BellaSugar

Is Simplehuman Trying to Get Me a BUI (Bathing Under the Influence)?

BellaSugar — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 08:00:05 -0700

Have you ever just wanted to get blotto by yourself in the tub? Don't answer that question aloud, but in case you have, design company Simplehuman has a tub caddy ($69.99) that has room for a bowl of bath salts, a candle, and a glass of wine - for people who like to get the party started early. (Or relaxing. Either way.) I say that I like the idea per se, but I think they need to add a spot for another glass, since we all know boozing alone is not the best habit. What do you think? Is this caddy a hit or a miss?

These Days, Soap is Going to the Dogs

BellaSugar — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 08:00:18 -0700

Oh, honestly, I can't take the cuteness. Just look at how ridiculous these Clean & Slobber soaps are. I'm nearly incapacitated by their twee packaging, but I'll try to tell you about the product itself. Pop Ink's triple-milled soaps are packed with essential oils, and they have a lavender-and-verbena scent. But really, they could smell like Milk-Bonz and I'd still be cooing at these little '70s-style woofers. They're $18 for a set of four at Wishing Fish, and while these might cost a little more than a bar of Ivory, they'd make great "just because" gifts for the dogaholic in your life. Now Fido can have her Kiehl's bath goods and you'll have yours, too.

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Beauty Bloopers: The Midas Touch

BellaSugar — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 08:00:57 -0700

Welcome to the second installment of Beauty Bloopers. A beauty blooper can be anything from a brow wax gone wrong to having lipstick on your teeth. So don't be shy-share your stories and I'll post some of them here on BellaSugar (anonymously, of course).

Since it's The Honeymoon's Over week here in Sugar-land, I thought it would be appropriate to share a "couple" incident. I'll let our anonymous newlywed take it away...

I love taking baths to relax and unwind, and I like trying unusual and colorful kinds of bubble baths. My husband, however, is more into showering, so usually he lets me bathe alone. One day he thought it would be romantic to take a bath together, so I directed him toward my bath supplies and let him run the tub. But we couldn't have known the disaster that would ensue...

To find out what happened, read more

I let my husband run the bath, but I didn't tell him how much bubble bath to use. (He's a big boy, right?) When I got into the bathroom, everything looked great-the tub was filled with fluffy, luscious, foamy bubbles. I stepped into the bath, relaxed, and then I noticed that the water was filled with gold litter. It turns out he'd used TWO glittery bath crumblies from Lush, whereas I make one bar last for two or three baths. When we got out of the tub, we were absolutely covered with tiny gold sparkles. We looked like a pair of Oscar statuettes. Worse still, even after we rinsed off in the shower, we found glitter everywhere for weeks. I like to tease him and call him King Midas, but we haven't shared a bath since.

Moral of the story: A little bit of glitter goes a long way.

Do you have a beauty blooper? Share it! Submitting your stories is a cinch. If you aren't already a TeamSugar member, all you have to do is join here and send me a private message. This is your chance for some real down-and-dirty girl talk-and who knows, sharing your beauty misfortunes might even save another gal from her own glam trauma!

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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?

New Product Alert: Victoria's Secret Beauty Rush Collection

BellaSugar — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 07:04:44 -0700

New from Victoria's Secret is the Beauty Rush Body Care Collection. The scented bath and body line was inspired from the enormously popular Beauty Rush Lip Gloss that made mouths water all over the world. Not only is the gloss juicy and ridiculously shiny (I mean that in the best possible way, of course) but the catalog photos definitely helped to put the rush in Beauty Rush!

The new collection consists of six fruity scents and flavors: Appletini, Grapefruit Blast, Strawberry Fizz, Passion Fruit Pop, Grapesicle and Slice of Heaven. Each flavor has its own Body Mist, Body Drink Lotion, Body Zing Moisturizer Gel and Body Glimmer Wash. Currently, you can purchase any two products within a flavor line for $18. Get ready to spritz, slather, smooth and lather up for a sexy and delicious summer!

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New Product Alert: Me! Bath Ice Cream Fizzies

BellaSugar — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 07:05:00 -0700

Back in May, when I wrote about Me! Bath products, everyone seemed to agree that its ice cream fizzies were a deliciously cute way to jazz up your soak time. Well, now the LA-based company has three new scents, all of which are inspired by Asian delicacies and flowers. To see these new varieties of "ice cream," just read more

First is Divine Lotus, which is infused with the essential oils of this beautiful flower. Because the lotus is a symbol of prosperity and fertility, you could bathe with this scent when you're trying to bring wealth or a little friskiness into your life.

Next is Lychee Blossom. Lychee (sometimes spelled "litchi") is a delightfully unusual fruit with a tangy taste, so this fizzy is energizing. It's also filled with fruit acids, which gently exfoliate your skin.

Finally, there's Green Tea, which is rich in antioxidants. Sure, bathing in antioxidants probably won't do your body as much good as drinking a pot of actual green tea, but it'll definitely lower your stress level.

All of these fizzies are $8 (or three for $21) at Mebath.com. If you try one, let me know what you think. I'm particularly curious about Lychee Blossom, since I can't stop eating lychee gummies!

Bella Brand: Nature Girl

BellaSugar — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 09:05:21 -0700

I think - or at least, I hope - that the organic-beauty trend will soon be as big as organic food, and brands like Nature Girl are expertly leading the way. I could have easily fallen in love with this line based on the packaging alone; I love the simple bottles and the colorful, bubbly script. But when I started reading more about these bath oils, shampoos, facial cleansers, and moisturizers, I was really smitten.

Sold at Anthropologie and online, Nature Girl uses all-natural and organic ingredients grown on family-run farms. Not surprisingly, the products are also free of synthetic fragrances and dyes, and Nature Girl shuns animal testing. The brand also donates a portion of its profits to women's and environmental causes. These products are a little pricey, but I'm willing to pay more to support the organic cause. To see the products I'm most excited to try, read more

Petal Power Organic Golden Jojoba Bath Oil ($38) comes in six "synergies" to treat different wellness-related concerns, such as relaxation, sleep, and post-exercise soreness.

I Am Green Cinnamon Bark Extract Face Mask ($45) sounds yummy and versatile: It's designed to nurture and clean normal and combination skin.

Groovy Locks Plant Shampoo ($35) is a sulfate-free formula that contains corn and coconut oils; it comes in three different scents for three different hair types.

Tea Time Treats, Part II: Tea-Infused Beauty Products

BellaSugar — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 06:00:07 -0700

Even when it's iced, tea is hot right now. The trendy drink is available in an astounding number of varieties - from green to chai to yerba mate - and every day, it seems, I read about another health benefit of drinking tea.

It's no wonder, then, that tea has filtered into cosmetics. On Friday, I told you about three cosmetics with chai-inspired names, and today, I'm serving up a trio of treats that actually contain tea as an ingredient.

Ole Henriksen African Red Tea Face Mist ($28) is a tonic for your face that helps to tighten your pores and gives your skin a glow. It's infused with African red tea, white tea, and pomegranate, all of which contain antioxidants.

For two more tea-infused products, read more

Origins The Way of the Bath Matcha Tea Body Scrub ($45) is a gentle body exfoliator that is rich in natural antioxidants. It helps scrub away dead surface skin so the result is a fresh and shiny glow. Use the whisk to stir all the goodness in the jar, but it's a bit messy, so I suggest applying it in the shower or tub.

Bulgari Eau Parfumee Green Tea is an understated, citrusy, and floral unisex fragrance. Long-lasting but natural, it's made from bergamot, bitter orange, orange blossom, ceylon cardamom, pepper, coriander, rose, and, of course, green tea leaves. It is available in a 1-ounce bottle for $56 and in a 1.3-ounce bottle for $59.

Tea Time Treats, Part I: Chai-Inspired Cosmetics

BellaSugar — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 08:30:49 -0700

It's no wonder, then, that tea has filtered into cosmetics, as both an ingredient and an inspiration for names. So I bring you Part I in my series on tea beauty treats: chai-inspired cosmetics. Though none of these products actually contain tea, they definitely pay homage to the tasty beverage.

DuWop Summer Duet Eye Shadow in Chai ($17) is part of a new limited-edition collection. The Chai compact features gold- and copper-toned powders, which are velvety smooth and can be worn together or individually.

For two more tea-licious products, read more

Philip B Chai Latte Soul & Body Wash ($39) is a creamy shower wash made from cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg, ginger root, honey, and milk for a spicy, sweet scent. Just lather up and let it soak in for two to five minutes for maximum aromatherapy benefits.

L'Oreal Colour Juice Stick in Chai Love You ($9.50) is a sheer, satin lipstick that stays put and moisturizes dry lips. After you apply the color, give it a couple of minutes to set; to remove, use an oil-based makeup remover.

Bella Bargain: Semi-Annual Sale at Bath & Body Works

BellaSugar — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 05:00:20 -0700

Ok, there's some serious sale action going on right now at Bath & Body Works, both in stores and online. Until this Sunday, June 17, the retailer is offering up to 75 percent off select products, including a ton of cleansers and moisturizers priced at just $5, Bath & Body Works "classics" for $4, buy one, get one free home fragrances, and more.

I used to think of Bath & Body Works merely as a place to buy stuff like Sparkling Peach Shower Gel ($5 reduced from $9.50). But lately, the retailer is impressing me more and more, carrying upscale brands like Frederic Fekkai and C.O. Bigelow. To see some of my picks from the sale, read more

Aromatherapy Body Wash Sensuality Jasmine Vanilla ($5 reduced from $13). I bought a set of these Aromatherapy products once just so I could get the cute cosmetics bag they came in, and this scent is absolutely divine.

C.O. Bigelow Mentha Spearmint Lip Shine ($5 reduced from $7.50). This ultra-glassy refreshing mint gloss is hands-down one of my favorite lip balms ever.

Anti-Bacterial Deep Cleansing Hand Soap in Coconut Lime Verbena (3 for $10). I am a sucker for the cleansing beads in these soaps, which are great to keep in the kitchen.