BellaSugar

Beauty Byte: Sun Exposure Causes Increased Genetic Mutations

BellaSugar — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 12:01:00 -0700

Do you ever wonder why some people seem to age at a rapid pace, while others look years younger than what their birth certificate might suggest? That's just what P&G Beauty scientists recently sought to discover, using genomics to learn more about the aging of skin.

While lower levels of collagen, increased inflammation, and a decrease in hydration-enhancing molecules in the skin all contribute to aging, there's one other factor that might surprise you. You know that sun isn't great for your skin, but as it turns out, it's really not great for your skin. Shockingly, skin that had not been exposed to the sun had around 3,000 genetic mutations, but skin with exposure had - are you ready for this? - nearly 10,000 genetic mutations. So if that's not another reason for you to run and grab the sunscreen, I don't know what is.

What Do You Think of Facial Yoga?

BellaSugar — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 05:34:25 -0800

Wrinkles are inevitable. Or are they? Some yoga instructors are teaching facial yoga classes, claiming that a few movements produce results along the lines of "natural Botox." The exercises, which include making kissy faces and puffing out the cheeks, sound odd - but some practitioners swear by the results. What do you think?

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The Anti-Wrinkle Pizza

BellaSugar — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 16:00:43 -0700

From the "they'll eat this up" files: A pizza from Southern Italy is said to be an anti-wrinkle pizza. The Associated Press reports that the "primula" pizza has three times the amount of fiber found in a classic pizza, along with more magnesium and iron. It's also laden with antioxidant-rich ingredients such as tomatoes, arugula, garlic, zuchinni, basil, mushrooms, carrots and spinach. And here's an odd endorsement: Apparently Pope Benedict XVI loves the stuff.

But does it work? Well, we already know that fiber is healthy (FitSugar just told me that it radically reduces your risk of breast cancer). And you don't need to be YumSugar to know that pizza is tasty, which makes you happy, which reduces stress.... But wrinkle-preventing? I don't know about that. A diet rich in antioxidants certainly is healthy, but to keep lines away, your best bet is to stay out of the sun.

Tips For Battling B****face

BellaSugar — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 10:00:01 -0700

I just found a story on bitchface, an unfortunate affliction that affects so many of us. When people ask you why you look so angry/upset/bitter-while you're feeling anything but those things-that's bitchface.

Without using the term, the article talks about how your face could be sending the wrong message-in effect, projecting an unhappy persona even if you're completely content. This has happened to me before; people have asked me why I'm so "serious," but I suspect that's only because I'm not walking around with a huge grin on my face. And then, of course, are the strangers who'll say, "Can't I get a smile? Let me see a smile!" (I usually give them a simpering grimace.) In reading the story and thinking about bitchface in general, it makes me wonder: Are men told to smile more as well? Do they worry about having "jerkface"? Somehow, I think the answer is no.

If you are prone to bitchface-and are uncomfortable with that-the story has a few suggestions. One doctor echoes the advice I once received from a dermatologist: If you don't want wrinkles, don't make any facial expressions. (Um, okay.) Otherwise, there are a few simple, non-surgical bits of advice. To find out what they are, read more

Get relaxed. Any activity that promotes relaxation, such as yoga, tai chi, guided imagery, hypnosis or breathing, “leads to a net response of decreased muscle tension, which can make meaningful differences” to a face that looks stressed, worried, angry or tired, says clinical psychologist and dermatologist Dr. Richard Fried.
Arch your brows. Damone Roberts, who's opening a brow-centric salon in Manhattan, says a full, gently rounded arch gives the softest, friendliest look. Be sure to pluck stray hairs, and use brow gel to keep hairs from hanging into your eyes.

Brighten your eyes. Roberts recommends using a concealer a shade lighter than the skin under the eyes, then applying mascara and eyeliner applied to the top lashes and lids only.
Magnify lips. To make thin lips seem plumper, Roberts says, place lip liner similar to the lips’ natural color just outside their natural lines; top with matching lipstick. (Personally, I don't like liner that goes outside the lip line, but your mileage may vary.)

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How Young is Too Young for Botox? You Tell Me.

BellaSugar — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 08:00:35 -0700

So, a couple of summers ago, I attended an by-invitation-only bash for beauty editors. It was a pretty impressive deal: Inside an event space there were about two dozen stations set up for free manicures, pedicures, blowouts, facials, eyebrow waxings, makeup applications and Botox.

Although I indulged in a pedicure and an eyebrow shaping, I kept sliding over to the Botox station to see if people were willing to get injections in plain sight of all their peers. To find out what happened, read more

Unsurprisingly, not many people wanted to get Botox in front of dozens of people! After my third swoop past the lonely Botox station, the doctor asked me if I was interested in having a treatment. I was surprised, since I don't have any wrinkles yet, so I said as much to the doctor. "Well, you look fine now," he said. "But if you get Botox now, it'll prevent wrinkles from ever forming. I gave a treatment to a 23-year-old last week." His needling didn't persuade me (zing!), and I politely refused the Botox.

You readers are almost evenly split on whether you'd go under for Botox. But it surprises me that young women-really, really young women-are getting Botox. What do you think? How young is too young? Let everyone know in the comments.

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Product Review: DDF Wrinkle Resist Plus Pore Minimizer

BellaSugar — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 14:00:59 -0700

The two-in-one beauty product has come a long way from Pert Plus. While anti-acne creams have been infused with anti-aging ingredients (and vice versa) for a few years now, DDF's new Wrinkle Resist Plus Pore Minimizer ($85) addresses something more specific, and promises instant results.

This is a big claim, so after applying it, I stood at my bathroom mirror waiting for my pores to disappear. While "instant" may be an overstatement, I did notice my pores looked smaller within a few minutes. The flowery-scented serum has the texture of a mattifier and yields the same results. The difference is the inclusion of a vitamin peptide complex, which (according to the company) has been proven to drastically speed the renewal rate of the skin's surface. Though I can't attest to the wrinkle reducing qualities just yet, it definitely includes some components of a good wrinkle cream, like Vitamin B3, and my skin feels softer. It didn't break me out and makeup slides right on top of it. The way things are going, I might even buy a magnifying mirror.

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

Giveaway of the Day! Clarins Sun Wrinkle Control Cream SPF 30

BellaSugar — Tue, 29 May 2007 23:30:38 -0700

To celebrate the very exciting launch of BellaSugar, we're giving away a different product every day in May, thanks to our very generous friends at Sephora. A big congratulations to Gibbon345, who won yesterday's giveaway for the Make Up For Ever Aqua Essential Waterproof Eye Set.

I love Clarins skincare products, and apparently, I'm in good company, because Oprah is also a fan of the brand. Yesterday, she featured several Clarins sun-protection products on her show, including Sun Wrinkle Control Eye Contour Care, Sunscreen Cream High Protection SPF 30, After Sun Moisturizer Ultra Hydrating, and the cute little Sun Control Stick.

For today's giveaway, we're offering one of Oprah's picks: Clarins Sun Wrinkle Control Cream SPF 30 ($27.50). This non-sticky cream fends of UVB and UVA rays to prevent the longterm effects of overexposure to the sun. To enter the giveaway, just leave a comment in the comments section below by 5 p.m. PDT / 8 p.m. EDT Wednesday, May 30, and we'll announce the winner when we post the next giveaway. Please, only ONE comment per person; duplicate comments will be discarded, so commenting more than once won't up your chances of winning. Also, you must be a TeamSugar member to comment, so if you're not a member, please register here for an account. For all of the rules and regulations, just click here. Good luck!

Time To Get Your Beauty Sleep

BellaSugar — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 17:22:22 -0700

World renowned cosmetic surgeon, Cynthia Boxrud, M.D. has invented an Anti-Wrinkle Pillow, $58, so that all of you sleeping beauties with big dreams will wake up looking gorgeous! Did you know that when you sleep, you might actually be creating wrinkles on your precious face? I sure didn't!

By definition, they are called compression wrinkles, which are fine lines that form on the skin when it is crushed or squeezed. Usually, the wrinkles form first around the eyes and wind up speeding up the development of crow's feet. In response to the thousands of patients that Dr. Boxrud has seen, she decided to invent a foam pillow to help minimize these common compression wrinkles.

The pillow has a big dip in the middle where your orbital area comfortably rests free from pressure.

I tried it last night and it definitely feels strange at first, but it's so soft on your face that it surprisingly also feels really good. I guess like any other type of change, the shape of it just takes some getting used to. I didn't wake up feeling any differently, but I also didn't have any ugly sleep marks on my face. Buona notte my bella donnas!

Coming Soon: Freeze & Go

BellaSugar — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 16:00:29 -0700

Judging by your comments, a lot of you aren't ready for (or just plain don't want) Botox. But if you still want to ward off wrinkles, you might be interested in the newest product from Freeze 24/7. Launching in August, it's called Freeze & Go. Like its sister cream, it is a topical wrinkle-minimizer. The difference is that Freeze & Go is intended to go on over your makeup, it's easily portable and it has some of the coolest packaging I've seen all year.

I'm excited to try this, mostly because the original Freeze 24/7 is one of the few anti-wrinkle products that delivers instantaneous results. My main complaint about it was that it sometimes leaves a residue that made makeup application more challenging. So if Freeze & Go can eliminate that quibble, I'll be happy. Although it's a pricey $65, I suspect it will be a huge hit. I've shown Freeze 24/7 to my most frugal friends, and even they've been impressed enough to buy a jar. Will you?

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Lovely Links, 5/31

BellaSugar — Thu, 31 May 2007 13:30:16 -0700

Faking Good Breeding explores the average-to-"American Idol" makeovers.
I'm fascinated with expensive face creams, and the Beauty Snob makes me want to try Chanel's $160 Sublimage.
eBeautyDaily ponders a wrinkle-fighting pillow for serious beauty sleep.
Off the Rack declares that cleansing cloths are a must-have for Summer.
Blogdorf Goodman covers MAC Cosmetics' free prom makeovers in New Orleans.
This NYX Black Label Compact on Elke Von Freudenberg's blog is just too cool.
Beauty and the Blog announces that the skin gurus at Murad now have a blog.
Kiss and Makeup is happy about Bourjous 1-Second Nail Polish.
Meanwhile, the Beauty Brains warns about five ways to ruin your fingernails.