BellaSugar

A Simple Trick to Look Less Tired

BellaSugar — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 06:00:13 -0800

Without concealer, I look like Uncle Fester. Ergo, concealer is my friend. My very, very good friend. Once you know how to conceal dark circles, you're well on your way to looking like you've just had a full night's sleep.

But here's a little trick to look not just well-rested, but absolutely glowing. After applying concealer, dab a few drops of liquid luminizer (such as Smashbox Artificial Light) underneath your eyes, moving to the outer corners of your eyes, and near the brow line. You don't need much, and the idea is to pat and dab the luminizer rather than rub it in. The light-reflecting pigments will bounce light off of your skin, making your entire eye area appear brighter - and you'll look 100% bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. (OK, maybe not bushy-tailed, but one out of two isn't bad.)

Last-Minute Valentine's Day Beauty Tricks

BellaSugar — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 11:00:14 -0800

Got a big date tonight but no time to stop off at home and primp beforehand? Don't sweat it. Here are three products you can throw in your purse to help you create a red-hot Valentine's Day look that will take you from day to night.

Red lipstick: If there's any day to wear red, this is it. I like Estee Lauder Pure Color Long Lasting Lipstick in Autumn, a slightly shimmery blue-red shade that you can use to stain your lips and cheeks during the day and then layer in the evening for an intensified, seductive look .
Liquid luminizer: Benefit Hollywood Glo highlighting lotion has golden undertones as opposed to pink or peach, so it will give you a natural-looking radiance. Apply a small amount to your nose, temples and cheekbones - and to super-size your sex appeal, smooth some along your collarbones, shoulders and cleavage.
Scented body lotion:Try something obviously seductive like Donna Karan Cashmere Mist Body Lotion. Not only will help to smooth out your skin at the eleventh hour, but it will also double as a fragrance. A scented moisturizer dilutes the strong smell of perfume and gives off the illusion that your body smells good all over.

Shine vs. Sheen: Mimic the Look of Natural Skin

BellaSugar — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 13:10:22 -0800

These pictures of actress Ali Larter are stunning; it looks like she drank the fountain of youth! I love the way her skin has a natural sheen without having any kind of glitter or shimmer to it. MAC Pro artist James Molloy was just telling me that great makeup mimics skin's natural texture, and we all know that skin has a little bit of shine to it.

I thought I'd introduce two shine-enhancing products that are must-haves among makeup artists to help you recreate this look at home.

Lancôme Ombre Glacée ($22) is a light-reflecting illuminator for the eyes and face. When I first saw it, I practically jumped out of my skin from its powerful iridescence, but as played with it more and more, I realized that if you use a little bit (you only need one to two dots for your whole face) it can transform your complexion.

Ombre Glacée was originally created in a colored eye shadow, but the latest variation is part of the L.U.C.I Collection and can be used on your eyes, face, and decolletage.

For one more shine-enhancing product read more.

MAC Strobe Cream ($29.50) is one of the staples that a makeup artist always keeps on hand, and it is popular backstage at fashion shows season after season. This instant pick-me-up contains green tea and tons of vitamins to moisten, freshen and revitalize tired, dull, and flat skin.

You can use it over, under, or mixed into your foundation (one part strobe cream, three parts foundation) for a gorgeous glow.

Source

Luxurious Liquid Luminizers, Part III: Drugstore Brands

BellaSugar — Wed, 21 Feb 2007 12:21:33 -0800

Welcome to the third and final installment of Luxurious Liquid Luminizers. This segment features my favorite drugstore brands which give you the same type of gorgeous glow at a fraction of the cost!

Bare It All Lustrous Lotion by Revlon, $13, is a limited edition with its own special carved out area in the Revlon section of your drugstore. It is a unique formula made from ultra refined pearls that is easily blend-able. You can either use it alone, or mix it into your foundation for all over illumination. Available in four shades; peachy tease, buff love, pinkaboo and goldilooks.

For more luxurious liquid luminizer drugstore brands, read more

Neutrogena Shimmer Sheers All Over Color, $8.19, creates the most subtle of highlights on your face. It is made from a weightless and sheer oil free, fragrance free, non-sticky and non-greasy formula. It contains anti-oxidants, aloe vera and vitamins A and E to help nourish your skin. Also, it won't clog your pores. Available in six shades.

Almay Face Brightener, $12.49, is a lightweight and sheer SPF 15 moisturizer with light reflecting crystals. It is intended to even out your skin tone as well as revitalize dehydrated skin. It is oil free and contains aloe vera and vitamins A and E so even the most sensitive skin can handle this one. Available in three neutral shades.

Luxurious Liquid Luminizers, Part II

BellaSugar — Tue, 20 Feb 2007 15:45:55 -0800

Welcome to the second installment of Luxurious Liquid Luminizers. Luminizers are the secret weapon that makeup artists use to create a healthy, glowing and bright complexion. They last longer than traditional powders or cream shimmers and can be applied all over your face or just to your eyes, cheeks, lips and collarbone. Here are three bellisima products that will make you look like you too are glowing from the inside out!

Oil-Free Luminizer by LORAC, $28, is a fragrance and oil-free luminizer that gives your face a radiant sheen. You can either mix a little bit with your foundation or wear it alone to highlight specific areas. Available in two shades; pearl and gold.

For more luxurious liquid luminizers, read more

Girlactik Face Glimmer/Luminizer, $16, goes on before you apply your blush. It is available in two shades: Pink Diamond - a light pink pearl color, or 14K - a champagney gold shade. Blend a little bit on your cheekbone, nose, forehead, chin or collarbone for a natural looking gorgeous glow!

Very Sexy® Makeup Face Illuminator, $15, is a weightless pearlized liquid shimmer that make you shine light a bright star. It is also great for your skin since it is enriched with Vitamins A and E for antioxidant protection. Available in three colors: Glow, Candelit and Yes!

Luxurious Liquid Luminizers, Part I

BellaSugar — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 12:35:55 -0800

Step out and dazzle 'em with a glowing and bright complexion. Welcome to the first installment of liquid luminizers. These are the "secret" products that makeup artists use to make celebs appear like they are glowing from the inside out.

Liquid luminizers last longer than traditional powders or cream shimmers and can be applied all over your face or just to your eyes, cheeks, lips and collarbone. Here are three bellisima products that will make you look like you are oozing with radiance!

Stila All Over Shimmer Liquid Luminizer, $20, is a universal gold shimmer color than can be used on any complexion to brighten up your face.

It is lightweight, it won't clog your pores, and with its built in, nail polish-like brush, application is fool proof. You can either mix a few drops into your foundation, or apply it just to specific areas. Have fun!

Artificial Light Luminizing Lotion by Smashbox, $30, is an oil free lotion that you blend right into your fave foundation. It contains ginkgo biloba and Japanese green tea to help your skin stay healthy and glowing. It is currently available in four shades.

For two more luxurious luminizers, read more

M.A.C. Glimmershimmer Liquid Pearlizer, $16.50, is a pearlized luminizing lotion/brightener that can be used for highlighting/adding glow to your whole face. It's virtually mess-less with this easy to use pump and comes in five colors to complement your blush tone.

Pout Illuminator, $30, helps to enhance your natural inner glow. It comes in the cutest little lacy bottle and is now available in two shades; love glow, which is a pearly white shimmer, and after glow, which is a bronze color shimmer for darker skin tones or for the summer time.

Reader Review of the Day: Chanel Rouge Allure Laque Luminous Satin Lip Lacquer

BellaSugar — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 08:02:29 -0800

You all know how much I love a good Chanel lip gloss, but I hadn't tried Chanel Rouge Allure Laque Luminous Satin Lip Lacquer ($32), so I was excited to see that reader gooz1231 had. Her review, though, makes me want to head down to the store and try one right now. She says:

"This lip product from Chanel (think a hybrid between a lipstick and gloss) is absolutely amazing. It is moisturizing and highly pigmented with a nice gloss. In addition, it wears pretty well. While at $32 it is a little pricey, the quality is unlike any other lip product I've tried, both high-end and low-end. I highly recommend this and suggest anyone to splurge on one of these babies."

Had a love-at-first-application moment? Want to know what other readers are going wild for? Just visit our Product Reviews pages, then. We've got a wealth of reviews (50,000+) and we're writing new ones every day.

How-To: Michelle Trachtenberg's Season-Perfect Look

BellaSugar — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:00:09 -0800

Unlike her Gossip Girl character Georgina Sparks, Michelle Trachtenberg seems to have a good head on her shoulders, and she showed it off to her best advantage last night at a party hosted by American Eagle. She didn't shy away from her naturally pale skin, and her eye makeup was sexy, fun, and a little retro. This look would be perfect for your upcoming holiday parties, so to find out how to get it, just read more

Sunday Giveaway! Win a Tarte Treasure Chest

BellaSugar — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 23:30:32 -0800

Arrrrh, mateys! Here be the treasure beauty pirates seek: enough Tarte booty from our friends at Sephora to keep ye a fair maiden 'til the next typhoon. The lucky swashbuckler who wins today's prize will receive:

The Tarte Treasure Chest - Tarte's annual palette has gone supersized this year, with 54 of the brand's bestselling products, including eye shadows, lip glosses, blushes, bronzer, and luminizer, in one gorgeous little chest. Who could ask for anything more?

To enter, just take the quiz by 5 p.m. PST today and one winner will be selected at random. Your eligibility is not based on getting the answers correct, just on taking the quiz after you are logged in. You do, however, need to be a PopSugar Community member to enter. So if you're not already one, register now. One quiz entry per person; all repeat quizzes will be ignored. Prizes can be shipped to US destinations only. Remember: You must be logged in to the PopSugar Community for your entry to count. For the complete rules, click here. Good luck!

Take the quiz

Saturday Giveaway! Win a Tarte Treasure Chest

BellaSugar — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 23:30:31 -0800

Arrrgh, mateys! Here be the treasure beauty pirates seek: enough Tarte booty from our friends at Sephora to keep ye a fair maiden 'til the next typhoon. The lucky swashbuckler who wins today's prize will receive:

The Tarte Treasure Chest - Tarte's annual palette has gone supersize this year, with 54 of the brand's best-selling products, including eye shadows, lip glosses, blushes, bronzer, and luminizer, in one gorgeous little chest. Who could ask for anything more?

To enter, just take the quiz by 5 p.m. PST today, and one winner will be selected at random. Your eligibility is not based on getting the answers correct, just on taking the quiz after you are logged in. You do, however, need to be a PopSugar Community member to enter. So if you're not already one, register now. One quiz entry per person; all repeat quizzes will be ignored. Prizes can be shipped to US destinations only. Remember: you must be logged in to the PopSugar Community for your entry to count. For the complete rules, click here. Good luck!

Take the quiz