BellaSugar -- You're beautiful.

Do You Use a Blow Dryer?

bellasugar — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 06:00:19 -0700

Today, a friend of mine confessed that she has only been using a blow dryer for the last one of her 30 years. Although I am often pressed for time in the morning, I try to do a little heat styling to tame my hair, even if the results aren't perfect. Since I often notice many wet-haired ladies and gents on my morning train ride, I'm wondering how many of you use a blow dryer after washing? Source

Do You Use a Blow Dryer?

Yes — I like a polished style each day.

Occasionally — If I have time or feel like it.

No — I just towel off or air dry.

Do You Get Beauty Buyer's Remorse?

bellasugar — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 06:00:15 -0700

A friend and I were discussing the new vibrating mascaras yesterday, when she mentioned buying a heated lash curler for $30. Petrified to put something hot and moving near her eye, she still harbors regrets about plunking down her hard-earned cash on something so useless (to her). Of course, I can always chalk it up as "research" - but have you suffered beauty buyer's remorse?Source

Do You Get Beauty Buyer's Remorse?

Yes

Other; I'll tell you in the comments.

Do You Buy Breast Cancer Awareness Beauty Products?

bellasugar — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 06:00:03 -0700

As you may know, October is officially Breast Cancer Awareness (BCA) month. That means it's time to think pink. All sorts of beauty companies typically include some variation of pink products and/or packaging in observance of this devastating disease, usually donating a percentage of the profits to support the cause. Do you purchase BCAM products? If so — or if not — tell me about it.Source

Do You Buy Breast Cancer Awareness Beauty Products?

Yes, even if I don't really need the product.

Sometimes, and it's a special bonus if I do actually need the product.

No, I support the cause in other ways.

Do You Recommend Products to Men?

bellasugar — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 06:00:22 -0700

Last night, my best friend's boyfriend started telling me how his eyes always feel itchy and puffy. Immediately, I found myself rattling off a prescription for products that might work until his insurance kicks in: hypoallergenic pillow liners, Yes to Carrots Cucumber Eye Gel, Rohto V Cooling Eye Drops.When a bachelor has face scrub and some Persa-Gel, I'm impressed, yet by the time I am done with him, he's a Kiehl's devotee and has used up all my Mario Badescu Drying Lotion. Do you recommend products to the man (or men) in your life? And tell me in the comments if they listen.Source

Do You Recommend Products to Men?

Yes

I'll tell you in the comments.

Is Kate Moss's Lipstick Art Worth $60,000?

bellasugar — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 06:00:13 -0700

No, this isn't a gothy piece of art from my high school days. (Although, come to think of it, this is the season of black lipstick.) What you're looking at is a Kate Moss original. A few years ago, the supermodel created this drawing by using lipstick as her medium, along with a bit of Pete Doherty's blood to write: "Who needs blood when you've got lipstick?"The drawing recently sold to a private buyer for 33,600 British pounds — a whopping $61,850. While I'm more interested in Kate's priceless makeup secrets, someone out there's certainly a collector. Personally, I'm a bit more impressed by this Gwen Stefani lipstick painting, but do you think Kate's art warranted that high of a price tag?Source

Is Kate Moss's Lipstick Art Worth $60,000?

Yes

Have You Ever Colored Your Hair With Something Other Than Hair Dye?

bellasugar — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 06:00:18 -0700

My friend and I used to break out the lemon juice in high school to provide a little lightening effect to our hair. Thinking back on it, I'm lucky I even had hair. Sunning with a perm, while squeezing on lemon juice? Could have been a tragic combo.This got me to thinking about the "other" ways in which one can color his or her hair. Aside from traditional dyes, here are some alternative options that come to mind: veggies and spices (beets, carrots, rhubarb, paprika), caffeinated beverages (coffee, tea) and/or extreme methods (Kool-Aid, Jell-O, food coloring).So tell me if you've altered your hair color a non-typical way, whether it's by using a more natural approach or through means of some wacky concoction instead?Source

Have You Ever Colored Your Hair With Something Other Than Hair Dye?

Yes

Other — I'll tell you in the comment section below.

What Was Your Biggest Beauty Blunder?

bellasugar — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 06:00:34 -0700

I think we've all committed "crimes of beauty" at one point or another. Not that any of these so-called faux pas hair and makeup missteps were wrong or anything — but perhaps they could have been approached in a slightly different way, that's all. So, tell me: What was your biggest blip on the beauty radar screen?Source and Source

What Was Your Biggest Beauty Blunder?

Overly tweezed brows

Heavy-handed bronzer or blush

Dark lip liner with light lipstick

Poofy bangs — curled up on top and rolled under on the bottom

Other

Would You Live at the Spa?

bellasugar — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 06:00:30 -0700

Miraval Resort has opened Miraval Living, a Manhattan apartment complex that includes steam rooms, saunas, a spa and hair salon, a yoga studio, and... life counseling. Not to be outdone, Canyon Ranch Spa also has opened Canyon Ranch Living in Miami Beach, which includes nutrition counseling, daily classes, and "experiences in intimacy and sexual function." Spafinder predicts that there will be 300 such living facilities by the end of 2008. Do you need a spa in your building?Source

Would You Live at the Spa?

Yes

Which Old Insecurity Are You Ready to Release?

bellasugar — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 06:00:54 -0700

Hardly anyone I know says that she felt beautiful growing up. (Even supermodels say they felt gawky as children.) I was a confident kid in school and friendships, but I won't lie: The schoolyard taunts of "Bucky Beaver" made me feel insecure about my teeth for years. (You could say that my dental issues turned into mental issues. Zing!)

Looking back at this picture, though, all I can see is a cute, happy-looking girl — hardly the unattractive dork I imagined myself to be. With the passing of time, I've been able to have more compassion for my young self, and that in turn helps me stop picking on my appearance as an adult. (OK, the miracles of orthodontia helped, too, but you get the idea.) So in the spirit of squashing those years-old negative messages that keep echoing in our heads, which ones are you ready to let go of?

Did You Go Above and Beyond for School Picture Day?

bellasugar — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 06:00:18 -0700

Cheese! It's picture day at Sugar HQ, and everyone is coming by my desk to see if I have any extra gloss. This got me thinking back to the 13 years of consecutive picture-taking experiences from kindergarten to senior year — from initials embroidered into my peter pan collar (classy!) to my mouth full of metal. Awkwardness aside, each year I took extra special care in hopes of achieving hair and makeup perfection. What was picture day like for you?Source

Did You Go Above and Beyond for School Picture Day?

Yes.

Nope.

Other — I'll tell you in the comment section below.

Bella Poll: Have You Been Watching Tabatha's Salon Takeover?

bellasugar — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 06:00:11 -0700

Warning — Tabatha's Salon Takeover is rather addictive. The premise of the show is as follows: Tabatha, a former contestant on Bravo's Sheer Genius, goes into salons, ruffles some feathers, and leaves knowing that she did her best to turn ailing salons into thriving businesses. Psychologists often say that it's human nature to be compelled to watch disasters, and we've seen quite a few already on this show: A salon owner who licks his clients, a styling chair bolstered into place by cement bricks, and a salon staff member who loses it after too much "friendly" advice from the master stylist, Tabatha herself. So, tell me about your own viewing habits. If you've been watching, what do you think?Photo courtesy of Bravo

Bella Poll: Have You Been Watching Tabatha's Salon Takeover?

Yes

Other — I'll tell you in the comment section below.

Bella Poll: Which Fall Makeup Trend Is Your Favorite?

bellasugar — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 06:00:22 -0700

Even though I've just returned from Spring 2009 Fashion Week, when it comes to beauty trends, I'm currently looking a little bit more into the near future. I'm all for planning ahead, but first I need to make a few purchases to update my cosmetics bag for Fall 2008. As the change of season approaches, which fall makeup trend do you think will make it in your shopping cart this Fall? Whatever look you choose, how bold will you go: runway style or a more toned down version?Source and Source

Bella Poll: Which Fall Makeup Trend Is Your Favorite?

Pop of color eye shadow (blue, purple, yellow, or orange)

Stained lips (in deep shades like burgundy, berry, or red)

Metallic shadows (bronze, pewter, gold, etc.)

Cat eye "winged" eyeliner

Bold brows

Do You Book Standing Appointments?

bellasugar — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 06:00:22 -0700

Having regular scheduled blowout and manicure appointments always seems like the most ladies-who-lunch cosmopolitan dream to me, but I recently discovered a friend of mine — who, um, serves lunch — has a regular Wednesday afternoon date with her manicurist and a standing monthly eyebrow appointment. Do you schedule your appointments months in advance, or are you an impulse salon visitor?

Source

Do You Book Standing Appointments?

Yes

I'll tell you in the comments.

Do You Wear Makeup to the Salon?

bellasugar — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 06:00:48 -0700

Confession: whenever I am going to get my hair cut or colored, I wear twice as much makeup. This is not because the salon I frequent also happens to be a favorite of Rachel Weisz and Heather Graham and I'm worried about being in the background of a paparazzi shot. It's because I go a little crazy staring at myself in natural sunlight for the time it takes my highlights to cook. Am I alone in this?Source

Do You Wear Makeup to the Salon?

Yes, but I always wear makeup, period.

Yes, for the same reason.

No, never.

I would if I remembered!

Do You Embrace Your Freckles?

bellasugar — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 05:52:47 -0700

A few days ago I told you how the makeup artists at MAC penciled in freckles at Matthew Williamson's Spring 2009 runway show. The look was meant to be fresh, fun, and a bit naughty. Typically, it's freckle faders that people seek, not freckle-enhancing products. If you have freckles, do you love them or do you try to hide them?
Source

Do You Embrace Your Freckles?

Yes. They make me unique.

No, I've never liked my freckles.

I don't have freckles.

What Do You Think of Poofy Hair?

bellasugar — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 06:00:49 -0700

When I was writing last week's America's Next Top Model quiz, one of the questions was almost, "How many contestants were wearing ponytails with a hump of teased hair in front at elimination?" The answer hovered around seven, but some only did it halfway, so I decided it was a bad question. So imagine my surprise when the look came down Zac Posen's Spring 2009 runway. This hairstyle is starting to feel stale to me, but it's clearly popular. What do you think of it?Source

What Do You Think of Poofy Hair?

I love this look.

Poof, be gone!

Undecided

What Was Your Favorite Beauty Toy as a Kid?

bellasugar — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 06:00:22 -0700

I'm on one of my eBay kicks yet again. This time, I'm waxing nostalgic about my favorite beauty toys of youth. Play-Doh Mop Top Hair Shop? Aww yeah. That was one of my absolute favorites. Psychologists affirm that interests started in childhood are the key to self discovery. Hmm — that explains a lot. My poor aunt always got a nice makeover courtesy of my fake plastic makeup kit. Ouch. So tell me, what was your favorite toy that sparked your interest in beauty? Perhaps it was this classic featured in the video below:

What Was Your Favorite Beauty Toy as a Kid?

Play-Doh Mop Top Hair Shop

Barbie Beauty Salon

Makeup kit with plastic lipsticks, blushes, compacts, etc.

Colorful and glittery assortments of nail polish

Hair kit with plastic brushes, rollers, blow dryer, etc.

Other — I'll tell you in the comments section below.

Where Does the Man in Your Life Get His Hair Cut?

bellasugar — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 14:00:22 -0700

Over the past 10 years or so, upscale men’s-only type salons have popped up all across the country with luxury services dominating the menus. Now, big-time salon player Regis is joining the trend. According to WWD, the company recently debuted its first men’s concept salon just last month.This got me to thinking about Mr. Bella’s primping ways. He can often be seen at a local beauty shop or sometimes in the ultra-posh and exclusive “chair in my kitchen" salon. Whether it’s your boyfriend, husband, brother, dad, or best pal, where does the main man in your life go to get his “ears lowered,” if you will?Source

Where Does the Man in Your Life Get His Hair Cut?

Major chain (Regis, JCPenney, Supercuts)

Classic barbershop

Unisex beauty salon

Upscale men's salon

Other — I'll explain in the comment section below.

Love It or Hate It? Tyra Banks' Fashion Rocks Look

bellasugar — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 17:55:57 -0700

For someone who tells catwalk hopefuls to "smile with their eyes," Tyra Banks looks a little like a wax figure of herself at Fashion Rocks. As I'm sure you're all aware of the unfortunate hair situation going on here, let's look beyond that for a moment, and appreciate her glossy, cherry lips and well-applied false lashes. As a whole, she might have overdone things, but that's not really a surprise. Do you like the look she's going for?SourceVote on all my Fashion Rocks polls here!

Love It or Hate It? Tyra Banks' Fashion Rocks Look

Love It

Hate It

Undecided

Love It or Hate It? Lil' Mama's Fashion Rocks Look

bellasugar — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 17:30:12 -0700

As usual, Lil' Mama takes her look over the top - top hat, that is. Whether you think she's channeling Fred Astaire or Slash, Lil' Mama is certainly continuing to display a penchant for headgear. Accessories aside, her lashes are spiky and she went lighter on the eyeliner than usual. And, of course, her lip gloss most definitely "be poppin.'" Has she redeemed herself to the 88% of you that hated her Teen Choice Awards look? SourceVote on all my Fashion Rocks polls here!

Love It or Hate It? Lil' Mama's Fashion Rocks Look

Love it

Hate it

Undecided

Does Your Thumbnail Tell If You're Right or Left Handed?

bellasugar — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 06:00:11 -0700

Somewhere over the years — I think it was during the high school days — I remember hearing that you can supposedly tell a person's handedness by looking at his or her thumbnail. Hmm...curious. Whether it be an old wives' tale or has some scientific merit, tell me if this theory is true for you.Compare your two thumbnails. Is one more squared-off at the base, particularly where your cuticle meets your lower nail bed? If so, does it correspond to your dominant hand or is this all a bunch of poppycock?Source

Does Your Thumbnail Tell If You're Right or Left Handed?

Thumbs up.

Thumbs down.

I can't tell either way.

Should Plastic Surgeons Turn Patients Away?

bellasugar — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 15:00:22 -0700

An article in yesterday's New York Times brought up the issue of patient selection for cosmetic surgeons. Apparently, "problem patients" come up a lot. Surgeons turn away candidates because they have had too many procedures or think they are seeking surgery for the wrong reasons (like to find a husband or keep a job). According to the article,

Facial plastic surgeons estimate that roughly 10 to 15 percent of the potential patients in consultations harbor outright hostility toward past surgeons or have unrealistic expectations about how radically surgery can transform the chin they hate.

But what about the fact that beauty ideals vary over time and individual opinion, as New York Magazine's article on "The New Face" detailed last month? Should it be up to the person paying for surgery to decide what they want and whether it's for a good reason?Source

Should Plastic Surgeons Turn Patients Away?

Yes, doctors should be able to turn people away. They're the experts.

No, patients have the right to do whatever they want with their bodies (or faces).

Undecided

Do You Use a Nail Dryer?

bellasugar — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 06:00:11 -0700

Depending on who you ask, at-home nail dryers are either a worthless investment or an enhancement to the D.I.Y. manicure experience. Is the high price tag of some UV models worth saving a few minutes?Source

Do You Use a Nail Dryer?

Yes

Do You Match Your Nail and Toenail Polish?

bellasugar — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 06:00:59 -0700

My friend works for a company that manufactures all sorts of beauty products. Somehow she got her hands on an old training manual, and boy, is it a treat. Some of the antiquated rules are as follows: hair should be worn above the shoulders, makeup should never be dark, and lipstick and nail polish should always be tastefully done in a coordinating color. It all sounds a little old-fashioned to me, don't you think? This got me to thinking about my own personal nail polish matching habits. Somewhere along the line, I felt the need to always make my fingernails complement my toes somehow, even though I know it's probably just a little quirk of mine. Tell me about your coordinating/non-coordinating ways. Source

Do You Match Your Nail and Toenail Polish?

Yes

Other — I'll tell you in the comment section below.

Do You Sign Up on Waiting Lists?

bellasugar — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 12:05:37 -0700

I've been eyeing this Sephora by OPI nail polish in Metro Chic ($9) for enough time that the Sephora employees probably recognize me every time I skulk in to see if it's back in stock. It never is — my Sephora spies tell me that demand has far outreached the supply — but I keep looking. And yet, I won't sign up for a waiting list. Too much commitment. When it comes to beauty products, will you sign up on a waiting list, or do you take your chances?

Do You Sign Up on Waiting Lists?

Yes. If I want something, it has to be mine!

No. I'm a commitment-phobic shopper.

Did You Get Sunburned This Weekend?

bellasugar — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 06:00:01 -0700

Well, did you?Source

Did You Get Sunburned This Weekend?

I am a peeling lobster.

I am blissfully burn-free.

Do You Share Makeup?

bellasugar — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 06:00:20 -0700

Ever end up in a car with friends primping for a night out, when the girl next to you asks to borrow your eye pencil? I have a slightly germophobic friend who would likely sharpen the other end, but another would just wipe it off. What about you?Source

Do You Share Makeup?

Yes

I'll tell you in the comments

Who Should Have Won Shear Genius?

bellasugar — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 12:00:40 -0700

Did you watch the season finale of Shear Genius last night? The last assignment was for each stylist to create a story of a woman's life from the ages of 18, 30, 45, and 60 — all through her hair. Pretty cool concept, right?Dee's models were all redheads, and her story focused around a woman who started out with dreams of being a singer — who eventually succeeded, of course. Charlie kept it in the creative element as well, depicting the life of a blond child actress, from beautiful ingenue to famed director. Nicole's story kept it real. Her brunette models were based on the fairly normal life of her mother.Whether you watched the show or are just judging by these models' hairstyles, who do you think deserved to win last night?Photos courtesy of Bravo.

Who Should Have Won Shear Genius?

Dee — I love this red hair.

Charlie — He really played up the life of a blond actress.

Nicole — Long and brunette? Count me in.

None of them — I really wasn't all that swept away this season.

Will You Watch a Makeup Reality Show?

bellasugar — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 12:15:02 -0700

If you haven't heard by now about Project Runway's move to Lifetime, where've you been? In conjunction with this move, Lifetime will run a six episode series called Blush: The Search for America's Greatest Makeup Artist which will premiere in November. The format will be very similar to competition shows of this nature (a mentor, a host, and three judges), but will be shown on the Internet. I absolutely love watching makeup artists in action, but I wonder if viewers will tune in on their computers rather than TVs? I guess we'll have to wait and see.Source

Will You Watch a Makeup Reality Show?

Yes

Other — I'll tell you in the comment section below.

Would You Tell Someone if She Had Makeup on Her Teeth?

bellasugar — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 06:00:51 -0700

Telling someone that they have lipstick on their teeth is similar to telling them they have food caught in their teeth. It's embarrassing to point out, but if it happened to you, wouldn't you hope that someone would speak up and spare you the humiliation of figuring it out on your own later? If you spotted someone with lipstick on her teeth, would you talk to her about it?Source

Would You Tell Someone if She Had Makeup on Her Teeth?

Of course.

Maybe.

No, I would feel too embarrassed pointing it out.

Do You Keep Your Mouth Open When Applying Mascara?

bellasugar — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 06:00:51 -0700

While applying mascara this morning, I couldn't help but laugh at myself. It's something I've been doing for years, and I know I'm not alone; my mouth opens wide the minute the wand touches my lashes, and my face seems to contort with every stroke.I've done a little research into this phenomenon. Perhaps it's a way to keep from blinking or relaxes the eye muscles for easier application. Whatever the case may be, tell me how you do it.Source

Do You Keep Your Mouth Open When Applying Mascara?

Yes

Other — I'll tell you in the comment section.

Do You Cut Your Hair at Home?

bellasugar — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 06:00:11 -0700

At a hair convention where most of the attendees were cosmetologists, I stopped at a booth to check things out and chuckled. Hanging for all to see were t-shirts emblazoned with the phrase: "Don't start bitchin' cuz you cut it in the kitchen!"That got me to thinking about my own snip-happy ways. Yeah, every now and then I get bold at home and do a little trim — often to the dismay of my stylist. How about you?Source

Do You Cut Your Hair at Home?

Yes — I can't help myself.

Sometimes — only for minor bang trims and split-ends.

Never — I'll leave that to the professionals.

Other — I'll tell you in the comment section below.

Do You Wear Fragrance Powder?

bellasugar — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 06:00:58 -0700

In the beauty industry, "ancillaries" are sort of the side dishes to a fragrance's main course: the bubble baths, body lotions, shower gels, deodorants, hair mist, and so forth. Though layering the same scent with multiple products is a good way to make the fragrance last, one thing always confounds me: the fragrance powder puff. If you truly love a fragrance, your inclination may be to buy up as much of it as possible, but at an average of $40, they're quite a splurge. Do you go for them?

Do You Wear Fragrance Powder?

Yes

Do You Have High-School Hair?

bellasugar — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 12:15:36 -0700

My aunt has been a hair stylist for over 30 years — wow! With all of the men and women that have sat in her chair all these years, she's come to an intriguing conclusion. "So many people go back to the same or similar style they wore in high school," she says. Perhaps it's the subconscious at work or the fountain of youth calling. I want to know, how does your own experience compare?Source

Do You Have High-School Hair?

Yes — come to think of it, there is a striking resemblance.

Maybe — but it's a more modern take on the style.

No — it's completely different.

Other — I'll tell you in the comment section below.

What's More Important in a Stylist: Talent or Personality?

bellasugar — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 06:00:03 -0700

I once left a stylist because our chemistry was terrible. Yeah, he gave great cuts, but the interaction with him was so uncomfortable that I sometimes skipped the blowdry altogether in an effort to avoid further awkwardness. Another stylist was like a best friend: warm, bubbly, and likable all around. But, she never heeded warnings about those pesky cowlicks, and my wild tufts of hair and I had to go elsewhere.We all wish we could find the perfect combo of talent and personality, but if you had to pick just one, what would you choose?Source

What's More Important in a Stylist: Talent or Personality?

Talent

Personality

Do You Think You Spend Too Much on Beauty?

bellasugar — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 06:00:11 -0700

We already know that dudes don't spend very much on grooming, but that's not necessarily the case when it comes to us. According to a new YWCA study, Beauty At Any Cost, American women spend $7 billion a year on cosmetic procedures and items. That averages out to about $100 a month for each woman — though certainly some big spenders are making up for the low-maintenance beauties out there. Can you breeze through a Benjamin in a weekend or do you think it sounds excessive? Source

Do You Think You Spend Too Much on Beauty?

Yes

Has an Ex Ruined a Scent for You?

bellasugar — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 06:00:40 -0700

The scenario: Your ex wore a certain cologne/deodorant/scented something-or-other for the entire duration of your relationship, and now you can't bear the smell. Not even on a cab driver or brother-in-law. Or, their favorite scent of yours now only reminds you of them (goodbye, sweet Narciso . . .). Has this ever happened to you? Source

Has an Ex Ruined a Scent for You?

Yes