Blog Posts by BellaSugar

Source: How to Fake a Professional Blowout at Home

When you stop into the salon for a professional blowout, your hair just seems to behave better. Women with thick hair get the polished look they crave, while ladies with flat strands get the volume they desire. Save time and money with these at-home blowout tricks that won't have you blasting your hair with heat either.

Full-on volume: If you just can't contort your arms into the perfect position to get a great blowout at home, you're better off trying hot rollers. Roll large sections using medium to jumbo rollers. As they cool down, you'll get the same root-lifting effect of a round-brush blowout (without all the exercise). Opt for a flexible-hold hair spray and brush through with your fingers, so the curls fall out for a more natural bounce.

Sleek and smooth: Let your hair air dry until 90 percent of the moisture is gone, then blow-dry hair with a round brush until sleek. Use a flat iron to smooth roots, and spritz hair with dry

Source: Skin Care 101: Sunscreen For Your Skin Type

It's Skin Cancer Awareness Month, and we all know how important sunscreen is for preventing not only skin cancer, but also the photodamage that causes signs of aging in your skin. No matter what season it is, sunscreen is an important step in your daily skin care regimen. Keep reading to find out what sunscreens are best for your skin type, then shop our editor's picks here.

Why You Need It: Sunscreen blocks UV rays from penetrating your skin. This helps prevent skin cancer and even signs of aging, including dark spots, change in texture, and fine lines and wrinkles. Every day our skin is exposed to UV radiation - even on a cloudy day - which is why sunscreen should be an essential part of your morning skin care routine. For best results, here's what you should look for in finding the right formula for your skin type.

For Oily Skin: Go with an oil-free option. Also, physical sunblock ingredients (such as titanium dioxide and zinc

Source: Chemical and Physical Sun Protection: What's the Difference?

Since May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month, SPF is naturally on the brain this time of year, but it's a skin care must all year long. Although the list of sun-protectant ingredients is relatively short, making sure your product contains chemical and/or physical ingredients is a necessity. But what's the difference between these two formulations anyway?

Chemical: "Chemical blockers (ingredients like oxybenzone and avobenzone) protect the skin at a cellular level and need to interact with the skin cells to be effective," explains chemical and biological engineer Jasmina Aganovic (who founded Stages of Beauty skin care). Because of this, she recommends applying chemical SPFs on bare skin (under moisturizer) and waiting about 30 minutes before heading outside. If you have sensitive skin, though, then you might want to avoid chemical blockers, which may cause irritation. But if you'd like to steer clear of the white cast

Source: How You Can Nail the Natural Makeup Look

It's easy to look like you're wearing makeup - not that that's a bad thing - but we've all wanted to achieve that perfectly natural look, too. The catch? Most of us need a little makeup to look like we woke up looking effortlessly radiant. You can get that no-makeup makeup look with these easy tips straight from the pros.

• Skin Care Is Key: "Having great skin is a result of having a skin care regimen that works for you," says makeup artist Jeannia Robinette. "One benefit of having great skin is easier makeup application," she says, so make sure you're using a great cleanser, exfoliator, and moisturizer for your skin's needs.
• Smooth Out Flaws: You can fake a smooth complexion. "To help provide a smooth surface to apply makeup, use a primer to cover pores and blemishes," Robinette says. She recommends Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer ($52).
• Use the Right Foundation: "It's a toss-up between tinted moisturizer and

Source: What We're Sweet On: A Face Oil That Leaves Skin Soft, Not Shiny

Before Nyakio Face Oil ($49), I was skeptical about putting oil on my face (despite being schooled on all the beauty benefits). But a few drops left my skin soft for hours, and the shiny forehead I was expecting never showed. This new brand is fueled by African beauty recipes passed down through founder Nyakio Grieco's family, with the star product being the face oil. Scented with chamomile and lavender, the lightweight oil is made with caffeine-rich kola nut extract from Africa to give skin a lift. While the price may seem steep, one bottle will go a long way. You can even use it on your hair and nails. So long, weighty creams and lotions.

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POPSUGAR BeautySource: Surprise Mom This Mother's Day With These Beauty Buys Under $50

If you're like us, then Mom was the first woman whose makeup bag you rifled through, whose perfume you smelled, and whose lipstick you smeared across your face as a little girl. Since she's probably the first woman who introduced you to the lovely world of beauty, shouldn't you return the favor? In honor of Mother's Day on May 12, we've rounded up 10 top tier gifts that cash in for under $50. Click through and get shopping.

• For a mother who is constantly toiling with her hands or is on her feet day after day, gift her Ahava's Color Me Hydrated ($27) set, which contains mini bottles of the brand's ultrahydrating lotions.
• Clinique's Makeup Value Set in Pretty Pinks and Plums ($40) is an instant makeup-bag makeover for Mom.
• Let Mom have a mini spa day right in her own shower with Diptyque's The Art of Body Care Set ($50).
• Soap-obsessed mom? She'll love L'Occitane's Grasse Soap Trio ($24), which

Source: 5 Ways to Beauty Nirvana, According to Nina Dobrev

It seemed only appropriate that we ask The Vampire Diaries' Nina Dobrev her secret to healthy skin - and looking totally refreshed - at an early-morning event for Origins' latest product, the GinZing Energy Boosting Moisturizer ($27). The brunette starlet just finished filming the fourth season of her hit CW series, and made a quick pit stop in NYC before officially embarking on her Summer adventures. Read on for what she revealed about her skin care routine, the weirdest beauty treatment she's tried (recently), and what she can't leave the house without.

1. On her skin care routine: Nina spends much of her days on the Vampire Diaries set in full hair and makeup, so it makes sense that she takes her skin care routine very seriously. "Even when it looks like I'm not wearing much makeup, I totally am. So, as soon as I'm done on set - I don't even wait until I get home - I'll use a makeup wipe, wash my face, and then use a hot

POPSUGAR BeautySource: 3 Things You Didn't Know About Waxing

With Spring in full swing, it's time to think about clearing out those . . . er, overgrown areas. Sure, you may know it's important to exfoliate and hydrate before a waxing appointment. And we bet you've heard tight clothing only increases your chance of ingrown hairs. But Noemi Grupenmager, founder of Uni K Wax Center, reveals three little-known topics you should be talking over with your esthetician before the hot wax comes out.

1. You need to give your esthetician a full skin care history. The products you put on your skin every day could affect your waxing experience. In fact, mixing some products with wax is a no-no. "Prior to your appointment, I recommend letting your waxer know if you have any allergies, health conditions, or are taking any medicine, like Accutane, which would not make you a candidate to receive a service," Grupenmager says. "We also need to know if you are using any topical lotions or creams like AHAs or Retin-A,