BellaSugar

Bella Guide: Facial Creams For Your Skin Type

BellaSugar — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 05:45:24 -0700

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.

Source

Definition: The T-Zone

BellaSugar — Tue, 22 May 2007 11:35:38 -0700

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.

Source

Doing Drugstore: Maybelline SuperStay 24hr Makeup and Concealer

BellaSugar — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 09:01:52 -0700

For those of you that are fans of Max Factor's Lasting Performance Stay Put Makeup (RIP, old buddy), perhaps you might find somewhat of a replacement in Maybelline's new SuperStay 24hr Makeup ($10). The consistency, which lies somewhere between Revlon's ColorStay and Lasting Performance (see my comparisons here), skews more on the slightly creamy end of the spectrum, so it's quite easy to blend.

As for the wearability factor, SuperStay definitely delivers, although by the end of the day, I did have some slick spots in the t-zone. I guess that's the sacrifice you must make in order to keep the finish on the cake-free side, as this product provides semi-matte to semi-dewy results. Surprisingly, this oil-free formulation provides a light-on-the skin feel, all while giving pretty strong coverage. Speaking of bargains . . . read more.

Reader Review of the Day: Almay Pure Blends Makeup

BellaSugar — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 10:00:58 -0700

Almay Pure Blends Makeup ($12) is part of Almay's recently launched eco-friendly line. I'm usually a little bit cautious about drugstore stuff that says it's "natural," especially when it comes to skin care, because it sometimes means essential oils that irritate my skin, but reader longhornlass04 has had a great experience with this one. She says:

"I actually bought this on clearance, because I think they just updated the packaging. I'm big on spending very little on foundation if I've never tried it before. I got nervous when I first put it on, because I sometimes have a reaction to lavender, and the smell is lavender-heavy. However, my skin didn't flare up and it left it even-toned. After a week or so of using it, I noticed my pores began to look smaller. Wasn't expecting that. It's also very dewy, which I love on my combination skin. I just brush a little mineral powder on my t-zone and it's pitch perfect."

Found a foundation you adore? Or in the market for a new one and need the lowdown on what's hot? Pop over to the Product Reviews pages, where there are over 50,000 products for review, and a whole lot of info from other readers who've tried just about everything out there.

Reader Review of the Day: Neutrogena Wave Power-Cleanser and Deep Clean Foaming Pads

BellaSugar — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 10:00:11 -0700

It's been about one and a half years since the much buzzed-about Neutrogena Wave Power-Cleanser and Deep Clean Foaming Pads ($13) launched. I gave you my review back then, but now it's StarObsolete's turn. Here's what she had to say:

This is by far one of my favorite cleansers. When I first saw the commercial which Vanessa Hudgens, I was a bit skeptical, but I decided to give it a try. My face doesn't have much oil, mostly just the t-zone.
This really worked great for my skin. A lot of cleansers seemed to dry out my face, but this one kept it super smooth. Love, love, love the scent to this cleanser!

What buzzed-about products have you tried recently? Let us know all about them on our Product Reviews page and perhaps you'll be featured in this daily post.

Is Your Makeup Aging You? Part One

BellaSugar — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 07:01:08 -0700

We all know that smoking and unprotected sun exposure can age you. But can your makeup techniques be making you look older as well? After noticing that my under-eye concealer was providing a more cakey, wrinkled effect than smooth and clean coverage, I took note.

So, over the next few days, let's delve deeper into what tips you can use to make sure your face is looking fresh, not frumpy. Let's start with the complexion. See what I mean when you read more.

The finish: When it comes to finishes, pick dewy for a softer look. Matte can come off as dull, accentuating fine lines and wrinkles.
The intensity: Less is more when it comes to looking fresh-faced. Make it sheer for a subtle coverage, focusing on laying off the foundation.
Keep it in the zone: Powder can have a tendency to settle in fine lines. If you get oily, powder only your t-zone, and consider blotting papers if you need to absorb any slick spots.
Conceal with zeal: Try skipping foundation altogether, using spot concealer only where needed. Some makeup artists even recommend avoiding concealer under the eyes, as it can settle into crow's feet and wrinkles. Yves St. Laurent national makeup artist, Dell Ashley suggests applying under-eye concealer to the inner corners of the eyes, along the bridge of the nose, for a brightening, lifting effect.
Choose wisely: Too-pale foundation can wash you out. When in doubt, go darker and blend.
Just blush: A peach shade will add warmth and brightness to the face. Apply at a 45-degree angle on the cheek to create an uplifted appearance. Avoid going under cheekbones, which can bring the face down.

Source

Other Ways to Use Kleenex For Beauty

BellaSugar — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 09:00:11 -0800

Did you know that Kleenex was originally marketed as a cold cream/makeup remover? It wasn't until a few years after its initial release that it was commonly thought of as a nose-blowing product. Backstage at Fashion Week, I saw lots of facial tissue, and it wasn't just for blotting lipstick or t-zones. This got me to thinking about facial tissue and its usage in beauty. Here are some of my tips below. What are yours?

Hair protector: Behind the scenes at Fashion Week, hairstylists often use tissue between hair clips to prevent any unnecessary denting on freshly-styled hair.
Powder palette: Scrape off powders from eye shadows and blushes onto a tissue to create an artist's palette. That way, you can mix different colors together without making a mess. It's also a sanitary way to do someone else's makeup since you won't be double dipping into the products.

To see the rest, read more.

Secret storage: Last year, I had the chance to interview Heidi Klum about how to look best on the red carpet (or pretty much any fancy event). She said, "My super-secret tip is I can't fit the powder compact into a very tiny evening bag, I'll take some shavings of the pressed powder wrapped in a tissue!"
Little helper: It might seem rather obvious, but tissues are great for removing gunk buildup around makeup items like mascara wands and nail polish threads. Clearing out the excess product ensures a tight seal, and prolongs the life of your makeup items. Yay.

Source

Bella Bargain: Get 25% Off at Tarte

BellaSugar — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 06:00:22 -0700

It's sale time at Tarte Cosmetics, so that means from now until October 6th, you'll get 25% off your total order. All you have to do is purchase any complexion item (see list below) and type in the code COMPLEX at the checkout - you'll be good to go. You'll also be entered to win a Purple Apple iPod nano (I can dig that).

Choose at least one of the complexion items below to receive the discount:

Clean Slate Primer ($27)
The Eraser ($19)
Smooth Operator ($35)
Provocateur Pressed Mineral Powder ($28)
Yellow Mellow ($25)
Bronzer Powder ($28)
T-Zone Travel ($32)

Product Review: Skinceuticals Emollience

BellaSugar — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 09:00:58 -0700

A friend of mine got a facial in Boston and fell head over heels for a moisturizer from SkinCeuticals called Emollience ($50). Her rave reviews about how her skin looked even, supple and hydrated after just one month made me run faster than Forrest Gump to the store. So far I've been using it for two weeks and here are my thoughts:

Emollience has a thin, slip-like texture, but it delivers heavy moisture. It has a light and clean scent that feels refreshing on your face and makes your skin look dewy and smooth. Also, I love that it is reasonably priced for such a large jar. It lasts long too. All you really need is a pinky nail bed-sized dollop for your entire face and neck.

The texture aside, the results are really what make this such a solid purchase. I apply it in the morning and my face doesn't dry out even the slightest bit all day. It absorbs quickly so I can put my makeup on right away without any base or powder sliding off. I use a little bit extra in the evenings, along with an eye cream and when I wake up, my skin looks splotch-free and feels like buttah.

It's recommended for those with dry skin since it contains restorative oils (grapeseed, rose hip and macadamia), but my skin is combination and it seems to be responding well to the formula (meaning, it's not too oily, even around my t-zone). Is this the best face cream in the whole wide world? No, but it definitely ranks high, and I can confidently recommend it to anyone looking for a gentle cream that will give your thirsty complexion a tall drink of water.

Product Review: Urban Decay De-Slick Mattifying Powder

BellaSugar — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 14:00:26 -0700

There aren't many makeup products that leave me feeling totally ickified, but Urban Decay's De-Slick Mattifying Powder ($28) is one of them. Everything from the application method to the way it looks and feels on your face is a colossal disaster.

The hard-pressed light lavender (although it claims to be translucent) powder is difficult to get onto your brush, so you are pretty much forced to use the puff that comes inside. The powder feels chalky to the touch and doesn't spread well. In fact, because it's so oil-absorbent, it makes your skin feel dry, almost like it's cracking.

I was really bummed with the results, because I like a mattifier for my T-zone from time to time, and a powder compact in a cute purple case seemed like a great solution. Unfortunately, I'm afraid that unless you are going for a Bride of Dracula, Dita Von Teese, super-matte, pale face look (or if you happen to be someone with extremely oily skin), I'd steer clear of this powder.

See reader reviews of this product and add your own here!