.:: CybeleSays ::.

I’ve always been a big fan of the LALICIOUS line. They just put out great quality body products where I never have to be afraid of the ingredients. They just added a new scent called Sugar Reef this month and I tried two of them. So did they live up to my expectations?

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It’s been some time since I’ve finished up a whole container of body lotion or cream so that’s why I’m a fan of samplers like this BOOTS Extracts Mini Body Butter Collection. 

Want to see the scents? Click after the pic!

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On a budget this season? Who isn’t?! But you still need to remember those who provide services for you in your life like your manicurist, postal worker, babysitter and others. How about giving them a unique gift from BODYCOLOGY? I’m giving out a few of their Mini Bath Bundles that are 5 bucks each @ Walmart stores nationwide. The set contains their signature Body Cream (2oz), Fragrance Mist (2oz) and pink Body Pouf, packaged up with a super cute Lip Gloss key chain. And it comes in some of their most popular scents like Cherry Blossom, Brown Sugar and my favorite Cucumber Melon. Yum!

And they also launched a new service only in Walmart where you created your own Bodycology gift set. All you have to do is pick out each product in the same scent how about getting kooky and getting one of each scent? The end gift is all full size products packed up in nice gift-giving bag with tissue paper and all. So personalized, that the recipient will think you put it together all by yourself! Each product runs $3.97 and the gift bag and tissue is .50cents.

Here’s a brand that’s made right here in my backyard of Los Angeles, CA. The PERSEPHENIE line was founded in 2004 and is the brainstorm of a certified Aromatherapist and Perfumer specializing in natural botanical perfumery; something I find completely fascinating. To me, these are the rock stars of our time!

The packaging is very cool black lacquer looking glass bottles and gothic-type script. I really feel the personality with this line. The Founder creates in small batches to maintain freshness and all 6 products are vegan, sulfate-free and 100% botanical.

I’ve delved into a few of the products and the standout so far is the Dry Body Oil in Linden Blossom. It’s no secret that I love a dry body oil this time of year. And it contains all nicey-nice ingredients like jojoba oil, coconut oil, and orchid flower extract to name a few. Use this one on your skin or hair and I’ve also been using it on the back of my hands as the orangey-smell is a nice mid-afternoon nose boost.

Yes, it's a little pricey @ $42/1.69oz but you're really paying for superior quality and isn't that worth it? And beside, not many know about this line (yet) so you are in the know early. See the whole line @ persephenie.com and she also sells small sample sizes you can try before you buy. Click here to see more. More reviews to come soon from this line.

Disclosure: A sample of this item was provided for review purposes.

I remember back in the 80’s going to punk rock shows and seeing the straight edge guys with the big Sharpie X’s across the back of each hand. And this wasn’t at one show here or there, this was at every show and come to find out, those big X’s graced the back of their hands every day. I didn’t think of it until recently but just think of that ink being absorbed into their skin on a daily basis. What’s even in a Sharpie? And now I come to this thought – whatever you put on your skin goes into your system so don’t you want to make it the best it can be?

One I know that falls into the all-around-safe category is SHEA TERRA’s Cape Aloe Soothing Shea Butter Crème ($22/9oz @ sheaterra.com). I simply love this line and here’s why I’m jumping on this bandwagon. This product is made with 30% organic Shea Butter and  20% Cape aloe. What is Cape aloe? It’s a medicinal herb from South Africa and used to treat many different ailments but also for its anti-inflammatory and anti-aging properties. I wonder why I have never heard of this herb until now? Anyway, not only can this one be used as a straight up super body moisturizer but they also tout it as useful for jellyfish stings, minor cuts, and even sun burns.

Disclosure: A sample of this item was provided for review purposes.

I think I may have found my go-to self-tanner for the summer. It’s PERFEKT BEAUTY’s new Body Perfection Gel in Tan. As the names states, it is a matte body gel that they call it an alternative to tanners, bronzers and even pantyhose but I call it a tanner, or at least the Tan color is though I am curious about the other colors too. It looks like chocolate cake mousse or frosting, coming out of the tube and when it’s smeared onto the skin and it blends really well. It simply looks the most natural and true to life and the secret is their ingredient, Isododecane, an emollient and skin conditioner that helps maintain hydration by locking in moisture and making the skin feel like this one feels on my face. Smooth, but that’s just due to the silicones inside.

It’s easy to apply and seems to work on dry areas, as in, it won’t appear darker in those areas, which is amazing as I have a perpetually dry patch on my right ankle. It contains hyaluronic microspheres to hydrate and ceramides and Shea Butter to make your skin actually look better too.

And like other self-tanners, don’t use any lotion before apply it on the skin. $48/3oz @ perfektbeauty.com.

Disclosure: A sample of this item was provided for review purposes.

I always knew that the VICTORIA’S SECRET brand was serious about their perfume line but did you know that the Bombshell line won three Fifi Awards in 2011? Fragrance of the Year, Best Packaging of the Year, Women’s and Consumer Choice Fragrance of the Year. Wow, that is no small feat considering the Fifis are the Oscars of the fragrance industry!

And their latest addition to the line? Bombshell Summer and this one is very fruity – purple passion fruit, Moscato d’Asti Italian grapes, Shangri-la Yellow Peonies topped off by Vanilla Orchid and Italian Sunstruck Pine. And it’s available in a few different forms – Eau de Parfum ($45/1.7oz), Body Mist ($24/8.4oz), and Body Lotion ($20/6.7oz).

So if you need a new womanly fragrance that’s not going to break the bank, pop in your local Victoria’s Secret store or visit them online @ victoriassecret.com.

Disclosure: A sample of this item was provided for review purposes.

My 2 year-old niece, Collette, is really into swimming these days and I’m always concerned about the sun when she’s in the pool with her delicate baby skin. Of course this being Memorial Day Weekend, everyone is at the beach or the pool, including us. NEUTROGENA just put out a few new sunblocks for the season and one is made just for kids. Wet Skin Kids Sunblock Spray SPF 70+ ($11.99/6oz @ drugstore.com) and one for us adults, Wet Skin Sunblock Spray SPF 30 ($9.99/6oz @ drugstore.com) and same with SPF 50. New technology allows it to adhere well to skin that’s wet from swimming or sweating and it has their own Helioplex broad spectrum against UVA and UVB rays. As you can imagine, I was all over spraying these on us all!

Disclosure: A sample of this item was provided for review purposes.

I just started a regular workout routine again and oi, my body is sore. So much so that I think an overall massage would actually hurt too much at this point. So I am starting slow and glad I have LUSH’s Hottie Massage Bar on hand for my calves (we did 100+ lifts!) and triceps from the brutal pushups.

The shape of the bar is square so it’s easy to hang onto whilst rubbing and the bumps on the bar actually need to help massage the oils into the skin!  

The formula in this bar is specifically made for really sore muscles and contains black pepper oil to help get the circulation going as well as ginger oils and then their usual Shea Butter, jojoba oil and cocoa butter to nourish the skin. Overall I wasn’t really wild about the scent and I saw that they have this one. Must. Get. Hands. On. It!

I keep a few of their massage bars  on the coffee table in front of the TV so when I’m their watching my latest VH1 reality show, I can mindlessly some into elbows, knees and especially heels. $8.95/1oz @ lush.com.

Disclosure: A sample of this item was provided for review purposes.

I love the effect of a self-tanner but I am not really down with the whole process; it is really more of a choir then delightful process. But when I saw the Faux Tan from BARE ESCENTUALS, which has been around for a spell (as my Gramma used to say), and the accompanying brush, I became totally interested in it. A boring self-tanner with a cool looking brush. I’m in! QVC just debuted a 16oz Faux Tan with the amazing Deluxe Tan Brush two weeks ago and I just read some of the comments and people seem to be loving the brush too! 

Faux Tan – no orange here, just sun-kissed color. The formula is really dark but don’t worry, it’s just tinted so you know where you are applying it and can do a good job when it comes to coverage. The color develops in a few hours and lasts 5 to 7 days.

Deluxe Tan Brush – For me, this is what really makes this product (that's why I made it extra big in the photo) because I am so poor at applying self-tanners! It stands about 3 inches tall and 2” round and the bristles are densely packed so you can really buff the lotion on your skin evenly. I don’t know of any other brand that includes one with their tanner but it’s totally worth it. And I wonder if they will ever sell this by itself.

I think one other thing to make note of is the lack of the usual self-tanner smell. Did I miss something here? I didn’t really notice a strong smell and the only other one I’ve come across where this is the case is this one two weeks ago. Wow, we have really evolved into a new era of self-tanners!

And this one didn’t win QVC’s Customer Choice Beauty Award for Sunless Tanner for 2010 for nuthin’!

$55/16oz + brush @ qvc.com.

This product contains Propylparaben, which is seen by some as an ingredient of concern.

Read my ingredient disclaimer here.

Disclosure: A sample of this item was provided for review purposes.