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Four Makeup Tips You Won't Forget

BellaSugar — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 10:00:23 -0700

After chatting with La Prairie's color ambassador, Raychel Wade, I was impressed with her simple makeup tips. Earlier, I shared with you her advice on lip-color essentials for your purse and her foolproof way to wear a dark lip; today, it's all about her blush and concealer how-tos. They struck a chord with me, and I think they will with you, too. To check them out, keep reading.

Doing Drugstore: Maybelline Dream Mousse Blush

BellaSugar — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 10:00:00 -0800

After 27 hours of travel to get home for the holidays (yeah, really!), I arrived home looking a bit haggard. As I slabbed on the concealer and swept on the powder blush in attempt to hide my jet-lagged appearance, I couldn't help but wish I had some cream blush instead. The powdered blush just seemed a little flat and settled into my parched skin in the most unflattering way.

So, I made a pit stop at the only place that was open: the drugstore. I'd heard some decent things about Maybelline Dream Mousse Blush ($6.89) on the blush pages of our Product Reviews website, so I picked up two: one for my mom and one for me.

The Dream Mousse comes in six shades ranging from a bronzy brown to a bright pink. I tried Peach Satin, a slightly shimmery peaches 'n' cream glow, and my mom tried Soft Plum, a natural rose.

The verdict? We both agreed that a little goes a long way, making this light-as-air blush a great bang for your buck. We also liked how easy it was to blend and that it didn't get cakey or emphasize any rough patches or wrinkles. As for my mom, she was pleased as punch (her expression) that this creamy blush took the paleness out, leaving her with a natural radiance. As for me? I wish the color lasted just a bit longer, but all in all, mom's always right. This affordable whipped blush is a keeper.

A Quick Tip For Beautifully Flushed Cheeks

BellaSugarUK — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 10:00:00 -0700

Recently I switched sides on the great cream versus powder blush debate. This summer I got into the habit of swapping my faithful shimmery Bourjois blush for the gorgeous creamy Becca shades. The dewy fresh look that you only seem to get from a cream blush is a hard addiction to break so I was thrilled to hear about the latest backstage makeup artist trick.

Apparently there's now no need to be a die-hard powder fan or a team cream member only. At the 2009 Spring catwalk shows makeup pros applied both to the models' cheeks for a natural flush. It's all about layering different textures for a look that has a three-dimensional effect.

For how to get the perfect just-in-love colour, simply read more.

For a winter ruddiness opt for a pastel blush. Try The Body Shop Sparkle & Shimmer Powder (£15) in Sunset Peach.
Apply the powder blush liberally to cheeks, nose and forehead. On the cheeks take the blush circles wide so they reach the top of your cheekbones and almost out to your ears.
Next, add a cream blush just onto the very apples of the cheeks. Blend it gently with fingertips so as not to rub away the powder blush that's underneath.
Try using the makeup artists' favourite; Becca in Beach Tint (£19), for a flushed look with lasting power.

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Product Review: Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge

BellaSugarUK — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 10:00:00 -0700

Bobbi Brown's Pot Rouge formulations for lips and cheeks, (£16), have become something of a cult product recently. These handy little tubs are ideal for stashing in your draw at work for when you want a quick touch-up and they're perfect clutch bag must-haves. I've been trialling the Pink Truffle shade (pictured) and a friend has been testing Calypso Coral to great effect. All through summer and into the autumn everyone said I'd never looked so healthy, while my friend got heaps of compliments about her in-love glow.

The sleek packaging got lots of admiring glances and while both of us pale-skinned girls were initially dubious about the dark pink and coral shade on our skin tones (although a dark skinned friend of mine loves Calypso Coral) we were pleasantly surprised. For why, just read more.

The product has a fantastic consistency and glides on easily. It really is a case of you get what you pay for with cream blush and just a tiny bit goes a long way. If you're pale you'll definitely have to learn to blend it well but once you get used to the pat pat, blend blend routine the colour looks fantastic. It was as though the glow comes from underneath your skin, rather than being painted on top. If you have dry skin then be sure to moisturise first and let it settle in before applying with fingertips.

Personally, the Pink Truffle colour was great on lips and cheeks but my friend preferred Calypso Coral on cheeks only to avoid that Malibu girl effect. Coral can be tricky, but it'd work well on lips and cheeks for blondes or if you have dark or asian skin and brown eyes. I tried it with a fake tan for a wedding and it looked amazingly fresh and youth-enhancing. My friend who'd never used a cream blush before was quite shocked at how well it lasted and it's true – you barely need to reapply through out the whole day. All in all, a great go-to product for an instantly pretty effect.

The Big Blush Question: Cream vs. Powder?

BellaSugarUK — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Now it's not quite on the same level as Tory versus Labour, or even Chelsy Davy versus Kate Middleton, but the powder blush versus the cream formulation is a big beauty debate, at least in my pretty little head.

I was always a devoted powder (puff) girl but have since switched sides onto Team Cream, and there's no looking back.

But which do you prefer for a prettifying blush? The jury's out...

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Trend Alert: Cheeky Contours Part 2

BellaSugarUK — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 07:00:00 -0700

As contoured cheeks are suddenly cool again – witness the girls at Fendi and Giles, showing off their knife-sharp cheekbones – what's a cream blush addict to do?

Creating contours is undoubtedly easier with powder blush, but it is possible to get this season's natural-seeming, structured look with your favourite cream formulation.

This look also works better in the day, when you want to look like you're sporting a just-in-love glow, not piles of make-up.

Here's how: Just read more

The models at the Giles show had a rosy-looking, deep pink wash of colour that reached high on their cheekbones. Aim to take your blush up right to the top of the most prominant point.
Carefully dot a little cream blush upwards, along the cheekbone, towards the temple. Start from the bottom (where you can first feel your cheekbones – just above and to the side of your lips) and literally dot blusher right up the bone. Blend well. Keep it subtle at this stage, don't apply more to that area yet.
Next, blend a few dots in the same direction, but this time just under the cheekbone. When you blend, blend upwards and inwards, towards the top of your nose.
Finally, dot the cream blush onto the very top of your cheekbone and add highlighter if you wish. Blend the entire cheek with your fingertips. Add more colour where neccessary, making sure to focus on the actual bone of the cheek and not the apple.
For a great, dark berry shade, try Nars Montenegro, (£18), or for a more pinkish rose flush, as at Fendi and Giles, try Ruby & Millie's Cheek Color Cream in RC44, (£12).

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BellaSugar's Top Five Cream Blush Picks

BellaSugar — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 10:00:28 -0700

Ever since I started toying around with cream blush about a year ago, I've been hooked. I'm not really into anything too shimmery - I like to leave that to the more spreadable luminizers - but I've been having a field day with pinky-brown tones like By Terry's Rose de Rose Sheer Liquid Blush in Fresh Rose that I told you about earlier in the week. Each of these items leaves my face looking flushed, hydrated and even a little dewy in a natural way. It's as though I've just drunk a bottle of water and gone for a brisk walk. Here are my other four fave cream blush discoveries; what's your top pick?

Benefit Cream Blush in Hush ($18) is a sheer, thin and easily spreadable cream-to-powder pinky-nude-colored blush that adds a natural-looking warmth to fair skin.
Stila Convertible Color in Peony ($24) is the darkest of the bunch. I reserve this color for moments when I crave a rosy glow. The consistency is slightly waxy at first, so it's best applied with a sponge to facilitate blending.
Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge for Lips and Cheeks in Blushed Rose ($22) is extremely thick and rich in pigment. A little goes a long way and the result is a deep, stain-like finish.
Scott Barnes Cream Color in Sway ($25) is a moist, easily spreadable pinky-beige blusher that can also double as a lip and eye shade. Use a little bit for a natural effect, or layer for a deep, dewy look.

Bellissima! By Terry Rose de Rose Sheer Liquid Blush

BellaSugar — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 13:15:30 -0700

I've got a crush on a new cream blush! Cosmetologist Terry de Gunzburg, creator of the iconic Yves Saint Laurent Touché Éclat and founder of By Terry, brings us a new (and, might I add, sensational) blush that I'd like to categorize as a cream blush. It's called Rose de Rose Sheer Liquid Blush ($52), but it's really a cross between a cream and a gel texture.

The luxe formula is outrageously silky, light and scented with a delightful, barely-there rose essence. It is made with rosaliss (an extract from white-, black-, and pastel-colored roses) and rosamine (a pigment that comes from rose petals). It creates a flush that's lighter than a stain, but deeper than a tint.

It's a relatively new product, yet already the lightest shade is sold out at Barneys. Clearly I'm not the only one infatuated with Rose de Rose. It is available in three shades (Fresh Rose, Coral Rose, or Amber Rose) and I consider it a must-have for attaining stunning, yet understated summertime skin.

New Product Alert! Max Factor Miracle Cream Blush

BellaSugarUK — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 06:00:00 -0700

That just-in-love glow or morning-after flush aside, in most cases we're used to faking it. Nothing adds a dose of instant prettiness like a daub of cream blush and now Max Factor have heard our prayers and come up with their first cream blush for that covetable fresh-faced look.

According to make up artist Caroline Barnes, this ‘super-natural’ look is a key beauty trend for Autumn/Winter 2008. Think dewy skin set with gently flushed and glowing cheeks. Caroline advises keeping lips neutral and only applying mascara to eyes to make your flushed cheeks the defining feature. She says "Boys love it and girls covet it, skin is clean with a soft rosy glow. The aim is to look as if you’ve just come in from a brisk walk, with none of the effort!" Just the kind of low-maintenance look we're loving this summer!

Max Factor Miracle Touch Creamy Blush (£6.99) is available from 1st September 2008.

Product Review: Scott Barnes Cream Color

BellaSugar — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 08:00:25 -0700

I first told you about the launch of Scott Barnes' Cream Color ($25) back in the Fall, but until I recently tried them I had no idea just what I'd been missing. It's no secret that I'm a huge Scott Barnes fan. Everything from his loose powder shadows, to his lip slicks tickle my fancy, but these take the cake.

All you need is the tiniest amount to create a natural looking, almost dewy (without looking too slick) finish. I'd love to say that Sway (a medium beigy-pink) is my favorite color for my cheeks, but the truth is that mixed with the smallest schmear of Flush (a bright peach) I look like a burst of sunshine.

Did I also mention that they can double as lip stains and even eye shadows too? I love Delish (light mauve), Native (deeper mauve) and Bloom (bright pink) for my lips, and Luster (pearl) creates a glowy, ethereal effect for eyes and upper cheekbones. To apply, all you've got to do is smile and in small, circular motions blend the blush from the apples of your cheeks along your cheekbone with your fingers. They also look terrific layered over powder, bronzer - anything you like really, without it creating a muddy, overdone effect. Welcome to the greatest beauty gift for under $25.