BellaSugar

Yoga For Your Toes? Believe It.

BellaSugar — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 09:00:17 -0700

Stop - hammer toe! No, really. Stop hammer toe. This bent-toed foot condition isn't so sexy to talk about, but it's sandal season, so why not, eh? Snug shoes, high heels, and narrow kicks can force the toes to bend inward, which in turn shrinks the muscles of the foot. Over time, the toes can bend permanently.

The best way to avoid this condition is to wear sensible shoes - more on this here - but if you favor fashion over orthopedics, exercises can help prevent hammer toe, too. (For instance, try to pick up a towel using your toes.) There are also a bunch of toe-focused foot exercisers out there, including Profoot Flex-Tastic ($9.99). The idea is to stretch your toes every day, much as you'd do yoga for the rest of your body, to realign toes. Goofy gimmick or brilliant idea? For my thoughts, read more.

Flex-Tastic is similar to the widely advertised YogaToes, but at $10, it's one fifth of the price. Although I haven't tried YogaToes, I'd probably recommend Flex-Tastic simply because it stretches the toes while being more affordable. Putting them on can be a little bit tricky, because the one-size-fits-all aligners are fairly large. (I wear a size 8 shoe, and they slipped off from time to time - so if you have petite feet, these might not work for you.) Once they're on, they gently stretch your toes without you needing to do any special exercises; they need to be worn only five minutes at a time, but I like to wear them while watching old movies.

I don't see any huge cosmetic improvements, but after a long day of hoofing it, Flex-Tastic does make my feet feel better, and I've had fewer foot cramps. Even though they look pretty goofy, I don't mind wearing them, especially if the regular stretching can keep my feet looking decent and feeling limber. Insert your own "please, hammer toe, don't hurt 'em" joke as you see fit.

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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Facial Yoga Gets Put to the Test

BellaSugar — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 06:03:27 -0800

Facial yoga is the trend that, despite not really taking off, keeps coming back. The idea is that by controlling your facial muscles and limiting movement, you can reduce the look of wrinkles, sagging, and so forth. A year ago, about half of you said you thought it was ridiculous to think that changing your facial movements would reduce the number of wrinkles. Now, some experts have weighed in.

The verdict? Relaxing your forehead and practicing smiling without crinkling your eyes might prevent crow's feet. But other facial yoga movements could actually intensify lines, and all the stretching in the world won't help firm a sagging chin or crepey neck. If you're truly concerned about preventing facial lines, minimizing your expressions might stave them off for a while. As I've said before, though, I'd much rather earn some wrinkles through laughing than be stone-faced and wrinkle-free.

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4 Beauty Tips From Kristin Davis

BellaSugar — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 14:00:00 -0700

Ever since we first saw Kristin Davis burst into the scene as the conniving Brooke Armstrong on the original Melrose Place, followed by her portrayal of the sophisticated, yet naive, Charlotte York on Sex and the City, I think we've all been mesmerized by her stunning, ageless looks. In fact, many of you agreed that the actress barely looks a day older than when she first became famous back in the mid-'90s. When it comes to beauty, there's no doubt Kristin, now 44, has got some fountain-of-youth secrets to spill. For the October issue of Self, for which she shares the cover with her Couples Retreat costars, Malin Ackerman and Kristen Bell, each of the women spill all their beauty secrets. Find out Kristin's at the link below.

Get Kristin's beauty tips when you read more.

How-To: Gwyneth's Groovy Gala Makeup

BellaSugar — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 13:00:34 -0800

Last night, Gwyneth Paltrow joined fellow yoga lovin' stars such as Russell Simmons to raise money for Bent on Learning, a nonprofit that brings yoga and meditation to public schools in New York. It's a good cause and a great look for Gwyneth, who looked genuinely happy to be hosting the gala. Want to get the look? Don't get bent out of shape - I've got the exclusive details on getting the easy, fresh makeup here. For the Goop scoop, read more.

Gwyneth wears all Estée Lauder products:

Skin: Start with clean, moisturized skin. Conceal any blemishes and use a lightweight foundation on skin. (Gwyneth wore Nutritious Vita-Mineral Liquid Makeup SPF 10 in Intensity 1.0.) Dust a true pink blush on the apples of your cheeks; for Gwyneth's exact shade, choose Signature Silky Powder Blush in Pink Kiss.
Eyes: Whenever your lip color is bold, stick with natural-looking eye makeup. I recommend wearing a neutral-toned, shimmery beige eye shadow on the lids. Line the top lashline with a soft eye pencil (Gwyneth wore Artist’s Eye Pencil in Softsmudge Black) and gently smudge it to keep the color from being too harsh. Finish with a few coats of mascara; Gwyneth was buzzing to TurboLash.
Lips: Gwyneth wore Signature Hydra Lustre Lipstick in Spanish Red, a shade I own. (It is only a matter of time before fame, fortune, and a rock-star husband follow, right?) For ultraprecise application, use a lip brush to paint the edges of lips first, then fill in with lipstick.

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Bella Donna: Rekha

BellaSugar — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 08:00:21 -0800

Rekha might not be a famous name in American pop culture, but for millions of Indians, Rekha is synonymous with Bollywood fame. Born into an acting family in 1954, the Chennai native first appeared on screen at the age of 12. After taking a series of glamorous but relatively unchallenging roles, she received critical praise for her performance in the 1978 film Ghar. Her portrayal of a rape victim earned her a Best Actress nomination at the Filmfare Awards, sending her career to another level.

Though Rekha reached the height of her fame in the 1980s, she continues to work. Her involvement in more than 180 films has earned her the nickname "Queen of Bollywood." Known for her slim figure and ageless beauty, she credits her appearance to daily yoga and long-time vegetarianism. "I don't have to spend hours planning and executing my clothes and makeup," she has said. "I can't bring myself to spend more than 15 minutes on makeup and clothes." Beautiful and low-maintenance? My kind of Bella Donna.

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New Product Alert: MD Skincare Detox Duo

BellaSugar — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 09:00:03 -0800

As fabulous as a trip to a yoga-and-detox center might sound at first, some people think otherwise. I tend to agree, because if I have a week of vacation, you can bet I'm not going to spend it doing a juice cleanse. But I would happily do a little at-home detox with MD Skincare's Detox Duo (on sale for $38.50). A preview of the brand's forthcoming line of natural skin care products, it provides just the right balance of luxury and earthiness. The two-piece package consists of bath crystals and an antioxidant enzyme buff; both are free of parabens, SLS, mineral oil, synthetic dyes, paraffins, and fragrances.

That appeals to the treehugger in me, but here's what's even better: Using these is like having a tiny spa treatment in my own bathroom. Taking a bath is always relaxing, but the star of the show is the enzyme buff. A little bit of this thick, heavenly scented stuff goes a long way toward scrubbing away dead skin cells, and the essential oils help lock in moisture. I use this in the shower, then gently pat my skin dry, and have soft, moisturized skin all day long. Even if toxins might not be able to be purged, it feels great and puts me in a happy mood. Reason enough for me.

Bella Donna: Ali MacGraw

BellaSugar — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 10:00:18 -0700

Born in Westchester, New York in 1939, Ali MacGraw began her career as a photo assistant at Harper's Bazaar in 1960 and soon became the legendary fashion editor Diana Vreeland's assistant at Vogue. She famously starred in the commercial for Polaroid's Swinger Camera (R.I.P.) in the late 1960s. However, MacGraw didn't gain popularity as an actress until the 1970 film Love Story. Her portrayal of witty, working-class Radcliffe student Jennifer Cavelleri earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress.

Though MacGraw didn't have any major blockbusters since, she is widely regarded as a style icon. Her trademark low-key look consisted of perfect skin, little makeup and superbly glossy hair, often under a wool beanie cap that became known as the "Ali Cap." With her olive skin and dark hair, MacGraw inspired many - including makeup maven Bobbi Brown - in an era where blue-eyed blondes dominated magazines and television. After battles with alcohol, a role on Dynasty, and a very successful yoga video, MacGraw now sticks to performing in theater productions, most recently in a 2006 production of Festen. And, of course, to serving as the inspiration for many beauty and fashion devotees.

For a gallery of images of Ali MacGraw, read more.

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Best of Bella, 9/28

BellaSugar — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 07:04:17 -0700

Makeup artist Carmindy's latest book has tips, tricks and pep talks.
You might not be sure what your biggest skincare problem is, but yoga teacher-turned-skincare guru Kimberly Snyder has The Solution.
In an exclusive interview, Eva Mendes reveals she can't leave home without her eyes. She means makeup.
Debbie Zoller, the makeup artist for Mad Men, gives all the tips you need to put on your best Joan Holloway.
Spill your biggest beauty blunders, lest you repeat them.
Tom Ford's new fragrance, White Patchouli, smells as good as Erykah Badu looks.

Find out how to do six-minute makeup, straight from the Emmys makeup artist.
There's controversy galore in the comments. Who knew Hayden Panettiere's makeup would cause such a ruckus?
Meet some of the most inspiring beauticians in the world.
America Ferrera's hairstylist explains how to get her Emmys hairstyle at home.

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The Solution's Founder Dishes on Skin Care

BellaSugar — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 12:00:36 -0700

So, I had heard the buzz about a major multitasking face cream called, The Solution ($74). Forget your day and night creams, they said. Eye creams, serums, and makeup primers? Toss those out, too. You could say I was intrigued.

The lightweight cream is formulated from natural ingredients and contains antioxidants to lift, firm, hydrate, and promote radiant skin. In fact, the product is so pure, only natural preservatives are used, and the pump blocks out contaminants and oxygen, both of which can render ingredients less effective. Like all things, it takes weeks to see results. I'm still waiting for my wrinkles to go away (ha!), but I like how it adds a glow to my skin, especially under the eyes.

Last week, I chatted with the creator of this product, Kimberly Snyder, yoga teacher and living-food expert, who took two years to develop The Solution. Here's what she had to say:

Throughout all of your world travels, what common ground did you see amongst women?
The commonality of all women is the desire to seek luminous, beautiful skin. I saw a lot of [use of] local herbs, berries, plants . . . and crushing it and applying it to the skin. I took the best of those ingredients and put them in The Solution, as well.

To see what Kimberly has to say about taking care of your skin, read more.

What advice can you give women of all ages regarding their skin?
I think that simple is better. There's just way too much going on people's faces. A major issue I'm seeing is that the quality of the skin becomes dull, lifeless, clogged, and acne-prone. There is premature wrinkling and lines because the skin can't breathe. So again, in designing this product, I just wanted something simple.

Her tips on daily skin-care regimen:

Use the right cleanser for your skin type.
Use one thing that works. "Don't put layers and layers and fillers on your face," she says. "That is the best skin-care regimen."
Prevent wrinkles and lines not only with products, but also through diet. "The cleaner your blood, the healthier your skin," she says.