FabSugar

Honeymoon Beauty Part I: The Tropical Trip

BellaSugar — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 11:09:05 -0700

Welcome to Honeymoon Beauty, my series on what types of beauty essentials you need of three different kinds of vacations. There are definitely a few honeymoon essentials that apply to the princess bride, the natural bride and the daring bride-even if you are taking three very different trips. You must pack something sexy, pack things that don't wrinkle and only bring what is necessary. Most likely night after night it's just going to be you two lovebirds, so trust me when I say there's no reason to overpack!

If you are the type of couple that's dreamed of a long, hot warm tropical getaway, then the theme of your vacation is going to be chic and low-maintenance. Things to remember to pack are sunscreen, sunblock sprays for your hair, lip gloss with SPF and a great bronzer to really enhance your tan. Ideally, your makeup should be fuss-free. Take a look at a few of these tropics-inspired makeup palettes perfect for a honeymoon in paradise!

Lisa Watier Palette Honey Moon is a sunny eye palette created to achieve a glowy, bronzed effect. It includes five powder eye shadows, (one of which can also be used as an all-over face illuminator) that can each be worn alone or blended together. The palette costs £24, which is roughly $50 (and yes, this site ships internationally).

For more tantalizing, tropical makeup palettes, read more

Hourglass Island Palette Color Link ($55) is a makeup palette made from six eye shadows and two cheek blushes. The "passport insert" contains tons of bronze, peachy, gold and warm tones perfect for a tropical island honeymoon.

I already wrote about these island-inspired palettes from Lorac, Cargo and Too Faced, so check out my review. (I really love the kitschy romance-novel look of the Too Faced palette!)

Wedding Beauty: A Timeline for the Big Day

BellaSugar — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 16:20:57 -0700

Well, I've told you everything you need to do to get beautiful for the big day. Now let's turn our attention to your beauty timeline on the actual day of the wedding. The most important thing is giving yourself enough time so you don't feel rushed, so follow this step-by-step guide to arranging your day. Good luck!

Wake up on the early side and immediately drink a tall glass of water. Then, do a relaxing wedding day workout that suits your routine.
When you get back around mid-morning, eat something light and high in protein.
About four to five hours in advance of your call time, take a shower. Before getting out of the shower, give yourself a cool rinse to close your pores and hair cuticles.
Next, brush your hair and tie it neatly in a bun before meeting up with your stylist.
At least three hours before your call time, have your hair styled. Allow one to two hours for the process, depending on your 'do.
When your hair is being set or right after it's styled, apply your makeup or start to have it done. Be sure and cover your face when hairspray is being applied so you don't look shiny. Allow up to one hour for your makeup.
When your makeup and hair is done, apply your perfume as a finishing touch. Then, about half an hour before your call time, get into your dress and take a deep breath.

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How To: Bachelorette Party Beauty

BellaSugar — Tue, 15 May 2007 13:56:17 -0700

It's Wedding Season on the Sugar Network, and this week, I'll be bringing you beauty posts related to wedding parties.

Today, I'll tell you how to put together a great makeup look for a bachelorette bash. (Or, for a more subdued bachlorette option, try a spa party.) This time, girl's night out isn't about picking up guys, but picking out outfits together and playing with bold makeup looks.

Since this is going to be a memorable night for the bride, bring on the glitter! However, everything in moderation: You still want your face to look pretty, but just with a party-girl edge! To find out how to create the best bachelorette-party look, read more

Face: Since you are going to be dancing and sweating, wearing a light tinted moisturizer is ideal. It will provide a little bit of coverage, but it's not too heavy.
Cheeks: You'll definitely want to have a nice bronze base and a hint of pink or apricot on your cheeks. I really love these checkered blush and bronzer palettes. They give you a natural flush, and you can kill two birds with one brush! Lastly, apply a touch of liquid luminizer to your cheekbones, collarbone, shoulders, or anywhere else you'd like a little bit of glow.
Eyes: This is the place to get wild! I suggest using a champagne shadow all over your lids and going a touch deeper in the crease. Then try one of these metallic eyeliners on your upper and lower lids! If you are skittish about liquid liner, then just apply a chunky glitter pencil along the inner corners of your eyes and line the rest of your eyes with a black liner. Apply two coats of black mascara as a final step.
Lips: Try the new Flirt! Cosmetics Flirtatious Plumping Lip Gloss in Pink Pucker ($12). These glosses give you a full pout with lots of glitter and shine.

What Wedding Hair Accessories Will You Choose?

BellaSugar — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 08:13:33 -0700

Welcome to week two of Wedding Planning Mania! Once you have figured out how you are going to style your hair, the next step is deciding what you will accessorize it with. On this very special day, you have countless options of tiaras, headbands, barrettes, combs, feathers, pins and flowers to choose from! What type of hair accessory gal are you?

When making your decision, keep in mind that looking beautiful also means keeping your look balanced. You wouldn't want more than one overpowering hairpiece, just like you wouldn't want to be wearing too much jewelry. The first thing to look at is your veil length and style. Next, consider what type of detail is on your dress. Is there crystals, pearls, metallic threading or lace on it? You'll want to coordinate all of these details to create your own, perfect wedding ensemble whether you are a princess, natural or daring bride!

A few great sites that feature lots of wedding hair accessory options are glamforless.com, weddingblissaccessories.com, and weddingchannel.com. To see a gallery of some of the different types of wedding hair accessories to choose from, read more

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Wedding Nails: The Quintessential French Manicure

BellaSugar — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 06:12:22 -0700

The French manicure has a regal connotation to it that represents class, elegance and a sense of high quality grooming. Having said that, plenty of people today feel that the French manicure is out of style and would even consider it cheesy. Whichever way you decide to go, I still think the French manicure is the quintessential way to paint your nails for your wedding day. It's soft, understated and shows that you pay attention to detail.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with the French manicure, I have pictured it here for you. A white stripe is painted to the tops of the nails (I prefer a soft, square cut nail with a thin stripe) and then a sheer, pale pink or beige toned polish is applied on top. Here are a few French manicure kits to choose from.

Bourjois French Manicure Kit, $20, is a three piece French manicure kit. It includes a curved brush designed especially to create the most perfect and even white nail tips, a light pink polish which is so sheer that you can apply one or two coats depending on your taste, and a clear topcoat to ensure shine and protection to your manicure. In no time you'll look like you just waltzed right off the Parisian runways!

For two more D.I.Y. French manicure kits, read more

Sally Hansen French Manicure Kit, $6, includes a really cool feature. Inside are a set of stickers for you to apply to your nails so that you can create professional looking, no mess white tips. Once you apply the tips, peel off the stickers and then apply the soft colored nail polish on top. The kit also includes a topcoat and super clear and easy instructions.

Orly French Manicure Kit, $6, will give you a very natural looking manicure! This kit includes a polish, a base coat, white tips (you can choose from two different styles; straight or half moon) and a quick drying topcoat. Available in four different sheer shades.

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Get Beautiful For The Big Day, Part II: Three Months To Go!

BellaSugar — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 17:03:33 -0700

Hey gals, this is the fun part! This series provides a list of all of the different ways you should be pampering yourselves before the big day! To see the first installment which provides a checklist of everything you'll need to do to get ready for the wedding six months in advance, click here. This three to four month window is actually pretty easy stuff. Since you've already booked your hair and makeup, now is the time to focus on your teeth and your health. Enjoy!

Three to Four Months Before The Wedding

Teeth Whitening: Have your teeth cleaned before the big day and while you are at the dentist, now would be a great time to discuss whitening options. If you decide to whiten, you can either get trays professionally made or choose from a vast array of over the counter whitening products. Just remember, whitening is not suggested for everyone, so please speak with your dentist about the condition of your teeth.
Health: Make an appointment with your doctor to get blood tests which are often required in many states and to make sure that your health is in good condition before you wisk yourself away to an exotic island for a long honeymoon. You can also have your skin checked for any suspicious or unwanted moles or marks while you are there.

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Basic and Beautiful Wedding Hairstyles

BellaSugar — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 10:34:33 -0700

Finding the right hairstyle for your wedding day is a big deal, so don't be ashamed or embarrassed to play with different looks. I sat through five different trials trying everything from long, wavy extensions to updos. Heck, even celebrity hairstylist Ken Paves said that, "once Carmen Electra selected her wedding dress, I created 13 different hairstyles on her and took a Polaroid of each one so she could select the one which was perfect for her."

This is your day to shine - you should look fabulous! And a great suggestion, Ken. It's important to take a Polaroid so that your stylist knows exactly how to recreate the look. I know it all feels kinda vain, but once you find something you love, you'll be so happy to have one less detail to worry about on your wedding day!

Oh and did I mention that Ken Paves also styled wedding hair for Jessica Simpson and Christina Applegate as well as J.Lo's hair for her wedding scenes in "Monster In Law" and "The Wedding Planner?" I wonder if he'll do Eva Longoria's too, I know she goes to him regularly. To see four popular wedding hairstyles to consider, read more

Updo: This is a broad category because it can mean chignon, french twist, ballet bun or simple knot. You can part it on the side to modernize this classic look, or give some volume to the crown. Even though it may not feel like something you'd be interested in, I encourage you to try your hair styled off your neck and away from your face. It really allows you to have a fuss free night! Check out Sarah Michelle Gellar here.
Half Up, Half Down: This keeps your hair out of your eyes but still allows somewhat of a flowy and natural feel. This look is really popular with all types of brides. You can see Nicole Kidman's wedding hair here.
Long and Natural: This is great for someone that wants to look like themselves on their wedding day. This look is becoming ever more popular with modern and natural brides. I would opt for shine/loose waves. Check out Jennifer Aniston's lovely locks here.
Short Hair With Added Body: If you have short hair you've got to do something to give it some oomph. You could add curl, volume or even spikes to dress it up a little bit. Look at Victoria Beckham's wedding 'do here.

There are a couple really great websites that you can also surf through to see many wedding hairstyles and celebrity wedding hair. To see my photo gallery that includes two versions of each type of hairstyle listed in this post, read more

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Bridal Beauty Looks, Part III: The Daring Bride

BellaSugar — Wed, 18 Apr 2007 12:12:22 -0700

The daring bride has no intentions of having a conventional wedding. She's a modern day woman who thinks outside the box and marches to her own tune. Think Sarah Jessica Parker (she wore black), Dita Von Teese or Alabama from True Romance! A daring bride is unlike the princess bride or the natural bride. Her goal is to have the kind of affair that will make her and her fiance happy, not to conform to the customs of tradition.

She may choose not to wear white, she might even skip out on a veil, bridesmaids and an assigned seated reception. The sky is the limit. Oftentimes I hear something like this from non-traditional brides: I'll do what I want, I'll have what I want and I'll wear what I want. This affair could even be a second wedding or something more spur of the moment.

To see a complete makeup look for a daring bride, read more

Primer: The most important thing about creating a dramatic look is having flawless skin. This isn't the time to skip the primer. Start by applying something amazing like Laura Geller's Spackle Makeup Primer, $25.
Concealer/Foundation: Next, add some concealer under your eyes and also to anything left over that still looks red or blotchy. I love The Balm's Time Balm Concealer, $16, since it gives you great coverage but it doesn't crease or feather. Then apply a foundation such as Yves Saint Laurent Perfect Touch Radiant Brush Foundation, $50, for full coverage that won't feel overly heavy and that will keep your skin looking hydrated.
Cheeks: If you are going to go heavier on your eyes and lips then you must keep your cheeks soft. Try something neutral such as Cover Girl Cheekers Blush in Natural Shimmer, $3.
Highlighter: If you haven't tried Physician's Formula Pearls of Perfection Face Tint in Translucent Glow, $13, you're going to love it. Just be careful that you don't overdo it. Drop the tiniest amount on your hand and swipe a small amount onto the upper portion of your cheekbones for a little bit of glow!
Brows: Brows need to be strong for this look. Make sure they are groomed and arched properly. Then fill them in (remember, just one shade lighter than your hair color) with something like Bobbi Brown All In One Mini Compact, $35.
Eyes: You can go dark on the eyes, but you'll want to keep the colors neutral if you are opting for a bold lip. I really love some of the new Spring colors out such as Estee Lauder Pure Color Eye Shadows in Copper Penny (lid), Chocolate (crease) and Tea Biscuit (brow bone) $21 each. Line eyes with either a black or deep brown cream eye liner. Then add a touch of your highlighter in the inner corners of your eyes for some extra pop. To finish your dramatic eyes, first curl your lashes and then apply two to three coats of thickening mascara in black. You might also want to apply false lashes for a more dramatic effect.
Lips: Begin by applying a pressed powder on and around your lips. Next use a deep liner such as Givenchy Lip Lip Lip Liner in Lip Rosewood, $23, followed by a super rich plum color like Givenchy Rouge Interdit Satin Lipstick in Ilicit Raspberry, $26. You can leave lips as is or top them off with a high shine gloss such as Givenchy Pop Gloss Syrup Lip Gloss in Raspberry, $22, for deep color with serious shine.

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Bridal Beauty Looks, Part II: The Natural Bride

BellaSugar — Tue, 17 Apr 2007 15:30:22 -0700

The natural bride is down to earth and far more relaxed than the princess bride. Think Cindy Crawford, Jemma Kidd and Tori Spelling (the second time around). A natural bride might prefer a country, mountain or beach wedding. Her goal is to keep it simple and wear only enough makeup to give her a glow and let her inner beauty shine through.

She's most likely more interested in her adventurous honeymoon than learning how to apply false eyelashes. If being a natural bride seems more your pace, then you'll want to focus on having clean, clear and scrubbed skin so that you have more of a radiant glow!

For a complete list of products that are perfect for a natural bride, read more

Face: Skip a primer. Having too many layers on your face is bound to make you uncomfortable. Instead, begin your makeup routine with a light concealer such as Ideal Light Brush-on Illuminator from Estee Lauder, $25. It's easy to use and also acts as a brightener. Next, apply an airy foundation or tinted moisturizer that will even out your skin tone, but won't make you feel overdone. Try Estee Lauder's Equalizer Foundation SPF 10, $33. This foundation will react to the different temperatures around you as well as control oil and shine. (Trust me, your temperature is going to be very active on this big day)!
Lastly, set your skin with Estee Lauder's Aeromatte Ultralucent Pressed Powder, $26. This is super sheer but will help control any oil on your face and really helps hide imperfections without feeling or looking heavy.
Cheeks: Try using a cream blush or a gel-based cheek tint for a really natural looking flush. Personally, I always like something with a tiny bit of shimmer too. Try Nars The Multiple in Maldives, Riviera or Antibes, $37. These pinky colors can also be worn on the eyes and lips and they blend extraordinarily well.
Brows: Don't forget to fill in your brows. I know, it's one extra step you could really care less about, but it's going to make all of the difference in the world in photographs. A kit like DuWop's BrowWow Kit, $34, comes with a few colors and a brush so everything is kept together in a small compact.
Eyes: You don't have to go crazy here, especially since this is probably the smallest and most technical area to work with. Apply just three shadows here: one for all over, one for the lid and one for a tiny bit of definition in your crease. You can also use the crease shadow as a liner. You'll love this natural shadow trio from Physician's Formula Baked Collection in Baked Sands, $8. It's something that can be used wet and dry! I think one coat of mascara will do, just make sure it's waterproof. Try Lancome's Definicils Waterproof Mascara in Black, $23.
Lips: For a simple lip, use a gloss with some oomph to it. Try Aveda's Lip Shine in Juneberry, $14, or Paula Dorf Lip Slides in Smitten, $19.

See, that wasn't so bad. Congrats on your big day!

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Bridal Beauty Looks, Part I: The Princess Bride

BellaSugar — Mon, 16 Apr 2007 13:10:22 -0700

Besides being a fantastic movie, The Princess Bride is classic, timeless and breathtaking. Think Grace Kelly, Countess Sophia and Jacqueline Kennedy. The princess is having a decadent and fairy tale style affair. This type of blushing bride is seeking a refined, polished look that will highlight and enhance her best features.

For a list of product ideas to help create the look of a beautiful princess bride, read more

Primer: Begin your primping process with a face primer such as Smashbox Photo Finish Color Correcting Foundation Primer, $38, in the color you deem best suited to help even out your skin tone.
Concealer/Foundation: Next, apply something with medium matte coverage like Amazing Cosmetics Perfectly Amazing Kit, $107, which is a heavy concealer, a mineral powder foundation, loose powder a concealer brush, and an instructional DVD. This will ensure that your face starts off as a blank canvas for which you can then create your dream look on!
Cheeks: For a princess look, I would use a medium powder blush on your cheeks such as Laura Mercier's Powder Blush in Wild Bouquet, $22. This is a versatile neutral-brown-rose color that can be layered for a deeper effect or brushed on lightly to just add some healthy color to your cheeks.
Highlighter: Use a dab of cream shimmer such as Estee Lauder's Tender Blush Sheer Stick in Pearl, $25, in the inner corners of your eyes for a twinkly and brightening effect. Also, use a strike on the upper part of your cheekbones for a dewy look.
Brows: Make sure that you don't neglect your brows. Here are a few kits that will ensure your brows will get the attention they deserve. Remember, don't go more than one shade darker than your hair color. Fill them in softly and blend well. You'll be astonished just how much this makes a difference.
Eyes: This is where you can really play up a feature. I would choose shadows that best emphasize your eyes. For more on which colors to choose, click here. I suggest creating a very subtle version of the smoky eye in your palette of choice. For hazel and green eyes, I absolutely love Prisme Again Eyes in Purple Emotion, $50. Then add an eyeliner to your upper and lower lashes that is a similar color to your crease color (the dark one) and wet it for a more precise line. Finish with two coats of black mascara.
Lips: Begin by lining your lips with a neutral liner such as Estee Lauder Artists Lip Pencil in Spice Writer, $19, followed by a medium hued pink lipstick like Lancome's New Color Design Lipstick in Swept Away, $21, (due out soon). Top off this gorgeous lip look with an ultra shiny and shimmery pink gloss such as Lancome's Color Fever Lip Gloss in Heatstroke . Viola! The princess is ready for her fairy tale wedding!

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