BellaSugar

What We're Sweet On: A Nondrippy, Nondrying Facial Toner

Jaime Richards — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 10:12:00 PDT

It's quite rare to find a facial toner that won't dry out the skin, and it's probably even more rare to find one that won't cause a slippy, drippy mess. With Elizabeth Grant's The Socializer Daily Tone ($20) neither problem is an issue. The mild, non-alcohol astringent is gel based, so it squeezes right onto a cotton ball - and not on your floor - with ease. A few swipes on the face visibly removes excess dirt and oils without leaving a tight, dry feeling behind. Instead, you're left with a soft, refreshed mug. Use on its own morning or night, or prep with the brand's gel-to-foam Daily Cleanse ($20). It's a great way to tone up; no free weights necessary.

Bad Day Beauty: 5 Easy Fixes

BellaSugar — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 08:00:00 PDT

Been crying for hours? Job stress making you look like something out of a George A. Romero movie? In a better, more perfect world, you'd get the week off, but likelier than not, you just have to keep your chin up and get on with it. It can be hard to maintain appearances when you're having a truly crappy time, so here are a few easy tips to keep you looking chipper. Just keep reading.

This Citrusy Toner Will Brighten, Tighten, and Lift the Spirits

BellaSugar — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 08:00:00 PDT

After discovering more than two gray hairs near my temples, lately, I've been paying a bit more attention to antiaging skin care. Arbonne's RE9 Advanced line, which consists of 11 products, is paraben-free and supposedly, you'll see results in 24 hours. I tried a few products out from the packaged-in-orange line, so to find out more about which item I liked most, just keep reading.

4 Ways to Use a Hydrating Spray

BellaSugar — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 08:00:44 PDT

What can a hydrating spray do beyond, well, hydrating and spraying? Glad you asked. Known by many names - hydrating mist, refreshing spray, purifying mist, or flower water - hydrating sprays are more than just a fancy blend of ingredients in liquid form. Find out four ways you can use them to add a little spring to your step when you read more.

Reader Review of the Day: Bliss Daily Detoxifying Facial Toner

BellaSugar — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 09:00:00 PST

I'm in the market for a new toner, so what better place to find advice than from Bella readers on the Product Reviews website? Here's what marleygyal02 had to say about her not-so-great experience with Bliss Daily Detoxifying Facial Toner ($21):

[It's got a] really refreshing smell, which is why I picked it up in the first place. But, it doesn't really do anything and it leaves a slight film on the skin. The film goes away, but I still feel there are way better toners out there.

Have you been disappointed with your choice of toner, or perhaps you've got a favorite skin refresher you'd like to tell us all about. Whatever the case, just hit up our Product Reviews website and type away. We love to hear your opinions.

Can This $2 Toner Really Improve Your Complexion?

BellaSugar — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 08:00:19 PST

A couple of weeks ago, I headed to Bliss for a much-needed facial. (Seriously, my skin was so oily that I thought Sarah Palin might show up at my doorstep with a "Drill, baby, drill" sign.) After some pore-purging, my esthetician recommended that I use witch hazel as a toner. I hadn't done this since my junior high days, but I figured it was worth a try.

Witch hazel is a flowering plant that is distilled into the astringent you'll find at drugstores. It's cheap - usually just two or three dollars for a huge bottle of generic witch hazel, which is what I've been using. Two weeks into this toning experiment I've made a few observations. For the pros and cons, read more.

DIY Spa Treatment: Soothing Rosewater Scrub

BellaSugar — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 10:00:58 PST

Now, I'm not going to knock Retin-A, or the generic composition thereof, because it has given me clearer, smoother skin. However, from an around-the-mouth and chin perspective, I've got some issues. Blistex helped soothe the deep cracks in the corners of my mouth, but as for the surrounding area, it looks as if I've been stranded on the frozen tundra for days - chapped, red, flaking skin and all. This is where a rosewater and almond scrub comes into play.

Known for its cooling, hydrating, and antibacterial properties, rosewater provides a gentle astringent effect on the skin, which is perfect for those with sensitivities. Meanwhile the almonds exfoliate and provide moisture. Do you love DIY? Join the Do-It-Yourself Beauty group on the BellaSugar Community, and then get the DIY rosewater scrub how-to when you read more.

To Tone or Not to Tone?

BellaSugar — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 11:00:03 PDT

There's something about toner that seems a little old-fashioned. It's not that I haven't used one - I spent most of high school dousing myself in witch hazel - it's just that between cleansers, exfoliants, masks, and the army of high-tech new potions that claim to do anything and everything you can imagine, toner seems really simple, almost quaint. But appearances can be deceiving, and even though Sea Breeze ($5) and its ilk may be the same as they were in the '70s, there are some new toners out there with futuristic formulations that fight aging, acne, and even redness. I've put together some of the wildest, most technologically advanced toners out there, including several alcohol-free selections. What do you think? Is it time for a toner renaissance?

Euoko Pattern Chic - Sold Out	Bliss Steep Clean Mattifying Toner Pads - $38.00
Napoleon Perdis Auto Pilot Altitude Lotion Toner & Destressor Step 2 - Sold Out	Skyn Iceland Arctic Face Mist with Biospheric Complex - Sold Out
Hydropeptide Tone Anti-Wrinkle Brightening Toner - Sold Out	Juara Tamarind Tea Hydrating Toner 4.75oz - $27.00
Kiehl's Since 1851 Calendula Herbal Extract Alcohol Free Toner - 8 oz - Sold Out	AmorePacific Treatment Toner Alcohol-Free Freshener - $50.00
ama la Rejuvenating Toner - Sold Out	3LAB 'Perfect' Beautifying Toner - Sold Out
Giorgio Armani Mineral Soothing Lotion/5 oz. - Sold Out	L'Occitane 'Immortelle' Toner - Sold Out
Erno Laszlo Conditioning Preparation - A.M. (For Extremely Oily Skin) - $40.00	Rx for Brown Skin Bright and Even Exfoliating Toner - Sold Out
Yves Saint Laurent 'Temps Majeur' Ultra Smoothing Toner - $90.00	Clarins Expertise 3P Mist - Sold Out
Molton Brown - Skinboost Nourishing Tonic - 30 ml - $60.00	Lancome Secret de Vie Toner - Sold Out
Shiseido White Lucent Brightening Toning Lotion Cool - Sold Out

Chanel Kick-Starts Fall With a Few New Face Products

BellaSugar — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 08:00:52 PDT

The busy bees in Chanel's laboratories have been very busy with their Précision skincare range. A few new cleansers and face toners are aimed at removing dirt, grease, makeup and all of the other environmental pollutants and impurities that wreak havoc on your skin during the course of the day.

Chanel has decided to incorporate phytoremediation - the process of using plants to help absorb pollutants into this new line of cleansers and toners. The main ingredient is tulip tree extract, a waxy substance that promises to trap the unwanted particles and filter them out.

There are three different product sets that have been developed to suit each of the different skin types. Confort consists of a foaming mousse cleanser, a cleansing milk and a toner that contains lily extract to moisturize, soothe and tone sensitive skin. Balance includes a foaming cleanser and gentle toner with mallow extract, a smoothing and softening ingredient for normal to combination skin. Lastly, Purity consists of a gel cleanser and mattifying toner made with meadow-sweet extract, a flower with astringent properties that is best suited for combination to oily skin.

I've tried all of the cleansers and for my sensitive and combination skin, I really love Lait Confort (cleansing milk) the most. Its thin and gentle consistency leaves my skin feeling soft and fresh without any trace of irritation. Plus, it has a wonderfully light floral scent that sticks around even after you wash your face. To find out the names and the cost of each of the products,

Product Review: Lancôme Tonique Confort

BellaSugar — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 09:00:38 PDT

Since I love Lancôme Bi-Facil eye makeup remover, I thought I'd check out the brand's Tonique Confort ($21) moisturizing toner.

The toner itself is more of a thick, creamy gel than a liquid. Lancôme gets it right by making their products smell fabulous and inviting without being even a hint overpowering. Smell and appearance aside, this stuff is good. The thicker consistency worked double-time to remove all leftover traces of dirt and makeup on my face. I was worried that it would make my skin feel a little greasy because of the consistency, but my face felt smooth, refreshed, and clean.

Since it is a moisturizing toner, it is not meant for oily or acne-prone skin. But if you have normal or combination skin, I would recommend giving this one a try.

See reader reviews of this product and add your own here!