Blog Posts by BellaSugar

Source: 5 Surprising Ways to Use Vinegar For Beauty

Many common kitchen ingredients are just as useful in the bathroom. In fact, L'Oréal hair colorist Christophe Robin turns to vinegar for many DIY hair and skin care remedies, his favorite brand being Santa Maria Novella ($52). But if you don't have the time to wait for this international beauty product to arrive (or are looking for something a little more practically priced), pick up a bottle of apple cider vinegar at your local grocery store. And to get Robin's tips - along with a few of ours - for using vinegar from head to toe, just keep reading.

• For smooth skin: "Because vinegar is acidic, it closes the pores of your skin and makes it extremely shiny," Robin says. That's why he recommends mixing vinegar with your body cream. "It also gives a nice smell without having perfume," he adds.
• For shiny, brass-free hair: "Most of the time women don't rinse shampoos and conditioners very well, so hair is [left] heavy and

Source: Legendary Stylist José Eber Talks Summer Trends and Tips

José Eber has styled everyone from Farrah Fawcett to Elizabeth Taylor throughout his 40-plus years in the business, so you could say he knows a thing or two about hair. The founder of José Eber Salon in Beverly Hills, Eber says, "There is nothing more attractive than a woman who knows who she is. I believe beauty comes from inside." But when it comes to the outside, Eber has a few tips for achieving your best summertime hair yet.

Summer trends: "I love braids and buns; there are so many variations, too, so play around and have fun with it," he explains. Of course, you can never go wrong with beachy waves. "They are so easy to do and they give you a very sexy and carefree look," says Eber, who recommends using his Trio multibarrel curling iron ($169) for easy-to-form curls that alternate in size.

Pool- and beach-worthy hairstyles: "Again, braids, buns, and ponytails are all quick and easy hairstyles to wear to the pool

Source: 7 Places You Might Forget to Apply Sunscreen - But Shouldn't

Even the most careful of sun protection applications can result in unwanted burns and irregularly shaped tan lines (sports bra "tan," anyone?). And while it probably goes without saying that most of us are thorough with our shoulders, backs, necks, arms, and legs, there are a few places you might want to double-check before heading out into the intense heat.

• Upper ears: Peeling, blistery ears? Ouch. Believe what you hear: if it happens one time, you'll never let it happen again.
• Hair part: The top of your head is often the first place the sun's rays hit. Be sure to apply sunscreen to any exposed skin on the scalp - especially your part. Better yet, wear a cute straw hat.
• Under arms: Falling asleep in the sun with arms stretched behind your head leaves plenty of exposed skin. Pay close attention to the back and underside of the arms to avoid an unpleasant burn that could leave you immobile.

Source: 5 Easy Steps to a Side French Braid

This side-swept braid is something of a cross between a waterfall braid and the French braid Katniss Everdeen wore in The Hunger Games movie. Not only are braids a chic way to keep hair out of your face on a hot day, but it also looks elegant on a night out. See step-by-step photos, along with instructions on how you can re-create this side French braid yourself, when you keep reading.

1. Part slightly damp hair on the right side. Optional: add a little mousse or gel to keep hair intact and to prevent fly-aways. Next, take about a two-inch chunk of hair from the front of the right hairline, and begin a French braid.
2. To start a French braid, section this portion of hair into three even strands, keeping them separated with your fingers (whichever ones feel most comfortable to you). Now, start a normal braid; take the right strand and cross it over the middle strand. Next, take the left strand and cross it over the middle strand.
3. Once

Source: 10 Weird but Wonderful Hair and Nail Secrets

When you're in a jam and desperate for hair or nail help, the perfect fix can come from some highly unexpected places. Whether you tore a nail and can't get to the salon, need a manicure to dry fast, or forgot your curling iron before a big event, there's slightly bizarre but excellent assistance for you when you keep reading.

1. Weak or chip-prone digits? Dump a teaspoon of finely chopped garlic in your base coat. It strengthens nails really well (some people claim it also helps them grow faster) for a fraction of the price of drugstore nail hardeners.
2. Want curls, but forgot your iron and rollers? Put a paper bag on your head. Seriously. "Paper bag" curls work on the same principle as rag curls. You just tear a big paper grocery bag into strips, then roll your towel-dried or slightly dampened hair up in them. You can sleep on them or, for faster results, blow-dry and then spritz with hair spray.
3. Use Pam to set

Source:Get Ashley Greene's Plum-Perfect Smoky Eye Makeup Look

Ashley Greene wore a natural-toned makeup look at the Young Hollywood Awards last night, but it was a pop of purple on the lids that provided a fresh, perfect-for-Summer feel. "I wanted to create a soft, smoky eye, to offset Ashley's gorgeous black bustier and slim pants," said celebrity makeup artist Vanessa Scali. To do this, Scali applied a bronze base on Ashley's lids and just underneath the lashes. Then, to make her blue eyes pop, Scali added a dab of plum shadow (the purple hue from Mark's nine-shade On the Dot Color Compact ($16) on the lids as a highlight. The look was finished with black liner on top and bottom lashes and multiple coats of mascara.


Related Content:
Get the Look: Emma Stone's Golden Chain Headband
Learn Summer's Easiest, Sleekest Bun (Gwyneth's Stylist Shows You How)
Learn the Key to Wearing Neon Pink Lip Color Like Ginnifer Goodwin


Follow BellaSugar on Twitter
Become a Fan of Bella Sugar on

Source: From Novice to Advanced: 3 Ways to Fix Chipped Nail Polish

So you just got a shiny new manicure on your lunch break, perhaps you tried one of our June nail polish picks, but by the time you're headed out later that night, you look down and notice there's a blasted chip. While it's not the end of the world, luckily there are a few quick tricks for patching it right up.

For the beginner (or time-deprived): Use a toothpick as your "brush" to dot on polish to the inside of the chip. Then simply allow it to dry.

For the intermediate: Apply polish remover to the pad of one of your fingertips (it's easiest to go with the hand opposite of the one with the chip). Then, using a circular motion, dab the remover-soaked fingertip on the chip to gently smooth it out. Once dry, fill any exposed nail areas with polish. Finish by sweeping on a fresh coat of lacquer over the entire nail to set. Tip: in lieu of using polish remover to diffuse jagged edges, you can always sand over the chip

Source: 6 Stories of Bridezillas Gone Wild

We sounded the call for your tales of beauty bridezillas, and you answered. Here, six stories of brides whose behavior turned a bit monstrous. Have a horror story of your own? Send it to bellabridezillas@gmail.com. (Anonymity guaranteed.)

Color coordinated A friend of mine was obsessed with getting her wedding featured on a popular wedding blog. Every detail was meticulously planned, and everything had to be exactly how she wanted it. Lots of brides choose color palettes, but she sent out the precise Pantone colors of the bridesmaids' dresses - along with suggested complementary colors for our jewelry and lipstick. A little picky, but not a big deal for the wedding party, right? But then she advised guests on what to wear, sending out a PDF with color combinations and her preferred fabrics. In the end, the wedding blog published her photos, but she developed a new reputation among friends as Mrs. Control Freak.

Blond redhead I'm a brunette;