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Get the Look of Twilight's Bella Swan

bellasugar — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 08:00:13 -0800

There's always been something magnetic about vampires, and with the upcoming release of Twilight, you can expect fang fever to hit a high not seen since the days of my beloved Buffy. Bella Swan, the heroine played by Kristen Stewart, has a fresh, natural look that's simply gorgeous.

"Bella’s description in the novel is very pale and extremely beautiful with large chocolate brown eyes, so she wore colored lenses every day," says Jeanne Van Phue, the movie's head makeup artist. "I also pictured her as a natural beauty, which is exactly what Kristen is. I used a light hand while applying all neutral colors to make her look as though she had no makeup on."

Want to know the items used to get Bella's look? For the straight-from-the-set scoop,

Purple Reign: BADgal Plum Makes Colored Mascara Subtle

bellasugar — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 10:00:53 -0700

If you're old enough to remember the first round of colored mascaras, you may not want to revisit the trend. But hear me out. While Benefit's BADgal Blue mascara is a shock of brightly hued blue, its new fraternal-twin mascara, BADgal Plum, is so subtle that you won't be mistaken for a member of the Thompson Twins.

True to its name, the color is a warm shade of deep plum that's closer to a dark brown than black. If anything, it's almost too natural in indoor light; while my lashes looked significantly fuller and thicker, it was hard to see the color. But while taking a little lunch-break walk with Sabs from OnSugar yesterday, she stopped me and said, "Are you wearing colored mascara? I love it!" Turns out that in the light, it adds just the right amount of color without being garish, and it highlights the green in my eyes. But if you want to give it a try, keep it off the lower lashes; I made the mistake of using it there, and it only made me look tired and, well, a little stoned. To sum up: Nice enough indoors, wowza outdoors, and best left to top lashes unless you want to look like the conductor of the Pineapple Express.

BellaSugar's Top Five Peach Blush Picks

bellasugar — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 14:00:50 -0700

A peach blush is a wonderful way to warm up any skin tone. You can wear a pale shade if you have fair skin or a deeper, more coral shade if you have olive or ebony skin. It's a great alternative to pink blush because it's neutral and won't clash with a last-minute change to, say, red lipstick or purple eye shadow. I happen to think that peach blush also looks amazing paired with a teal, blue, or green shadow and/or liner.

My prized peach blush is Lorac Blush for Cheeks in Peach ($18). It's the deepest of the bunch that I've listed below, and the tawny color gives me a healthy-looking and almost bronzed flush.

Becca Soft Touch Blush in Malika ($32) is neutral, so it's my go-to color when I want that no-makeup makeup look. It is a sparkly, semi-matte formula with light pigment that gives your cheeks an ethereal glow. It blends well and looks best when applied to apples of the cheeks.
Benefit Georgia ($28) is a heaven in a box. This gentle peach powder blush contains a soft shimmer that gives you the type of glowing-from-the-inside radiance. It warms up the skin and even comes with a cute square brush that fits neatly inside.
Dior Pro Cheeks Ultra-Radiant Blush in Hip Peach ($30) has a creamy, whipped-mousse consistency. It contains shimmer for a subtle highlighting effect and it blends effortlessly. The color is just right for medium-toned skin, since it's not too dark and not too light.
Shu Uemura Glow on Blush in Peach (#42) ($21) is a pale peach silky powder blush that contains a touch of sparkle. It acts as both a natural color and a highlighter and looks great when applied to your cheeks, nose, chin, and temples — a must have for any complexion!

Product Review: Benetint Lip Balm SPF 15

bellasugar — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 06:00:44 -0700

Unless you been living under a rock for the past few years, you've likely heard of Benefit's best-selling, award-winning lip and cheek stain called Benetint. This red rose-colored liquid creates a natural, healthy-looking flush to whatever it touches. Its popularity has spawned many other products like Pocket-Pal, a smaller version of the tint with a clear lip gloss, Posietint, a brighter and sheer pink tint and Benetint Lip Balm ($20) a deep pink, non-sticky and light lip balm that has recently been updated to include SPF 15.

I've been dying to check this out for ages, and this past weekend, I played around with the petite pot. The texture is delicate, smooth, ever-so-slightly waxy, but mostly creamy and refreshing. This has a lot do with the fact that it contains not only Vitamin E and other emollients but also real rose petals that give it a signature sweet and girly fragrance.

It can be worn alone (it looks way lighter on than the original tint does), or you can wear it over or under your favorite lipstick to make it appear more sheer. Lip balms are a great love of mine, and I'm happy to add this one to my list.

BellaSugar's Top Five Cream Eye Shadow Picks

bellasugar — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 09:00:44 -0700

The invention of cream eye shadows has had a time-saving impact on my life. Not only are they easy to apply (you don't even need to use a brush), but depending on the color, they can also double as a highlighter. They're a cinch to travel with since they can't spill, and they typically dry to a nice, powdery finish. You used to have to tend to the creases every few hours, but now they've evolved into long-wearing, crease-free, stay-put-all-day formulas that hardly require any maintenance at all! Below are my top choices for cream eye shadows; what are yours?

Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow ($19) has a light and creamy consistency that dries to a silky texture within 30 seconds. My favorite color is RSVP, a versatile, pale shimmery pinky-champagne that looks great alone for daytime and as a highlighter in the evening.
Lola Cosmetics SocialEyes Gel Eye Colour ($20) are creamy, waterproof shadows that can be worn as eyeliners too. They have medium pigmentation so they can be layered together or worn alone. My color of choice is a pale green patina called Tahiti.
Just for Redheads Dream Eye Shadow Flavors (on sale for $18) are some of the best blending cream shadows I've ever used. A little bit goes a long way to create shimmery, and rich velvety soft color. The must-have color to seek out is Souffle, a taupey, purplish-brown that looks amazing on all skin tones.
Laura Mercier Metallic Crème Eye Colour ($22) is a waterproof, sheer and non-creasing cream shadow. My favorite color of the bunch is Rose Gold, a shimmery pinky brown that looks great alone, or blended with a deep brown or purple in the crease.
Nars Cream Eye Shadow ($21) has a soft cream-to-powder texture that dries quickly and blends easily. My favorite shade is Swing, a deep dark purple that looks great as a lid and crease shadow or as a liner.

Benefit's Full-Finish Lipstick: Fully Pleasing

bellasugar — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 08:00:10 -0700

At the Fall 2008 fashion shows, lipstick was more popular than lip gloss by far. It's a little early to slip into cool-weather fashion, but a creamy lipstick works any time of year.

Benefit has just launched Full-Finish Lipstick, and the texture is great. You know how some lipsticks pull on your lips a bit, or they just don't go on evenly? Not the case with these; they glide on easily and evenly, leaving my lips feeling smooth and moisturized. If you're looking for a new lipstick, it's worth taking a look at these. To see two colors — including one that is pretty much a dead ringer for Angelina Jolie's signature shade —

A Quick Tip For Brighter Eyes

bellasugar — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 08:00:21 -0700

I'm sure you've had friends and makeup artists tell you over and over again that an easy way to make your eyes look brighter, wider and whiter is to add a champagne or pearly white shadow just under your brow bone. Not only does this significantly open up your eyes, but it also makes your brows look cleaner and more defined.

A terrific and natural looking product to make your eyes pop in a jiffy is called High Brow from Benefit Cosmetics ( $20). This creamy, pale pink shade doesn't have any shimmer in it (for those of you who aren't a fan of anything overly frosty and showy) and it blends easily. Just sweep a thin line under the arch of your brows and blend for an instant lift and eye-opening effect. Brilliant!

Source

BellaSugar's Top Five Cream Blush Picks

bellasugar — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 10:00:28 -0700

Ever since I started toying around with cream blush about a year ago, I've been hooked. I'm not really into anything too shimmery — I like to leave that to the more spreadable luminizers — but I've been having a field day with pinky-brown tones like By Terry's Rose de Rose Sheer Liquid Blush in Fresh Rose that I told you about earlier in the week. Each of these items leaves my face looking flushed, hydrated and even a little dewy in a natural way. It's as though I've just drunk a bottle of water and gone for a brisk walk. Here are my other four fave cream blush discoveries; what's your top pick?

Benefit Cream Blush in Hush ($18) is a sheer, thin and easily spreadable cream-to-powder pinky-nude-colored blush that adds a natural-looking warmth to fair skin.
Stila Convertible Color in Peony ($24) is the darkest of the bunch. I reserve this color for moments when I crave a rosy glow. The consistency is slightly waxy at first, so it's best applied with a sponge to facilitate blending.
Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge for Lips and Cheeks in Blushed Rose ($22) is extremely thick and rich in pigment. A little goes a long way and the result is a deep, stain-like finish.
Scott Barnes Cream Color in Sway ($25) is a moist, easily spreadable pinky-beige blusher that can also double as a lip and eye shade. Use a little bit for a natural effect, or layer for a deep, dewy look.

BellaSugar's Top Five Sex Kitten Lip Glosses

bellasugar — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 11:00:40 -0700

Below are my top five favorite lip gloss options for sultry, sex-kitten lips. These pale pinks and peaches (sans shimmer, glitter or any kind of opalescence for that matter) cool down the natural flesh tone of your lips to an icy finish and look the hottest when paired with a smoky eye. Which of your lip glosses makes you feel the sexiest?

Scott Barnes Flossy Glossy in Meow ($22) is a peachy-pinky gloss that has a little bit of a chalky effect without the matte finish. It blends easily and looks amazing alone or over a nude lipstick.
MAC Lip Glass in Underage ($14) is a soft, pale-pink, high-shine lip gloss. Rumor has it that it's also Carmen Electra's fave (talk about a sex kitten personified)!

For two other glosses to make you purr,

Coming Soon: Benefit Posietint

bellasugar — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 08:00:47 -0700

Those of you who love Benefit's cult-favorite lip and cheek stain, Benetint, will be excited to know about a forthcoming product called Posietint ($2. It's launching in June, but if you're a Sephora Beauty Insider, you'll have a chance to buy it beforehand. (Sign up at Sephora to be notified when it's available.)

Like its big sister Benetint, Posietint is a liquid stain that goes on with a brush. The difference is that instead of giving a reddish flush to lips and cheeks, Posietint gives a sheer pink wash of color. When you see it, you'll understand why it's not packaged in a clear bottle; the stain is the color of Pepto Bismol. Never fear, though: when it's blended into skin, it looks like a natural flush of color.

To see how Posietint looks when it's on cheeks,

Back to Basics: The Best Peach Lip Glosses

bellasugar — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 11:00:55 -0700

There's something about peach lip gloss that is universally flattering (but especially on blue-eyed beauties). The challenge is to find the right balance between coral and pink tones.

Kate Hudson wore a frosty coral-peach-colored lipstick to the London premiere of Fool's Gold and just look at how it warms up her skin. Below are my top picks for peach glosses.

Bobbi Brown Brightening Lip Gloss in Peach ($19) is more of a pale, icy shade than a deep creamy color. The shine is incredible, and every time that I pair it with a little bit of bronzer and a champagne eye shadow, it makes my entire face light up. I wish they made the formula a little less tacky, because the only drawback is that I usually have to wear my hair up or else I find that I'm always picking my hair out of my mouth.

For two other pretty peach lip glosses,

New Product Alert: Benefit Lust Dust Shimmer Dusters

bellasugar — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 13:00:56 -0700

It was only a matter of time before Benefit expanded its line of loose shimmer powders. First came the highly pigmented, bright Show Offs! eye shadows. And now, there's a line of sheer, shimmery powders for the eyes and face called Lust Dusters ($1.

The colors blend well, they are definitely shimmery and it's nice that you can use them as highlighters to your cheeks, nose, and décolletage. But let's just say that once you've seen one, you've seem them all. I hate to be like this, because I usually love all things Benefit, but I've asked around the office for additional opinions, and it's unanimous that unfortunately, they are no great shakes.

I do, however, love the cute names like Snow Bunny, Boom Boom, and Go Go Girl. They come in 10 colors (Big Daddy, a shimmery peachy-rust color is missing from the list online, but apparently that oversight is being fixed). If you really must have them (I know the feeling) then try using them over their Creaseless Cream Shadows for extra impact and let me know what you think.

Bella Makeover: A Fresh Spring Face

bellasugar — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 15:00:01 -0700

My friend Chi is totally smart and fun. She's also gorgeous without a lick of makeup, but when I asked if she'd like to go to Benefit for a makeover, she jumped at the chance. Since she doesn't wear any makeup on a daily basis, she picked up a few tips and tricks for making the most out of her natural beauty. Want to see how to get her look from start to finish? Read on!

Get Glowing With a Liquid Highlighter

bellasugar — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 11:00:54 -0700

Not just for textbooks anymore, highlighters provide a very fun and flattering way to add a subtle glow to any makeup look. What's more, they can enhance or conceal flaws or features. Here are a few ways to wear them.

For an All-over Glow: A shimmer highlighter like Benefit's Moon Beam ($24) is a great multipurpose product. It has pink and gold undertones, so it works well with any skin type, and the formula is thin and light, so it can be blended easily. This kind of highlighting fluid can be used anywhere. Dab a bit of this on your brow bones, lips, and décolletage to create an overall luminescence.

Conceal: A great way to conceal a patch of redness, uneven skin tone, or dark circles is to reflect light off of the area with a highlighting concealer. Laura Mercier's Secret Brightener ($30) adds a faint tint and a light sheen where applied, replacing flaws with a fresh-faced glow.

To find out how to conceal and enhance certain features with a highlighter,

Fantastic Firming Creams, Part V: Body

bellasugar — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 13:00:07 -0800

Welcome back to my series on firming beauty products. Today's topic is body creams. Before we go any further, you need to know that no cream can actually remove cellulite. By following a healthy lifestyle you can shrink lipids, but topical creams will only work to stimulate your skin and temporarily help smooth the appearance of cellulite. Below are three that I've tried.

Benefit Jiggle Gel ($26) is a toning, firming, and hydrating moisturizer for your hips, thighs, tummy, arms, and booty. It claims to act as an "invisible girdle." I can't attest to it being quite that effective, but the mental image definitely worked to help me feel firmer. Simply smooth it onto your body and allow it to dry. I just read that it's also recommended to help reduce swelling after long flights, so it might be good for frequent fliers.

For two more body firming creams,

New Product Alert: Benefit Erase Paste

bellasugar — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 11:00:36 -0800

Benefit is rolling out a few new products for Spring, and the first big one is Erase Paste ($26). It's a brightening, full-coverage concealer meant to hide blemishes, brighten dark circles, and draw attention away from expression lines.

I've been playing around with a sample for a while now, and while it's not the perfect concealer for my own personal needs, I know it's going to be exactly what some of you are looking for. The texture is very creamy, and it blends well; Benefit recommends using your fingertips for application, and I'd argue that it's almost necessary. (The heat of your fingers will help the concealer spread better than a brush would.) The coverage is another plus; the highly-pigmented formula is opaque enough to cover most dark circles. A little goes a long way, so the small jar will last forevah.

So why isn't it my perfect concealer? Medium, the shade I tried, has a pink cast that didn't work well with my coloring. But that's an individual thing; if you do have pinkish skin and you're looking for a creamy concealer, it's worth checking Erase Paste out.

Last-Minute Valentine's Day Beauty Tricks

bellasugar — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 11:00:14 -0800

Got a big date tonight but no time to stop off at home and primp beforehand? Don't sweat it. Here are three products you can throw in your purse to help you create a red-hot Valentine's Day look that will take you from day to night.

Red lipstick: If there's any day to wear red, this is it. I like Estee Lauder Pure Color Long Lasting Lipstick in Autumn, a slightly shimmery blue-red shade that you can use to stain your lips and cheeks during the day and then layer in the evening for an intensified, seductive look .
Liquid luminizer: Benefit Hollywood Glo highlighting lotion has golden undertones as opposed to pink or peach, so it will give you a natural-looking radiance. Apply a small amount to your nose, temples and cheekbones — and to super-size your sex appeal, smooth some along your collarbones, shoulders and cleavage.
Scented body lotion:Try something obviously seductive like Donna Karan Cashmere Mist Body Lotion. Not only will help to smooth out your skin at the eleventh hour, but it will also double as a fragrance. A scented moisturizer dilutes the strong smell of perfume and gives off the illusion that your body smells good all over.

Enter to Win Benefit's "Sexy or Sweet?" Contest!

bellasugar — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 09:00:22 -0800

If there's a time of year when you can be both nice and naughty, it's Valentine's Day. No other day allows you to be both good and bad, flirty and dirty, and sweet and sexy, quite like V-Day. And no other brand covers both spectrums like Benefit.

To celebrate this holiday, Bella and Benefit are bringing you a quiz called "Sexy or Sweet?" Here's how it works: Bella will present a Benefit product like Dandelion ($28), and it's up to you to decide if it's sexy or sweet. In the end, we'll have two winners: one who'll get the sexy loot, the other the sweet.

To enter just take the quiz by 5 p.m. PST Sunday, February 17, and two winners will be selected at random. Your eligibility is not based on getting the answers correct, just on taking the quiz after you are logged in. You do, however, need to be a TeamSugar member to enter. So if you're not already a member, register for an account. One quiz entry per person; all repeat quizzes will be ignored. Remember: YOU MUST BE LOGGED IN TO TEAMSUGAR FOR YOUR VOTE TO COUNT. For the complete rules, click here. Good luck!

Valentine's Day Beauty Part I: Luscious Lips

bellasugar — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 15:00:05 -0800

With Valentine's Day just around the corner, you'll want to prepare your pout with some provocative products to pucker up with! These love-inspired lip treats are perfect for the big day. This marks the first part of my four-post series on Valentine's Day makeup, so come back tomorrow for more lovey ideas.

Benefit Cupid's Bow Lovely Lip Shaping Set ($2 contains all the goodies you need to create a dead-sexy mouth. Your cupid's bow is the little area on your upper lip that dips down. You can play it up for a widening effect or add a highlighter and shine for fullness. Inside you'll find a dual-ended lip liner and highlighter, a dual-sided blending and shaping tool.

For two more very alluring lip products,

New Product Alert: Benefit Pink to Please a Woman... Gold to Get the Guy!

bellasugar — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 15:08:16 -0800

Just in time for Valentine's Day, Benefit has launched an adorable limited-edition lip and eye palette called Pink to Please a Woman... Gold to Get the Guy! ($30). Heavy on pink and gold tones, this palette's colors make for a beautiful winter-to-spring transition.

The cute gingham-print packaging is adorned with a tiny ribboned bow, and what's inside is just as aww-inspiring. The kit features three mini shimmer shadows in champagne, gold and tender pink; it also has three sheer lipsticks in pale pink, bubblegum and deep pink. The look is warm and flirty, and the whole package is cute without being twee.

New Product Alert: Benefit Thrrrob

bellasugar — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 15:00:49 -0800

There was Dallas, Georgia, Hoola, and 10. And now, Benefit has released a pink cheek, forehead, and chin powder called Thrrrob ($2 to their already existing and ever-popular collection of face powders. While it is referred to as a powder, I definitely see this as more of a blush than something that you would wear all over your face.

The color is a medium bubblegum pink and was designed to give you a natural-looking flush. If you can read between the lines, the name is pretty erotic and the description on their website says "turned on." I think I can deduce that the shade they are going for is actually closer to a sexual flush than a chilly, Winter's day flush. I haven't tried it yet, but I am really interested in checking it out. What do you think of the color and the name?

Go For the Gold, Part IV: Lips

bellasugar — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 10:00:59 -0800

Part four of my five-part series on gold makeup is all about gilded lips. Whether you apply a lipstick, a lip balm or lip gloss, gold lips are a perfect way to add a little bit of punch to your pout. Here are three lip products you won't want to miss this party season!

Liz Earle Sheer Gold Lip Shimmer ($9.75) is a barely-there lip balm that contains gold flecks to add a touch of subtle shine and shimmer to your lips. It's also deeply conditioning and moisturizing, so it protects your lips from chapping and drying during the Winter months.

For two more golden lip products,

Badass Face-Brightening Primers

bellasugar — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 10:00:04 -0800

Welcome to the first installment of my five-part series on brightening products for the face. Brightening creams, primers and foundations are easy and effective solutions for perking up tired-looking eyes and skin. They are safe, bleach-free formulas that are usually created with light-reflecting pigments to give your skin a well-rested, healthy and alive look. Makeup artists have been using these products for years, so it's time that you knew about the many different options in this category too!

Shiseido Makeup Brightening Veil SPF 24 ($32) is a colorless face primer that helps minimize the appearance of dullness, uneven skin and freckles for an all around radiant complexion. It contains Advanced Luminous Technology, which uses shimmer bits to create a soft, dewy and lustrous glow. It glides on like velvet and is extremely moisturizing. It is most effective when worn alone or under your favorite foundation. Available in one universal sheer shade.

For two more brightening face primers,

Product Review: Miss Popularity

bellasugar — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 15:00:39 -0700

After playing with my new Miss Popularity ($24) from Benefit, I found myself completely surprised by the product. For some reason I thought it was a liquid, but it's actually a very fine powder applied with a wide sponge tip.

The color is a pure transparent shimmer. It comes out of the bottle looking white, but on your skin it has flecks of silver, gold and iridescent pink. I will say that the formula blends really well and the applicator tip is nearly perfect for acing that little inner corner "V" in your eyes, but why does it have to be so big?

I found that I had to transfer it to a smaller, thinner makeup brush so I didn't look like I had just spread fairy dust all over my eyes. Having said that, the product itself is great. The powder is smooth, and the color is unuusal and not too over-the-top glittery.

I can see Miss Popularity being a big hit for a night out and for the holiday season, but not for everyday wear. Have any of you tried it? If so, please share your thoughts with me in a comment below.

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

New Product Alert: Benefit Miss Popularity

bellasugar — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 13:00:54 -0700

Benefit has a product everyone is sure to love called Miss Popularity ($24). This soft, shimmery white highlighter has a tapered tip that allows you to highlight, contour and enhance with precision. Benefit has some great suggestions where you can apply Miss Popularity.

For example, if your want your eyes to look brighter, apply the highlighter to the inner corner of your eyes in the V area. If you want to brighten up your mouth, apply the highlighter to the outer corners of your lips and blend.

To slim the appearance of your nose, just dab three dots along the middle of your nose and blend outwards. Lastly, for fuller-looking cleavage, apply a few dots above your bra line and blend upwards. Miss Popularity is available online now, but won't be in stores until November. You can't go wrong with little bit of highlighting this holiday season!

Hot Holiday 2007 Palettes

bellasugar — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 11:00:59 -0700

Woo hoo, Holiday 2007 party palettes are here already! These products for your eyes, lips and cheeks are not only terrific values but they are all slim, and travel-friendly for the Bella gal on the go. I hope you like what you see because this is just the beginning of many, many more holiday specials for the season!

Tarte We Wish You Wealth Palette costs $52, yet it has a $578 value — talk about holiday savings. This little limited-edition treat includes exclusive products like cheek stains in a pan form and new shades.

Inside you'll find 16 lip glosses, 16 eye shadows, four gel eyeliners, four cheek stains, three 24/7 lip sheers, an eyelid primer, one luminizer and eye shadow and eyeliner brushes. Does it really get much better than this?

For two more hot holiday 2007 palettes,

Make-You-Laugh Makeup: The Morning After

bellasugar — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 09:00:01 -0700

As we all know, makeup can really be fun. I love it when designers create humorous or sarcastic names to go along with their products—why not, right? A couple of months ago, I posted about funny face makeup names and most recently, on my journey through stores and websites searching for blue makeup, I stumbled across some pretty clever names for cosmetics that have to do with regret. I thought I'd share some of them with you. And of course, if you have any funny names of your own, please comment below!

Remember Too Faced Drunk Dial Liquid Eyeliner from the other day? If you thought that was bad, how about Playboy Beauty Blush in Tie Me To The Bedpost ($17.50). Oh, the things we say in the wee hours of the night.

The color of this sheer shimmer blush looks the same on your skin as it does in the packaging. It is made from triple-milled powders which leaves skin looking velvety-soft. Now you won't be able to tell if the makeup or your dirty talk is making you blush!

For two more risque morning-after makeup names,

Thursday Giveaway! Benefit Hoola

bellasugar — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 23:30:20 -0700

Get ready for fall by seeing some of the season's most beautiful finds. We're teaming up with our friends at Sephora to give away a bounty of beauty this month!

Today's giveaway is for Benefit Hoola bronzer. Sweep a lush brush of this pressed bronzing sun dust across cheekbones and forehead and say "Aloha!" to a warm island glow.

To enter today's giveaway, leave a comment in the comments section below by 5 p.m. PDT / 8 p.m. EDT Thursday, August 30, and we'll announce the winner tomorrow. Please, only ONE comment per person; duplicate comments will be discarded, so commenting more than once won't up your chances of winning. 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, click here. Good luck! Congratulations to Deedeelee, who won yesterday's giveaway for a Tarte palette!

Feeling Blue? Your Cosmetics Surely Are

bellasugar — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 22:50:00 -0700

Yesterday, a friend pointed out her new mascara. She was wearing Benefit Bad Gal Blue, a violet-blue hue that's said to brighten the appearance of eyes. I haven't had much confidence with it—I'm worried that blue mascara will make me look like Whitney Houston circa "How Will I Know?", which is not my prerogative—but the whites of my friend's eyes did look bright. (Then again, they usually do.)

Well, it turns out the blue trend is going over very well: More than 130,000 units of Bad Gal Blue were sold during the first two weeks. If you're interested in hopping on the blue bandwagon, just pull out some Miles Davis (Kind of Blue, natch) and check out my guide to blue lip glosses. (And now, I'm going to go nibble on some blueberries.)

The Best Blusher For Your Skin Tone: Olive Skin

bellasugar — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 13:40:10 -0700

Welcome to part four of The Best Blusher For Your Skin Tone. In this installment, we are exploring blush for olive-colored skin. You lucky girls are the ones with the gorgeous and natural golden glow all year round! For this type of skin, petal pinks and deep peachy apricots give you a subtle warmth. Here are a few of my suggestions—and by all means, please leave comments and share your own favorites with everyone!

Pantina Cheek Sweeps ($5.50) aren't out yet, but you can expect to see these shimmery and mess-free blushers this fall in two shades: Tru Bliss and Radiance.

For olive skin tones, I'd go with Tru Bliss. It's a bright pink/coral hue that glides on easily and blends flawlessly into the skin, leaving a slight iridescent trail and a gorgeous flush to your cheeks.

For two more blushes for olive skin,

Product Review: Benefit That Gal

bellasugar — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 12:04:40 -0700

So now that I've had some time to play with my new Benefit That Gal ($27) makeup primer, I thought I'd report back to you with some of my thoughts. The pros of this pinky makeup primer are that it really does make a difference in the way your makeup comes out. It's really moisturizing and your skin is left with a dewy-like layer which makes for a great base.

At first I was scared by its Pepto-Bismol color and texture—and I definitely had to do a lot of blending (a tip: a little goes a long way). But to my delight, it was really airy, and the light reflectors didn't make me sparkly or anything; they just made my skin look like it was gleaming from the inside out.

The con is the strong smell. Again, many people might like a floral scent to their makeup, but I get frightened that my sensitive skin might react. Also, it didn't really even out my skin tone. It didn't make it worse, but I found that on the more red parts of my face (like my nose) it actually looked better when I applied it after putting on the rest of my makeup.

Have you had the chance to try it yet? If so, leave a comment and let me know what you think.

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

How-To: Mary-Kate Olsen's Low-Key Glamour

bellasugar — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 23:59:59 -0700

Aww, Mary-Kate! I'm so happy to see how happy and healthy she looked at the Television Critics Association press conference for the new season of Weeds. And I think this pink lipstick makes the most of her features. To find out how to get MK's look, from eyes to nail polish,

Trend Alert: 24K Gold Lip Gloss

bellasugar — Fri, 06 Jul 2007 09:05:30 -0700

When you can't afford pink diamonds, go for the gold! These gold lip glosses are scorching hot for summer and fall. They can be worn alone or over your favorite lipstick to create a warming and glittery effect. To check out gold lip glosses from last season, click here, for more beauty products with bling, click here and to check out this spring's silver lip gloss trend, click here.

Benefit 24k Sexy Gold Lipgloss ($20) is a sensual, feminine and seductive sheer metallic lip gloss. Although I doubt it contains actual 24k gold, this powerful burst of color will make you look and feel like a million bucks! The color is versatile enough to wear day or night for a sexy sparkle.

For one more 24K Gold Lip Gloss,

New Product Alert: Benefit That Gal

bellasugar — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 16:00:42 -0700

This summer, be "that gal" with the gorgeous, glowing complexion! Benefit Cosmetics has just released a new face primer called That Gal ($27).

This pale pink primer helps even out your skin tone and instantly livens up your face. It is made with raspberries and chamomile to calm, sweet almond and algae to moisturize and is infused with light reflecting particles to make you shimmer and shine!

You can wear it alone or under your makeup for an allover brightening and beautiful dewy look. Just twist the base until a small amount of creamy primer surfaces (go easy, because a little goes a long way). Apply with either a foundation brush or your fingertips in a small, gentle, upward circles. Have any of you tried That Gal or another Benefit skin saver? What do you think?

Tools of the Trade, Part II: Square Dual Pencil Sharpeners

bellasugar — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 15:25:36 -0700

Welcome back to my series on dual chambered makeup pencil sharpeners. Yesterday we looked conical shaped sharpeners, and today we are checking out some of the new square shaped sharpeners on the market. These sharpeners are great for the wide assortment of standard and thick makeup pencils. They also contain caps so that your shaving activities are pleasant and mess-free!

This Nars Pencil Sharpener ($6) is both sleek looking and affordable. This is one tool of the trade worth investing in. It also contains a removable adapter so that you can customize it to fit any size pencil. It includes a blade cleaner and a cool black attached cover.

To see more square dual makeup sharpeners,

User Review: WhiplashGirlchild on Benefit Cosmetics Silky Finish Lipstick

bellasugar — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 09:30:40 -0700

Like many BellaSugar readers, WhiplashGirlchild tends toward lip gloss rather than lipstick. So I was intrigued by her positive review of Benefit Cosmetics Silky Finish Lipstick ($16), and I thought I'd let her tell you what she likes about it and what she doesn't for today's user review. (Write your own reviews in the Beauty Product Junkies group, and I might post yours on BellaSugar too.) Here's WhiplashGirlchild's take:

I've been strictly a gloss girl for a long time. I haven't bought a lipstick in years. So I was a bit nervous to try out a lipstick. But I liked this color and I had a coupon code, so I purchased Benefit Silky Finish Lipstick in Hug It Out, which they describe as a "pink nectar (pearl)" color.

Okay. Now, when I received the lipstick, it didn't look anything like a pink nectar to me. It's more like a medium pinky-brown with a bit of shimmer. Good thing I like to have pinky-brown lips.

For the rest of her review and a photo,

Sunday Giveaway! Benefit BadGAL Blue Mascara

bellasugar — Sat, 23 Jun 2007 23:30:00 -0700

Thanks to our very generous friends at Sephora, we're giving away a different product every day throughout the month of June.

This past week, we've been featuring products exclusively available at Sephora, such as Benefit BadGAL Blue mascara ($19). The blue makes your eyes look brighter and whiter, which makes blue eyes appear more blue; brown eyes more golden; and hazel eyes more lush green. I've been using this mascara for about a month, and it really does make your peepers look fresher!

To enter the giveaway, leave a comment in the comments section below by 5 p.m. PDT / 8 p.m. EDT Sunday, June 24, and we'll announce the winner on Monday. Please, only ONE comment per person; duplicate comments will be discarded, so commenting more than once won't up your chances of winning. 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, click here. Good luck!

Lovely Links, 6/14

bellasugar — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 13:17:53 -0700

Kiss and Makeup points us to a very cool nail polish gallery online.
Beauty Snob takes a walk on the Beach with Bobbi Brown.
Girlawhirl travels with Rodial Jet Set Travel Wash in tow.
Blogdorf Goodman is in love with Boots Eye and Lip Correction Serum.
Beauty and the Blog dishes on Benefit's D'finer D'liner clear lipliner, coming in July.
Off the Rack shares Summer beauty tricks for cuticle care.
Lipstick, Powder 'n Paint gives us a play-by-play of her Benefit makeover.

Makeup Review: Benefit California Kissin'

bellasugar — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 15:00:34 -0700

About a month ago, I wrote a series on blue lip glosses that many of you seemed quite curious to try. So now that Benefit California Kissin' Smile Brightening Lip Shine ($16) has launched, I decided to give it a whirl.

I was really surprised by how impressed I was with my new blue hue! I thought that blue lip gloss was going to be wacky and weird, but it turns out that the tint actually cools down your skin tone. In addition, it tastes good and smells great. (I wish it were true that it made my breath fresher, but to do that, I'd probably have to eat it. )

I can't really tell if it made my teeth look whiter or not, but it does have lots of shine, and the gloss gave my lips a subtle blue sparkle. Also, the packaging has these great aqua waves that just scream Summer. What can I say? I'm addicted to the blues.

New Product Alert: Creaseless Cream Shadow/Liner by Benefit Cosmetics

bellasugar — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 06:00:25 -0700

Don't you hate it when the Summer heat makes your eye makeup get all gunked up? Benefit Cosmetics is coming to the rescue with its new Creaseless Cream Shadow/Liner ($1. Part of the Love Your Look collection and packaged in a cute little pot, these shadows have the consistency of cream and an unbelievably silky texture, so they're smoother and longer lasting than powders.

Available in 12 beautiful shades, this product can be used as an eye liner or an eye shadow, depending on the brush and application. The colors can be easily blended, mixed, and matched for a sexy smoky eye or worn alone for a sheer, subdued look. Plus, the hefty jar is filled to the brim with cream, so you really get your money's worth. I plan to try some out soon, so I'll be sure to let you know what I think.

My Makeup Routine: CocoChic

bellasugar — Mon, 21 May 2007 05:58:17 -0700

Over in the Beauty Product Junkies group on TeamSugar, the members have been posting step-by-step breakdowns of their daily makeup routines, complete with before and after photos. What brave souls!

I absolutely love this idea, so I've asked several users if I can post their routines here. I also invite you to join the group and post your own routines. Who knows? You might just end up featured on BellaSugar too!

Today's makeup routine comes from CocoChic, who shared her tips for a simple but polished daytime look. (Her nighttime look, she admits, would be much more complicated.) To see her step-by-step routine,

Bella Bargain: Free High Beam With Benefit Purchase

bellasugar — Fri, 18 May 2007 11:04:01 -0700

I love me some Benefit High Beam, and Spring is the season for highlighters. So thank you, SheFinds, for telling me about this great offer at Benefit Cosmetics!

Right now, the site is offering a free bottle of its beloved High Beam pink highlighter with any purchase of $30 or more — and you know I won't have any problem spending $30 at Benefit. To redeem the free gift, simply enter the promo code "HIGHBEAM" when you check out. I'm not sure how long the promotion lasts, though, so you might want to pounce now.

My Makeup Routine: Atoxicsparkle

bellasugar — Mon, 14 May 2007 05:55:54 -0700

Over in the Beauty Product Junkies group on TeamSugar, the members have been posting step-by-step breakdowns of their daily makeup routines, complete with before and after photos. What brave souls!

Today's routine comes from BPJ founder Atoxicsparkle, whose beauty arsenal you can peek at above. To see her makeup routine from start to finish,

Makeup Review: Benefit Some Kind-A Gorgeous

bellasugar — Mon, 07 May 2007 06:10:47 -0700

First of all, let me say: I am not usually a foundation-plus-powder person. Usually, I like my foundation, and I like my powder, and never the twain shall meet. That is, until I discovered Benefit Cosmetics Some Kind-A Gorgeous ($26), which I bought only because of its adorable 1950s record-player packaging. I mean, look how cute it is!

Fortunately, it also turns out I like this stuff a lot. Though it has a creamy texture, it's oil free, and it works a lot like pressed powder in de-shining my face. But it also has a foundation-like effect that smooths out my skin tone, so it's a good way to touch up my makeup on the go.

Oddly, this product comes in just one shade, like a one-shade-fits-all kind of thing. I can't speak for everyone, but the color does work well for me. If you've tried Some Kinda-A Gorgeous, tell me what you think.

Source

Moody Blues: Cooling Lip Gloss Part I

bellasugar — Wed, 02 May 2007 04:12:22 -0700

Although blue lip glosses kinda sound sorta wacky, they actually have been created in super sheer shades to make your teeth look whiter and help cool down your skin tone. They can be worn alone or over any of your favorite lipsticks. This new trend is really chill. I love hearing about these little tricks to brighten up your face!

California Kissin' by Benefit, $16, is an instant smile brightener. This lip gloss not only freshens breath with its great minty taste, but it adds a layer of shine to your pretty pout - who wouldn't want to kiss you?

The soft blue hue makes your teeth look brighter and is just subtle enough to appear clear. But don't get too excited - you still have to wait two more weeks until this new product hits the shelves.

For one more sheer blue lip gloss,