BellaSugar -- You're beautiful.

Do You Think Makeup Is Empowering?

bellasugar — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 09:00:43 -0800

I've always found it odd that some people think you can't be a smart, with-it, independent woman and enjoy wearing makeup. Hello? The two aren't mutually exclusive! It's not as though there's a secret society of with-it ladies that bans lip gloss. (In fact, noted feminist Gloria Steinem has some of the longest, most neatly manicured nails I've ever seen.)

That's exactly the topic that this article examines. While the author acknowledges the fact that women, not men, are expected to wear makeup, she also argues that using cosmetics was historically a form of empowerment—and even rebellion. She points to the late 1930s as an example, arguing that although most men disapproved of noticeable makeup, women decided to buy cosmetics anyway. And wait until you hear what they were buying:

Volupte introduced two new lipstick shades to American women, labeled "Lady" and "Hussy." "Lady" was marketed toward women who prefer lighter shades and "quiet, smart clothes and tiny strands of pearls," while "Hussy" was developed for women who wear dark shades and "like to be just a little bit shocking," according to Mademoiselle magazine in 1936. "Hussy" outsold "Lady" five to one.

I so wish I could buy a lipstick called Hussy. Anyway, while I don't agree with everything the writer says—I think looking good can be empowering, but wearing lipstick alone isn't going to smash sexism—it's an interesting read. And so I pose the question to you: Do you feel empowered by wearing makeup? Or is it just something you happen to do?

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Which Era Gives You Hair and Makeup Inspiration?

bellasugar — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 05:36:47 -0800

I've been on a real '40s kick lately, gallivanting about in seamed stockings and rich red lipstick. Before that, I flirted with looking like Jane Birkin, whose beautiful bangs and eyeliner make me feel like a foxy Frenchie in the '60s. To me, it's fun to take looks from decades past and reinterpret them into something modern. If you do this, too, where do you usually get your ideas? Source

Which Era Gives You Hair and Makeup Inspiration?

The '20s — I love flapper looks, like bobbed hair.

The '30s — The sultry silver-screen siren is my thing.

The '40s — Veronica Lake and Rosie the Riveter all the way.

The '50s — Everyone looked so put-together and retro.

The '60s — I just go mod for those psychedelic years.

The '70s — The natural look is my favorite.

The '80s — Big hair and bold colors do it for me.

The '90s — I'm all about the Rachel haircut.

Other — I'll tell you in the comments.

Test Your Lipstick Trivia Knowledge

bellasugar — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 08:00:53 -0700

Most of us put on our lipstick and don't think much of it, but there's a lot of interesting history behind the stuff. Take this quiz to test your knowledge, and you might be surprised by the results. I certainly was!

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Bella Donna: Cleopatra

bellasugar — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 16:24:39 -0700

I thought you might enjoy a trip back in time for this week's Bella Donna. So we're going waaaay back to look at Cleopatra, the queen of Egypt. It's hard to think of another woman whose beauty has left such a lasting impression. Her intense, kohl-lined eyes continue to inspire modern-day designers such as Alexander McQueen, who used a strong Egyptian eye on models for his fall 2007 collection. The jury's out on whether Cleopatra was physically attractive, but an officially commissioned portrait of her (it's the coin in the gallery here) suggests that she wasn't necessarily the Angelina Jolie of her day.

Cleopatra had a short life, but it was a tumultuous one. Trust me, even if you yawn when you think about history, you'll love this stuff—it is filled with all sorts of sordid drama and is too juicy to pass up. As a child, Cleopatra's older sister tried to poison her (but wound up being killed herself). Miss Cleo's reign didn't begin so well: At 18, she was queen... and was also married to her 12-year-old brother, Ptolemy III. Bossy Cleopatra wanted to rule alone, so she started to leave her brother out of official documents and events. Surprise! This didn't go over so well, and Cleopatra was forced into exile. But then her brother made the kind of mistake that only 15-year-old boys can make. To get the whole story,

Beauty History: Cleopatra's Secret for Soft Skin

bellasugar — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 11:59:13 -0700

If you can't get enough beauty history, you won't want to miss this quiz. The questions stretch back as far as the days of Cleopatra (shown here, as memorably portrayed by Elizabeth Taylor). Think you're ready to test your knowledge? Then sharpen your eyeliner pencils and get going!

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Beauty History: 20th-Century Foxes

bellasugar — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 07:00:13 -0700

To kick off the week, I thought it would be fun to do a quiz exploring the beauty habits and philosophies of famous women of the 20th century. To do well, it'll help to have knowledge of pop culture, movies and even a little history—I can't wait to find out what you think!

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Brows Throughout the Ages

bellasugar — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 13:09:11 -0700

Okay, so you're not fans of Sienna Miller's bold brows shown here. But you can't blame the girl for following trends. Just like fashion, eyebrows follow cycles of thin, thick, arched, and everything in between. FabSugar pointed me to an article about the history of brow shaping (from Nightline, of all places! Maybe Sam Donaldson had something to do with it.) Here are some interesting tidbits:

During the "golden age" of Hollywood, female movie stars often removed their eyebrows completely. Think of Marlene Dietrich and Bette Davis. "There was a real interest in ramming home the difference between the genders," says Zoe Williams, a columnist with The Guardian newspaper of London.

For more brows-throughout-the-years trivia and a gallery of images,

Victorian Secrets: How Your Great-Great-Grandmother Got Pretty

bellasugar — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 08:00:19 -0700

Did you take yesterday's beauty history quiz? If you haven't, be forewarned: I'm about to reveal all the answers, along with some other oddball facts about the lengths to which Victorians went to look pretty. Are you sure you can handle reading about the lard-based beauty treatment? If so, then