BellaSugar

Jessica Simpson to Launch New Beauty Site, BeautyMint

Jaime Richards — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 10:54:54 PDT

Jessica Simpson is no stranger to beauty endeavors; throughout her career, she has been a spokeswoman for Proactiv and has launched several fragrances. She even starred in a beauty-focused show, The Price of Beauty. Now, Jessica is joining the BeachMint.com family with the October debut of BeautyMint.com. The BeachMint umbrella includes JewelMint.com, featuring jewelry designed by Kate Bosworth, and StyleMint.com, featuring t-shirts designed by Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen. All products sold on each site cost $30, and a new collection is released monthly to its members.

Jessica's BeautyMint site will follow a similar setup. Her version, however, will focus on antiaging skin care and will be backed by celebrity esthetician Nerida Joy. It's interesting to note that Jessica, who is still quite young at 31, is entering into the antiaging realm. Expect to see eight new "Mint" sites to launch by the end of 2012, and tell us: will you be visiting Jessica's new site?

Zeno's New Line Rewind System Smooths, Tones Tired-Looking Skin

Jaime Richards — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 10:20:36 PDT

You might know Zeno as the brand with various acne-reducing gadgets in its arsenal, and now it's branched out to the antiaging category, with the recent release of the Line Rewind Wrinkle Reduction Kit ($40).

The two-piece set includes a Wrinkle Reduction Serum formulated with ingredients like antioxidant-rich Resveratrol, hyaluronic acid to help plump the skin, and a peptide complex to rejuvenate. Also included is an asymmetrically shaped hand-held device that uses red light therapy to assist in eliminating fine lines and improve the skin's tone. One thing that makes it a bit different from similar gadgets, however, is that it vibrates and heats to provide a soothing experience, all while increasing the effectiveness of the serum. To see what I thought of the Line Rewind, just keep reading.

Found: A Two-Step Skin Care Regimen For Clearing Acne and More

Jaime Richards — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 04:00:44 PST

When I heard about Swell Skin's two-step skin care regimen, which includes a bar soap and an oil, I knew I had to try it. First, how easy is that? Second, products are made using wonder ingredient sea buckthorn oil, rich in antioxidant vitamins C and E, emollients, and essential fatty acids.

The brand's Face Treatment ($32), used in step one, is a very mild soap in bar form. It has just the perfect amount of sudsing action with a faint, fresh nonsynthetic aroma. Skin feels clean and refreshed after use, with no painful stinging sensations or can't-move-my-face tightness. See more when you keep reading.

5 Reasons to Say Yes to Blueberries (Serum, That Is)

Brittney Stephens — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 03:15:00 PST

I'll be honest: I'm not a fan of eating blueberries. Yes, I'm aware of their amazing qualities and powerful antioxidants, but I just never cared for the taste. So consider my reluctance to try Yes To Blueberries Intensive Skin Repair Serum ($20). I was afraid the scent would instantly turn me off, but I was on the hunt for glowing skin, and that's exactly what I got. To find out how it worked, and why you might want to say yes to blueberries, just keep reading.

10 Gifts You Should Probably Think Twice About Before Giving

Jaime Richards — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 09:00:23 PST

Most gift givers have nothing but good intentions in mind when choosing gifts for their loved ones. Unfortunately, and mainly due to their inherent nature, some gifts can come off as unintentionally insulting. Here are 10 beauty items you might want to think twice about - or put on your list for the ultimate passive-aggressive frenemy gift.

3 Tips on When to Begin an Antiaging Skin Care Routine

BellaSugar — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 07:00:00 PDT

Every skin care expert you ask, from dermatologists to estheticians to product development specialists, will likely have varying opinions on when antiaging skin care should enter your daily regimen. But according to Marie Veronique Nadeau, esthetician and founder of Marie Veronique Organics, an ecofriendly skin care line, "Your skin is going to tell you when." Of course, sunscreen is a must at any age, but to find out more about what Marie had to say about the topic, just read more.

Two Easy, Affordable DIY Masks For All Skin Types

BellaSugar — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 06:00:43 PDT

Marie Veronique Nadeau is the kind of woman you want to chat up for hours. Not only is the former chemistry teacher practically (and naturally) wrinkle-free in her early 60s, but she's also a licensed esthetician and founder of Marie Veronique Organics, an eco-friendly line free of toxins, nanoparticles, and petroleum-based ingredients. And when I asked Marie for a few quick, easy, and natural masks to do at home, she delivered. Find out two great recipes when you read more.

This Citrusy Toner Will Brighten, Tighten, and Lift the Spirits

BellaSugar — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 08:00:00 PDT

After discovering more than two gray hairs near my temples, lately, I've been paying a bit more attention to antiaging skin care. Arbonne's RE9 Advanced line, which consists of 11 products, is paraben-free and supposedly, you'll see results in 24 hours. I tried a few products out from the packaged-in-orange line, so to find out more about which item I liked most, just keep reading.

Have These 6 Stars Admitted to Using Botox?

BellaSugar — Thu, 27 May 2010 11:00:00 PDT

Everyone has something to say about Botox. In fact, there's no shortage of celebrity opinions on the antiwrinkle drug, and you can't pick up a magazine or newspaper these days without reading about it. Speaking of those opinions, can you guess which of the celebrities below have admitted to dabbling with the needle? Take my quiz to find out what they had to say.

Take the Quiz

The FDA Is Cracking Down on Cosmetics Claims

BellaSugar — Mon, 24 May 2010 13:00:00 PDT

If you've ever bought a product that promised to have sunscreen or be antiaging only to wind up with a sunburn and no noticeably wrinkle-free skin, you'll be happy to know that the FDA is about to start taking action. It's considered illegal for a brand to say that its product counteracts or controls the aging process, and that's exactly why the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research is launching a major initiative to begin enforcing drug claims on imported cosmetics, which include SPF, antiaging, and antiwrinkle claims.

FDA warning letters have already been sent out to several large firms, and just last month, several products were put on the agency's Import Alert #66-38, a watch list of cosmetic manufacturers who have been found to import cosmetics that carry drug claims. I don't expect to see big changes immediately, but it will be interesting to see just how far the FDA will go with its enforcement. What do you think? Will this initiative ever get off the ground, or is it a good idea, but too difficult to enforce?