http://bellasugar.com/ You're beautiful. en http://bellasugar.com/1896886 <p><span class="inline right"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/2/20652/35_2008/ex-z300pk_large.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image right outline preview" width="190" height="229"></span>I can think of many moments when the photo op was right, but my face was looking wrong. Like the treasured photo on Christmas morning 2006: Dark circles and puffy eyes masking the happiness of holding my mother's gift of a thong. (Not kidding.)</p> <p>Well, look out Photoshop, Casio's got a new way to hide those imperfections. The soon-to-be-released Exilim Zoom EX-Z300 and the EX-Z250 come equipped with a special "makeup button." Yep, it's like having your own makeup artist with just a little click.</p> <p>According to <a href="http://techon.nikkeibp.co.jp/english/NEWS_EN/20080825/156804/" target="_blank">Tech-On!</a>, this function can recognize facial features and adjust accordingly, covering dullness and blotchiness and reducing the appearance of shadows. Casio says it "makes the skin tone look softer and smoother, while covering annoying little wrinkles." While it can't actually do your mascara and lipstick, I'm all for a camera that boosts my complexion along with my ego.</p> <p><a href="http://exilim.casio.com/" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://bellasugar.com/1896886#comment beauty byte Casio Thu, 28 Aug 2008 14:01:02 -0700 bellasugar http://bellasugar.com/1896886 http://bellasugar.com/1893833 <p><span class="inline right"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/2/20652/35_2008/baddress.xlarge.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image right outline xlarge" height="320" width="233"></span>You know how <a href="http://bellasugar.com/1697843" >Kate Hudson helped design a hair-care line</a>? Well, things are getting more snarled than a day-old bouffant, because Kate's been hit with a lawsuit. <a href="http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/b25813_kate_hudsons_hairy_situation.html" target="_blank">E! Online reports</a> that Kate and hair stylist David Babaii worked with 220 Laboratories, which developed a "Vanuatu Complex" for the products. But according to the lawsuit, things got hairy when the duo took the top-secret ingredient and took it to another manufacturer, which agreed to create the line for less money.</p> <p>220 Laboratories admits that their deal with Kate and David was an oral agreement, not a written contract. And Kate's publicist, Brad Cafarelli, says, "Kate does not know the plaintiffs and has never met with them or spoken with them. Her representatives believe that the claims are baseless and without merit and intend to vigorously defend the lawsuit." I'm hoping that's the case — Kate just doesn't seem like the kind of ruthless person to steal someone's formula, does she?</p> <p><a href="http://www.wireimage.com" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://bellasugar.com/1893833#comment beauty byte David Babaii for Wildaid kate hudson Tue, 26 Aug 2008 11:00:18 -0700 bellasugar http://bellasugar.com/1893833 http://bellasugar.com/1885545 <p>If you notice construction going on at your local CVS in the near future, it might be more than just a pharmacy drive-thru remodel. You probably shop at CVS for wide variety of inexpensive beauty delights — but soon, you'll be able to pop in for fancy items as well.</p> <p><span class="inline center"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/2/20652/34_2008/cvs1.preview.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image center outline preview" width="400"></span></p> <p>White-tiled flooring, brushed steel fixtures, seafoam green walls at CVS? Yep — according to <a href="http://www.wwd.com/beauty-industry-news/moving-into-prestige-cvs-set-to-roll-out-luxury-beauty-units-1722714/" target="_blank">WWD</a>, the drugstore chain is ready to unveil Sephora-sized, high-end beauty emporiums called Beauty 360. The first concept store is set to open by year's end in a major city on the East Coast. You won't have to go searching far, as Beauty 360 stores will pop up in adjacent areas to CVS's pre-existing locations or in a separate store within CVS. </p> <p>Although the exact brands to be carried at this high-end store remain a mystery, “department store or specialty store brands" will be available. There's also talk of including "express services" like massages and manicures. Since subsequent plans include opening 500-1000 Beauty 360s <i>and</i> the majority of women live within 5 miles of a CVS, I'm sure you'll be moving on up yourself very soon.</p> <p><a href="http://www.wwd.com" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://bellasugar.com/1885545#comment beauty 360 beauty byte cvs Fri, 22 Aug 2008 13:00:47 -0700 bellasugar http://bellasugar.com/1885545 http://bellasugar.com/1879224 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/2/20652/34_2008/PaulStarr.larger.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image left larger" height="240" width="172"></span></p> <p>Sad news: <a href="http://www.wwd.com/beauty-industry-news/makeup-artist-paul-starr-dead-at-48-1720179?browsets=1219231514914" target="_blank">Paul Starr</a>, the influential makeup artist to celebrities like Angelina Jolie, Madonna and Bjork, was found dead at his Los Angeles apartment Tuesday. Starr was the first in-house makeup artist for Estee Lauder, the founding Beauty Editor of Flaunt magazine, and the author of <a href="http://bellasugar.com/1000993" >On Beauty: Conversations with Thirty Celebrated Women</a> (which includes original interviews with Lindsay Lohan, Pam Grier, Britney Spears, and Joni Mitchell, among others). He worked with the best designers, directors and photographers in the industry. The cause of death has not been determined. </p> <p><a href="http://wireimage.com/" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://bellasugar.com/1879224#comment beauty byte Paul Starr Wed, 20 Aug 2008 04:42:28 -0700 bellasugar http://bellasugar.com/1879224 http://bellasugar.com/1869351 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/2/20652/33_2008/NaomiWatts.larger.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image right larger" height="240" width="139"></span></p> <p>This October, Thierry Mugler is releasing a new version of his 1992 perfume, Angel; the new scent is called Angel Les Parfums Corps. According to <a href="http://www.wwd.com/beauty-industry-news/lilly-pulitzers-new-squeeze-fragrance-1717112?module=today#/article/beauty-industry-news/angel-hitches-star-to-body-products-1717141?navSection=beauty-industry-news" target="_blank">WWD</a>, the nine items (exfoliating cream, hair mist, deodorant) will be as strongly scented as the perfume thanks to a new technology called the IDS-Intense Diffusion System technique. Sounds fancy.</p> <p>British actress Naomi Watts, who wore the designer's gown to <a href="http://fabsugar.com/1608250" >The Met's Costume Institute Gala</a>, has signed on as the face of the new fragrance as well as the <a href="http://bellasugar.com/1586914" >Thierry Mugler cosmetics line</a> I told you about back in May. Truthfully, I'm surprised Naomi hasn't had a large contract like this before — but it's certainly a good way to ring in her 40th birthday next month.</p> <p><a href="http://www.wireimage.com/" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://bellasugar.com/1869351#comment beauty byte Naomi Watts thierry mugler thierry mugler angel Fri, 15 Aug 2008 13:00:47 -0700 bellasugar http://bellasugar.com/1869351 http://bellasugar.com/1834971 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/2/20652/31_2008/neutrogenamischa.jpg" alt="" title="" class="outline image right preview" width="270" height="404"></span>Naughty, naughty Neutrogena! <a href="http://www.wwd.com/beauty-industry-news/#/article/beauty-industry-news/industry-watchdog-asks-neutrogena-to-tweak-ads-1695555?navSection=beauty-industry-news" target="_blank">WWD reports</a> that Unilever (specifically Dove skin care) has filed a complaint with the the National Advertising Division of the Council of Better Business Bureaus because they feel that three of the tag lines within Neutrogena ads contain misleading statements. The tag lines are:<br /> <blockquote> <li>"#1 Dermatologist Recommended"</li> <li>"No wonder dermatologists recommend Neutrogena most"</li> <li>"One more reason why Neutrogena is recommended most by dermatologists"</li></blockquote> <p>Dove believes these ads insinuate that dermatologists recommend the Neutrogena brand overall, not just specific products. Johnson &amp; Johnson (Neutrogena's parent company) refuses to comment on litigation, but if they don't comply with these challenges, they risk involvement from the Federal Trade Commission. Do you feel that exaggerating is a form of a lie? And considering <a href="http://bellasugar.com/673629" >Rimmel's dust-up</a> and <a href="http://bellasugar.com/442608" >L'Oréal's advertising troubles</a>, do you think we'll see more clarity in marketing anytime soon?</p> <p><a href="http://www.nmmlp.org/what_we_do/Bad_Ad_Contest_2006/Neutrogena.html" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://bellasugar.com/1834971#comment beauty byte Neutrogena Fri, 01 Aug 2008 13:00:06 -0700 bellasugar http://bellasugar.com/1834971 http://bellasugar.com/1796252 <p>Karl Lagerfeld is gearing up to release three new unisex fragrances (Mademoiselle Coco Chanel would be so proud) called <a href="http://www.wwd.com/beauty/article/126560" target="_blank">Kapsule</a>, which will be launching first in Europe and then in America by the end of November. </p> <p>The book-like bottles were inspired by Mr. Lagerfeld's love of geometry. Conceptually, the scents are supposed to resemble three different volumes and the packaging is modeled after the book's slipcases. Lagerfeld himself is featured in a picture in the ads and it is intended to represent him looking out at his fragrances much like how a designer peers out from behind the curtain during fashion shows.</p> <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/2/20652/29_2008/KarlKapsule.jpg" alt="" title="" class="outline image left preview" width="250" height="377"></span> The three Kapsule scents, which are called Light, Floriental, and Woody took more than nine months to create. They contain notes of fresh bread, woods, vanilla, and spices (mmm) and they can either be worn alone or layered together depending on your mood. </p> <p>Lagerfeld says: "I don't like heavy, flowery things. I think there are never enough fragrances — they are so much fun to play with. I do strange mixes. There is no gender in perfumes anymore."</p> <p>Each of the eau de toilette fragrances will be available in 30 ml ($59) or in 75 ml ($108). </p> <p>To read about the ingredients in Light, Floriental, and Woody, </p> <p><a href="http://bellasugar.com/1796252">read more</a></p> http://bellasugar.com/1796252#comment beauty byte Fragrance Karl Lagerfield Fri, 18 Jul 2008 16:20:45 -0700 bellasugar http://bellasugar.com/1796252 http://bellasugar.com/1791544 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/10/105309/29_2008/Rachel-Zoe-Pic.jpg" alt="" title="" class="left image preview" width="250" ></span>It seems that when one door closes, another opens. That's certainly true of the dynamically busy Rachel Zoe, who <a href="http://www.fashionologie.com/1790682" target="_blank">may be out as an advisor</a> at Halston but is having no problem filling her time. She's a stylist to the stars, there's a TV show in the works (<a href="http://buzzsugar.com/1553012" >The Rachel Zoe Project</a>), and she's rumored to be a guest judge on this season's <b>Project Runway</b>, but <a href="http://blogs.fashionweekdaily.com/?p=5017" target="_blank">up next is fragrance designer</a>. A source close to the project said this "scent will really reflect her personal style and hopefully finally brand her.” </p> <p>I've heard Zoe speak before, and at the time she was obsessed with '70s glamour. So, I'm thinking a bit of patchouli might be in the mix. What are your expectations, if any, for the scent?</p> <p><a href="http://www.gettyimages.com/Editorial/Editorial.aspx" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://bellasugar.com/1791544#comment beauty byte Perfume Rachel Zoe Thu, 17 Jul 2008 07:00:22 -0700 bellasugar http://bellasugar.com/1791544 http://bellasugar.com/1778541 <p>If you're mad about manicures, you'll like this: <a href="http://www.wwd.com/beauty/article/126406?page=0" target="_blank">WWD reports</a> that Robbie Schaeffer (OPI founder George Schaeffer's son) and Daniel Schilleci have opened a 3,000-square-foot eco-friendly big-budget nail salon in the Los Angeles area. The idea is to banish the stereotypes that nail salons are dirty, unprofessional <a href="http://bellasugar.com/1611979" >fungus-filled</a> atmosphere.</p> <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/2/20652/28_2008/OpiPolish.jpg" alt="" title="" class="outline image left preview" width="248" height="441"></span>It includes eight mani/pedi stations and four private rooms designed using eco-friendly materials. Also, it's decorated in a neutral palette to create a boutiquey, unisex feel.</p> <p>Treatments include sanitizer-doused towels and new surgical-grade cleaned tools that will be used on you by one of the 16 extensively trained nail technicians. </p> <p>The owners are so committed to providing excellent service that they will also be doling out services. Talk about rolling up your sleeves and being hands on. Manicures range from $18 to $65 and pedicures can cost anywhere from $40 to $70 depending on the type of treatment you choose. </p> <p>The salon will carry OPI products and Murad skin-care products. If you live in the area or are planning a visit, get excited because the doors are due to open later this month.</p> http://bellasugar.com/1778541#comment beauty byte OPI Tue, 15 Jul 2008 11:00:23 -0700 bellasugar http://bellasugar.com/1778541 http://bellasugar.com/1750516 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/2/20652/27_2008/LeslieBibb.jpg" alt="" title="" class="outline image right preview" width="250" height="402"></span> Almay <a href="http://www.corporate-ir.net/ireye/ir_site.zhtml?ticker=REV&amp;script=410&amp;layout=0&amp;item_id=1170673" target="_blank">has announced</a> model and actress Leslie Bibb as their newest brand ambassador. You may remember this funny lady from <a href="http://buzzsugar.com/tag/Talledega+Nights" >Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby</a>, <a href="http://www.bellasugar.com/tag/Iron+man" >Iron Man</a>, or even from her brief stint on <a href="http://www.bellasugar.com/tag/entourage" >Entourage</a>.</p> <p>This time, Leslie will be acting in commercials and appearing in online, in-store, and print ads. Also, I just discovered that she is going to be in the new Summer movie <a href="http://bellasugar.com/tag/confessions+of+a+shopaholic" >Confessions of a Shopaholic</a>, which I can't wait to see. Looks like big things are happeneing for Ms. Bibb, no? Other Almay ambassadors include the lovely Elaine Irwin-Mellencamp (who kinda looks like <a href="http://www.bellasugar.com/tags/blake+lively" >Blake Lively</a>, don't you think?) and model Marina Theiss. Do you think Leslie is a good fit?</p> <p><p><div style='float:left;line-height:8px;margin-bottom:10px;font-size:9px'> <div id=mask-1467 class=mask style=';width:100px;height:100px;overflow:hidden;background:#FFF;margin:0px 8px 8px 0px;border:0px solid #111;padding:0px;' onmouseover={style.borderColor='#cc0000'} onmouseout={style.borderColor='#111'}> <div style='margin-left:0px;margin-top:0px;padding:0px;'> <a target=gallery4 class='thumb2 active ' href=http://bellasugar.com/gallery/view/1750549?page=0,0,0><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/2/20652/27_2008/ActressLe_John_15766927_600.mediumsquare.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image mediumsquare" width="100" height="100" /></a> </div> </div> </div><div style='float:left;line-height:8px;margin-bottom:10px;font-size:9px'> <div id=mask-17086 class=mask style=';width:100px;height:100px;overflow:hidden;background:#FFF;margin:0px 8px 8px 0px;border:0px solid #111;padding:0px;' onmouseover={style.borderColor='#cc0000'} onmouseout={style.borderColor='#111'}> <div style='margin-left:0px;margin-top:0px;padding:0px;'> <a target=gallery4 class='thumb2 ' href=http://bellasugar.com/gallery/view/1750549?page=0,1,0><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/2/20652/27_2008/ElaineIrw_Duffy_11891155_600.mediumsquare.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image mediumsquare" width="100" height="100" /></a> </div> </div> </div><div style='float:left;line-height:8px;margin-bottom:10px;font-size:9px'> <div id=mask-20852 class=mask style=';width:100px;height:100px;overflow:hidden;background:#FFF;margin:0px 8px 8px 0px;border:0px solid #111;padding:0px;' onmouseover={style.borderColor='#cc0000'} onmouseout={style.borderColor='#111'}> <div style='margin-left:0px;margin-top:0px;padding:0px;'> <a target=gallery4 class='thumb2 ' href=http://bellasugar.com/gallery/view/1750549?page=0,2,0><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/2/20652/27_2008/000000062790-marina_theiss-fullsize.mediumsquare.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image mediumsquare" width="100" height="100" /></a> </div> </div> </div></p><br clear=all></p> <p><a href="http://www.wireimage.com" target="_blank">Source</a> and <a href="http://www.fashionmodeldirectory.com" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://bellasugar.com/1750516#comment Almay beauty byte Celebrity Beauty Leslie Bibb Tue, 01 Jul 2008 13:00:43 -0700 bellasugar http://bellasugar.com/1750516 http://bellasugar.com/1729553 <p><span class="inline right"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/2/20652/26_2008/Picture 1_5.larger.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image right outline larger" width="240" height="158"></span>In the '90s, celebrities weren't as popular and influential as they are today — especially when it comes to beauty endorsements. Now, a <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/22/business/media/22celeb.html?8dpc=&amp;adxnnl=1&amp;adxnnlx=1214151346-BZuAOGh8Wa3eZNINk3EnmQ&amp;pagewanted=all" target="_blank">New York Times article</a> shows that the age of celebrity-endorsed products is just heating up. According to the story, celebrities appeared in nearly 14 percent of ads last year — more than twice the number of those 10 years ago. To find out what's going on, </p> <p><a href="http://bellasugar.com/1729553">read more</a></p> http://bellasugar.com/1729553#comment beauty byte Celebrity Beauty Mon, 23 Jun 2008 14:06:24 -0700 bellasugar http://bellasugar.com/1729553 http://bellasugar.com/1712655 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/2/20652/24_2008/emma.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image left outline preview" height="400" width="277"></span>Well, <I>that</i> didn't last long. Keira Knightley, who last year <a href="http://bellasugar.com/267866" >replaced Kate Moss</a> as the face of Coco Mademoiselle perfume, is being replaced herself! Chanel's new pick is 18-year-old Emma Watson, best known for her role as Hermione Granger in the <a href="http://buzzsugar.com/1114889" >Harry Potter movies</a>. The <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/celebritynews/2135766/Emma-Watson,-Harry-Potter-actress,-is-new-face-of-Chanel-fragrance.html" target="_blank">Telegraph reports</a> that Emma will earn a hefty £3 million (almost six million dollars) for her two-year contract. </p> <p>I love Emma, but this news is a little bit surprising. While Coco Mademoiselle is among Chanel's "younger" fragrances, I don't think I would have worn it as a teenager. It's fresh and beautiful, but it has a sophisticated edge that works best on someone a few more years out of girlhood. Emma will probably work some of her magic for the brand, but do you think it's a good fit?</p> <p><B>Update</b>: My friends at <a href="http://offtherack.people.com/2008/06/16/emma-watson-as-the-new-face-of-chanel-100-not-true/?xid=bella" target="_blank">Off The Rack</a> report that the whole thing is untrue.</p> <p><a href="http://www.wireimage.com" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://bellasugar.com/1712655#comment beauty byte Chanel Coco Mademoiselle emma watson Fragrance Mon, 16 Jun 2008 07:00:34 -0700 bellasugar http://bellasugar.com/1712655 http://bellasugar.com/1691376 <p><a href="http://www.wwd.com" target="_blank">Coming this August</a> to a Target store near you are three, more affordable versions of designer cosmetics collections by Jemma Kidd, Pixi Cosmetics, and Napoleon Perdis. The reason for the push, according to consultant Allan Mottus, is that "Target is not doing well in mass beauty." Aside from <a href="http://www.bellasugar.com/tags/sonia+Kashuk" >Sonia Kashuk</a>, a brand that they have a financial relationship with, the beauty department is not being properly maintained.</p> <p><span class="inline center"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/2/20652/23_2008/TargetBeauty.jpg" alt="" title="" class="outline image center preview" width="525" height="252"></span></p> <p>Prepare yourself to see TV, print, and online ads promoting the new brands along with in-store testers to encourage shopper interaction with the products. Each of the brands have modified their collections for the mass appeal, however they claim to remain similar to the coveted designer products.</p> <ul> <li>Jemma Kidd's line, JK Jemma Kidd has a heavy fashion inspiration with products ranging from $14 to $36. </li> <li>Napoleon Perdis' line, NP Set will consist of 85 products housed in white packaging with the phrase "What's in it for me?"</li> <li>Pixi Cosmetics' line, Pixi by Petra (Petra is the name of one of the founding sisters) stands by its good-for-your-skin angle and will sell products ranging in price from $12 to $39. </li> </ul> http://bellasugar.com/1691376#comment beauty byte Jemma Kidd napoleon perdis Pixi Cosmetics Target Fri, 06 Jun 2008 13:00:35 -0700 bellasugar http://bellasugar.com/1691376 http://bellasugar.com/1690169 <p><span class="inline right"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/2/20652/23_2008/rbrb_3416.xlarge.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image right outline xlarge" height="320" width="213"></span>Would you give up mascara? Allergan, the maker of Botox, hopes you will. The company <a href="http://agn360.client.shareholder.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=313732" target="_blank">is working on a drug</a> to make eyelashes grow longer. The catch? It's already available for different purposes. </p> <p>Lumigan, a formulation of bimatoprost, is a glaucoma drug that can be used (off-label, of course) to grow eyelashes. Cosmetics such as RevitaLash and the original formula of Jan Marini Age Intervention Eyelash have used the drug in their formulations, but Allergan is the first to seek FDA approval for its cosmetic use.</p> <p>But like any drug, bimatoprost has side effects. <a href="http://www.fda.gov/CDER/DRUG/InfoSheets/patient/bimatoprost.htm" target="_blank">According to the FDA</a>, it may cause the skin around the eye to darken, or the eyes could change color altogether. Not exactly the cosmetic wonders I'd like to experience. I'll stick with mascara or <a href="http://bellasugar.com/324526" >lash extensions</a>, but if the FDA approval goes through, expect to see people rush to their doctors in search of longer lashes. Will you be one of them?</p> <p><a href="http://www.gettyimages.com" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://bellasugar.com/1690169#comment beauty byte eyelashes Fri, 06 Jun 2008 09:00:00 -0700 bellasugar http://bellasugar.com/1690169 http://bellasugar.com/1680136 <p><span class="inline right"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/2/20652/22_2008/1_225_PREVIEW.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image right outline preview" height="203" width="233"></span>One of the little secrets of the fashion industry is that any given designer's big money comes from selling perfume, not dresses. It makes sense: Most women can't afford a Dior gown, but they can splurge on a Dior fragrance. Those beauty sales add up to make millions of dollars.</p> <p>So it's no surprise that <a href="http://fabsugar.com/tags/tory+burch" >Tory Burch</a> is working on her own signature fragrance. The <a href="http://www.latimes.com/features/lifestyle/la-ig-notebook1-2008jun01,0,2705611.story" target="_blank">LA Times reports</a> that along with adding to her accessories line, Burch is developing a fragrance. "I like coriander and tuberose and Vetiver by Guerlain," she says. There's not much news beyond that at this point, but I wouldn't be surprised if the scent were to launch in a year or two.</p> <p>She's not the only one, though. Queen Latifah is also getting into the scent business. To find out more about it, </p> <p><a href="http://bellasugar.com/1680136">read more</a></p> http://bellasugar.com/1680136#comment beauty byte Fragrance Tory Burch Mon, 02 Jun 2008 08:00:25 -0700 bellasugar http://bellasugar.com/1680136 http://bellasugar.com/1674787 <p><span class="inline center"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/2/20652/22_2008/HSN.jpg" alt="" title="" class="outline image center preview" width="450" height="149"></span>According to an article in <a href="http://www.wwd.com" target="_blank">WWD </a>, Home Shopping Network (HSN) has just taken on a number of new beauty brands including Sephora, Est&eacute;e Lauder, and Coty. CEO Mindy Grossman feels that their shoppers are looking for a more diverse, celebrity-driven assortment of products. They consider experts in the beauty field (i.e. hairstylists and makeup artists) to be modern celebrities, too. Grossman chose to build the beauty arena because it's such a popular sector, and there's a lot of opportunity (and money to be made) by teaming up with beauty brands. She says:<br /> <blockquote> <p>One of the most exciting partnerships was with Sephora. The relationship was and still is a significant focus for us and we launched with a live remote from their landmark Fifth Avenue store in December, where virtually every product sold out in just a little bit more than an hour. </p></blockquote> <p>HSN isn't necessarily focusing on high-end luxury beauty or low-end drugstore products. Rather, they are carefully choosing an assortment of brands that are affordable to a variety of budgets. They have been working to organize, weed out, and edit over $125 million worth of merchandise they have in stock. </p> <p>Whoo-hoo, I love spring cleaning! This can only mean big things to come for HSN. I guess I am in the minority when I say that I've never bought anything from them, but it makes me wonder — are you a Home Shopping Network customer?</p> http://bellasugar.com/1674787#comment beauty byte Fri, 30 May 2008 12:00:49 -0700 bellasugar http://bellasugar.com/1674787 http://bellasugar.com/1647638 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/2/20652/21_2008/56677332.larger.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image larger left outline" height="160" width="240"></span>For years and years, cosmetics companies have been trying to get men to buy into skin care. For a moment there, it seemed like the metrosexual might make it all work. Alas, the metrosexuals have dwindled in number. A <a href="http://uk.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUKL2037005820080521" target="_blank">new report</a> reveals that British men have responded to grooming hopes with a big "no dice."</p> <p>Marketing group Mintel has released survey results that reveal:<UL><LI>The average British man spends less than $5 a year taking care of his skin.</LI><LI>Thirty-five percent of British men feel that it's important to look young, but 55 percent of French and Spanish men do.</LI><LI> The male skincare market is worth less than one tenth of the women's equivalent.</LI></UL></p> <p>I'm not surprised by these findings, since most men I know have to be told that Irish Spring is not so great for their skin. Doubt I'm the only one wondering, "And they had to do a survey for this information?!" Please. Hand me a tweed jacket and I'll play Professor Bella, whose work on Obvious Male Behavior will be no doubt groundbreaking. Wink.</p> <p><a href="http://www.gettyimages.com" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://bellasugar.com/1647638#comment beauty byte Oh Man Wed, 21 May 2008 07:00:49 -0700 bellasugar http://bellasugar.com/1647638 http://bellasugar.com/1627643 <p>Interior design veteran and legendary New York City hostess Charlotte Moss hasn't even let the ink dry from the launch of her book, <strong>A Flair for Living</strong>. But she's already creating buzz about her new and first fragrance called <a href="http://www.fashionweekdaily.com/news/fullstory.sps?iNewsid=3760482" target="_blank">Left Bank</a>. The inspiration for the Egyptian cypress, pink peppercorn blossom, incense, crushed pepper tree leaves and lemongrass scent came from her love of shopping in the Left Bank of Paris. </p> <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/2/20652/20_2008/CharlotteMoss.jpg" alt="" title="" class="outline image left preview" width="250" height="377"></span> In fact, in an interview with the Columbus Dispatch she <a href="http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/home_garden/stories/2007/09/09/ANTIQUES.ART_ART_09-09-07_H1_MC7PDJQ.html?sid=101" target="_blank">said</a>,<br /> <blockquote> "I love the hunt. I love walking down the Left Bank after dinner, looking in windows at night. I can't wait to get back the next day because that chandelier might be gone if I wait. I enjoy the whole process."</p></blockquote> <p>Left Bank is due out in stores this August along with scented travel candles and a perfume lid candle ($55 – $105). Charlotte has always reminded me a little bit of a luxe Martha Stewart — and just look how well her enterprise has done. Do you think you'd be interested in trying anything from the Left Bank product range? </p> <p><br class=clear-both /></p> <p><a href="http://www.wireimage.com" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://bellasugar.com/1627643#comment beauty byte Charlotte Moss Fragrance Thu, 15 May 2008 12:00:10 -0700 bellasugar http://bellasugar.com/1627643 http://bellasugar.com/1626064 <p><span class="inline right"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/2/20652/20_2008/tenteki10.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image preview right outline" height="280" width="200"></span> In Tokyo, beauty creams and supplements are <I>so</i> passe. At <a href="http://tenteki.jp/" target="_blank">Tenteki10</a>, a walk-in IV drip center in the luxe Ebisu district, you can roll up your sleeves to receive an IV filled with skin-supporting ingredients. For about $20 to $35, physicians will hook you up — literally — with a solution designed to combat complexion woes. Different packs address issues such as aging, hyperpigmentation, acne, and dull hair. (The "placenta" pack uses cell growth factor, and it's not clear whether this indeed comes from human placenta.)</p> <p>All of this might sound like a scam at first, but Tenteki10 is a subsidiary of a medical clinic. The IV drips are given by trained physicians, but the service isn't covered by the Japanese healthcare system. Still, a Tenteki10 doctor insists that it the treatment isn't just cosmetic. <a href="http://www.japantoday.com/category/lifestyle/view/drop-by-iv-drip-service-helps-stressed-tokyoites" target="_blank">He said</a>:<br /> <blockquote> It’s "preventive medicine." Also, we don’t publicize this service like a business, nor do we suggest it to anyone. We just leave leaflets at the clinic. We think of it as an option for people to raise their awareness of daily health management on their own.</p></blockquote> <p>Hmm. I couldn't help but notice that more than half of the treatment options address beauty concerns. Even if they did provide great results, you'd have to drag me kicking and screaming to jab a needle in my arm. Is this treatment something you'd be willing to try, or are you needlephobic like me?</p> http://bellasugar.com/1626064#comment beauty byte japan Tue, 13 May 2008 11:06:34 -0700 bellasugar http://bellasugar.com/1626064 http://bellasugar.com/1619136 <!-- no strip poll --><div id="epoll-view-1619136"></div><script type="text/javascript">new Ajax.Request('/epoll/view/1619136',{method:'get',onSuccess:function(transport){var epoll=$('epoll-view-1619136');epoll.update(transport.responseText);}});</script><noscript><p><p><span class="inline right"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/2/20652/19_2008/adv_2689.larger.JPG" alt="" title="" class="image right outline larger" height="240" width="175"></span> Uma Thurman is having a litigious year. It wasn't long ago that <a href="http://uk.popsugar.com/1610293" rel="nofollow">her stalker fan</a> was found guilty, but now she's suing Lancôme — to the tune of $20,000,000.</p> <p>Uma's beef? As a former Lancôme spokesmodel, <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080509/people_nm/thurman_lancome_lawsuit_dc" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">she complains</a> that the French brand continued to use her likeness to sell products even after her contract had expired. For instance, Thurman's image showed up on Canadian billboards and Asian web sites after the contract expired. Lancôme, who filed suit against Uma earlier this week to beat her to the legal punch, claims that those were accidents. "The use of Ms. Thurman's image after her contract expired, however minor, was neither deliberate nor intentional," a spokeswoman said. </p> <p>Uma is asking for at least $5 million for four separate claims, which could net her $20 million. Now, I'm no Matlock, but I think <I>someone</i> is asking for a pretty big payday, especially considering she was likely paid a few million dollars for her endorsement in the first place. Whose side are you on, Uma's or Lancôme's?</p> <p><a href="http://www.bwgreyscale.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Source</a></p> <br clear=all /></p><p><!-- no strip poll --><form action="/1619136" method="post" id="epoll_view_voting"> <div><div class="poll"> <div class="vote-form"> <div class="choices"><div class="form-item"> <label>Uma Sues Lancôme. Whose Side Are You On?</label> <div class="form-item"> <label class="option"><input type="radio" name="edit[choice]" value="0" class="form-radio" /> I'm with Uma. If Lancôme wants to use her image, they need to pay.</label> </div> <div class="form-item"> <label class="option"><input type="radio" name="edit[choice]" value="1" class="form-radio" /> Lancôme all the way. Uma is just trying to cash in on an oversight.</label> </div> <div class="form-item"> <label class="option"><input type="radio" name="edit[choice]" value="2" class="form-radio" /> Other — I'll tell you in a comment.</label> </div> </div> </div><input type="hidden" name="edit[nid]" id="edit-nid" value="1619136" /> <input type="submit" name="op" value="Vote" class="form-submit" /> </div><input type="hidden" name="edit[form_id]" id="edit-form_id" value="epoll_view_voting" /> </div> </div></form> <!-- no strip poll --></p></noscript><!-- no strip poll --> http://bellasugar.com/1619136#comment beauty byte Bella Poll Lancome Uma Thurman Fri, 09 May 2008 17:02:15 -0700 bellasugar http://bellasugar.com/1619136 http://bellasugar.com/1617332 <p>Frederic Fekkai can attribute his colossal success not only to his talents, but to his head for business. He knows his clientele well, and his extensive expansion plans reveal that he's hitting the mark (rather, the jackpot) on each new development. He has salons on Fifth Avenue in New York City, <a href="http://bellasugar.com/125233" >Soho</a>, Beverly Hills, <a href="http://bellasugar.com/595026" >Melrose Place</a>, Dallas, Palm Beach, St. Barth's, and yesterday, he opened a brand-new space in Greenwich, CT at 2 Lewis Court. </p> <p><span class="inline center"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/2/20652/19_2008/FekkaiGreenwich.jpg" alt="" title="" class="outline image center preview" width="530" height="320"></span></p> <p>This high-class suburb is a great location for anyone who lives near Manhattan but doesn't want to deal with the hassle of the city. The 2,100-square-foot salon has 10 styling and color areas, a mani/pedi corner, and a washing room in the back. The decor is described as "homey" with big leather couches and dark floors. Also, I hear that the Laura Mercier makeup station (present in other salons) has been swapped out for Chantecaille (score for them, these ladies are big-ticket spenders).</p> <p>It doesn't seem like Mr. Fekkai is slowing down anytime soon. He just <a href="http://bellasugar.com/1141985" >sold his company</a> to Procter &amp; Gamble and is planning to open two more salons in the posh New York Mark Hotel and in San Francisco later this year. </p> <p> <a href="http://www.wwd.com/beauty/article/124775" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://bellasugar.com/1617332#comment beauty byte Fekkai Frederic Fekkai Fri, 09 May 2008 11:00:06 -0700 bellasugar http://bellasugar.com/1617332 http://bellasugar.com/1597568 <p>Get excited for the 36th annual 2008 FiFi Awards, which will take place on May 20th in New York City. This event, sponsored by The Fragrance Foundation, honors creativity within the fragrance industry — it's a huge deal in the biz. </p> <p><span class="inline center"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/2/20652/18_2008/FifiAwards.jpg" alt="" title="" class="outline image center preview" width="450" height="174"></span></p> <p>To give you an idea of who's up for Fragrance of the Year for Women's Nouveau Niche, the nominees are:<br /> <blockquote> Andy Warhol Silver Factory and New York Bryant Park by Bond No. 9, Gucci by Gucci, Prada Infusion d'Iris and Versace. </p></blockquote> <p>For Fragrance of the Year luxe women's category the nominees are:<br /> <blockquote>Chanel Chance Eau Fraîche, Coach, Daisy Marc Jacobs, Dolce &amp; Gabbana The One, Emporio Armani Diamonds, Hermès' Kelly Calèche and Nina by Nina Ricci. </p></blockquote> <p>This year, you can actually vote for a FiFi online. Just <a href="http://fragrance.org/ballots/login.php" target="_blank">register</a> and fill out your ballot. Any predictions as to who will win? I know some of you disagreed with the <a href="http://bellasugar.com/slideshow/1599146" >winners of the CEW awards</a>, so I'm curious about your picks for the FiFis.</p> http://bellasugar.com/1597568#comment beauty byte fifi awards Fragrance Tue, 06 May 2008 08:00:00 -0700 bellasugar http://bellasugar.com/1597568 http://bellasugar.com/1589600 <p><span class="inline right"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/2/20652/18_2008/bronner.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image right outline preview" height="191" width="249"></span>Since the term "organic" is <a href="http://bellasugar.com/1078787" >loosely defined</a> within the skincare and cosmetics industry, many brands have taken quite a bit of leeway with the term. And one brand is not too happy about it.</p> <p><a href="http://www.drbronner.com/usda_organic_body_care.html" target="_blank">Dr. Bronner's</a>, which has voluntarily adopted the FDA standards of "organic" in its product line, <a href="http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/04/28/BUD410D6T9.DTL" target="_blank">is suing a bevy of brands</a>, including Est&eacute;e Lauder, Kiss My Face, Stella McCartney, and Juice Beauty. Dr. Bronner's claims that these brands use the term organic to sell products that are anything but. The suit also accuses the <a href="http://bellasugar.com/1102750" >OASIS standards</a>, which define the term "organic" for 30 top skincare companies, of being too lenient. </p> <p>We'll see how it all plays out, but no matter whether Dr. Bronner's wins or loses in the courtroom, the company is winning some free press. Do you think the lawsuit has merit, or is the company in no place to dictate how others should run their businesses?</p> http://bellasugar.com/1589600#comment beauty byte dr bronner's eco organic Tue, 29 Apr 2008 16:00:17 -0700 bellasugar http://bellasugar.com/1589600 http://bellasugar.com/1576030 <p><span class="inline right"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/2/20652/17_2008/Modelbein_Theo_4383961_400.xlarge.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image right outline xlarge" height="212" width="320"></span>Makeup mastermind Gucci Westman rose to fame as the international artistic director of Lancôme. After leaving that position earlier this year, she's been busy with photo shoots and <a href="http://bellasugar.com/1026211" >fashion shows</a>. Now, she's announced her new position — and it's huge for you drugstore divas.</p> <p>We already know that <a href="http://bellasugar.com/1115145" >Revlon hasn't been doing so well lately</a>, but now Gucci is the brand's new global artistic director. Quite a score for Revlon, in my opinion. She told <a href="http://www.fashionweekdaily.com/news/fullstory.sps?inewsid=549609" target="_blank">Fashion Week Daily</a>:</p> <blockquote><p>There's never been more pressure to deliver better product for less money. Based on my experience with Lancôme, which was really, really, great; I learned a lot about how a global prestige brand works. I realized that with Revlon, it's working with more a mass brand and a completely new consumer, but the woman still wants something she'll be happy to pull out of her handbag.</p></blockquote> <p>As artistic director, Gucci will develop new products, work alongside Revlon spokesmodels such as Halle Berry, and participate in Revlon's philanthropic efforts. After seeing Gucci's work (some pictured below), I have no doubt she'll refresh and revive this brand. Cannot. Wait.</p> <p><p> <div id=mask-18208 class=mask style='float:left;width:75px;height:75px;overflow:hidden;background:#FFF;margin:0px 3px 3px 0px;border:0px solid #111;padding:0px;' onmouseover={style.borderColor='#cc0000'} onmouseout={style.borderColor='#111'}> <div style='margin-left:0px;margin-top:0px;padding:0px;'> <a target=gallery3 class='thumb2 active ' href=http://bellasugar.com/gallery/515791?page=0,0,0><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/2/20652/17_2008/Picture 5_9.smallsquare.jpg" alt="image" title="image" class="image smallsquare" width="75" height="75" /></a> </div> </div> <div id=mask-10943 class=mask style='float:left;width:75px;height:75px;overflow:hidden;background:#FFF;margin:0px 3px 3px 0px;border:0px solid #111;padding:0px;' onmouseover={style.borderColor='#cc0000'} onmouseout={style.borderColor='#111'}> <div style='margin-left:0px;margin-top:0px;padding:0px;'> <a target=gallery3 class='thumb2 ' href=http://bellasugar.com/gallery/515791?page=0,1,0><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/2/20652/17_2008/Picture 4_10.smallsquare.jpg" alt="image" title="image" class="image smallsquare" width="75" height="75" /></a> </div> </div> <div id=mask-25376 class=mask style='float:left;width:75px;height:75px;overflow:hidden;background:#FFF;margin:0px 3px 3px 0px;border:0px solid #111;padding:0px;' onmouseover={style.borderColor='#cc0000'} onmouseout={style.borderColor='#111'}> <div style='margin-left:0px;margin-top:0px;padding:0px;'> <a target=gallery3 class='thumb2 ' href=http://bellasugar.com/gallery/515791?page=0,2,0><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/2/20652/17_2008/Picture 3_9.smallsquare.jpg" alt="image" title="image" class="image smallsquare" width="75" height="75" /></a> </div> </div> <div id=mask-52210 class=mask style='float:left;width:75px;height:75px;overflow:hidden;background:#FFF;margin:0px 3px 3px 0px;border:0px solid #111;padding:0px;' onmouseover={style.borderColor='#cc0000'} onmouseout={style.borderColor='#111'}> <div style='margin-left:0px;margin-top:0px;padding:0px;'> <a target=gallery3 class='thumb2 ' href=http://bellasugar.com/gallery/515791?page=0,3,0><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/2/20652/17_2008/Modelwear_Theo_4368877_600.smallsquare.jpg" alt="image" title="image" class="image smallsquare" width="75" height="75" /></a> </div> </div> <div id=mask-2647 class=mask style='float:left;width:75px;height:75px;overflow:hidden;background:#FFF;margin:0px 3px 3px 0px;border:0px solid #111;padding:0px;' onmouseover={style.borderColor='#cc0000'} onmouseout={style.borderColor='#111'}> <div style='margin-left:0px;margin-top:0px;padding:0px;'> <a target=gallery3 class='thumb2 ' href=http://bellasugar.com/gallery/515791?page=0,4,0><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/2/20652/17_2008/Modelwear_JCo_4351870_600.smallsquare.jpg" alt="image" title="image" class="image smallsquare" width="75" height="75" /></a> </div> </div> <div id=mask-28425 class=mask style='float:left;width:75px;height:75px;overflow:hidden;background:#FFF;margin:0px 3px 3px 0px;border:0px solid #111;padding:0px;' onmouseover={style.borderColor='#cc0000'} onmouseout={style.borderColor='#111'}> <div style='margin-left:0px;margin-top:0px;padding:0px;'> <a target=gallery3 class='thumb2 ' href=http://bellasugar.com/gallery/515791?page=0,5,0><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/2/20652/17_2008/AnabelaBe_Randy_14725117_600.smallsquare.jpg" alt="image" title="image" class="image smallsquare" width="75" height="75" /></a> </div> </div> </p><br clear=all></p> <p><a href="http://www.wireimage.com" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://bellasugar.com/1576030#comment beauty byte Gucci Westman Revlon Thu, 24 Apr 2008 13:04:18 -0700 bellasugar http://bellasugar.com/1576030 http://bellasugar.com/1569733 <p>Country superstar Dolly Parton has a busy 2008 planned. Not only is she writing the score for a Broadway rendition of her 1980 movie <B>9 to 5</b>, but she's also working on a television show for children and an autobiographical musical. Now she's hoping to launch a cosmetics line of her own. </p> <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/2/20652/17_2008/DP.jpg" alt="" title="" class="outline image left preview" width="250" height="358"></span> Dolly <a href="http://www.contactmusic.com/news.nsf/article/parton%20plans%20cosmetics%20line_1066191" target="_blank">told Billboard Magazine</a>:<br /> <blockquote>I want my own cosmetics line. When I first came [to Nashville] I really was the backwoods Barbie. Too much makeup, too much hair, the big boobs, country girl straight out of the mountains. It’s hard to take somebody looking like that serious, I guess, so I had to work double hard to prove myself.</p></blockquote> <p>Dolly has famously said, "It takes a lot of money to look this cheap." I kinda love her for poking fun at her over-the-top appearance, and because she's so sweet (and a philanthropist!) I could imagine checking out one of her lipsticks for fun. Would you?</p> <p><a href="http://www.wireimage.com" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://bellasugar.com/1569733#comment beauty byte Celebrity Beauty Dolly Parton Tue, 22 Apr 2008 13:00:15 -0700 bellasugar http://bellasugar.com/1569733 http://bellasugar.com/1565793 <p><Span class="inline right"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/2/20652/16_2008/ad5.xlarge.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image right outline xlarge" height="241" width="320"></span>Talk about bad judgment. Coreana, a Korean cosmetics company, has created controversy by using Nazi imagery to sell skincare products. After seeing <a href="http://tvpot.daum.net/clip/ClipView.do?clipid=6928575&amp;searchType=0&amp;page=1&amp;rowNum=11&amp;sort=wtime&amp;svctype=1&amp;q=%EB%B0%95%EC%A7%84%ED%9D%AC" target="_blank">the</a> <a href="http://tvpot.daum.net/clip/ClipView.do?clipid=6928567&amp;searchType=0&amp;page=1&amp;rowNum=12&amp;sort=wtime&amp;svctype=1&amp;q=%EB%B0%95%EC%A7%84%ED%9D%AC" target="_blank">spots</a>, I'm amazed that this horrible concept ever made it past the drawing board. <a href="http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iAeb3CMj7YjZJ5vPKQDnN1N7ddeQD902TV7O1" target="_blank">According to the AP</a>:</p> <blockquote><p>The ad shows a young woman in a military-style trench coat holding a soldier's cap that appears to have the swastika-gripping eagle Nazi insignia. The version shown in previews contained the slogan: "Even Hitler didn't have the East and West." Korad, the Seoul-based agency that produced the ad, said it believed a Nazi soldier and Hitler symbolized "revolution" in keeping with the lotion's "revolutionary" moisturizing and calming effects. It said the reference to the East and West emphasized the product's dual functions.</p></blockquote> <p>Initially, Coreana only removed the reference to Hitler, but the imagery (below) still speaks for itself. Finally, after protests by the Israeli Embassy and the Simon Wiesenthal Center, the company has pulled the ad campaign. There haven't been any apologies yet, but I think that would be a good place for Coreana to start. </p> <p><p> <div id=mask-2916 class=mask style='float:left;width:75px;height:75px;overflow:hidden;background:#FFF;margin:0px 3px 3px 0px;border:0px solid #111;padding:0px;' onmouseover={style.borderColor='#cc0000'} onmouseout={style.borderColor='#111'}> <div style='margin-left:0px;margin-top:0px;padding:0px;'> <a target=gallery3 class='thumb2 active ' href=http://bellasugar.com/gallery/513615?page=0,0,0><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/2/20652/16_2008/ad5.smallsquare.jpg" alt="image" title="image" class="image smallsquare" width="75" height="75" /></a> </div> </div> <div id=mask-20636 class=mask style='float:left;width:75px;height:75px;overflow:hidden;background:#FFF;margin:0px 3px 3px 0px;border:0px solid #111;padding:0px;' onmouseover={style.borderColor='#cc0000'} onmouseout={style.borderColor='#111'}> <div style='margin-left:0px;margin-top:0px;padding:0px;'> <a target=gallery3 class='thumb2 ' href=http://bellasugar.com/gallery/513615?page=0,1,0><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/2/20652/16_2008/ad4.smallsquare.jpg" alt="image" title="image" class="image smallsquare" width="75" height="75" /></a> </div> </div> <div id=mask-48024 class=mask style='float:left;width:75px;height:75px;overflow:hidden;background:#FFF;margin:0px 3px 3px 0px;border:0px solid #111;padding:0px;' onmouseover={style.borderColor='#cc0000'} onmouseout={style.borderColor='#111'}> <div style='margin-left:0px;margin-top:0px;padding:0px;'> <a target=gallery3 class='thumb2 ' href=http://bellasugar.com/gallery/513615?page=0,2,0><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/2/20652/16_2008/ad3.smallsquare.jpg" alt="image" title="image" class="image smallsquare" width="75" height="75" /></a> </div> </div> <div id=mask-25390 class=mask style='float:left;width:75px;height:75px;overflow:hidden;background:#FFF;margin:0px 3px 3px 0px;border:0px solid #111;padding:0px;' onmouseover={style.borderColor='#cc0000'} onmouseout={style.borderColor='#111'}> <div style='margin-left:0px;margin-top:0px;padding:0px;'> <a target=gallery3 class='thumb2 ' href=http://bellasugar.com/gallery/513615?page=0,3,0><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/2/20652/16_2008/ad2.smallsquare.jpg" alt="image" title="image" class="image smallsquare" width="75" height="75" /></a> </div> </div> </p><br clear=all></p> http://bellasugar.com/1565793#comment beauty byte Mon, 21 Apr 2008 07:00:28 -0700 bellasugar http://bellasugar.com/1565793 http://bellasugar.com/1557385 <p><span class="inline right"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/2/20652/16_2008/matlock.larger.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image right outline larger" height="240" width="170"></span>Need more proof that regular people are having an impact on the beauty industry? Read <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/17/fashion/17SNIFF.html" target="_blank">this story</a> in today's <B>New York Times</b>, which explores the influence of fragrance critics such as <a href="http://nowsmellthis.blogharbor.com/" target="_blank">Now Smell This</a>. As the Internet allows people to share their unfiltered opinions on beloved scents — and not-so-beloved ones, too — fragrance companies are worried. Accustomed to receiving glowing reviews in magazines, executives are freaking out whenever their latest juice is deemed a stinker. Says the Times:</p> <blockquote><p>In <a href="http://bellasugar.com/1113685" >Perfumes: The Guide</a>, [Tania Sanchez] chided that the perfume industry “hasn’t yet figured out the benefits or relaxing control.” She told of a prominent blogger threatened with a lawsuit by a perfume company because she had deemed its product only "O.K.," and "a little disappointing."</p></blockquote> <p>Overreact much? Yes, perfume is big business, but everybody's entitled to sharing her opinion. And I've certainly learned more about fragrance from people I've met on the web. In the long run, an informed consumer is a good thing — and maybe it will force companies to work harder at developing excellent perfumes.</p> http://bellasugar.com/1557385#comment beauty byte Fragrance Thu, 17 Apr 2008 16:00:52 -0700 bellasugar http://bellasugar.com/1557385 http://bellasugar.com/1558752 <p><span class="inline right"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/2/20652/16_2008/dv1051018.larger.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image right outline larger" height="239" width="240"></span>This is big. Scientists believe they may have found a <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2008/04/17/nhealth417.xml" target="_blank">cure for acne.</a> This hope comes from a study in which the drug SMT D002 reduced the flow of sebum in pores by 90 percent. </p> <p>The drug was developed to treat a condition unrelated to acne, although its creators will not reveal it. (Nor will they disclose the active ingredients.) What's more is that as of yet, the drug has yet to produce any side effects. This is especially exciting considering that <a href="http://bellasugar.com/1110383" >Accutane</a>, the most similar drug on the market in terms of effectiveness, comes with some pretty serious potential side effects. It is important to note, however, that the trials so far have been small, so further testing is needed before any conclusive findings can be announced.</p> <p>The drug is currently being made into a topical cream, but no word as to when it will be available. I think this sounds like an exciting development — even if it does sound a little too good to be true — so I'll keep you updated on anything else I hear.</p> <p><a href="http://www.gettyimages.com" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://bellasugar.com/1558752#comment Acne beauty byte Thu, 17 Apr 2008 14:15:35 -0700 bellasugar http://bellasugar.com/1558752 http://bellasugar.com/1556037 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/2/20652/16_2008/audrey.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image left outline preview" height="400" width="253"></span><I>Magnifique!</i> <a href="http://wwd.com/search/article/124246" target="_blank">WWD reports</a> that French actress Audrey Tautou is rumored to be the next face of Chanel No. 5 perfume. If it's true — and considering <b>WWD</b>'s insider reports are almost always right, it probably is — then Audrey will follow icons such as Nicole Kidman and Catherine Deneuve in representing the scent.</p> <p>Truthfully, I'm surprised that Chanel hasn't signed her before. Audrey Tautou's gamine charm is unmatched, and she's playing Coco Chanel in an upcoming biopic. (She also seems a little more approachable than current spokesmodel Nicole Kidman, but that's just my opinion.) Seems like a perfect fit to me.</p> <p><a href="http://www.wireimage.com" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://bellasugar.com/1556037#comment audrey tautou beauty byte Chanel Fragrance Wed, 16 Apr 2008 12:00:17 -0700 bellasugar http://bellasugar.com/1556037 http://bellasugar.com/1544046 <p>The sensationally famous Arizona, Berkshires, and Miami based <a href="http://www.canyonranch.com" target="_blank">Canyon Ranch Spas</a> are set to launch their own line of skincare products called <a href="http://www.wwd.com/beauty/article/124143" target="_blank">Your Transformation</a>. The nine-unit collection which includes two cleansers, three facial moisturizers, an eye cream, tonic, serum, and a body cream are designed to plump, smooth, and protect the skin from free radicals. They have a time-release formula and contain <a href="http://bellasugar.com/tags/natural+beauty+products" >natural ingredients</a> such as goji berry, blueberry, bearberry, ceramides, and vitamin B3.</p> <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/2/20652/15_2008/CanyonRanch.jpg" alt="" title="" class="outline image left preview" width="250" height="400"></span>Kris Cryer of Chrysallis — the company who is producing Your Transformation says,<br /> <blockquote> The technology has more than 25 years of research behind it and has been proven to reduce the appearance of photo damage to skin and help prevent damage caused by ultraviolet rays and free radicals — the most significant causes of aging. Because Pro-NAD is a 12-hour continuous release system, the niacin is able to be delivered deep into the layers of the skin.</p></blockquote> <p>The brown and white packaged products range in price from $40-$150 and will be available at the spas, online, and in Saks Fifth Avenue by the end of the month.</p> <p><br class=clear-both /></p> <p><a href="http://www.canyonranch.com" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://bellasugar.com/1544046#comment beauty byte Canyon Ranch spa Fri, 11 Apr 2008 15:00:00 -0700 bellasugar http://bellasugar.com/1544046 http://bellasugar.com/1515775 <p><span class="inline right"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl0/2/20652/14_2008/80069579_10_0.xlarger.larger.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image right outline larger" height="240" width="184"></span>Man, is Avon on fire or what? First it announces an <a href="http://bellasugar.com/1122755" >Ungaro fragrance</a> deal, then a <a href="http://bellasugar.com/1125776" >Marimekko makeup collection</a>, and now it's getting up close and personal with McDreamy. The brand has signed Patrick Dempsey to a fragrance deal, meaning that he'll not only smile pretty for advertisements, he'll also be involved in the development of the scent itself.</p> <p>Jillian Dempsey, his wife of nearly nine years, is Avon's Global Creative Color Director, which probably made the deal go smoothly. In a completely smooth and entirely natural-sounding statement, <a href="http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=90402&amp;p=irol-newsArticle_print&amp;ID=1123945&amp;highlight=" target="_blank">Dempsey said</a>:</p> <blockquote><p> "This is an extremely exciting opportunity for me to work with Avon, a brand I have long respected as a global powerhouse with a lot of heart and soul. The brand reaches every corner of the globe with more than just high quality products; it creates economic empowerment for women through its earning opportunity, and has an excellent reputation for corporate philanthropy through their Avon Foundation. My wife Jillian has enjoyed her experience working with Avon, and I look forward to joining the family as well."</p></blockquote> <p>The yet-to-be-announced fragrance will debut in November, so expect a full-on Dempseyfest around the time that <B>Grey's</b> returns for a new season. You know, every time I post about Avon, someone complains that it's a dorky company — but I think that argument is getting harder to make, no?</p> <p><a href="http://www.gettyimages.com/" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://bellasugar.com/1515775#comment Avon beauty byte Oh Man patrick dempsey Tue, 01 Apr 2008 09:00:52 -0700 bellasugar http://bellasugar.com/1515775 http://bellasugar.com/1515677 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl0/2/20652/14_2008/peter.larger.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image left outline larger" height="240" width="179"></span>Who would have thought that emo heartthrob Pete Wentz would become such a beauty-industry mogul? He's already announced his plan to <a href="http://bellasugar.com/1090805" >open a salon</a> in Chicago, and now the king of guyliner is branching out into cosmetics. He's about to launch a collection of five vegan, punk-themed pencil eyeliners called WentzPentz. <a href="http://teamsugar.com/user/bellasugar/blog/1515671" >Pete said</a>: </p> <blockquote><p>"Fall Out Boy has always been known for its pop hooks and good looks, and like David Bowie before me, I am known for my displays of cosmetic derring-do. For too long, I've been keeping my eyeliner know-how to myself. Now, with the debut of WentzPentz, guys — and girls — everywhere will be able to have a piece of the Fall Out Boy lifestyle."</p></blockquote> <p><span class="inline right"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl0/2/20652/14_2008/wentzpentz.xlarge.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image xlarge right outline" height="233" width="320"></span>Sold individually, WentzPentz eyeliners will retail for $3.99 each at Hot Topic. They'll be available in five shades, each inspired by Pete's childhood in the Chicago area:<br /> <UL><LI>Green-Eyed Sidekick</LI><LI>Fireside Bowl</LI><LI>By the Power of Grayskull</LI><LI>Let's Take the Brown Line to Wellington</LI><LI>Blue Line, Next Stop: Damen</LI></UL></p> <p>In addition, Pete plans to partner with Ken Paves to design his own line of clip-on hair extensions for men. "Jess [Simpson] has had great success with hers," he said. "I hope to get Hair Dude up and running by late 2008."</p> <p><B>Update:</b> Since Pete's "makeup collection" is amazingly being reported as fact by the Chicago <I>RedEye</I> and other publications, now seems a good time to emphasize that this was an April Fool's Joke. (Click the "he said" link above.)<br /> <a href="http://www.gettyimages.com" target="_blank">Source</a> and <a href="http://www.wireimage.com" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://bellasugar.com/1515677#comment beauty byte pete wentz Tue, 01 Apr 2008 07:00:34 -0700 bellasugar http://bellasugar.com/1515677 http://bellasugar.com/1508203 <p><span class="inline right"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl0/2/20652/13_2008/71085497.larger.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image right outline larger" height="240" width="236"></span>We've already witnessed the puzzling phenomenon of young girls <a href="http://bellasugar.com/1080281" >wearing makeup</a>, and there's always <a href="http://bellasugar.com/632522" >Nair for kids</a>. But what would you say if I told you that girls as young as eight were getting <i>bikini waxes</i>? A new <a href="http://www.phillymag.com/articles/pretty_babies/page1" target="_blank">Philadelphia magazine story</a> delves into the troubling world of little-girl grooming, uncovering stories of young girls being plucked, scrubbed, waxed, highlighted, and polished into doll-like versions of their former selves, all under the watchful eye of their equally appearance-obsessed mother. Here are a few more of the shocking things observed:</p> <ul> <li>An 8-year-old getting a bikini wax</li> <li>A mother demanding that her 8-year-old daughter's brows be waxed like a supermodel's</li> <li>Sisters, one 9 and one 10, getting microdermabrasion (what, to reveal even <i>more</i> youthful skin?)</li> <li>A mother requesting a chemical straightening treatment on her 12-year-old's beautiful wavy hair</li> <li>A 12-year old getting a full body wax</li> <li>16-year olds getting breast augmentations</li> </ul> <p>It's easy to just blame these girls' mothers (and, ahem, where are their fathers?!). But I find it just as troubling that spa owners allow these unnecessary (and sometimes painful) procedures to be performed on children. Since the mothers are willing to drop big bucks on a regular basis to keep their daughters perfectly preened, salon owners risk losing the lucrative business should they refuse to perform a service. And from the sound of it, most of them would rather keep their traps shut than jeopardize their profits.</p> <p>To see what I think about this, and to share your opinion, </p> <p><a href="http://bellasugar.com/1508203">read more</a></p> http://bellasugar.com/1508203#comment beauty byte girls Fri, 28 Mar 2008 13:00:21 -0700 bellasugar http://bellasugar.com/1508203 http://bellasugar.com/1140523 <p><span class="inline right"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl0/2/20652/13_2008/girls.xlarger.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image right outline xlarger" height="289" width="400"></span>If you can't break a rule, outsmart it. That's what a few British high schoolers have done. Wearing colored nail polish is against their school's dress code, so they <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/technology/technology.html?in_page_id=1965&amp;in_article_id=541334" target="_blank">developed a nail polish</a> that's red in sunlight, but looks clear inside.</p> <p>How does it work? The polish reacts to ultraviolet light, which is why the color changes. The students came up with the idea while working with professors from an area university, and the academics were so impressed that they created a formula with the girls. (They're working on manufacturing it for the general market.) I love this story because it shows that being interested in beauty doesn't mean you're a dingbat. And anything that lets girls show off their ingenuity and problem-solving skills is a plus in my book. Would you buy their polish?</p> <p><a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/technology/technology.html?in_page_id=1965&amp;in_article_id=541334" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://bellasugar.com/1140523#comment beauty byte nail polish Thu, 27 Mar 2008 09:00:08 -0700 bellasugar http://bellasugar.com/1140523 http://bellasugar.com/1501792 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl0/2/20652/13_2008/ElleMac2_0.jpg" alt="" title="" class="outline image left preview" width="250" height="437"></span>Here's a little beauty news for today: Aussie supermodel Elle Macpherson will be the next global brand ambassador (a.k.a. spokeswoman) of Revlon. She'll be featured in advertising campaigns and will take part in Revlon-sponsored philanthropic women’s health events.</p> <p>Elle will join the ranks of other famous Revlon faces, including Halle Berry, Jessica Alba and <a href="http://popsugar.com/1500686" >Kate Bosworth</a>. </p> <p>It seems like Elle is excited to be part of the company, at least in the press-release quote. To read what she has to say about her new gig, </p> <p><a href="http://bellasugar.com/1501792">read more</a></p> http://bellasugar.com/1501792#comment beauty byte Elle Macpherson Revlon Wed, 26 Mar 2008 10:00:45 -0700 bellasugar http://bellasugar.com/1501792 http://bellasugar.com/1141985 <p><span class="inline right"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl0/2/20652/13_2008/4221_hero.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image right outline preview" height="290" width="290"></span>The beauty bigwigs at Procter &amp; Gamble just scooped up a fine Frenchman's haircare line. It was <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120645295223462361.html " target="_blank">just announced</a> that P&amp;G has purchased the <a href="http://www.sephora.com/browse/brand_hierarchy.jhtml?brandId=4221" target="_blank">Frédéric Fekkai</a> brand. There aren't many details yet, but here's what could happen because of the deal:<br /> <UL><LI><B>Fekkai products in more stores</b>: Right now, Fekkai is stocked at fancypants places such as Neiman Marcus and Sephora. Don't be surprised if the line expands into a few more stores and gets better counter space in existing ones.</LI><LI><B>More advertisements</b>: P&amp;G has the budget to create lavish, pricey ad campaigns. Until now, Fekkai's growth has been due to editorial mentions. Will we start to see print advertisements?</LI><LI><B>Celebrity endorsements?</b>: I think this idea is a stretch, but you never know. Frédéric Fekkai does a lot of A-list hair. And just as Cate Blanchett is the face of SK-II (also owned by P&amp;G), perhaps another refined celebrity would fit with the Fekkai brand. Again, I think it's pretty unlikely, but time will tell. </LI></UL></p> <p>By the way, Procter &amp; Gamble owns many more beauty companies. If you think you can guess which corporate behemoth owns certain brands, <a href="http://bellasugar.com/1093567" >take this quiz</a> to test yourself.</p> http://bellasugar.com/1141985#comment beauty byte Fekkai Tue, 25 Mar 2008 13:00:01 -0700 bellasugar http://bellasugar.com/1141985 http://bellasugar.com/1125776 <p><span class="inline right"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl0/2/20652/12_2008/mekko.xlarge.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image xlarge right outline" height="253" width="320"></span>Wow, Marimekko is on a roll lately. Next month, the Finnish textiles giant is debuting a <a href="http://fabsugar.com/1115089" >clothing line at H&amp;M</a>, and later this year, it's <a href="http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=90402&amp;p=irol-newsArticle_print&amp;ID=1119663&amp;highlight=" target="_blank">teaming up with Avon</a> for a collection of makeup. </p> <p>Marimekko has been around since 1951, but this is the first time that the company has collaborated on a beauty product. The collection features the Unikko pattern, shown here (and on a wall hanging in my parents' bathroom). No word yet on what the products will actually look like, but they'll include eye shadow, face powder, lip gloss, mascara, and some accessories. I'd love to see an embossed eye shadow palette, but time will tell. Think you'll pick anything up from this collection?</p> <p><a href="http://www.marimekko.com/eng" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://bellasugar.com/1125776#comment Avon beauty byte marimekko Tue, 18 Mar 2008 11:00:47 -0700 bellasugar http://bellasugar.com/1125776 http://bellasugar.com/1102750 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl0/2/20652/10_2008/74226796.xlarge.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image right xlarge" height="320" width="213"></span>With little regulation in the organic beauty industry, brands have been getting away making false or exaggerated claims about their products. But all of that is about to change with the creation of <a href="http://www.sustainableisgood.com/blog/2008/03/cosmetic-indust.html" target="_blank">OASIS, the first U.S. industry standard for certifying organic beauty products</a>. </p> <p>The OASIS standard was created by L'Oreal, Estee Lauder, and Aveda, among other cosmetics-industry giants. An OASIS certification will require the product to be 85% organic, climbing to 95% in the next few years. As of now, the standards only pertain to the product itself, but will eventually expand to include the packaging as well.</p> <p>In order to avoid a conflict of interest, a product's certification will be awarded by an independent third-party consultant. Expect to see the OASIS seal showing up on some of your favorite products in about a year!</p> <p><a href="http://www.gettyimages.com" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://bellasugar.com/1102750#comment beauty byte eco OASIS Mon, 10 Mar 2008 10:17:43 -0700 bellasugar http://bellasugar.com/1102750 http://bellasugar.com/1102173 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl0/2/20652/10_2008/kevin.xlarger.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image center outline xlarger" width="400" height="211"></span>Celebrity stylist-turned entrepreneur Kevin Murphy <a href="http://www.wwd.com/beauty/article/123245?src=rss" target="_blank">has announced</a> that he will be adding shampoo, conditioner, and hair treatments to his existing line of styling products — but this time he is going green. He calls this new line "skin care-inspired," ditching common ingredients such as parabens and sulfates in favor of omega 3's, amino acids, and plant extracts. </p> <p>But Kevin is quick to say that he is not "too green." His line is not all natural, nor is it organic, but it combines the benefits of natural ingredients with the known effectiveness of more traditional ones, in order to create the best product possible for the customer. </p> <p>His <a href="http://www.kevinmurphystore.com/" target="_blank">18-product line ($22-$25)</a> is showing up in high-scale salons already, so keep an eye out for those colorful geometric (and 100% recyclable!) bottles.</p> http://bellasugar.com/1102173#comment beauty byte Kevin Murphy Sun, 09 Mar 2008 07:00:37 -0700 bellasugar http://bellasugar.com/1102173 http://bellasugar.com/1101635 <p>Sally Hansen has partnered with TLC's <b>What Not to Wear</b> makeup maven Carmindy Bowyer to launch a new cosmetics collection called Natural Beauty. According to <a href="http://www.wwd.com/beauty/article/123251" target="_blank">WWD</a>, the 140-unit line is expected to hit stores next month. <span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl0/2/20652/10_2008/Carmindy.jpg" alt="" title="" class="outline image left preview" width="250" height="342"></span> This is Hansen's second attempt at manufacturing makeup; in 2003, the company created a line called Healing Beauty, but it didn't take off.</p> <p>Keeping in the trend for eco-friendly makeup, the paraben-free formulas include minerals and extracts of soy, bamboo, papaya, and mango. What's more, the line ($7.95–$12.95) will launch with a website that features video styling tips from Carmindy — so if you like your makeup natural, but applying it doesn't come naturally, you'll have a little help. </p> <p><a href="http://www.pro.imdb.com" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://bellasugar.com/1101635#comment beauty byte Carmindy Bowyer Sally Hansen Fri, 07 Mar 2008 16:00:24 -0800 bellasugar http://bellasugar.com/1101635 http://bellasugar.com/1090805 <p><span class="inline right"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl0/2/20652/10_2008/petewentz.xlarge.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image right outline xlarge" height="232" width="320"></span>Ashlee Simpson's red hair has earned her fair share of attention, but it's her boyfriend Pete Wentz who's leaping into the salon business. The guyliner king is <a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/gossip/2008/03/03/2008-03-03_side_dish_to_jlos_twins_go_the_spoils.html" target="_blank">opening his own salon</a> in Chicago. </p> <p>Like his casual clothing line, the punk-themed space will be called Clandestine Industries. Lead stylist Ben Mollin, who you might remember from his stint on <b>Shear Genius</b>, will deliver hipster cuts for men and women. No word on whether we can expect to hear lots of Fall Out Boy or <a href="http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&amp;friendid=52840157" target="_blank">Pete's old band</a> on the stereo system, but I imagine the mall-punk brigade is going nuts right now.</p> <p><a href="http://www.wireimage.com" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://bellasugar.com/1090805#comment beauty byte pete wentz Mon, 03 Mar 2008 13:00:28 -0800 bellasugar http://bellasugar.com/1090805 http://bellasugar.com/1078787 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl0/2/20652/09_2008/stk31739slf.larger.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image right outline larger" height="240" width="238"></span>Beauty and skincare lines have been jumping on the organic bandwagon in droves. Last year, sales of organic and natural cosmetics exceeded $7 billion. But does "organic" mean what you think it means?<a href="http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/article/0,28804,1714683_1714675_1714289-1,00.html" target="_blank"> Time reports</a> on a few things you should know about "organic" beauty products:</p> <ul> <li>The USDA is the only organization that can certify something as organic, and they will only do so if all the ingredients, packaging, and production meet the same stringent standards required for organic food.</li> <li>A USDA certified organic product is still allowed to have 5% non-organic ingredients. If a product is even 70% organic, it can claim to be made with "organic ingredients.</li> <li>It's important to check labels carefully, and if the USDA seal is missing, it might not actually be organic at all.</li> <li>Organic products are not necessarily more gentle. In fact, many can irritate sensitive skin because they use pure oils as preservatives.</li> </ul> <p>The bottom line is that while anything organic is better for the environment, organic beauty products are not necessarily better for your skin.</p> <p><a href="http://www.gettyimages.com" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://bellasugar.com/1078787#comment beauty byte eco organic Skin Care Time Fri, 29 Feb 2008 10:00:32 -0800 bellasugar http://bellasugar.com/1078787 http://bellasugar.com/1080281 <p><span class="inline right"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl0/2/20652/09_2008/nyt.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image right outline preview" height="136" width="190"></span>High-maintenance <a href="http://bellasugar.com/496335" >beauty routines for girls</a> are nothing new, but the <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/28/fashion/28Skin.html?_r=1&amp;hp=&amp;oref=slogin&amp;pagewanted=all" target="_blank">New York Times highlights the growing phenomenon</a> in today's paper. The story begins with an off-putting anecdote about a three-year-old going in for a pedicure, and from there, the statistics are amazing. For instance:</p> <p><UL><LI>A survey shows that fifty-five percent of six- to nine-year-old girls said they used lip gloss or lipstick. </LI><LI>Nearly two-thirds of girls the same age said they used nail polish.</LI><LI>Club Libby Lu, a mall-based chain, did about a million makeovers of girls last year.</LI><LI>Dashing Diva, a nail-salon chain, offers girls virgin Cosmos in martini glasses to go with their pedicures. </LI></UL></p> <p>I'm all for little girls enjoying themselves, but I won't lie to you — the idea of kindergarteners having <a href="http://youtube.com/watch?v=NQrzwscW5ho" target="_blank">Hannah Montana makeovers</a> freaks me out a little bit. Should we be encouraging girls to spend so much time with their appearance at such a young age? Even if they enjoy it? Tell me what you think.</p> <p><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/28/fashion/28Skin.html?_r=1&amp;hp=&amp;oref=slogin&amp;pagewanted=all" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://bellasugar.com/1080281#comment beauty byte girls Thu, 28 Feb 2008 07:00:53 -0800 bellasugar http://bellasugar.com/1080281 http://bellasugar.com/1074739 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl0/2/20652/09_2008/AmyWH.jpg" alt="" title="" class="outline image right preview" width="225" height="399"></span>If you're into winged eyeliner, you'll be happy to know that Amy Winehouse is expanding her talents far beyond the music business. The soulful jazz singer (who just went to visit her <a href="http://uk.popsugar.com/1071861" >incarcerated hubby</a>) is set to create a <a href="http://thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/bizarre/article845618.ece" target="_blank">line of hair and makeup products</a> that will include star items such as hairspray, head scarves — and of course, black liquid eyeliner.</p> <p>An anonymous friend of Amy's explained the reasoning behind the line, saying:<br /> <blockquote> Amy’s style has been copied by girls around [England] and there’s a lot of money to be made. It’s a very distinctive look. She wants to bring out a range of cosmetics and fashion products. There could be hairspray, head scarves, liquid eyeliner, perfume. </p></blockquote> <p>While I agree that Amy's look is distinctive, after her recent escapades, I'm not so keen on emulating it. But if Amy can get her personal life in order and go back to the glam Motown girl look she used to have, it'll be great to see her focusing on a healthy endeavor. </p> <p><br class=clear-both /></p> <p><a href="http://www.bauergriffin.com/" target="_blank">Bauer-Griffin</a></p> http://bellasugar.com/1074739#comment amy winehouse beauty byte Celebrity Beauty Tue, 26 Feb 2008 11:00:00 -0800 bellasugar http://bellasugar.com/1074739 http://bellasugar.com/1064393 <p>Make Up For Ever has <a href="http://www.wwd.com/issue/article/122803" target="_blank">just launched</a> a two-fold campaign called Lash Pimpin'. The first part includes 55 types of reusable, nylon <a href="http://www.sephora.com/browse/brand_hierarchy.jhtml?brandId=4028&amp;contentId=C17151" target="_blank">faux lashes</a>. The second part is Flash Color, 24 shades of highly pigmented eye makeup that was previously available to professionals only.</p> <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl0/2/20652/08_2008/Lashpimpin_0.jpg" alt="" title="" class="outline image left preview" width="250" height="286"></span> One of the coolest parts about this launch is that Make Up For Ever has joined forces with Sephora to run a <a href="http://www.sephora.com/win/lashpimpin/;jsessionid=F2NHHVZH5FO5ZLAUCLBBXCQ?bisweeps=true" target="_blank">contest</a> to see who can send in images of the wackiest, wildest, and most inventive lash looks. The winner gets $1,000 worth of Make Up For Ever goods, a trip to Paris (for two), and a private makeup lesson with Make Up For Ever founder Danny Sans. </p> <p>I just had to tell you guys about this. Do you think you'll enter? FYI, there are no rules when it comes to using any product you like you create the most badass lash. Good luck!</p> http://bellasugar.com/1064393#comment beauty byte Make Up Forever sephora Fri, 22 Feb 2008 11:00:00 -0800 bellasugar http://bellasugar.com/1064393 http://bellasugar.com/1057981 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl0/2/20652/08_2008/skd284352sdc.larger.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image right larger" height="240" width="240"></span>The demand for beauty products at a discounted price has already <a href="http://bellasugar.com/411622" >led to the dangerous counterfeiting</a> of some of our favorite brands. But according to a report by the National Health Federation, even legitimate products sold through these sites can pose a risk to our health.</p> <p><a href="http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/retail/2008-02-19-online-products-warning_N.htm" target="_blank">USA Today explains</a> that dozens of types of beauty products for sale on discount or auction sites have been stolen straight from drugstore shelves. This opens the door to possible contamination and spoiling of these temperature-sensitive items, which when used, can cause skin irritation and possible infection.</p> <p>The bottom line? The pennies you save on these discounted products are not worth the risk to the health of your skin. Stick to the clearance sections at online drugstores, which are required by law to regulate their quality of their products.</p> <p><a href="http://www.gettyimages.com" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://bellasugar.com/1057981#comment beauty byte cosmetic safety ebay Wed, 20 Feb 2008 15:00:28 -0800 bellasugar http://bellasugar.com/1057981 http://bellasugar.com/1055792 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl0/2/20652/08_2008/78500621.xlarge.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image right xlarge" height="320" width="229"></span>We can now officially add Shakira to the constantly growing list of celebrities jumping into the beauty arena. <a href="http://www.wwd.com/search/article/122689" target="_blank">WWD reports</a> that she has accepted a deal with Barcelona-based Puig Beauty &amp; Fashion Group to design a line of beauty, fragrance, and personal care products. Shakira said that she is excited to use her creativity in a different medium, and hopes that her line will help "personal care and beauty... be effortless and accessible for everyone."</p> <p>I like Shakira a lot (how can you not love an international superstar who audits a Western Civ class at UCLA?) but I'm not sure how this endeavor will work out. I'm a little on the fence with the recent proliferation of celebrity and fashion designer-inspired beauty products. What do you think of Shakira's latest collaboration?</p> <p><a href="http://www.gettyimages.com" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://bellasugar.com/1055792#comment beauty byte Celebrity Fragrance Shakira Tue, 19 Feb 2008 16:36:29 -0800 bellasugar http://bellasugar.com/1055792 http://bellasugar.com/1047264 <p><span class="inline right"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl0/2/20652/07_2008/gisele.xlarge.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image right outline xlarge" height="320" width="312"></span>Gisele Bundchen is one busy Brazilian these days. Not only is she the face of <a href="http://bellasugar.com/707984" >Dolce &amp; Gabbana's latest scent</a>, but she's also just signed on to model for Max Factor. <a href="http://www.eonline.com/news/article/index.jsp?uuid=1af2693a-d559-4038-8039-f24bbcd40c5e" target="_blank">E! Online reports</a> that Gisele has signed a two-year, $2.5 million deal to endorse its products. </p> <p>Of course, the beauty brand is mum, and we haven't heard anything from Gisele herself, but an insider told E! that it's a sweet deal. Apparently, Gisele's contract with Victoria's Secret had prohibited her endorsement of any beauty products, but now that she's a free agent, she's able to line up the lucrative deals that models dream of. If this is true, expect to see a lot more of Gisele over the next two years. Are you looking forward to it, or not so much?</p> <p><a href="http://www.wireimage.com" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://bellasugar.com/1047264#comment beauty byte Gisele Bundchen Max Factor Fri, 15 Feb 2008 15:00:27 -0800 bellasugar http://bellasugar.com/1047264 http://bellasugar.com/1041863 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl0/2/20652/07_2008/rbrb_1638.xlarger.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image right xlarger" height="400" width="266"></span>As a kid, did you dream about letting your hair down like Rapunzel? <a href="http://www.livescience.com/strangenews/080211-fairytales-science.html" target="_blank">Live Science has conducted an exposé</a> on some our favorite fairy tales, and it turns out that certain authors (ahem, Hans Christian Andersen) were not very good at their beauty fact checking. </p> <p>If it were actually possible to grow hair to 100 feet or more, I would like to think that a prince would have no problem scaling the lovely locks (ignoring the split ends!) to rescue Rapunzel from captivity. Sadly, this is not the case. While the strength of her 140,000 blonde hairs is enough to support a fully grown man, the human scalp is not, and lovely Rapunzel would have had her scalp ripped off the minute Prince Charming got his feet off the ground. But if she knew to anchor her hair by tying it to a strong, stable surface, like the railing of her window, he could make it to his fair maiden. I'll just assume that part of the story was left out for the sake of time.</p> <p><a href="http://www.gettyimages.com" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://bellasugar.com/1041863#comment beauty byte fairy tale Wed, 13 Feb 2008 15:00:10 -0800 bellasugar http://bellasugar.com/1041863 http://bellasugar.com/1038630 <p><span class="inline right"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl0/2/20652/07_2008/125838319_m.larger.jpeg" alt="" title="" class="image right outline larger" height="240" width="240"></span>If you like religious kitsch, then don't plan a trip to Singapore. After receiving complaints about a cosmetics line called <a href="http://www.blueq.com/shop/114-catId.117440633_114-productId.0.html" target="_blank">Lookin' Good For Jesus</a>, Topshop has pulled all of the products from its shelves. The line features lip balm (in "virtuous vanilla"), bubble bath ("Feel like you're walking on water!"), and a "King-size" tote bag, among other cheeky items.</p> <p><a href="http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2008-02-12-jesus-cosmetics_N.htm" target="_blank">Catholics found the items</a> "disrespectful and distasteful," and Topshop has pulled all of the products. The line is from Blue Q, which also makes the Dirty Girl body-care line. It's always a little bit jokey — witness its tongue-in-cheek Queen soap — but this is the first time I remember this much of a hullabaloo over the products. Have a look below. Do you think they're offensive, or is it just good clean fun?</p> <p><p> <div id=mask-43431 class=mask style='float:left;width:75px;height:75px;overflow:hidden;background:#FFF;margin:0px 3px 3px 0px;border:0px solid #111;padding:0px;' onmouseover={style.borderColor='#0072bc'} onmouseout={style.borderColor='#111'}> <div style='margin-left:0px;margin-top:0px;padding:0px;'> <a target=gallery3 class='thumb2 active ' href=http://www.citizensugar.com/gallery/226993?page=0,0,0><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl0/2/20652/07_2008/125837347_l.smallsquare.jpeg" alt="image" title="image" class="image smallsquare" width="75" height="75" /></a> </div> </div> <div id=mask-43326 class=mask style='float:left;width:75px;height:75px;overflow:hidden;background:#FFF;margin:0px 3px 3px 0px;border:0px solid #111;padding:0px;' onmouseover={style.borderColor='#0072bc'} onmouseout={style.borderColor='#111'}> <div style='margin-left:0px;margin-top:0px;padding:0px;'> <a target=gallery3 class='thumb2 ' href=http://www.citizensugar.com/gallery/226993?page=0,1,0><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl0/2/20652/07_2008/125837712_l.smallsquare.jpeg" alt="image" title="image" class="image smallsquare" width="75" height="75" /></a> </div> </div> <div id=mask-8207 class=mask style='float:left;width:75px;height:75px;overflow:hidden;background:#FFF;margin:0px 3px 3px 0px;border:0px solid #111;padding:0px;' onmouseover={style.borderColor='#0072bc'} onmouseout={style.borderColor='#111'}> <div style='margin-left:0px;margin-top:0px;padding:0px;'> <a target=gallery3 class='thumb2 ' href=http://www.citizensugar.com/gallery/226993?page=0,2,0></a> </div> </div> <div id=mask-8844 class=mask style='float:left;width:75px;height:75px;overflow:hidden;background:#FFF;margin:0px 3px 3px 0px;border:0px solid #111;padding:0px;' onmouseover={style.borderColor='#0072bc'} onmouseout={style.borderColor='#111'}> <div style='margin-left:0px;margin-top:0px;padding:0px;'> <a target=gallery3 class='thumb2 ' href=http://www.citizensugar.com/gallery/226993?page=0,3,0><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl0/2/20652/07_2008/125837681_l.smallsquare.jpeg" alt="image" title="image" class="image smallsquare" width="75" height="75" /></a> </div> </div> <div id=mask-41148 class=mask style='float:left;width:75px;height:75px;overflow:hidden;background:#FFF;margin:0px 3px 3px 0px;border:0px solid #111;padding:0px;' onmouseover={style.borderColor='#0072bc'} onmouseout={style.borderColor='#111'}> <div style='margin-left:0px;margin-top:0px;padding:0px;'> <a target=gallery3 class='thumb2 ' href=http://www.citizensugar.com/gallery/226993?page=0,4,0><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl0/2/20652/07_2008/125838337_l.smallsquare.jpeg" alt="image" title="image" class="image smallsquare" width="75" height="75" /></a> </div> </div> <div id=mask-50411 class=mask style='float:left;width:75px;height:75px;overflow:hidden;background:#FFF;margin:0px 3px 3px 0px;border:0px solid #111;padding:0px;' onmouseover={style.borderColor='#0072bc'} onmouseout={style.borderColor='#111'}> <div style='margin-left:0px;margin-top:0px;padding:0px;'> <a target=gallery3 class='thumb2 ' href=http://www.citizensugar.com/gallery/226993?page=0,5,0><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl0/2/20652/07_2008/125838060_l.smallsquare.jpeg" alt="image" title="image" class="image smallsquare" width="75" height="75" /></a> </div> </div> <div id=mask-67456 class=mask style='float:left;width:75px;height:75px;overflow:hidden;background:#FFF;margin:0px 3px 3px 0px;border:0px solid #111;padding:0px;' onmouseover={style.borderColor='#0072bc'} onmouseout={style.borderColor='#111'}> <div style='margin-left:0px;margin-top:0px;padding:0px;'> <a target=gallery3 class='thumb2 ' href=http://www.citizensugar.com/gallery/226993?page=0,6,0><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl0/2/20652/07_2008/125837339_l.smallsquare.jpeg" alt="image" title="image" class="image smallsquare" width="75" height="75" /></a> </div> </div> </p><br clear=all></p> http://bellasugar.com/1038630#comment beauty byt