.:: 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’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?

Click here to read more

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.

Click here to read more

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.

How have I missed out on the SHEA TERRA ORGANICS line for this long? I think this scrub marks the closest I have ever gotten to an edible scrub! Seriously! And yes, I did taste it and I could have eaten it as a dessert, it tasted that good overall. But ok, I’ll use it as it’s supposed to be used.

The product is their Premium Dark Chocolate Sugar-Stone Exfoliating Cream ($22/9oz @ sheaterraorganics.com) and is 99.7% natural. What does that mean? Here are the ingredients: pure spring water, chocolate liquor, organic Shea Butter, natural emulsifying wax, organic sugar, pumice, all natural vanilla extract and a naturally-based preservative called glucono delta-lactone and sodium benzoate. That’s it! And you won’t find any sulfates, parabens or artificial fragrances or colors in this one any of their other products.

As you have probably heard, chocolate is full of antioxidants and can be good for the skin. And this stuff is thick with not much run off (not watery) so know that a little goes a long way.

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

I don’t always have time for a good scrubbing in the shower so I love when I come across one that does double duty like this one from SPA SISTER. One side of this Miracle Smoothing Spa Mitt is super soft and the other is quite rough so depending on what part of the body you are using it on, go hard or soft. Think of it as a wash cloth on steroids! For my arms, I use it so I get a combination of a little soft and a little rough. $12 @ bathaddiction.com.

And if sliding on a mitt ain’t your thing, then try their 100% nylon Twin-Skin Polishing Towels. It’s the same rough scrubbing all over and not just on one side in a, as the name says, a small towel form.

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

I have to say that I was expecting a lot more from this ARGAN MAGIC BEAUTY line. With all the competition out there for shelf space, I guess at this point, I was expecting more pure product and less filler. The reason I say this is that there are a lot of argan-based products out there now and we just need something new or something with a twist.

But I digress. As far as this line is concerned, I have to say that this one and this Zesty Orange Body Scrub (what is with me and orange lately??) are the two best in the line. What I like about this scrub is the super fine granules in it, which from what I can tell from the ingredient list is a combo of the walnut shell powder and crushed lotus seed. Other noteworthy ingredients include safflower seed oil and orange seed extract. $25/8oz @ arganbeautymagic.com.

What scent are you feeling right now?

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