BellaSugar

Check Your Sunscreen Labels For Vitamin A

BellaSugar — Tue, 25 May 2010 07:00:00 PDT

We all know that sunscreen is a tool to protect our skin against a host of ailments, including cancer and premature aging, but according to the Environmental Working Group, vitamin A derivatives retinol and retinyl palmitate, which are a popular additive in antiaging sunscreens, could speed the development of tumors when used on skin that's being exposed to the sun.

It's pretty common knowledge that vitamin A increases skin's sensitivity to light - anyone who's ever used Retin-A or Accutane gets a warning from their doctor about avoiding sun when they get their prescription - so this isn't surprising. It's the fact that vitamin A is being put into sunscreen in the first place that's weird. Why put a photosensitizing agent into a product people are buying expressly as sun protection?

I know that some people are going to blow this off as an "everything gives you cancer" story, but they shouldn't. The takeaway is really about connecting the dots, and finding out what's in the products you use. Do you use sunscreen that contains this vitamin, and if so, would finding out it had vitamin A in it make you think about changing brands?

Help This Reader Find an Eye Cream

BellaSugar — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 08:00:11 PST

The other day I received an email from a reader looking for a good eye cream, and I thought that instead of just giving her a couple of options I like, I'd open up the floor to all of the eye-stuff experts reading the site. Want to help her out? Then here's what she has to say:

"I'm 25 years old, and I've decided I'd like to finally delve into the world of eye creams (I hope I'm not too late!). However, I don't really know where to start! Makeup counters have advice, but it all seems biased. I'm looking for something meant for a girl my age that'll offer SPF while combating puffiness and dark circles. Does this product exist? I'm a little worried that using the wrong cream could be detrimental-no need to load up on unnecessary chemicals, right?"

In my own experience, on the high end I'd recommend something like a Lancome Genefique Eye ($59), and for a cheaper, more natural option, a product like Weleda's Wild Rose Eye Cream ($22.75). What are your thoughts?

Vitamin C Skin Care Part IV: Eye Treatments

BellaSugar — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 14:56:27 PDT

Welcome back to part four of my Vitamin C Skin Care Series. As we all know, eye creams are important for toning, firming and tightening up the sensitive orbital area of your eye. That's where you first begin to see fine lines and signs of aging. Here are three vitamin C-infused eye creams that help to stunt the aging process and keep your eyes looking taut and smooth.

Jan Marini C-ESTA Eye Repair Concentrate ($77) is a medically tested eye treatment to help significantly slow down the signs of aging around the thin-skinned areas of your eyes.

It is suitable for all skin types and contains a high concentration of vitamin C. Apply just a little bit to your lower and upper eye area, stopping at the crease.

For two more vitamin C eye creams,

read more Rejuvenal-C Orange Eye Pads ($4) are infused with orange, vitamin c, ginkgo biloba, green tea, and chamomile to tighten, calm and reduce puffiness in your eyes. The package contains five pairs of eye pads that are safe for all skin types. It is recommended to take out contacts before use. Simply place a pair of pads over your eyes and relax for anywhere from ten to thirty minutes while "the C" works its magic. For a treat, try chilling the pads-it's refreshing and enjoyable.
N.V. Perricone M.D. Cosmeceuticals Vitamin C Ester Eye Area Therapy ($50) is an eye serum that nourishes and restores balance to your delicate eye area. Use in the morning and at night for maximum benefits. After a week or so, you should begin to notice a change in tone and texture in your skin.

Beauty Marked! An Anti-Aging Eye Cream

BellaSugar — Tue, 06 Mar 2007 17:20:44 PST

Ever since I realized my tried and true Shiseido Skincare Eye Revitalizer, $37, lost its effect on my aging eyes, I've been on the hunt for something heavier! Thank you to all of you who responded to my Beauty Mark It! post and shared all of your super powered age defying eye creams! To see all of the anti-aging eye creams that you have chosen for me click here.

Beauty Mark #1 found by Musewings, is an Essential Moisturizing Sunscreen SPF 15 With Antioxidants for Normal to Dry Skin made by Paula's Choice, $12.95. It is a fragrance free lotion that helps to hydrate dry skin as well as protect it from the sun. It's not just an eye cream, it's so moisturizing that if you apply it liberally to your orbital bone, it should do the trick!

For more anti-aging eye creams,

read more Beauty Mark #2 found by zeldaf, is the Lancome HIGH RESOLUTION with COLLASER - Deep Collagen Anti-Wrinkle Serum, $62 for one ounce and $92 for 1.7 ounces. In just 48 hours it is said to help renew the deteriorating collagen in the sensitive area around your eyes. It was inspired by professional laser therapy, which also helps to promote collagen production and thus reduce the look of fine lines and wrinkles.
Beauty Mark #3 found by sigmaration, is the latest anti-wrinkle cream from Bliss called Wrinkle Twinkle, $42. This fast-acting line eraser is a topical "muscle relaxer" for your wrinkles! It fills in the fine wrinkles around your eyes and then relaxes and regenerates the muscles. Over a few month period, it should also help reduce the look of dark under eye circles. Wowsers!

Take a Look at the 2010 CEW Award Winners!

BellaSugar — Mon, 24 May 2010 06:00:00 PDT

On Friday, members from the prestigious Cosmetic Executive Women (CEW), along with some very excited beauty brand reps, got together to find out the winners of the annual Beauty Awards. Celebrities like Whitney Port, Kim Kardashian, and Selita Ebanks were on hand to dish out the awards, along with host Mario Cantone. To win a CEW award is pretty prestigious stuff, so to find out what products received top honors, just keep reading.

Something About This Ageless Fantasy Smells Funny

BellaSugar — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 08:00:22 PDT

It helps to have a little bit of blind faith when working with certain beauty products. (For instance, you might not see results from eye creams now, but 10 years from now, sure. Can't hurt.) With that said, I'm pretty agnostic when it comes to the idea of Ageless Fantasy, an anti-aging fragrance.

For $120, you can allegedly look "at least eight years younger," according to the press materials for this "true bouquet of youth." The idea is to create a Proustian scent that evokes childhood memories. Ageless Fantasy blends notes of pineapple, apple, mango, leafy greens, jasmine, cherry blossom, musk, dry woods, and vanilla - all lovely scents on their own, but I'm not sure how well pineapple goes with musk.

I get the idea, which in itself is harmless enough; some scents take me back to childhood so quickly that I want to climb a tree, any tree, nearby. But wrapping it up in an anti-aging package seems like a bit of a stretch. What do you think - clever marketing ploy, genuine fragrance idea, or both?