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Retail Therapy for Under $50.00!

FabSugar — Wed, 26 Jul 2006 19:12:39 -0700

We've all been there. Those bad hair days, those feeling fat and ugly days, days where the sales clerk snapped at you or you broke another heel... maybe you just need a quick pick-me-up?

For far less than the cost of an hour of professional therapy, you can self-medicate with a little shopping therapy instead! Here are some great options for less than $50:

Bluefly has just marked down this Elizabeth Gillett sequined belt from $75 to just $37.99.

Philosophy's Falling in Love Set gives all of us a chance to experience a little romance in a bottle. For $45, you get 2 oz. Shimmer Spray Cologne and an 8 oz. shampoo, bath and shower gel. If you don't feel good, at least you smell great!

Summer will be over before you know it, but not before you step out in these adorable beaded flats from J.Crew for just $14.99.

If you're so over summer you can't stand it, look forward to fall with this chocolate brown Kokin velvet hat marked down from $165 to just $42!

Who says a little shopping can't fix everything?

Patrick Dempsey Talks to Us About His Latest Scent

BellaSugar — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 14:00:36 -0800

When Patrick Dempsey launched his first scent, Unscripted, late last year, I have to admit I was skeptical of another celebrity fragrance hitting the market. However, I was pleasantly surprised by the subtle, clean scent, and even Mr. Bella - whose idea of a fun night out involves climbing mountains and camping in the woods sans showers - is a fan.

Patrick has been bitten by the fragrance bug once again. The launch of his latest scent, Patrick Dempsey 2 ($30), pays tribute to the intimacy between two people. (That's his wife in the ad campaign.) Expect to see at least two more fragrance launches from Patrick in the future, but in the meantime, check out my one-on-one interview (sigh) with the sexy actor when you read more.

Fragrance Review: Jil by Jil Sander

BellaSugar — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 08:00:11 -0800

You might know Jil Sander as a German designer with a minimalistic style, and that's exactly the kind aesthetic you'll get with her new fragrance, Jil ($58-$70), a floral amber that just launched last week. The scent, which has powdery characteristics, contains top notes of pink pepper and tangerine for a bit of brightness, with lavender mellowing it out. At the heart is where you get most of the action, with lily of the valley bringing a hint of sweetness, orris lending an earthiness, and heliotrope providing a musky quality. To round it off, musk, vanilla, and ambergris make for a slightly exotic, sensual finish. To find out what I thought about the fragrance, just keep reading.

I Smell Dead People

BellaSugar — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 13:00:41 -0800

If you want to smell like Marilyn Monroe, it's well-known that she was a Chanel No. 5 devotee. But what if you just want to smell like her genetic code? Well, now there's a fragrance out there to help you do it. A company in LA has come out with a line of perfumes called Antiquity that it says are supposed to smell like various deceased stars' DNA.

I, personally, was unaware that my DNA smelled any way. But the company says that it's got a "secret process" using hair strands collected from people like Marilyn, Einstein, Elvis, and a ton of others that it uses to make these scents. Which still doesn't at all explain how you could make a fragrance based on genes. What do you think about this? Does the vagueness, secrecy, and appeal to "science" make it sound like a crock, or do you think there's something to this idea?

Reformulation Station: Why Your Favorite Perfume Smells Different

BellaSugar — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 07:00:18 -0800

Have you ever loved a scent, forgotten about it, then come back a few years later only to find that you aren't at all fond of it anymore? Recently, I was reading about the new version of YSL Opium, and it made me think about the prevalence of scent retooling. Most fragrances that stay out for more than a couple of years will be reformulated as a way to freshen the scent and attract a new audience, with new notes and sometimes an entirely different scent. Fragrance companies, however, don't usually make that clear when they relaunch a product. And while reformulation can sometimes mean the addition of cruelty-free ingredients or a subtle update to suit the tastes of a new generation, it can also spell disaster for the fragrance's original fans. Have you ever had something like this happen with a fragrance you love? And did you use the new version, or have to find a different scent?

Fragrance Is About to Get Fergalicious

BellaSugar — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 09:02:19 -0700

There's a new Avon lady in town, and she's more rock-and-roll than most. WWD reports that Black Eyed Peas singer Fergie has signed a deal with Avon. She's no stranger to the beauty world, having represented MAC Viva Glam lipstick, but now she'll have her own product to promote.

The most lucrative part of multi-year contract is expected to involve Fergie's fragrance, which will launch next year. While the juice is still being developed, Fergie says that it will be "fresh and alluring." (As opposed to...?) "The vibe for the scent is for the woman who wears it to feel confident and not be afraid to be noticed," she told WWD. No word yet on the name of the fragrance, but I'll guess that its name will be more ladylike than My Humps. Are you excited for this development? And what do you think the name might be?

Viktor & Rolf Try to Outdo Flowerbomb With Eau Mega

BellaSugar — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 06:00:42 -0700

Flowerbomb, Viktor & Rolf's first fragrance, has been a cult hit since it came out a few years ago. But this week, the brand quietly released its second scent, Eau Mega. Just so you all know how dedicated I am to good-smellin' stuff, I trekked all the way down to Nordstrom during lunch to sniff it, since only a few locations have the fragrance so far. Luckily, the reconnaissance on this baby is good.

V&R didn't play it safe at all, and Eau is totally different from the F-bomb, though just as playful. The atomizer is also too cute to be believed, and well worth playing with (you spray it by squeezing the big gold V&R seal on the side). To find out whether the juice smells as awesome as the bottle looks, just keep reading.

Product Review: Botanical Essence No. 1 From Liz Earle

BellaSugarUK — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 06:00:00 -0800

It's no secret that I'm a huge Liz Earle fan. Besides adorning her face, bath and body products, I often turn to her books for at home remedies and advice on essential oils. So when I heard that she was launching her first ever fragrance after three years in development called Botanical Essence No. 1, I could hardly wait to get my hands on some.

If I'm being totally honest, at first, I found the scent to be a little green, meaning not quite fully developed. It reminded me of Charlie by Revlon, something I wore as a kid. However, if you give it some time, you can appreciate the floral center and crisp, unique dry-down.

This warm and definitely sensuous Eau de Parfum was inspired by Liz's Instant Boost Skin Tonic and is a culmination of 98% natural botanicals grown in France, Turkey, Italy and Indonesia. It contains notes of lavender, bergamot, rose, patchouli, mandarin, bitter orange, lemon, cardamom, geranium, coriander, nutmeg, cedar, vetiver and tonka bean, and is currently available in a 50 ml bottle for £39.50.

In my opinion, the only drawback is the initial heaviness, but I really like the end result and the price-point is more than fair for an Eau de Parfum. Does your favourite skincare brand make a fragrance too?

Beauty Byte: Paris Hilton's Sixth Scents

BellaSugarUK — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 07:30:00 -0700

The latest celebrity perfume due out next month is from Paris Hilton. Siren is the heiress's sixth scent. It was inspired by fairy-tale mermaids, co-created with world famous nose Honorine Blanc and is licensed by Parlux Fragrances.

If you thought that Paris's other fragrance ads were sexy, get ready to feast your eyes on photos of her wearing a sequin gold tail in front of ancient ruins with flowing and apparently heavy blonde hair.

Siren contains notes of mandarin, apricot nectar, frangipani, honeysuckle, coconut orchid, water lily, vanilla beans, sandalwood and creamy musk. It comes in a glass bottle shaped like a tail of a mermaid with details intended to look like a splash. The collection will contains two eau de parfums and a scented body lotion. Are you excited to spritz on Siren?

To read all about what Neil Katz, chairman and CEO of Parlux has to say about Paris as a business woman, read more.

"Paris Hilton is business savvy. She’s head and shoulders above so many other celebrities because of her connection with consumers, but also her connection with the paparazzi. They appreciate that she takes the time to answer their questions, and pose for them. Paris understands the role they play in her business. The Paris Hilton business continues to remain strong despite one of the bleakest fragrance markets in decades."

Warm Up With These Comfy Cold-Weather Scents

BellaSugar — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 08:00:37 -0800

When the air starts to get a little nippy and my sweaters come out of the closet, I start daydreaming about cold weather perfumes. I put away my beachy scents and find creamy, spicy, deep fragrances with the rich, comforting notes of cinnamon, cardamom, labdanum, almond, Tahitian vanilla, bergamot tea, and warm woods. I'm still on my way to finding the perfect sweater scent, but I thought I'd put together a few that might be a good bet for you. From heavy-hitting classics like Penhaligon's Bluebell (woody, earthy and soft, with a few sweet florals) to inexpensive but delicious scents like Carol's Daughter Almond Cookie (just plain yummy), there are fragrances here for every taste and budget, but all of the entries promise to make you feel like you're curled up under a comfy throw with something warm to sip on. Click through to get a little scentspiration.

Fresh Redcurrant Basil Eau de Parfum - $75.00	Carol's daughter almond cookie eau de toilette spray - $27.00
The Comforter Solid Perfume - $7.95	Parfums Intimes Cashmere Vanilla Jasmine Eau de Parfum - $45.00
Burberry Brit Perfume Collection - $46.00	Vanillary Fragrance - $41.95
Bergamot Tea Eau De Toilette - $46.00	Red Flower Hammam - Cardamom Amber Oil - 2.4 Oz. - $44.00
Dolce And Gabbana No. 6 L'amoureux - $65.00	Agraria Bitter Orange - $40.00
Demeter Sugar & Spice Cologne Spray - $20.00	Le Labo Labdanum 18 100ml - $200.00
Montale Amandes Orientales - $135.00	Penhaligon's Bluebell - $80.00
Fresh Cannabis Rose - $75.00	Donna Karan Cashmere Mist Luxe Edition - $70.00