BellaSugar

Emergency Relief From Redness

BellaSugar — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 08:00:08 PST

While there are plenty of great skin care options available for gals with sensitive skin, what about the occasional and pesky flare-up of redness that all skin types can relate to, such as the kind that occurs from an unexpected pimple, or a nose rubbed raw from a winter cold? In the past I've resorted to applying everything from Neosporin to thick, goopy hand cream on my poor nose, or even Visine on a pimple. Neither really worked.

Fortunately, I've discovered a much better and effective option in Therapy Systems' Emergency Treatment Cream ($32). This light and fluffy pink concoction is formulated with hydrocortisone to immediately zap redness and calm inflammation. Just dab a little on the emergency stricken areas, and it soothes your skin while eliminating the redness. Crisis averted!

For another great (and cheaper) option,

read more. A more affordable alternative is Aveeno's Maximum Strength Anti-Itch Cream ($6). Even though it's marketed as an anti-itch cream, It contains the same active ingredient, hydrocortisone, to reduce redness and inflammation. I recommend it over other drugstore hydrocortisone creams because it contains ingredients such as oatmeal and aloe to nurture your skin while it's being treated.

Coming Soon: Therapy Systems April Fool's Makeup

BellaSugar — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 09:00:06 PST

As you are well aware by now, spring 2008 collections are out in full force creating all kinds of beauty buzz. This new line from Therapy Systems happens to be launching way far away in April, but I've been lucky enough to get a sneak peek at the goods.

While some might call it small, I call it succinct. The six piece collection contains two lipsticks, two gel blushes, a powder blush and an eye shadow. All of the colors were inspired from looks seen on spring runways, and the names come from chic Greek and Italian hot spots. So I'm not pulling your leg, this April Fool's Collection is very real!

View 5 Photos ›

For a description of each of the colors and the prices, read more

Tequila Sunrise Coral Powder Blush ($20) is a shimmery coral blush that gives most skin tones (especially olive skin) instant warmth.
Portofino Rose Gel Blush ($24) is a sheer, dewy and creamy gel blush with a little bit of shimmer. It can also be used as a lip tint.
Santorini Coral Gel Blush ($24) provides cheeks and lips with a subtle touch of coral shimmer. It should blend easily with your fingertips.
Mykonos Eyeshadow ($19) is a pale, shimmery, gold metallic eye shadow that looks great on most skin tones. It can be worn all over your lid or blended with other shadows.
Capri Lipstick and Naples Lipstick ($20 each) are two perfect sheer shades for spring. Capri is pink and Naples is coral. They are both extremely creamy, smooth and moisturizing since they are formulated with Vitamin E, and the colors are soft enough for everyday wear.

Product Review: Therapy Systems Tinted Moisturizing Lip Balm

BellaSugar — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 08:00:46 PST

Wearing heavy eye makeup while participating in winter events can turn into a disaster. When your eyes water from the wind, everything begins to run. But wearing a lip balm is another story-it's totally easy. A hint of a tint gives your lips a healthy glow while shielding them from harsh weather. That's why I was excited to try these new Therapy Systems All Over Color Tinted Moisturizing Lip Balms ($22 each).

The metallic containers are a lot more chic than the average tube of Chap Stick, that's for sure. I also like that the lip balms are formulated with vitamin E and cocoa butter, and that they come in six flattering, sheer colors. But the formula pulls a little bit on my lips, and it's more of a protectant balm than a moisturizing one-in other words, if your lips are already smooth, it's great, but if they're chapped, this isn't the best formula. For $22, I expected a lot more. But if you like this genre, you can check out more tinted lip balms here.

6 Unique Ways to Fend Off Illnesses and Avoid Medical Bills

Emily Co — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 13:57:16 PST

There are very few things that are worse than getting sick. Not only will you have pricey medical bills to pay, but you may also have to skip out on work. Fortunately, you can employ plenty of preventative methods to avoid falling ill. We've heard the usual "eat right and exercise" advice, so here are a couple of tactics that you may not have heard of:

Immune boosters in a pill: Although you've heard of the usual immune boosters like vegetables and fruits, there are a couple of holistic cures you might want to try. There's New Chapter's LifeShield Immunity ($20), which is a supplement made out of a combination of mycelium, fruiting bodies, spores, and extracellular compounds from tonic mushrooms.
Take ginseng with your vaccine: When you get a flu vaccine, try taking some ginseng with it so you'll bounce back from the effects of the vaccine. There was a study done in which only 13 percent of the group of participants who took ginseng with flu vaccinations caught colds vs. 37 percent of the placebo group.
Trick yourself psychologically: Don't discount old wives' remedies! Even if you don't have any scientific proof, perhaps the cures have some sort of psychological effect that results in physical effects. For example, a cure for cough that works for me is rubbing vapor rub over my feet and wearing socks at night. Another scientifically disproved treatment is Airborne, which somehow always fends off a cold when I feel one coming on.

Read on for more tips.

Link Time: Unusual Ways to Hang Art, DIY Milk Glass, and Fashion-Inspired Color Palettes

CasaSugar — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 10:00:57 PST

10 no-frame ways to hang art. - Houzz
Five great gadget storage systems. - Real Simple
Check out some fabulous collections. - Apartment Therapy
DIY your own milk glass. - Craft
Fashion into home decor - love these colors! - Stylelist Home
12 design visionaries to watch in 2012. - House Beautiful

6 Smells That Boost Your Health In Surprising Ways

Prevention — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 04:11:50 PST

We are excited to share one of our fave stories from Prevention here on FitSugar!

Certain scents can help memory, mood, energy, and libido
By: Sarah Mahoney, Prevention

Did you know that the human sense of smell can identify thousands of aromas and is 10,000 times more precise than our sense of taste?

We have millions of smell receptors in our noses. When they detect a scent, they shoot the information to the olfactory bulb - a pea-size cluster in the brain, which sorts the signals and relays them to the limbic system. This primitive part of the brain governs many memories and emotions; some of our most basic behaviors - feeding, fighting, or fleeing; as well as sexual arousal, pleasure, and maybe even addiction. Because of their close proximity, the neurological controls for these behaviors often become entangled. That's why, for instance, during the early stages of attraction, dinner is often a prelude to sex.

It also explains how odor can help
lower stress levels, improve mental and physical performance, ease pain, end insomnia, and even help us lose weight, research shows. Here’s how to use your sense of smell to your advantage.

To Resist a Snack Attack
Sniff: Green Apple or Another Favorite Scent
A fragrance you love can help manage cravings, according Alan Hirsch, MD, founder of the Smell and Taste Treatment and Research Foundation in Chicago. In one study, Hirsch gave overweight people banana, green apple, and peppermint to sniff when they felt a craving; they lost more weight than non-sniffers.
Try this: Keep a bottle of a favorite scent handy throughout the day and try sniffing instead of snacking.

To Calm Down
Sniff: Orange or Lavender
In an Austrian study, researchers wafted the smell of oranges before some participants and lavender before others. The two groups felt less anxious, more positive, and calmer, compared with participants who were exposed to no fragrance at all.
Try this: Add a few drops of either oil to a room diffuser and use in your office on stressful days.

Learn more soothing scents after the break.

All of Your Most Common Acne Questions - Answered!

Jaime Richards — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 12:07:11 PDT

While 80 percent of teenagers will experience acne at some point or another, it's not uncommon for the condition to afflict women well into adulthood. "The good news is that we have really great treatments, and nobody has to suffer with it," says Dr. Linda Stein Gold, director of dermatology clinical research at Henry Ford Health System in Detroit.

That's why I asked Dr. Stein Gold some of the more pressing acne questions: all the things you want to talk to your dermatologist while you're visiting his office, but either don't have the time to fit in or simply forget to inquire about. So to see Dr. Stein Gold's top acne advice, just keep reading.

Group Therapy: Supporting an Old Friend After Rehab and Betrayal

Tres Community — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 03:05:57 PDT

This question is from a Group Therapy post in our TrèsSugar Community. Add your advice in the comments!

A friend of mine recently completed a rehab program and contacted me to make amends. As you might imagine, our friendship went from close, to strained, to non-existent for reasons both directly and indirectly related to her addiction. There was a straw/camel’s back situation a few years ago, which led to me completely cutting her off.

Despite that, I’m still the only friend she has left. I really want her to lead a happy and sober life. I do care about her and we have lots of good memories together from the years we were friends. But peppered throughout those years were all sorts of betrayals, drama, and negativity. My life since I cut her out has been drastically better; the people around me are people I trust and drama is rare. I guess I just don’t know where she fits into my life anymore.

I should add that when we spoke, it seemed like she was really committed to staying sober and not engaging in the other destructive behaviors that caused our friendship breakup. But you can imagine why I would be hesitant to believe that after years of lies.

I guess my question is: Is it an obligation of mine to be one of her main support systems since she doesn't have other friends? Can I be supportive of her new life without really letting her back into mine? Can people really change, not just get clean, but actually change how they interact with and treat people during rehab? Also, I’d just be interested in hearing from anyone who has gone through rehab themselves or had a friend or loved one transition to a sober life.

Have a dilemma of your own? Post it anonymously to Group Therapy for advice, and check out what else is happening in the TrèsSugar Community.

DrSugar Answers: What's Causing My Night Sweats?

DrSugar — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 00:54:00 PDT

DrSugar is in the house! This week she's discussing possible causes for night sweats.

Dear DrSugar,
I have been having night sweats and waking up soaking wet about two nights a week. I am only 32, so it better not be menopause! This all started about two months, and interestingly enough I started training for a marathon four months ago. I have been steadily increasing my weekly mileage and have lost some weight and gained some muscle. My period has been a bit lighter too. I still get it, but it is shorter by two days or so. Any idea of what is going on?
- Sweaty Sleeper

First of all, congratulations on training for your first marathon; what an accomplishment that will be! To answer your question, there could be a lot of things going on, and I don’t think I can single in on even a couple of diagnoses, as there are so many things that can cause lighter periods/irregular periods as well as night sweats. Since you mentioned menopause specifically, I will discuss premature menopause today, as well as the common causes of irregular periods and night sweats. I suggest you be seen by your primary care provider for further workup, as there are many diagnoses that would need to be entertained for your constellation of symptoms. To learn more, keep reading.

Natural Fixes For Allergy Season

FitSugar — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 02:14:08 PDT

Allergy season is in full force. For many sufferers, this time of the year is marked by runny noses, watery, itchy eyes, sneezing, sinus pain, and headaches. An estimated 40 million to 50 million Americans suffer from seasonal allergies - so what can we do about them?

According to Dr. Oz, an allergic response to pollens is actually the sign of an active immune system, but before we go and toast to our runny noses, here are some natural solutions that often help conquer those pesky symptoms.

Heat therapy. Warmer temperature is a great way to relieve congestion because it helps get the fluid and congestion in your face and chest moving by helping to think it out. Try exercising more or investing in a humidifier.
Local honey. Many folks I know take a tablespoon of honey a day to combat allergies. The belief is that ingesting local pollen from honey builds resistance to the surrounding fauna. And while it may work for some people, remember that it's a home remedy that might not work for everyone, but is worth trying. If it doesn't help with your sniffles and sneezing, you're still getting vitamins B6, thiamin, niacin, riboflavin, pantothenic acid, and minerals like calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, potassium, and zinc. Honey also contains antioxidants and vitamin C. All that and it tastes good, too!

Keep reading for more tips and helpful suggestions.