BellaSugar

5 Pretty Little Things to Put on Your Vanity

dannysf — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 14:00:06 PDT

If you have a vanity or even a dresser that's looking a little blah, here are a few fun ways you can spruce it up a bit. A decorative mirror, vintage-inspired brush or atomizer, or cute powder puff will class up your joint, while a fanciful tray makes a great home for your beauty goods. (On a tight budget? Hit a flea market for one-of-a-kind finds.) Earlier, most of you said you get ready in the bathroom in the morning, but do these embellished goods have you changing your mind?

Reader Review of the Day: Brushlab Round Cushion Brush With Mirror Combo

BellaSugar — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 12:00:31 PDT

Sure, a brush can get the tangles out, assist with styling, and even help remove buildup, but it's always a bonus when that brush gives you results beyond anything you ever imagined. Recently, I tried out Kim7754 reviewed Brushlab Round Cushion Brush With Mirror Combo ($8), and got amazing results. Here's what she had to say:

I absolutely love this brush. It makes my hair smooth, light, and shiny. My hair is naturally straight, but I have thick, full hair so it does get poofy if I don't straighten it - especially if I take a shower at night and wake up the next morning. My hair is just horribly unmanageable. But I used this brush one night after showering and I woke up the next morning with my hair super straight, as if I used a straightener! I am definitely keeping this brush.

Do you have a brush, comb, or any other hair device that you can't stop raving about - or complaining about? Tell us all about it on our Product Reviews section. We want to know what you're thinking.

Do Fancy Brushes Make a Difference?

BellaSugar — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 16:23:05 PDT

For years I've been reading about Mason Pearson hair brushes in magazines, and inevitably they're lauded as life-changing miracle brushes. I haven't tried one yet, but I was given a Frederic Fekkai travel brush ($55) that's similarly luxurious.

The faux-tortoise brush is beautiful, easy to hold and replete with old-timey allure. It's pretty enough to leave out when guests are over, and it just feels more glamorous to brush my hair with this than with a drugstore brush. Except...
(To find out why I'm not loving it,

read more) As beautiful as the Fekkai brush is, I don't really love what it does to my hair. Because the boar bristles are natural, they give a relaxing scalp massage each time I run the brush through my hair. Unfortunately, this also spreads oil into my hair, which makes me feel a little greasy and flat-haired. Worse still, the brush is high-maintenance; it just never feels clean, and no matter how much I try to remove the schmutz that builds up, it never looks new. What am I doing wrong?! My foray into pricey brushes has me wondering whether the expense is worth it, so I'm curious about your experiences. Have you used a high-end brush, and if so, what do you think?

Stained Teeth? Coffee Is Not the Only Culprit

FitSugar — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 11:00:00 PDT

We all want our teeth to be bright and white. There are so many whitening products and toothpastes on the shelves at my local drugstore. Dentists, for a pretty penny, professionally bleach stained and colored teeth.

There's nothing wrong with wanting to have pearly whites, but these products can make your teeth sensitive to cold and hot temperatures. Which can be surprisingly painful, so why not prevent the stains before they start?

If you're concerned about your teeth becoming stained, try to avoid these as much as possible:

Coffee, tea, cola, and red wine - consider cutting back if it's not possible to ditch these altogether, and brush your teeth immediately after you drink them.
Smoking - Don't you have enough reasons to quit?
Certain fruits and veggies - apples and potatoes can stain your teeth, so brush after eating them. Teeth, like people, are unique and not everyone's teeth will react the same way to the same foods.
Minerals in the water you drink can also discolor your teeth. Some cities add fluoride to the water supply - excessive fluoride from water or mouthwashes can also cause discoloration.

Fit's Tips: Anything that can stain your carpet can stain your teeth - so brushing after each meal and snack can help prevent stains. Keep toothpaste and a toothbrush in your desk drawer at work, so you can brush after your morning coffe.

Also, make sure to floss your teeth daily and get your teeth professionally cleaned every 6 months. It's good to know that some of these stains can be gently scraped off by your dentist.

Source

Carolina Herrera Fall 2012

Chi Diem Chau — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 15:08:19 PST

Carolina Herrera delivered her quintessential elegance in brilliant red gowns, shimmering red-carpet-worthy dresses, and refined separates for her Fall collection. Pleasing both the celebrity clientele and polished working women, Herrera displayed her magnitude for the classics and modernity in one graceful swoop. Classic ballgowns were sharpened with angles and diaphanous silk dresses were swept with artistic brush-stroke prints, most of which were cinched in with Japanese obi-inspired belts. Meanwhile, for the working class, Herrera paired knee-length wool skirts with an array of sparkly, fur, and feathered sweaters, cropped jackets, and wrap coats doused in one of our favorite color combos: navy and black. More details from the collection below.

Trends: Black and navy color combos, full skirts.
Colors: Black, navy, red, gray, purple, mauve.
Key Piece: We can't wait to see one of the architectural ballgowns on the Oscars red carpet.
Accessories: Wrap obi belts, wedge pumps, long leather gloves.
Who Would Wear It: Michelle Obama would look amazing in the skirt suits, and we'd like to see front-row attendee Renée Zellweger in one of Carolina's magical ballgowns.

One-Minute Makeover Tip: Kick Up Your Colorblocking Quotient

Marisa Tom — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 03:00:08 PST

We're constantly looking to reinvent the way in which we style our most beloved items of clothing - that is, without having to endure the consequences of a costly shopping spree. By combing through the arsenal of chic Fab community looks and tapping into our editors' fashion prowess, we've whipped up an easy way to soup up your wardrobe with just a quick trip to the back of your closet. Today, let's go bold and vibrant: mix-and-match cool color combos.

The best part about colorblocking is, hands down, its endless potential for fun, playful, and totally unexpected color matchups. This may be a good time to brush up on the ol' color wheel. Some of our favorite complementary pairings are: minty green with bright tangerine, deep violet with saffron yellow, and neon pink with crimson red.
Use these color combos to emphasize your shape and your strong knowledge of silhouette proportions. We love seeing contrasted hues against a long-short hem or in the mix of soft vs. hard structural edges.
To execute this look, it takes almost no effort at all. Find your favorite colorful pieces and pair 'em up. The effect is striking, but super simple to achieve. Whether it's a colorblocked sweater-and-jeans combo or a sweet juxtaposition of a bold dress over opaque tights, it's a zippy way to spice up a look.

Photos courtesy of Smileforstyle, BrittandWhit, and Erikets

The Simple Trick to Getting the Sleek Ponytails at Charlotte Ronson

Jaime Richards — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 10:18:16 PST

If you've ever attempted a sleek ponytail but all you get is a gelled-up mess, try this trick used for Charlotte Ronson's Fall 2012 show. After securing hair at the nape, Tresemmé stylist Jeanie Syfu tamed the style by using a hair color brush (the kind the pros use but are readily available at any beauty store) dipped in the brand's Ultra Firm Control Gel. The result was a look that was refined, but with a hint of edge.

Source: Getty

Skip the Brushes and Irons With Fashion Week's Most Casual-Cool Updo

Jaime Richards — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 19:55:00 PST

When creating the hair look for Rebecca Minkoff's Fall 2012 runway show, Tresemmé celebrity stylist Jeanie Syfu was inspired by the designer's mix-of-textures assemblage of sequins, knits, leathers, and metallics. But she also looked to something beyond the surface, exploring a "woman on a journey of self-discovery."

"I wanted the hair to look undone, and not perfect," Syfu explained. And that meant embracing models' natural texture: no curling and/or flat irons were used, and even the brushes stayed in their drawers. So be prepared to get blown away; see more of the undone side buns, along with tips for getting the look at home, now.

Photo: Megan Holmes

Snacking Good: Natchitoches Meat Pies

OnSugar Blog — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 12:07:39 PST

We've always wanted to take a stab at rolling out a few Natchitoches meat pies. Thanks to an easy recipe from Food Orleans, this might be a dream realized sooner rather than later.

[Baked or fried? You decide.]

Natchitoches meat pies are one of those special little treats with a name as fun to say as they are to scarf down. Nackadish - that's how you say it - is a small town we drive through on our way north to visit Alexandria or Oklahoma, and it's where Steel Magnolias was filmed, and it's famous for these little pies. It's a beautiful little place, with a picturesque riverfront lined with shops and restaurants that have their own sort of French Quarter-ish wrought iron balconies (remember the Easter scene where Jackson slapped Ouiser? That's the riverfront!). But you don't have to go into the actual town to get yourself some meat pies; just stop at any gas station right off I-10. They all fry them up and they're all pretty wonderful.

For her recipe, continue reading.

Team Zoe's Joey Maalouf Answers Your Most Hair-Raising Questions

Jaime Richards — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 06:00:00 PST

You've learned how he creates Rachel Zoe's signature beachy waves, and you've likely admired his other work from afar (Jessica Alba's soft and pretty Golden Globes makeup, anyone?). And most recently, celebrity stylist Joey Maalouf has signed on as a beauty advisor for Slim Fast's Studio Wow! campaign, which he explains, is a way to help people be at their most confident for a big, upcoming life event.

"You know, there's no one big step that does it; it's a lot of little steps," Joey says. "First the tricks of dieting, then you start to think about your external look: styling, hair and makeup. I love making people feel like they can just do it at home - and they can," Joey adds. And that's why he's answering your most hair-raising questions. From keeping curls bouncy to Spring 2012's hottest trends, see Joey's expert advice on how you can wow the crowd when you read more.