BellaSugar

DIY Spa Treatment: Rose Mint Foot Scrub

BellaSugar — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 07:00:30 -0700

Right now, there's not enough food in my house to make anything but mac 'n' cheese, but there is enough to make a DIY salt scrub (so maybe I can spend my pedicure money on groceries). Salt scrub tends to exfoliate more than sugar, so it's better for rough areas like feet, and mint is refreshing and soothing. The rose gives it a great scent and pretty color.

For instructions and to see the finished product, read more

Here's what you'll need:

1/2 cup of coarse salt (i.e. sea salt, kosher salt, margarita salt)

Olive oil

1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon rose flower water (I picked up this one at a Middle Eastern store)

1 rose

3 stems fresh mint

Step 1: Combine salt and rosewater, but don't mix.
Step 2: Shred or cut the mint leaves into small pieces, add to mixture, and use a blunt object (I used the back of a screwdriver) to muddle (basically, bash and twist the mint into the mixture so the scent and oils are released).
Step 3: Take 3/4 of the petals off the rose and do the same.
Step 4: Add 1 tablespoon olive oil and mix. Feel free to add more, but be careful - it gets too greasy very fast!
Step 5: Use the rest of the rose as a garnish, either keeping the bud whole or adding bigger chunks of petals.

Store in a mason jar, an empty tub of another product, or good ol' tupperware.

Check out my handiwork below:

Source

Think Pink: Darphin Rose Aromatic Care

BellaSugar — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 09:00:22 -0700

Darphin Rose Aromatic Care ($75) is a nighttime facial serum that hydrates, soothes, softens and smooths unbalanced, dry, and tight skin. It is made from rose oil, hazelnut, primrose, sweet almond oil, Vitamins A, E, C and horsetail extract which also helps protect skin from free radical damage.

15% of the proceeds from all October sales will be donated to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation, an organization that provides funding for clinical and genetic research as well as outreach and public awareness of breast cancer.

By creating this special and limited-edition pretty pink bottle and donating a portion of its profits, Darphin joins the fight against Breast Cancer. To use, simply apply five drops of the serum to your face and neck in the evening and rub it in with gentle circular motions. Follow with a moisturizer.

Think Pink: Potter & Moore Tea Rose & Sage Eau de Toilette

BellaSugar — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 12:00:30 -0700

In 1749, gardeners John Potter and William Moore joined forces to start a business cultivating herbs and flowers. They specialized in lavender and eventually they evolved into creating fine bath, body and beauty products including perfumes. They took a special interest in garden roses and believed that individuality had a great deal to do with fragrance choices. Soon, their company became very successful, so much so that products are still being developed to this day.

One of their best-selling floral and herbal essences is a romantic scent called Tea Rose and Sage Eau de Toilette ($63).

The smell is delicate and sweet, but what also makes it special is knowing that 10% of October sales are donated to the Susan G. Komen Foundation, the world's largest network of breast cancer survivors and activists.

If you have never taken the time to read the touching story about a promise between two sisters, and about how this foundation was born, I suggest doing so as a reminder about what these seemingly small donations can do to help. Every person can make a difference.

The New Rose Essentielle Eau de Toilette by Bulgari

BellaSugar — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 15:05:38 -0700

A new lovely and delicate scent has just launched from Bulgari called Rose Essentielle Eau de Toilette. Well, to clarify, it's actually a softer version of the ever-popular 2005 fragrance called Rose Essentielle Eau de Parfum.

Bulgari wanted something a little bit more airy, tender and young, so they worked with perfumer Beatrice Piquet to modify the formula and develop this lighter more luminous "reinvention."

The fragrance contains notes of pure rose, violet leaves, blackberry, mimosa, jasmin sambac, patchouli, and gaiacwood and is currently available in a 1.7 ounce bottle for $69 and in a 3.4 ounce bottle for $98. I love the fresh fragrance of roses, so this is something I am definitely interested in checking out. How about you?

Flower Power Makeup Part III: Palettes

BellaSugar — Fri, 27 Apr 2007 08:11:22 -0700

Welcome to the final installment of flower power makeup. This post includes two beautiful palettes embossed with floral designs. By the way, palettes make for great Mother's Day gifts if you are already thinking of ideas. Enjoy and please let me know what you think!

I just love the look of this brand new for Spring Chantecaille Les Roses Palette, $105. Although it's expensive, it actually is cheaper to purchase the palette than it is to buy all of the colors separately.

The shades chosen are all very wearable, and the full rose on the blush and bronzer adds a sweet and feminine touch. I happen to really like this brand a lot. I haven't tried this yet, but I can't wait to check it out.

For one last flower power palette, read more

Prescriptives Colorscope Set, $50, so reminds me of a flower! I can't be certain if it's a flower, star or sun, so I've taken creative freedom positioning it here. I'm a big Prescriptives fan and I really like the plum family of colors they have put together.

I have also seen this palette in more of a neutral tone, but I can't seem to find it online anymore - maybe it's sold out. It also comes with a double sided shadow and contour brush. I can't wait to hear what you think.

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!

2009 American Music Awards: Morena Baccarin

BellaSugar — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 16:56:14 -0800

For fans of V or the classic Joss Whedon show Firefly, Morena should be a welcome addition to the red carpet roundup. Tonight she kept her look classically chic, with an Audrey-esque pixie cut, lightly lined eyes, and dusty rose lips. I love a pixie cut - check out more here - but what's your take on it? Are you coveting her hair too, or do you wish she'd go back to the flowing curls she had in Firefly?

Vote on all of my American Music Awards polls here!

Stila + Lela Rose = Beauty.com Exclusive

BellaSugar — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 07:00:31 -0800

Lela Rose is the kind of fashion designer I can get behind, mostly because she makes her runway looks work for regular women. Not only does she have a just-the-right-side-of-prissy shoe line at Payless, she's also making her Spring 2009 runway makeup more affordable.

Beauty.com teamed up with Stila, whose makeup artists created the look for the Spring Lela Rose runway show. The same products used on models are now available as the Backstage with Lela Rose kit ($34). It contains mascara, a shimmery champagne eye shadow, a bronzer, and a lip gloss - plus notes on how to recreate the simple look at home. Purchased separately, these goodies would be $77, so it's not a bad deal at all.

This Lela Rose Beauty Bag Comes Full of Goodies

BellaSugar — Tue, 05 May 2009 10:00:20 -0700

Spring cleaning stops for no one . . . and no season. While tossing out products too old to use (or creating that work stash), why not switch it up with a fresh case? I know I'm not the only one who loves Lela Rose, and this limited-edition bag - packed with $150 worth of new goodies! - will make you feel better about clearing out the dated stuff and ditching a grimy container.
Any $100 spent on Beauty.com earns you one of these for free while supplies last. After all, letting go is much easier when you already have your eye on the replacement . . . and what deal isn't sweetened by more goodies for no more money?

Fragrance Review: Fresh Cannabis Rose

BellaSugar — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 08:00:11 -0700

Confession time: I actually listened to Nancy Reagan back in the day, and I have never smoked pot. Whenever someone breaks out the weed, I dork out and worry about getting a contact high. A friend recently fired it up in my kitchen, and I spent the whole time airing out the apartment and trying to keep the cats away, lest they become red-eyed, Cheetos-devouring drug addicts. (Now who's paranoid?)

It's safe to say that weed isn't my thing, but oddly enough, I'm really into Fresh Cannabis Rose. It has an intriguing rich-hippie scent that, yes, smells a little like roses and pot - but in the most sophisticatedly dirty way possible. It's one of those scents that makes people think you simply smell good, and I think it would be disarmingly sexy on a guy.

The best way to experience this kind of reefer madness is with the gift set ($45), which includes a shower gel, body cream, and eau de parfum. And let me tell you, the body cream is intensely luxurious. It's also $85, so don't blame me if you develop a habit.