BellaSugar

Will This Gizmo Rejuvenate and Refresh My Skin?

Miriam Lacey — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 03:30:37 PDT

Behold: a Biobliss patch, the latest newfangled product designed to give you smoother, rejuvenated skin. Sure, it looks silly, but the promises it makes definitely aren't. Biobliss guarantees that users will "enjoy smooth, healthy-looking skin," and says the patch is clinically proven to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Since all you have to do is slap the patch on and leave it there for an hour, we decided to test it out and let you decide whether it worked. So to see the before and after photos, just keep reading.

5 Superfoods For Super Skin

Daily Makeover — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 10:00:07 PST

We're excited to present this article written by top dermatologist Dr. Nicholas V. Perricone for Daily Makeover.

Did you know that the foods you eat can help you look better too? Foods that are rich in nutrients, low in calories and that have myriad health benefits are called superfoods. Many of these superfoods can also have tremendous benefit for your skin. Here are five superfoods that you can incorporate into your diet now to reveal healthier, younger-looking skin.

To find out what superfoods can help amp up your skincare regime, just keep reading.

Top Five Makeup Must Haves For Fall

BellaTV — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 08:00:00 PDT

Our BellaSugar editors have picked the five best beauty items for Fall, and here they are: the limited edition Revlon Top Coat nail polish in Star, the Target exclusive Remington Flat Iron, the top drugstore mascara of the moment - L'Oreal Voluminous Million Lashes, Kiehl's Photo-Age High Potency Spot Treatment, and Fall's top beauty trend: a red lip, courtesy of Nars Pure Matte Lipstick in Vesuvio.

How to Reduce Wrinkles Without Botox

BellaTV — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 09:00:00 PDT

If you’re looking for a way to reduce frown lines but don’t want to go the Botox route, take a look at Frownies. Watch our video to see how easy they are to use, and why they make for a cheaper alternative to expensive treatments.

Good Skin From Within: 4 Easy Tips That Actually Work

BellaSugar — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 06:00:16 PDT

Did you know that drinking tons of water doesn't really make your skin better? Well, it's true. While proper hydration is key for keeping your skin healthy, overhydrating doesn't do any good. So what can you actually do to get clearer, fresher skin without slathering on a ton of creams? For four smart, easy skin fixers, just keep reading.

One Woman's Anti-Aging Secrets Are Common Sense

BellaSugar — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 13:00:27 PDT

We all grow older, but there are definitely ways to do it more gracefully and happily. Model Marie Helvin, who'll be turning 58 this year, recently wrote about how she's "kept her looks" as she's aged. Her advice is pretty sound: wear sunscreen, exercise, eat well, get enough sleep, moisturize, don't smoke, eat less red meat. They're all things that just make you healthier and better-looking in general.

It remains to be seen whether all of us can have results like Marie's. Healthy living is key, but genes have a lot to do with how we age. How much of aging do you put up to following good health advice like this, and how much do you think is due to your family tree?

The New Yorker Takes a Look at Wrinkles

BellaSugar — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 14:00:51 PDT

In this week's issue of The New Yorker, writer Judith Thurman asks an age-old question: what can you do about wrinkles?

The answer, she finds? Not much. "Apart from dying, there is, to date, no permanent cure for wrinkles," she writes. From there, the article explores the history (and occasional hucksterism) of anti-aging treatments, zipping from Cleopatra's techniques to modern-day fixes like Botox. It's interesting and funny stuff, especially when Thurman dryly describes the "vibrational qualities" of a $150 Sjal face mask.

Her research boils down to this: the one topical wrinkle fighter that's been proven to minimize wrinkles is prescription-only tretinoin (better known by its brand name, Retin-A). Even then, it's not without side effects - which suggests that the best way to deal with wrinkles is to stop worrying about them so much.

Dr. Obagi's Anti-Moisturizer Theory Explained

BellaSugar — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 07:01:43 PDT

Who knew that moisturizer could create such a stir? Recently, I interviewed Dr. Zein Obagi of ZO Skin Health regarding anti-aging skin care, his area of expertise. As we learned, Dr. Obagi is not an advocate of moisturizers, claiming that they can actually accelerate the aging process. As promised, here's further explanation.

Can you clarify why moisturizers accelerate aging?
"It seems antithetical - a moisturizer was probably the first product that you used on your skin - and the one you trusted and used most frequently. . . With young and healthy skin, the cells in the dermis collect water from the food we eat and water we drink, and deliver that water to the surface of the skin. But, when you apply a moisturizer to hydrate and plump the skin, the skin cells in the epidermis send a message to the cells in the dermis: slow down, we’re fat and happy up here. That causes the cells in the dermis to become lazy, go dormant, and the skin becomes drier, thinner, and less elastic."

To hear what Dr. Obagi told me about why he sells creams and what conditions make it OK to use a moisturizer,

read more. Why do you sell two different crèmes, and what makes them different? "I’m not a fan of moisturizers that plump and smooth the skin, and work only at the surface. The products need to work at the cellular level. The Daily Renewal Crème ($95) and Overnight Recovery Crème ($95) do have moisturizing properties, but that’s not all that they do. So unlike traditional moisturizers, these two products contain retinol (to activate and stimulate the skin) as well as anti-irritants and herbal extracts to calm and soothe the skin. So do they moisturize? Yes. But labeling them as moisturizers would be an understatement." What conditions would make it OK to use moisturizers? "Moisturizers are OK under certain conditions:

. . . We want to keep skin cells functioning - that’s what keeps [them] awake and vital. If you activate and stimulate your skin, and use a product that moisturizes your skin, that’s OK.
After medical procedures (lasers or peels) that may be desirable or necessary.
When you’re traveling to an arid climate - such as Palm Springs or Las Vegas, where the air is very dry.
When you’re traveling in an airplane, where the cabin air may dehydrate your skin."

Do you think Dr. Obagi's explanation makes sense? Source

Dr. Obagi: Moisturizers Make You Age

BellaSugar — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 07:01:07 PDT

When it comes to skin, we're all aging - whether we like it or not. Recently, I interviewed dermatologist Dr. Zein Obagi of ZO Skin Health. I asked him a few questions regarding his specialty, anti-aging skin care, and he had plenty to say. Here's a bit; more to come!

How is it that pimples and wrinkles can occur at the same time? Talk about a double whammy!
The two problems may occur at the same time, but they have different causes. Pimples are related to oil gland activity, the amount of sebum produced, and pores. Oil glands are hyperactive in some individuals (hormones, genetic factors), resulting in acne and rosacea when pores become clogged. Acne has nothing to do with age. Wrinkles are due to loss and destruction of collagen without replacement, due to cell inactivity. Both problems can and do, sometimes, occur at the same time.

What products/techniques can actually do the reverse, causing premature aging and/or wrinkling?
Moisturizers, when used daily as part of a skin care program, will accelerate aging and wrinkling of the skin, as they reduce cellular activity, causing the cells to become lazy and sensitive. Repeated AHA use, IPL [Intense Pulsed Light], and photo-rejuvenation treatments without cell stimulation, will reduce the skin's ability to regenerate healthy functioning cells.

Come back later this week for more of Dr. Obagi's thoughts on healthy aging and skin care.
Source

Coming Soon: Biore Preservation Skincare Collection For "In-Between" Skin

BellaSugar — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 06:00:22 PST

Just when you think you're in the clear with acne outbursts, the first signs of aging start to develop. Pimples and fine lines - double whammy! If this sounds familiar, you might be experiencing something that's known as transitional skin. So far, the market for this unique skin type has been largely untapped, until now.
Recently, I had the opportunity to try out a new line from Biore called the Preservation Skincare collection, which targets those during that in-between phase. It comes out soon, and promises to reduce fine lines, increase radiance, strengthen the skin's barrier function, and neutralize free radicals. But does it work? Find out what I thought, along with a list of the products when you

read more. A little goes a long way with this collection. One pump - even half a pump - of each product does the trick, otherwise, my face felt a bit oversaturated, almost oily. After a few days of usage, my skin was smooth, and I didn't get any breakouts. A major plus. The only things I'd like to see added would be a toner and perhaps an acne spot treatment. Oh, and I was just so-so on the radiance factor. Other than that this line is worth a shot if you're willing to spend $67 for the entire regimen.

The Clean Things Up Nourishing Gel Cleanser ($7) - High-foaming with a fruity scent.
Even Smoother Microderm Exfoliator ($15) - A not-too-aggressive creamy exfoliator with a fine grit.
Dual Fusion Moisturizer + SPF ($15) - Loved the fact that this hydrator has an SPF of 30 that didn't make my face turn white.
Hard Day's Night Overnight Moisturizer ($15) - Has the texture of a serum/moisturizer. It was a bit heavy for my liking.
See The Future Fortifying Eye Cream ($15) - I love gel eye creams, and this one did indeed reduce my puffiness. I'd like to see a little more moisture in this one, however.