BellaSugar

A Free App Makes Measuring UV Exposure Easy

Annie Tomlin — Wed, 04 May 2011 03:14:55 PDT

Years ago, finding La Roche-Posay sunscreen was nearly impossible in the States. Because its lightweight texture was so unusual, I used to wheedle friends into buying some while overseas. These days, the brand is readily available at dermatologists' offices and drugstores alike, and it's just launched another year of its SOS - Save Our Skin campaign. Its aim is to educate people about the dangers of UV exposure, and part of the endeavor involves a free iPhone app called My UV Check. The app uses location-based services to assess the strength of UVA and UVB rays - the ones that cause skin to age and burn, respectively. If you're the kind of person who needs convincing when it comes to wearing sunscreen, it's well worth a download.

How Do You Say It? Take My Beauty Pronunciation Quiz

Jaime Richards — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 08:00:00 PDT

It's been quite some time since we did our last how-to-pronounce-it quiz, but a recent viewing of Showgirls (Ver-sayce, anyone?) had me thinking it's due time for another one. So, have at it. Do you know how to pronounce the following beauty brands or products below? Take the quiz to find out.

Take the Quiz

Practice Safe Sunning During Skin Cancer Awareness Month

OnSugar Blog — Wed, 19 May 2010 14:00:00 PDT

Here's an excerpt from OnSugar blog Queen of the Quarter Life Crisis:

So if you don't already know, May is national Skin Cancer Awareness Month. This is something especially near and dear to my heart, as my closest Aunt passed away of skin cancer when she was only 43 years old back in 1996. Luckily, more and more people are becoming aware of how harmful the sun is to our skin and health but it's still not enough. . . And even though it's the most preventable cancer, it's also one of the most deadly.

Skincare giant La Roche-Posay created this great new public awareness campaign called Save Our Skin in hopes to increase awareness. For every person who signs up for the campaign, La Roche-Posay will donate money to The Skin Cancer Foundation and the Women's Dermatological Society. In the meantime, here are my current SPF favorites.

Find out her choices when you read more.

Make Your Own Tinted Moisturizer - It's Easy!

BellaSugar — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 11:00:00 PST

There's nothing fancy about this idea, but it works. If you use loose powder mineral makeup, you can make your own custom-blended tinted moisturizer by blending it with whatever face lotion you use. Most mornings, I put a bit of La Roche-Posay Anthelios 60 ($24.41) in my hand, and then I add a bit of Alima Pure satin matte foundation ($20, less 20 percent off through the end of the month). A little mixing creates a smooth tinted moisturizer that I can adjust for more or less coverage as needed. See? Easy.

Bella's Hamptons Beach Bag Beauty Essentials

BellaSugar — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 05:00:51 PDT

During the Summer, every fabulous New Yorker wants to head to the Hamptons - and why wouldn't they? The eastern end of Long Island is filled with beautiful mansions, adorable cottages, and all of the other perks of a resort lifestyle. If you're heading there this Summer - or if you're just looking for a piece of the good life - then browse my picks for a Hamptons-ready bag of beach beauty.

Seven Beauty Products Worth the Splurge

BellaSugar — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 09:00:56 PST

You already know there are some beauty items you don't need to splurge on. But what about the pricey products that actually do the job much better than their cheapy counterparts? Over the years, I've found a few things that definitely deserve their high price tags. So start saving your dollars, because these are worth every penny.

Honeymoon Beauty, Part II: What to Buy on Vacation

BellaSugar — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 12:21:13 PDT

Welcome to Part II of this week's honeymoon series! Going abroad for your honeymoon? Lucky you! Not only will you be vacationing with your hubby, but you can sneak off and get some international beauty buys, too! One of my favorite parts of traveling is seeing the various products that are rare in the States, so I've created a guide to beauty brands available in three common honeymoon destinations.

If you're going to Paris, head to Printemps, where you'll find the largest beauty department in the world. More than 300 brands are available, so set aside some time to shop. Start by browsing the full line of adorably-packaged Paul & Joe cosmetics, which are hard to find in the States. Stock up on the La Roche-Posay skin care line, which has the best sunscreen I've ever tried, Anthelios SPF 60 (!) for around 15 euro. Anthelios is available in the US, but very rarely at that level of sun protection (and never so cheap). Don't bypass the Lancome and Chanel counters, which often have colors that aren't available in the US. For two more honeymoon buys,

Going to South America? Whether you're in Rio de Janeiro or Buenos Aires, look for Natura, Brazil's biggest beauty line. It's a collection of skin care, hair care, fragrance and makeup infused with (sustainably-harvested) Brazilian plant ingredients like guarana, cacao and pitanga. The packaging has a cool organic-ish design, too-making these products perfect souvenirs for your loyal bridesmaids back home.

Okay, so Hawaii isn't "international," but it's a world away from, well, just about everywhere else. If you're on Oahu, stop by Lanikai Bath and Body, whose body butters and lotions use island ingredients such as papaya, aloe, kukui, noni and macadamia. As a bonus, the shop is in Kailua, which has a beautiful and very romantic beach!

Sunscreen: Healthy or Hazardous?

FitSugar — Thu, 27 May 2010 07:00:28 PDT

A few years ago, I went to the dermatologist to get a suspicious mole checked out on my back. The doctor agreed that it looked like it could be malignant, and I was so freaked out. I started to feel really bad that I hadn't been better about using sunscreen every time I went outside. I was grateful that the mole wasn't cancerous, but it was a huge wake-up call to me. Now I'm religious about slathering it on my whole family, all year round.

But a recent report from the Environmental Working Group says that sunscreen is actually a health hazard, and that the chemicals it contains can "accelerate the growth of skin tumors or disrupt the intricate workings of your hormonal system." They also believe that sunscreen gives us a false sense of security. We feel that sunscreen protects us from skin cancer, so we end up spending more time in the sun.

Before you ditch your bottles, the American Academy of Dermatology disagrees, saying that sunscreen is indeed beneficial in helping prevent skin cancer. They do agree that not all sunscreens are created equal, and that most people don't apply sunscreen as often as they should, and when they do, they don't use enough.

For tips on buying the safest sunscreen and how to apply it so you stay protected,

Look for labels that say "broad spectrum," "wide spectrum," or "UVA/UVB protection." Older bottles may only protect against UVB rays, the ones responsible for causing sunburn and skin cancer, but you need UVA protection as well, since these rays lead to tanning, wrinkles, and skin cancers.
As long as you store it in a cool, dry place with the cap on tightly, sunscreen should last up to three years. Just be sure to check the expiration date and be aware of any weird texture or smells. If the cap wasn't on tight, spring for a new bottle.
If you're worried about chemicals, look for sunscreens that don't contain oxybenzone. Here are some suggestions.
Don't skimp on the lotion. Use the amount that would fit in a shot glass to cover your entire body.
Apply sunscreen 30 minutes before heading outside, and re-apply every two hours, since sweating and swimming can wear off sunscreen, even the ones that are labeled as waterproof.

Skin care giant La Roche-Posay , makers of Anthelios sunscreen, have created the Save Our Skin campaign to remind us all to protect our skin. And today, May 27, National Sunscreen Awareness Day. I know I put my daily SPF on my face today. Did you?

Take a Look at the 2010 CEW Award Winners!

BellaSugar — Mon, 24 May 2010 06:00:00 PDT

On Friday, members from the prestigious Cosmetic Executive Women (CEW), along with some very excited beauty brand reps, got together to find out the winners of the annual Beauty Awards. Celebrities like Whitney Port, Kim Kardashian, and Selita Ebanks were on hand to dish out the awards, along with host Mario Cantone. To win a CEW award is pretty prestigious stuff, so to find out what products received top honors, just keep reading.