http://bellasugar.com/ You're beautiful. en http://bellasugar.com/1732636 <p><span class="inline right"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/2/20652/26_2008/Picture 1_7.png" alt="" title="" class="image right outline preview" width="127" height="306"></span>A couple of weeks ago, I enjoyed a relaxing essential-oil head massage. "You should really keep the oils on your hair for at least an hour," my esthetician said. Fortunately, I had worn a vintage scarf that day, and so I MacGyvered a do-rag out of it for the bus ride home. Yeah, I looked like Baba Yaga, but that's the price you pay for beauty.</p> <p>Back home, when it was time to shower, I had a bout of craziness. "Wouldn't it be great," I thought, "if rinsing the oils out and not shampooing turns out to be really beautiful and healthy for your hair?" I won't lie; I had goals of making some huge hair discovery and sharing it with all of you. So I rinsed my hair thoroughly, then hit the blow-dryer. Success! My hair was shiny, smooth, and lovely.</p> <p>I left for Sugar HQ the next day happily, showing the world my Breck-girl hair. All was well until mid-afternoon, when I finally looked in the mirror. Horrifyingly, the bouncy hair of the morning had mutated into a greasy, slick mess. You know the creepy girl in <B>The Ring</b>? Yeah, like that. And as the day went on, I worried that OPEC was going to lay claim to my scalp. I think it's safe to say that things didn't go as planned.</p> <p><B>Lesson learned:</b> As it turns out, shampoo exists for a reason.</p> <p><a href="http://pro.imdb.com" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://bellasugar.com/1732636#comment beauty blooper Hair Tue, 24 Jun 2008 09:00:20 -0700 bellasugar http://bellasugar.com/1732636 http://bellasugar.com/1671912 <p>This is one for the books. The other day I was walking home from a <a href="http://www.yumsugar.com/tags/starbucks" >Starbucks</a> run when I felt something cold and wet fly into my eye — correction, <I>onto</i> my eye. I was multitasking (talking on the phone and drinking) when a tiny little bug landed on my blue Bobbi Brown <a href="http://bellasugar.com/38675" >Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner</a> that I just opened that very morning. </p> <p><span class="inline center"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/2/20652/22_2008/Flyeye.jpg" alt="" title="" class="outline image center preview" width="385" height="280"></span></p> <p>I hung up the phone, put down the coffee and peeled the fly from my eye, killing the fragile insect at the same time — gross. </p> <p><strong>Lesson Learned</strong>: Gel eye liners, cream shadows, and sticky lip glosses are traps for bugs. For anyone going camping this Summer, I suggest leaving these beauty products at home where they belong. </p> <p><a href="http://legacycreative.gettyimages.com" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://bellasugar.com/1671912#comment beauty blooper Eyeliner Thu, 29 May 2008 11:00:34 -0700 bellasugar http://bellasugar.com/1671912 http://bellasugar.com/1604928 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/10/105309/19_2008/Bad Hair Day.jpg" alt="" title="" class="left image preview" width="300" height="320"></span> Last night, some of the Sugar girls and I went out to celebrate a friend's birthday. It was a low-key affair, so I threw on a simple black sweater but decided to be a little more creative with my hair. I was experimenting with an updo with one of my new favorite products, <a href="http://www.shuuemura-usa.com/Content/ArtOfHair.aspx" target="_blank">Shu Uemura's Shape Paste</a>, a fantastic sculpting paste that creates a workable hold. But as I found out that day, a little goes a long way. After several applications my hair looked wet, as if I had just stepped out of the shower.</p> <p>I didn't have time to wash the product out, but luckily I remembered that I had some hair powder from <a href="http://www.bumbleandbumble.com/" target="_blank">Bumble and Bumble</a> that would reverse the damage I had done. Since the powder I have is tinted white, I decided to spray a minimal amount and wear my hair down. When I left the house I thought my hair looked great. Unfortunately, I was at dinner when I noticed the white powder had crystallized and fallen on my shoulders, creating the illusion of bad dandruff. Not very appetizing. </p> <p><b>Lesson learned:</b> Next time I try out a new hairstyle, I'm going to make sure that I have enough prep time to accommodate for any disasters. Ideally it would be best to work out the kinks the night before.</p> <p><a href="http://editorial.gettyimages.com" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://bellasugar.com/1604928#comment beauty blooper Bumble and Bumble hair powder Shu Uemura Wed, 21 May 2008 09:00:18 -0700 bellasugar http://bellasugar.com/1604928 http://bellasugar.com/1585907 <p>A girlfriend of mine just got back from a Southern destination wedding where she booked an afternoon massage before the event. She arrived early to the spa to take full advantage of the steam room and sauna. She was also pleased to see that the girls-only quiet room had a nice, big jacuzzi.</p> <p>Seeing as she still had some time to kill before her treatment, she jumped right into the warm water without thinking twice. She sat there, enjoying this bliss, until panic set in. Just a few minutes ago she was alone, and suddenly the room was filling with the bridal party and mother of the bride who were there for pre-wedding beauty appointments. No big deal — except for the fact that my friend was in the hot tub completely naked.</p> <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/2/20652/18_2008/SpaNaked.jpg" alt="" title="" class="outline image left preview" width="300" height="318"></span>She began to worry how she was going to get out of the hot tub since her towel was far away on a chaise. It was one thing for a stranger to see her naked, but for the bridesmaids and mother of the bride? Even worse, the women that were getting ready to join her had come wearing bathing suits. It never occurred to my friend to wear a bathing suit to a spa before! She wound up asking someone for a towel and then slithering out, covering herself in the process — all the while feeling embarrassed that she had been caught commando.</p> <p><strong>Lesson learned:</strong> Only go naked to a spa or gym if you can handle being seen by others. Also, this story makes me wonder: Do you wear bathing suits to steam rooms, saunas and hot tubs at spas?</p> <p><a href="http://www.gettyimages.com" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://bellasugar.com/1585907#comment beauty blooper spa Tue, 29 Apr 2008 07:00:03 -0700 bellasugar http://bellasugar.com/1585907 http://bellasugar.com/1568614 <p><span class="inline right"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/2/20652/17_2008/dv708018.xlarge.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image right outline xlarge" height="302" width="320"></span>It's been some time since we've had a <a href="http://bellasugar.com/tags/beauty+blooper" >Beauty Blooper</a>, but reader <a href="http://teamsugar.com/user/missy+k" >missy k</a> is getting us back into the swing of things with a mishap from this past weekend. I'll let her explain:</p> <blockquote><p>"On Friday I had a lunchtime meeting in this trendy bar called Cocoon. I was a bit early so I decided to have a browse around the shops. To my delight, I happened upon some of my favorite DuWop Lip Venom. I grabbed the sample and liberally smeared it on, feeling the familiar tingle. Blimey this stuff really does sting, but I just love how it makes my lips feel like they’ve been Angelina’d!</p> <p>"So I arrived at my meeting, feeling all bee-stung. Everything was going swimmingly until I suffered a sudden sneezing fit. Hoping I wasn’t allergic to watermelon martini, I rather unglamorously blew my nose on a napkin. In the process, I managed to smear Venom all over my chin. I quickly wiped it off but a couple of minutes later began to feel a worrisome heat creep over the area. I excused myself to the little girl’s room and to my horror, I found that my chin was covered in raised red welts! Luckily the people I was meeting with saw the funny side but still, it was pretty embarrassing. I will be more careful with Venom next time! Maybe it should carry some kind of warning!"</p></blockquote> <p><b>Lesson Learned:</b> I wouldn't usually think to test out a lip balm or gloss on the inside of my wrist, but it sounds like that might be a good idea if the product has any wacky ingredients in it. </p> <p>To submit a beauty blooper of your own, <a href="http://teamsugar.com/user/register/" >become a TeamSugar member</a> and then send me a <a href="http://teamsugar.com/privatemsg/msgto/20652?destination=user%2Fbellasugar" >private message</a>. (If you want, your story can be anonymous.)</p> <p><a href="http://www.gettyimages.com" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://bellasugar.com/1568614#comment beauty blooper Lip Venom Wed, 23 Apr 2008 10:00:55 -0700 bellasugar http://bellasugar.com/1568614 http://bellasugar.com/1111933 <p>A few years ago I was en route to my new boyfriend's house for a dinner date when I noticed that my red nail polish was beginning to chip. I knew that it would soon become an unsightly disaster, so I decided to avoid any future embarrassment by purchasing some nail polish remover before my arrival. I'm not sure why I had to be so dramatic about the whole thing, but I stopped in to use the bathroom at a restaurant around the corner to clean things up.</p> <p><span class="inline center"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl0/2/20652/11_2008/YelloOUt.jpg" alt="" title="" class="outline image center preview" width="356" height="200"></span></p> <p>Unfortunately, what I uncovered was far worse than chipped nails. A week earlier, I had been on a tropical vacation, and apparently the mixture of sun, SPF and polish had turned my nail beds an unnatural shade of yellow. My nails were the jaundiced shade of a longtime smoker's teeth, and all night long I did my best to keep them hidden. It took about a month for the color to return to normal, so I only wish that I had done something to prevent this whole mess when I was on vacation. </p> <p><strong>Lesson learned: </strong> Be sure to use a good base coat when wearing red nail polish, and always protect your nails when you are going to have excessive exposure in the sun. Try a product like <a href="http://bellasugar.com/304528" >Orly Sunscreen For Nails</a> which is a topcoat that contains SPF, or if it's too late and you need to reverse the damage, <a href="http://www.handfootcare.com/clear-acrylic-coat.htm" target="_blank">Yello-Out Clear Acrylic Top Coat </a>($7) should do the trick.</p> <p><a href="http://www.modnet.com.au/~firefrog/nails03.htm" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://bellasugar.com/1111933#comment beauty blooper Nails Yellow Nails Thu, 13 Mar 2008 08:00:47 -0700 bellasugar http://bellasugar.com/1111933 http://bellasugar.com/733486 <p>I thought that gray and yellow were supposed to be the new <a href="http://fabsugar.com/642177" >fab colors for Spring</a>, not the colors of my hair! I turned prematurely gray at the age of 20, so I've been dying my hair ever since. A few years back, I couldn't afford the maintenance, so I bought a bottle of brown hair dye and colored it myself. Overall it looked great ... until I noticed that I missed a few spots of gray right in the front.</p> <p>Instead of simply adding more brown, what did I do? I took a blond highlighting kit that I've had for years and blended the blond with the gray. What was I thinking? I ended up creating ridiculous white stripes in my hair.</p> <p><SPAN class="inline left"><IMG src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/users/2/20652/43_2007/TigerHair.jpg" alt="" title="" class="outline image right preview" width="250" height="374"></SPAN> I completely panicked and ran over to a salon. I walked in crying, and when I found out what the cost would be to fix it, I cried even harder. The hairdresser felt bad for me, so she promised to come to my house later and fix my hair with more drugstore products for a lower fee. Accepting her offer was mistake number two. To find out why, </p> <p><a href="http://bellasugar.com/733486">read more</a></p> http://bellasugar.com/733486#comment beauty blooper gray hair Hair Fri, 04 Jan 2008 07:00:29 -0800 bellasugar http://bellasugar.com/733486 http://bellasugar.com/871083 <p>A reader shared this beauty blooper with me, and I just had to pass it along. So in case you're thinking of getting eyelash extensions, read this first!</p> <blockquote><p>My now-husband and I decided to elope. I still wanted to get all gussied up for the event, so I decided to treat myself to eyelash extensions. I was excited about them because I thought they would look really natural and fabulous in all of our wedding and honeymoon photographs. I took my time and did extensive research on spas and salons, and decided on a new salon in my area that offered the treatment. </p> <p>What happened was a complete disaster! I ended up with lashes that were all the same length. I call them doll lashes since they happened to also be ridiculously long. In a feeble attempt to improve the look of my lashes, I cut them with manicure scissors. It helped a little bit (or so I thought), but when I took an objective look at them in the mirror the next day, I realized they were still too long, and now they were also uneven. </p> <p><span class="inline center"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/users/2/20652/50_2007/Longlashes.jpg" alt="" title="" class="outline image preview" width="412" height="299"></span></p> <p>I did the unthinkable and began to pry them off with tweezers. When that didn't work, I tried using an oil to remove the glue, but the salon had used so much adhesive that I wound up pulling out many of my own lashes as well. The burning and the pain was intense but once I started I couldn't dare stop! For the next two months, I had to live with sparse eyelashes until they began to regrow. Why did I allow this to happen right before my wedding?</p></blockquote> <p><strong>Lesson learned: </strong> Ask to see photos of a salon or spa's work before you have a semi-permanent treatment done. If it doesn't go well, have your eyelash extensions removed by a professional. Furthermore, if you are ever feeling pain from a beauty treatment, please seek out immediate care from a physician or an expert.</p> <p><a href="http://legacycreative.gettyimages.com" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://bellasugar.com/871083#comment beauty blooper Eyelash extensions eyelashes Thu, 13 Dec 2007 09:01:48 -0800 bellasugar http://bellasugar.com/871083 http://bellasugar.com/845268 <p>I can't believe what happened to me last week when I was innocently getting all gussied up for a big night out on the town. As a finishing touch to my fabulous <a href="http://bellasugar.com/tags/mod" >mod makeup</a> look, I decided to make my first attempt at applying false eyelashes. I read the instructions that came with my cute mini <a href="http://bellasugar.com/125604" >falsies kit</a>, applied the glue and then began to attach the fake lashes with the help of a tweezer. </p> <p>I was prepared to fumble my first time around, but boy, I completely dropped the ball. I put on way too much glue and the lashes wouldn't stick. As I was trying to press one end to my lid, the other end fell right into my eye. Not only did glue get inside, but the falsies were prickly and my eye began to water. I was blinking profusely yet still trying to keep my makeup intact, but when I looked up, my perfect black liner was badly smudged. So much for mod—I'd gone goth. </p> <p><SPAN class="inline center"><IMG src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/users/2/20652/48_2007/FakeEyelashes.jpg" alt="" title="" class="outline image preview" width="400" height="278"></SPAN></p> <p>My eyes eventually stopped stinging and I did my best to re-apply the lashes, but I wish someone had told me to try them on a bare face first! I'll never make that mistake again. Do you have any <a href="http://www.bellasugar.com/tags/beauty+blooper" >beauty bloopers</a> of your own to share with me? If so, become a <a href="http://www.teamsugar.com" >TeamSugar</a> member by <a href="http://teamsugar.com/user/register/" >registering here</a> and then send me a <a href="http://teamsugar.com/privatemsg/msgto/20652?destination=user%2Fbellasugar" >private message</a>.</p> <p><a href="http://legacycreative.gettyimages.com/" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://bellasugar.com/845268#comment beauty blooper eyelashes False Eyelashes Fri, 07 Dec 2007 09:00:32 -0800 bellasugar http://bellasugar.com/845268 http://bellasugar.com/817692 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/users/2/20652/47_2007/56678737.xlarge.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image left outline xlarge" height="213" width="320"></span>Usually, <a href="http://bellasugar.com/tags/beauty+blooper" >Beauty Bloopers</a> involve anonymous tales from readers. This one, though, is all Bella. This weekend, I had a hot date with Mr. Bella, or at least a lukewarm one. (How scorching can Scrabble be, you know?) So I took a shower, dried off, and thought, "Oh, I have an hour left before we meet up. I think I will use this new Astara mask!"</p> <p>So I put on the mask (a full review will follow, of course) and felt it stinging a little bit. No pain, no gain, I figured. Plus, some of the best masks are gonna do that... they'll eat away the dead skin. After 10 minutes, I washed off the mask. As I was rinsing, I could feel how smooth and soft my skin was. Hooray! I patted my skin dry, looked into the mirror, and shrieked.</p> <p>Have you seen any horror films lately? I haven't, but after looking in the mirror, I won't need to for a few years. My face was as red as a tomato. Or a lobster. You get the idea. It was not exactly the luminous, foxy-lady look I was going for. Can you work "red-faced" into Scrabble?</p> <p><strong>Lesson learned</strong>: Use a facial mask when you're relaxing, not before an event. And if you're trying a product for the first time, go with a patch test first.</p> <p><a href="http://editorial.gettyimages.com" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://bellasugar.com/817692#comment beauty blooper mask Tue, 20 Nov 2007 08:00:58 -0800 bellasugar http://bellasugar.com/817692 http://bellasugar.com/770474 <p>Welcome back to another <a href="http://bellasugar.com/tags/beauty+blooper" >Beauty Blooper</a>. My hope is that by sharing our mishaps, we'll see that nobody's perfect—and we can learn a few lessons along the way, too. Here's this week's anonymous tale:</p> <p>"Hey Bella, I wanted to share my beauty blooper with you so that other readers don't make the same mistake I have. Since <a href="http://bellasugar.com/769231" >red nails</a> are this season's hottest trend, I went out and bought a bottle of that gorgeous Saratoga color from the <a href="http://bellasugar.com/641081" >Nars Holiday 2007 Siren Song Collection</a>. I figured that I could afford to splurge on a designer polish, since I was going to get at least ten at-home manicures out of the bottle. </p> <p>"I could barely wait to get from the mall to my house to get to work, so at each stop light I'd paint another digit. As you can imagine, this wasn't the brightest idea. By the end of the ride I'd managed to paint all but three nails. I didn't use a base coat, I didn't treat my cuticles and the messy red polish wound up all over my fingers.</p> <p><SPAN class="inline left"><IMG src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/users/2/20652/45_2007/badmanicure_0.jpg" alt="" title="" class="outline image left preview" width="250" height="277"></SPAN> "To tidy things up, I took out my wooden stick tool, wrapped it in cotton and dunked it in nail polish remover. When that didn't work at removing the pink stains, I went to town with my cuticle cutter.</p> <p>"You should see the sad condition of my fingertips now. They're puffy, red, sore, dehydrated from the polish remover and I no longer have any cuticles left. My blood-red manicure is a bloody mess!"</p> <p><strong>Lesson Learned</strong> Patience is a virtue, especially when it comes to beauty. If you aren't going to take the time to give yourself a proper manicure, let a professional do your dirty work. </p> <p>To submit a beauty blooper of your own, simply become a <a href="http://www.teamsugar.com" >TeamSugar</a> member, <a href="http://teamsugar.com/user/register/" >register here</a> and then send me a <a href="http://teamsugar.com/privatemsg/msgto/20652?destination=user%2Fbellasugar" >private message</a>!</p> <p><a href="http://www.gettyimages.com" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://bellasugar.com/770474#comment beauty blooper manicure Red Nail Polish Thu, 08 Nov 2007 13:00:49 -0800 bellasugar http://bellasugar.com/770474 http://bellasugar.com/710178 <p>Ever get a pimple — the really, really big kind that hurt? You know better than to poke or probe it, but it's too hard to sit there and do nothing. This happened to a friend of mine the other day and instead of leaving well enough alone, she squeezed and squeezed it. Since nothing came out to relieve her of the pain and pressure, she decided to sterilize a needle and puncture it at the root. </p> <p>However, what came out wasn't sebum, it was blood. What was once a manageable red bump was now a bleeding puffy and bright red mess. She knew that an infection was bound to occur, so she ran over to the dermatologist for a cortisone injection to manage the swelling and kill off the bacteria. Two days later it scabbed and thankfully a week later it's almost 100% healed. </p> <p><SPAN class="inline center"><IMG src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/users/2/20652/42_2007/Piicker.jpg" alt="" title="" class="outline image preview" width="544" height="300"></SPAN></p> <p><strong>Lesson Learned</strong> C'mon gals—You know better than to mess with cystic blemishes. Next time, soak the heck out of it and then apply a mask overnight to dry it up and bring it to a head. Wash your face, apply a <a href="http://www.bellasugar.com/tags/spot+treatment" >spot treatment</a> and then cover it up with some makeup. Leave the needles to the M.D.'s please!</p> <p><a href="http://legacycreative.gettyimages.com" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://bellasugar.com/710178#comment beauty blooper Blemish pimles Spot Treatment Fri, 19 Oct 2007 14:00:25 -0700 bellasugar http://bellasugar.com/710178 http://bellasugar.com/659079 <p>Since I have <a href="/12395" >green eyes</a>, I've always been told that purple shades of eye shadow would be a great way to make my eyes pop. So a couple of days ago I went to the drugstore and bought a creamy purple shadow and a deep purple eyeliner. As I was doing my makeup for a night out with my girlfriends, I wasn't completely sold on my new look, but I thought I'd get my friends' opinion before tossing my brand new goods.</p> <p>All night long my friends kept asking me if I was okay. After the third interrogation, I got a little bit annoyed and I headed for the ladies' room to take a load off. I figured I could count to ten and then come out all smiles — after all, nothing was wrong! At least I thought nothing was wrong until I looked in the mirror and noticed something dreadful.</p> <p><SPAN class="inline center"><IMG src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/users/2/20652/39_2007/greeneyespurple.jpg" alt="" title="" class="outline image preview" width="425" height="301"></SPAN></p> <p>My eyes looked completely bloodshot and red. The new purple makeup I bought was having some kind of counter-effect on me! I vowed to throw it away once I got home and to finally go and get a professional makeover. Has this ever happened to anybody else? </p> http://bellasugar.com/659079#comment beauty blooper Green Eyes Makeup purple eye shadow Tue, 16 Oct 2007 07:00:22 -0700 bellasugar http://bellasugar.com/659079 http://bellasugar.com/676687 <p>One morning before work I decided to cut my own bangs. I thought that a harmless little trim (that would save me a $125 salon visit) intended to get the wisps out of my eyes would be no big deal. Instead, it turned into a big ol' mess. </p> <p>As I was trying to create perfect symmetry, I found myself continuing to cut a piece here and a piece there and before I knew it, my bangs now originated in the middle of the crown of my head. What had I done — my flirty wisps had turned into chunky bangs!</p> <p><SPAN class="inline center"><IMG src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/users/2/20652/40_2007/Bangs.jpg" alt="" title="" class="outline image preview" width="475" height="302"></SPAN></p> <p>There's a reason why hair dressers tell you to never cut your own hair. I had uneven and ridiculously thick bangs that were going to take eons to grow out. Not only did I wind up having to buck up the $125 for a professional visit, but I had to endure a full day at work with my mistake —that's the last time I'll ever get scissor happy!</p> <p>Please share more of your beauty bloopers with me. Submitting your stories is a cinch. If you aren't already a <a href="http://www.teamsugar.com" >TeamSugar</a> member, all you have to do is <a href="http://teamsugar.com/user/register/" >join here</a> and send me a <a href="http://teamsugar.com/privatemsg/msgto/20652?destination=user%2Fbellasugar" >private message</a>. I look forward to hearing from you!</p> <p><a href="http://legacycreative.gettyimages.com/" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://bellasugar.com/676687#comment Bangs beauty blooper Hair Thu, 04 Oct 2007 11:00:45 -0700 bellasugar http://bellasugar.com/676687 http://bellasugar.com/598459 <p>Another Thursday, another Beauty Blooper! This one comes from an anonymous reader who was brave enough to share her story:</p> <p>"Help me, BellaSugar! I went to the drugstore and purchased an over-the-counter chemical peel that left my face burning. My skin was very red and blotchy. The best analogy I can think of is that I resembled Samantha from the <a href="http://www.hbo.com/city/episode/season5/episode71.shtml" target="_blank">Sex and the City</a> episode, "Plus One is The Loneliest Number." It's the one where she decides to get a chemical peel before Carrie's book launch. </p> <p>"After three days, it started to heal but it was still very sensitive, and I wouldn't dream of going outside in the sun. I found that cold compresses and the gel from a natural aloe plant were very soothing, but nothing else seemed to help. One thing's for sure: I'm not getting a chemical peel again anytime soon, unless it's done by a professional."</p> <p><SPAN class="inline center"><IMG src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/users/2/20652/36_2007/SamanthaPeel.jpg" alt="" title="" class="outline image preview" width="450" height="280"></SPAN></p> <p><strong>Solution:</strong> If you haven't tried a strong treatment before, do a small patch test to see how your skin will react. If your face is burning, you can also try an over-the-counter anti-inflammatory cream such as <a href="http://www.topricin.com" target="_blank">Topricin</a> (or really any <a href="/206655" >anti-redness cream</a>) since they contain calming agents. Also, if you'd like to cover up the blotchiness, use mineral makeup since it's natural and it won't clog your pores. To read about more unfortunate beauty bloopers, <a href="/tags/beauty+blooper" >click here</a>.</p> <p><a href="http://www.hbo.com/city/episode/season5/episode71.shtml" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://bellasugar.com/598459#comment beauty blooper Burn microdermabrasion Redness Cream For Your Face Skin Care Thu, 13 Sep 2007 12:00:23 -0700 bellasugar http://bellasugar.com/598459 http://bellasugar.com/598352 <p><SPAN class="inline left"><IMG src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/users/2/20652/36_2007/Foundation.jpg" alt="" title="" class="outline image right preview" width="250" height="375"></SPAN> In June, I bought a new bronzer and some other really fun, brightly colored makeup. It was the beginning of summer, so I had a little bit of a base tan, and all season, I've gotten tons of compliments on my fresh-faced, glowy look! However, I've been working indoors a lot the past month and my tan has now substantially faded. </p> <p>Last night I went to dinner with a bunch of gal pals and proceeded to meet a group of young, single men. Everything was going well until one of the cuties told me that I had some dirt on my jawline. As I feverishly wiped it away with my white cocktail napkin, we both looked down to find a smattering of way too-dark foundation. It was really humiliating, and now I feel like I've wasted so much money on makeup that doesn't even flatter my fair fall skin.</p> <p><strong>Simple Solution:</strong> Mix in a little bit of pale foundation to the bottle to lighten the color. And as far as powders and color choices go, blend the powder using a big fluffy brush or sponge and use the colors with a gentle touch and you should be fine. Don't worry, it's not a total waste! </p> <p><a href="http://legacycreative.gettyimages.com/" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://bellasugar.com/598352#comment beauty blooper Foundation Makeup Thu, 06 Sep 2007 14:00:08 -0700 bellasugar http://bellasugar.com/598352 http://bellasugar.com/580084 <p>In May, I decided to buy a package of laser hair removal treatments. It was time for me to get my body bikini-ready for Memorial Day and I figured that would give me ample time. I went in raring to go, but my goodness—the pain of laser removal is just unbearable! During every treatment I whimpered and vowed that I would never return, but because of all the money I spent on the package and because I wanted results, I continued to go back again every week and endure more torture.</p> <p>At least my numbing remedies would vary. One week it was a couple shots of Jack Daniels, another week I actually tried rubbing the JD on my body to numb it, but nothing seemed to work. A friend recommended a product to me called <a href="http://www.topicaine.com/?gclid=CNTbrL39nI4CFSUgEAodtwiXSQ" target="_blank">Topicaine</a>. What this does is numb your skin if you put it on an hour before your treatment. </p> <p><SPAN class="inline left"><IMG src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/users/2/20652/35_2007/Numb.jpg" alt="" title="" class="outline image left preview" width="250" height="203"></SPAN> I've never been more excited to run to the drugstore. I thought this was the product to save the day... until I got so Topicaine happy that after I applied it to my upper lip, by accident, I licked my lips! </p> <p>The second I did it, I knew the error of my ways. Everything went tingly...and then it went numb. I couldn't feel my tongue, then my throat. I showed up to my appointment slurring my words (as if I just had Novocaine), but at least I was confident that this treatment would be pain free.</p> <p>What a disappointment. The cream didn't numb the pain at all. Somehow, it actually felt worse. As I lay there with a numb mouth, all I could think about was Jack Daniels. I only went to one more appointment but I'd say I have about a 75% reduction of hair. No biggie, the remainder is nothing my <a href="http://www.drugstore.com/qxp139762_333181_sespider/schick_quattro_for_women/razor_with_2_refill_cartidges.htm" target="_blank">Schick Quattro</a> can't handle.</p> <p><a href="http://www.gettyimages.com" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://bellasugar.com/580084#comment beauty blooper Hair Removal laser hair removal Schick Quattro Fri, 31 Aug 2007 09:00:24 -0700 bellasugar http://bellasugar.com/580084 http://bellasugar.com/558873 <p>Hey everyone! I just want to remind you to keep sending in your beauty bloopers. Help me help your fellow beauty addicts learn from your mistakes and mishaps! Today's blooper involves one anonymous reader's spray tan slip-up.</p> <p>"I decided to try spray tanning a couple of months ago for a wedding I was attending in the Bahamas. As a first-timer, I diligently watched the video, applied the barrier cream in all the right places and held my breath for 30 seconds like I was instructed. When it was over, I began to towel off until I noticed drippings falling from the shower cap onto my face. I frantically blended them for fear of splotches, and at the same time, I was intermittently wiping off my hands so they wouldn't stain and give away my secret.</p> <p><SPAN class="inline left"><IMG src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/users/2/20652/34_2007/MysticTan.jpg" alt="" title="" class="outline image left preview" width="250" height="310"></SPAN> "Because I was so concerned with my face, I completely skipped out on rubbing in the self tanner on the backs of my arms, shoulders and back. Four hours later I took a shower and didn't notice a thing. </p> <p>"In the morning, I hopped on a plane to the wedding where I was excited to show off my new tan. However, just as I was getting jiggy on the dance floor, a bridesmaid came over and gently pointed out that my back was covered in little orange spots. I was so totally mortified that I spent the remainder of my time at the wedding in the bathroom trying to fade the tan spots with lemon juice."</p> <p><br class=clear-both /></p> <p><strong>Lesson learned:</strong> Be patient and meticulous if you are going to get a spray tan, since there is nothing worse than an obvious, cheetah-print faux glow!</p> http://bellasugar.com/558873#comment beauty blooper Self Tanner Skin Care spray tan Thu, 23 Aug 2007 11:15:14 -0700 bellasugar http://bellasugar.com/558873 http://bellasugar.com/540540 <p>Hey everyone! It's that time of the week again for another beauty blooper. Hopefully these little anecdotes from anonymous readers help prevent future beauty mishaps for many of you! This week's disaster is about eyebrows: </p> <p>"About a month ago, I was preparing to go on vacation with my family and realized that my eyebrows needed some shaping. I passed on a professional treatment and instead bought a DIY <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sally-Hansen-Strip-Brow-Bikini/dp/B000AAAVZE" target="_blank">Sally Hansen Wax Strip Kit</a> ($6.59). The left side came out perfect. I was meticulous in my application and I was excited about saving myself a few bucks. Then I applied the strip to my right eyebrow, but I was cocky and not nearly as careful. </p> <p><SPAN class="inline center"><IMG src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/users/2/20652/33_2007/EyeBrow.jpg" alt="" title="" class="outline image preview" width="375" height="276"></SPAN></p> <p>"When I looked down at the strip, there was way too much hair there. I reluctantly looked in the mirror and saw that I had taken off the middle of my brow. I have dark, thick hair, and this looked like a reverse mohawk on my eye! </p> <p>"After a consultation with my sister, I ended up making an emergency dash to Sephora for an <a href="/64828" >Anastasia Brow Pencil and Stencil</a>. It's been a while and all I really need now is some powder. Looking back, the whole incident is very funny, but at the time I was horrified." </p> <p><strong>Lesson Learned: </strong> Pay attention when using hot wax on your body, and know when to turn to a professional!</p> <p><a href="http://www.gettyimages.com" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://bellasugar.com/540540#comment beauty blooper Eyebrows Fri, 17 Aug 2007 12:57:33 -0700 bellasugar http://bellasugar.com/540540 http://bellasugar.com/510519 <p>Here's a lesson for all of you out there who are looking to dye your hair dark. Thanks to a brave anonymous BellaSugar reader, you can consider yourself all the wiser about double-dying! </p> <p><SPAN class="inline left"><IMG src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/users/2/20652/32_2007/HairDoubleDye.jpg" alt="" title="" class="outline image left preview" width="250" height="342"></SPAN>"My brother's girlfriend convinced me to dye my hair black. I didn't like the way it turned out, so I tried to dye over it—only to find out that you can't dye over black like you can with other colors. </p> <p>I was told to go to a beauty supply store to buy something to remove the color. It turned my hair blond at the roots and orange in the length. It looked horrible. </p> <p>Also, you are supposed to wait a couple of days once you strip the color away to begin dying again. I endured this humiliation, wearing a baseball cap around town for three days, until I tried to fix the color...but to no avail. It didn't take, and it left my hair looking like a wet Barbie doll's—gross!</p> <p>Finally, I went to a hairdresser for a professional treatment, and we decided the only salvation was to cut all of my hair off. It's been a whole year and finally my hair is just getting back to normal. I will never again do anything to my hair myself again!"</p> <p><strong>Moral of the story:</strong> If you're planning a drastic change, a professional colorist is your best friend.</strong></p> <p><a href="http://www.gettyimages.com" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://bellasugar.com/510519#comment beauty blooper Hair Hair Dye Fri, 10 Aug 2007 09:00:00 -0700 bellasugar http://bellasugar.com/510519 http://bellasugar.com/449336 <p>This one's for all of you who out there who love the beach and think that because you have a mid-summer base tan, you can cut corners with your <a href="/tags/Sunscreen" >sunscreen</a>. Think again! Just last summer, towards the end of July, I had a really big party to attend. I decided to spend the day at the beach so that I could beef up my tan and have a fresh sun-kissed look for the evening. </p> <p>I figured that by using an SPF 15, I'd be well protected. Like I said, I had a pretty nice base tan already and I was sure that as long as I reapplied every few hours, I'd be golden! I even bought a self-tanning oil with SPF 15 because I wanted to my skin to be feel extra-soft and moisturized.</p> <p><SPAN class="inline center"><IMG src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/users/2/20652/30_2007/Sunburn_0.jpg" alt="" title="" class="outline image preview" width="500" height="299"></SPAN></p> <p>I was sorely mistaken! And boy, do I mean sorely. My entire body was sensitive and sunburned to the max. How could this have happened? The bottle said that I would be protected 15 times longer in the sun than if I wasn't wearing anything at all. It should be needless to say, my night was ruined. I couldn't go to the party—I couldn't even put on a bra. I spent the night in an oatmeal bath drinking water and taking aspirin. So what's the lesson learned? Make sure that you are wearing adequate sunscreen and that you steer clear of oil if your body can't handle it—otherwise, you're only asking for trouble. </p> <p><a href="http://www.gettyimages.com" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://bellasugar.com/449336#comment Beach beauty blooper Sunscreen Thu, 26 Jul 2007 16:00:01 -0700 bellasugar http://bellasugar.com/449336 http://bellasugar.com/411261 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/users/2/20652/29_2007/BEA_088.preview.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image outline left preview" height="350" width="229"></span>Welcome to the second installment of <a href="/tags/beauty+bloopers" >Beauty Bloopers</a>. A beauty blooper can be anything from a brow wax gone wrong to having lipstick on your teeth. So don't be shy—share your stories and I'll post some of them here on BellaSugar (anonymously, of course).</p> <p>Since it's <strong>The Honeymoon's Over</strong> week here in Sugar-land, I thought it would be appropriate to share a "couple" incident. I'll let our anonymous newlywed take it away...</p> <blockquote><p>I love taking baths to relax and unwind, and I like trying unusual and colorful kinds of bubble baths. My husband, however, is more into showering, so usually he lets me bathe alone. One day he thought it would be romantic to take a bath together, so I directed him toward my bath supplies and let him run the tub. But we couldn't have known the disaster that would ensue... </p></blockquote> <p>To find out what happened, </p> <p><a href="http://bellasugar.com/411261">read more</a></p> http://bellasugar.com/411261#comment Bath bath products beauty blooper glitter Lush the honeymoon's over Thu, 19 Jul 2007 08:00:57 -0700 bellasugar http://bellasugar.com/411261 http://bellasugar.com/391011 <p>Welcome to BellaSugar's new feature, <strong>Beauty Bloopers</strong>. A beauty blooper can be anything from a botched wax job to a haircut catastrophe to going out in the sun after using Retin-A. I've got a slew of my own, but I'd love for you to share yours with me and the rest of the world (don't worry, you'll remain anonymous). </p> <p><SPAN class="inline left"><IMG src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/users/2/20652/28_2007/Redhair.jpg" alt="" title="" class="outline image left preview" width="275" height="275"></SPAN> Submitting your stories is a cinch. If you aren't already a <a href="http://www.teamsugar.com" >TeamSugar</a> member, all you have to do is <a href="http://teamsugar.com/user/register/" >join here</a> and send me a <a href="http://teamsugar.com/privatemsg/msgto/20652?destination=user%2Fbellasugar" >private message</a>. This is your chance for some real down-and-dirty girl talk—and who knows, sharing your beauty misfortunes might even save another gal from her own glam trauma!</p> <p>To read my personal anecdote to get the ball rolling, </p> <p><a href="http://bellasugar.com/391011">read more</a></p> http://bellasugar.com/391011#comment beauty blooper Sun In Thu, 12 Jul 2007 15:12:59 -0700 bellasugar http://bellasugar.com/391011