BellaSugar

Fun, Cheap Finds: Vintage Atomizers

BellaSugar — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 13:03:28 -0700

eBay is a great source of beauty buys, especially if you know how to spot fake cosmetics. Lately I've been on an old-timey kick - fancy netted hats, seamed stockings - and the auction site is a wonderful repository of vintage goodies. Perfume atomizers can be picked up for $10 or less, and many would look amazing on a dresser. Whether you fill them with fragrance or just like the way they look, here are a few auctions I've found. Happy bidding!

De Vilbiss atomizer	De Vilbiss atomizer
White glass atomizer	Art Deco atomizer
Irice Atomizer	Blue atomizer	1940s atomizer

Beauty Byte: Beware of Black-Market Products

BellaSugar — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 15:00:28 -0800

The demand for beauty products at a discounted price has already led to the dangerous counterfeiting of some of our favorite brands. But according to a report by the National Health Federation, even legitimate products sold through these sites can pose a risk to our health.

USA Today explains that dozens of types of beauty products for sale on discount or auction sites have been stolen straight from drugstore shelves. This opens the door to possible contamination and spoiling of these temperature-sensitive items, which when used, can cause skin irritation and possible infection.

The bottom line? The pennies you save on these discounted products are not worth the risk to the health of your skin. Stick to the clearance sections at online drugstores, which are required by law to regulate their quality of their products.

Source

Beauty Byte: L'Oreal Sics its Lawyers on eBay

BellaSugar — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 15:00:37 -0700

Quick, call the crack team at Boston Legal! L'Oreal is taking eBay to court in five European countries, claiming that the auction site isn't doing enough to crack down on counterfeit cosmetics and fragrances. L'Oreal produces more than just its namesake products; it also owns The Body Shop, Lancome, Kiehl's, Shu Uemura and produces fragrances for Giorgio Armani, Ralph Lauren, Viktor & Rolf and Cacharel. In a statement, the company said:

"L'Oreal has been facing an increasing volume of illicit trade in fake fragrances and fake cosmetic products on some online auction sites."

I'm no Matlock, but my guess is that this lawsuit won't go far, because eBay is merely the conduit for the illegal sellers. If you're concerned about buying fakes, check out my guide to spotting them.

Black Market Makeup: How To Spot Fake Cosmetics

BellaSugar — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 09:00:20 -0700

You might think that counterfeits exist only in the realm of "Mark Jacobs" and "Guchi" purses, but there are fake and black-market beauty goods, too. I love a bargain, so I wind up buying a lot of housewares and accessories on eBay. But when it comes to shopping for cosmetics, you've got to be careful. I've found quite a few counterfeit eye shadows, lipsticks, glosses and fragrances-all offered at prices that are too good to be true. While there are honest sellers out there, a few folks are out to make a quick buck.

Why is buying counterfeit merchandise a bad idea? There are a few reasons, but first and foremost is your health. If you don't know where a product really comes from, or what ingredients are inside, why would you let it touch your skin? Counterfeits also funnel money into shady operations, and-oh yeah-they're illegal. And on a less sinister level, the colors just aren't accurate!

To find out how to avoid buying fakes, read more

Common sense will take you a long way. If a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is! For instance, the 12 "MAC" eye shadows shown here were being auctioned on eBay for $24.99. Hmm, that's a pretty low price, considering a single shadow is $14.50 in the stores. Now, I can't tell whether those eye shadows are genuine or fake, but the price seems a little odd.

For that particular auction, I also looked at the seller's feedback, which had complaints by bidders who claimed the MAC shadows were fakes. The seller also had dozens of similar auctions; why would one person have literally hundreds of "new-in-box" eye shadows? Is there a possibility that this particular seller is legitimate and just being accused of selling fakes? Of course. But it's not a chance I want to take.

For most people, common sense will help you spot obvious fakes, but the counterfeiters are getting better and better at making their junk look like the real thing. This detailed guide has great examples of counterfeits lined up to the real thing, and I recommend it as an excellent reference.

What do you think? Would you buy counterfeit makeup to save a few bucks, or would you rather save up for the real thing?

Can't Get Your Hands on Chanel Jade Green? You've Still Got Options.

BellaSugar — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 07:00:24 -0700

Every year, there seems to be a highly coveted nail polish shade or two that hits the market with a frenzy. One example is last year's Metro Chic ($8) from Sephora by OPI, a perfectly muted smoky purple. Another example is Chanel's Le Vernis Nail Color in Vamp, so popular, in fact, it even has its own Wikipedia entry.

This year, there's a big to-do with another Chanel shade. The brand's Jade ($25), a green with a slightly hazy undertone, sold out almost immediately after it launched in September. In fact, it's now going for some pretty crazy prices on eBay - upwards of $117. Wowza. But that doesn't have to stop you from wearing an almost-identical match. While some of the options below might not be exact replicas, they're pretty close. Have you tried any of these Jade Green dupes yourself? Which ones are your favorites?

For more options, keep reading.

What Were They Thinking? DIY Botox Kits Hit Ebay

BellaSugar — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 11:00:13 -0700

Now, there are several things I'd like to DIY – lip scrubs, face masks, or even nail polishing. But, considering my considerable aversion to pain, I can't imagine willingly putting any sharp objects near my face all by myself.

Regardless of your opinion of Botox, it includes the injection of poison - a process which screams "pay a licensed professional" to me. However, over in the UK, a pack containing powder, needles, and a face map was spotted on eBay by Which? magazine . . . obviously, without a prescription. The auction was removed, but that's still scary stuff.

Conserving money is one thing, but a cut-price cosmetic treatment doesn't seem to be proper penny pinching. Am I the only surprised one, or can you see why someone would want to be a beauty super saver?

Source

Now You, Too, Can Have Kate Moss's Hair. (No, Really.)

BellaSugar — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 10:18:09 -0700

I hope you've all been saving your pennies, because an unprecedented shopping opportunity is upon us. Remember how a tipsy Kate lost part of her hair extensions a couple of weeks ago? An enterprising paparazzo snapped it up and is now auctioning the tossed locks on - where else? - eBay.

German photographer John Farr, shown here, has listed the extension, with proceeds from the auction going to anti-drug group Keine Macht den Drogen (No Power to Drugs). "I hope Kate has nothing against this action," he explains in the auction. "Sorry I couldn't ask her for any interview as she was in a hurry."

Bidding, which ends July 3, is already up to 86 Euro, or about $135. I can't think of anything I'd like more than someone else's fake hair. Let's not all fall over ourselves to get in on the action, OK?

Source

How to Spot Fake Cosmetics

BellaSugar — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 13:12:07 -0800

Since many of you had questions after my first post about counterfeit cosmetics, I created a guide to spotting the fakes. Although you can find some good deals on eBay, fake goods are extremely prevalent. Watch out for phony MAC, Nars, and Bobbi Brown - although a few other brands pop up as well. Use this guide to protect yourself from bogus beauty, and be prepared to laugh and cringe while you browse through these fakes.

View Slideshow ›

Anna on Late Night, a Twilight/True Blood Crossover, and Bid to Be Buried Above Marilyn!

Molly — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 13:56:25 -0700

Anna Wintour made headlines when she stopped by Letterman last night to chat about The September Issue. An eBay auction to spend eternity with Marilyn Monroe goes over $4 million, and two of our favorite famous vampires team up for a blood-sucking flick. All that and more on today's PopSugar Rush!

What To Do If Your Favorite Makeup Shade Is Discontinued

BellaSugar — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 10:00:42 -0700

I think it's happened to us all. You head to the store to stock up on your favorite lipstick that you've worn for years, only to be informed by the clerk that it's been discontinued. Panic strikes, then anger. You wonder how and why this could happen.

Don't take it personally. Cosmetics companies frequently switch up inventories to make way for new technology and trends. Often, it's the lower-selling items that suffer the most. But don't fret, because there are tips and tricks to track down shades that have fallen victim to discontinuation. Get the details when you read more.

Customize: They don't call themselves Three Custom Color Specialists for nothing. The company will custom blend to re-create your favorite shades. Prescriptives offers a similar service, too.
Power of the people: If you're upset about an item being discontinued, let the company know about it. Who knows? They might just reconsider if they hear from enough diehard fans.
Check the websites: Many brands have special sections of their websites devoted entirely to products that are being or have been discontinued, like Estée Lauder's Gone But Not Forgotten program or Urban Decay's R.I.P. Items section.
Hit the discount stores and overstock sites: Hello, TJ Maxx for perfume, and Cosmetics and More and BuyMeBeauty.com for low-cost finds. Don't forget about Overstock.com for discontinued goods as well.
Auction: There's no place like eBay when it comes to long lost cosmetics. Just don't get suckered by counterfeit makeup.
Change with the times: Change is a constant. Take it as an opportunity to try out a new shade. Better yet, many companies offer up suggestions for replacements, like CoverGirl's In With the New page.
Swaparoo: If exchanging makeup with strangers feels OK, the "swap" feature from Makeup Alley might just score you the goods.

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