BellaSugar

Would You Ever Bleach Your Eyebrows?

Miriam Lacey — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 10:40:00 PDT

Supermodel Lara Stone has been bleaching her eyebrows for years, it's said, after former French Vogue editor Carine Roitfeld recommended she do so. Lara does look fetching with barely-there brows, but outside being a runway model, would you ever consider bleaching your brows?

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

BellaSugar — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 07:00:11 PDT

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

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)?

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Professional Teeth Whitening: What You Should Know

FitSugar — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 09:00:00 PDT

Many toothpaste makers also sell over-the-counter teeth whitening strips to help make your smile dazzle. If you have severe discoloration, these strips may not give you the results you're after. That's when professional teeth whitening may cross your mind, so here are some things you should know.

Your teeth are equipped with an enamel surface that's designed to protect your teeth from the effects of coffee, smoking, wine, and aging. Over the years though, your enamel begins to wear down so it becomes more transparent, and the yellowish color of dentin (your tooth's core) begins to show through. Also with time, tiny cracks form in the enamel that allows debris and stains to sink in, which adds to the dull, grayish color.

When you have your teeth professionally whitened, the stains and debris are removed but the cracks will still remain. That means eventually your teeth will need to be whitened again to get that same desired white smile. People choose this option instead of over-the-counter whitening products because dentists have access to high-concentration peroxide gel, so you can achieve better results in a shorter amount of time. To find out what the risks of teeth whitening are

The downside to professional whitening is that this stronger whitening formula can also cause extreme tooth sensitivity and gum irritation (which can last up to a month), not to mention it's much more expensive (around $650 per dentist visit). Depending on how stained your teeth are and how they respond to the gel, it may take several visits to acquire the whiteness you're after. Plus if you have crowns or porcelain veneers, the whitening won't affect them, so you could end up with what dentists call technicolor teeth (multi-colored teeth).

Fit's Tip: Experts say that teeth whitening is safe, as long as the products are approved by the American Dental Association (ADA). If you're considering professional teeth whitening, it's best to chat with your dentist about your options.

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What's Your Take on Whitening Products?

BellaSugar — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 08:08:11 PDT

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,

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 PST

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,

"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."

How Young Is Too Young For a Dye Job?

Kate Stahl — Thu, 24 May 2012 10:37:53 PDT

Gwyneth Paltrow recently shared a picture of her children, Moses and Apple, rocking out at a Jay-Z concert (shown above; they call him Uncle Jay. Yeah, we're jealous too). While we're still not sure how we feel about the whole kids-at-concerts debate, the thing that interested us the most was Apple's new 'do. The 8-year-old was sporting some seriously shocking pink hair.

Apple joins other celeb offspring like Willow Smith, who has rocked yellow and green hair, and both Maddox Jolie-Pitt and Kingston Rossdale, who have sported blue mohawks and bleach-blond styles. Maddox's sister Zahara has also turned her locks a deep shade of blue. So what do you think? Is it cool to let your kids dye their hair before they reach their 10th birthdays? Or should hair dye be reserved for adults - or at least teenagers? Weigh in below.

Brides and Bacne: What to Do

Jenny Sugar — Fri, 18 May 2012 10:30:19 PDT

Everything is going dreamily. You found the perfect wedding gown for the big day. You've been exercising regularly to make sure it fits just right. The problem is, all that sweating you've been doing makes you break out, and not just on your face - on your back and shoulders too.

For starters, do not stop working out. All that exercise is great for relieving stress, and there are many things you can do to prevent bacne from ruining your special day.

Always wear clean workout clothes.
Make sure to wear a sports bra and top that are made of wicking fabric to pull moisture away from your skin. Avoid clothes that don't let your skin breathe.
Take a shower immediately after exercising to wash off sweat and bacteria.
When you shower, use Cetaphil or some other antibacterial cleanser on your back since exfoliating helps unclog blocked pores and get rid of dead skin cells. Use either an exfoliating scrub or bath gloves once a week.
After showering, allow your skin to dry completely and then apply a topical cream that contains either salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide to treat and prevent blemishes. Be careful of bleaching your clothes if you go the benzoyl peroxide route.
If your problem persists or you have severe body acne, make an appointment with a dermatologist.

Savvy Links: How Much Are You Supposed to Tip, Anyway?

Emily Co — Wed, 16 May 2012 12:30:26 PDT

How much are you supposed to tip, anyway? - The Jane Dough
The best time to buy airline tickets for every occasion - LearnVest
How to be more confident - Real Simple
Insurance you need and don't need - Free Money Finance
The doctors to see in your 20s, 30s, 40s, and 50s - HuffPost Women
4 ridiculously cheap ways to stay in touch internationally - Tecca
14 ways to save on your electric bill - Budgets Are Sexy
Preserve cut flowers (with bleach!) - AllYou
This is why your boss doesn’t trust you - The Grindstone
What to do on your last day at work - The Daily Muse

12 Items You Should Not Buy in Bulk

Emily Co — Wed, 02 May 2012 11:50:34 PDT

When grocery shopping, there are certain items you should buy in bulk to get that discounted price that will save you money. However, if you pick the wrong items, you may end up wasting cash if you don't use them up before their expiration date. Here are a couple of items you should refrain from buying in bulk:

Baking powder. If you don't bake all the time, you might want to skip out on buying baking powder in bulk, as it lasts up to six months to a year.
Beer. If you're buying beer in bulk for a party, know that the beverage lasts for just three to six months. You might want to limit yourself and make sure that you're not buying too much.
Bleach. Don't buy too much bleach at one time, as this cleaning agent has a relatively short shelf life of three to six months. It starts to degrade after the six-month mark and loses its effectiveness.
Brown rice. People assume that brown rice has a long shelf life and can be stored for as long as possible. In actuality, brown rice doesn't last too long - just six months - because of its oil content.
Candy and unhealthy snacks. Although you may save money buying candy and unhealthy snacks in bulk, having a lot of these items around may cause you to overeat, which will be a detriment to your health. Saving money is not worth the cost to your health.
Cooking oil. You'd be surprised to learn that cooking oil has a shelf life of about a year. Oils and fats tend to go bad really quickly, so that's a factor to keep in mind when shopping. If you buy too much cooking oil, some of the oil may go rancid, which is said to cause increased rates of heart disease, cancer, and other health problems. You definitely want to make sure the oil you have is fresh.

Read on for more items not to buy in bulk.

How You Can Donate Your Hair to Patients in Need This Friday

BellaSugar — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 10:34:00 PDT

Is it time for your annual springtime cut? If you have long hair, don't let your strands go to waste; donate them to a good cause with the help of Pantene. This Friday the 27th, the hair care company will hold the first-ever National Donate Your Hair Day to benefit its Beautiful Lengths program. With the help of wig-makers HairUWear, Pantene builds real-hair pieces for women undergoing cancer treatment. The wigs are then distributed by the American Cancer Society wig banks for free. See how you can help by getting all the details now.