Blog Posts by BellaSugar

Source: 5 Smart Ways to Prep Your Skin For Fall

Cooling temperatures and windy days can be a delight to the senses, but they also have a tendency to wreak havoc on your skin. The good news is that there are lots of ways to prep your face for crisp weather. To find out what you can do to get primed for the new season, just keep reading.

• Look after your lipids: Pick up a slightly more emollient moisturizer, like Aveeno Active Naturals ($9). Skin gets drier in cooler weather, and one of the best ways to keep it from having issues is to keep your lipid barrier well protected.
• Stop before you slough: Use acids and scrubs a little less frequently. When you exfoliate, skin is more sensitive, and cold air or harsh weather conditions can often exacerbate skin issues.
• Acid trip: Get a serum with hyaluronic acid, like Trish McEvoy Beauty Booster ($125). Hyaluronic is a humectant, which means that it helps keep skin hydrated. And if you happen to have oily skin, a serum's

Source: What We're Sweet On: Iconic Tinted Moisturizer in Solid Form

Laura Mercier's tinted moisturizer already has a cult following, and now the brand has wisely created a compact rendition. The new Tinted Moisturizer Crème Compact SPF 20 ($45) with broad-spectrum protection can be worn alone or on top of the original for added coverage. Unlike some powder compacts, however, this creamy product melts into skin without leaving a chalky finish behind. While the compact includes a sponge applicator, you can use your fingers to apply it if that's your preferred method. So say farewell to airplane makeup spills and powder cracks, this is the on-the-go evolution of a Laura Mercier fan favorite. Available in the same 12 shades as the liquid formula.


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Source: What's Your Fragrance? Find Your Signature Fall Scent

Searching for your signature Fall scent? Why not let your personality do the picking, then? Below are four of the latest fragrance releases for Fall - and they're all unique in their own way (just like you). With tones ranging from citrusy sweet to creamy musk and everything in between, you're sure to find your fragrance soul mate. Time to start spritzing.

• The Boho Babe: You go for earthy fragrances that are as natural as they are magnetic. Pick up Balenciaga's Floralbotanica ($95), a floral fragrance with an edgy twist. Mint, amber, and rose blend together to create a scent similar to lying in a field of wildflowers.
• The Urban Night Owl: If you're the girl constantly on top of what's happening and who's on a first-name basis with every doorman in town, you need a fragrance that can keep up. Bond No. 9 has formulated Manhattan ($190), a spicy-sweet scent as seductive as the borough it's named after. And with

Source: 4 Smart Ways to Avoid Awkward, In-Between Hair

Change is good, but sometimes it's the getting there that's the hardest part. From unwanted flips to dealing with the shift from Summer to Fall, to see four different ways you can make any hair transitions you're going through all the more smooth, just keep reading.

Scenario number 1: You don't have time (or the funds) to get regular haircuts, so your salon appointments are far and few between.
The solution: You're going to need a cut that will hold up for several months, requiring little maintenance. "I think a really good, healthy perimeter cut, with a light interior layering - just for a little bit of movement and shape - will always get you through," explains Jen McGann of Tricoci University of Beauty Culture.

Scenario number 2: Your hair is in-between textures: it's not quite curly, but it's not quite straight.
The solution: McGann recommends enhancing the natural wave. The trick is finding the right styling cream, which

Source: Is Katie Holmes the New Face of Bobbi Brown?

According to well-placed industry sources, Katie Holmes has signed on to become the first face of Bobbi Brown Cosmetics WWD reports. Both Bobbi Brown's and Katie's teams declined to comment, but the actress's sophisticated but accessible look would complement the company's fresh-faced look well.

It wouldn't be the first time that Katie has starred in a campaign, but it's a first for Bobbi Brown. Katie would be the brand's first celebrity spokeswoman, a contrast to the "real women" of past campaigns and Brown's forthcoming book, Pretty Powerful. Time will tell if the partnership is official, but hints may unfold in the next few days. Katie will be showing her fashion collection, Holmes & Yang, at Fashion Week for the first time. If Brown is doing the makeup backstage, expect the rumor mill to go full speed ahead.


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Source: Yes, You Can Transition Your Hot Pinks From Summer to Fall

Don't toss those summery hot pink hues just yet - you'll be needing them come Fall. This fun, punchy color has been popping up in palettes and lipsticks of the coming season. Estée Lauder placed a pretty hot pink in its Violet Underground palette for Fall 2012, and companies like Nars and MAC continue to churn out fluorescent blush colors. And stars like Ashley Greene are still swiping hot pink onto their lips for red carpets.

The trick to repurposing your pinks, while still keeping them fresh, is opting for a deeper hue. Summer was all about neon, bubblegum pinks; shelve those pinks for a more jewel-toned take on the shade. You can even custom create your own autumnal hot pink, layering a more subdued tone on top of your summertime version. The rest of the look stays the same: just downplay the feature that isn't carrying the neon. Your hot pinks are dying to hit the spotlight this Fall, so why not shop our favorite

Source: How to Avoid Sunburned Acne (Without Causing a Breakout)

Ever notice how acne seems to clear up after a day of sunbathing? Although your pimples may have disappeared, you're actually putting your skin at greater risk from sun damage if you skip protection. But sometimes sunscreen causes an even worse breakout in the end. Sigh.

"While many acne patients seek the sun hoping to 'dry out' their skin, what they normally end up with is sunburned acne," explains Dr. Ava Shamban, board certified dermatologist and author of Heal Your Skin.

P. acnes, a bacteria responsible for causing breakouts, can't stand up to the heat of the sun. This is why acne appears to diminish after extended periods of time outside, yet there are more negative effects from the sun than this one advantage. For example, some acne treatments, like benzoyl peroxide and glycolic acid, make your skin more sensitive to sun damage. In addition, hotter temperatures can lead to more perspiration. "Excessive sweating

Source: Beauty Refresher: How to Shape and Tweeze Your Brows

Your eyebrows are an important part of your look: they frame your face and give it dimension. If you're sick of shelling out money for waxing and threading, though, it's time to take matters into your own hands. Perfectly manicured brows at home are just a few steps away.


Preparation: Collect Your Tools and Prep Your Brows
Shaping your brows takes more than a trusty pair of tweezers. You're also going to need a pair of cuticle scissors to trim hairs, like Sally Hansen Nail and Cuticle Scissors ($11). Also, pick yourself up a brow and lash brush for additional trimming.

Be sure to avoid retinoids before going through with any procedure that has to do with your brows. They can make already-delicate skin in that area more burn- and tear-prone. And if your skin tends to get irritated and inflamed (or you just want to try and numb the pain of tweezing), rub an ice cube over your brows for a minute or two before you start.


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