BellaSugar

How-To: Rid Yourself of the "Moustache Shadow"

BellaSugar — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 07:00:11 -0700

Cheese! You smile for the camera, and you're looking rather lovely. But once you see those pictures, you wonder why your appearance is just a bit too "Tom Selleck-y" for your liking (Gratitutious pic of Magnum, P.I. to your right - wink). Well, maybe it's not that extreme, but when it comes to your upper lip, you definitely aren't hoping for a dark, stubbled 'stache.

Wait, it's not even upper lip hair that is getting you all upset. After all, you just did a little hair removal over the weekend, and there's no way it's already reared its way back to the surface. Well, then - what exactly is casting this unwanted shadow that's taken up residence upon your face?

It could be the bluish/green hues of veins, which are causing your distress.

In this case, try using a concealing cream in a corrective color to help mask the undertones common in veins. A pinkish/yellow hue should do the trick. I like Benefit It Stick ($20).

It could be melasma, which is hyperpigmentation that can be caused by hormones (sometimes from the pill or other medications). To add insult to injury, irritation from the sun and/or removing hair from the upper lip can aggravate this area even further. Find out what treatments will help fade melasma related spotting and read more.

Help alleviate this problem by always wearing sunscreen. I can't stress this enough.
Visit your dermatologist for advice. He or she can discuss your options, which might include: prescription bleaching creams, microdermabrasion, chemical peels, or laser resurfacing, to name a few.
Try over the counter bleaching creams that will help fade spots away. Look for products with ingredients like kojic acid, azelaic acid, alpha hydroxy acid, and/or hydroquinone (did you see my definition earlier)?

Source

What's Your Take on Whitening Products?

BellaSugar — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 08:08:11 -0700

Whitening products are a fast-growing segment of the beauty industry in Asia, the Middle East and Africa; for many people, having light, porcelain-like skin is considered ideal. While I understand that every culture has different concepts of beauty, it saddens me to think about the number of women who inevitably think something's wrong with their dark skin. It's easy to understand why Sweetstrawberry, who lives in Korea, feels so frustrated by the narrow ideals she encounters at school.

As globalization spreads, this issue isn't likely to go away anytime soon. While some of the controversy can be attributed to cultural differences-after all, Caucasian people get spray-on tans!-you can't argue with the potential danger of certain whitening products. Those that contain hydroquinone and other mercury-based products can lead to skin blisters and burns (and, ironically, darkening). In some cases, they can lead to nerve damage and even death.

Of course, not all whitening products are worrisome. Some aren't terribly far from what you'd find in your average American Walgreens; they're just sold under a different name. These products are safe because they're not about bleaching the skin; instead, they aim to even out the complexion and protect against age spots. Yet much of the marketing language implies that dark skin is a disorder that needs to be cured. An ad for Olay White Radiance, for instance, "fights the five signs of skin darkening." Pond's just launched a White Beauty Detox product line in India last month. And then there's a Fair & Lovely commercial, whose heroine shows that without the whitening cream, she'd be a jobless, dateless loser. To see it, read more

So, putting aside the hilarity of that swarthy TV producer for a moment, what do you think about whitening products? Are they just filling a market demand along the lines of self-tanner for Caucasians, or are they creating a "solution" for a problem that doesn't exist?

The Secrets Behind Pretty Private Parts

BellaSugar — Sat, 10 Mar 2007 13:44:44 -0800

Say it isn't so. We've shared some red carpet secrets with you to prevent catastrophes, but it never occurred to me that some people actually prepare and look forward to a nipple slip or a picture of them bending over while going commando. Whoa! Some gals actually enjoy a 'lil scandal. Duh: that's why we're so addicted to PopSugar!

How about a show of hands for all of you that bleach your anus. Yep - it's true. There is a desirable shade of ass. There's even a Salon in Sherman Oaks, CA, dedicated to it.

Esoterica Nighttime Fade Cream, $9.99, is an at home product that you can use to help lighten up your load (ha!). It's made with 2% hydroquinone formula (bleaching agent) that is safe and gentle enough for most people to use in the sensitive areas of their body.

*Note: If you are irritated by this product, discontinue use immediately. Do not use on broken or irritated skin.

Now I've only used cheek tints to give a healthy glow to my face cheeks and lips. It has been brought to my attention that others like to use Benefit's benetint, $28, to tint their breast areola a perfect blush color.

So if you've wondered how celebs, strippers, dancers and porn stars get such succulent nips - now you know!

To read what Benefit has to say about this usage of their product, read more

"Women want nipples to be pert and fresh-looking, and this shade makes them appear that way. For a long time, the idea of a ripe, rosy nipple has been considered appealing and alluring. Even if you don’t show it off, you know they’re rosier and more perky."

Can You Guess Her Natural Hair Color?

BellaSugar — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:00:23 -0800

Hair color is a celebrity's best friend. Along with makeup, it's one of the simplest ways to transform a look. But when it comes to Hollywood hair, do you know what your favorite stars really have going on under all that hair color and/or bleach? You're about to find out.

Take the quiz

Ask Bella: How Do I Lift Black Hair Dye?

BellaSugar — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 07:01:19 -0700

Recently, a distressed reader contacted me about an unfortunate incident regarding a box of black hair color and the subsequent regretful results. Here's her story:

Three months ago I had an adult identity crisis and dumped a box of jet black dye on my naturally medium brown hair. Now I can't get it to lift out for anything - professionally or at home. Can you make a suggestion? I'm a 25-year-old woman and I look like a scene kid. It's rough.

There's no excuse for looking like a Brokencyde groupie. Lifting pigment can be a tricky endeavor, though, so you have to be careful. For my advice on helping this reader to lighten up, just read more.

Link Time!

BellaSugar — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 11:00:41 -0700

Alexa Chung shares her skincare secret: being half Chinese - FabSugar UK
Guerlain's holiday makeup is pretty and pricey - Temptalia
Turns out Rihanna didn't dye her hair after all - InStyle
Jennifer Aniston's beauty evolution - Stylelist
Could this girl become the first Moroccan supermodel? - The Cut
Bleached eyebrows = big on the runways - Allure
Beauty bloggers go on a beauty crawl - Beauty Blogging Junkie

Teen Choice Awards: Kim Kardashian

BellaSugar — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 18:15:54 -0700

Before the TCAs began, Kim Kardashian was all a-Twitter about her new look. The last time we saw her as a blonde, it was just a wig, but this time she really did reach for the bleach. "This one is staying," she said, telling PopSugar that this is her first-ever (!) dye job. Do you love this lighter look on her, or do you prefer her hair dark?

Vote on all of my Teen Choice Awards polls here!

Bella Donna: Lana Turner

BellaSugar — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 12:00:25 -0700

Her sex appeal may have garnered lots of attention, but Lana Turner, née Julia Jean Mildred Francis Turner, was more than just a pin-up girl with a femme fatale image. The well-coiffed actress, who was discovered sipping Coke at a cafe during her high school years, was often referred to as the "Sweater Girl" for her tight-fitting top in They Won't Forget, a film made early in her career.

While Lana was quite an accomplished actress and Academy Award winner, her personal life was tumultuous, to say the least. She was married eight times and struggled with her own personal demons. In fact, she credits her longtime hairstylist and friend, Eric Root, with saving her life. "My hairdresser, Eric Root, took one look at me and said: 'Okay, that's it.' " she told People in 1982. Want to learn more about the screen siren? Find out some interesting beauty facts, along with more pictures of the star, after the break.

To learn more just keep reading.

Which Is More Eco-Friendly: Paper Towels or Hand Dryers?

BellaSugar — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 07:00:48 -0700

You're at the airport (or any other public bathroom scenario, for that matter), and you're faced with a choice: paper towels or dryer? Studies have shown that both are effective at preventing germs, but from an environmental standpoint, which option is essentially better?

According to Slate, while both options lead to carbon dioxide emissions, when all is said and done, dryers use less energy. Variations in how paper towels are produced, transportation costs, and the maintenance that goes into keeping towels replenished all require more energy. Plus, although recycled paper uses 40 percent less energy to manufacture, most towels make their homes in landfills once used, and some are bleached, which can be harmful to the environment.

With the recent crop of 10-seconds-or-less super-potent dryers - think XLerator and the Dyson Dryblade - dryers have become more efficient, particularly when they run on 1,600 watts or less. Put that together with the fact that hand dryers last an average of 10 years, and they're the most eco-friendly option. You could always just drip-dry, or a swipe on the old jeans would do the trick, too.

Source: Flickr user nickgraywfu

Reader Review of the Day: Revlon Eyelash Curler

BellaSugar — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 12:02:31 -0700

If you're looking for an eyelash curler, reader Bleached wants to know, "Why spend $15 when you can get a great product for under $4?" Here's what she has to say about the quite affordable Revlon Eyelash Curler ($4):

This does exactly what an eyelash curler should do and the rubber insert is soft and supple, unlike some eyelash curlers out there. It is metal so it is sturdy and won't crack like the plastic curlers. Tip: Heat with a hair dryer for 15 to 20 seconds (at low heat) for added curl.

Thanks for the suggestion, Bleached. Now it's your turn. Let us know which products get the thumbs up (or thumbs down) from your beauty perspective in our Product Reviews section. Perhaps you'll be featured on this daily post, too.