BellaSugar

Hurts So Good: Why a Painful Massage Isn't Necessarily Bad

BellaSugar — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 09:03:25 -0700

Today I saw a guy with a United States Marines t-shirt that said, "Pain is weakness leaving the body." I'm still mulling over that one (is it?), but one time I know I don't want to feel pain is after I've paid someone to massage me. In my opinion, a massage is the exact opposite of a workout. One involves Enya, the other Rihanna. One requires antiperspirant, the other aromatherapy. One sort of tickles, one really doesn't. And so on.

But apparently, the reason you can be sore after a rubdown is the same reason you can be sore after a workout: your muscles are simply not used to the stress, whether it's due to Lymphatic Drainage or the Locust Pose. Pain during a treatment will likely translate into soreness afterward. That your muscles have been stretched or your tissue shifted around does not belie a bad massage - much of it is necessary to cure what ails you.

If it hurts so much you can't relax, however, the whole experience is for naught, so be sure to communicate to your massage therapist if the pressure is off. That way you can really emerge renewed, stress-free, like you are walking on a waterbed in the clouds. You know, no pressure.

Source

Watch Lindsay Lohan in the New ABC Family Original Movie Labor Pains!

Sponsor — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 05:45:00 -0700

Don’t miss the premiere of the new ABC Family original movie Labor Pains. Lindsay Lohan stars as Thea, an assistant at a publishing company who pretends to be pregnant in order to avoid being fired by her boss Mr. Steinwald (Chris Parnell). With the help of her friend and co-worker, Lisa (Cheryl Hines), Thea tries to pull off the deception long enough to ensure her job is secure. However, the lie quickly spins out of control. Labor Pains premieres Sunday, July 19, at 8/7c only on ABC Family.

Filmmaker Mitch McCabe Shares Her Thoughts on the Anti-Aging Obsession

BellaSugar — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 14:05:59 -0700

Tonight, do yourself a favor and watch Mitch McCabe's excellent documentary, Youth Knows No Pain. (It airs tonight at 9 p.m. on HBO, and it is great.) The film explores our societal obsession with looking forever young, but what makes it all the more interesting is McCabe's own backstory as the daughter of a plastic surgeon. Through interviews with cosmetic surgeons, Botox babes, and her own introspection, she's created a smart, fascinating, poignant, and funny film. Set your TiVo already, and read on as McCabe discusses her take on our age-phobic society in this interview.

It seems like 10 or 20 years ago women in their 20s weren’t so concerned about aging. Now a lot are - we even see 26-year-old Julia Allison go for fillers in the film. Why do you think there’s been that shift?
One thing Julia was talking about is that women’s fertility decreases after 25, and just from a biological standpoint, there’s an expiration date - biologically and therefore in terms of attractiveness. My Buddhist friend, we’d argue about the subject matter of the film and say attractiveness is only meant to attract a mate, your importance is supposed to come from the inside. So once your breeding days are over, of course your attractiveness is supposed to fade out. It wasn’t supposed to be important in the first place. Not that Julia Allison is a Buddhist, but she's speaking the truth of what happens out there. I mean, do we see women in their 30s and 40s being cast in many different roles out there? No. If women try to date on the Internet and post their real age, can they get as many dates as a woman who’s 28? No. If you really listen to a man who’s maybe had a couple drinks, he might be more honest about his views on older women.

For the full interview, read more.

Don't Miss This Documentary on the Anti-Aging Obsession

BellaSugar — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 13:00:28 -0700

Set your TiVo, make plans with a friend who has HBO, do whatever it takes . . . but don't forget about Youth Knows No Pain, a documentary airing this Monday at 9 p.m. on HBO. Filmmaker Mitch McCabe, the daughter of a plastic surgeon, sets out to explore our society's relationship to aging - or rather, trying to prevent any and all signs of growing older. The resulting film, which covers the rise of fillers, cosmetic surgery, and other youth-preserving attempts, looks fascinating. To check out the trailer (really, you should) and to find out how you can get your questions answered by the filmmaker, just read more.

Reader Review of the Day: L'Oreal Infallible Never Fail Makeup

BellaSugar — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 10:00:02 -0700

L'Oreal is always coming out with new products for its Infallible line, and while I'm not sure if L'Oreal Infallible Never Fail Makeup ($13) would be good for my skin type, reader ohmarie has had a great experience with it on her oily skin. She says:

"I have very oily skin, and this stuff works so well. It gives me great coverage, and I don't even need concealer. I do touch up at least once per day, but it really does last a long time. The only negative I have about this product is the container: the little spout gets clogged pretty easily, and it's a pain to try and clean. Also, you do have to work fast with this liquid, as it dries quickly. Overall, great product, great price."

Found something that works like a dream (or a nightmare)? Let everybody know by writing about it on our Product Reviews pages. There are more than 50,000 products up for review, and a ton of info on everything from Aveda to Z Bigatti.

How Many Skincare Products Is Too Many?

BellaSugar — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 04:06:44 -0700

My skincare routine has gotten increasingly complicated over the last few weeks. I've added a couple of things that I really want to try, but now I'm using seven products every night before bed. For the sake of my sanity, and my skin, things can't go on this way. I've got to make a few painful cuts before things get totally out of control. What about you? How many products do you all use to care for your skin (makeup does not count. Otherwise I'd be waaaay up in the double digits)? And how many is just way too many?

Halloween How-To: The New Moon Volturi

BellaSugar — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 07:00:58 -0700

Whether you're a Twihard or not, you have to admit, Dakota Fanning looks pretty cool as a vampire. As Jane, a sadistic member of the Volturi vamp coven, she has the sexy-scary thing down pat. If you're considering going as a New Moon character for Halloween, she's probably the best choice. Why? Because even if you've never heard of the Bella and Edward saga, Jane looks badass. For suggestions on re-creating this look, read more.

How to Have (Nearly) Pain-Free Bikini Waxing

BellaSugar — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 07:00:40 -0800

At the risk of taking the bullet train to TMI City, I loathe bikini waxing. It is the Sisyphean task of my beauty regimen: I wax, the hair returns, I wax again. On and on it goes.

For a while, I got a $35 wax from a really sweet lady... until I noticed that she was double-dipping the waxing stick. Since I'm a clean freak, I've decided to wax less often but go to a better place. Ergo, I de-fuzz with the bikini wax at Bliss spas, where double-dipping is strictly verboten. Plus, it's shockingly not painful to be waxed here. Bliss has its own special wax that is the closest thing to pain-free ladyparts grooming that I've experienced. It doesn't stick to the skin, but it grabs even the smallest hairs. So one quick rip, and that's all you need. During my weekend bikini wax, at one point I literally didn't feel the wax pulling my hairs out. Score!

If you don't live near a Bliss spa, or you'd like to save a few bucks, check out the waxing kit ($45). It contains the same wax and tools that the pros use, and I've had success using it at home. (Not for Brazilians, though; there are some things that are too tricky for me.) Along with the Completely Bare kit, it's the best at-home option for a minimally painful wax.

Products For a Pain-Free Bikini Wax

BellaSugar — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 10:00:41 -0800

Let's not underestimate the pain of a bikini wax. Taking a pain reliever about an hour before the big rip-off is a good idea, but if it's not enough, these topical anesthetics are designed to numb your pubis region to make waxing more bearable. I have yet to try them out, but my best friend swears they are her saving grace.

Relax and Wax No Scream Cream ($15.95) contains 20% benzocaine - a safe anesthetic ingredient that helps take the edge off. Some numbing creams can make the wax slip off, but this one claims to be safe with all types of wax.

Simply rub a small amount to your skin anywhere from 30-40 minutes before your appointment. (And need I remind you to apply the cream carefully?)

For one more numbing cream, read more.

Gigi Before Wax Numbing Spray ($11.49) gently numbs the surface of your skin. My waxer has a padded pole in her room for you to squeeze when the pain gets to be too much, so I am really excited to try this product out and not have to hang onto that sweaty pole any longer! Using this spray is simple; all you have to do is apply it to the area a few minutes beforehand and let it dry.

Redheads' Pain Intolerance Puts a Dent in Their Dentistry

BellaSugar — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 14:00:01 -0700

When it comes to your biannual dental checkups, is there anyone out there who really enjoys going? If you're a redhead, you might just have more of a cause for your discomfort, according to a recent study.

"The reason we studied redheads in the beginning, it was essentially an urban legend in the anesthesia community saying redheads were difficult to anesthetize," anesthesiologist Dr. Daniel I. Sessler told the New York Times. "Redheads really do require more anesthesia, and by a clinically important amount," he added.

On top of that, the ginger-haired also need a heftier dose of local anesthetics, like Novocaine. As a result, they're two times less likely to visit the the dentist than their blond-, brunette-, and black-haired counterparts. It's all due to a mutation of the MC1R gene, which influences the redness of hair and lightness of skin. I wonder if any of these famous redheads experience dental anxiety? From the looks of their brilliant chompers, they don't.