BellaSugar

Reader Review of the Day: Origins Clear Improvement Charcoal Mask

BellaSugar — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 09:00:12 -0800

I haven't used Origins Clear Improvement Charcoal Mask ($21) since college, so when I came across reader voxtrotlous's review of the pore- and pimple-clearing treatment, I got all nostalgic. But is it worth the purchase? Find out what today's reviewer had to say below:

It's not a complete dud of a product. It's less that 20 bucks, so it's not anything you can complain about. All I'm saying [is that it] doesn't really do what it says it will. . . It made [my skin] a little bit smoother, but it didn't help clear my breakouts. I don't recommend it.

Have you tried out any detoxifying or clarifying masks as of late? Then it's time to hit up our Product Reviews pages, where you can tell us about everything you're loving (and hating) these days. You'll find more than 50,000 products from which to choose, and you never know - you might just be featured on this daily post, too.

Got Leftover Sweet Potatoes and Beer? You've Got a Face Mask

BellaSugar — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 13:00:00 -0800

If you've been entertaining lately and are now the proud owner of a fridge full of extraneous yams, sweet potato casserole, and beer, I've got the perfect recipe for you. This one's a moisturizing and clarifying mask from Return to Beauty, a book of traditional skincare recipes. Just take a cup of your sweet potato (if it's already mashed or casseroled, great; if it's whole, boil it and smash it up) and add two tablespoons of beer. Apply the mask all over your face and neck, and keep it on for 15 minutes. Rinse with lukewarm water and apply your toner or moisturizer. Easy, festive, and helps you clean out your fridge.

DIY Spa Treatment: Good Smellin' Fall Cranberry Apple Mask

BellaSugar — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 09:00:00 -0700

I love the cool weather smells of the season, and what can be more warm and enticing than cranberries and apples? The combo is also, incidentally, an excellent exfoliant for dry Fall skin, and I've got a DIY recipe featuring these two ingredients, to give you the best of both worlds. For a divinely scented kitchen and naturally glowing skin, check out this easy, three-ingredient mask from Narine Nikogosian's new beauty home remedy book Return to Beauty ($25), due out next month. To get the directions, just read more.

DIY Spa Treatment: Pumpkin Face Mask

BellaSugar — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 06:00:14 -0700

After a few weeks of warm temperatures, there's no denying it officially feels like Autumn. Yesterday I passed by one of those makeshift pumpkin patches on the city street corner and then immediately bought myself a long-sleeved turtleneck and a big bag of Brach's Harvest Mix. Now that I'm in the mood for this seasonably crisp weather and I've officially got an addiction to candy corn and other mellowcreme confections, I've got pumpkin on the brain. High in vitamins A and C and zinc, this gourd-like squash helps heal and protect the skin from free radicals, all while gently dissolving dead skin cells. The addition of egg helps bind the mask together, nourishing and lifting the skin. To get the recipe for this homemade pumpkin face mask, read more.

DIY Spa Treatment: Honey and Yogurt Acne Mask

BellaSugar — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 13:00:53 -0700

When it's warm outside, my face tends to be more apt to breakout. Do you hear me on that one? I've shared with you dermatologist Dr. Hema Sundaram's recipe for her Sweet Tea Antioxidant Facial Exfoliator, and now she's got something else for us to help beat the early Autumn heat - and the pimples. Better yet? Most ingredients are probably already in your pantry or refrigerator. Her latest recipe both hydrates and exfoliates the skin, while providing antibacterial properties.

"Neem oil has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects, which can help heal breakout-prone Summer skin," said Dr. Sundaram. But that's not all. "The fatty acids in neem oil build collagen and maintain skin’s elasticity while plain yogurt works to soothe, nourish, and tighten skin," she added. Get the easy-to-make recipe after the jump.

Reader Review of the Day: Neutrogena Clear Pore Cleanser Mask

BellaSugar — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 08:02:37 -0700

Reader Itsme3683 has found her perfect mask in Neutrogena's Clear Pore Cleanser Mask ($7). Better yet, this acne-fighting formula can be used as both a daily moisturizer and a daily mask. Take it away, Itsme3683:

Like some of the other reviewers, I don't recommend using it as a twice-daily cleanser because it is really intense, and I think it's too thick and annoying for a cleanser anyways. I use it as a mask whenever I feel like I need a good deep clean and I love it. I also use it as a spot treatment when I have a problem zit - just dab a little of this on before bed and it's so much better in the morning. Highly recommended.

Won't you now share what you like and dislike about your beauty items on our Product Reviews website? Nothing beats your honest opinions!

Reader Review of the Day: Apivita Deep Cleansing Face Mask

BellaSugar — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 14:00:21 -0700

Everyone wants something different out of a facial mask, whether it's for hydration, acne fighting, or increased radiance. But who wouldn't want a little deep cleaning now and then? Mask-lover Marleygyal02 tried out Apivita Deep Cleansing Face Mask ($5), and here's what she had to say about this heavy-duty mask:

Another mask I could use forever. It smells so good, and it makes my skin feel like a new day. I love how clean my skin feels after this mask, but it doesn't strip moisture . . . so my skin doesn't feel tight. It really helps to clarify my pores.

If you like reviewing products, our Product Reviews website is the place to be. Fill us in on what you do and don't like, whether it's a flat iron or waxing strips or a lip gloss. Perhaps you'll be featured on this daily post, too.

DIY Spa Treatment Recap: Fight Dull, Dry Skin With These Ideas

BellaSugar — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 14:00:23 -0800

Protect your skin from the elements and your pockets from the recession by making your own pampering treats this season. From easy masks to moisturizers, check out six ways to save face – well, its moisture anyway – in your own kitchen.

DIY Spa Treatment: Exfoliating Orange Yogurt Mask

BellaSugar — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 07:00:22 -0800

Besides being tasty, yogurt aides digestion and may even help you feel fuller without adding tons of calories. As far as beauty goes, eating yogurt is beneficial for hair and nails because of the protein it contains. It also has zinc, which is great for calming down inflammation and healing skin.

The healthy snack also contains lactic acid, an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) that helps to exfoliate and boost collagen production. Another healthy snack? The orange. Besides the fact that it's chock full of vitamin C, it has AHAs, too. Put these two treats together, and you've got a soothing natural exfoliating mask that's both easy and cheap.

Here's what you'll need to make your own orange yogurt mask:

Approximately one tablespoon of yogurt. I prefer a thicker variety like Greek style.
Juice from about one fourth of an orange or a splash of orange juice.
Mix together yogurt and orange. Then, spread evenly on your face. Rinse after about five to ten minutes. Instant rejuvenation.

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Five Minutes to a Better Face Mask

BellaSugar — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 08:00:37 -0800

Whether your face mask of choice is store-bought or DIY, next time you're planning to apply the special treat to your skin, fill a pot with water first. The five minutes (or so) it takes to boil this will actually help the already refreshing mask, work even better.

After the water's bubbling, remove it from the stove and grab a towel. Drape the towel over both your face and the pot, making your head into a tent pole. Let the steam reach your face, but from a safe distance (no closer than one foot) and keep your eyes closed like this for about five minutes. The simple step warms skin and opens pores, which then will allow the ingredients of the mask to be absorbed more rapidly and penetrate even deeper than ever before.

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