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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!

BellaSugar’s Top Picks For Nude Lip Glosses

bellasugar — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 08:00:11 -0700

Nude lip glosses are the end all, be all of makeup because they're so versatile. They can be worn on a bare face, with a dark or metallic smoky eye or with a touch of blush and mascara. They've been one of the top beauty trends among celebrities and It girls for the past few years and it doesn't seem like this pale lip look is going anywhere.

Below, I've listed my all-time top five favorite nude glosses — and let me just say, these were not slim pickings. There are so many to choose from, but I based my decision on color versatility, texture and scent. What's your top pick for nude lip gloss?

Besame Cosmetics Enchanted Lip Glaze in Latte ($23) is a thick, creamy and sweet vanilla-scented gloss that leaves lips feeling moisturized and looking off-the-charts shiny.
Scott Barnes Lip Slick in Suggestive ($22) is an over-the-top creamy lipsticky-lipgloss. It's a favorite of Jennifer Lopez and Kate Hudson and is available in five nude shades to suit all skin tones.
Laura Mercier in Petal ($22) is a rich, opalescent, beigy-pink shade that lasts long and has been recently re-formulated with a hint of vanilla. The shine is brilliant and the neutral color makes it a makeup case staple.
Estee Lauder Pure Color Lip Gloss in Quartz ($16) has remained one of my favorite glosses for over a year because of its smooth, non-tacky texture and wearable color. It's by far the palest of the nudes listed, and looks beautiful over a neutral lipstick or worn alone.
Dior Addict Ultra Gloss Reflect in Beige Velvet ($24.50) is a shiny, light-reflecting nude-pink lip gloss that blends into the color of your lips. This is my go-to gloss for subtle daytime color.

Bella Interview: Shane Paish, Dior Global Makeup Advisor

bellasugar — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 09:00:15 -0700

When Charlize Theron travels the world for red-carpet events, Shane Paish is not far away. As the global makeup advisor for Dior, he comes up with beautiful makeup looks — often while preparing Charlize for the camera.

In between creating these varied makeup looks for her Hancock premieres, he had time for a quick e-mail interview. Along with letting us know that Charlize is "addicted" to L'Or de Vie skin care, he's revealed his inspiration for these looks.

To find out what kinds of makeup looks best on women with Charlize's coloring,

2009 Couture: Christian Dior and Giorgio Armani

bellasugar — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 07:00:21 -0700

Things are getting haute in Paris this week, as the famous fashion houses show off their couture offerings. First up: Giorgio Armani and Christian Dior. Fab loved Dior's dresses, and I'm a fan of the models' beautiful hair and makeup. Take a look to see which trends may trickle down to the mainstream this fall.

Charming Summer Beauty Accessories

bellasugar — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 12:00:11 -0700

These fabulously fashionable charm necklaces from designer brands are the new "It" items of the season. Not only do they look pretty, but they're fully functioning cosmetic cases, too. Inside of these baubles by Dior, Missoni, and YSL are actual beauty products such as bronzer, creamy highlighter, and perfume. This is a second go-around from Missoni — last season they launched this limited-edition necklace, and it was so popular that they decided to bring it back for Summer 2008. These items make for great gifts and fun accessories — which is your favorite?

Missoni Solid Perfume Charm Necklace ($50) contains gold charms, rust-colored beads, and a large gold orb filled with .05 oz of Missoni perfume in a solid form.
The amber cabochon pendant in the Dior 'Golden Dior' Necklace ($55) contains a gold highlighter for the lips, eyes, and cheeks — and it hangs from a delicate satin ribbon.
Yves Saint Laurent 'Soleil D'Afrique' Collector Bronzing Powder ($72) celebrates the 30th anniversary of YSL makeup. Inside of the wooden charm lies a rich golden-sand bronzer.

How-To: Madonna's "4 Minutes" Makeup Look

bellasugar — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 15:00:57 -0700

Madonna's skin looks insanely smooth for someone her age in her new "4 Minutes" music video. We've all heard gossip about her supposed plastic surgery, but I think it's pretty obvious that she's gotten some type of lifting and toning treatments at the very least. Her face is extraordinarily smooth with minimal lines around her eyes and lips. Of course, this definitely has something to do with a talented makeup artist, custom lighting, and yes, computerized touch-ups.

FACE: Begin by prepping your face with a serum, moisturizer, and eye cream. Then add a primer and medium-coverage firming foundation such as Estee Lauder Resilience Lift Extreme Ultra Firming Makeup. Finish with a creamy concealer and an eye brightener. Tip: use a cosmetic sponge to ensure that everything is well blended.

To find out more about how to create this makeup look on your own,

Pastel Products Part 1: Easter-Egg Eye Shadow Shades

bellasugar — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 15:00:09 -0700

Spring will officially be here by week's end. This season is known for heavy pastel makeup shades, and 2008 is no exception. As we've seen in my post about Festive Floral Spring Beauty Buys, beauty brands have made pretty and pale floral products a big part of their offerings.

In my experience, the key to a winning pastel is substantial pigment. Too often I find wimpy pastels that wind up looking like a generic iridescent pink no matter if they are lilac, blue, green, or peach. This week I'll be talking more about face, cheek, and lip pastel products, but for now I've featured three of my favorite eye shadows below along with some photos of a few runner-ups.

Givenchy Prismissime 9 Colours Face and Eyeshadow Palette ($50) is actually part of the 2006 Spring collection, but there are still plenty available online for purchase. Each of the colors can be worn alone on the eyes (the corner shades are especially notable) or they can be blended together and gently swept over the face for a radiant glow. You're destined to have fun with all of these Easter-eggy shades to play with.

Dior 5-Color Iridescent Eyeshadow ($54) contains velvety-soft powder shadows that you can mix, match, and blend to your heart's content. My personal favorite of the bunch is the shimmery peach shade since it complements each of the others so well. If you use it in the inner v of your eye, you'll get a sweet and subtle daytime twinkle. Also, the deep-purple shade can double as an eyeliner.

For one last single and pretty pastel eye shadow shade,

How-To: Miley Cyrus's Oscar Makeup

bellasugar — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 16:30:15 -0800

Miley Cyrus appeared at the Oscars looking very simple and sophisticated — a welcome change from how we've seen her lately. Her fresh and shimmery makeup was the perfect balance to her striking red gown.

Dior makeup artist Pati Dubroff was inspired by "Miley's radiant youth" and wanted to create a look that was "all about glowing, gorgeous skin with flushed cheeks and a popsicle-stained mouth."

To find out what products Pati used, and to learn how to re-create this look at home,

The Beauty in Stem Cell Research

bellasugar — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 07:00:22 -0800

After years of research, Dior has recently launched a three-product anti-aging skin care range called Capture R60/80 XP. The claim is that the ingredients in the cream mimic the function of stem cells by hunting down your wrinkles and filling them in so that they eventually disappear.

In fact, they even have a schedule for you to keep wrinkle-watch. After one hour fine lines should be less visible, after six hours your skin is said to look smoother and fuller, and after an extended period of time (anywhere from two to six months) your skin is supposed to look renewed and younger.

How about that. I never thought I'd see the day where a topical product can distinguish a wrinkle from regular skin (although, I'd like to see it before I believe it). Knowing this, you may want to avoid putting it near any cute dimples you'd like to keep! I haven't had the chance to try anything in the line yet, but at least the cost isn't as terrible as I expected (not that it's super-cheap either).

For details about each of the products,

Chanel Vs Dior: Battle of the Blue Polishes

bellasugar — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 07:00:41 -0800

If you've been following nail polish trends over the last few months, you know that Blue Satin is this season's It color. Part of the Chanel spring color collection, it's an inky shade that nearly looks black. But Dior wants you to take a new look at its blue-polish offering, which just launched as a Sephora exclusive in the States.

How will you know which blue's for you? Well, that partly depends on whether you prefer wholesome musicals or New Jack Swing. Read on:

	Chanel Blue Satin	Dior Poison Blue	Advantage?
Color	Dark navy with a subtle shimmer	Dark, glossy navy	It's a matter of personal preference, really.
Spokesmodel	Russian model Natalia Vodianova	French actress Eva Green	Chanel. Both women look intense, but the Photoshop job on Eva crushes any hope that we'll remotely resemble the ad.
Song association	Reminiscent of the "blue satin sashes" that Julie Andrews sings about with the Von Trapp children.	Inclusion of "poison" in name hints at possible Bell Biv Devoe inspiration.	Dior. (Yeah, poison.)
The backstory	Blue Satin was as sought-after as its Fall 2007 predecessor, Black Satin.	Until it became a Sephora exclusive, Poison Blue was available only abroad.	Chanel. Poison Blue is a little late to the party.
Availability	Sold out at many Chanel counters, but Nordstrom still has stock.	Only at Sephora	It's a draw.
Price	$19/.4 oz	$19/.33 oz	Chanel, by a drop.

Coming Soon: Spring 2008 Dior Flower Blossom Palette

bellasugar — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 14:00:41 -0800

I've had a peek at the new Spring 2008 Flower Blossom Collection from Dior, and the star product is springlike indeed. It's a gorgeous flower-embossed face powder palette ($45). Filled with five iridescent, pastel shades, this brightening compact is a beautiful way to highlight your cheeks and eyes.

It was inspired by the bright, enamel shades of Victoire de Castellane’s Diorette jewelry collection (pictured below) that was released in 2007. I have yet to see the rest of the makeup collection, but it is set to include ten additional products that are due on counters by mid-January.

For a complete list of all of the products and prices in the Dior 2008 Spring Flower Blossom Collection ,

Happy 60th Birthday, Dior!

bellasugar — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 09:00:01 -0800

To celebrate the sixtieth birthday of Dior, house designer John Galliano and perfumier François Demachy have created a trio of limited-edition fragrances called La Collection Particulière. The scents pay homage to Miss Dior, the original perfume created in 1947—the same year Christian Dior introduced the "new look" at his first fashion show. La Collection Particulière captures the sophisticated and feminine aura that Dior has maintained for six decades.

The three fragrances are inspired by three past Dior models and muses: France, Lucky and Victoire. Each scent focuses on one of three flowers: rose, iris, and tuberose.

Octavian Sever Coifan of 1000fragrances believes that the fragrances may also represent modern-day Dior models such as Stella Tennant (Passage N°4), Kate Moss (Passage N° and Gisele Bundchen (Passage N°9).

The bottles are made from Baccarat crystal — the same material used in the original and elegant Dior fragrances. The colors of the flacons are the same colors as the French flag. Each bottle is 2.5 ounces and sells for a hefty $490 in 30 Dior boutiques around the world.

For a detailed description of each of the three scents in the La Collection Particulière,

Eye-Brightening Makeup Pens

bellasugar — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 09:58:15 -0800

Eye brighteners are sort of in a makeup genre of their own. While they may provide minimal coverage, they are not heavy and dense as a concealer yet they are lighter than a highlighter. These brighteners are for the makeup-advanced, as many makeup artists and professionals swear by them to give eyes an instantaneous "awake" and youthful look. However, it appears that all levels of makeup lovers are catching on, since YSL's Touche Eclat Eye Brightener Pen has reached cult status.

Here are three eye brightening makeup pens (and if these aren't enough for you, LilSugar's got a few more!) Here's a helpful tip: choose the shade closest to your skin tone, as going too light will create a halo effect around your eyes. Be sure to blend well, so that the product doesn't get caught in the tiny lines around your eyes.

Laura Mercier Secret Brightener ($30) is a sheer color-correcting highlighter pen that brightens dark circles and minimizes discolorations. It works to open up the eye area and smooth out the skin. Use either alone or under your concealer.

For two more eye brightening makeup pens,

Fashionable Lip Palettes

bellasugar — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 07:00:00 -0800

These glamorous lip palettes are the It items of the fashion flock this season. Inspired by runway shows, they are sleek and chic for daytime or evening looks. Also, any one of them is a perfect accessory for any purse!

This incredible Nars J. Mendel Lip Palette ($65) is the result of a collaboration with fashion house J. Mendel and Nars. It is a limited-edition product that contains three sophisticated lipsticks and three playful lip glosses that reflect the Fall 2007 J. Mendel fashion collection.

The colors in the palette are (from top left to right) Chicaboom (sheer grape purple), Chastity (mauve), Galactica (sheer pearly white) and (bottom left to right) Dolce Vita (sheer dusty rose), Scarlet Empress (blue-red) and Viridiana (deep burgundy).

For one more fashionable lip palette,

Dior Steps into the Limelight for Holiday 2007

bellasugar — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 11:00:55 -0800

When I went to Bloomingdale's the other day, I was a really good girl—I just looked at all of the holiday collections and held off on buying anything. One that was really difficult to resist was Dior's Limelight collection, which uses some gorgeous colors to create a soft, shimmery look. Like Guerlain and MAC, it's heavy on the gold—but it's a soft gold, not a brassy one.

To find out about each of the limited-edition products,

Think Pink: Dior Couture Palette

bellasugar — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 07:00:46 -0700

Shh. Quiet. Can you hear that? That's the sound of me swooning over this Dior Couture palette ($50). The softly metallic pink packaging is beautiful, and the goods inside are completely covetable.

The palette features lip gloss and a powder bronzer, along with two little brushes for proper application. Everything stays strapped in, so you can toss it in your purse for a night on the town. It's available at Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus, with $10 for each palette purchased going to the American Cancer Society. Thanks, Off the Rack!

Love It or Hate It? Christian Dior

bellasugar — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 13:55:37 -0700

Fab says that the spring Christian Dior collection reminds her of Marlene Dietrich, and I agree. Check out the eyebrows on this model! Judging by what we're seeing on runways and the red carpet, it seems like Old Hollywood makeup is here to stay. (Well, at least for another season, anyway.) I'm not so sure about the purposely messy hair, though. It's a little too convincingly bedhead for me. What say you? Source

Love It or Hate It? Christian Dior

Love It

Hate It

Undecided

Wednesday Giveaway! Dior Diorshow Mascara

bellasugar — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 23:30:06 -0700

We're teaming with Sephora to celebrate the Best of Sephora. Sephora's clients have voted and now we reveal the results of what they thought were the best products. Each day represents a different best of category from concealer to shampoo, eye treatment to tools. Congratulations to all of the brands!

Today's winners are all mascaras. I bet it won't surprise you that Dior Diorshow came out on top—it is the most dramatic, lengthening, curling, volumizing, does-it-all mascara I've tried this year! Other top choices are Benefit BADgal Lash, Fusion Beauty LashFusion™ Micro-Technology™ Pure Protein Lash Plump, Too Faced Lash Injection, and Fresh Supernova mascara.

To enter today's giveaway for the Smashbox trio, leave a comment in the comments section below by 5 p.m. PDT / 8 p.m. EDT Wednesday, September 12, 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. Congratulations to asianchick, who won yesterday's giveaway for a Smashbox Eye Shadow Trio in Head Shot!

Blue is Back, Part IV: Electric Blue Mascaras

bellasugar — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 08:13:32 -0700

Welcome to the final installment of blue is back, my four part series on blue makeup. Today we are looking at a couple of bad-ass electric blue mascaras. These are great when navy feels too safe, but you're feeling scared that purple might make you look bloodshot. Blues are a great way to add edginess to a natural or smokey eye.

Bourjois Maxi Frange Maximum Length And Volume Mascara Waterproof in Bleu Bora Bora ($19) is a double-sided, waterproof mascara. It's a gorgeous color that reminds me of aqua-green waters just as they meet royal blue skies on a tropical horizon.

One side houses a comb containing a creamy formula to help separate the lashes and prevent clumping, and the other side houses a round brush that adds length and volume. Use both sides for the ultimate dramatic eye!

For two more electric blue mascaras,

Blue is Back, Part I: Green-Blue Eye Shadows

bellasugar — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 08:00:29 -0700

Blue makeup is back, and I'm not talking about subtle icy pastels or navys. I mean bold turquoise, ocean and sea-foam greeny-blue hues! If you think that you can't pull these off because of your eye color, think again! These new shades have no rules. Just remember a few helpful hints and you'll look fab this fall.

Choose shades that aren't too matchy with your eye color, and remember to blend well! Also, if you are going to wear bold, daring color on your eyes, then keep the rest of your makeup light.

Dior Eye Show in Aquadelic ($30) is a creamy, soufflé-textured, waterproof eye shadow that puts other color pots to shame. You just need a super-small amount to make a big impression! These shadows used to be the secret of Dior makeup artists, but now they are available to the masses!

For two more green-blue eye shadows,

Love It or Hate It? Dior's Hair Look for Fall

bellasugar — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 05:31:54 -0700

Even though I can't imagine ever having the occasion to cut my hair in such a geometrical shape, I like Dior's fall ad campaign because it's so bold. Jessica Stam is certainly the model to pull off this high-fashion hairstyle. What do you think of it? Source

Love It or Hate It? Dior's Hair Look for Fall

Love It

Hate It

Undecided

Beauty Mark It! Sparkly, Clear Lipglosses

bellasugar — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 16:00:39 -0700

This week's Beauty Mark It challenge is a special request. You see, FitSugar has run out of her favorite Dior Addict Ultra Gloss in 098—a sheer gloss with tiny little iridescent sparkles—and it's been discontinued. The closest match I can think of is Urban Decay Sparkler Pen in Dynamite, but I bet all of you have some suggestions.

So, want to help out our girl FitSugar? Share your suggestions for clear and sparkly lip glosses by Beauty Marking your favorites and tagging your choices with the phrase "sparkle gloss." I'll feature the readers' favorites on BellaSugar next Tuesday, August 8. And Fit will be eternally grateful. I bet she'd even join some of the other Sugar girls and do cartwheels all around the office to celebrate.

To learn what a Beauty Mark is and how to make one, click here. To see some of my favorite online beauty stores,

Monday Giveaway! Dior Skinflash Radiance Booster Pen In Candle Light

bellasugar — Sun, 22 Jul 2007 23:30:00 -0700

Do you, like us, obsessively inspect your skin in the mirror, and at the site of a new blemish, wrinkle,or age spot, lament, "Why? Why me?" Sephora is here to tell you exactly that. From the "whys" to the "hows" to the "what-ifs," they're answering all of your frequently asked questions—even those you're embarassed to ask. Even better, every day we're giving away one product to help you implement their expertise.

Today's question: How can I make my eyes as bright and youthful as possible?

The answer: The eyes are needier than the rest of the face. The skin surrounding them is extremely thin, so it's the first place to show signs of aging (read: fine lines, crow feet), not to mention the everyday problems of dark circles and puffiness. Your solution? The 1-2 punch of a treatment and concealer that target your specific eye concerns.

For fine lines and crows feet, treat with Prevage Eye Anti-Aging Moisturizing Treatment or Fusion Beauty Liftfusion Micro-Injected M-Tox Transdermal Eye Lift. Follow with a concealer that adds radiance, such as Make Up For Ever Lift Concealer or Dior Skinflash Radiance Booster Pen. From there, the "eyes" will have it.

To enter today's giveaway for a Dior Skinflash Radiance Booster Pen in Candle Light, leave a comment in the comments section below by 5 p.m. PDT / 8 p.m. EDT Monday, July 23, 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. And congratulations to this weekend's winners: Mystifyd83, who won a Sephora $50 gift card; and Achristi, who scored a container of Caudalie Beauty Elixir!

Love It or Hate It? Dior's Winged Eyeliner

bellasugar — Sat, 14 Jul 2007 05:30:13 -0700

I already mentioned heavily lined eyes as a huge trend, but Dior's fall runway look takes it to the next level. This winged, jagged eyeliner reminds me of a tribal tattoo, but it looks daring and even elegant here. What do you think? (And if you like the jewelry, don't miss Fab's guide on getting the look for less!) Source

Love It or Hate It? Dior's Winged Eyeliner

Love It

Hate It

Undecided

Wednesday Giveaway! Dior Diorshow Black Out Mascara

bellasugar — Tue, 19 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. Congratulations to jill_elaine, who won yesterday's giveaway for N.V. Perricone Ceramic Skin Smoother Finishing Serum.

This week, we're featuring products exclusively available at Sephora, such as Dior Diorshow Black Out Mascara ($23). If you want intense eyes, look no further—this limited-edition mascara delivers the drama with just one coat. It's infused with black powder to mimic the Dior makeup artists' trick of sprinkling lashes with powder prior to applying mascara. The result: The blackest black lashes you've ever seen. Check out my review on this mascara here.

To enter the giveaway, leave a comment in the comments section below by 5 p.m. PDT / 8 p.m. EDT Wednesday, June 20, and we'll announce the winner tomorrow when we post the next giveaway. 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!

Makeup Review: Dior DiorShow Black Out Mascara

bellasugar — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 05:23:57 -0700

If you pay attention to the hype, you might think that Dior's DiorShow Mascara can do no wrong. Indeed, the original DiorShow is a pretty amazing mascara. So when the limited-edition Dior DiorShow Black Out Mascara ($23) hit stores, I rushed out to get a tube. The mascara promised to be darker and more dramatic than the original, as well as to curl, lengthen, and add shine and volume to lashes.

Until now, I had never considered the possibility that a mascara could be too dramatic. But honestly, Black Out is too dark for me, so

Coming Soon: DiorBlush Glowing Color Powder

bellasugar — Tue, 29 May 2007 14:44:48 -0700

This August, Dior will release its new DiorBlush Poudre Couleur & Lumiere ($34). This genius powder blush is actually the same color on both sides — but one side is matte and the other is shimmery. It will be available in nine shades in three different color groups: pinks, corals, and browns.

I've just tried it out, and the sheer color is long-lasting, smooth, and very blendable. The blushes will be available at beauty counters nationwide wherever Dior products are sold. For a complete list of all nine gorgeous shades,

Matte Matters, Part I: Designer Blotting Papers

bellasugar — Tue, 29 May 2007 07:00:18 -0700

Since I discovered the new and luxuriously large Perfecting Powdered Sheets from NARS, I've noticed that more and more designer brands are now making blotting papers. Until now, oil-absorbing sheets like the ones from Papier Poudre were available mainly as a budget buy, but now these products are getting an upgrade. So I've put together a three-part series to introduce the new market for designer blotting papers.

Dior Blotting Papers ($21) help absorb any excess oil on your face. All 150 sheets are folded into a beautiful silver envelope with a mirror inside. Simply blot around your T-Zone for a magnificent matte look.

For two more blotting papers,

Dior Addict 2 Summer Peonies Fragrance

bellasugar — Fri, 25 May 2007 15:00:41 -0700

Ooh la la! This is just the scent I've been waiting for! A few short weeks ago, Christian Dior launched a new summertime fragrance called Dior Addict 2 Summer Peonies ($50). This floral and flirty eau de toilette is a slightly softer version of the original Dior Addict scent, which was launched in 2002.

The bubblegum-colored frosted glass bottle has a big "2" on the front and deeper pink peonies etched on the side. Inside you'll find a sweet and sensual scent made from peony, musk, bergamot, orange, violet, and sandalwood. It is available in a 3.4-ounce bottle at department stores and Dior boutiques nationwide.

Lovely Links, 5/17

bellasugar — Thu, 17 May 2007 14:06:09 -0700

Blogdorf Goodman rounds up makeup trends from Dior's cruise show.
Elke Von Freudenberg takes us to the Makeup Show in NYC.
Off the Rack's description of Philosophy's summer bubble baths make me want a lemonade and a soak.
Lipstick, Powder 'n Paints points us toward custom-blended lip gloss from Prescriptives.
eBeautyDaily finds a great pre-flat-iron hair product from Logics.
Kiss and Makeup tells us get a summer glow without looking like you're 12.
Product Girl says Lorac's Glam Rocks loose eye shadow is lots of fun to play with.

Christian Dior Cruise Collection 2008: Backstage Beauty

bellasugar — Tue, 15 May 2007 10:09:04 -0700

Last night in New York City, Christian Dior put on a fashion show to unveil John Galliano's 2008 ready-to-wear cruise collection. The look of the show was very 1960s mod, reminiscent of the looks we saw on the runways for fall and of Sienna Miller in Factory Girl.

The clothing was full of color, and the hair was bouffant and dramatic. Stylist Orlando Pita either created beehives or teased hair at the crown and placed a thick headband high on the forehead. Renowned makeup artist Pat McGrath also created magnificent mod looks on all of the models.

For photos and instructions on how to create this look at home with Dior makeup,

Sweet Kisses: More Valentine's Day Lip Glosses

bellasugar — Tue, 06 Feb 2007 11:12:22 -0800

These glosses are just too cute! They are as small as chocolates, but they have zero calories! Open up these cheeky compacts and he'll be sure and get the hint that you are looking for love. So jump right into the Valentine's Day spirit and make your lips look so luscious, he won't be able to resist your kiss.

T. LeClerc "Hot Lips" Gloss, $22.50, is a solid color gloss with a touch of embossed shimmery kisses mixed in. I love this brand because it keeps your lips feeling moist. Pair with a nude lip color and lipstick or wear alone. Available in two colors; seduction, which is a pale sheer pink, or fatal, a deeper pink berry colored gloss.

To see one more festive Valentine's Day lip gloss,

Red Hot Lip Glosses

bellasugar — Tue, 19 Dec 2006 05:40:56 -0800

Go red go! Even if you don't celebrate Christmas, red is a fun, bright, and festive look that maybe you wouldn't try if it were another time of year. Right now we all know that red is in the air....so get yourself red hot for the holidays! These glosses make a more subtle statement than red lipsticks because they are more sheer.

Dior Addict Plastic Gloss in Electrifying Red, $23.50, is a beautiful and brilliant gloss that doesn't hint around the fact that it's red. It's a thick and highly pigmented color that will leave your lips looking full and incredibly shiny. Dior's claim to fame is creating this wet "vinyl like" look so be prepared to turn some heads!

Bourjois Rouge Hyperfix, $16, is a double gloss! One side is a ten hour, semi-permanent lip cream that dries instantly and will keep your lips locked in with color. The other side is a sheer gloss containing silicone to add shine and vavoom! Start with the creamy side first and then apply the transparent topcoat. Even I was surprised how long this gloss lasts. This is a great gloss choice for when you are at a party and won't be able to reapply often.

For one last red ruby gloss,

Pretty in Pink Palettes

bellasugar — Wed, 13 Dec 2006 15:04:17 -0800

Pink hued makeup is a staple a woman should always have. Whether you are pale or dark skinned, a touch of pink on your face and eyes will instantly make you look healthier, more awake and will brighten you up. Check out these three pretty in pink palettes you are sure to love:

Scott Barnes Glamour To Go Stunning Pink Palette is a more dramatic group of color choices than your typical pale pinks. It's great because it's small and packs up neatly for travel. It's also a great value at $55. The set includes: four eye shadows, four lip glosses, two blushes, four mini brushes and a fold-up mirror.

The ULTA Perfectly Pink Portfolio, is only $4.99! If you ask me, this is the pretty in pink bargain of the century! The portfolio is packaged in an adorable pink faux reptile print case and includes: eight eye shadows, two double-ended lip glosses, one eye liner (which can also act as a lip pencil), two blushes, and one dual-ended applicator.

For one last pink palette,

Get Addicted to Dior Lipstick

FabSugar — Mon, 28 Aug 2006 17:38:23 -0700

If you haven't tried Dior Addict Lipstick yet, here's your excuse: The latest color, Vibrant Pink, is getting some serious press. Thanks to name checks in tons of fashion magazines and a cool new package design, the new shade is flying off shelves. Hurry up and buy it here for $23.50 before it sells out. The color looks super-shiny in the tube, but it feels more like a matte when you put it on your pout. You'll be addicted in no time.