.:: CybeleSays ::.

There’s nothing like a really great body oil and I’ve searched high and low for the best ones out there right now and came up with these winners. One of the reasons is that they are so versatile – face, body, even hair. Do you use body oils or will you start incorporating them into your beauty routine?

AROMATHERAPY ASSOCIATES Bath & Shower Oil ($63/1.86oz @ aromatherapyassociates.com and bigelowchemists.com) – the one shown here is for Inner Strength, which I think we can all use more of, the founder created this when she was going through cancer and blends clary sage, frankincense and cardamom. While I’m not wild about the overall smell of this one (smells really strongly of lavender for some reason, which I don’t like), the quality of this one reins and I’m sure it will appease many out there.

LIERAC Huile Sensorielle Sensory Oil with 3 Flowers ($40/1.86oz @ lierac.com) – Mmm, this one contains extracts of jasmine, gardenia, camellia (which they call the 3 White Flowers), hazelnut and sweet almond, to name a few. This one absorbs quickly and doesn’t make any part of the body greasy.

SHEA MOISTURE Raw Shea Butter Baby Oil Rub ($10.99/8oz @ cvs.com, CVS stores, Target stores) – this is a new brand to me and wow, I’m impressed! The ingredient list starts with sunflower seed oil, Shea Butter, Sweet Almond and jojoba and gets better from there. Nothing bad in this one! And it smells really nice. Big recommendation.

KAHINA 100% Organic Argan Oil ($36/1oz, $82/3oz @ kahina-givingbeauty.com) – why don’t you just cut to the chase and go with the oil of the moment, argan oil? This extremely anti-oxidant rich oil can be used anywhere on the face or body and even hair (hello Moroccanoil!?) and is one of the lighter oils out there. 

Disclosure: Some of these items were provided for review purposes. Some I bought.

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.

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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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.

It’s not often that a line has multiple positives going for it. That’s why I’m excited to introduce you to a new line making its US debut from Germany. The 25 year-old line is called PRIMAVERA and if you’re looking for a line with quality natural and organic ingredients, this is one you will want to check out. Choose from four different product lines: face care, body care, wellness therapies and home fragrance. Primavera is the first brand to have all their products certified as natural and organic by NATRUE (I was unfamiliar with them so here is more info on them) and they also package them in recyclable glass bottles and jars.

They have fair-trade partnerships with 18 growers around the world who provide over 125 of their ingredients. And if that’s not enough, their new state-of-the-art headquarters in Germany boasts a carbon neutral footprint. If these facts alone don’t make you want to try this line, then maybe info about the below product will.

The products I tried were their Restoring Rose Sallow Thorn Bath Oil ($37/3.4oz @ primaveralife.com). For me, October opens the door for bath season, officially, so the timing   was perfect. As I was running a bath, it was hard not to poor the whole bottle of bath oil into the water, it smelled so good! And I’m a fan of bath oils because it takes that extra step of moisturizing the skin afterward. I mean, who wants to stand in a cold room rubbing cream into your skin? I’d rather jump into some flannel pjs instead!

Anyway, this one is made with 70% organic ingredients, like rose hip, rose, sallow thorn and wheat germ, as well as jojoba and sweet almond oil. Not only did this oil soften the water but the delicate scent really made my first bath of the season quite enjoyable.

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.

It’s no surprise that oils for the hair and body have really taken off in the past couple of years and wow,  there are so many options now! But are you reading your ingredient lists? Most are just chock full’o silicones and while they’re not bad for you, they are mainly fillers and are used for the slicking properties. That’s fine, especially if you are using it on your hair. But for the body, I want real ingredients and nothing more! Here are some that are about as pure as you can get.

REN Moroccan Rose Otto Bath Oil ($48/4.7oz @ renskincare.com) – who doesn’t love rose? It’s such a lovely smell and this one gives it a kick with added sesame seed oil and clove oil among others. Basically this is comprised of 100% pure plant oils and 100% natural fragrance. Now how many products can tout that fact?

EMTAGE SILKtáge Rejuvenating Styling Serum ($33/3.4oz @ emtagehair.com) – I’ve been pretty religious about using a hair oil like these after I blow dry my hair to calm the frizzies down and to add a little moisture. And this one has moved to the top of that list! I mean check out this ingredient list! It opens with Certified Organic Camellia (green tea) seed oil, coconut and broccoli seed oils, Monoi flower extract and others. And it feels so light on strands and doesn’t leave any residue behind. Highly recommended.

MELVITA Calendula Oil for Face & Body ($19/1.7oz @ melvita.com) - If you want to get really simple with your beauty products, your moisturizer couldn’t get any simpler than by using this 100% Calendula oil. The oil is extracted from the flowers by macerating it in organic soybean oil. This is a great moisturizer for those with sensitive skin and it's ECOCERT certified.

I’m still sorting through some other ones here so I’ll be posting another feature on this subject shortly!

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

If you’re not familiar with the AROMAFLORIA line, they are pioneers of holistic aromatherapy and continue to come out with unique collections like this new Healing Waters Collection. The products in this one are centered around sea salts and 250 million year-old lava clay mud (huh??). I don’t even know how one gets ahold of anything that is 250 years old! Anyway, the collection contains 5 products – Bath/Shower Gel – Purifying Treatment ($18/12oz), Anti-Aging Lotion – Firming Treatment ($22/12oz), Dry Body Oil – Smoothing Treatment ($20/5oz), Salt Soak – Mineral Bath Treatment ($20/32oz), Sugar/Salt Exfoliating Treatment ($24/23oz) and a Total Body Treatment Collection ($16), shown here.

And don’t worry about ingredients when it comes to this line, they get my full stamp of approval! All @ aromafloria.com.

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

The CAROL’S DAUGHTER line just keeps expanding and expanding! We love when an indy does well. This season they have put out a couple of bargain sets, my favorite being this Sugar-Dipped Vanilla Trio ($30 @ carolsdaughter.com). The draw-tab bag houses a Sugar-Dipped Vanilla Body Cleansing Gel (8oz), Sugar-Dipped Vanilla Body Cream (2oz) and a Sugar-dipped Vanilla All Over Sheen (4oz). I’m usually not one for the bakery style scents but this one is pretty light, so I’m glad that I won’t walk around smelling like a fresh donut. I like to eat those, not smell like ‘em!

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

As I get further and further into educating myself about ingredients and really looking at what’s inside the ones I am using or discovering, this CHATEAU LORRAINE line is really standing out right now. I wrote about this one recently from the line and am onto other products in the line. I had to see if I just got lucky with that one or if the others lived up to that first one's fab-ness.

Nourishing Body Wash ($22/8.5oz) – this one use two no-concern cleaning ingredients, Sodium Trideceth Sulfate and Sodium Lauroamphoacetate, and then safflower seed oil, grape seed extract and black currant oil and even Shea Butter. Nice.

And both have the brand’s VINIZOME Technology, which helps increase penetration of the ingredients. Two thumbs up for each of these products!

Both @ chateaulorraine.com. 

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