BellaSugar

Seven Beauty Products Worth the Splurge

BellaSugar — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 09:00:56 PST

You already know there are some beauty items you don't need to splurge on. But what about the pricey products that actually do the job much better than their cheapy counterparts? Over the years, I've found a few things that definitely deserve their high price tags. So start saving your dollars, because these are worth every penny.

2007 Sugar Awards: Best Beauty Tool

BellaSugar — Wed, 26 Dec 2007 11:00:45 PST

You've voted, and once again, the results were very close. Squeezing past Shu Uemura eyelash curlers by a margin of less than 10 votes, Tweezerman tweezers garnered first place. I confess that years ago, I didn't understand the hype, but after you use a good pair of tweezers, you'll never want to go back to the two-dollar version again.

Speaking of pricier products that really perform better, my can't-live-without tool this year is my T3 dryer. Again, you always read the hype about T3 tools, and in this case, the praise is earned. The dryer cuts my drying time in half, leaves my hair bouncy and shiny, and never overheats. It's not cheap by any means, but if you go for frequent blow-dries, it's definitely something to save up for.

December Must-Haves

BellaSugar — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 14:55:41 PST

Even though stores are filled with people seeking gifts for friends and family, let's be realistic: Most people pick up a little something for themselves, too. And why not? It's been a long year, and a bit of pampering won't hurt.

For this month's must-haves, I've found items that will help you primp and prepare for end-of-year festivities-along with a few that'll help you decompress from the stress of the holidays. To see my picks,

If there's any time to have shiny, shimmering hair, it's in December. I'm planning to pick up Fekkai Sparkling Shimmer Spray ($13.50), a mist that has microscopic diamond crystals to lend a subtle golden glimmer to your hair. Paired with good tools like this T3 mini flat iron ($119), it would provide a professional-quality hairstyle for New Year's and beyond.
Urban Decay's holiday kit is worth considering. Midnight Cowboy Rides Again ($32) is spot-on with the metallic trend. It includes a golden, shimmery beige eye shadow, Eyeshadow Primer Potion (so your color will stay put), an eye pencil in a deep coppery shade, and glittery gold eyeliner. Worn all at once, these items would be too much. But adding just one item to your regular look will be a gild-y pleasure.
If you're visiting family during the holiday season, you'll need portable, flight-friendly body care supplies. You may also need to de-stress. (Just sayin'.) This gorgeous Red Flower Hammam Set ($56) lets you do both. It contains travel sizes of these 100% natural goodies: Moroccan mint tea silt purifier, lemon coffee blossom olive stone scrub, jasmine rose rhassoul clay polish, orange quince steam room mist, cardamom amber oil, tangerine fig butter cream. Just reading about them makes me want to relax and unwind with a cup of tea.
Bonne Belle Smackers ($2.95) are a favorite from my childhood, and since 'tis the season for chapped lips, I figure it can't hurt to have a few extra lip balms on hand. I'm a fan of the Dr. Pepper flavor, which takes me way back to junior high.

Product Review: T3 + Orlando Pita Plump

BellaSugar — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 07:00:42 PST

Orlando Pita, the stylist behind some of the fashion world's most beautiful hairstyles, has collaborated with hairdryer heavies T3. The result is T3 Plump Heat Seeking Liquid Hair Plumper ($38), a spray-on treatment that promises to deliver thicker, stronger hair with tons more volume. To use it, you just spritz it on damp hair before using the hairdryer.

The packaging is really simple, and although this is just a little detail, I liked the way the pump spray delivers the product. Instead of coming out in an angry burst, it mists smoothly and evenly. Like I said, it's a little thing, but I like it. For the rest of my review, including why this stuff may be a giant man magnet,

read more I've used this product a few times, and it definitely adds volume to my hair without weighing it down or making it tacky. Coupled with my T3 dryer, it creates a fantastically smooth, shiny and bouncy hairstyle. In fact, after using the two together, Fit and Team both asked me if I'd done something new with my hair. They weren't the only ones who noticed. Mr. Bella and I had a hot date at the art museum a few weeks ago, and he kept coming near my face. Nearer than usual, that is. At first I thought he was just being romantic and trying to sneak a smooch, but then I realized that he was only nuzzling my hair. Finally, I said, "Are you trying to sniff my hair?" "Um, yes," he replied. "I can't help it. It just smells really good." So there you have it. He's never done this before, so I credit Plump with turning him into a hair nuzzler. I can't blame him, really: This stuff leaves a light, pleasant scent that I can't quite place. It's not exactly citrusy, nor is it that weirdly fake-smelling fruity scent. It's just really fresh and clean. And apparently, it smells so wonderful that men will bury their noses in your hair in public. My only hesitation with this product is its price. As much as I love the results, it's hard to part with $38 for any hair product. (That's why this is a 3.5-star, not a 4-star review.) If it's not within your budget, see if you can try out a friend's before taking the plunge-or better yet, save up for a T3 dryer, which I do think is worth the considerable expense. But if you're not sticking to a budget, don't think twice about it. And then, don't be surprised if you find a gentleman or two trying to smell your hair. See reader reviews of this product and add your own here!

Chrome Niko: Serious Bag For Serious Business

Kristy Korcz — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 06:30:05 PST

The holidays are a perfect time to get cozy with your camera. The lights, the food, the weather, all of it makes for an awesome shot at a moment's notice. And if you need a bag that's going to stand the test of time, there's none better than the Chrome Niko Camera Bag ($95) to do the job. Chrome was kind enough to send me this bag to test out, and so far, I don't want to give it up. At first glance the Niko may not seem so "female-friendly," but on the contrary, it has no problem fitting smaller frames, and best of all, it's not too bulky.

Made of tough military grade nylon, this bag can take a beating and come out the other side looking shiny and new. Cyclists and bikers will love the Niko since it's lightweight and compact, but offers amazing protection for your gear thanks to its padded interior and water-resistant zippers. The signature Chrome seat-belt chest strap offers a satisfying click when closed (which also doubles as a bottle opener for those beer-fueled hikes), and the waist straps help it stay snugly in place. I have worried that someone (or something) will accidentally hit the center closure and send my gear falling to the ground, which is a scary thought if you're toting an expensive camera. I will say that ladies with a larger chest may not find this bag desirable. The padded chest strap is wide, so it could cause an unpleasant and uncomfortable "separation of the girls" if you know what I mean.

See who I think the Niko is perfect for, and the one thing I wished it came with after the break.

4 Black Friday Deals That Aren't Really Deals

Emily Co — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 05:00:03 PST

As I was scouring through many of the Black Friday ads for the best deals, I noticed that there were no "before" prices cited on the ads. Sure, it's a chance for shoppers to get a good bargain, but retailers need to make money as well. A good number of the deals I looked through weren't exactly what I would call a deal. Here are some things you shouldn't buy at the Black Friday sales.

Kindle

Office Depot, Office Max, Radio Shack, Staples, Target, and Walmart are all selling the latest versions of Kindle. They are the same price as the Kindles sold on Amazon, and Target even charges a higher price for it. And not to mention, you'll be paying sales tax with the purchase of a Kindle at one of these retailers. Don't bother getting a Kindle from these stores; instead, buy yours on Amazon.

Apple products

So far, there doesn't seem to be any good Apple product deals around. Best Buy is selling the Apple TV for $90, which is the same price that Amazon is selling it for online. The two iPhones that they are selling are older generation phones - the iPhone 3GS (Free) and the iPhone 4 ($99) - which you can buy at the AT&T stores. Even the Apple store doesn't usually offer deep discounts for its products during its Black Friday sale.

DSLR Cameras

The DSLR cameras are items you should stay away from when you're rummaging through the stores. In fact, I found that many of the cameras sold have the same price, or have a very minor discount. For example, Best Buy is selling the Canon EOS Rebel T3 12.2 MP DLSR camera and camera bundle for $480, while Amazon is selling the same camera for $488 (the price fluctuates; at one point I saw it for $452). You can buy a good camera bag that's worth $15 on Amazon. Although the bundle is a little more expensive when you buy it on Amazon, the price difference is very minor in proportion to the base price. I have a feeling that the price will continue to rise and fall, so keep watching the product listing.

Read on for more nondeals.

Get Blake Lively's 2011 MTV Movie Awards Ponytail Look

BellaSugar — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 11:35:00 PDT

When creating Blake Lively's look for the 2011 MTV Movie Awards, celebrity stylist Rod Ortega wanted to do something appropriate for the warm-weathered season: a long, sleek ponytail. "It is a fresh, chic style; a staple suitable to any occasion, from the red carpet to the beaches of Saint-Tropez," Ortega said. So to find out how to get Blake's sophisticated ponytail in just a few steps, keep reading.

Tubohotel: Concrete Tubing Recycled Into Affordable, "All Tube" Hotel

TreeHugger — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 04:00:00 PDT

I'm excited to present a post from one of my favorite sites, Treehugger! Here on TreeHugger we've already seen minimalist hotels made out of giant sections of concrete tubing. But who would have known concrete tubing could be actually made to look inviting, much less for travellers looking to stay in one of Mexico's more popular destinations? Located less than an hour away from Mexico City, Tepoztlan's Tubohotel is an affordable hotel that uses recycled concrete tubing for its rooms, a strategy employed by designers T3arc to build a hotel quickly and cheaply, without sacrificing the area's spectacular views.

According to ArchDaily, this hotel was inspired in part by architect Andreas Strauss' 2005 Das ParkHotel. However, Tubohotel's concrete modules add a touch of glass and comfort to allow guests a better panoramic view of the local mountain range, Sierra del Tepozteco. Legend has it that Tepoztlan is the birthplace of Quetzalcoatl, Mexico's ancient feathered serpent god.

Read and see more about this recycled concrete tubing hotel on Treehugger!

Here are a few more of my favorite posts from Treehugger lately:

Steve Jobs Introduces the iPad 2 to the World

Kristy Korcz — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 10:29:02 PST

Steve Jobs took the stage at today's Apple event to introduce the iPad 2. If 2010 was the year of the iPad, the next generation will take 2011 into tablet overdrive. As expected, the iPad 2 will be faster with the brand-new A5 chip, dual core processors, and a major update to the graphics - up to nine times faster.

Additionally, there will be two cameras (a rear and front-facing camera) as well as a gyroscope for awesome game time fun. Dramatically thinner and lighter, the iPad 2 will come in two colors (black and white), will be 33 percent thinner than the first-gen iPad, and will come in at 1.5 pounds. In fact, it's thinner than the iPhone 4! The prices will stay the same, starting at $499, and will be available on both Verizon and AT&T 3G networks. Bonus - you won't have to wait long to get your hands on one either; both colors and all versions of the iPad 2 ship beginning March 11. Get more details on specs after the break.

Derek Lam Goes Uniformly Gray and White

Annie Tomlin — Sun, 13 Feb 2011 22:57:51 PST

For his Fall 2011 collection, Derek Lam displayed uniform inspiration - literally. The clothing collection borrowed from uniforms and August Sander photographs, which in turn led the beauty team's direction. Find out more after the jump.