BellaSugar

Essie's 2008 Spring Bridal Collection

BellaSugar — Fri, 02 May 2008 09:01:44 PDT

This 2008 Essie Bridal Collection is just the type of classical peachy, white and muted pale pink polish range that I like to see from time to time. For those of you blushing brides who are interested in attaining the quintessential French manicure, or, for the rest of you who are just looking to paint on a neutral nail, you'll be on Cloud Nine with these colors. My bets are on Happily Ever After on becoming the next cult color, but I'm partial to No Pre-Nup (wink) - how about you?

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For a brief description of each of the shades read more.

Blushing Bride: is pale nude with a hint of pink and gold.
Cloud Nine: is a sheer white with a touch of creamy mocha.
True Love: is a bubblegum pink with a hint of coral.
Tie the Knot: is the sheerest and most natural buff color.
No Pre-Nup: is the deepest rosy pink.
Happily Ever After: is a cool pale pink with a twist of blue.

To see all of our wedding coverage, check out IDoSugar.

Giorgio Armani's Coffee Cosmetics Craze

BellaSugar — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 11:00:04 PDT

Giorgio Armani has recently introduced an atypical product range for Spring. This nine-piece Caffe collection includes five lipsticks, two lip liners and a lip shimmer. All are in rich, gold, brown, and nude coffee inspired colors. It's kind of like an end-of-Winter bonus line since we've already seen the glowy Spring collection and we are getting ready for the Summer colors to come out (yes, more on this later)!

My favorite combo is the #16 champagne-colored lipstick with the #45 lip shimmer on top - it's the ideal nude lip . But the most notable product has to be the #29 transparent rouge-colored sheer lipstick. It's pretty intimidating in the tube because the color is a blackish-purple goth shade, but when you apply it to your lips, it's completely sheer. The collection has been out for a few weeks already, so if you are browsing around a Giorgio Armani boutique or a department store, have a look and let me know what you think. For a description and pricing details on each of the nine items in the Caffe collection,

How-To: Revive Your Hair Color For Spring

BellaSugar — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 07:00:12 PDT

Spring-clean your hair by getting rid of dulling residue and boring, flat color. It's easy to brighten up your Winter color with a color-enhancing shampoo and conditioner, or even something as basic as this John Frieda Clear Shine Luminous Color Glaze will add life to your lackluster locks. These drugstore brands are low-cost ways to create a high impact. Check out my product suggestions below.

Blondes: Take away yellow undertones by mixing in bright, pale pieces to your crown. I suggest using L'Oreal Frost & Design Pull Through Cap Highlight Kit in Champagne.
Light Brunettes: Glazing your dark locks with ash blond is a great pick me-up for mousy brown hair. Try Clairol Natural Instincts Non-Permanent Haircolor in Medium Ash Blonde.
Redheads: Red locks crave richness. Amp up your fading hair with L'Oreal Preference Fade Defying Color & Shine System in Intense Red.
Deep Brunettes: Super-dark hair needs to look shiny and even without looking greasy. Boost your base color with Revlon Colorist Expert Color and Glaze System in Dark Brown.

BellaSugar's Guide to Pastel Beauty Products

BellaSugar — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 05:30:32 PDT

I hope you've enjoyed my series on pastel beauty goodies. My personal favorites are peachy blushes, pale pink polishes, green eye shadows and lilac lip glosses. Click on the links below to discover a wealth of both wild and mild pastel beauty products to suit all of your springtime urges!

Pastel Products, Part V: Lovely Lacquers

BellaSugar — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 10:00:22 PDT

Pretty pastel nail polishes are a fun way to lighten up any warm-weather beauty look. Pale pinks, sage greens, sunny yellows and light lavenders are beautiful shades to complement a special sundress or handbag. (And if you're still stuck with winter, they're a nice way to bring Spring to you early.) The colors come in an array of opaque formulas for you fearless femmes, as well as sheer versions for those of you who are still a little bit gun-shy.

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L'Oreal Pro Manicure Nail Polish, Trust Fund Baby ($3.49) is a fun color with a catchy name. The polish is formaldehyde and toluene free - and since it contains pro-keratin proteins, it also strengthens your nails. I think this shade in particular looks best when you apply two coats.
Duri Nail Polish in Pistachio ($3.75) is a light, opaque lime green polish that lasts long, dries quickly, and imparts high shine along with streak-free color.
For one more pretty pastel nail polish, read more. Essie Looking for Love ($8) is a soft and sweet, medium-hued lavender polish. The color is rich and long-lasting - and considering that Essie polishes are always at the forefront of fashion, you'll be ahead of the game for Spring.

Pastel Products, Part IV: Cheerful Cheeks

BellaSugar — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 14:00:29 PDT

Welcome back to my series on pretty pastel beauty products. I hope that checking out these flirty finds is getting you excited for Spring. Below are three different pastel blushes that are best worn on the apples of your cheeks and then blended outwards (to your hairline) and upwards (towards the top of your ear). Remember to start off with a gentle touch and layer until you reach your desired shade. Tip: these blushes look especially hot with a little bit of highlighter on top.

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Darphin Blush in Raisin Delicieux ($40) is a finely-milled powder blush that will create a healthy and vibrant flush on your face. This color in particular is especially warming if paired with a bronzer. A little bit goes a long way, so apply with caution.
Neutrogena Healthy Skin Blends Sheer Highlighting Blush in Fresh ($12.49) imparts a fresh, outdoorsy-looking and slightly shimmery flush to your skin. I like to sweep an angled contour brush over all of the shades and apply it to the lower part of my cheekbones for a more dramatic effect. Also, I appreciate that you don't have to be quite as careful with this powder because the formula is much more sheer than the others.
To check out a cheery cheek stamp, read more. Yves Saint Laurent Touche Blush in Rose comes in a standard size ($42) or travel version ($27.50). This bright loose-powder blush has a controlled application because of the sponge on top, but I suggest tapping it on your hand to shed some of the excess before you apply it to your cheeks.

Pastel Products, Part III: Lively Lips

BellaSugar — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 14:00:35 PDT

Spring is a great time to play around with pretty shades of pastel lip colors. While some years breed paler pouts than others, one of this season's hottest beauty trends involves vibrant variations on pinks, purples, peaches, and even yellows. Here are three colors I love, and a few more that are just too fun to leave out.

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Trish McEvoy Lip Gloss in Serene ($22) is a sheer lilac color that looks beautiful blended over a deep purple or pink lipstick. The consistency is thick and creamy, and although it's slightly sticky, it is also extraordinarily shiny.
Givenchy Pop Gloss in Fizz Peach ($23.50) is a creamy peach lip gloss with little sparkles in the formula that reflect light. The texture is smooth, the shine is remarkable and the color is sheer (and looks fab with a fake tan)!
For one more pretty pastel lip product, read more. L' Oreal Colour Riche Lipstick in Peach Fuzz ($6.99) is an ultracreamy, moist, hydrating lipstick with a hint of shimmer. I have a few of these lipsticks and love how there are so many colors to choose from. They look great alone (since they're so creamy) and they also look amazing under a shiny, sheer gloss that is shimmer free. I think after you try one, you'll be hooked, too.

New Product Alert: Lola Cosmetics Refine Line Concealer

BellaSugar — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 08:00:00 PDT

Yesterday afternoon, I tried the newest product launch from Lola Cosmetics called Refine Shine Concealer ($22). What makes this concealer different from others is that it contains hyaluronic acid and brightening properties to keep your skin looking and feeling hydrated, smooth and even a little bit dewy.

It has a medium-to-thin creamy consistency (so it's not going to cover as thoroughly as, say, Time Balm concealer), but it will cover red spots and dark circles. Just the tiniest amount goes a long way. I find that it works best if I apply just a little bit of powder over anything red to ensure natural-looking all-day coverage. Lastly, it is available in five shades (from fair to mahogany) to match most skin tones.

Pastel Products, Part II: Precious Face Powders

BellaSugar — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 15:10:34 PDT

Part two of my springtime pastel products series is all about luminosity. These powders help absorb excess oil while giving your skin that healthy glow. Blend them all over your face for a more noticeable "light," or add a touch to the tip of your nose, forehead, and cheekbones for subtle radiance. Here are three products I recommend, along with a few more that are too pretty to leave out.

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T. Le Clerc Loose Powder in Tilleul ($50) is one of the most finely-milled powders I've ever used. It goes on like sheer veil and comes in a vast array of colors. The blue helps to cover broken capillaries and counteract redness, and it's best suited for oily and fair skin. Simply dip, tap, and then blend your fluffiest brush all over your face for a soft wash of color.
For two more powders, read more. Estée Lauder is about to launch a new limited-edition collection for Summer called Pearls of Light. I'll be telling you about all of the products next week, but for now, here's a sneak peek at the Shimmering Powder Pearls Face Illuminator. These loose powder, oyster pearl, pink, and peach beads allow you to create a soft, Summer glow on your face, shoulders, and décolletage.
I've been using my Physician's Formula Powder Palette Multi-Colored Face Powder in Highlighter ($12.95) for over a year now and I love it. Whenever I overdo my bronzer or blush, this is my saving grace to even out my complexion and add a little bit of pop to my cheekbones. Also, I use the white sections on the inner corners of my eyes and the green sections over pimples to help neutralize the redness.

Pastel Products Part 1: Easter-Egg Eye Shadow Shades

BellaSugar — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 15:00:09 PDT

Spring will officially be here by week's end. This season is known for heavy pastel makeup shades, and 2008 is no exception. As we've seen in my post about Festive Floral Spring Beauty Buys, beauty brands have made pretty and pale floral products a big part of their offerings.

In my experience, the key to a winning pastel is substantial pigment. Too often I find wimpy pastels that wind up looking like a generic iridescent pink no matter if they are lilac, blue, green, or peach. This week I'll be talking more about face, cheek, and lip pastel products, but for now I've featured three of my favorite eye shadows below along with some photos of a few runner-ups.

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Givenchy Prismissime 9 Colours Face and Eyeshadow Palette ($50) is actually part of the 2006 Spring collection, but there are still plenty available online for purchase. Each of the colors can be worn alone on the eyes (the corner shades are especially notable) or they can be blended together and gently swept over the face for a radiant glow. You're destined to have fun with all of these Easter-eggy shades to play with.
Dior 5-Color Iridescent Eyeshadow ($54) contains velvety-soft powder shadows that you can mix, match, and blend to your heart's content. My personal favorite of the bunch is the shimmery peach shade since it complements each of the others so well. If you use it in the inner v of your eye, you'll get a sweet and subtle daytime twinkle. Also, the deep-purple shade can double as an eyeliner.
For one last single and pretty pastel eye shadow shade, read more. Nars Single Eye Shadow in Night Fairy ($22) is an oldie but goodie. This golden pearly, pale-violet powder shadow looks dynamite on brown and hazel eyes. You can wear it alone, or add a taupey brown to the crease for extra depth.