BellaSugar

Like Stealing Lip Gloss From a Baby: 5 Top-Secret Tot Products Big Girls Need

BellaSugar — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 09:00:25 -0700

I don't spend much time in the baby aisle of the drugstore. It's not that I don't love tiny, only-somewhat ambulant humans, it's just that I have other, less-responsible things to do. But sometimes, stuff for babies totally enables my single-girl lifestyle, and I'd like to share my awesomely cheap baby-product stash with you all. So shhhhh, don't tell anybody, and check them out.

Photo by melanieburger

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Brand-New Brand: J. Blossom

BellaSugar — Wed, 30 May 2007 10:33:54 -0700

J.Blossom is a brand with a clear mission, and a warm, fuzzy one at that. Founder Jamila White created the bath and body products with children of color in mind, looking to keep kids both clean and carefree. In a recent interview with Afrobella, White explains her motivation:

"I felt like little girls’ self-esteem was under an all-out assault. Every message was telling them that something was wrong with them; that they needed to have long, straight hair; that their skin wasn’t the right shade; that their noses were too big; that their body wasn’t the right shape ... "

To that end, every product in the J. Blossom line - including bubble bath, lip balm, and body lotion - comes with an "affirmation" on the label, such as "I have a beautiful smile" and "Beautiful skin comes in all shades – yummy chocolate, smooth caramel, or creamy vanilla!" For details on the products, read more

J. Blossom's products are free of artificial colors and mineral oils, and each item comes in two kid-friendly scents: Strawberry Banana Smoothie and Great Big Grape. These products are also a bargain, which is great when shopping for fickle kids.

The Lip Balm, made from shea butter and jojoba oil, costs $3, while the Body Lotion and Bath and Shower Gel are just $12 each. You can also get an adorable little J. Blossom gift sets ($12) with a bath pouf and gift bag.

Patrick Dempsey Talks to Us About His Latest Scent

BellaSugar — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 14:00:36 -0800

When Patrick Dempsey launched his first scent, Unscripted, late last year, I have to admit I was skeptical of another celebrity fragrance hitting the market. However, I was pleasantly surprised by the subtle, clean scent, and even Mr. Bella - whose idea of a fun night out involves climbing mountains and camping in the woods sans showers - is a fan.

Patrick has been bitten by the fragrance bug once again. The launch of his latest scent, Patrick Dempsey 2 ($30), pays tribute to the intimacy between two people. (That's his wife in the ad campaign.) Expect to see at least two more fragrance launches from Patrick in the future, but in the meantime, check out my one-on-one interview (sigh) with the sexy actor when you read more.

Lush Gets Political With Its Endeavors

BellaSugar — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 14:00:57 -0700

When you shop, you could be helping make a political statement without even knowing it. For example, the owners of Amway donate hundreds of thousands of dollars to Republican candidates, and in a new profile of Mark Constantine, the founder of Lush, we discover that in the past year alone, Lush has donated more than $1 million to environmental groups.

But these aren't just "hey, um, it would be nice if you would recycle" do-gooders; some are more progressive groups such as Sea Shepherd, a maritime conservation organization that favors direct-action protests. (They've attacked whaling ships, earning support from the Dalai Lama in doing so.) "I hate the criminalisation of the environmental movement," Constantine says. "These people are vilified as eco-terrorists, when what they're doing is a selfless act."

To raise money, Lush has introduced a variety of products to support its causes. It's recently introduced Jungle Soap, a palm-free soap whose proceeds benefit the Rainforest Foundation; 100 percent of the retail price of its Charity Pot body lotion goes to groups that (among other things) create sustainable farming in Mali, support UNICEF's Unite for Children campaign, and send used bikes to developing countries. In general, I prefer to shop at stores that are transparent about where my money might be going; it makes me feel good to know that my purchase could support a cause I believe in. (Conversely, if I found out that a company sends profits to, I don't know, the Campaign for Kitten-Shaving, I'd stop shopping there.) Are you the same way?

Whitney Port Gets Some PlantLove

BellaSugar — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 06:00:30 -0700

Want a Port pout? Cargo is betting you do. The City's starring gossip girl is getting her own signature hot pink lipstick, called Eve Pinky, in the brand's PlantLove line of products. But this stick's not just about Whitney, lovely as she is; the shade also has a charitable side. For every tube of Eve Pinky sold, $2 goes to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. It's a cute shade, and an even better cause - one I wouldn't mind parting with a few hard-earned dollars for. So be on the lookout for it - Eve Pinky is available at Sephora starting this week.

Girl-Grooming Trend on the Rise in India

BellaSugar — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 13:00:50 -0700

In our image-obsessed culture, girls are grooming at younger and younger ages, making youth-targeted bikini waxes and toddler beauty pageants more and more common. Now, it looks like the disturbing trend of underage grooming is impacting the youth of India, as girls, and even boys, are making stops to the salon and spa more frequently. In fact, recent marketing studies imply that the hottest Indian beauty trends involve services targeted towards teens and tweens. (As if puberty wasn't already difficult enough.)

"Young children should not use beauty products at all, because their immune system is not fully developed," dermatologist Ajita Bagai told Mint. On the beauty industry side, however, some salon professionals would argue that body wraps on 11 year olds and minifacials using natural products on preteens are all right. But when it comes to the practice of juvenile primping, just how young is too young, and what is deemed appropriate by the medical side? Find out some guidelines from doctors interviewed in this article

Bella Brand: Pristine Recovery

BellaSugar — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 08:00:22 -0700

Blaire Kessler received news that no woman wants to hear - she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005, at the young age of 31. Today, Kessler's cancer is gone, and she's developed a 100% natural line of products called Pristine Recovery, free from mineral oil, phthalates, and parabens.

A huge fan of old movies and past beauty icons, Kessler chose 1940's inspired packaging for her products, which are intended for use by all, not solely breast cancer patients or survivors. Proceeds from the sale of each item will be given to the Young Survival Coalition and the Cancer Prevention Coalition.

Here's what Kessler had to say about her experience:

Tell me why you chose this concept for your line.
"At first I developed the line in my kitchen for myself after becoming profoundly discouraged that there weren't safe and natural products to help me. . . I felt wonderful, but the treatment made me look like I was not doing well, and that was challenging."

To see the rest of the interview and view a list of Pristine Recovery products, read more.

Can you tell me a bit more about your process in developing the line?
"I read and studied intensely about natural remedies from all cultures. . . I started using the products on myself and they truly started working wonders. My husband noticed what a wonderful job they were doing on my hair and skin and he suggested we look into getting a manufacturer to mass produce them for the public."

How are your products different from the rest?
"A lot of research was performed by myself and my brilliant chemists on ancient remedies from the American Indians to Africans, to the Sanskrit people of India, to ancient Egyptians. If you want to produce an effective beauty range then an immense amount of research must be done. Each ingredient provides something of great value to the product."

What can we expect from Pristine Recovery in the future?
"We are planning on a shampoo/conditioner, face wash, body wash, a hot flash remedy, sunless tanner, sugar scrub, and a full skin and hair care line for men and children."

Pristine Recovery products:

Brallywood Butta Skin Cream ($48) -an underarm and décolleté massage butter that can also be used for self-check exams.

No More Scary Hairy ($42) - a gentle hair and scalp treatment.

Take A Whiff! Natural Deodorant ($20) - a natural odor-fighter with organic sage.

Beauty Bag or Vanity Tray ($100 each) - two different sets with all three of the products mentioned above, packaged in a bag or tray form - your choice.

Do You Use Baby Products?

BellaSugar — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 06:00:35 -0800

Lately, I've become quite a fan of Perfumer & Flavorist magazine's website. Yeah, I'm not a subscriber so I can't delve into each of their interesting articles about, well -the perfume and flavor industries. But the other day, when I came across the magazine's list of winners from the 2008 Perfumer's Choice Awards, I decided to try out one of their selections. They are the experts, after all.

Best classic fine women's fragrance? Estée Lauder Beautiful. Best Baby/Children Fragrance? Johnson & Johnson Bedtime Bath ($4.99). So, I went and did what any other adult would do. I bought the baby bath. I've been a fan of Johnson's Baby Shampoo ($4.49) for years, particularly as a makeup brush cleaner, with amazing (and sweet smelling) results. As for the bedtime bath? The aroma was fresh and soothing, and I felt very rested that night. And since I really like the gentle nature of baby products, I plan on keeping this one in regular rotation. How about you?

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Lightening Creams Are Popular Among Indians, Even For Kids

BellaSugar — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 09:00:34 -0700

The last time we discussed skin-whitening creams, a lot of you had something to say. But after reading this article, I want to revisit this complex topic. In India, skin-lightening products flood the market; many contain harmful chemicals, some of which are carcinogenic. Despite the health issues, the belief that "white is right" keeps many people buying the creams. This isn't the same thing as Caucasians applying self-tanner to get a sun-kissed glow; instead, many people believe that light skin is simply superior to dark skin. (This ad gets that message across.)

But now it's not just adults who want their skin to be lighter. To find out how kids are getting into it, read more.

"I have clients who put their children on the product - some as young as nine years old, with a reference from dermatologists, so that they are not the slightly darker child in school or in the class picture," says former beauty queen Sorisha Naidoo, who markets a skin-lightening product. "In parts of the Indian community, being the slightly darker cousin or sister means that no matter how striking, intelligent or skilled you are, being fair still means more."

Many Bollywood stars such as Kareena Kapoor, shown here, have fair skin. And with light-skinned models and actresses outnumbering their dark-skinned counterparts, the beauty ideal is tilted toward the light end of the spectrum. I can't help but worry for that proverbial child, who's told that her beautiful dark skin is something that needs to be "fixed." What do you think it will take to create a broader, more inclusive standard for South Asian beauty? Or do you think that whitening creams are just a different kind of beauty product?

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How-To: Six Ways To Make Your Lips Look Fuller

BellaSugar — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 11:00:22 -0700

You don't need to endure painful injections to achieve a nice, full lip. You don't necessarily need a lip plumping product, either. Makeup artists rely on tried and true tips to help their clients pump up the volume, and I've got a few of them to share.

Applier beware. Plump lips are one of those mysterious subconscious biological signs of youthfulness and fertility.

(Editor's note: I cannot take responsibility for any additional attention (or children) that may follow as a result of these tips below.)

Beginner

Avoid dark lipsticks or glosses. They can make your lips look smaller. Instead, choose a lighter shade to give the illusion of fullness. Also, pick lipsticks with shinier finishes. Shiny reflects light, making lips look even bigger.
Brush lips with a baby toothbrush and some lip balm, like the classic ChapStick ($1.90). It's a gentle way to exfoliate and it promotes circulation in the lips, causing a temporary plump.
Sweep a tiny dab of light colored gloss only in the middle of your lips, both top and bottom. Try Benefit Her Glossiness in Didn't Hear It From Me ($18). You can also use a lighter glittery gloss such as Wet N Wild MegaBrilliance Lip Gloss in Shimmy Shimmer ($2) or a whitish shimmery powder like Benefit Lust Duster in Snow Bunny ($18) to achieve the same effect.

To move on to the more advanced techniques, read more.

Intermediate

Apply a luminizer, white pencil, or a line of concealer a shade or two lighter than your skin tone to your cupid's bow only (the "m" shape right above your upper lip). Blend lightly. Try Wet N Wild Kohl Eyeliner Pencil in White ($1.50).
Use just the slightest amount of soft brown eyeliner (yeah - weird, I know) right underneath your lower lip line. Just about 1/8th of an inch should do. This creates the illusion that your full lips are actually creating a "shadow." I like CoverGirl Perfect Blend Eye Pencil in Smoky Taupe ($2.70).

Advanced

Apply concealer to lip area to create a blank palette. Using a lip liner in a shade similar to your own lips (or 1-2 shades darker), line your entire lips, from just slightly outside your natural line, moving inward. Smudge any rough edges (no clowny looks, here) and apply lipstick or gloss or both.

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