BellaSugar

Something's Fishy in This Spa

BellaSugar — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 10:59:35 -0700

If you're tired of constantly exfoliating dead skin in the shower, you could always take a cue from the latest spa trend in China. Why not enlist an army of little fishies to do your dirty work? Boing Boing reports on the strangest spa treatment I have ever heard of. Garra Rufa, a tropical fish, are dropped into hot springs, where they devour dead skin:

When placed in the spa, these fish can feed themselves on the dead cells of the human body, since they only consume such cells, leaving the healthy skin of the human body to grow. The whole process is reportedly free of pain. It won't hurt and the bather might feel a pleasant tingling on his or her skin.

I don't think I would be able to do this treatment, largely because I'd worry about a wayward fish wriggling its way into my nether regions. (A bottom feeder, perhaps? Zing!) Between these nibbling fish and this fragrance, it's turning out to be a very peculiar week in beauty...

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Vanessa Williams on Aging and Fish Pedicures

BellaSugar — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 07:00:25 -0700

You might have caught a glimpse of Vanessa Williams's sense of humor in the first installment of my interview with her, in which we discussed her use of Botox, along with her love of cars, Irish music, and baking carrot cakes.

Currently, in conjunction with the Dress For Success organization, Vanessa is making a few appearances for the Botox Cosmetic: Express Success Campaign, and in October, we'll be seeing her back on the air as the villainous Wilhelmina Slater on the much-loved Ugly Betty. And now, as promised, there's more from Vanessa after the jump.

Even Fish-Face Is Mildly Alluring With This Gloss

BellaSugar — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 13:03:12 -0800

This lip gloss has me questioning my commitment to Sparkle Motion. Shu Uemura Vinyl Unlimited ($20) is a rare breed of shimmer- and glitter-free lip gloss. Put simply, Vinyl Unlimited is to lip gloss as lucite heels are to footwear: Unashamedly, unavoidably sexy.

While you won't see me don stripper heels anytime soon, I've become a huge fan of this gloss. True to its name, it provides slick, wet-look opaque color. It makes me feel like a total badass rocker girl, and I like to wear the gloss with minimal makeup to show off a bright pow! of color. And while I'm not looking like a sex kitten here, you have to admit, that gloss is intense. Try that hot pink shade if you want to go full tilt, or opt for a more peach for a still-sexy but more demure look.

Vanessa Williams Dishes on Botox and More

BellaSugar — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 07:00:06 -0700

On Tuesday, I met with Vanessa Williams to talk about her recent Emmy nomination for Ugly Betty, fish pedicures, and Botox. Vanessa, who has always been very open about her use of the wrinkle-fighting drug, is currently making a few stops throughout the country for the Botox Cosmetic: Express Success Campaign, an educational tour that benefits the Dress For Success organization.

Have you ever wondered why Vanessa took the leap and admitted she uses Botox, or how it affects her ability to act? Find the answers and learn about some of her unexpected hobbies after the jump.

Manly Grooming Gifts For Dad

BellaSugar — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 06:03:14 -0700

This Sunday, June 21, is Father's Day, and while you might be thinking golf balls, fishing poles, and car gizmos for dad, why not cue him in on a few products that pamper?

While my dad's not much for scented products, he loves a good basic shampoo or shaving cream. So I've gathered together some of my favorite gift ideas for Father's Day. There's a little something here for everyone, whether your dad (or favorite guy who's a dad) prefers scent-free choices or loves dousing himself with cologne.

Five Complexion Tips From Dr. Murad

BellaSugar — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 07:00:51 -0700

Last year, I had the pleasure of meeting Dr. Howard Murad, who shared his advice on achieving healthy skin. And now, through his Inclusive Health Center, he has more sage words about the correlation between how your health and appearance are affected by your emotional state. Here are some of my favorites:

Breakfast: Don't skimp on the most important meal of the day. Eat a metabolism- and appearance-boosting balanced breakfast of grains, whole oats, eggs, and fresh fruit.
Sleep: Get your eight hours in, and "use topical and internal products with ingredients such as melatonin and GABA that add depth to your sleep and your skin’s sleep repair cycle," says Dr. Murad.
Flax seed and fish oil: Not only should you moisturize your skin in the AM and the PM, but take supplements with hydrating essential fatty acids, like flaxseed and fish oil, too.
Three good things: At the end of the day, write down three good things that happened that day. "This is my #1 recommendation to improve emotional self-care," he adds.
Supplements: Take glucosamine, which helps to increase the water content in your body. For production of collagen and elastin, look to amino acids. "Think of your daily supplements as insurance that guarantees you’ll maintain the nutrient levels you need to look and live your best," advises Dr. Murad.

Which of these tips do you use?

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Lovely Links

BellaSugar — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 12:00:48 -0700

Model Olivia Inge reveals her beauty secrets - FabSugar UK
Revlon loves Mr. Sketch - Fashionista
Yet another hilarious ANTM recap - FourFour
Stila plans for an Indian Summer (not the seminal emo band, sadly) - Makeup and Beauty Blog
Get the punky Marc Jacobs runway hairstyle - Beauty Snob
Fergie explains why she's a brunette now - People StyleWatch
Can this makeup kit make "the girls" look bigger? - Glamour
Fish pedicure controversy! - The Cut

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Your Lipstick Could Be Hurting You and the Earth, Says Canada

BellaSugar — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 12:00:16 -0800

We've heard a lot about potential health hazards in cosmetics, but so far, the US government hasn't done anything in response. Not so in Canada, whose government recently declared four chemicals to be toxic.

Siloxanes D4 and D5, used as emollients in products such as moisturizers and makeup, are unhealthy for the environment. While they aren't considered harmful to human health, they do cause problems for streams, lakes, and rivers after they've been washed down the drain. The chemicals accumulate in microrganisms and other aquatic life, and some scientists suspect that they may harm fish. There's no talk of an outright ban yet, but Canada proposes setting concentration limits.

Equally unsettling is the announcement that two known human carcinogens, isoprene and epichlorohydrin, are used in cosmetics. You'd think they would be banned, but, uh, not exactly: They're being added to the Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist. If that sounds like a puny response to ingredients that can cause cancer, that's because it is. The ingredients are prohibited, but enforcement sounds pretty weak: The manufacturers "may be advised to remove the substance from the formulation," among other similarly not-so-intense-sounding options.

Photo by Tanakawho

Something's Fishy About The Fish Pedicure

BellaSugar — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 12:00:30 -0700

By now, you have likely heard about the fish pedicure being performed by a Virginia salon (since getting so much press, it is now being offered in other salons, including one in central Ohio). Toothless carp eat the dead skin off your feet, which, according to much of the coverage, is "natural" and "perfectly healthy." But according to Nails Magazine, the practice "is contrary to all standards and beliefs of the International Nail Technicians Association (INTA) and its Pedicure Equipment Cleaning and Disinfecting Procedures." According to coverage of the service in the media, it's sanitary but no products are used in order to protect the health of the fish - but the INTA is more concerned that the salons aren't disinfecting the fish tank properly.

In other ridiculous animal-related beauty service news, Tyra had Ada Barack, purveyor of the snake massage in Israel, on her show and completely freaked out. To watch the clip, read more.

ICYMI: Snake Massage on Tyra

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Coming Soon: Protected Paradise Eyes and Face Compacts

BellaSugar — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 08:00:50 -0800

This March, Chantecaille will release two palettes for spring called Protected Paradise Eyes and Protected Paradise Face. Made from finely milled, highly pigmented illuminating powders, each palette is embossed with intricate marine ecosystem images that reflect the colors from clothing seen on the Spring 2008 runways.

Both of the compacts have the same design, but they incorporate different colors. Once you open up the neat nickel top you'll find images of two fish that represent endangered species, a school of smaller fish, a sea horse, coral and sea grass. Each of these images has been chosen to depict some of the most important parts of aquatic life that are currently being threatened by humans.

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Both compacts sell for $90 each. Five percent of proceeds will be donated to the Pew Fellowship in Marine Conservation, which supports research pertaining to marine preserves and fish sustainability. For a description of the colors used in each of the palettes, read more

Protected Paradise Face contains shimmery sheer coral and pink shades as well as gold which can be used a a highlighter. Also, it comes with a large pouf that can be used to create a healthy glow all over the face and décolletage.
Protected Paradise Eyes contains a pale gray base color with a marine green-tinted overlay. One of the fish is a shade of aqua that can be used as an eye shadow or eyeliner and the other fish is a rosy gold that can be used to highlight the brow bone or the inner corners of the eyes. This palette comes equipped with an eyeliner brush as well as a basic shadow brush.