BellaSugar

Back to Basics: The Best Body Lotions

BellaSugar — Wed, 28 Feb 2007 04:33:33 -0800

Welcome to this installment of Back to Basics. These amazing moisturizing body lotions are my all time favorites. I have used them for years and have never had any kind of allergic reactions or dry skin. What are some of your favorite body lotions?

Kiehl's Creme de Corps, $26, is a treat for your skin when it is feeling just a little too dry or you've recently been in the sun. Just a little of this super rich moisturizer goes a long way.

I received a bottle of this as a gift about seven years ago and have never looked back. Beta-carotene gives it a natural deep yellow color. It is recommended to use for ten straight days to achieve optimum results.

It is available in three sizes: a 4.2 oz travel bottle is $16, an 8.4 oz bottle sells is $26, and a 16.9 oz bottle is $42. If you buy the larger size it comes with a pump for easy dispensing, it costs $44 (shown).

To see more of my favorite body lotions of all time, read more

Lubriderm Daily Moisture Lotion For Normal to Dry Skin, $7.99, has been in my house every since I was a wee little tot. Owned by Pfizer, it was developed by dermatologists to promote more supple, smooth and healthier skin.

It has a very clean, non-greasy feel and it quickly penetrates your skin so that there is no residue left on your body as you are getting dressed. It won't clog your pores and is available in two sizes: 6 oz and 16 oz at most drugstores and pharmacies.

Biotherm Lait Corporel Anti-Drying Body Milk, $20, is the lightest of the bunch - but don't let that fool you. Just because it has a thin texture, it still helps to repair dry skin, restore your skin’s protective barrier and protect its natural elasticity. It is available in two sizes: a 6.7 oz bottle costs $20 and a 13.5 oz bottle costs $35.

2007 Sugar Awards: Best Body Moisturizer

BellaSugar — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 10:00:35 -0800

Wowsers! The tallies of this year's best body moisturizer were close. At 12 percent was The Body Shop Body Butter, at 11 percent was Vaseline Cocoa Butter, and at 10 percent was Nivea Body Original Moisture Daily Lotion.

My favorite body lotion of all time is Kiehl's Creme de Corps, but I really trust you guys, so perhaps it's time I ditch my luxurious-but-expensive designer cream for a drugstore brand. Walgreens, here I come.

Bella Bargain: 75% Off at Rescue Beauty

BellaSugar — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 13:00:42 -0700

New York City's Rescue Beauty Lounge is best known for its nail-polish expert, Ji Baek, and her collection of trendsetting polish shades. But the brand also has a collection of bath and body goods - think lotions, body washes, and hand creams - and it's now available at a deep discount. The items are a whopping 75 percent off when you use the code smell good at checkout, which shaves the prices of hand cream and body wash down to $5 apiece. That's a lot of luxury for drugstore-level prices, so consider treating yourself or picking up a fancy present on the cheap. (The holidays, after all, are mere months away . . . )

Beauty Byte: Self's 2007 Healthy Beauty Awards

BellaSugar — Fri, 04 May 2007 16:14:02 -0700

Self magazine just announced the winners of its 2007 Healthy Beauty Awards, which recognize skin-care, makeup, and hair products that are both good and good for you. I love lists like this, because they always give me ideas about new products to try (as if I needed more, but whatever).

The Self awards are a great mix of drugstore treasures and high-end brands. (Thanks to Beauty and the Blog for the tip!) To see the list of winners, read more

FACE

Best Normal-Skin Cleanser
Plank Cor Soap, $125

Best Oily-Skin Cleanser
Care by Stella McCartney Purifying Foaming Cleanser, $35

Best Dry-Skin Cleanser
NIA 24 Gentle Cleansing Cream, $30

Best Sensitive-Skin Cleanser
Skin Effects Redness Control Calming Gel Cleanser, $13

Best Normal-Skin Moisturizer
Skingenic Regenerating Moisturizer, $110

Best Dry-Skin Moisturizer
Lierac Hydra-Chrono, $45

Best Sensitive-Skin Moisturizer
Kinerase Cream With SPF 30, $135

Best Antiaging Moisturizer
Lancôme High Résolution With Fibrelastine Intensive Recovery Anti-Wrinkle Cream, $74

Best Night Cream
Roc Protient Fortify Lift and Define Night Cream, $20

Best Serum
Aveeno Positively Ageless Rejuvenating Serum, $18

Best At-Home Peel
Avon Anew Clinical Advanced Retexturizing Peel, $25

Best Face Scrub
C.O. Bigelow Brown Sugar Crystal Face Polish, $20

Best Acne Treatment
Sephora Face Concealing Blemish Pen, $14

Best Mask
Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Plump Perfect Firming Facial Mask, $58

Best Eye Cream
Guerlain Orchidée Impériale Eye and Lip Cream, $155

Best Antiaging Eye Cream
Clarins Advanced Extra-Firming Eye Contour Cream, $54

Best Eye-Brightening Cream
Burt's Bees Radiance Eye Creme, $15

BODY

Best Bar Soap
Dove Pro-Age, $4

Best Shower Gel
Boscia Jujube Rejuvenist Amino Body Wash, $22

Best Moisturizing Shower Gel
Caress Cashmere Luxury Silkening Body Wash, $3

Best Body Scrub
Murad Activating Body Scrub, $48

Best Body Treatment
Ahava Pure Spa Energizing Body Mud Mask, $18

Best Body Moisturizer
St. Ives Mineral Therapy Advanced Body Moisturizer, $5

Best Nighttime Body Moisturizer
Johnson's Softlotion Melt Away Stress Moisturizing Lotion, $5

Best Spray Moisturizer
The Healing Garden Sensual Therapy Passion Rose Body Mist, $7

Best Body Cream
Jergens Shea Butter Cream, $7

Best Body Cream for Irritated Skin
Eucerin Calming Itch-Relief Treatment, $9

Best Hand Scrub
Mary Kay Satin Smoothie Hand Scrub, $15

Best Hand Lotion
OPI Avoplex High-Intensity Hand & Nail Cream, $8

Best Nail Product
Revlon No Smudge Dry Oil, $7

Best Foot Scrub
Olay Thermal Pedicure, $9

Best Foot Cream
Earth Therapeutics Intensive Heel Repair, $8

MAKEUP

Best All-Around Foundation
Shiseido The Makeup Dual Balancing Foundation SPF 17, $35

Best Tinted Moisturizer
Cosmedicine Honest Face Skin Tint & Treatment SPF 20, $35

Best Oil-Free Foundation
Neutrogena Glow Sheers SPF 30, $12

Best Antiaging Foundation
La Mer The Treatment Fluid Foundation SPF 15, $75

Best Long-Lasting Foundation
Rimmel Cool Matte 16 Hr Foundation, $8

Best Pressed Powder
MAC Mineralize Skinfinish, $25

Best Loose Powder
Givenchy Prisme Libre, $63

Best Concealer
Prescriptives Custom Blend Concealer, $32

Best Bronzer
Physicians Formula Mineral Wear Talc-Free Matte Bronzing Veil, $12

Best Highlighter
Smashbox Photo Op Under Eye Brightener, $18

Best Powder Blush
Lorac Cheek Stamp, $22

Best Gel Blush
Sue Devitt Beauty Gel to Powder Blush, $20

Best Lipstick
Giorgio Armani ArmaniSilk, $25

Best SPF-Enriched Lipstick
Almay Hydracolor, $9

Best Lip Gloss
Sally Hansen Smile Brightening Lip Treatment, $7

Best Lipliner
Lauren Hutton Lip Liner, $14

Best Powder Eyeshadow
Victoria's Secret Very Sexy Mosaic Eye Shadow, $18

Best Cream Eyeshadow
Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Cream Shadow, $22

Best Makeup Multitasker
Benefit Rush Hour, $20

Best Eyeliner
L'Oréal Paris Carbon Black Le Kohl Pencil, $7

Best Lengthening Mascara
Clinique High Definition Lashes Brush-Then-Comb Mascara, $14

Best Thickening Mascara
CoverGirl VolumeExact Mascara, $7

Best Waterproof Mascara
Maybelline New York Volum' Express Turbo Mascara, $7

Best Multitasking Mascara
Chanel Inimitable Mascara, $27

Best Eye Makeup Remover
Dr. Andrew Weil for Origins Plantidote Mega-Mushroom Eye Makeup Remover Pads, $20

Best Palette
Sonia Kashuk Face Palette, $17

HAIR

Best All-Around Shampoo
Aura Spa Aromatherapie Balancing Équilibrant Verbena Ginger Shampoo, $8

Best Hydrating Shampoo
Sunsilk ThermaShine, $4

Best Straightening Shampoo
Nexxus SleekTress Sumptuous Smoothing Shampoo, $9

Best Shampoo for Curls
Aveda Be Curly Shampoo, $20

Best Shampoo for Color-Treated Hair
Matrix Logics Color DNA System Color Nourishing Shampoo, $20

Best All-Around Conditioner
Charles Worthington Dream Hair Radiant Shine Glossing Conditioner, $9

Best Hydrating Conditioner
Kiehl's Olive Fruit Oil Nourishing Conditioner, $19

Best Straightening Conditioner
Aussie Sydney Smooth Conditioner, $3

Best Conditioner for Curls
Redken Fresh Curls Conditioner, $13

Best Conditioner for Color-Treated Hair
Marc Anthony Brilliant Color Color Lock Conditioner, $8

Best Hair Mask
Alberto VO5 Fortify & Repair! Deep Moisturizing 3-Minute Masque, $3

Best Volumizer
Biolage VolumaThérapie Bodifying Crème Gel, $14

Best Shine Serum
John Frieda Frizz-Ease Thermal Protection Serum, $10

Best Gel
Garnier Fructis Style Brilliantine Shine Cream-Gel, $4

Best Curl Product
Suave Professionals Healthy Curls Anti-Frizz Cream, $2

Best Frizz Fighter
Herbal Essences None of Your Frizzness Smoothing Leave-In Crème, $3

Best Mousse
Wella Color Preserve Volumizing Mousse, $14

Best Straightening Product
Tresemmé Thermal Creations Straightening Gel, $4

Best Texturizer
Pantene Pro-V Texturize! Moussing Foam Wax, $7

Best Hairspray
Paul Mitchell Express Style Worked Up Spray, $15

Best At-Home Color Kit
Clairol Natural Instincts, $9

SUN

Best Face Sunscreen
Dermalogica Extra Rich Faceblock SPF 30, $48

Best Body Sunscreen
Banana Boat UltraMist Sport SPF 30 Continuous Clear Spray, $7

Best Face Glow Lotion
Nivea Sun-Kissed Facial Moisturizer, $7

Best Body Glow Lotion
Estée Lauder Body Performance Golden Naturally Radiant Moisturizer, $35

Best Self-Tanner
Lancaster Silk Bronze Moisturizing Milk Face & Body Self Tan SPF 6, $22

Best Body Bronzer
Dior Bronze Gelée de Monoi, $32

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How-To: Instant Shimmer Lotion

BellaSugar — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 11:59:35 -0700

So let's say you are clumsy - not that I'd know anything about that. (Nope, not at all.) Perhaps you've knocked an eye shadow over and it's all crumbly. While you may be able to repair it with these instructions, you could always keep it on hand to create a shimmery lotion. Just take a tiny pinch of eye shadow - obviously, it's best if it's a champagne, bronze, or pink shade - and mix it into a few dollops of plain body lotion. Spread it on your shoulders, collarbone, and shins to create a light-capturing glow quickly and inexpensively. Easy!

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Five Easy Ways to Fake a Sun-Kissed Glow

BellaSugar — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 11:00:19 -0700

If you make frequent stops on the Bella train, then you'll know that I'm all about safe sunning - which means no tanning at all. But that doesn't mean you have to lose the look of a day at the beach. While I love the benefits of a self-tanner, sometimes I don't want to deal with the smell of DHA combining with my skin's chemistry or the affliction of streak-mania all over my body. So, I've come up with a few tricks to fake a tan, all without the sunburn or chemical reaction. Check them out when you read more.

Insta-perk: For an instant perk-me-up, a creamy bronzer gives the best fresh-faced glow. These days, I've been very into Maybelline Dream Mousse Bronzer in Sun Glow ($6), a slightly shimmering warm rosy brown. Just apply where the sun would hit by making an "E" shape along the hairline, into the cheeks, and over the jawline. A small amount on the brow bones and down the nose complete the luminous effect.
Orange you looking tan: All I am saying is give orange a chance - or at least peach. I'm digging Revolution Organics Beauty Balm in Sunkissed ($32), an eco-friendly peachy-toned stick that gives lips, cheeks, and eyes a natural, dewy glow.
Triple the fun: Another multitasker but in a different way. To fake a suntan, go with a blush/bronzer/eye shadow combo that has at least three tones: a light tan, rosy pink, and warm brown. Swirl all of the colors together and apply to the in an "E" motion. Next, apply the lightest shade as a base on your lids, up to the brow bone. Use the rosy shade on the lids and seamlessly blend the darkest shade on the crease. This creates a natural, kissed-by-the-sun look. Try Physicians Formula Shimmer Strips in Malibu Strip Pink Sand Bronzer ($8) or Aveda Face Accents in Bronze Glow ($20).
Hot pink gloss: Mimic the look of sunned lips with a bright raspberry-toned gloss, such as MAC Tricolor Lip Glass in Tasty ($17.50).
Make a mix: Blend a bronze accent cream with your favorite lotion for an easy wash-away tan. I also like to lightly dunk these type of bronzers on their own on the tips of a complexion brush, stippling onto the "E" zone. Try Bonne Bell Gel Bronze Sheer Translucent Color in Golden Tan ($4) or Aveda Shimmer Accents in Terrastone ($21.50). You'll be a bronzed babe in a flash.

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Friday Giveaway! Philosophy The Amazing Grace Layering Collection

BellaSugar — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 23:30:00 -0800

Amazing and grace - two words that carry such positive connotations. And thanks to our friends at Sephora, you'll be experiencing a little amazing grace of your own if you're chosen the winner of this set.

For today, we're giving away The Amazing Grace Layering Collection, a trio of Philosophy's best-selling fragrance that's clean and feminine. The boxed-set includes a Perfumed Shampoo, Shower Gel, & Bubble Bath; Perfumed Shimmer Body Lotion; and a Spray Fragrance. Ahh-mazing!

To enter, just take the quiz by 5 p.m. PST today, and one winner will be selected at random. Your eligibility is not based on getting the answers correct, just on taking the quiz after you are logged in. You do, however, need to be a TeamSugar member to enter. So if you're not already one, register for an account. One quiz entry per person; all repeat quizzes will be ignored. Prizes can be shipped to US destinations only. Remember: You must be logged in to TeamSugar for your entry to count. For the complete rules, click here. Good luck!

Take the quiz

Thursday Giveaway! Philosophy The Amazing Grace Layering Collection

BellaSugar — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 23:30:00 -0800

Take the quiz

Doing Drugstore: St. Ives Collagen Elastin Body Moisturizer

BellaSugar — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 13:00:40 -0800

I've been using St. Ives Collagen Elastin Advanced Body Moisturizer ($5.39) on and off for about a year now. When my precious Creme de Corps seems a bit heavy or if I am just not in the mood to use something that expensive when I know I am going to shower again later in the day, I turn to this creamy, sweet-smelling body lotion to make my scaly skin smooth.

I'm pretty particular about my body lotion and hand cream, and I think this one is tops. It penetrates quickly and leaves skin feeling soft and smooth, not waxy or oily. And when I say that it smells good, I'm not exaggerating. Think of slowly brewed tea made from chamomile, primrose, elder flower and sunflowers - that's what this lotion smells like. It's not over-the-top powerful, sweet or girly, it's just right. Apparently I am not alone in my affections. According to a press release from St. Ives, Collagen Elastin has been the brand's best-selling lotion for over 25 years! I really encourage you to try this if you are on the market for a new body cream. It's available in three sizes, including a travel size for 99 cents.

How to Make Lotion 100 Times Better

BellaSugar — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 12:00:39 -0800

Make lotion better? I know what you're thinking: "Oh, but how could lotion ever become better than it already is? Why, it's already at the zenith of moisturizing properties!" In just a minute, you'll understand. About a week ago, I headed to Bliss for a pedicure. What a treat! The best part isn't the luxury of sitting back while somebody rubs your feet; it's how that person does it. And at Bliss, they heat the lotion before slathering it on your worn-out feet and legs. Let me tell you, it's one of the most amazing feelings your legs will ever experience. So warm, so soothing.

Now, until Milo learns how to give a proper pedicure, I'm on my own as far as re-creating this warm goodness at home. I fiddled around with the microwave and different containers, so to find out the sweet spot for heating your moisturizer, read more.

Here's how to make the magic happen. First, find a small microwave-safe bowl. I used these bowls, a gift from Geek, but a nonmetallic shot glass would work, too. Put just a tiny bit of your moisturizer in the container and microwave it for 10 seconds. If all goes well, your lotion will be intact. If the oils separate, use a different one. (I first tried Kai, but the formula separated. I used Bliss body butter and all went well.) When you're sure that your moisturizer can handle the heat, squirt a little more in the container, then let 'er heat for 10 to 15 seconds. The lotion should be warm but not hot. Apply it to your skin and enjoy the sensation. Seriously, this is such a simple trick, but it transforms even the most quotidian thing into a little luxury. If you try it out, let me know what you think.

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