BellaSugar

BellaSugar's Gift Guide: Your Cousin, The Dude

BellaSugar — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 08:00:12 -0800

Yesterday's gift guide focused on female cousins, so today's gift ideas are all for male cousins. I know that some people have cousins who are like brothers to them, while other cousins are just those random people you see only at the holidays. Either way, I hope there's something in here that gives you some shopping ideas. I even tossed in a luxurious dream item-not that I'd ever spend that kind of money on a razor, but it's fun to have a gander.

Sephora Scent Sampler Gift Certificate For Him, $50	Kiehl's Close Shavers Squadron Ultimate Shave Cream, $15.50
The Refinery Travel Kit, $75	Mach 3 Shaving Set, $300	Neutrogena Men Triple Protect Face Lotion, SPF 20, $5.67

BellaSugar's Gift Guide: Your Cousin

BellaSugar — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 09:57:07 -0800

Welcome back to another edition of beauty-related family holiday gift guides! Today's subjects are your female cousins. What I like about buying gifts for my cousins is that I can get a little bit more creative with them. In the past, I've given out gift certificates and they've gone over famously (hint, hint). Here are a couple of cute and kitschy ideas for your shopping list.

Kiehl's - Creme de Corps ($26)	Elizabeth Arden Red Door Spa Gift Certificate ($25 - $300)
Ulta - On The Go Makeup Kit ($19.99)	Victoria's Secret - Lip Gloss Set ($30)
Bliss - Best of Bliss Holiday 200 ($45)	Fresh - Lip & Lash Combo ($42)
Sephora - Cuticle Care Pen ($12)	Bath & Body Works -True Blue Spa Pedicure Kit ($39)	Fekkai - Winter Hair Lift-Define-Shine Styling Compact ($25)

Do You Look Like Your Significant Other?

BellaSugar — Fri, 15 May 2009 06:00:11 -0700

You might shower with them, and you might even use their razor, but do you actually look like your significant other? Studies have shown that it's quite common for couples to look alike.

Take this late '80s photo that my cousin recently shared with me, with his then-future wife by his side. Maybe it's just the rocking hair that makes them resemble one another, but there is indeed an uncanny likeness. On the celebrity front, Tom Cruise/Katie Holmes, Victoria and David Beckham, and Bratt Pitt/Jennifer Aniston (and even Gwyneth Paltrow) have all been said to bear similar features. Past or present - have you ever been told that you look like your coupled mate?

Preview Your Wedding Look With a Fun Photo Shoot!

BellaSugar — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 08:01:09 -0700

Mr. Bella and I are headed to the wedding of his best friend, Dave, and his fiancée, Liz, in just a few short weeks. Boston, here we come for some wicked awesome times. After snooping around on Liz's Facebook page, I spotted these convivial photos, along with some well-applied makeup and perfectly waved hair on the bride-to-be.
If you're getting married, ask your hairdresser for a makeup artist recommendation. That's how Liz found Shauna Shay, the makeup artist who used MAC products in these photos for Liz's soft bridal palette. Find out how the future Mrs. Dave used her trial run makeup appointment - along with an antique Boston trolley - to create a fun pre-wedding photo shoot when you read more.

Liz said,

A lot of people schedule their hair and/or makeup trial for the day of their shower or some other event they want to look good for. Our photographer includes an engagement shoot with his package, but we had already sent our engagement announcement in to papers and everything, so this shoot was pretty much a freebie, and I used it to see how the makeup would photograph. My cousin helped us get a permit for a trolley line in Boston that has antique cars, and we just had fun taking pics. It was good to work with our photographer before the big day and get comfortable, too.

Looking for some more wedding planning inspiration? Check out my wedding coverage for other beauty-themed posts.

Photos courtesy of Charles Bandes Photography

Keep Straight Styles Sleek With Four Wrap Tips

BellaSugar — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 12:07:33 -0700

If you've got relaxed-yet-wavy hair (like curly Bella), you've probably at least heard of "wrapping." The technique can help breakage-prone or frizzy hair preserve sleek styles while you sleep or work out. Whether it involves chemically straightened, flat-ironed or blow-dried tresses, wrapping provides less stress on your hair and holds straightness through the night with a satin sleep cap or scarf. It's not a hard process once you get the hang of it, so see my steps to get started when you read more.

Divide the hair. Starting at the crown of your head, brush the front middle part of your hair – from top of head to forehead – over the front of your face with a boar-bristle brush. (Think of Cousin It). The back and side portions of your hair should be left down as usual.
Choose your direction. To begin the wrapping process, you'll want to brush the hair in the direction that you part your hair (e.g., if you part on the left side, you'll comb around your head going toward the right.) To get a strong start, place one palm on top of your head to hold the hair closest to your scalp down pat.
Keep it moving. Keep brushing hair repeatedly in the same direction around your head until all your hair wraps around it. If necessary, add pins to hold down any pieces that fall.
Top it off. Many people complain that satin wraps or scarves come off in the night. If you're into lasting results (and sacrificing fashion), grab a pair of clean pantyhose. Put the "top" part over your scarf/satin cap, wrap the "legs" around your head, and tie to secure. It ain't pretty, but it gets the job done.

Have any advice to add? Share it in your comments below.

What Is Cassia?

BellaSugar — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 09:00:46 -0800

I've heard a lot of buzz lately about cassia. It's an ingredient in many beauty products, but what does it do? A relative of cinnamon, cassia comes from an evergreen tree native to southern Bangladesh, Vietnam, India, and China. According to Wikipedia cassia's flavor is more harsh than its cousin, and it's sometimes referred to as "bastard cinnamon."

Considered to be one of the 50 fundamental herbs in Chinese medicine, cassia is even mentioned in the Bible. But when it comes to beauty, this ingredient helps products release moisture and work more efficiently. It also has astringent-like qualities and can improve blood's circulation. Recently, Proctor & Gamble added a cassia complex to their new Pantene Pro-V Nature Fusion Smooth Vitality Shampoo ($5) and Pantene Pro-V Nature Fusion Smooth Vitality Conditioner ($5) after discovering that this ingredient makes hair softer, easier to comb, and shields the hair from friction damage. Check out some products with this sensual ingredient when you read more:

Armani / Privé ($185)
Pangea Organics Bar Soap, Malagasy Cinnamon Cassia with Cloves ($9)
Bronze Expert by Terry ($48)
ISUN Amber Body Oil ($12)
Tous Eau de Toilette Spray ($59 to $75)
Burt's Bees Lip Balm with Pomegranate Oil ($3)

Source

Love It or Hate It? Candy Wrapper Makeup Bag

BellaSugar — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 07:00:08 -0800

This Nahui Ollin makeup bag ($45) reminds me of a funky, low-fi cousin of the famed Bottega Veneta woven bags. But this one is made of Tootsie Roll wrappers. It's an unusual idea for storage, but do you think it's unusual and cool?

All About Shimmer, Sparkles, Glimmers, and Other Shiny Finishes

BellaSugar — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 07:00:00 -0800

I've had shimmer on the mind since since New Year's. Or is it glimmer or glitter or sparkles. . . or frost? Whatever you call it, it's all about creating some type of glow. Whether it's bold and eye-catching or softly luminizing, check out my little guideline regarding those finishes that glisten below. Which one is your favorite?

Shimmer: A subtle sheen with a hint of sparkle that flickers lightly. A classic example is Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick Compact ($38).
Glimmer: Shimmer's little cousin. A much softer version of shimmer, glimmers are the way to go if you don't want too much sparkle. Try Bare Minerals Glimmer ($13).
Glitter: The "woot, woot" of the glistening finishes. Glitter is the heaviest of the bunch, with small chunks of light-reflecting particles within the composition. Urban Decay makes a Heavy Metal Glitter Liner ($18) for maximum drama.
Frost: More opaque than shimmer, but still gives shine and sheen. Sometimes has a metallic finish or a silvery-white appearance. Check out Milani Lip Color in Frosted Pink ($3.49).
Pearlescent: Has a pearly luster or gloss, giving the illusion of many layers and shades. It has more dimension than frost, and is typically iridescent, shiny, and swirly in appearance - much like pearls themselves. Often found in lipsticks, powders, and nail polishes: Tropez Super Pearl Nail Enamel in Paradise Pearl ($1.99), for instance.

How-To: Choose a Nail Shape

BellaSugar — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 10:00:11 -0700

When I was little, I knew of only two nail shapes: dagger (like that of my then mean older cousin - ouch) and bitten down to the nubs (like me - also, ouch). While you can wear your nails however you please, I've got some guidelines on choosing which nail shape might suite you best.

Generally speaking, try to match the shape of your cuticle to your free edge (the part you are filing). This will give you the most complementary finish. Another basic guideline is to shape the nail to give the illusion of elongated fingers. Remember to file nails in one direction, and check out some more tips below:

Oval - Looks good on most, particularly short, wide fingers.
Round - Great for short nails and those with very active hands, since round tends to break less.
Almond/Pointed - Elongates petite hands and fingers. It's also a very of-the-moment style, according to nail guru Deborah Lippmann.
Square - Works well to balance out long, narrow fingers.
Squoval - Softens wide nail beds. Also works well for short, wide fingers or long, big fingers.

Source

The Look For Less: Clinique Black Honey Almost Lipstick

BellaSugar — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 09:00:54 -0700

Do you remember your first taste of honey? I do, at least when it comes to Clinique Black Honey Almost Lipstick ($14). Ever since trying the shade in college, I've been hooked. This color looks nearly black in the tube, but on lips, it's a beautiful, sheer shade of brick red. (Think of the color of blackberry pie, but lighter.) It's a shade that flatters just about everyone, and it's super-moist on lips.

But if the economy has you watching every penny, don't despair! I've found a pretty close match to Black Honey for half the price. For the twin, read more.

I recently tried Sally Hansen Natural Beauty Moisture Plump Lip Balm ($6.74) in Sweet Plum, and if it's not a twin, it's a very close cousin to Black Honey. The packaging is plastic rather than metal, but saving a few bucks will put a smile on your face.