.:: CybeleSays ::.

Everything is coming up … springtime scents right now and here are just a few that are at the top of my list. Each highlights a floral or fruit we often associate with spring. Are any of these your favorites?

EMINENCE ORGANIC Apricot Sugar Scrub ($48/8.4oz @ eminenceorganic.com) – this one smells like the definition of Spring and it’s made of all things good for the skin like Alpha Hydroxy Acids, apricot juice and pulp and their signature Biocomplex, which is a concoction of antioxidants and vitamins.

INEKE Hothouse Flower ($95/2.5oz @ ineke.com) – If you are all about gardenia, this is a good one to investigate. Know that this is not your typical gardenia though; it’s a little complex with the mix of notes like earl grey tea, green foliage, fig, frankincense on a base of guiaiacwood and musk.

THYMES Temple Tree Jasmine Body Wash ($19/9.25oz @ thymes.com) – another one you have to have to really welcome Spring and that’s jasmine. This one puts it front and center with a mix of jasmine, honeysuckle, ylang ylang, damask rose and coconut milk.

HOUSE OF HOUBIGANT Orangers en Fleurs ($180/3.3oz eau de parfum, $600/3.3oz parfum @ neimanmarcus.com) – how could you welcome Spring and not do it with orange? This one highlights orange but really steps up the sexiness by adding Rose Absolute, Egyptian Jasmine Absolute, middle notes or Tuberose, Eau de Brouts, Ylang Comores and Nutmeg on a base of Cedar Wood and Musk. Really unique! It also comes in a lotion and crème for layering.

There has to be a beginning for every line and I really think this B&E SOAP & SCRUB CO. is off to a great start. Launched in 2012, they use naturally derived ingredients in all their face and body care products. Whenever I read a hefty statement like that, my eye is immediately drawn to the ingredient list to see what they consider “natural,” and with the two I tried, they passed.

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I’ve always been a big supporter of the small fish in the big beauty pond and I was lucky enough to be able to try out a few products from the MOONESSENCE line. When it comes to ingredients in body products, my motto has always been the less the better. Take their Body Polish in Orange Honey ($38.99/16oz) for example, the ingredients in this one are organic unrefined raw sugar, organic brown rice flour, saponified oils of olive, organic coconut, grape seed and 100% pure steam distilled essential oils. That’s it. Do you really need anything else inside?

The other product in their line that made my week is their Bath & Body Oil in Bergamot & Grapefruit ($28.99/8oz). It’s made up of 100% grape seed oil with vitamin E and pure steam essential oils. Apply this one just out of the shower while skin is still wet. Yes, these are a little on the expensive side but keep in mind you are paying for the quality inside each product. Both and more @ sfrbeauty.com.

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.

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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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I love a good sampler, whether it be a palette or something like this next one, a samples of sugar scrubs, yum! I’m in love with SKIN AN APOTHECARY’s Scrub Box Set ($18), which contains 4/2oz containers of Poppy, Red Orchid, Crema and Citrus.

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I’m happy to introduce you to a new line that I think you’ll be hearing more about in the coming months. SPLURGE SKINCARE was started by a body scrub given as a Christmas present. Can’t you hear the conversation, “Wow, this is a really good scrub. You should start selling it…” The line hails from Massachusetts and is based on the philosophy that you shouldn’t wait to treat yourself. And what better way than with a beauty product? I concur!

There are three products in the line right now and I’m giving major props to The Rub right now. It’s a sugar scrub and the ingredients truly do the talking, as they should: sugar, organic safflower oil, meadowfoam oil, glycerine, organic cocoa butter, organic shea butter, aloe vera juice and then various oils to enhance the “flavor” of the three scents offered, which are Almond, Peppermint and Lemon. $26/8oz @ splurgeskincare.com.

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

Here are three traits that make finding products fun: one I’ve never heard of, quality ingredients and totally affordable. And this LEVEL NATURALS encompasses all three of these. They live by the motto -  “we don’t put anything on you that we wouldn’t roll around in ourselves,” and what you would roll around in are some pretty fantastic ingredients. All the products are vegan, cruelty-free and use recycled paper when possible. This man and woman team started the line in Los Angeles two years ago with a Cranberry Seed Calendula Soap and has since expanded to include bath bombs, shower bombs, body butters, candles and body polishes.

My favorite right now has to be the Lemon Sage Ginger Body Polish. It’s very thick and the ingredients are super simple: raw sugar, coconut and jojoba oil, Shea Butter, sunflower and rose hip oils, aloe oil, lemon sage essential oil, vitamin e and rosemary extract. That’s it! And with its healthy balance of oils, there’s really no need for a lotion or body cream afterward. $18/16oz @ levelnaturals.com.

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

 
As many species of fish there are in the ocean, there are probably twice as many more plants many of which haven’t even been discovered yet. And that’s where the H2O+ line comes in. If it’s in the sea, they’re trying it out in their products. They just came out with a new collection called the Sea Moss Collection and the three products contain micro-fine volcanic black sand that’s obtained from real cooled lava found in Polynesia lagoons and island, mineral-rich red and brown algae and Irish moss

My pick of the litter has to be the Sea Moss Black Sand Body Scrub ($18.50/8oz). This body cleaning double-dutier  contains the above ingredients as well as sea salt, aloe vera, provitamin B and smells lightly of water lily and other marine accords. And did I mention is scrubs like the dickens? Love it.  

Also available in Sea Moss Replenishing Body Wash ($16/12.5oz), Sea Moss Replenishing Body Lotion ($19.50/8.5oz) and they also have 2oz travel sizes of each. All @ h2oplus.com. 

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

 
Leave it to LUSH to continue to come up with super clever names for their products (how does one apply for this job?). Rub, Rub, Rub is the latest one and it falls into my favorite category of body exfoliators. Made for me by Vic (I’m going to start recognizing the person on each product in reviews!), this one uses fine sea salt, fresh organic lemon juice, jasmine flower infusion, mimosa absolute and orange flower absolute, to name a few ingredients; smells great, works great! And it can do double duty and be used as a shampoo.

One thing I can’t quite figure out is why it’s blue? There’s nothing in the ingredient list I can see that would make that color except the last one listed on the label, the Blue No. 1 dye inside. So Lush, why the blue? $19.95/11.6oz @ lush.com.

The product contains Sodium Laureth Sulfate, which is seen by some as an ingredient of concern. Read more about it here.

Read my ingredient disclaimer here.