.:: CybeleSays ::.

You know me, I love discovering a new line! The latest is ANGEL MINARO and because the creator has a pharmaceutical background, she understands the science of putting together the formulas in each product. Each is handmade and she also makes them in small batches to maintain their freshness.

Click here to read more

I had a conversation over the weekend at a holiday party about beauty gifts (go figure!) and they thought that giving skin care was a strange gift to give someone. And they compared it to giving a set color of foundation. While I thought that was a tad too far, I can see where she was coming from but there are so many great deals out there, how can I resist? One I don’t think you can go wrong with is any of the PREVAGE items from ELIZABETH ARDEN. There are a few gift sets that are a total bargain, like the PREVAGE Day Anti-Aging Gift Set ($120 ($210 value!) @ elizabetharden.com).

Gift Set  includes:

PREVAGE Day Ultra Protection Anti-aging Moisturizer SPF 30, (1.7oz)
PREVAGE Body Total Transforming Anti-aging Moisturizer, (2.4oz)
PREVAGE Eye Ultra Protection Anti-aging Moisturizer SPF 15, (.17oz)

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!

Click here to read more

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.

These are really helping me enjoy summer this year! Have you made any adjustments due to the heat and humidity? Give these ones some consideration.

ELIZABETH ARDEN Pure Finish Mineral Cheekcolor in Sunkissed Coral ($28 @ elizabetharden.com) – If this one could talk, it would say, "I am the color of the decade!" Coral again is a big summer color and it's so gorg on the skin and really enhances a nice tan.

ORLANE Super-Moisturizing Tinted Cream ($75/1.7oz @ neimanmarcus.com) – it’s way too hot to put on a full mask of foundation so why not use a two-fer like this? It combines a deeply moisturizing face cream with a slight tint. Available in 3 shades.

NYX COSMETICS Studio Liquid Liner in Extreme Sky Blue and Extreme Green ($4.50 @ nyxcosmetics.com) – colored liquid liners are hot these days and these do like the Michael Jackson/Paul McCartney duo and “Stay, Stay, Stay.” (I know it’s Say, Say, Say but Stay works better for this piece!).

LUSH 'Dirty' Springwash Shower Gel ($9.95/3.3oz, $17.95/8.8oz, $26.95/16.9oz @ lushusa.com) – I really wasn’t feeling their Dirty collection of products but this shower gel seems like a lighter version of the rest, according to my nose and it has a hint of spearmint oil in it.

SMASHBOX Photo Finish Luminizing Foundation Primer ($17 @ smashbox.com) – who wants their makeup to slide after applying? Summertime is great for this one as it gives a nice sheen, whilst helping makeup stay, stay, stay! And this one has some good-for-skin ingredients like grape seed extract and vitamins A, C and E.

VICTORIA’S SECRET Sheer Love Ultra-Moisturizing Hand and Body Cream from the VS Fantasies Collection ($12/6.7oz @ victoriassecret.com) – a scented cream is the perfect way to kiss the skin with fragrance without overdoing it. This one is a mix of fresh white cotton and luminous pink lily and contains avocado, zsweet almond oil and my favorite ingredient, honey.

The Victoria's Secret item contains mineral oil, which is seen by some as an ingredient of concern. The Lush product contains Sodium Laureth Sulfate, which is seen by some as an ingredient of concern. Read more about these and other ingredients here.

Read my ingredient disclaimer here.

Disclosure: Some of these items were provided to Cybelesays.com 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.

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.

We’ve all heard of beauty products that can make you more attracted to the opposite sex and the latest brand to harness it is VICTORIA’S SECRET. Each product in the Attractions collection contains their exclusive EverTempt fragrance cocktail, which is a special blend of notes they claim that creates an almost pheromone-like allure. Each comes in a Fragrance Mist ($20/8.4oz), Nourishing Body Lotion ($18/9.6oz), Indulgent Body Cream ($20/6.7oz) and a Daily Body Wash ($18/10.1oz).

Wild One – midnight raspberry and sexy lily.
Sweet Craving – warm and tempting praline.
Glam Goddess – naked musk and sensual freesia.
Love Bitten – forbidden apple and sultry woods.

So do they work? Well, I can’t tell but I know that evertime I wear the Wild One Fragrance Mist my SO says, without fail, “I like the way you smell today.”

So if you’re on the hunt for a mate and also for a new spring scent, why not try these? All available @ victoriassecret.com.

Disclosure: Samples of these items were provided for review purposes.

So I think this past Wednesday was the first Spring feeling day we’ve had here in Los Angeles this year. Yeah, it’s here! So of course I have been reaching for more spring-y type scents and here are a few I’m loving right now.

CRABTREE & EVELYN Lily of the Valley Eau de Toilette ($45/3.4oz @ crabtree-evelyn.com) – Lily of the Valley is one of my favorite flowers and I love that they just put out this Floral Fragrance Collection for Spring. It’s a collection of single note scents (Lavender, Rosewater and Iris are the other launches) and the scents also comes in the form of triple-milled soaps, body lotions, candles, shower gels, body creams and a nice body dusting powder.

AROMAFLORIA Foaming Body Wash with Shea Butter and Body Butter with Shea and Aloe in Kiwi Coconut ($20/8oz @ aromafloria.com) – What better way to get your season on then with the smell of kiwi and coconut? These two are from their Sensory Fusion Bath + Body Collection and put me in a tropical frame of mind.

CUPCAKE ORGANIC Raspberry Rose Blossom Softening Day Cream ($24.67/1oz @ cupcakeorganic.com) – Mmm Rose Blossom, Ylang Ylang and Mandarin are combined inside this ECOCERT Certified day cream. This doesn’t have any SPF inside so be sure to load up when you wear this one.

YES TO CUCUMBERS Facial Towelettes ($5.99/30 wipes @ sayyestocarrots.com) – quickly remove dirt, makeup and everyday grime with these babies for when you’re on the go. Oil-free and hypoallergenic.

Disclosure: Samples of these items were provided for review purposes.