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BellaSugar's Guide to Father's Day Gifts

bellasugar — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 07:00:13 -0700

Father's Day is one of those times when I like to get a little bit mushier than usual with my dad. It's so easy to pick up a sappy card, write down all of your feelings, and give him a great big bear hug like you used to when you were little.

Since Dad happens to also be a guy, I find it works best to balance out the sweet card with an indulgent (and not-so-serious) grooming gift like cologne, a handmade aftershave, or a new soap. I've included my picks for pop below along with your awesome Father's Day finds. Happy shopping!

Father's Day Gift Guide: Classic Gentleman

bellasugar — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 14:00:50 -0700

The classic dad is part handyman, part rugged, slightly techy, and maybe even a little bit preppy. He's the kind of guy who doesn't fuss much with products, but the ones he does use are time-honored and he's very brand loyal. Pops definitely likes to look good, but he's equally as interested in the beauty of the outdoors and maintaining beauty from within. Here are my top picks for the tasteful, traditional dad.

Father's Day Gift Guide: The Dapper Dad

bellasugar — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 09:00:22 -0700

If your dad's the debonair, charming, and ultracool urban type who's really into hair, skin, body products, and fragrances, feel free to go hog wild this Father's Day and pamper your pop with all kinds of grooming-related products! Here's a list of cutting-edge treats suited for a special man who is all for embracing the finer things in life.

Beauty Mark It Results: Great Gifts For Dad

bellasugar — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 14:00:22 -0700

You should know by now that Sunday is Father's Day, and with your help we've been able to organize all of your great gift ideas. Today we covered the sporty dad, and we'll be bringing you more guides (for each type of dad) all week. Last week we enlisted your help to find out what you were going to be gifting your father.

TeamSugar member brittanyk found a fantastic gift in the Sephora Scent Sampler for Him. I love this particular set because it allows your pop to sample eight different colognes, from Kenneth Cole to Yves Saint Laurent. Then, after your dad picks his favorite, he can bring in the included voucher to choose the full-size bottle of his selected scent. The best part is that the set also includes a shaving cream from Anthony Logistics.

Check out the rest of your suggestions below:

Father's Day Gift Guide: The Sporty Dad

bellasugar — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 06:00:11 -0700

Don't forget that this coming Sunday is Father's Day. You guys are doing a nice job of coming up with innovative gift ideas on your own — but for the rest of you who are struggling to find a great grooming-related gift for your dad, brother step-dad, uncle, boyfriend, friend or grandpa, I'll be bringing you different themed ideas all week long.

Personally, I always find it challenging to find something thoughtful, meaningful and practical for guys, especially the rugged, sporty type. Below are some ideas that aren't overly indulgent or fragrant (minus the actual fragrances I've suggested) beauty-related products for men — enjoy.

Mustang Blue Is Revving Up For Father's Day

bellasugar — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 09:00:28 -0700

In 2007, Aramis and Estee Lauder launched their first men's cologne named after the iconic and best-selling sports car in America, the Ford Mustang. Mustang Cologne was so tremendously popular, they decided to create a sequel scent called which is set to launch this week, just in time for Father's Day.

Like the car, the cologne is sexy, confident and compelling. It's made from a hearty blend of basil, sandalwood, mint, geranium, sage, clove, artemisia, pine, cedar leaf, cardamom, cypress, hay and patchouli. The product range includes three cologne sprays ($20-32), and a 3.4 oz after shave ($25). All products come in sleek blue tin packaging to resemble the surf and sky of California beaches. I really like this studly scent. It's strong and smooth but not overpowering. Think this is the kind of thing you'd like to buy for a guy?

Beauty Mark It! Great Gifts For Dad

bellasugar — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 15:02:58 -0700

If you're forgetful like me, it's always nice to receive a friendly reminder that Father's Day is just around the corner. (In fact, it's June 15, so mark your calendars.) Now that you're in the know, you've got less than two weeks to purchase the perfect present for pop. If your dad is anything like mine, you know how difficult it is to shop for him. That's why I'm soliciting your help. I'm challenging you to bookmark a great gift for dad.

For my pick, I'm going with the Great Shave Kit by Clinique. I like this particular kit because it's relatively inexpensive at $28, and it's got three products that I think my dad will enjoy: face scrub, shave gel, and after shave. Also, it's a brand that my dad might not choose for himself, but would be willing to experiment with if he received it as a gift.

Share your choices by bookmarking items from around the web and tagging them with the phrase Father's Day. I'll feature your favorites here next Tuesday.

To learn about Beauty Mark It challenges and how to add your picks, check out this how-to. To see some of my favorite online beauty stores,

read more

Oh Man: Kiehl's Adds Two Newbies to Their Facial Fuel Collection

bellasugar — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 14:00:40 -0700

I guess I missed the memo, but apparently July is the greatest grooming month of all time for guys. First we heard about Bobbi Brown's new Yogi Bare Lip Balm and now Kiehl's is getting ready to launch two new items in their famed royal blue-packaged Facial Fuel Collection. The first product is a creamy and amazing-scented No-Shine Lip Balm ($8.50) and the second is an Anti-Wrinkle Cream ($35).

The lip balm is made from a blend of jojoba oil, apricot kernel oil, shea butter, and sweet almond oil to create a soothing, hydrating and pepper-minty fresh lip treat that feels creamy, yet has a completely matte finish. The hook is that it's for guys, but I kinda feel like Kiehl's products are unisex. Having said that, I wouldn't deny the special man in my life from scoring this lip balm, but he's definitely going to have to share it with me — yes, it's really that good.

The face moisturizer is oil free, lightweight, and it won't clog your pores. It claims to firm, tighten, and reduce the visibility of fine lines, while cooling your skin (something I think guys will appreciate postshave). It contains all kinds of goodness such as birch extract, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, and horse chestnut to make the skin look more radiant and awake. Do these products interest you as potential gifts for Father's Day?

Product Review: Anthony Logistics Shave Cream

bellasugar — Wed, 28 May 2008 10:00:03 -0700

With Father's Day just three weeks away, there's no time like the present to start thinking about gifts for dear old dad. I was given a tube of Anthony Logistics Shave Cream ($16) to test out, but I thought it was a little bit silly for a gal to review such an important grooming staple for a guy. So I decided to give it to my better half to report back more accurate, male-minded findings.

He loved the fact that it was really slimy, that it spreads easily, and that you don't need very much to cover your entire face and neck. Apparently the slick and slimy quality (which kinda made me cringe) is a good thing for men; it means that the lotion connects to your face, providing a less-irritating shave. He felt that it stayed with the blade for the entire stroke, unlike other brands, which can skip and cause nicks.

The only drawback, in his opinion, was the lack of menthol. He appreciates the way menthol has a cooling and soothing aftereffect, which distracts him from the hot, burning sensation that goes along with shaving. At this price for a designer cosmetic product for men, I am definitely interested in stocking up for Dad. How about you?

Oh Man: Last-Minute Father's Day Finds

bellasugar — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 10:33:19 -0700

In case you've forgotten, Father's Day is this Sunday, and it's not too late to get your dad a gift. Obviously, I'm a bit biased, but I think fragrance and grooming products make great Father's Day presents. Give your dad an excuse to pamper himself, and I promise not a drop will go to waste. If you don't want to opt for rush delivery, all of these products are also sold in stores.

If your dad has modern and sophisticated tastes, consider picking up a sleek bottle of Gucci Pour Homme II. Available in a 3.3-ounce bottle for $65 or a 1.7-ounce bottle for $50, this fragrance is spicy, woodsy, and musky.

For two more suggestions,

read more

Oh Man: Derek Jeter's Skincare Line

bellasugar — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 14:00:15 -0700

Summertime means baseball — and skin care — so now seems like a perfect time to tell you about Derek Jeter Driven, the men's grooming brand from the Yankees shortstop. This stuff would make great gifts for Father's Day, which is right around the corner. Plus, right now, if you spend $20 on Driven products at Avon, you get a free men's travel grooming kit.

The line includes a few different fragrance options, like eau de toilette spray ($25), aftershave ($20), and body wash ($. But even cooler are the skin-pampering products, such as Driven Foaming Face Scrub ($7.50) and Daily Moisturizer SPF 15. Maybe since the brand was created by a baseball player, you can actually convince your dude to use it.