BellaSugar

Bella Bargain: 20 Percent Off on CVS Pharmacy's Website

BellaSugar — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 10:00:33 -0700

If you love a good drugstore run, then you'll be pleased to hear that, from Aug. 15 through Sept. 11, almost every beauty product on CVS.com will be marked down 20 percent. Sales like this are great for stocking up on long-lasting basics. I know I'm gonna get some makeup sponges, cotton balls, and nail polish remover, at the very least.

CVS Is Movin' On Up to the Prestige Side

BellaSugar — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 13:00:47 -0700

If you notice construction going on at your local CVS in the near future, it might be more than just a pharmacy drive-thru remodel. You probably shop at CVS for wide variety of inexpensive beauty delights - but soon, you'll be able to pop in for fancy items as well.

White-tiled flooring, brushed steel fixtures, seafoam green walls at CVS? Yep - according to WWD, the drugstore chain is ready to unveil Sephora-sized, high-end beauty emporiums called Beauty 360. The first concept store is set to open by year's end in a major city on the East Coast. You won't have to go searching far, as Beauty 360 stores will pop up in adjacent areas to CVS's pre-existing locations or in a separate store within CVS.

Although the exact brands to be carried at this high-end store remain a mystery, “department store or specialty store brands" will be available. There's also talk of including "express services" like massages and manicures. Since subsequent plans include opening 500-1000 Beauty 360s and the majority of women live within 5 miles of a CVS, I'm sure you'll be moving on up yourself very soon.

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This Acne Cream Is Only $3.84. And It Works!

BellaSugar — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 09:00:05 -0800

Lately I've been battling a bit of chin acne, and it's been driving me bonkers. The rest of my skin has been great, but my chin has been sporting a robust crop of pimples. Nothing I tried-masks, Differin, exfoliation, glycolic acid lotion, leaving it alone-worked.

Then I remembered a tip I'd picked up from a friend whose roommate uses only high-end skin care-with one exception. "She and I swear by CVS benzoyl peroxide cream," my pimple-free pal said. "I swear, it works better than any of the expensive things we've tried."

Sure enough, she was right. I picked up a tube for less than four dollars and put it on before bed. The next morning, all of the volcanic little pustules had vanished. The only side effect is a bit of dry skin, but a little moisturizer fixed that problem within a day. Now my complexion is smooth as buttah. I'm telling you, this is good stuff.

Coming Soon: Starmaker Products at CVS

BellaSugar — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 14:00:32 -0700

Do you want McDreamy hands? Or a Desperate Housewives complexion? Soon, you'll have your chance to try the same products used on those TV shows. Starmaker Products, a company founded by makeup artist JoAnna Connell (who's worked with Madonna and Tom Cruise) and Anson Williams (Potsie from Happy Days!), is bringing three of its products to CVS stores next month. These products are used on the sets of Desperate Housewives, Grey's Anatomy and Dirt, among other shows.

The line was initially created while Connell was a makeup artist for Baywatch, but after Connell and Williams met on the set of Melrose Place, they decided to take the products to the consumer market. Those that will be at CVS include Micropearl Resurfacing, Hollywood Hands, and Pearl Moisturizing Anti-Wrinkle Mist. They're pretty pricey for drugstore products; Hollywood Hands is $24.95, which is more than I'd personally pay for a hand cream. What about you? Is Potsie's involvement enough to make you check these products out?

Do You Buy Store-Brand Beauty Products?

BellaSugar — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 06:00:00 -0800

I love oil-blotting sheets, so I always keep one packet at work and another in my purse. They're so useful for soaking up the pool of oil that collects on my face by early afternoon. Plus, there's something weirdly delightful about seeing the blotchy oil on the sheet. (Or is that just me?)

I first tried the Clean & Clear variety years ago, and they're great. But they're a dollar more than the CVS brand version, which works just as well. They seem identical, and both are made in Japan, so I happily go no-name on this purchase to save a dollar. In general, do you buy store-brand items, or do you prefer the "real" thing?

Find Out How To Spot Diverted Products

BellaSugar — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 12:01:45 -0700

When it comes to professional haircare products, do you know if what you're getting is legitimate? Last week, L’Oréal USA filed suit against Sally Beauty Holdings Inc. for allegedly selling Matrix products to a wholesaler without authorization; eventually, these products ended up at CVS and Target.

The process of products going through unapproved retail channels is called diversion. It's often caused by third parties offering underground deals to those who have a legitimate contract with the manufacturer, like shady salons. Once the arrangement is made, the products are then sold to mass retailers, who technically don't have the right to resell the product. Find out some tips on spotting diverted products, along with some other reasons why you might think again before making a purchase, when you read more.

Pro only: If the label says something about the product being for sale only in professional salons, then only purchase the product in the salon or the brand's website. The manufacturer cannot guarantee that it hasn't been tampered with, replaced with cheaper product inside, diluted, or has been stolen unless it's purchased through the appropriate channels.
Old stuff: Since many of these underground products sit in warehouses for months at a time, they are often outdated, or worse, contaminated in some fashion. Ick.
The packaging: Think about it. If the product looks dirty or dented on the outside, what's really in the inside? Plus, if you notice that the caps are different colors, or something is off about the packaging in any way, put it down.
Batch codes: Check the labels. If batch codes are rubbed off or missing, this could be a sign that the product is counterfeit or that the third party is trying to erase evidence of original purchase.
Not really cheaper: Even though diverted products may end up on the shelves of discount retailers, the prices are often not all that much of a difference. In fact, diverted products often cost more, as a result of being shuffled around the gray market.

Source: Flickr User banna123456

Reader Review of the Day: Neutrogena Sport Face Sunblock Lotion SPF 70

BellaSugar — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 10:00:14 -0700

Recently, reader Risqueredhead found a deal on Neutrogena Sport Face Sunblock Lotion SPF 70 ($11.50) at CVS. While she liked this heavy-duty sunscreen at first, something went awry the next day. Here's what she had to say:

I'm a pale redheaded girl, and I knew I'd be spending a lot of time outside this summer. I have no problem with the actual product. It's not heavy, it doesn't melt into the eyes too badly (but it still does), and it rubs in fine. However, this broke me out like none other. I'm even broken out on my chest, which has never happened before.

Oh noooo! Have you ever tried a product out, had great results upon initial use, but then become dissatisfied for some reason as time wore on? Tell us all about it in the Product Reviews section, and we might just feature you right here tomorrow.

Bella Brand: Vickery and Clarke

BellaSugar — Wed, 20 May 2009 11:00:56 -0700

More and more these days, brands are going eco-friendly. But that's not all, as a greater number of these green beauty products are now more affordable than ever.

Enter Vickery and Clarke Natural Apothecary products, which are more than 94 percent natural and free from parabens, petrolatum, propylene glycol, sodium lauryl sulfate, and sodium laureth sulfate. The brand is named in tribute to two female pharmacists, Alice Vickery and Isabella Clarke, who broke ground in their field in 1800s Great Britain. With simple, pure ingredients like ginger, lavender, and clementine in the mix, it's hard to believe that many of the line's beauty and body care products cost less than $5. See what I thought about Vickery and Clarke when you read more.

In three words: I am impressed. The Detox Face Mask ($5) contains bentonite clay, with a texture and skin-unclogging results similar to many upscale lines; the Ginger and Clementine Body Scrub ($3.60) has a not-too-overpowering aroma with a soft, creamy feel; and once I got my hands on the cooling Face Tonic For Normal to Oily Skin ($3.60), I put it in the fridge to give it extra oomph. Vickery and Clarke products are sold exclusively through CVS, and on a pat-on-the-back side note, the brand recently won a CEW Award for Eucalyptus and Peppermint Cold and Sinus Soak ($4.80).

Trend Alert: What's Hot in Skin Care

BellaSugar — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 07:02:57 -0800

Trends aren't all about hair and makeup. They're about skin care, too. According to Dr. Jeffrey Dover, the dermatologist behind Skin Effects, the antiaging line sold through CVS, it's all about the peptides. Just what are peptides, anyway? Peptides are tiny chains of amino acids that help combat the signs of aging. "Within a few weeks of using products with peptide ingredients, my patients can generally see improvements in the overall appearance of their skin," he said. To learn what's on his "it" list of peptide types - and get a lesson in science - read more below:

Polypeptides: Commonly known as just peptides. Polypeptides help cells communicate better so that skin looks healthier. They also work to improve the barrier function of the skin, which means less wrinkling.
Lipopeptides: Because of the fat and water balance, lipopeptides more easily penetrate into the skin, which helps to reduce fine lines and wrinkles, making skin look more firm.
GABA (Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid): Sourced from tomatoes, GABAs actually help relax the muscles that cause the face to crinkle. They also contain the antioxidant lycopene and promote smooth skin, and are wonderful for those who need instant gratification. I knew I liked those tomatoes.

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The Votes Are In: Best Shampoo Is Pantene

BellaSugar — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 11:00:29 -0800

Whoa, who knew that this year's Best Shampoo of 2008 would only win by a hair? Oh dear. Seeing that Frédéric Fekkai was just four votes under, we'll give the brand an honorable mention. And as for the official winner? Let's give Pantene some kudos for delivering good-smelling, feel-nice products that don't break the bank.

What's my favorite? I'm with you on the drugstore shampoo. My pick is Cristophe Beverly Hills, a natural, fragrance-free line, available at CVS, that makes my hair - and the beau's - feel fantastic. Now that you know this year's top shampoos, check out the rest of our Best of 2008 polls and outcomes now.