BellaSugar

Reader Review of the Day: Kiehl's Ultra Facial Moisturizer SPF 15

BellaSugar — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 11:00:11 -0700

In a few short weeks, I'm off to visit some friends who live right along the waters of Lake Erie, so I've got beach gear on the brain. After searching facial moisturizers with SPF protection, I came across Jennipoo's review of Kiehl's Ultra Facial Moisturizer SPF 15 ($18.50), for which she calls an "excellent moisturizer for normal to oily skin." Here's what else she had to say:

I'm a huge fan of Kiehl's, especially their moisturizers. It's perfect, super lightweight, absorbs very quickly into the skin, and my skin hasn't had any reaction/break outs to it! If you have super dry skin, I'd get the Ultra Facial Cream, which I used in the Winter. It's nongreasy and moisturized for 24 hours (and that's a real 24 hours - not a gimmick they stick on the label).

Now it's your turn to add to our ever-expanding Product Review website. Do you have any beach-going favorites you'd like to share? Let us know about it.

Reader Review of the Day: Jergens Skin Smoothing Cellular Renewal Moisturizer

BellaSugar — Wed, 13 May 2009 11:00:11 -0700

Jergens's Skin Smoothing Cellular Renewal Moisturizer ($4.50) has exfoliating beads, along with natural fruit acids and hydrators. It sounds like a great Summer essential to me. But, does reader Nycbeauy9349 like the results this multitasking lotion gives? Find out below:

I'm so obsessed with this Jergen's lotion. I honestly would choose this over any other lotion were price not an option. But, hey, I won't complain that it is under 10 bucks. It goes on even and soaks right into your skin. My skin never feels dry throughout the day and I usually reapply at night before bed.The beads seem to do their thing because it really gives my skin a nice glow and even texture. Great find!

Would you like to add your own two cents? Head over to the Product Reviews website and type up what you do and don't like about beauty items you've tried.

How-To: Make Your Own "Humidifier"

BellaSugar — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 09:00:36 -0800

Back when I lived in the frozen tundra that is Chicago, my building was equipped with old-school heaters. You know, those "steam" registers that get so hot, you could use them as cooking units. The problem with those clickety-clack heaters? While they were "steam" radiators, they actually made the air so dry that I'd wake up parched. My skin was beginning to suffer.

Since I didn't really have room for a humidifier (no, seriously, it was a tiny studio), my friend suggested I put a pot of water on the hotter-than-hot register to bring moisture into the air. You know what? Her makeshift humidifier worked wonders. Not only did my skin improve, but I slept so much better, too.

Product Review: Maria Galland Gentle Soothing Cream

BellaSugar — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 10:00:08 -0800

I had never heard of Maria Galland skin-care products until I went to the Thalazur Thallasothèrapie & Spa in France. It was there where I was introduced to her Gentle Soothing Cream that has significantly changed the overall tone of my skin. For those of you with sensitive skin, I know you can relate to having redness and irritation on your face from just about anything. Having sensitive skin means that the natural defense that your skin has is in a weakened condition and if it's not cared for properly, it will continue to become more reactive.

I love that this cream is quite light in texture, and it absorbs quickly. As soon as I apply it to my face, I feel like it's working to soothe, soften, and protect (yes, it contains SPF)!

Also, it has really light, kind of old-school pharmacy scent to it that I don't have much of an adversity toward, although my special someone told me that I smelled like his grandmother and I don't think that's a compliment. Barring the old-fogey smell and the cost (it's $126 for 50ml), I think this sensitive skin cream is aces.

Bellissima! Clarins HydraQuench Cooling Cream-Gel

BellaSugar — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 08:00:09 -0700

Clarins HydraQuench Cooling Cream-Gel ($48) is on my list for gym essentials. I like it because it's a great way to prepare your skin for post-workout beauty. You know how after you've just exercised your face is flushed, sweaty and tends to stay that way for a while even after you've showered? This product helps to cool your skin and tighten up your dilated pores. This controls shine and allows you to apply your makeup without feeling wet and messy.

Aside from cooling and drying your face, it's also good for your skin. It contains hyaluronic acid (for suppleness), katafray extract (prevents moisture loss) and inca peanut oil (firms and minimizes wrinkles).

It is recommended for those with normal and combination skin, and makes for a terrific tropical vacation moisturizer. Also, it has an interesting cool gel-like texture, but it looks like a cream. Apply a small amount to the center of your face and work your way outwards (in small circles). If anyone else has tried this, I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Product Review: Yu-Be Cream

BellaSugar — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 08:00:21 -0700

When I first heard about Yu-Be, I was dying to know what the hype was about. When I heard it had been used in expeditions of Mount Everest, I was sold. If a cream can prevent chapping at 30,000 feet, I needed to see what it would do for my hands down here at sea level.

I was pleasantly surprised to see that Yu-Be is packaged in a retro-looking tube with Japanese writing on the outside. It made me feel as though I had my hands on the very same product that Yoshikiyo Nowatari concocted in his lab back in 1957. I am a tough critic when it comes to hand creams; I expect nothing less than mega-moisture without an ounce of greasiness. Luckily, Yu-Be can be described as just that. A dab of the yellow, salve-like cream was absorbed instantaneously into my hands, leaving them super soft without a trace of slipperiness.

The only drawback to this wonderful stuff is the overwhelming medicinal smell of camphor. But it makes me feel like it is actually healing my hands, and it dissipates within a minute or two of application. One thing's for sure: I'm keeping this little tube of Yu-Be.

See reader reviews of this product and add your own here!

Fantastic Firming Creams, Part II: Face

BellaSugar — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 16:00:52 -0800

Yesterday I told you a little bit about some firming bust creams, and today we're moving up on the body by focusing on creams to firm your face. Firming facial creams can help to minimize the appearance of your pores, and some can topically and temporarily suspend muscle contractions in your face - similar to what Botox does, but without the side effects.

Tracie Martyn Firming Serum ($185) is a favorite among celebrities, so I was really excited when I received a sample to test. I used it only a few times, but I found it to be calming, moisturizing, and brightening.

Clarins Extra Firming Day Cream ($77) is more for women in their 40s and up. The medium-weight cream has a very clean smell, and it claims to firm, tone and reduce those stubborn fine lines on your face. I found it to be soothing and it left my skin looking plump and smooth, but I didn't feel any particular sensation when I applied it, so it's hard for me to judge if it really worked.

For one more drugstore brand, read more.

I have yet to try this Neutrogena Visibly Firm Face Lotion ($18), but I've read a lot of positive reviews on it and plan to check it out. It is a fragrance-free, non-comedogenic face cream that contains SPF 20 and active copper to restore firmness and elasticity to the skin. Supposedly you will see the firming results after just one week of use.

DIY Spa Treatment: Facial Moisturizer

BellaSugar — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 14:00:50 -0800

Are you suffering from dry, flaky, and cracking skin but are sick of paying for expensive moisturizers that you're not even sure you're going to like? This (surprisingly) easy and affordable DIY recipe for a hydrating face cream may be just the thing you've been waiting to cook up!

To make two 50 g jars, you'll need:

25 ml Apricot Kernel Oil

25 ml Jojoba Oil

15 g Beeswax

70 ml Bottled Water

2 tbsp Rosewater

1 tsp Lemon Juice

And for step-by-step directions, read more.

Step 1: Take out a double boiler and place two cups of warm water in the bottom. Then add the jojoba oil, the apricot kernel oil, and the beeswax. Heat everything until the wax dissolves.
Step 2: While the mixture is still hot, pour it into a Pyrex bowl and leave it to cool.
Step 3: Next, add the bottled water, rosewater, and lemon juice into the boiler pan and heat it until it's warm. Turn off the heat, but leave the pot on the burner and add the oil and wax mixture to the pot.
Step 4: Stir frequently until everything becomes opaque and thick, adding more heat only if it begins to separate. Once it has thickened, it is recommended to store in a sealed container for no more than six weeks.

Note: If you'd like, you can add one tsp. of apple cider vinegar to the recipe if you have blemished skin, two tsp. evening primrose oil if you have dry skin, two drops of tea tree oil if you have combination skin or one tsp. of witch hazel water if you have oily skin.

New Product Alert: Clinique Continuous Rescue Antioxidant Moisturizer

BellaSugar — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 10:15:40 -0700

I read something interesting about Clinique the other day: Did you know that its ad campaign has followed the same format from day one? With the exception of the Happy campaign, Clinique almost always chooses a white background and a beauty shot of the product. I like the consistent nature of the ads, but I like new products even more. And this one sounds like something I'd like to try.

Continuous Rescue Antioxidant Moisturizer ($39.50) is a new three-piece line of facial moisturizers. The formula has eight antioxidants, some of which are immediately active, while others have a delayed release. The idea is that antioxidants fight free radicals that cause aging, and this moisturizer-available for dry, combination, and oily skin-will constantly deliver the good stuff.

I'm planning to sample this the next time I head to the Clinique counter, but the absence of SPF makes me a little hesitant to buy it. (Another skin care step in the morning? Too much!) But it is a good reminder to eat more antioxidant-rich foods such as blueberries. If you need a healthy weekend treat, check out this fish dish, which won Clinique's contest for antioxidant-rich recipes.

Why You Don't Necessarily Need to Feel Bad About Your Neck

BellaSugar — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 10:08:41 -0700

Remember Nora Ephron, the screenwriter of When Harry Met Sally...? Lately, it seems like all she wants to talk about is how she feels bad about her aging neck. "The neck is a dead giveaway," she writes. "Our faces are lies and our necks are the truth. You have to cut open a redwood tree to see how old it is, but you wouldn't have to do that if it had a neck."

Maybe so, but your neck doesn't have to be any less gorgeous and healthy than your face. The key to avoiding "turkey neck" in your golden years is to stop it before it starts, and fortunately, doing so is easy. Wear sunscreen every day (even on cloudy days and in winter). When you apply your moisturizer each morning, cover your entire face, then apply lotion on your neck and decolletage, too. With vigilant use, the book you write in your 60s will be I Feel Great About My Neck. As for writing hit romantic comedies, well, you're on your own with that.