BellaSugar

Two Easy Options For American-Flag Beauty

BellaSugar — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 07:00:54 -0700

You don't need to wear green liberty spikes to celebrate Independence Day. Last year I gathered a few festive beauty-related Fourth of July products, including an idea about how to make your own American flag manicure. Even if you don't want to go all out, here are a couple more ways to feel festive.

Red gloss: This American Beauty Fabulous Feel Liquid Lip Color in Red Velvet ($12.50) is a great way to attain an understated July 4th beauty look. Throw on some blue jeans and a white tee, and you'll be doing the red-white-and-blue thing without getting too corny.

For one other option, read more.

This Fourth of July Art Striper Nail Kit ($19.95) from Nubar is a little similar to last year's manicure set, but it's less expensive and it comes with five products. The polishes have super-thin brushes so that you can create stars and stripes if you want - or, more likely, an unconventional French manicure.

Coming Soon: American Beauty 2008 Summer Bouquet Collection

BellaSugar — Tue, 20 May 2008 11:00:27 -0700

This June, American Beauty Cosmetics will launch its Summer Bouquet color story. Much like Flirt! Cosmetics (both are owned by the same company), the brand typically launches a new product or two every few months and then creates a seasonal look by blending the new products in with the old.

The inspiration for Summer Bouquet is all about florals, specifically perky pink roses. The new product for Summer is a peachy pink powder blush called Nectar Blossom. The face of the campaign is Ashley Judd, as usual, and this particular photo also doubles as an ad for its new Beloved fragrance.

For a description of each of the items in the Summer Bouquet color story, read more.

New, Beloved Rose Powder Blush in Nectar Blossom ($18) is a peachy, pink powder blush that blends easily and gives cheeks a warm, natural-looking flush.
Luxury for Lids Eyeshadow Duo in Afternoon Tea ($14.50) are two soft, matte taupe shades that can be applied all over the lids, to the crease and eyebrows.
Ultra-Easy Automatic Eyeliner in Mocha ($11) is a warm, creamy chocolate brown pencil eye liner.
Softy Shaping Mascara in Black Velvet ($11) is a rich, long-lasting jet black mascara that separates, elongates, and leaves lashes with a bit of a glossy finish.
Enduring Beauty Longwear Lipcolor in Candy Rose ($12.50) is a bright, medium-colored coral-pink, long-wearing creamy lipstick.
Pretty Glossy Luscious Lipshine in Strawberry Pop and Sugar Fizz ($12.50 each) is a high-shine, sheer lip gloss. Strawberry Fizz is a bold red shade and Sugar Fizz is a pale, cotton-candy pink color.
Fabulous Feel Liquid Lipcolor in Party Pink ($12.50) is a true, shiny, baby pink lip color that has the coverage of a lipstick and the texture of a lip gloss minus the stickiness.

Coming Soon: American Beauty Champagne Pinks Collection

BellaSugar — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 07:00:27 -0800

The lovely Ashley Judd is once again the face of the new American Beauty Champagne Pinks Collection due in stores at the end of this month. Much like the Flirt! Totally Bronze Collection, this range includes includes eight products. Three are new, and four are existing products to create a bronzed pink look.

My personal favorite of the bunch is the new Pretty Glossy Luscious Lipshine Lip Gloss in Pink Parfait. (Whew! What a mouthful.) This pale, shimmery, pinky-coral packs a lot of punch. It moisturizes like a creamy lipstick and shines like a gloss without feeling overly tacky. I've been wearing so much that it's already made it into my handbag makeup stash - now, that's love! To find out all of the prices and details about the rest of the products, read more.

New Ultra-Easy Automatic Eyeliner in Gold ($11) is a dark golden shade with a creamy texture. I suggest warming it up on your hands before applying for an even smoother and more precise application.
New Pretty Glossy Luscious Lipshine in Pink Parfait ($12.50) is a creamy pale pink lip gloss with a hint of coral and a lot of shimmer.
Two Pretty Bronze Bronzing Powders in Sun Chic and High Summer ($17.50 each) are slightly shimmery, velvet powder bronzers that can be layered to create anything from a subtle glow to a deep, golden tan.
New Luxury For Lids Eyeshadow Duo in Golden Pink ($14.50) contains a pale golden champagne shade on one side and a shimmery medium rosey pink on the other.
Enduring Beauty Longwear Lipcolor in Summer Kiss ($12.50) is a creamy, shimmery pale coral-pink shade with an opaque finish.
Luminous Liquid All Over Face Glow in Pink Glow ($15) is a pale pink liquid luminizer than can be applied to your temples, cheekbones, brow-bones or decolletage as a highlighter, or mixed in with your foundation for a natural looking radiance.
Softly Shaping Mascara in Black Velvet ($11) is a soft, glossy black mascara that separates and curls lashes.

Coming Soon: American Beauty Holiday 2007 Winter Wonderland Collection

BellaSugar — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 07:00:19 -0800

Each year, American Beauty Cosmetics puts together a Holiday 2007 look. When you go into Kohl's (where it is sold exclusively), you can pick up one of these 'look cards' and all of the products used in the photo are listed. Usually there is one new product in the group and the rest are already existing shades, but this year there are two new products: a Luxury for Lids Eyeshadow Duo in Champagne Toast and Pretty Glossy Luscious Lipshine in Gala Pink.

This card is intended to facilitate your getting-ready process. For example, when it's time to do your makeup for a big night out, you don't have to think about what colors will complement each other since the colors are already chosen for you! This season, the look is called Winter Wonderland, featuring Ashley Judd.

View 2 Photos ›

For a full list of prices and products in the American Beauty Holiday 2007 Winter Wonderland collection, including the two new shades due on counters in just a few weeks, read more

Luxury for Lids Eyeshadow Duo ($14.50) in Champagne Toast
Pretty Glossy Luscious Lipshine ($12.50) in Gala Pink
Ultra-Easy Automatic Eyeliner ($11) in Mocha
Double Lush Mascara Plus Primer ($12.50) in Lush Brown
Blush Perfect Cheek Color ($15) in Bit O’Pink and Decadent Pink
Ultra-Easy Automatic Lipliner ($11) in Peony
Luxury for Lips Moisture Rich Lipcolor ($12.50) in Pink Punch
Enduring Beauty Longwear Lipcolor ($12.50) in Candy Rose
Moisture-Wise Continuous Hydrating Cream ($22.50)

Coming Soon: American Beauty Fall 2007 Cashmere Cocoa Collection

BellaSugar — Fri, 06 Jul 2007 12:01:43 -0700

This just got me really excited about Fall! I know that most of the country is suffering through a heat wave right now, so here's some sweet relief meditation that you can practice. Picture this: It's a cool, crisp Autumn day and you've got a cup of frothy cocoa in hand with a cashmere blanket draped over your lap.

This is the theme for the new American Beauty Luxurious Fall Look Cashmere Cocoa Collection. Starting in August, you can purchase these rich amber, warm brown and gold-toned cosmetics. They're a sure-fire way to heat things up through the change of seasons.

The collection consists of an eye shadow duo in chocolate truffle ($14.50), an automatic eyeliner in coco ($11), a dual ended mascara and lash primer in lush brown ($12.50), a lipstick in cashmere cocoa ($16.50), two powder blushes in ginger cookie and summerwind ($16.50 each), a moisture rich lip color in honey delight and hot cocoa ($12.50), an automatic brow pencil in perfect brown ($11) and an overnight radiance cream ($28). I've seen it all and it's absolutely beautiful. To check out more about the American Beauty brand, click here.

Bella Brand: American Beauty

BellaSugar — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 13:44:13 -0700

I've just discovered a new line of cosmetics called American Beauty. I know that it has been in magazines, but I guess that I just glanced over the ads. I'm not sure why I did, since Ashley Judd is the spokesperson and looks outrageously gorgeous in each and every one of the campaign shots. The line launched in 2004 as a collection of products targeted at the spirited, classic, busy and luxury-seeking American woman.

As I surfed the website, I've come to realize that it is actually even more than just cosmetics. The brand also includes skincare, fragrances and bath and body items at affordable prices. There are over 35 different items and over 150 shades to choose from, all of which you can order online. Also, everything is packaged in light blue which mimics the color of the sky on a sunny, bright day. America the beautiful, indeed! Has anyone tried this line?

American Beauty Makeup: How To Get Reese's Look

BellaSugar — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 15:32:52 -0800

Reese Witherspoon is the quintessential American Beauty. She has a bright smile topped with cherry pie lipstick, shiny gorgeous blond hair and clear as sky blue eyes. She is the type of gal women want to befriend and men fall head over heels in love with.

Not only does Reese have beauty, she also has brains, power and two kids! A self proclaimed, over-achiever with a Type A personality, she's a top Hollywood earner and also owns her own production company fittingly called, Type A Productions. Brava, Reese!

Here's a look at the beautiful face of this American Beauty. Despite her recent news of divorce, Reese still looks like a million bucks! In fact, her skin is so flawless that she doesn't even have to wear makeup if she chooses. Now, that's no fun for me. Here's a guide to help achieve her red carpet makeup look.

To find out how to recreate Reese's sweet face, read more

Begin with foundation and concealer on clean and exfoliated skin. Apply concealer to the inner corners of the eyes and underneath to cover dark circles. Also use a dab of concealer to the eyelid as an eye shadow base. Then apply a little bit more foundation to uneven areas of your face. Here, Reese is wearing Cover Girl Clean Liquid Makeup in Natural Ivory.
As for blush, use a berry or rose blush on the apples of your cheeks and work your way upwards and outwards to the end of your cheekbones. Try this Cover Girl Cheekers Blush in Deep Plum color that Reese is wearing, or something like these awesome and easy to use cheek sweeps.
On your eyes, opt for a pearly, light gold or beige shadow and sweep it from lid to crease. Also sweep a thin line of this shade right against the lower lash line. Reese is wearing Cover Girl Professional Eye Enhancers in Champagne. Here are more fabulous eye shadow shades suitable for blue eyes.
For your crease, apply a deeper brown or taupe shadow from corner to corner and remember to blend! Reese is wearing Cover Girl Professional Eye Enhancers in Tapestry Taupe. For eyeliner, use an even darker brown powder liner like Cover Girl Eye Enhancers Single Eye Shadow in Swiss Chocolate and apply it with a wet eye liner brush, lining only the upper lashes.
To finish up your eyes, curl your upper lashes and then coat them with two coats of lengthening mascara. Apply just one coat to your lower lashes. Reese is wearing the new Lash Perfection Max Factor Mascara in Rich Black!
Last but not least are the cherry pie lips. Begin by applying one coat of the lipstick to your lips and then blot them with tissue and apply a second coat for staying power. As a final touch line your lips lightly and blend the color into your lipstick. Reese has on a gorgeous L'Oreal Colour Riche Luminous Creme Lipcolor in Drumbeat Red along with Ulta Contour Lip Liner in Beet.

How-To: Alicia Keys's AMAs Makeup

BellaSugar — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:00:03 -0800

Most of you loved Alicia's makeup at the AMAs last night, so to help you get her gorgeous blue shadow and pink lip, I got the lowdown from her stylist, Ashunta Sheriff. "Alicia's look was inspired by her hand-beaded gown, which was various shades of blue," she says. "The look was pretty, regal, and sexy." To get a step-by-step on how Ashunta created the look, just read more.

2009 American Music Awards: Leona Lewis

BellaSugar — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 17:43:57 -0800

The lovely Leona Lewis has, thankfully, recovered from being attacked earlier this year, and she was at her golden girl best on the red carpet tonight. Instead of the gold-toned or smoky eye makeup that usually prevails at awards shows, Leona opted for a bright green shadow that made her eyes stand out beautifully, and she complemented the green with a whisper pink lip and a hint of bronzer on her cheeks. I think the look was lovely, but it wasn't very seasonal. What do you think? Is this makeup pretty no matter what, or is it just too summery for a November television appearance?

Vote on all of my American Music Awards polls here!

How-To: Michelle Trachtenberg's Season-Perfect Look

BellaSugar — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:00:09 -0800

Unlike her Gossip Girl character Georgina Sparks, Michelle Trachtenberg seems to have a good head on her shoulders, and she showed it off to her best advantage last night at a party hosted by American Eagle. She didn't shy away from her naturally pale skin, and her eye makeup was sexy, fun, and a little retro. This look would be perfect for your upcoming holiday parties, so to find out how to get it, just read more