BellaSugar

Burt's Bees New Tinted Lip Balm Is the Definition of Barely There

Miriam Lacey — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 03:00:00 PST

You know how when you buy a lip balm that's supposed to have a "hint" of color, there's almost always quite a bit more than that when you actually get it on? Not so with Burt's Bees new Tinted Lip Balm ($6), which comes in a range of really, truly sheer colors. I tried the most highly pigmented of the bunch, the bright red Rose shade, and it took a pretty heavy hand to make the color visible. It's also not one of those balms that dries your lips out, forcing you to reapply constantly. It's basically like a lighter, much cheaper version of Laura Mercier HydraTint ($20). Overall, it's a great balm for the season, especially if you live somewhere with a high wind chill factor, and I think it should transition nicely into warmer weather. The only thing I don't like about the product, in fact, is that it costs about two bucks more than the regular Burt's Bees balm. Still, it's an inexpensive color fix and well worth checking out next time you're at the drugstore.

Have Perfect Lipstick, Even in the Worst Weather

BellaSugar — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 06:00:28 PST

Your lips have some of the most sensitive skin on your body, and chapped lips can make lipstick look rough or crumbly. It's a bad scene, but you can avoid going there with these tips.

Chad Hayduk of Three Custom Color Specialists says to avoid matte or long-wearing lip color. "They have fewer moisturizing ingredients and can dry the lips," he says. "Instead, choose a lip gloss or moisturizing sheer lipstick." He recommends Simply Beautiful Sheer Lipstick ($21.50).
Check the ingredients on your lip balm. Menthol, camphor, and salicylic acid are in many lip-healing treatments, but they dry lips out further.
If you don't have a good balm, use your under-eye cream on your lips, let it set, and then put the lipstick over that. Your lipstick will go on smoother and your lips will look fuller.
Skip the lip liner; it may keep your color in place, but it's also incredibly drying.
Use a moisturizing lipstick primer, like Pop Beauty Lip Magnet Primer ($15). Primers fill in fine lines, protect lips, smooth things out, and keep your color on longer.

Doing Drugstore: Revlon Beyond Natural

BellaSugar — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 07:00:32 PDT

I was surprised to discover that so many of you dislike Revlon. I'm a huge fan of the brand's nail polish, and now that Gucci Westman works there, things are looking up.

Last time I went to Walgreens, I picked up two items from the Beyond Natural collection: the Skin Matching Makeup ($13.99) and Protective Liptint ($8.49). All of the colors in this collection are on the natural side - lots of earth tones, partying like Al Gore in 2004 - and both of the products I tried have SPF 15. So far, so good.

For the full review,

read more. So, just like Almay's Smart Shade concealer, the Skin Matching Makeup has a color-changing formula. It comes out of the tube white, then changes color when blended. I wish companies would stop trying to trick consumers by implying that these chameleon products will magically match your skin, but that and a dollar will buy a cup of truck-stop coffee. Putting the presto change-o aspect of it aside, this is a great tinted moisturizer. It provides full-spectrum protection thanks to titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, but it doesn't have even a hint of the evil white streakiness that can show up with those ingredients. And although it doesn't provide much coverage, the color itself is free of the pink undertones that ruin so many drugstore formulations. As for the Protective Liptint? It has a smooth, lightweight formula that left my lips feeling soft, but I chose the wrong color. I expected Rosy to be rather pink, but instead it's a too-bright coral that makes me feel like Blanche Devereaux. Next time, I'll try a more neutral shade. Overall, though, I'm pleased with these products; they're great for low-maintenance Summer style.

A Few New Luxury Tinted Lip Balms

BellaSugar — Thu, 22 May 2008 10:00:46 PDT

Lip balms are one of my favorite products and I always get excited when a new one makes an appearance in the marketplace - especially if it's tinted, because it feels good and it looks good. I've tried each of these new Prescriptives and Lola Cosmetics tinted balms and they all satisfy my balmy cravings.

Korres Lip Butter ($9) is an all-natural hydrating tinted lip balm that contains a high concentration of shea butter to help soothe and heal chapped lips. It comes in four colors that leave a light trace of bee-stung color on your lips.

Lola Cosmetics Tinted Lip Balm ($10) is creamy, moisturizing and minty fresh. The balms are infused with good-for-you antioxidants, peppermint, essential oils, vitamin E, mango and spearmint for smooth application and a clean, crisp taste. The result is smooth, shiny lips that look luscious, precious and voluptuous.

Confession: So those aren't exactly the adjectives I'd choose to describe a lip balm, but they are the names of the three available colors.

For one last luxe lip balm,

read more. Prescriptives Tint Balm in Pink Satin ($14.50) isn't new per se, but the color is. It came out about six weeks ago and is a light pink with a hint of shimmer. This creamy balm conditions lips and helps reduce uncomfortable dryness and flaking. It is infused with botanicals to make it smell good, and it also contains a hint of color to create a fuller lip look.

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.

More Tinted Lip Balms!

BellaSugar — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 09:00:22 PDT

When good ol' Bonne Bell just doesn't seem sophisticated enough to whip out during your morning meeting, you can wow everyone with these designer tinted lip balms. These are perfect for the minimalist who is looking for an ultra-sheer wash of color without having to deal with any ooey-gooey-ness whatsoever.

Yves Saint Laurent Tinted Lip Balm ($23) is a new, slightly tinted, creamy lip balm that contains SPF 10 to protect lips from the sun. It is also enhanced with a fruity scent and flavor that makes your mouth perfect for summer lovin'! It's available in five shades: blackcurrant sorbet, love apple, rose cordial, sparkling praline, strawberry shake and toffee.

For two more tinted lip balms

read more Bobbi Brown Tinted Lip Balm ($17) moisturizes lips while adding a sheer wash of color. It moisturizes like a balm but has the advantage of a mess free application-plus, the newly designed metal case is also tres chic. It's available in eight shades: baby pink, citrus, champagne, pink popsicle, rose petal, pink raspberry, brown, and hazelnut.
Estee Lauder Tender Lip Balm ($14) is a sheer wash of conditioning color for the lips. It creates a little bit of shine, while also moisturizing lips by up to 28% and reducing flaking by 34% after four weeks of continued use. Also, it contains SPF 15 protect against damaging UV rays. This balm comes in six colors: tender berry, tender caramel, tender, peach, tender plum, tender nude and tender pink. Happy smackin'!

From Cool to Sweet, 4 Valentine's Day Lipstick Looks to Suit Your Mood

Jaime Richards — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 11:57:15 PST

There are only a select few holidays where going vampy is typically deemed socially appropriate. Halloween comes to mind instantly, but Valentine's Day might be a close second. And while a vampy lip color might not be for you this Valentine's Day, there are other ways you can create a mood with a simple switch of color. "Experiment with reds and pinks in different textures, like glossy, creamy, opaque, or sheer," advises Mark celebrity makeup artist Mai Quynh. To see her top selections for setting a tone that's either sweet, sexy, edgy, or vampy, just keep reading.

Surprising Makeup Tips From Three Celebrities

Guest Writer — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 15:45:33 PST

Sometimes it's the student who teaches the teacher, and in the world of beauty analogies - and in this particular case - it's the celebrity client teaching the makeup artist. Here, our guest writer, Vanitymark Cosmetics founder, and celebrity makeup artist, Brett Freedman, shares with us his role-reversing experiences.

In my career as a makeup artist I've been turned on to some really great beauty tricks. Some are self-learned from trial and error, some are from other makeup artists, and more than a few have come from the subject themselves. There's a difference between doing makeup on a gal that's not in the entertainment industry (or as I term them, "civilian") and someone who gets made up as part of their job. Civilians are excited to try new colors, textures, and see their faces through the eyes of a pro; whereas actresses, singers, and models have seen their faces made up many different ways, making them hyperkeen on how products feel, wear, and photograph. Who better to give insight into glam than the canvas themselves?

To see Brett's favorite celebrity-given tips, just keep reading.

What We're Sweet On: The Lip Tint That Just Won't Quit

Miriam Lacey — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 03:10:32 PST

Tarte lip tint ($24) is by no means a new product, but it is one that definitely deserves some extra attention. These chubby little sticks are great lip moisturizers, and unlike most balms, you don't end up reapplying them constantly to keep your lips from drying out even more. The high pigment payoff and sheer formula also make the tint exceptional. The combination makes it so buildable that you can go from a sheer hint of color all the way up to a vintage crimson lipstick look with the same product.

There is, however, something you need to know if you want this product to work for you. The high pigmentation is a boon, but it also means that light and medium skin tones can't apply this the way you would a typical lip balm. So if you don't want a statement lip color, do one of two things: 1) get a lip brush and apply sparingly, or 2) instead of applying as you normally would, just lightly touch the stick to your lips a few times, then rub them together. It might feel a little weird at first, but it also means that one tint lasts three or four times longer than the average colored lip balm.

From the Runway to You: Peter Som's Travel Kit Is Pretty Posh

Jaime Richards — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 06:03:41 PDT

It's a real treat to see runway fashions presented in other ways than on showroom hangers or department store aisles. Take, for instance, Clark's Botanicals' new limited-edition Peter Som For Clark's Botanicals Travel Kit ($59). It features a bold floral-print clutch from Peter Som's Fall 2011 collection, but it's what's inside that will have you doing a little happy dance.

Included are: two Ultra-Rich Lip Tints; Ultra Rich Lip Balm; deluxe samples of Smoothing Marine Cream and Intense Radiance Mask; and sample packs of Nourishing Youth Serum and Anti-Puff Eye Cream. Not only is it one pretty, posh deal, but the set would make the perfect stocking stuffer for you or someone else.