.:: CybeleSays ::.

New Tools Of The Trade

SONiA KASHUK just came out with seven new makeup brushes for the spring. I have really grown to become a big fan of her tools in general and these are no exception. Besides being great quality brushes that don’t break the bank, they are made from synthetic materials instead of real animal hair.

My favorites out of the new ones are the:

• Synthetic Flat Top Blusher $14.99 (this is my overall favorite)
• Multi Purpose Nylon Brush $5.99
• Synthetic Crease Shadow Brush $9.99
• Highlighting Brush $12.99

Get any of these @ target.com

These brushes got us to thinking, there are probably a lot of new brushes coming out for the season. We will be highlighting some of the best ones in the coming weeks so make sure to check them out.

We also got a hold of her new Spring 2008 Color Collection. The feature with our picks coming soon.

Erase Some Face

This is the cutest hot pink container! BENEFiT’s Erase Paste ($26/.15oz @ benefitcosmetics.com) is a concealer that not only hides blemishes and other unsightly markings but also brightens and camouflages the area. Think of those face foundations that have properties inside to blur imperfections. This uses the same technology. Use a dab under the eyes, the shadows around the nose and you can add a tiny bit of water to make it more blendable. It comes in three shades and even has a tiny spatula to spoon some out.

Heavenly Nose - Part Dos

In continuing our coverage of new products we’ve discovered that not only work but smell delightful, here are three more to add to your list:

NOODE & BOO Heavenly Honey Wash ($22/7oz @ noodleandboo.com)

KAZAM NATURAL BODY CARE Body Lotion in Sweet Orange Ginger ($15/8oz @ kazambodycare.com)
BAREX’s AETO line Bamboo & Wild Mango Fortifying Hair Mask ($26/8.5oz @ fourseasonsproducts.com)

Weekend Reads From The Beauty Blogging Network

The Makeup Divas Beauty Blog is blown away by these ProSilk Hair Products! 

15 Minute Beauty Fanatic reconsiders blonde hair after some great color advice from Brad Johns! 

The Muse shows you the solution to eyeshadow fall out woes with a review of Shadow Shields! 

SugarShock Beauty is channelling fashion muse of the moment Amy Winehouse – (in a subtle way, we promise!) – with Stila's new liquid eyeliner.

Beauty and Personal Grooming shares some DIY Antiwrinkle face masks 

A Touch of Blusher can't live without this foundation.

Beauty Anonymous brings you Anna Sui Beach Collection for Summer 2008!

Beauty Blogging Junkie tells you how to channel the look of your fave The Hills girl here.

Mischo Beauty shares her best tips on how to prepare for a bikini wax and what to expect!

The Daily Cookie reviews a dupe for the popular MAC 187 blush brush for a fraction of the price!

Product Girl is having her first giveaway. Enter to win a Philosophy Breakfast in Bed Shower Gel Set from now until Monday night!

Makeup Moxie reviews Cargo Blu-Ray High Definition Mascara

Glossypink reveals her favorite eyeshadow of all time! 

Cybelesays Gets To The Shea Of Things with a feature on the best products out there containing the most Shea Butter.

Size Matters

OK, I’ve decided to stop being such a mascara snob. Kiss Me Mascara is one of the first products that started me on my beauty-writing journey back in 2001. And COVER GiRL’s new LashBlast Waterproof Mascara ($7.65 @ drugstore.com) is helping me overcome this problem. I’m usually not a fan of waterproof mascaras because most are so hard to remove at the end of the day. Not this one. Let’s talk about the lengthening this does and with just few coats! Usually I have to build and build the formula on my lashes to get something to happen with the girth or the length. Maybe it’s the cool orange bristles on the fat brush or the combination of the formula and the brush is what did it. Like the Spornette brush, it seems to space the bristles out a little more than usual. Whatever it is to make this mascara great, I am loving it. And if I have a weak moment, I can always apply the Kiss Me on top of this mascara.

Getting To The Shea Of Things

I have long been fascinated with the ingredient Shea Butter. The two words are luscious and how it is used in beauty products is very nourishing. So we decided to do a four-part feature on Shea Butter products that are out there and ones that are worth trying out.

A little history – the nut is indigenous to Africa and how they get the butter is by extracting the yellow to ivory-colored fat from the fruit from the Shea tree. This is achieved by either crushing it or boiling it. It has long been touted for its superior moisturizing traits as well as its ability to fade scars, heal rashes and even work magic on stretch marks.

I’m sure you are aware that the closer to the top an ingredient appears in an ingredient list on the back of any product, the more of that ingredient it contains. But what I find funny, well peculiar actually, is that a product with the word Shea in the name can sometimes have it listed far down the list. So check the back of your products when it comes to this awesome ingredient to see how concentrated it really is. It should be listed in the top three at least and these all below are list it second and will appear as either Shea Butter or Butyrospermum Parkii. Here are some with Shea right up at the top, where it should be.

LUSH Buffy ($10.75/3.3oz @ lush.com)
VON NATUR Grapefruit Whipped Butter ($42/5oz @ vonnatur.com)
BATH AND BODYWORKS 'Shea It Isn’t So' Shea Butter Foot Cream ($15/4oz @ bathandbodyworks.com)
MiSTRAL Shea Butter Hand Cream in Milk ($17.50/2.6oz @ mistralsoap.com)

Footloose And Fancy Free

I am a longtime lover of manicure tools. I have a shoebox full of files, cuticle oils, nail creams, orange sticks and more for both my hands and feet. Let’s focus on the feet here. Since spring is in full bloom, the shoes will be getting skimpier and skimpier so my soles have to be in shape. I’ve been using BORGHESE’s Satina Softening Callus Remover ($14.99 @ walgreens.com) for the past couple of weeks and I think my feet are the softest they’ve ever been. This one is a two-parter: one is a magic marker-like pen that has a roller ball end and tea tree infused gel inside. After a couple of pumps on the end, rub it on your calluses and then use the rasp and foot file tool to exfoliate the dead skin. What I like most about this file is that it is slim and I can get around the big toe very easily. I’m not sure which is doing more work here but it seems that the combination of the two work really well to soften those tough areas.

Restore Your Face, Restore Your Life

This JAiME EARL Restorative Serum ($52/1oz @ jaimeearl.com) came out last fall so I’m a little late getting to it. She’s been in on the organic end of things for quite some time and this one doesn’t disappoint. All of her products are infused with green tea and DMAE. DMAE is a nutrient that claims to extend the life of the skin cells. Also in this Serum is MSM, which supplies sulfur to the body allowing it to heal itself. So combined with the DMAE, the cells are able to self-heal and thus stay alive longer and give up the good fight against acne, eczema etc. I think that’s what the “restorative” part of this serum is about.

I know we’re not much into ingredients as they are just a bunch of fancy whoo-buh-joob words for people like me to not understand but I must say that every ingredient listed in this product is totally understandable! And this list is the order in which they appear on the bottle:

• Organic Aloe Vera
• Kosher Vegetable Glycerin
• Organic Rooibos Tea
• DMAE (see above)
• Organic Jojoba
• Xanthan Gum (to thin the formula out)
• Vitamin E
• MSM (see above)
• Organic Black Willowbark Extract
• Meadowfoam seed oil
• Rosemary and Neem Oil

As with any product, especially organic ones, more natural means it could be harsher on your skin. Make sure to do a patch test on your face before applying it all over. 

Waiting For The Sun

Another reason I am totally cut out for the job of Cybelesays is that I can pretty much put anything on my face without adverse reactions. The only time I was given a problem was with a MAC Face Mask. Remember when they had one in their collection a few years ago? It turned my face red as in burned it! In the trash that one went. When it comes to any other product, I am usually fine when it comes to trying them, except sunscreens. The area around my eyes seems very sensitive to sunscreens so when I test them out, no burning is part of what makes a good one. One in this totally non-irritating category is AZUR Moisturizer and Anti-Aging Crème for Face & Eyes ($30/1.7oz for SPF 30 and $34/1.7oz for SPF 40 @  azurskin.com). This one has a long list of haves and have nots: tearless, natural zinc oxide, titanium dionxide, aloe vera, PABA-free, paraben-free, vitamins E, A and C, oil-free, and overall hypoallergenic. And the overall look? Non-cakey or white (from the zinc oxide). And they even sell travel sizes! Big recommendation.

Styling Made Easy

I swear I'm hair product challenged. Even when I make an effort to use the smallest amount of something, it ends up being too much and then I have greasy spots on my head. When I find a product I like and learn how to use it, in my head, I’m onto the next one to conquer my next hair concern. I feel that since I have this one product down, I assume the best for every hair product I come across. This works for about 1 out of every 50 and remember this is styling products. Shampoos and conditioners I am pretty good at choosing. Some of these hair styling products should be by prescription only, but then again I guess they are since some of them are only sold in solons. I gotta find me a class or something – hair styling 101.

Like when it comes to makeup, the tools you use to style your hair to get the right “application” are just as important as the above products you put it in. So bless their little hearts over at SPORNETTE. They make it so even the hair novice like me can style their hair somewhat presentable. I am really into their collection of Pronto Hair Brushes ($10.99-$12.99/1 ½” to 3” barrels @ folica.com) right now. Here are the features:

• barrel is concave so the hair stays on the brush
• barrel is ceramic so hair dries fast
• bristles are Tourmaline and Nano Silver

What I also like about these brushes is that the bristles are spaced further apart than a boars hairbrush. It is so much easier for me to grab a section of hair and wrap it around the brush whilst drying it. If I can’t seem to always figure out the styling products, at least I can get the tool part down. 

Two Nudes To Get Into

PUR MiNERALS Mineral Lip Tint SPF 15 in Sandy Quartz ($16.50 @ purminerals.com) from the Spring 2008 color collection. Sheer nude with a slight hint of iridescence.

SHU UEMURA has THE perfect pinky-nude lipstick included in their latest collection. I find most nudes too chalky or matte. Basically too there! This Rouge Unlimited in Serene Pink from the Rebirth Collection balances matte and glossy for the perfect smooth finish. And nude lips are so in right now. $23 @ sephora.com

Weekend Reads From The Beauty Blogging Network

SugarShock thinks she may have found her signature scent and as it turns out, it's the perfect perfume for spring

The Makeup Divas reviews Mac Fafi Lipsticks.

The Daily Cookie brings you the scoop behind Danity Kane's Welcome to the Dollhouse album cover photoshoot. Check out her exclusive Q&A with makeup artist JJ Jacobucci.

Beauty Anonymous brings you Chanel Limited-edition Highlighting Powders Duo!

A Touch of Blusher picks the top 10 spring 2008 collections.

Mischo Beauty shares a lesson on sun damage and the importance of using sunscreen.

Coming Our Way *Preview* Bites

KEIHL'S is coming out with a collection of anti-aging products for the body. Superbly Restorative will drop Superbly Restorative Body Lotion and Superbly Restorative Dry Oil on Earth Day and Superbly Restorative Skin Salve in June.

Phillips and BLISS have teamed up to produce Bikini Perfect, an at-home hair removal system that is set for a May launch.

May will see the launch of DARPHIN's Intral Collection made exclusively for stressed skin. This collection will be comprised of four products, from face serums to face creams.

PROCTER & GAMBLE Beauty is coming out with the Aquacurrent Science collection. Products from their Cover Girl, Oil of Olay, Pantene and Secret will have products under this label that focus on moisture and hydration. They will be available starting in May.

AVEDA will release Green Science skin care, a lineup of plant-infused facial treatment products, in May.

Former model Jennifer Flavin-Stallone is putting out a mineral makeup line called Seriesse International.

Source: WWD

Lashing Out Glamourously

My first thought of, “wow, maybe I can do this,” popped into my head was a few years back when I was standing in line at Burbank’s Cinema Secrets. The girl in front of me had about 10 sets of false eyelashes in her hands. I asked her if she was having an eyelash party or something (haha) and she told me she wears false eyelashes everyday. Can you imagine applying them everyday? She was obviously an expert because I just have so many problems when it comes to these! Don’t get me wrong, I know the steps to put them on and I only try to put them on for special occasions. I know that you’re supposed to let the glue start to get tacky on the strip before you lay them on your lid. I know to use tweezers to move them into place on your lid. I’ve even tried using that little stand that curves the lash band and then you pick it up with oversized wide tweezer thingy. I’ve tried it more than a few times but it is just not as easy as it looks no matter how you try and put them on. I end up just getting frustrated and toss them to the side. I mean, don’t you look at these new Eyelashes ($14 @ sephora.com) from MAKE UP FOR EVER and want to try them all? Choose from 53 subtle or dramatic styles from their Lashbar. Need a quick tutorial? Sephora.com has a video how-to to help. I figure the only secret in putting them on is practice, practice, practice! Can you suggest any tips?

Woke Up ... Fell Outta Bed ...

Can you believe today is the first day of Spring? This is my favorite season and here are some products I slathered on, lit up and spritzed about when I awoke to welcome it in.

LE COUVENT DES MiNiMES Eau de Toilette in Verbena & Lemon ($21/3.4oz @ dillards.com)

TiGI Bedhead Body Melon Head Body Butter ($15/7oz @ spiralhaircase.com)
PADDYWAX Fresh Ruby Grapefruit Soy Candle ($18/5.5oz @ paddywax.com) from the new Eco Collection.

Coming Our Way *Preview* Bites

Couple of exciting developments today!

According to Beauty and the Blog, MYSTIC TAN is putting out a collection of self-tanning products that are supposed to be goof-proof.

Groupe CLARINS’ Thierry Mugler Parfums division has signed a worldwide licensing deal to produce beauty products for Austrian crystal giant Swarovski. They will roll out in 2010. source: WWD

How Vo Can You Go?

Lots of talk about this next person and he now has a line to product line to schmooze with. KiM VO has moved up the ladder of success and into Hollywood pretty darn fast and he still looks like a teenager! Born of Vietnamese-French background, he started his training in New York City and moved to Beverly Hills where he joined two of the cities’ top salons to become one of the top colorists in his field. He has done the hair of many-a celebrity but we don’t really care about that. I’m just amazed at all he has accomplished at his young age of 26! So let’s get to the reason you’re reading this, his product line. They are all made for color-treated hair (we love that) and have a personal touch from his homeland, the ingredient Boket only found in Vietnam. Boket is a bean helps with moisture levels to really infuse each shaft to the max since coloring depletes it. He also includes ME-10 in all the products to enhance the color and mend Keratin.

The two products I tried were the Moisturizing Shampoo ($22/7.5oz) and Moisturizing Conditioner ($24/7.5oz). The Shampoo uses silk polypeptides to clean and Blue Lotus to rejuvenate the scalp and strands. The Conditioner contains Wakame to protect from free radicals and the sun and Meadow foam extract to seal each hair cuticle after washing. And it really worked well as detangling.
After blow-drying, my hair color definitely looked nice and not matte like it sometimes does if I’m not using products specifically made for color-treated hair. And we won’t be doing that anymore! I’ll let you know if any of the other products in the line are worth trying out. All @ kimvo.com

Getting Skin In Shape

Balms, butters, salves -- if it’s thick and smells nice, I’m putting it on my skin. SPACE NK Stillness Body Balm ($30/6.7oz @ spacenk.com) is creamy like frosting and infused with Shea butter and cocoa butter. Surprisingly enough this Stillness fragrance’s first scent ingredient is lavender. If you’ve read Cybelesays for a while, you’ll remember that I don’t like lavender at all. But I guess if you mix it with other scents like incense and musk like this one does, then it's ok. Space NK's scents seem to be a hit or miss with me but this one has hit written all over it.

In The Eyes Of Nature

It’s true. Packaging is so important when it comes to any beauty product. That’s why I don’t understand why some companies skimp on this part. There are many lines, especially in makeup, that I’m sure I’m missing simply because the packaging isn’t appealing or their line comes in the same containers we’ve seen over and over again. You certainly won’t find that to be the case when it comes to fragrances. I think it’s a major faux pas for a company to use the same container as another. It probably hasn’t even happened before! So it was my delighted surprise when TSI~LA ORGANiCS (pronounced chee-la) Eau de Parfum Mini Collection ($75 @ tsilaorganics.com) came across my desk. Each 3.5ml roll-on bottle is made of glass and so it makes these little guys so fun to apply. I know, I know, I have to get out of the house more…

My favorite this past week has been the Fleur Sauvage and here’s a breakdown of all four of the scents:

• Kizes – Sicilian bergamot, elderflower, tuberose, jasmine, orange flower
• Fleur Sauvage – tuberose, jasmine
• Kesu – jasmine, davana (Indian blossom), lime, amber, wood
• Ilang Ilang – floral tree blossoms

What makes this line tre unique is that these are pure perfume oils in a moisturizing base of coconut oil and orchid flower extract, so they are very concentrated. They don’t contain any alcohol, preservatives or colors. One thing I can’t figure out, if you rub you wrists together like I’ve heard NOT to do as it bruises the scent, does this also apply to fragrances that are made with pure ingredients like these from Tsi-LA? Or is the whole bruising thing a myth?

Gloss On The Rocks

I feel like I’m the only one when it comes to this next problem. I get a really cool looking shade of lip gloss, try it and it looks almost clear on my lips. Ugh, I hate this! I want color and I want it now! Gloss doesn’t disappoint when it comes to the HAUTE FACE line. Their line of Lip Gloss ($18 @ hauteface.com) dispense the same color that you see in the tube and each contains non-PABA sunscreens (SPF 15), and mucho botanicals so it’s good for lips too. This product should be called More Than Gloss. And the On the Rocks (pinky) shade has pretty much been on my lips all weekend.

I'll Take That To-Go, Please

This is a genius makeup accessory! And of course it’s from SEPHORA. Here’s the dilemma: have you often loved the effect loose powder give your face? And for those touch ups during the day or eve, want to recreate that effect? Toting that big round container and bulky brush is not an option so invest in their Professional Refillable Powder Brush #54 ($22 @ sephora.com). It’s one of those tubes with the brush on the end and it’s refillable. Use the scoop that comes with it to fill your favorite powder inside, close it and you’re ready to hit the road, Jack!

When UD Speaks, I Listen

I just love URBAN DECAY’s shadow colors. Always have and probably always will. They are just so unusual and fun. And they just put out some new loose mineral ones that have me jumping from color to color trying to decide my favorite. Each container only contains 1 grams of color in their Loose Pigments ($20 @ sephora.com) but know that they are extremely concentrated or pigmented so a little goes a long way. And the short handled brush makes it easy to control the application. Color picks: Goddess (midnight blue with electric blue micro glitter) and Shag (pale bronze).

Coming Our Way *Preview* Bites

LES PARFUMS SALVADOR DALI wants to help keep his spirit alive through beauty. They plan to release a new fragrance with the signature lips on the packaging every year.

ESTEE LAUDER is trying their hand at their first woody/amberfragrance. Dubbed Sensuous, it will hit department stores in July.

YVES ROCHER is coming out with an apple-based skin care line called Serum Végétal Apple Oligosides. the six products will target those over 40.

GUESS by Marciano is the third scent in the line coming out next month.

AVON is partnering with Emanuel Ungaro to launch U by Ungaro for Him and Her in August.

NEUTROGENA is focusing on their color line in 2008. Launching this summer is a mineral foundation, concealer and Lip Soothers, shown here.

CLARINS is expanding their men's collection with two aftershaves and a sunblock this spring.

Source: WWD

Mask O' the Month

We introduced you to the NUDE line back in January and I finally had a chance to try the Miracle Mask ($70/1.4oz @ barneys.com). Let me say first that just because this product is made with mostly natural ingredients, that doesn’t mean it is gentle. So with that said, if you have sensitive skin, you may want to forgo this one as it’s not recommended for you.

This Nude line uses a lot of alternatives to harsh chemicals and this one is your answer to that dull winter complexion. It uses natural AHAs and mandarin extract to exfoliate and red ginseng to smooth your skin out and boost up the appearance.
The only thing I don’t like about the product line is the label. Once you peel it off to open the product up, there goes all the info on the product and you are just left with the blank container. Just a suggestion, Nude!

Quick Pick - YLBB

I am really liking these Retractable Liptones ($18 @ beauty.com)  from DuWOP. In addition to being infused with vitamins C and E but each of the four shades is made to match the natural lip hue. So each is YLBB as in add a dash of gloss and you’re ready to take on the day with a color that stays. 

A New Cream In Town

We’re all looking for the latest in technology when it comes to younger looking skin. ESTEE LAUDER just came out with their Re-Nutriv Ultimate Youth Crème and it’s creating quite a buzz. Here’s the lowdown and I’ll break it down as best as I can.
This does all that a good cream should - improves overall tone and plumps fine lines. It really seems to youth-i-fy my skin! Their scientists have created what they call the Youth Molecule--Resveratrate, which is a potent form of Resveratrol (antibiotics produced by plants when under attack in outside forces). Resveratrate is a time-released version of Resveratrol so rub a small amount into the skin (it’s pretty concentrated) and your skin will benefit throughout the day. Can you believe that this product has 23 patents pending worldwide? This is a pretty serious cream and gives lovely results and I hope I didn’t lose you with the above explanation! The only thing not good looking when it comes to this cream is the price. But can you put a price on something that works so well? $250/1.7oz @ esteelauder.com

You Read It Here First ...

I wasn’t too sure about this next one and if I was going to feature them. I don’t need them, thankfully, but since I discovered them at the ISSE show back in January, they have been on my mind. And tonight standing in line at the Victoria’s Secret counter waiting to make my purchase sealed the deal. The sales girl had really dark drawn on brows that not only had no arch but they made her look really mad and she is certainly not the first one I have seen with wacky looking brows. Ugh, don’t people look in the mirror before leaving the house in the morning? And here’s the answer to their woes:

STAMP ME FABULOUS or SMF, as I am calling them, is a quick and easy way to put on your eyebrows. Go to town with the tweezers one night and just have a few lonely hairs screaming for help? Taking medication that has made them fall out? Then this is for you. What sold me on it when it was demonstrated was how realistic it looks. It really does!! This is one you have to see in person to be a believer. And what do you have to lose by trying this one out? It’s not a major money investment and it’s pretty quick to do. They have a video on their site so you can see how it all works. 

Choose from thirteen different Eyebrow Stamps ($25) shapes, five Semi-Permanent Ink Pens colors ($15), Fixative ($5) and they even offer a Color Remover ($12.50). They say the Ink will last up to 12 to 18 hours in normal conditions. If you have oily skin then make sure to pick up the Fixative as this will help them stay in place. All @ stampmefabulous.com

VS has their sale coming up in June so I’ll be sure to discretely slip her a non-descript bag with SMF inside.

The "I Want One Too" Contest WINNERS!

Wow, you like us! You really like us! haha.

We received more entries for the two Post-Party GRAMMY Goodie Bags than we have for any contest (and we've been around a long time ... since 2001!), so thank you!

And help me congratulate our two winners, Eileen L/Chicago, IL and Sharon K/Chatsworth, CA. They are each being sent a gift set from TIGI and two products from Kinerase all packed in a black vinyl zippered tote bag.

We'll be rolling out another contest next week so stay tuned and thanks for reading!

All my blush,

~Cybele