PopSugar

Product Review: Prescriptives Instant Gratification Skin Renewal Peel

BellaSugar — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 09:00:00 -0800

Prescriptives has just come out with a new skincare product called Instant Gratification ($45). It's a self-heating mask with microbeads that whisk away dead skin, and it promises to combine the benefits of a facial, peel and microdermabrasion-with results equivalent to a 30% glycolic acid peel.

Although I wasn't an immediate fan of Instant Gratification, it's won me over for its simplicity and results. I keep going back to this mask over and over, so it's definitely doing something right. For the full review, read more.

Here's how to use the mask: Clean your face and blot off any excess moisture, leaving your skin slightly damp. Then, rub a generous amount of the mask on your skin in circular motions. You'll feel a warm sensation, but it doesn't burn at all. After five minutes, wet your fingers and gently scrub off the mask.

I've found that Instant Gratification does a great job of brightening the complexion and keeping my pores clear. It also leaves skin soft and smooth-and it was able to get rid of the gross flaky skin that inevitably pops up near my nose each winter. It's definitely not the strongest mask I've tried, but I like it because it's both effective and gentle. If you've been curious about exfoliating with beta hydroxy acids, this mask would be a good introduction.

See reader reviews of this product and add your own here!

Product Review: N.V. Perricone M.D. Ceramic Skin Smoother

BellaSugar — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 07:00:34 -0700

With some products, I know right away whether I love it or feel indifferent toward it. Others, like N.V. Perricone M.D. Ceramic Skin Smoother finishing serum ($75), take more time. I'm particularly fussy about pricey products. Even though some, like this one, are sent to me for review, I always think, "Would I buy it for this price?" And that's why it too me so long to write this review.

Like many of Dr. Perricone's products, Ceramic Skin Smoother contains age-fighting antioxidants and DMAE, which helps skin feel firmer. Although this serum is meant to be the last step in skin care before applying foundation, it's not strictly a makeup primer. It's much lighter than, say Smashbox Photo Finish, and it sinks into skin rather than sitting on top of it. Even so, I find that foundation does go on more smoothly over it; some people claim that they can go without foundation entirely with this product, but I prefer a little help. I love the lightweight, oil-free texture, and using it minimizes the look of my pores.

But let's go back to the "Would I buy this?" question. After I make my millions off of my Milo-endorsed gourmet pet food line, yes. Yes, I would. But for now, I have student loans to pay off, so I can't add this to my must-buy list just yet.

Product Review: Nars Skin Potent EFA Cream

BellaSugar — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 12:00:40 -0700

About a month ago, Nars released a new, highly concentrated, skin-restoring face moisturizer called Lipid Support Potent EFA Cream ($70 for 1.7 oz). This thick, lightly scented lotion is formulated with lipids (Omega-3 fatty acids and ceramides), acai and hyaluronic acid to replenish your skin and to create a more hydrated texture. In turn, this helps aid in skin-cell regeneration and decrease wrinkles and create an overall more supple appearance.

Now, I don't know if you're aware of this, but some ingredients can break down when exposed to the air - and that means your skin isn't getting all of the ingredients it should. I like this container aesthetically, but I love how the airtight seal protects the cream's active ingredients from overexposure to sunlight, germs, and oxygen.

I really like the cream, especially for nighttime, but the one drawback is that has a slightly heavy and greasy texture. It claims to be suitable for all skin types, but due to its intensely hydrating formula, I would suggest it for those with dry skin.

See reader reviews of this product and add your own here!

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New Product Alert: Mark Skin Care

BellaSugar — Fri, 02 May 2008 08:00:24 -0700

Mark, Avon's sister brand, is aimed at a younger audience - hence the choice of Lauren Conrad as the spokesmodel. Its target audience is teenagers and early twentysomethings, but after trying its new skin care line, I'm convinced this brand should have a wider appeal.

Don't look for a lot of gimmicks from this line; it's all about good basics such as cleansers, toners, and moisturizers. Everything is loaded with antioxidants, it's oil-free, and it's also fragrance-free. The scents of the products come from food-derived ingredients such as sugar maple, bilberry, pomegranate, and pumpkin seed. A great feature is the lotion packaging: you just press down on the top and the right dose of moisturizer comes out.

If you try one thing from this line, make it For Goodness Face ($15). This moisturizer features a broad-spectrum SPF 30 sunscreen (with dark chocolate and blueberry to provide antioxidants). It absorbs quickly and works well under makeup, and it has the vague scent of cocoa beans. The only drawback? I like it so much that I used up a jar within a month.

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BellaSugar's Gift Guide: The Smooth Operator

BellaSugarUK — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 05:30:00 -0800

We all know guys like this. He's the one who's perfectly shaven, has flawless, perhaps even tanned skin, and is typically dressed to impress unless he's rocking gym gear. These men (aka metrosexual types) are fabulously fun to shop for because they live to indulge in grooming goodies as much as you love your beauty products.

Below are a slew of gift selections to choose from, however, if you're in the position to splurge, might I suggest my new addiction, The Clarisonic Skin Cleansing System (£172 - £147). After hearing rave reviews time after time, I've finally scored one and it's amazing how much smoother and clearer my skin has become in just a month.

Have fun shopping for your super suave member of the opposite sex!

COMME DES GARÇONS - 2 Man Eau de Toilette 50ml - £60.00	Elemis Smooth Result Shave Oil 35ml - £19.00
Self Tan Bronzing Spray 200ml - £20.00	Bullocks Shaving Cream 100ml, Cowshed - £15.00
Mens BRIGHTENER 35ml, ESPA - £32.00	Fleur Du Male Eau De Toilette - £28.00
Molton Brown Smoothing Lila Leaf Hair Gloss, 50ml - £16.00	Decléor 50ml skin energiser face cream - £34.73
Michael Kors For Men eau de toilette - £35.23	Yves Saint Laurent for Men Touche Eclat - £23.00
125ml Shiseido men cleansing foam - £18.50	Liz Earle Sensitive Shave Cream + Hot Cloth Kit - £11.00
Clear ghd New IV Mini Styler - £110.00	Monsieur Self Tanning Gel, 50ml - £18.00
Philips Arcitec Shaver RQ1095 - £244.69	Kiehl's Facial Fuel Energizing Scrub For Men, 100ml - £15.66
Korres Grooming Absinthe Shave Cream 150ml - £16.25	Nickel 125ml smooth operator shaving gel - £10.00
Bentley Handmade Brown Leather Washbag/Toiletry Case - £413.22	HeadBlade Travel Slick Shave Cream 59ml - £3.00

Reader Review of the Day: Cetaphil Daily Facial Moisturizer

BellaSugar — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 08:00:01 -0800

Cetaphil cleanser is one of those gold standard drugstore products, but I hadn't heard very much about the rest of the brand's line until I saw this review of Cetaphil Daily Facial Moisturizer For All Skin Types With SPF 15 ($11) by reader ajkenyon. Here's what she has to say:

"I love Cetaphil cleanser so much, and I figured the moisturizer must be just as good, right? Well, wrong, unfortunately. I love the SPF, and it does make my skin very soft. But it just doesn't absorb well, and it leaves my face looking shiny and blotchy. I'll definitely keep using the cleanser, but I'm going back to Lush for my moisturizer!"

Found something that's not up to snuff from a brand you otherwise adore? Write it up on our Product Reviews pages, then. While you're there, you can see the thousands of reviews others in the community have written - there's something new every day.

Reader Review of the Day: Cover Girl Trushine Lipstick

BellaSugar — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 13:00:14 -0800

Cover Girl TruShine Lipstick ($3.50) has earned several good reviews in the community since it came out on the market, and since shiny lips are a holiday must, I thought it might be a good time to share reader mizz_jennii's helpful review. She says:

"I was never a fan of CoverGirl's lip products until I tried this TruShine lipstick yesterday. I was in the market for a nude-ish lipstick and read about this particular color in Glamour magazine so I had to pick it up. I got it on sale for a little under $4 - not too bad! The lipsticks are arranged by skin tone, so picking a shade is a piece of cake. They are very soft and moisturizing - doesn't dry out my lips. I line my lips with Prestige Lip Liner in Silk followed by Petal Shine lipstick and I have the perfect nude-ish pink lip color. I can also swipe it on straight from the tube (without a mirror) and not worrying that it's all over my mouth."

Tried something and gotten just-right results? Tell us what you used and how you did it on our Product Reviews pages ( you might end up featured here on Bella, too). And while you're there, make sure to check out all the reviews other community members have written - we've got info on more than 50,000 products, and members are writing new reviews every day.

Link Time!

BellaSugar — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 09:00:21 -0800

L'Oreal is in trouble because of this ad FabSugar UK
The top 10 beauty sample sites - Makeup and Beauty Blog
The latest Nars lip pencils get a big "enh" - Temptalia
Peep the copious amounts of makeup at Allure HQ - Allure
Would ethics stop you from using this skin cream? - Glamour
More on the sad death of model Daul Kim - The Cut
Heidi Klum is proud to be the "curvy" model - People Style Watch
What's behind the hype over Shu Uemura's new hair product? - Stylelist
Celebs, bloggers, and yours truly share Thanksgiving memories - Lemondrop

Reader Review of the Day: Almay Touchpad Blush

BellaSugar — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:01:12 -0800

Almay Touchpad Blush promises natural-looking color, but reader emalove says it's a little bit too natural:

I had such high hopes for this blush when I tried it a couple of years ago . . . the packaging was innovative at the time and I thought it would give pretty, sheer color to my cheeks. Plus, I love cream, gel, and liquid blushes. I tried this blush in a soft peach shade and was SO disappointed. It was super-watery and you could hardly see the color on my face. And I'm very pale-skinned; even light colors are usually very noticeable. But this blush was beyond sheer. Even after I reapplied a couple of times, it didn't really do anything for me. It was so watery that it almost seemed to disappear or rub off as I tried to blend it in.

Found a better blush? Or do you disagree? Let everyone know on our Product Reviews pages, where you can write up a review of more than 50,000 products (it might even get featured here!) and find a ton of info on all the newest beauty goodies.

A Philosophical Approach To Shine-Free Skin

BellaSugar — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 09:00:20 -0700

Brand-new from Philosophy is a range of mattifying skincare products called Never Let Them See You Shine. Each of the three items aim to cut down sebum production and reduce the look of oily skin, while leaving your face feeling refreshed. The light blue formulas have a minty, sea-inspired scent and are best suited for those with oily and acne-prone sensitive skin.

After trying everything out, I really liked the way my face reacted to the scrub the best. It's thick, but it spreads easily and the beads are smooth as opposed to feeling grainy and rough - so they don't irritate your skin. Plus, the menthol is the strongest in the scrub; after you wash it off, your face feels soft, smooth and cool.

For an up-close look at each of the products, read more.
Oil And Shine Control Cleanser ($20) gently breaks down deep-seeded dirt and grime in your pores without drying out your skin. It leaves your face feeling moisturized, clean and thanks to some added menthol, also a little bit tingly (in a good way).

Oil And Shine Control Scrub ($20) helps remove dead skin cells with the help from small blue polishing beads. To use, simply massage a little bit into your skin in small circles for one minute and then rinse with lukewarm water.

Oil And Shine Control Velvet Touch Primer ($20) is a mattifying pre-foundation, pre-powder primer that helps keep your face looking dry and oil-free all day long. It also calms, soothes and eases any redness and inflammation. It has a super-soft texture that leaves skin ultra smooth and helps reduce the look of large pores.

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