BellaSugar

Beauty Byte: Topshop Pulls "Jesus" Cosmetics

BellaSugar — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 14:00:48 -0800

If you like religious kitsch, then don't plan a trip to Singapore. After receiving complaints about a cosmetics line called Lookin' Good For Jesus, Topshop has pulled all of the products from its shelves. The line features lip balm (in "virtuous vanilla"), bubble bath ("Feel like you're walking on water!"), and a "King-size" tote bag, among other cheeky items.

Catholics found the items "disrespectful and distasteful," and Topshop has pulled all of the products. The line is from Blue Q, which also makes the Dirty Girl body-care line. It's always a little bit jokey - witness its tongue-in-cheek Queen soap - but this is the first time I remember this much of a hullabaloo over the products. Have a look below. Do you think they're offensive, or is it just good clean fun?

View 7 Photos ›

Aldi Launches Super Low-Cost Premium Skincare Line

BellaSugar — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 06:01:18 -0700

When you think of discount supermarket chain Aldi, premium European skincare lines probably don't come to mind. Well, think again. The German-based retailer just began selling Lacura, an award winning private-label skincare line in its US stores. The Lacura collection features 16 items, including cleansers, toners, facial creams, eye creams/gels, lip balm, and facial masks. The most insane part? The products fall within the $2 to $5 range.

If you like creamy-based cleansers, the Hydrating Facial Cleanser ($3) is for you. I also tried the Hydra Complete Cream ($5), an effective lightweight moisturizer that smells like sea minerals - and it's blue. I have to admit I'm impressed with the overall quality and selection of the Lacura products, especially with ingredients like coenzyme Q10, provitamin B5, bioflavonoids, and hydrating sea minerals in the mix. To find out what my favorite items were, read more.

My two favorite products were the Moisturizing Eye Cream ($4), which had a not-too-sticky and not-too-slippery consistency, and the Gentle Lip Care Pearl & Shine (three for $2), a balm that gave my lips a bit of a light pink sparkle. But next time I'll pass on the Hydra Complete Mask ($3), which had too much of a wet texture for my liking. All-in-all, Lacura is a very pleasant line, and for the extremely low prices, it's certainly worth trying.

In Which NARS Makes Up My Mind

BellaSugar — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 07:00:03 -0700

Yesterday, my best friend and I were headed out for the night. Sick of this bronzer-mascara combo we've both been rocking all summer, I opened Make Up Your Mind by Francois Nars to a random page and followed the directions (with whatever similar products I had). This classic tome is broken into eight sections that begin with general tips and end with step-by-step instructions for each look. And the middle? Amazing big images of faces with inventive makeup, each proceeded by a clear plastic page diagramming what shades are used where. Kind of like a junior high school anatomy book, but infinitely more stylish. To see how our eye look evolved and read how to get it, read more.

Source

Disclaimer: The color in the book was NARS Night Porter, which is much more of a sparkling deep blue green. If we had it - and a little more patience - I think we could have nailed the look!

Here's what we did:

Apply concealer under and around (including eyelids) to clean eyes. I used Chantecaille Bio Lift Concealer in Cream.
Cover eyes, lashes to brows, in a shimmery white powder. Mine came from Hard Candy's Take Out Makeup Kit, which is now half price. My friend said we looked like space aliens.
With an angled shadow brush (I used MAC 219SE), go around the eye with the dark shade, building color and extending outward. I used MAC Naval Blue, which is loose and therefore was messy (and required about 17 q-tips to clean off the wrong parts of the face). It also came out lighter and less glittery than expected. Using the correct brush, however, made getting the right shape, especially around the inner corners, really easy.
Line the inside of the eye in black pencil (NARS Black Moon, if you have it). I couldn't find a black eye pencil (I know!), so I used YSL Easy Liner for Eyes in Black. Pencil would have looked better.
Two coats of black mascara. Easy!

The book tells you how to get the rest of the look, including blush (Orgasm, natch), brows and lipstick. I couldn't fathom wearing any more makeup at all on a hot summer night, but I think we look great.