BellaSugar

Get the Look: Shane McCutcheon

BellaSugar — Tue, 12 May 2009 07:00:11 -0700

Oh, Shane. Girls love her, boys do too, and yet this L Word character is the ultimate love 'em and leave 'em kind of lady. And even though the show is off the air, I'll continue to steal her wardrobe thanks to CelebStyle's straight-from-the-set notes. A little black eyeliner and nearly nude lipstick provide most of the makeup, while a bit of wax will give wannabe Shanes the tousled look they desire. It's an easy look - even if Shane proved to be one of the most complex characters on the show.

CoverGirl Incredifull Lipstick, Mauve Souffle 932 - $7.43	Clinique brush-on cream liner - $14.50
Laura Mercier Oil Free Foundation - $42.00	Lorac Blush - $19.00
Garnier Fructis Style Surf Hair Texture Paste Matte Effect - $3.49

Source

CelebStyle Giveaway: Win The L Word Look

PopSugar — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 06:55:31 -0800

With the series finale this Sunday, we're getting ready to say goodbye to the lovely ladies of The L Word. After six dynamic seasons, the characters have gone through so many ups and downs, but one thing has remained constant: their amazing clothes. Sexy, daring, and always fashionable. To celebrate the ladies' amazing wardrobes, we're giving away some of the actual clothes from The L Word!

From now until Sunday, March 15, you can enter to win one of four dresses worn by one of your favorite actresses from The L Word. There's a gorgeous Gucci number worn by Marlee Matlin, a strapless Dolce and Gabbana dress seen on Malaya Rivera Drew, a Tory Burch sequined dress that shimmered on Pam Grier, and a Paul Smith swing dress, which Leisha Hailey wore. To enter, all you have to do is log in to TeamSugar (if you're not a member, register now) and add a look of your own to any post on CelebStyle (see how after the jump). You'll be entered for every look you create, so there are plenty of chances to win! Be creative and check out the official rules here.

To learn how to add a look, read more.

Click into any story ("look") on CelebStyle.com.
Once there, under the picture, you'll find a series of tags and several ways to play: You can comment, send an email, become a fan of the look ("love this"), or add a look of your own. Click either "add a look" link to get started.

On the next screen you'll be prompted to create a look. First, click on the "add image" button.

Now a new window will pop up. Leave the tab in "Search ShopStyle" and type in a product description for the item you're looking for (e.g. if you're looking for a black turtleneck, type in "black turtleneck.").

Once you've found the perfect item, click on the product and it will show up on your look page.

Repeat for every item that you'd like to include in your look.
When you're done, scroll to the bottom of the page and click "save look." Your look will now show up with the editor's look on the CelebStyle story (and you'll be entered into the contest!).

Photo courtesy of Showtime

It's Easy to Mimic Your Favorite Lipstick Lesbians

BellaSugar — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 11:20:06 -0800

Next month, The L Word returns for its final season, and judging by the previews, it's gonna be a good one. (Face it, any show that features Kate Moennig is going to be worth watching.)

To commemorate the show's Jan. 18 return, Three Custom Color Specialists has created four lipsticks ($20 each) inspired by Bette, Kit, Alice, and Shane - and the sheer shades are alluring indeed. They're currently available for preorder, so check out the colors when you read more.

Unsurprisingly, I'm partial to the Shane shade, but there's something here for every fan. If you're feeling creative, you can also enter the tagline challenge for your chance to win the whole set of lipsticks, goodies from Showtime, and a $300 Three Custom Color Specialists gift certificate.

Source

Get the Look: Reni Lane

BellaSugar — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 14:10:30 -0700

Reni Lane is a Columbia University student, but when she's not in class, she's tending to a burgeoning music career. Her album doesn't come out until September, but she's already had a song featured in The L Word, and she's the star of fashion designer Erin Fetherston's forthcoming lookbook. Last night, she attended a dinner party with mall punkers The All-American Rejects while showing off her signature flame-colored hair.

This is a fun way to play with a bold hue, and if you'd like to try the look, you have a few options. For the brightest color, go with Manic Panic semipermanent dye ($12) in Electric Lava, a bold shade that glows under black light. A little tamer is Feria Copper Red ($5.99). No matter which way you go, consider using a color-depositing conditioner; while red hair is eye-catching, it's also the fastest to fade.

The Best of Bella

BellaSugar — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 07:00:35 -0800

Jean Shrimpton was this week's Bella Donna.
A woman painted her car. With nail polish.
A weekly paste leaves teeth clean and shiny.
Chanel's spring makeup is something to daydream about.
Nobody seems to care about Mischa's headband line.
The L Word gets its own lipstick collection.

Source

Bella Brand: Sappho Cosmetics

BellaSugar — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 09:00:32 -0700

Talk about lipstick lesbians. Emmy-nominated makeup artist JoAnn Fowler, who works on The L Word, created Sappho Cosmetics after researching the possible health effects of parabens in beauty products. Her mineral-based range is entirely free of "chemical" ingredients, incorporating essential plant oils and juices instead of artificial preservatives.

Actresses Mia Kirshner and Jennifer Beals (Jenny and Bette, respectively, on The L Word) worked with Fowler to come up with eco-friendly cosmetics created without animal testing. The resulting products, some of which are named after the show's actresses, are used on-set. So if these lipsticks make me look anything like the sizzling Kate Moennig, count me in.

View 5 Photos ›

Your Guide to Deciphering Cruelty-Free Beauty

BellaSugar — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 09:00:19 -0700

When it comes to animal testing, there's really no reason to do it with cosmetics. And it's not just me and PETA who think this way; the European Union has banned all cosmetics-related animal testing, effective next year. It's not only about saving bunnies from having shampoo poured in their eyes - although that seems like a good-enough reason to me. It's about creating new ways to test ingredients, too; for instance, L'Oreal is developing ways to test on in vitro skin tissue, which is not only cruelty-free, it's also more reliable.

But that's the European Union. In the States, animal testing is unregulated, with major cosmetics companies such as Procter & Gamble continuing to test on our furry friends. If you'd like to avoid animal testing, here are some things to look out for.

The Leaping Bunny, shown here. Whenever you see this cute rabbit, you'll know that the product has been developed without any animal testing in any phase of product development by the company, its suppliers, or its outsourced laboratories. Independent audits confirm this, so the seal is trustworthy.
Final product not tested on animals. Pay attention to the wording here. The final product isn't tested on animals, but its ingredients probably were.
This brand does not test on animals. Again, the phrasing is tricky. Maybe Brand X doesn't test on animals, but its supplier does. Or Brand X has a laboratory formulate its products, and some mad scientist is injecting poor little mice with poison.

If you're interested in finding out which companies do and don't test on animals, these lists should help. Keep in mind that most beauty companies are owned by a corporate parent who owns other companies. For instance, Burt's Bees does not test on animals, but Clorox, its parent company, does. So when you shop, you may want to keep that in mind.

Bella Brand: Apothia

BellaSugar — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 08:00:43 -0700

Meet Apothia Aromatic, a California-based company that creates home fragrance candles, diffusers, and bath and body products inspired by Los Angeles experiences. All products are blended and made from premium ingredients, and both the home and personal fragrance lines feature sleek, award-winning packaging.

I had the chance to sit down with Apothia's founder, Ron Robinson, a couple of years ago. He was warm and friendly, and genuinely excited about his line. (Really, he was like a giddy kid unwrapping presents as he told me about each product.) He's a perfectionist when it comes to finding the precise notes to create the scents, and his work pays off-the fragrances are multifaceted and genuinely unique.

View 5 Photos ›

For a detailed description of each of the Apothia aromas, read more

If you've shopped at Barneys New York, you've probably seen the line of home candles ($46), which burn for 60 hours. I have one and find that to spread the scent to my apartment, I only need to leave it burning for 20 minutes or so. The rest of the Apothia Collection consists of aromatic diffusers ($78), eau de parfum ($30–$75), body wash ($28) and body lotion ($30). These are the available scents, but note that not all of them are available in all forms.

VELVET ROPE is inspired by a dry martini, spiked with notes of vanilla, jasmine and grapefruit. (I have this in a candle, and my guy friends always ask about the smell.) It's available as a candle and in the body care/personal fragrance line.
IF is more distinctly feminine. It's largely a citrus scent, but it builds to a floral, then finishes with musk. It's available only in the body care/personal fragrance line.
L is for all my Sapphic girls out there. Inspired by The L Word, it's something of an earthy scent, with notes of green violet leaf and woods. It's not available as a candle, but it's available as a fragrance.

PLUSH is made from citrus notes of mandarin, lime and pomelo.
WAVE is symbolic of a morning at the beach, smelling of driftwood, flowers, sea grass, white grapefruit, mandarin and yuzu.
SCENE is the ultimate urban guilty pleasure. Think glittering lights and sexy flashes of skin. This scent is made from fig, juniper berry and pear nectar.
CHRISMUKKAH reminds me of the OC! It smells of fresh green fir, clove, and ocean air.
SPIRITUAL is meant to be calming and peaceful, with hippie-chic notes of patchouli, amber, sandalwood, green mint and basil.
SOUL sounds really sexy to me. It has notes of African ginger, mahogany, Taboti wood and Grains of Paradise.
JUICED is all about health. This fresh scent is energizing, with notes of sparkling red currant, geranium and tomato leaf.
BRONZED is the perfect name for an LA fragrance, yes?Orange flower, petitgrain, bergamot and jasmine make up this scent.
CASA is something I'll have to tell, uh, Casa about. It is made from Casablanca lilies, newly cut grass, and fresh air.

Fragrance Review: L'Eau de Jatamansi

BellaSugar — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 09:00:00 -0700

If you think eating organic is good, wait until you smell it. French fragrance house L'Artisan Parfumeur has released Jatamansi, a light and summery scent. Named after the Sanskrit word for Himalayan nard (a flowering plant), the certified-organic fragrance includes grapefruit, ylang ylang, rose, cardamom and other unusual plants.

The official description of L'Eau de Jatamansi ($145) says that it smells like iced tea. In a way it does, but the scent is far more complex than a simple Lipton blend. The relaxing notes of Jatamansi evoke a leisurely summer day, so it's perfect for warm weather. I generally can't stand the taste of iced tea, but after smelling this light, clean fragrance, I may have to rethink that! To find out the only drawback about this scent, read more

Unfortunately, L'Eau de Jatamansi is so light that it doesn't last all day. I needed to refresh every three or four hours, which means the $145 bottle might not last for more than three or four months. Then again, this summery scent is best for June, July and August-so when Autumn rolls around, it'll be time for a richer, darker scent anyway.

Doing Drugstore: Sally Hershberger's Supreme Head

BellaSugar — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 08:00:18 -0800

A haircut with stylist Sally Hershberger normally runs $800-that is, if you can move to the top of her waiting list and you can deal with her unusual working style. But benefiting from her hair expertise is about to get a lot more affordable. Sally (shown here with Joan Jett) is launching Supreme Head, a collection of shampoos, conditioners, and styling products. WWD reports:

The line consists of six shampoos and conditioners (with variants for thin to normal hair, normal to thick hair and wavy hair), three Style Primers (a variant for each hair type), a Shagg Spray, Star Shine, Wreck & Roll Texturing Gel, Wreck & Roll Texturizing Cream and Supreme Lift for normal to thin hair.

To find out how the Web is coming into play with Supreme Head, and to find out how much it'll cost you (you might be surprised!), read more

Sally, widely considered to be the inspiration for the character Shane of The L Word, is taking extra steps to make sure this is more than a vanity project. "Consumers are more savvy than to buy something with someone's name on the bottle. It has to be smarter than that," she told WWD. "Marc Anthony, Charles Worthington, Samy don't really represent a real point of difference. It is just designer. It is played out."

To combat that perception, customers will be able to go online, enter a product's UPC code, and get Sally's step-by-step instructions on creating their own hairstyles. Supreme Head will be available only at Walgreens for its first year, and as of next month, you'll be able to buy it. Shampoos and conditioners will cost $9.50, while styling products will be $12.50-far, far less than the cost of a chop from Sally herself.

Source