BellaSugar

Is This Face Scrubber a Match For Clarisonic?

BellaSugar — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 06:00:35 -0800

Do you squeal with joy upon finding a much (much) cheaper alternative to an expensive beauty item? Of course. At any rate, you all know what I've had to say about my Clarisonic, but at almost $200, it's most certainly an investment. For about $150 less, there's the Pretika Sonic Dermabrasion Facial Brush ($41.50). While I haven't tried out this much (much!) cheaper version of the expensive original, I'm wondering if you have. If so, tell us all about it. Is it as good as the highly sought-after Clarisonic, or is it a cheap imitation?

The Look For Less: 10 of Your Favorite Dupes

BellaSugar — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 06:00:20 -0800

Once a makeup item has achieved cult status, we can almost assuredly expect replicas to pop up anywhere from drugstore brands to competing department store collections. Recently, I mentioned that I had found a great dupe for Nars's famous Orgasm blush in Milani's Luminous. Thanks to input from readers Baby Girl, yajairab, JessRose, and SnufaLuffaGus143, I've gathered together 10 products that could easily pass for the original. To join in on the fun, why not become part of our Beauty Dupes Group? And for more lookalike cosmetic items, check out some of my Look For Less coverage, too.

View Slideshow ›

What Are Your Favorite Makeup "Dupes?"

BellaSugar — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 04:00:04 -0700

The economy might (might) be on its way to recovery, but that doesn't mean I'll stop saving my pennies as much as possible. I'm always in the pursuit of looks for less, and over the weekend, I picked up Milani Blush Compact in Luminous ($3.50) - a pretty decent lookalike of the classic gold-toned peachy pink Nars blush in Orgasm ($25). While Milani's Luminous is not an exact replica of the famous afterglow shade, as it's not quite as pigmented, since it's about $20 less, I'm a happy lady.

Now I need your help. Whether it's a trendy new nail polish shade or an old-school lipstick favorite, share your favorite affordable alternative in the Beauty Dupes group.

The Look For Less: Nars' Hot Fall Nail Polish

BellaSugar — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 09:00:18 -0700

Every time I hit Sephora, I gaze longingly at Nars Tokaido Express nail polish ($16). It's a deep, sophisticated purple with subtle gold flecks that a cool girl like Kim Gordon might wear if she were invited to a fancy-pants brunch. If you're looking for a similar shade at a smaller price, you're in luck. I've found a drugstore dupe that's pretty close to this shade. To hop aboard that train, just keep reading.

The Look For Less: Fun Feathered Lashes

BellaSugar — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 13:00:59 -0700

False eyelashes are a lot of fun, especially when you have the opportunity to play around with unusual and wild styles. Sometimes, wacky lashes are bold and brash, but other times, they're artistic and fantastic. Shu Uemura's Fleur-Ever lashes fit firmly into the latter category. Designed by Gina Brooke, Madonna's personal makeup artist, the $79 lashes provide beautiful plumage for a dramatic look. Then again, not everyone has an extra $79 to spend on something so fanciful. But if you want to try the look for less than $10, check out what I found

The Look For Less: A Blush and Bronzer Duo

BellaSugar — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 14:00:34 -0800

The buzz around Nars Orgasm blush is huge, so much so that Nars has released multiple products based upon the peachy-pink hue. I've had my eye on the blush and bronzer duo ($37), which packages Orgasm with Laguna bronzer. Both are beautiful colors, but until I finish my full-size Orgasm blush, I can't justify buying it.

Then again, one drugstore brand is hoping you'll "cheat" with their lookalike product. To see the look for less, read more.

Eyes Lips Face clearly took a cue from Nars in creating its Contouring Blush and Bronzing Powder ($3). While the shades aren't identical, they're pretty close. And at $34 less than the original, it's a recession-busting option for anyone looking for an affordable "O" glow.

The Look For Less: Madonna's "Diamond" False Lashes

BellaSugar — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 11:00:40 -0700

Remember Madonna's famous mink-and-diamond lashes from a few years ago? Her makeup artist, Gina Brooke, made them by hand; they proved to be so popular that she developed a Madonna-inspired set ($25) for Shu Uemura. For Halloween or just a glam night on the town, they're super-slick.

But what if you don't have $25 to spend on fantasy lashes? I've found a pair that gives you the look for the fraction of the price. To check them out, read more.

Halloween makeup company Fright Night Cosmetics makes these "Chaos" lashes ($4.95) for cheap, costumey fun. These lashes aren't available online, but they're stocked at stores such as Long's Drugs, Wal-Mart, and Walgreens during this time of year. You'll have to buy adhesive separately, as you do with the Shu Uemura lashes - but for such a low price, why not give it a whirl? (You can even get inspiration from PartySugar's Madonna costume if need be.)

The Look For Less: Clinique Black Honey Almost Lipstick

BellaSugar — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 09:00:54 -0700

Do you remember your first taste of honey? I do, at least when it comes to Clinique Black Honey Almost Lipstick ($14). Ever since trying the shade in college, I've been hooked. This color looks nearly black in the tube, but on lips, it's a beautiful, sheer shade of brick red. (Think of the color of blackberry pie, but lighter.) It's a shade that flatters just about everyone, and it's super-moist on lips.

But if the economy has you watching every penny, don't despair! I've found a pretty close match to Black Honey for half the price. For the twin, read more.

I recently tried Sally Hansen Natural Beauty Moisture Plump Lip Balm ($6.74) in Sweet Plum, and if it's not a twin, it's a very close cousin to Black Honey. The packaging is plastic rather than metal, but saving a few bucks will put a smile on your face.

Fabulous Handbag Look-A-Likes, Part I

BellaSugar — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 07:21:22 -0700

If mimicry is the highest form of flattery, then these handbag designers' egos must be off the charts. There is nothing wrong with trying to get a designer Look For Less, so we've decided to create a series about fabulous handbag look-a-likes. The rest of the posts will be featured next week, so stay tuned! And, in case you missed them, check out some fabulous beauty look-a-likes here.

The classic Marc Jacobs Leather Stam Bag, $1,275, and the Kate Landry "Quilted Framed" Large Frame Bag, $189, look a heck of a lot alike! They are both white quilted leather frame handbags with gold hardware and tonal stitching. They also share that adorable button interlocking clasp as well as a zip fastening pocket on the front. The Marc Jacobs bag may have been inspired by model Jessica Stam but the Kate Landry bag is a fab cheap alternative!

Sunday Giveaway! Perfekt Beauty Eye Perfection Gel

BellaSugar — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 23:30:08 -0800

Has pre-holiday stress left your peepers less than perky? Our friends at Sephora want to help you with that, so today they're giving away a prize from Perfekt Beauty designed to keep your eyes looking fresh and bright no matter how long your week might feel. Today's lucky winner will receive:

Perfekt Beauty Eye Perfection Gel - A cooling gel that relieves puffiness and smooths the eye area to make it soft and perfect for concealer application.

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 PopSugar Community member to enter. So if you're not already one, register now. 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 the PopSugar Community for your entry to count. For the complete rules, click here. Good luck!

Take the quiz