POPSUGAR Australia Beauty (BellaSugar)

Editors' Picks: What We're Loving, Trying & Buying This Week

Alison Larsen — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 15:38:38 EST

The Sugar team welcomed a new member this week - Steph! She's our new health and beauty writer, so lookout for her name on both Bella and POPSUGAR Health & Fitness. Aside from new staff member excitement, we're also gearing up for a weekend of relaxation before fashion week on April 8. Of course we need new nail polish, makeup and hairstyling products to go alongside our Easter eggs! Click through.

Big Day Out Beauty: 5 Steps To Long Lasting Makeup

Alison Larsen — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 09:53:16 EST

Big Day Out kicks-off today in Sydney, and true to the festival's history, it's going to be a scorcher. Temperatures will hit 38°C today with the hottest point coming late in the afternoon, so, you're going to want to apply a lot of sunscreen. Yesterday we covered hair, and now we're onto product order for long-lasting festival makeup. Click through for our five steps to Big Day Out beauty success.

3 SPF Tips to Get You Through the Hot Days

Jaime Richards — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 10:47:12 EST

The hot days of Summer have arrived with temperatures set to soar above 40°C in Sydney today. And with the sun blazing and humidity rising, skin can sometimes take a beating, especially if your SPF is out of whack. But with a few sunscreen strategies on hand, hopefully your biggest worry will be limited to what flavour margarita to get while dining al fresco. Get three sun protection tips when you read more.

2012 Christmas Gift Guides: The Beach Babe

Alison Larsen — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 11:29:52 EST

Deep down, aren't we all beach babes? The best part about Christmas in Australia has to be the perfect weather - even if it does get a little on the hot side! Summer beauty essentials make the perfect present for your sister, your girlfriends and even your work colleagues. Beach beauty is all about protection, hydration and a little bit of colour... Time to get salty.

New on Shelf: SPF 50+ Sunscreens

Alison Larsen — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 12:09:44 EST

Last week we reported the Therapeutic Goods Administration in Australia confirmed the news we'd been waiting for: new, SPF 50+ sunscreen standards have taken legislative effect. It's great news for us sun-loving Aussies, and finally puts us at the same standard as Europe. More than a few brands have since released their 50+ sunscreen offerings, so we thought we'd pop them into a handy gallery for you. You should ideally be wearing sunscreen under your makeup (it goes on clean skin before your moisturiser and makeup), or at the very least, your makeup should have SPF included. We prefer to do the former. So, here's to even younger looking skin...

The New Wave of Sun Protection: SPF50+

Alison Larsen — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 11:56:35 EST

They don't call Australia the sunburnt country for nothing, you know. We love to spend time outdoors and have pretty glorious weather most of the year, so wearing sunscreen is a non-negotiable. You may not think you're doing much damage by not wearing sunscreen everyday, but trust us when we say, you are! Up until a couple of days ago, the highest sun protection factor (SPF) in Australia was 30+. But, on November 10, the Therapeutic Goods Administration in Australia confirmed the news we've been waiting for: new sunscreen standards will take legislative effect. As reported by La Roche-Posay - who have since released two 50+ sunscreen offerings - they include:

An increase in the SPF claim (SPF represents the UVB protection factor) from 30+ to 50+ (a 50+ claim represents a minimum SPF of 60).
A new, legal requirement in Australia for a higher level of UVA protection (to have a UVA/UVB ratio of at least one third, for example, products claiming SPF50+ must have a UVA protection factor of at least 20).

Just FYI, UVB is the "burn" factor, and UVA is the "ageing" factor.

5 New Products We'll Be Using This Summer

Alison Larsen — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 10:44:18 EST

It's November, which basically means it's Summer - right? Right. Summer beauty is all about bronzed (sun protected) skin, a dewy complexion and straight-out-of-the-ocean hair, and maybe even a bright lip to keep things high on the hotness scale. But with Summer comes an increase in oil production from our skin, so we have to adapt our beauty routines and products to suit the warmer weather. There's five newbies we've had our eyes on of late, and they're all perfect additions to your upcoming Summer of fun in the sun! LEGGO.

The Sensitive Skin Diaries: Sun Protection for Problematic Skin + Shop Our Top 5 Sunscreen Picks

Alison Larsen — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 11:45:39 EST

We've been talking all things sensitive skin over the past few weeks and with over 40 percent of Australians claiming to suffer from some form of irritation, it's a topic that can't be ignored. We started off by explaining what skin is, and then went into detail about the different types of skin conditions like acne and rosacea. We also highlighted 10 other reasons your skin might be playing up, along with an interview about what ingredients you should use - and avoid - if you suffer from sensitive skin. Phew! But now it's time to talk sun protection. One of the most important aspects of skin health and wellbeing, wearing sunscreen everyday is a must, but we know some people find the rich lotion irritating. We sought advice from Emma Hobson, education manager at the International Dermal Institute, Asia, Australia and New Zealand, about all things sun protection. Click through to learn more, and find out our top five sunscreen picks for sensitive skin.

6 Beauty Essentials to Keep in Your Bag This Spring

Jessica Cruel — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 09:20:09 EST

Just as it's customary to do a little Spring wardrobe shopping, your vanity could use a seasonal revamp as well. All it takes is a few quick updates to get your skin, makeup, and hair routine refreshed and ready for the warmer weather ahead. Discover the six beauty buys that are worth the shopping trip when you read more.

Real Beauty: 5 Minutes With Carrie Bickmore

Alison Larsen — Sat, 20 Oct 2012 11:45:00 EST

She's one of Australia's prettiest and most likeable TV presenters, and now, Carrie Bickmore is using her profile to help spread the word about sun protection in her role as ambassador for Sun Sense. And with one Australian dying every eight hours from skin cancer, it's a cause not to be ignored. When it comes to product order, remember that sunscreen goes on freshly cleansed skin, before everything else. Carrie is a fair-skinned beauty and follows this rule diligently, but that's not all she puts on her face... To find out what other beauty products The Project host can't live without, click through.

Want more? Read our other Real Beauty interviews here.

Worried about your skin? Visit the Sun Sense UV Photobus.