FabSugar

New Product Alert: Shu Uemura Deep Sea Water Facial Mists

BellaSugar — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 07:00:25 PDT

Shu Uemura Deep Sea Water Facial Mists ($24) are the perfect solution the dehydration caused from the summer sun. These natural aromatherapy spritzers come straight from Japan's Cape Muroto in Kochi Prefecture, where the Shu Uemura manufacturing facility is based.

The origin of this water is one of three locations believed to have the purest water in the world. They contain 60-plus minerals that nourish, hydrate and balance out your skin and are helpful in treating eczema.

I have tried the orange blossom scent and it feels like you are spraying on a combination of herbal tea and a very light moisturizer on your face. It's a wonderfully delightful treat in the heat!

To use, spray away on your face or hair as often as you like. The bottles are available only in 150 ml sizes, but they come in eleven different fragrances. For a complete list,

Myrtle Flower (limited edition for summer)
Orange Flower (limited edition for summer )
Bergamot
Chamomile
Fragrance Free
Hamamelis
Lavender
Mint
Rose
Rosemary
Sage

Cool Off With Face Mist

FabSugar — Thu, 31 Aug 2006 16:12:33 PDT

Labor Day Weekend marks the official end of summer. But since many of us are heading to the beach, it's not time to retire those summer beauty rituals just yet. If you're traveling to warmer climates, try taking along a bottle of refreshing face mist, which can keep your skin cool, moisturized, or protected from the sun, depending on the product. Here are some cool face mists to try.

Juice Beauty Hydrating Mist, $22, available here

This vitamin-enriched spray-on toner is good for freshening up your face after a hot day at the beach. The organic solution also contains aloe, so it's a good soother if you get too much sun.

Neutrogena Fresh Cooling Body Mist Sunblock SPF 45, $11.99, available here

This super-charged sunblock feels icy cool on contact and protects your skin at the same time. Plus, the no-fuss spray doesn't feel greasy.

Two more, so

read more Skyn Iceland Artic Face Mist, $35, available here This somewhat indulgent product is little more than a chilled face spray that contains mineral water, but it's a refreshing way to cool down on hot days. Clinique Moisture Surge Face Spray, $19.50, available here Billed as a way to quench "thirsty skin," this moisturizing spray keeps your skin from drying out when it's exposed to the elements.

How to Kick a Nighttime Cough Naturally

Jenny Sugar — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 03:05:23 PST

Whether it's because of a cold or allergies, coughing at night is not only annoying, it prevents you from getting the sleep you need to stay healthy. Before you down cough medicine (which often just masks the cough), you might want to relieve your nighttime cough with one of these natural remedies.

Steam up: Before hitting the hay, create a steam room in the bathroom. Shut the door, don't turn on the fan, and take a hot shower. Let the water gently run on your face, or if that's too intense, place a warm washcloth on your sinuses, allowing the heat and steam to help relieve sinus congestion. You can even use a neti pot in the shower - just be sure to fill it with warm distilled or sterilized water, not the shower water. Using a neti pot after you've breathed in steam can make it more effective.
Get moist: Since dry air can often cause a dry cough (especially in the Winter months when we crank up the heat), moisten the air you breathe by running a cool-mist humidifier on low throughout the night (I'm a fan of this humidifier from Crane). In the morning, be sure to wipe down your windows and windowsills as condensation tends to form, and you don't want this moisture to encourage mold growth, which can also aggravate a cough. Follow the directions that came with your humidifier when it comes to cleaning it, and disinfect it thoroughly at least once a week to avoid mold growth.

Keep reading for more natural ways to beat your nighttime cough.

Get the Look: John Barrett's Braided Headband

Real Beauty — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 07:05:22 PST

We're happy to present this article from one of our favorite sites, Real Beauty.

Some soirees require you to dance all night (preferably with an RPattz lookalike), which can result in a sweaty, messy mane. Be a bit type-A and prevent this drastic situation by trying a sleek braided updo. To create a holiday party look that is both elegant and fuss-free for keeping tresses off your face, we enlisted Kayley Pak, a braiding specialist at the John Barrett salon in NYC, to give us some pointers on how to execute this stay-put hairstyle. Here are her tips.

Sneezy, Stuffy, Runny: Natural Cold Remedies to Do Before Bed

Jenny Sugar — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 15:27:03 PDT

If if you eat a healthy diet, exercise regularly, get enough sleep, and wash your hands a bazillion times a day, you can still find yourself reaching for the tissues and cough drops. Luckily cold symptoms don't last too long, but here are some ways to get relief from your ails without popping pills or swallowing gross liquid.

Heat and Water
Before slipping into bed, take a hot shower. Make sure the bathroom door is closed and the fan switched off so you can breathe in as much steam as possible. Take a washcloth, run it under the hot water, place it on your face and gently massage your sinuses to loosen up mucus. If you have a neti pot, use that in the shower to drain your nasal passages. If you're weirded out by flushing warm salt water through your nose, use an over-the-counter saline spray.

Keep reading to learn three other natural ways to get cold relief before hitting the hay.

Get Jessica Chastain's Soft, Edgy Pompadour Hairstyle

Miriam Lacey — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 11:20:00 PDT

Jessica Chastain wore this fashion-forward, voluminous updo to the recent premiere of her new movie, Coriolanus. And while it might look like it took a lot of time, according to Jenny Cho, the Suave Professionals celebrity stylist who created the look, you can re-create it in just a few easy steps. To see how Cho did it, just keep reading.

Solo Hiking Tips I Learned Going to Half Dome and Back

Michele Foley — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 15:27:48 PST

Last weekend started out pretty typical: my boyfriend and I made the four-hour drive to Yosemite for a few days of climbing with friends. But what I wasn't counting on was sleeping in that first morning and missing my chance to climb. Left alone, I figured I might as well go for a hike. My original plan was to do a two-mile hike to the base of Vernal Falls - ha! Twelve hours and 17 miles later, I had endured one of the most difficult treks of my life.

I would caution anyone to face a long distance challenge with a friend - especially for safety reasons. But if you've ever stopped yourself from going on a long run, hike, or bike ride because you were alone, it's worth considering as long as you do your research and come prepared. I can't remember the last time I felt so completely gratified and accomplished. Here are the things that helped me endure the trek.

Do your research. While I wasn't expecting to go beyond Vernal Falls via the Mist Trail and then take on Half Dome, I was prepared. It's a hike I've always wanted to do so I knew what to expect. I studied it enough to know the route and trail conditions with confidence. I also had done the Mist Trail (the beginning of the hike to Half Dome) several times in my past.
Be prepared. I didn't expect to go on a epic hike, but I did expect to be away from my camp until sundown, so I packed appropriately. In my pack I had enough food and water to last me beyond a full day. I also had extra layers of clothing, a headlamp, map, sunscreen, and a compass.

Find out what other tips helped me on my trek, and share your own stories with me when you

5 Reasons to Get Yourself a Humidifier - Stat!

Heather Dale — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 00:30:08 PST

Spring may be right around the corner, but don't let your guard down just yet - cold season is still in full effect! The combination of dry Winter's air, a turned up thermostat, and closed windows can wreak havoc on your respiratory system.

The best way to combat dry air and reduce your susceptibility to infection is to invest in a humidifier. Aside from babies and my parents, I didn't know why someone like me would benefit from using one. But, after a few too many colds throughout the past few months, I knew it was time to see what this said "miracle gizmo" was about. Here's what's great about humidifiers:

Yummy moist air: Thanks to the nice hydrated air a humidifier creates, the insides of your nose and lungs will stay moist, allowing the tiny hairs inside to block the dust and bacteria.
Aids in the healing process: Whether it be a cold, asthma, or allergies, a humidifier keeps your lungs more elastic and your nasal passages lubricated - both necessary in speeding up the healing process. For allergy sufferers, there are humidifiers that are specially designed to purify the air as well.

Here are more reasons why I love humidifiers.

Tea Time Treats, Part II: Tea-Infused Beauty Products

BellaSugar — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 06:00:07 PDT

Even when it's iced, tea is hot right now. The trendy drink is available in an astounding number of varieties - from green to chai to yerba mate - and every day, it seems, I read about another health benefit of drinking tea.

It's no wonder, then, that tea has filtered into cosmetics. On Friday, I told you about three cosmetics with chai-inspired names, and today, I'm serving up a trio of treats that actually contain tea as an ingredient.

Ole Henriksen African Red Tea Face Mist ($28) is a tonic for your face that helps to tighten your pores and gives your skin a glow. It's infused with African red tea, white tea, and pomegranate, all of which contain antioxidants.

For two more tea-infused products,

read more Origins The Way of the Bath Matcha Tea Body Scrub ($45) is a gentle body exfoliator that is rich in natural antioxidants. It helps scrub away dead surface skin so the result is a fresh and shiny glow. Use the whisk to stir all the goodness in the jar, but it's a bit messy, so I suggest applying it in the shower or tub.
Bulgari Eau Parfumee Green Tea is an understated, citrusy, and floral unisex fragrance. Long-lasting but natural, it's made from bergamot, bitter orange, orange blossom, ceylon cardamom, pepper, coriander, rose, and, of course, green tea leaves. It is available in a 1-ounce bottle for $56 and in a 1.3-ounce bottle for $59.