brand's magic ingredient), skin is regenerated at a cellular level and protected against environmental stressors. And thanks to its easy-to-spread consistency, the weightless fluid is ideal for under-makeup wear. Plus, it's oil-free, so you don't have to worry about it making you shine for all the wrong reasons. Finally, you can get daily UVA and UVB coverage, all while avoiding an unfortunate T-zone oil slick situation.

Two Reasons Two Primers Can Be Better Than One

Jaime Richards — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 10:20:00 PDT

Makeup artists will often advise buying more than one concealer or foundation to get a perfectly customized blend that's practically goof-proof. Although it's not something most of us think about for primers, the same principal can ring true for these face-perfectors, too. Clarins' Pati Dubroff, who has worked with celebrities like Freida Pinto, Charlize Theron, and Eva Mendes, says that sometimes, two primers are actually better than one, and here's why:

You call the shots: Have an oily T-zone, but lackluster cheeks? Then consider using two different primers targeted for these two very different conditions. "Sometimes you have to strategize with primer," advises Dubroff, who suggests using the brand's Instant Smooth Perfecting Touch ($33) to minimize imperfections and quell shininess pre-foundation, along with the radiance-boosting Beauty Flash Balm ($45) pressed on the outer edges of the face for glow and lift.
They're great after the fact: Just because you've primed your face and applied your makeup, doesn't mean you can't pull out the primers again later. The Instant Smooth Perfecting Touch is "great for filling in as a powder over your makeup," Dubroff says, and the Beauty Flash Balm delivers an instant pick-me-up when and where needed. And this has been your primer on doubling up the primers.

What We're Sweet On: The $5 Face Powder That Never Disappoints

Jaime Richards — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 10:35:00 PST

Ever have days when you feel like you're going nonstop? The kind of days where coffee and/or bathroom breaks are activities for which you can only dream? Forget makeup touchups, because those aren't happening, either. These are the times when you'll want to be sure to have Wet n' Wild Natural Blend Pressed Powder ($5) in your beauty stash. The paraben-free powder, especially when applied with a large fluffy brush in the morning, helps subtly diffuse imperfections and set makeup all day long. And unlike many other drugstore variety powders, the finish is neither too orange nor cakey. It also keeps the t-zone shine-free for hours and hours. So whether time is on your side or it isn't, at least you won't have to worry about your makeup.

How You Can Avoid Powder Problems on Your Big Day

Jaime Richards — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 13:46:44 PDT

Yesterday while signing copies of her new book, All That Is Bitter and Sweet: A Memoir ($14), Ashley Judd experienced a common makeup mishap: visible face powder marks. While many celebrities have also had similar incidences, chalky-looking makeup on your wedding day (or any other day, for that matter) is easy to avoid. Find out five tips for powder perfection when you read more.

Test Run: Panasonic's New Beauty Retouching Camera

Allure — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 08:29:36 PDT

We're excited to present this article from Allure!

I'm totally against airbrushing-in theory. Since I'm also one of the many women who loathe how they look in photos (a peek at my Facebook page reveals this with way too many embarrassing images of me making the fishy face in attempts to look "hot"), I couldn't help but be intrigued when I heard that Panasonic has a new camera that offers instant retouching.

See the story - and the amazing results - when you keep reading.

The Secrets Behind Jennifer Aniston's Golden Glow Revealed

Jaime Richards — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 15:48:43 PDT

Jennifer Aniston always looks like she just returned from a fabulous beach vacation, but sometimes the star gets a little help elsewhere to achieve her signature golden glow. For the Horrible Bosses premiere in London earlier today, her sexy luminous look was in part thanks to her longtime makeup artist, Angela Levin, who used St. Tropez's new Gold Illuminator ($23) as her secret weapon. "It's so subtle, but makes all the difference," Levin explains. So to see her expert tips on how you can re-create Jennifer's entire red-carpet makeup palette, just keep reading.

8 Clever Makeup Tips You Haven't Heard Before

Annie Tomlin — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 05:00:44 PDT

Makeup artists know all the secrets to looking great - those little tricks that can be picked up only by living in the beauty world 24/7 as they do. Fortunately, they're often as generous as they are knowledgeable. We talked with some of the best makeup artists in the business to get their best out-of-the-ordinary tips. (And no, we're not using the old "white eyeliner makes your eyes look bigger" thing. You've read it a hundred times.) Read on to see some of the best tips you haven't heard before.