.:: CybeleSays ::.

Mask O’ the Month

Last fall, KANEBO came out with the Sensai Cellular Performance Lifting Series. Not only does this brand have quite the cult following, but I’m sure this full anti-aging line will soon too. My first pick of the litter is the Sensai Cellular Performing Lifting Mask ($180 @ kanebo.com for a location near you). If you read this site regularly, you know we love a good mask and this one doesn’t disappoint and it’s a fun one to use since it peels off. No mess! Step one consists of spreading a smooth layer (only 3 or so pumps) of the Lifting Concentrate (.68oz) onto the skin. If contains highly concentrated Natural Musculifter, which is a natural yeast-derivative called Biodyne. Translation: it improves the texture and claims to energize muscle cells, whatever that means. I understand this next second step better. The Lifting Peel-Off Mask (1.7oz) reacts with the concentrate to help the skin absorb the nutrients and exfoliate the surface. I feel like a commercial here but it really did improve the overall texture, tone, and moisture level on my face. My skin was very smooth and did not feel at all tight.
The overall process takes about 26 minutes (25 on the face and 1 to apply) and it was the best 26 minutes I spent on my skin all weekend.

New Addition To The Hall of Fame!

I really wasn’t prepared to be wow’d tonight but I was. I had heard TURBOION’s Croc professional straigtening irons were good but I never tried one. I even drooled over them at January’s ISSE show! And this past week I was able to give one a spin. And wow! I was used to straightening irons making my hair straight but this one made it stick straight with not a lot of runs through the hair. It was almost too straight!

And I put this one through quite the test. I ran the blow dryer over my hair to dry it but I didn’t style it with a round brush, which I usually do to make it straight. So with no round brush love, I grabbed a section with a comb, and three runs later with the Croc Titanium Wet to Dry Flat Iron 1 ½", voila, stick straight strands. Finished my whole head and it looked like I just came from the salon. The iron uses the most advanced “Nano-fine Ceramic Heating Plates” to seal the cuticles and eliminate frizz, while preserving the hair’s condition. If you want to read more about the technology behind this one, check out their site. All I know is what it does!

Now this one can be used on wet or dry hair but I don’t recommend using it on wet hair. I’ve consulted a few hairdressers and they don’t recommend it either.

And watching this one heat up was kinda fun (yes, I’m easily entertained) too. It has a blue digital display and the hottest it goes is 430 degrees. The heat can be set to your hair’s needs, which they recommend: 280 to 310 for bleach or fragile, 310 to 390 for normal and 390 to 430 for coarse or thick.

So help me welcome the Croc Titanium Wet to Dry Flat Iron 1 ½" to the Hall of Fame. $150 @ misikko.com

Dancing Queen

It’s surprising how much dirt I pick up on my bare feet just walking around my apartment on the hardwood floors. Yes, I clean them regularly (floors and feet) so I can’t figure it out. It was with much delight that when SPA DiONiS’ new Foot Scrub and Foot Butter came across my desk, I instantly had to try them. Look for this frosty mint Foot Scrub to not only deodorize your soles but it uses walnut shell powder, botanicals and rich butters from Shea and mango to really get to the deep surface dirt.

I like putting the Foot Butter on my feet and then putting socks on. Better to dirty the socks than feet, right? This one uses beeswax, jojoba oil, and Shea butter to nourish your newfound layer of skin. Hello high heels…
$13.95/6oz each @ dionissoap.com

Summer Sun

The ESSiE Summer 2008 Nail Polish Collection is upon us and the forecast calls for bright bold color! Yeah! One of these is sure to match your prettiest summer outfit. $8 @ essie.com

My Place or Yours (pink rose), Escapades (red, red-coral), Risky Business (glam red meets tangerine, Guilty Pleasures (pink strawberry bliss), Secret Stash (fuchsia), Movers & Shakes (sassy, bold pink)

Guess Which Fragrance This Is?

OK, bad title but it set this next product up perfectly, no?
I had an interesting conversation about fragrances with a good friend when we were at the mall the other day. She sticks to light or flowery scents for both day and night during the summertime. I still think you can mix it up in the summer with heavier and lighter scents. Take this GUESS BY MARCiANO Eau de Parfum Spray ($65/3.4oz @ guess.com). It’s a spicy floral or spiflo, as I call it, with the top notes being star fruit, grapefruit, orange curacao and cardamom (ginger), middle of pink honey suckle, peony and jasmine, and base of wood, vanilla, musk and dulce de leche. When I described this one to her before we hit one of the major department stores, she said she’d probably only wear it in the non-summer months as it sounded too heavy for hot weather. But I am happy to report she changed her mind when we sampled it at the counter. “This one is great for day or night and in any season. It’s soft and feminine but still has a slight sexy bite to it.” You heard her loud and clear.

Hair Color Do

Kid tested, Mother approved. Cybelesays tested, Cybelesays approved.

(From L to R):
JOHN BARRETT Be Healed Styling Masque ($38/5oz @ johnbarrett.com)
AG HAiR COSMETiCS Colour Savour Sulfate-Free Shampoo ($20/8oz @ curlmart.com)
PRAVANA Hydrating Intensive Leave-In Treatment ($12.99/10.1oz @ sleekhair.com)

Weekend Reads From The Beauty Blogging Network

Product Girl is giving away 4 goodie bags from the upcoming Sex and the City movie! Check out Product Girl for more information.

StyleBell shows you how to make some serious waves with your flat iron.

Beauty Anonymous reveals the jelly pinkness of the Tracy Reese for Sally Hansen Spring 2008 Salon Collection

Raging Rouge announces the MAX Factor May Makeover giveaway. Over $750 of MAX Factor products will be divided up between TEN winners on May 17th. Good luck!

SugarShock Beauty has a newfound love for foundation: the makeup artist- and Madge-approved Face Atelier Ultra Foundation.

The Muse whispers in your ear about Benefit's Newest Cheek Stain for Summer! Pssttttt! Enjoy the first ever images, product photos, and swatches from a link available at Musings!

This mascara ended A Touch of Blusher's mascara search...

Beauty411 reviews Soaptopia, a bath line that promised to be "100% junk free"! Check it out!

Beauty Blogging Junkie schools you on how to avoid snaggy, dry lips.

Looking for skin care products that deliver results? Read The Makeup Divas review of the Somme Institute Skin Care Line.

The Little Box That Could

I love any product that makes brows look perfect. And my beloved URBAN DECAY line is giving me one that I can really work with. The new Brow Box ($29 @ sephora.com) will help sculpt and beautify your brow area. Inside the 2.25" x 1.75" x 1" plastic box are two powders, mini-tweezers (they are so mini cute!), mini-brush, and setting wax. The setting wax is in a spring-loaded drawer below the powder. Traveling? Take this one on the trip. It will thank you. Available in four different shades.

Getting To The Shea of Things - Part IV

Here we are at our last installment of awesomely Shea, Shea Butter products, so here are six more pleasing ones to sexify your skin.

1. TREAT BEAUTY Cacao Lip Scrub ($16/1oz @ treatbeauty.com)
2. HAMADI Shea Hair Cream ($24/4oz @ beauty.com)
3. LALiCiOUS Lily Mango Body Butter ($22/7.3oz @ lalicious.com)
4. EMiNENCE ORGANiCS Lip Trio Kit ($60 @ skin-one.com)
5. COLLECTiVE WELLBEiNG Hand Cream – Shea Butter/Chamomile ($11/3.5oz @ collectivewellbeing.com)
6. CLiNiQUE Deep Comfort Body Butter ($23.50/6.7oz @ clinique.com)