BellaSugar

Back to Basics: The Best Hair Mousses

BellaSugar — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 10:05:04 -0800

With the invention of hair wax and spray gels, you may think of hair mousse as a relic of the '80s. But that's not the case, as long as you find one that isn't sticky. Here are three of my all-time favorite hair mousses.

Finesse Touchables Extra-Control Mousse ($3.79) is a protein-enriched mousse that tames flyaways and creates body without drying hair out. It gives you the hold of a light hairspray without any of the stiffness or stickiness. I love the sweet smell of this product.

To check out two more hair mousses, read more

Frizz-Ease Corrective Styling Mousse ($5.99) is great for those with curly or permed hair who are looking for hold without the crunchy aftereffects of hair gel. It leaves your hair feeling pretty soft, and since it contains silicon, it also adds shine and helps control frizz. Also, since it's alcohol free, it won't dry out your hair.

Citre Shine - Big Volume Styling Foam ($5.19) is a styling product that gives hair volume, boost, and shine. I'm not going to lie: It's a teensy bit sticky, but the hold is soft and it somehow makes your hair feel just a little bit thicker than usual.

Whip It Good: Marvelous Mousse Foundations

BellaSugar — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 10:20:33 -0700

Mousse foundations are the latest in makeup technology. These whipped bases feel virtually weightless and provide matte light to moderate coverage on your skin. They blend easily and have a fresh and natural look to them. I can't wait to hear what you think.

Rimmel Cool Matte Mousse Foundation 16Hr, $7.99, is a mattifying/anti-shine foundation for all skin types. It has a cooling effect on your skin when applied making your face feel instantly revitalized.

This mousse foundation provides light coverage and should last for up to 16 hours. It contains aquacool, which helps fight off heat and humidity to prevent shine. Available in seven shades

To see more marvelous mousse foundations, read more

Lancome Magique Matte Soft-Matte Perfecting Mousse Makeup, $37, is a soft matte foundation that creates smooth and even toned skin. It glides on smoothly and feels like a velvety powder upon application. This formula provides medium to full coverage and is available in 12 shades.

Maybelline Dream Mousse Foundation, $4.59, is a revolutionary whipped formula that provides a matte finish and moderate coverage. It won't cake, it blends easily and results in a clean and even look. Available in eight shades.

Doing Drugstore: Maybelline Dream Mousse Blush

BellaSugar — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 10:00:00 -0800

After 27 hours of travel to get home for the holidays (yeah, really!), I arrived home looking a bit haggard. As I slabbed on the concealer and swept on the powder blush in attempt to hide my jet-lagged appearance, I couldn't help but wish I had some cream blush instead. The powdered blush just seemed a little flat and settled into my parched skin in the most unflattering way.

So, I made a pit stop at the only place that was open: the drugstore. I'd heard some decent things about Maybelline Dream Mousse Blush ($6.89) on the blush pages of our Product Reviews website, so I picked up two: one for my mom and one for me.

The Dream Mousse comes in six shades ranging from a bronzy brown to a bright pink. I tried Peach Satin, a slightly shimmery peaches 'n' cream glow, and my mom tried Soft Plum, a natural rose.

The verdict? We both agreed that a little goes a long way, making this light-as-air blush a great bang for your buck. We also liked how easy it was to blend and that it didn't get cakey or emphasize any rough patches or wrinkles. As for my mom, she was pleased as punch (her expression) that this creamy blush took the paleness out, leaving her with a natural radiance. As for me? I wish the color lasted just a bit longer, but all in all, mom's always right. This affordable whipped blush is a keeper.

Reader Review of the Day: Maybelline Dream Liquid Mousse Foundation

BellaSugar — Thu, 14 May 2009 09:00:11 -0700

While Maybelline's Dream Liquid Mousse Foundation ($9.50) didn't make our top seven list of drugstore foundations, I'm sure it's well on its way. This newer product has a whipped formula perfect for creating airbrushed quality coverage. Reader Mydiadem calls it an excellent foundation. Here's what else she had to say:

I was looking for a new foundation when I forgot mine on a weekend trip. The commercials for the Liquid Mousse were interesting, especially since they claim to give you poreless skin (and I have big ol' pores). I thought I'd give this a try and I'm glad I did. It is so light and airy you don't feel it on your skin at all. It is very hydrating and the coverage is very good. While my skin doesn't look completely "airbrushed," it looks better than with my Clinique or Lorac foundation at home. My verdict: best drugstore foundation I've tried and better than a lot of department store brands.

Now it's time for you to dish on what you've been using these days. Head to our Product Reviews website and tell us what products have you singing their praises. Perhaps you'll be featured on this daily post.

Link Time!

BellaSugar — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 10:10:01 -0800

Kate Hudson talks Botox - Fashionista
Beckham bobs her hair - FabSugar UK
Rihanna explains her beauty choices - The Cut
A preview of Cover Girl's new makeup - Temptalia
Eyebrow mousse: it exists! - Makeup and Beauty Blog
Bloomingdale's now has a lip-reading psychic - Allure
Do women need skin products more than men? - The Beauty Brains
Winter haircare advice for curly girls - Afrobella

Make Your Halloween Makeup Stay The Night

BellaSugar — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 15:00:46 -0700

With the wrong Halloween makeup, your cheerleader costume can become a zombie cheerleader costume by the end of the night. Makeup that stays put is imperative in pulling off the ultimate costume. Here are some tips to help your getup last the night.

Makeup stays longer on hydrated skin. Be sure not to slack on your moisturizer and eye cream.
Use professional stage makeup. "Usually over-the-counter makeup lines are called washable cream makeup, and they will smear and rub off," says Dominic Cruz, Education Director at Kryolan. If you don't have access to cake makeup, he recommends setting your look with powder or Kryolan Fixing Spray.
Choose a long-wearing or waterproof concealer, like Maybelline Cover Stick Waterproof Concealer.
Use an eye shadow base or primer, like L‘Oreal De-Crease Eyeshadow base.
Curl lashes, and use a waterproof mascara if your costume includes it. If you need to wear false lashes, bring extras and glue with you. If you need to wear colored mascara and can’t find one, try Benefit She Laq, which comes with a mascara wand applicator.
If your disguise requires flushed cheeks, layer more than one kind of blush (mousse, powder, gel, stain) to make the color last longer.
Use long-wearing eye pencil on brows instead of brow pencil. Also use it for fake moles or freckles (that means you, Marilyn).
If you need to create the illusion of big lips, use concealer all over your lips before applying either liner or lip stain and then lipstick. If you need to tweak the shape, use a reverse lip liner.

Source

Oh, Stormy: 5 Ways to Weather-Proof That Hair

BellaSugar — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 08:00:38 -0700

Ugh. The weather over the last week has been crappy, and my hair has totally rolled over into submission. Welcome to the grossest season, I guess. There are so many great things about this time of year, but the inclement transitional weather isn't one of them. To keep myself from giving up hope, I've decided to rally and find some ways to keep my hair looking good in spite of the gray mess outside. I've put together five solid ideas for keeping things smooth and pretty, whether the humidity's giving you crazy curls or sad, lank locks. To storm-proof your crowning glory, just keep reading

How-To: Get the Pretty, Peachy Look From Chris Benz's Fashion Week Show

BellaSugar — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 14:00:00 -0700

People can't get enough of Chris Benz, and I have to say: his collection this season is dead sexy. I loved the soft, tousled curls he brought down the runway and the perfect peach (the color is everywhere for Spring, so watch out) lip on all his models. I've been dying to know how to get this look, especially the lipstick, and I was able to snag the scoop on the colors from the people over at Lancôme, who created this "refined '60s party girl" effect. It's actually really simple to do, and it's a runway style that definitely translates to everyday wear.

View 5 Photos ›

To find out how to re-create the look, just keep reading

How-To: Keep Your Sunglasses From Ruining Your Hairstyle

BellaSugar — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 10:00:00 -0700

Even though the warmest season of the year is officially over in just a few days, that doesn't mean we can't still talk about sunglasses, right? I'd venture to say that even though the temperatures may dip, the majority of us wear sunglasses year-round, depending on how much the sun decides to shine. If you're like me, you probably put your sunglasses on your head, but this can cause some major styling hassles: hair caught in the hinges, dents in your hair, frizz, etc. So I've put together a few tips to keep your hair looking great and dent-free. Just keep reading.

Bella Brand: Saffron James

BellaSugar — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 07:00:00 -0700

Former fashion magazine editor Katherine Growney grew up on the picturesque island of Hawaii, eventually landing writing jobs in New York City, roughly 5,000 miles east of her hometown. It wasn't until she began working as a beauty editor at Elle that a chat with a fellow staffer began the sparks that eventually would lead to the start of her own business. "I started talking about Tiare Gardenia, Plumeria, Pakalana, and she just gave me a blank stare. I realized the flowers that I had grown up with, that were commonplace to me, most people had never seen, smelled, or even heard of," said Growney.

Thus, the idea for Saffron James Parfums, a line of Hawaiian-inspired scents, was born. (Saffron, being Gowney's nom de plume from her magazine days, and James, her father's name). The current collection includes four tropical scents, with plans to add a candle and body oils in the near future. Interestingly, Gowney is also a trained chef, drawing inspiration for her newfound career in perfumery from her experience with the delicate balances of food flavors and aromas. Find out more about the notes in her perfumes after the break.