BellaSugar -- You're beautiful.

New Product Alert: Mark Skin Care

bellasugar — Fri, 02 May 2008 08:00:24 -0700

Mark, Avon's sister brand, is aimed at a younger audience — hence the choice of Lauren Conrad as the spokesmodel. Its target audience is teenagers and early twentysomethings, but after trying its new skin care line, I'm convinced this brand should have a wider appeal.

Don't look for a lot of gimmicks from this line; it's all about good basics such as cleansers, toners, and moisturizers. Everything is loaded with antioxidants, it's oil-free, and it's also fragrance-free. The scents of the products come from food-derived ingredients such as sugar maple, bilberry, pomegranate, and pumpkin seed. A great feature is the lotion packaging: you just press down on the top and the right dose of moisturizer comes out.

If you try one thing from this line, make it For Goodness Face ($15). This moisturizer features a broad-spectrum SPF 30 sunscreen (with dark chocolate and blueberry to provide antioxidants). It absorbs quickly and works well under makeup, and it has the vague scent of cocoa beans. The only drawback? I like it so much that I used up a jar within a month.

Model of the Week: Amy Bracco

bellasugar — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 08:00:02 -0700

Welcome back to Model of the Week, where we reveal the beauty and fashion secrets of top models.

Today, we're getting up close and personal with Amy Bracco, a Walnut Creek, Calif., native whose fresh face was discovered at a local modeling competition. Throughout high school, she spent her summer vacations modeling in Los Angeles and New York, then later moved on to other fashion capitals such as Paris, Sydney, and Milan.

Bracco has appeared in countless ad campaigns — including shoots for Guess, Diesel, Coach, DKNY, Tretorn, Dove, and Clinique — as well as TV ads for Pantene, Samsung, Oil of Olay, and Garnier Fructis.

When she's not modeling, she loves traveling, supporting the Natural Resources Defense Council, and cooking for her friends. She's also big fan on rock concerts, writing, and spa days — ahhh, a gal after my own heart. To see what Amy had to say about fashion, visit FabSugar, and to see her beauty secrets and a photo gallery,

Sunday Giveaway! L'Occitane Shea Travel Treasures Set

bellasugar — Sat, 02 Jun 2007 23:30:42 -0700

Hey, guess what? Since we had so much fun with last month's BellaSugar giveaways, we're extending the partnership with our very generous friends at Sephora through the end of June! So all month, we'll once again be giving away a different product every day, including weekends.

We're starting the month off with a healthy conscience by celebrating the booming organic beauty movement. As we beauty junkies grow concerned about the chemicals we put in our bodies, beauty brands are responding with eco-conscious products. Today's organic giveaway is a L'Occitane Shea Travel Treasures Set ($56 value). I am a big fan of L'Occitane, so I was psyched to read that the brand is in the process of making all of its products organic. This kit includes travel sizes of some great L'Occitane goodies, including Shine Enhancing Shampoo and Conditioner, Shower Cream, Body Lotion, Pure Shea Butter, Milk Soap, Lavender Soap, and Shea Butter Hand Cream.

To enter the giveaway, leave a comment in the comments section below by 5 p.m. PDT / 8 p.m. EDT Sunday, June 3, and we'll announce the winner on Monday, June 4. Please, only ONE comment per person; duplicate comments will be discarded, so commenting more than once won't up your chances of winning. Also, 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, just click here. Good luck!

Bella Bargain: 20 Percent Off at Lancôme, Today Only!

bellasugar — Fri, 01 Jun 2007 11:22:04 -0700

Thanks to SheFinds for posting this rare and wonderful sale. Today, for one day only, Lancôme is offering 20 percent off everything on its web site. I really can't tell you how exciting this is, because Lancôme's products are truly luxurious but (obviously) quite expensive.

If you like the brand's stuff, now's the time to stock up. If you're new to Lancôme, I recommend the Définicils Pro Mascara, the great new Color Fever Gloss, and the Tonique Clarté toner. To get the discount, just enter the code EMPLOYEE when you check out. Happy shopping!

Giveaway of the Day! Limited-Edition Fusion Beauty LiftFusion Duo

bellasugar — Wed, 30 May 2007 23:30:18 -0700

To celebrate the very exciting launch of BellaSugar, we're giving away a different product every day in May, thanks to our very generous friends at Sephora. Before we get to our final giveaway of the month, let me offer a big congratulations to Brookrene, who won yesterday's giveaway for the Clarins Sun Wrinkle Control Cream SPF 30.

For today's prize, we have something extra special: a limited-edition LiftFusion set, featuring two products with a combined value of $229. The Fusion Beauty LiftFusion Micro-Injected M-Tox Transdermal Face Lift and Eye Lift are designed to smooth fine lines and wrinkles — like getting a plumping injection without a needle! The Eye Lift is designed especially for the delicate skin around your eyes, while the Face Lift can be used all over. Both are designed to firm skin and fill in facial lines for up to 24 hours. This stuff just looks so luxe, I can only imagine how great it would feel. If you've tried LiftFusion, please tell me what you think, because I have been dying to try this stuff.

To enter the giveaway, just leave a comment in the comments section below by 5 p.m. PDT / 8 p.m. EDT Thursday, May 31, and we'll announce the winner 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. Also, 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, just click here. Good luck!

Beauty Mark It! Sleeveless-Friendly Deodorant

bellasugar — Wed, 30 May 2007 14:30:22 -0700

When it comes to clothes, nothing screams Summer like sleeveless tops, from weekend tank tops to sassy spaghetti-strap dresses. But before you ditch the sleeves, it's important to arm yourself with the right deodorant. Hence, this week's Beauty Mark It challenge: sleeveless-friendly deodorants.

For years, I have been sampling all sorts of clear gels and invisible solids, trying to find one that works but won't leave behind white marks. Most recently, I discovered Dove Ultimate Clear Cool Essentials, but I'm always on the lookout for something better!

I'd love to hear about your favorite go-to deodorants for sleeveless clothes, so tell me by Beauty Marking them. Just tag your choices with the phrase "Sleeveless Deodorant." I'll feature my favorites on BellaSugar next Tuesday, June 5.

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

Brand-New Brand: J. Blossom

bellasugar — Wed, 30 May 2007 10:33:54 -0700

J.Blossom is a brand with a clear mission, and a warm, fuzzy one at that. Founder Jamila White created the bath and body products with children of color in mind, looking to keep kids both clean and carefree. In a recent interview with Afrobella, White explains her motivation:

"I felt like little girls’ self-esteem was under an all-out assault. Every message was telling them that something was wrong with them; that they needed to have long, straight hair; that their skin wasn’t the right shade; that their noses were too big; that their body wasn’t the right shape ... "

To that end, every product in the J. Blossom line — including bubble bath, lip balm, and body lotion — comes with an "affirmation" on the label, such as "I have a beautiful smile" and "Beautiful skin comes in all shades – yummy chocolate, smooth caramel, or creamy vanilla!" For details on the products,

Beauty Marked! Beach Beauty Essentials

bellasugar — Tue, 29 May 2007 11:55:08 -0700

You may have heard that FabSugar is going to Greece — lucky girl! So in honor of her upcoming island-hopping adventure, I devoted last week's Beauty Mark It challenge to finding the beach beauty essentials she'll need for her trip.

With hair, makeup, and skincare products to consider, this challenge was incredibly extensive, and I really think we've covered all the bases, from beach-inspired palettes to protective hair masks and post-sun balms. You can see all of the Beach Beauty Marks here, and check out my picks below. (To learn what a Beauty Mark is and how to make one, click here.)

Beauty Mark #1: Neutrogena Fresh Cooling Body Mist Sunblock ($8.99), found by Mellie_608, who says: "This is my favorite sunblock. I like the cooling sensation and the ease of use. All you do is spray it on and let it dry. No more greasy hands. I hate greasy hands, especially when sand is involved!"

Beauty Mark #2: Pout Palm Beach Compact ($2, found by Spun Sugar, who calls this her "fave 'do it all' compact for summer. Two lip colors and two cheek/highlighter colors. Great on the go!"

Beauty Mark #3: Juice Beauty SPF 15 Tinted Lip Moisturizers ($15), found by Elpatterson, who calls these "perfect for beachy glamor" and says they "feel great on, like you're wearing nothing but a creamy balm."

Three more beach beauty essentials when you

Lotion Up For Landing, Part II

bellasugar — Wed, 23 May 2007 14:45:00 -0700

Welcome back to the second installment of Lotion Up for Landing, my three-part series on hydrating face creams that will quench your skin after a long flight. (Be sure to check out part I, too.) Not only are these creams luxuriously rich, but they're also less than 3 ounces, so you can toss them in your carry-on luggage without worry.

Hydra-Chrono Hydration Extreme Balm from Lierac ($47) is the perfect rich face balm for flights. It contains a moisturizing complex so divine that skin instantly looks hydrated and more supple. It also contains a technology called Aqua-pump, which acts like a hydraulic pump for your skin to reach the surface and the deep-down layers to help prevent wrinkles. To purchase, you can call 1-877-5-LIERAC or check the where to buy section.

For two more super-rich moisturizing lotions,

Reminder: 20% Off Everything at Beauty.com Today!

bellasugar — Wed, 23 May 2007 09:17:06 -0700

Twenty percent off everything on one of the biggest beauty sites on the Web? It almost sounds too good to be true. But rest assured, it's very real. On Wednesday, May 23 — that's today! — Beauty.com is hosting a special one-day only sale where everything on its web site will be marked down 20 percent.

The sale ends at 11:50 p.m. PDT. I love sales like this, because they give me an excuse to try new products and stock up on old favorites. What will you buy?

Many thanks to Beautiful Makeup Search for the tip.

Model of the Week: Cynthia Kirchner

bellasugar — Wed, 23 May 2007 08:00:12 -0700

It's Wednesday, which means it's time to meet BellaSugar's latest Model of the Week. Today, we're getting up close and personal with 25-year-old Cynthia Kirchner, a 5-foot-8 blond-haired beauty with stunning green-blue eyes.

Born in Hazleton, PA, Kirchner has four brothers, a sister, and a two-pound teacup poodle named — get this! — Bella. She started modeling in 2002, and in her very first week with Nous Models, she'd already booked ads Guess and Abercrombie & Fitch. She has since appeared on the covers of Cosmo and WWD, as well as in music videos for Enrique Iglesias ("Don't Turn Out the Lights") and Justin Timberlake ("Like I Love You").

Kirchner has also done catalog work for almost all major department stores, and her fabulous face has graced advertising campaigns for Express, Nautica, Redken, L'Oreal, Garnier, Target, Christian Lacroix, and Olympus. When she's not modeling she enjoys taking long walks, reading, writing, eating sushi and ice cream, and traveling to Paris and London from her current NYC residence. Cynthia is also pursuing a couple of hush-hush movie projects.

Read what she had to say about fashion on FabSugar, and to learn her beauty secrets and see some of her modeling highlights, including her Garnier Fructis commercial,

Do You Wear Sunscreen Every Day?

bellasugar — Wed, 23 May 2007 04:30:54 -0700

Summer is right around the corner, which means it's time to start stocking up on sunscreen. With all of the SPF-enhanced products on the market these days, it's easy to wear sunscreen every day — I, for one, never leave the house without SPF 15 moisturizer on my face. What about you? Source

Cosmetics Companies Treat Spring Fever

bellasugar — Mon, 21 May 2007 16:36:22 -0700

I guess cosmetics companies know that the secret to great marketing is to resonate with your audience, and if there is one strong feeling I'm having right now, it's Spring fever! So I thought I'd tell you about three great Spring products with feverishly cute names that are making me even more excited to use them.

Do you think product names have a subliminal effect on your buying power? Tell me below, and check out these perfect products for Spring. They look good, smell good, and make me feel warm all over.

Clarins Summer Fever Lip Colour Palette ($24.50) is a lip gloss palette that includes six shiny, sun-colored glosses. The texture of the glosses is really quite smooth, and they have a sweet and fruity flavor to them. Colors in the palette include bright pink, sheer shimmering peach, shimmering bronze rose, juicy coral, sheer beige shimmer, and shimmering light pink.

To more remedies for Spring fever, so

KT Tunstall Hearts Earth-Friendly Origins

bellasugar — Fri, 11 May 2007 16:30:12 -0700

Origins and Scottish singer KT Tunstall have joined forces in support of Project Sunshine, a non-profit that helps children and families dealing with AIDS, cancer, and other serious medical conditions. Tunstall had been searching for a company to partner with and felt that Origins was the best fit, because of its organic style and earth-friendly products. When Tunstall became the face of Origins, the singer and the brand chose Project Sunshine as their charity of choice.

Every time Origins opens a new store, it donates 10 percent of the first day's sales to the local Project Sunshine chapter. On Monday, Tunstall will play at Project Sunshine's annual gala, and the Empire State Building will be lit in yellow in support of the charity.

To read about Tunstall's five favorite Origins products,

Doing Drugstore: Skin Milk Facial Scrub Exfoliate

bellasugar — Tue, 08 May 2007 05:01:23 -0700

I've long lusted after the Skin Milk line at the drugstore, mainly because of the adorably retro and oh-so-wholesome packaging. Now, after trying the Skin Milk Facial Scrub Exfoliate ($5.49), I'm happy to say the brand's appeal is more than superficial. The bargain buy has a gritty yet gentle texture that gets rid of flakes, but it's also nice and foamy, so it's fun to use.

Apparently, it — like milk — is enhanced with Vitamins A, D, and E, but it's tough to know what that's doing for my face. I'm far more enamored by the scent, so

Giveaway of the Day! Sephora Sun Safety Kit

bellasugar — Thu, 03 May 2007 23:30:00 -0700

To celebrate the very exciting launch of BellaSugar, we'll be giving away a different product every day in May, thanks to our very generous friends at Sephora. And yes, every day includes the weekends, too, so be sure to check back on Saturday and Sunday for even more great free stuff!

First of all, a big congratulations to Clew001, the winner of yesterday's giveaway for a Sephora Blockbuster Palette! Now for today's prize, which is especially cool as we move into the hotter months. The Sephora Sun Safety Kit (a $67 value) brings together eight sun-protection lotions, potions, and other products — including Bliss and Juice Beauty finds — in one summery yellow travel bag. Can a girl ever have too much sunscreen? Of course not!

To enter the giveaway, simply leave a comment in the comment section below by 5 p.m. PDT / 8 p.m. EDT Friday, May 4, and we'll announce the winner 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. Also, 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, just click here. Good luck!

Bella Bargain: Origins Offer Through May 6

bellasugar — Thu, 03 May 2007 11:30:19 -0700

I always love an excuse to try new Origins products, so I am intrigued by this promotion going on from now until May 6 (that's Sunday!) at Origins' retail outlets. Here's the deal: Make an appointment for some complimentary pampering with the All's Well mini facial at an Origins store. The staff will recommend the products right for your skin and give you a full-sized (!) freebie of one of five Origins face cleansers. Just visit Origins store locator page to find the retail outlet nearest you.

Thanks to The Daily Obsession for the tip!

Brand-New Brand: Boots Health and Beauty

bellasugar — Thu, 03 May 2007 00:00:47 -0700

Cheerio, mates! Boots, the wildly popular British cosmetics and skincare brand, was developed way back in 1849, but it has finally made its way stateside. Actually, Boots started sneaking into the U.S. in 2004, but only a few products were released, and not in many stores at all.

Now, the Boots products are available to the masses nationwide in more than 1,500 Target stores and 500-plus CVS outlets. The entire collection consists of five different lines, including:

No 7: An insanely popular cosmetics and skincare brand.
Botanics: A makeup, skin care, bath, and body line derived from plant extracts from the Royal Botanical Gardens of Kew in London.
Time Dimensions: A skincare line geared toward anti-aging.
Mediterranean: A bath and body care line made from natural, wholesome, and organic ingredients.
Feel The Difference: A collection of vitamins and supplements that help to cleanse and purify your skin.

Boots hosted a star-studded U.S. launch party on Tuesday night at Hollywood's Sunset Tower Hotel. To see a gallery of the celebrity guests — including Paris Hilton, Ali Larter, Christina Milian, and Emmy Rossum —

Welcome to BellaSugar!

bellasugar — Wed, 02 May 2007 15:36:35 -0700

Welcome to BellaSugar, the newest addition to the Sugar Network! Many of you already know me from FabSugar, where I've been blogging proudly about my beauty addiction for months. Now, I'm delighted to have my very own site, where I can indulge my never-ending desire for new, gorgeous goodies. I would also like to thank Sephora who has helped us sponsor the launch of Bella.

I am a self-proclaimed beauty junkie who is totally incapable of passing a makeup counter without stopping. There's so much I can't wait to share, so here's a peek at what you can expect:

Makeup, skincare, and fragrance reviews
New product alerts and industry news
Daily free giveaways sponsored by Sephora Click here to enter today's contest.
Weekly Beauty Mark It! challenges
Makeup and beauty how-tos
Reader contributions from Beauty Product Junkies
Celebrity beauty do’s and don’ts
Beauty bargains
Exclusive interviews with models
Monthly must-haves

So, apply a coat of your favorite lip gloss and get ready to start reading! If you've got ideas for features you'd like see on BellaSugar, feel free to send me a private message any time!