BellaSugar

4 Beauty Tips From Kristin Davis

BellaSugar — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 14:00:00 -0700

Ever since we first saw Kristin Davis burst into the scene as the conniving Brooke Armstrong on the original Melrose Place, followed by her portrayal of the sophisticated, yet naive, Charlotte York on Sex and the City, I think we've all been mesmerized by her stunning, ageless looks. In fact, many of you agreed that the actress barely looks a day older than when she first became famous back in the mid-'90s. When it comes to beauty, there's no doubt Kristin, now 44, has got some fountain-of-youth secrets to spill. For the October issue of Self, for which she shares the cover with her Couples Retreat costars, Malin Ackerman and Kristen Bell, each of the women spill all their beauty secrets. Find out Kristin's at the link below.

Get Kristin's beauty tips when you read more.

Bellissima! Fresh Umbrian Clay Treatment Bar

BellaSugar — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 08:00:48 -0700

I had no idea that a bar of clay could be a panacea to so many different skin ailments, but Fresh's Umbrian Clay Treatment Bar ($38) does the job. Umbria is a clay-rich region in Italy, and the treatment bar is made from pure clay. It has the appearance of soap, but once you feel it, you'll see that it's chalky, hard and much heavier and more fragile than soap.

It helps with breakouts, diaper rash, mosquito bites, razor-burn, ingrown hairs and eczema. It works by regulating the production of sebum in your skin, reducing inflammation, and balancing out your skin's natural acid level. I couldn't believe that after just one use the tiny bumps on the back of my arm (that I sometimes get in the hot summer months) dried up and flattened. After two uses, they almost completely went away.

To use, wet an area of the bar and apply it directly to your skin. It dries to a thin finish and is very gentle so it can be used on the most sensitive skin, even baby skin. You can use it as a mask (leave it on for five minutes and rinse) or as a spot treatment.

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Beauty Mark It! Recession Obsessions

BellaSugar — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 14:00:22 -0700

After last week's challenge where I asked you to "get your splurge on," I thought it would be fun to do the exact opposite and honor these times we call recession. So for this week's challenge, it's all pinching pennies; I'm talking products under $10.

I'll start you off with the cult favorite, Smith's Rosebud Salve. It's the perfect choice as it retails for $6 and can be used for multiple purposes: chapped lips, minor burns, dry skin, it can even treat diaper rash. That's how I'm going to spend my hard-earned cash, how about you?

Share your choices by bookmarking items from around the web and tagging them with the phrase Recession Obsessions. I'll feature your favorites here next Tuesday.

To learn about Beauty Mark It challenges and how to add your picks, check out this how-to. To see some of my favorite online beauty stores, read more.

Saks Beauty Place
Sephora
Saffron Rouge
Drugstore.com
Fred Segal Beauty
Folica
Amazon.com Beauty
Strawberrynet.com
Nordstrom
Bergdorf Goodman
Beauty.com

Should The Government Pass Legislation On Nail Salon Safety?

BellaSugar — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 11:57:46 -0800

Another story has come out about the health hazards of working at a nail salon. Prolonged exposure to chemicals has been linked with skin rashes, respiratory problems and cancer. For instance, manicurist Lam Thi Le says that she was diagnosed with thyroid problems two years after working in a nail salon; she was later diagnosed with breast cancer.

Now, the California legislature is assessing the risks that nail technicians are exposed to at work. "Every day, nail salon workers are exposed to a wide array of carcinogenic chemicals," said state Senator Carole Migden. After holding a legislative hearing in which workers testified about their health problems, Migden announced that she's planning to introduce legislation on the matter within a year.

I used to work near a quick-and-cheap nail salon, and the fumes were so strong that you could smell them from 20 feet away. I always saw the workers-almost all of them immigrants-and worry about the effects of breathing that air all day long. Regulating the work environment seems like a good idea to me, but what do you think?

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Michelle Pfeiffer on Beauty

BellaSugar — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 09:00:05 -0700

How does Michelle Pfeiffer stay so stunningly beautiful? Not with extensive beauty routines, according to a new interview. Instead of opting for drastic plastic surgery or spending tons of money on fancy face creams, she has a low-maintenance approach to beauty. She tells the Times:

On her routine: “I can go months, years without a mani. I never pluck my eyebrows. The make-up artists shape them only when I am doing publicity. I don’t get my hair cut between films, just when I work and I have to. As far as body maintenance goes, I do eat well and I exercise. I go at it hardcore in my gym, but that’s it.”

On warding off signs of age: “I don’t do that much to preserve. I used to worship the sun when I was younger – I’m a southern Californian girl, it was all baby oil and beach life – but now I get white spots, so I stay out of the sun. I really have to. And, you know, I read about some miracle product and think, ‘I should try that, it’s going to be great. I’m going to get that cream,’ and sometimes I go out and buy it, but I forget to use it after two weeks, or I get a rash.”

For more from Michelle, read more

On cosmetic surgery: “I don’t think anyone is going to be condemned for a little something done here or there, but people have lost sight of what’s beautiful. There’s a lot that you can do surgically and otherwise to make yourself look younger, yes – but not necessarily better.”

Of course, lucking out in the gene pool doesn't hurt, either. Still, it's refreshing to see an actress be so down-to-earth about her appearance. Maybe deciding to stop stressing out about aging is part of the key to looking the way she does. What do you think?

Source

Meet The First Woman To Get Silicone Implants

BellaSugar — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 10:11:45 -0700

After learning that half of you would consider getting breast implants if the procedure were simple, I thought you might be interested in this profile (NSFW) of Timmie Jean Lindsey, the Texas woman who was the first to have breast implants. It's an interesting look into the history of cosmetic surgery, especially considering how little information this woman had compared to the women of today. The cynic in me suspects that Timmie was offered the chance to be a guinea pig because she was a poor high-school dropout working a low-paying job to take care of her six children-especially because she wasn't after a bigger bosom in the first place. Ironically, she thought her breasts were fine, but she disliked her ears; she agreed to be a guinea pig if her surgeon would "fix" her ears, too. Deal.

Although her surgeon assured her that silicone implants were "as harmless as water," 10 years after the operation, Timmie Jean's implants began to harden. Since then, she has also experienced shooting pains, rashes, chronic fatigue, and a tear in the shell of one implant. She says:

"I truly believe women should be free to choose. But, to be honest, there are times when I think I would like to have mine taken out. I started to get pain in the Eighties and sometimes it lasts for five to six weeks. It feels like I've broken a rib."

The story is a must-read for anyone who's interested in the history of plastic surgery, or who's considering going under the knife herself. No matter where you stand on the issue of breast augmentation, I think your heart will break a little for this woman.

Source

SPF For Your Skin Type: Dry Skin

BellaSugar — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 15:00:56 -0700

Summertime is here and that means playing away in the surf and sand. You wouldn't want to spoil the fun with a bad sunburn, a rash or-heaven forbid-a reaction to an SPF now would you? Here are some amazing sunscreens suitable for dry skin. To read about SPFs for oily skin, click here!

Erno Laszlo R.E.M SPF 30 Intensive Day Therapy for Normal to Extremely Dry Skin ($78) serves as both a moisturizer and as a sunscreen. It has been created for those of you who have a loss of humectants in your skin and are looking for a boost of hydration.

Not only will it protect your skin from both UVA and UVB rays, but it will also tighten skin and help fight fine lines and wrinkles. Fantastic!

For two more sunscreens for dry skin, read more

Botanics Face Defence Moisture Cream SPF15 ($10.39) is a great way to hydrate your skin while protecting it from the sun. It contains antioxidants, horse chestnut extract, cocoa butter and shea butter (the magic ingredient in helping soothe oil dry skin).

Apivita Propoline High Protection Face Cream SPF 30 ($21) is a really rich facial sunscreen made with grape seed to nourish, hydrate and shield dry skin in particular. Also, it smells great and it offers the skin protection from both UVA and UVB rays.

Rose Lip Balms Rule!

BellaSugar — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 09:42:33 -0800

Our lips have some of the thinnest cover on our entire body. They are super sensitive to the environment since they don't produce any moisture on their own. Therefore, as soon as we feel a crack, or a patch of dryness, our lips become extra sensitive.

Not only does rose smell feminine, sweet and light, but it contains essential oils necessary in healing dry, chapped and cracked lips. Here are three of my favorite rose lip balms to help heal your special smackers.

by Terry Rose Balm Gloss, $50, has just created a new crystal case for their best selling rose lip balm! This lip balm contains a high concentration of lipid (fat) building rose wax which hydrates and nourishes the lips. It helps to repair, rejuvenate, strengthen, and fight early signs of aging in your lips. Plus, it smells great too. This gloss/balm plumps up your puckers ever so slightly and leaves them glowing and kissable.

For two more classic Rose lip balms, read more

This uber yummy smelling and adorably pink packaged Propoline Lip Aid With Rose & Olive Oil by Apivita is a sheer and very light rose colored lip balm that helps to combat dry, cracked lips.

It is super moisturizing, nourishing and softening and contains natural ingredients such as: rose, olive oil and Vitamin E. You can buy one for $7 or this package of three lip balms for $13.50.

Smith's Rosebud Salve, $6, is a cult-favorite among women of all shapes, sizes and creeds. It is a multi-purpose lip balm that soothes dry lips, calms and heals irritation, and helps take out the sting of a minor burn.

It also conditions dry cuticles, elbows, knees, diaper rash and my personal favorite: crow's feet. I know, it seems like a salve would be too heavy, but it's not. It absorbs overnight and I swear it helps fight lines and wrinkles. It now also comes in a new cool minted rose flavor too!

Model of the Week: Carolyn Murphy

BellaSugar — Wed, 21 Feb 2007 09:24:47 -0800

Welcome to our third first installment of Model of the Week. I've written a five question interview that I have conducted with several models to share with you. The questions are both fun and beauty related and will always stay the same. To see the rest of the Model of the Week posts click here.

Here's a little history about the classically stunning Carolyn Murphy. She was born in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, on August 11th, 1975. She grew up in and about Northwest Florida in a trailer park in Panama City, Florida. She was spotted and discovered at the age of 16 by the owner of Mary Lou's Models Modeling agency and began modeling right away.

Carolyn moved to Milan to model after high school. It was there where she gained her popularity. She bleached her hair blond for a photo shoot and it began to fall out. Many photographers took notice of her brave, boyishly short haircut and she began getting work in high profile magazines.

You may recognize her from her 2005 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Cover, as the face of Estee Lauder, from her award as VH1/Vogue's "Model of the Year"in 1988, from her many magazine ads, runway shows or from her screen debut in the movie, Liberty Heights.

Carolyn is also the proud mother of a gorgeous seven year old daughter named Dylan Blue. I am pleased to be featuring this stately blond, blue eyed fashion icon whom I have admired for years.

To read her interview and to see more images, read more

BELLA: What is your secret to beautiful skin and hair?
CM: Sleep, water, exercise and maintenance. For skin, a routine is key. I wash with a foaming cleanser twice a day, I exfoliate once a week and I always use a good moisturizer.

BELLA: What is the one product that you can't live without?
CM: I’m obsessed with Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair! It makes my skin feel like a baby.

BELLA: What is your guilty pleasure?
CM: Dark Chocolate...any kind.

BELLA: What is your favorite drugstore product?
CM: My favorite drugstore product is Egyptian Magic and I carry it with me everywhere. It is made with olive oil and bee pollen so it's great for dry hair, cuticles, lips and even skin rashes my daughter gets from wind.

BELLA: Happiness is...
CM: My daughter, my family, art, writing, sleep and world peace.

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