.:: CybeleSays ::.

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)

Think about all the skin care lines out there right now and the new ones rolling out every year. I think it’s harder and harder to get what little attention there is unless you have something really unique about your line. But on the other hand, they do say the cream rises to the top and I think that’s what you get with this FAIZA COSMETIQUES line (pronounced Fiza Cosmayteek). Hailing from Montreal, Canada, the line was created by the daughter of an internationally known scientist, she wanted to create a line using the finest botanicals and other non-toxic ingredients.

I’ve been using the full system of the Gentle Milky Cleanser ($39/6.7oz) - this is my favorite product in the line!, Toning Lotion ($39/6.7oz), Intense Repair Serum ($71/.5oz), Anti-Age Rich Cream ($65/2oz) and Lift Cream with Ceramides ($62/1oz) for about 6 weeks now and I must say, these seem to have rebalanced my skin; like it has rebounded from all that I put on it by trying out different products throughout the year. A skin detox, really! I've heard about "bringing the hair back to its virgin state" lately, so I think of this system like that but for the skin.

The formulas feel super light to the touch and on the skin and each product is made without parabens, synthetic fragrances, petrochemicals and dyes, all which have been proven to irritate the skin. If you’re sensitive to most products, you may want to look into this line. And be sure to check out the great ingredients.

Now, since this is an anti-aging line, did it turn the clock back? It’s super hard to tell something like that to the naked eye but since it seems to have brought it back to its normal state, I will say yes, it has turned the clock back some.

Want to see for yourself? How about trying a Sample Kit of all the necessities for $12.97? Get them and the full sizes @ faiza.ca.

And congrats to the brand for being a finalist in the TASTE AWARDS for the Best Skincare in North America. We’re pulling for you!

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

Quite a few skin care products have come out and here are three I am giving my stamp of approval.

COLORESCIENCE PRO Illuminating Cleanser Mineral Powder Formula ($37.50/1.4oz @ colorescience.com) – this powder looks like diamond dust and is great at not only cleansing and exfoliating the skin with Salicylic Acid but it also removes makeup. No tightness of the skin after using this one. Big recommendation.

BURT’S BEES Sensitive Night Cream ($15/1.8oz @ burtsbees.com) – part of the new Sensitive line they just put out, which includes a Cleanser, Moisturizing Cream and Eye Cream. These contain Cotton Extract to help minimize the effects of potential irritants, as well as aloe. So your skin is getting what it needs but gently.

PREVAGE Day Intensive Anti-aging Moisturizing Cream SPF 30 ($129/1.7oz) – Liz Arden’s Prevage brand has received rave reviews and they just came out with two new products. This day cream not only guards against UVA/UVB rays, but it also contains the powerful ingredient Idebenone to protect the skin from daily environmental assaults. The other new one is their Night Anti-aging Restorative Cream ($132/1.7oz). Get them both @ prevageskin.com.

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

I’m thankfully able to use just about anything on my face without worrying about breaking out or any kind of irritation. We’ve all heard of the crazy circle people with oily skin go through – when skin is not hydrated, it produces oil and then it becomes too oily and shiny, so you wash it again only to go through this crazy cat and mouse game over and over. So you try oil-free products and those just lack lasting moisture so it’s back to the former and on and on. So the KIEHL’S line took it upon themselves to come up with a collection of skin care products that are oil-free but are still able to not only hydrate the skin but also seal it in. It’s their Ultra Facial Oil-Free Collection and is proven to rebalance the skin and prevents the overproduction of oil. And the collection contains all the necessary ones to get it all under control –

Ultra Facial Oil-Free Cleanser ($18/5oz)
Ultra Facial Oil-Free Toner ($16/6oz)
Ultra Facial Oil-Free Lotion ($24.50/4.2oz)
Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream ($24.50/1.7oz)

A great value and way to try out these products is with the Ultra Facial Oil-Free Moisturizer Starter Kit for $29.50. It contains a 1oz Cleanser, 1.4oz Toner, and 4.2oz Lotion. Get this collection @ kiehls.com.

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

Have you heard of the IMMUNOCOLOGIE skin care line yet? It’s quite interesting but pretty technical so hopefully I can clearly explain it. It’s the first skin care line formulated to work with the skin’s own immune system using a unique Bio-Technical Fermentation Process (Bioferm), whereby each ingredient is fermented in a special atmosphere and oxygen condition so the product can repair the skin from the inside out. As we age our immune system become weaker, which can lead to the production of free radicals, something we don’t want. This line stops the inflammatory process thus stops what can lead to wrinkles and sagging skin. 

Immunocologie was created by two already well-known chemists (one discovered the use of vitamin C in skin care and the other alpha hydroxyl acids) and was 40 years in the making. The easiest way to understand the technology is by comparing it to something most of us are familiar with, nanopeptides. Just like those, the ingredients in their products undergo their aforementioned Bioferm process thus are able to penetrate the skin deeper and more effectively. If you want to read more about the technology, click here.

The product I tried was the Treatment Crème VenoMAX Light and here are the details.

What it does: This one contains their VenoMAX ingredient which is a complex that mimics snake venom activity except it goes the other direction and becomes a super healer to conquer all … like a super hero product! Smoothing wrinkles and lines, working on sun damage, brightening among others.

My take: I’ve been using this one for about 6 weeks now and I do see an overall difference in the tone and brightness of my skin. It’s hard to see a real big difference when it comes to wrinkles and skin damage but it’s got my vote thus far.

Yes, @ $125/1.7oz, this is a major investment in your skin but isn’t it worth it? Get this @ immunocologie.com. 

Me. Love. Balms. They are multi-purpose, usually contain a high % of super-good-for-skin ingredients and really nourishing overall. The latest one I have been using is from ONE LOVE ORGANICS. It goes by the name Skin Savior Waterless Multi Balm, is for the face and all about pure cold-pressed plant oils and extracts.

Let’s give a look at the most important part, the ingredient - organic virgin coconut oil (cold processed for its superior skin ingredients), organic soybean oil (for its superior nourishing properties), oat extract (rich in minerals and helps improve elasticity), chia seed (for its omega-3 fatty acids), unrefined beeswax (an superior emollient), orange peel wax (for its richness in carotenoids – antioxidants and vitamins, and flavonoids) and lastly vitamin E (for its powerful antioxidant properties). These are pretty much the whole list of ingredients with a few others but nothing bad and I like love that!

And like a good balm is, it is completely multi-uselful – cleansing, moisturizing, soothing, massage and they even recommend mixing some of it with your mineral powder! What will you be using this one for? $68/3.5oz @ oneloveorganics.com.

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

There’s a big push on ESTEE LAUDER’s reformulation of their Idealist Even Skintone Illuminator and I have to say I am a fan. This serum is a good one if you are looking to even out your skin’s tone and fade some of those dark spot or other discolorations, without using the controversial ingredient hydroquinone. It uses a blend of ingredients like plant extracts as well as salicylic acid and stabilized vitamin c to do the work. And while I didn’t see it totally remove a spot I have up on my temple, it did seem to improve my overall tone. So I wouldn’t use this one as a hardcore spot fader but instead more as a skin booster. $58/1.7oz @ esteelauder.com.

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

I’ve just been settling for some sunscreens for the face lately that I don’t really like in hopes of just using them up – most leave white behind that just takes too long to absorb. But this DR. JART Premium BB Beauty Balm ($39/1.5oz @ sephora.com) is a whole new avenue for me! It’s a moisturizer, sunscreen (SPF 45), and treatment serum that contains brightening properties. All things I can use these days! The best part about this one is that it’s tinted and the tint is supposed to adjust to your skin tone, which it seems to do pretty well. I’m a light to medium olive skin tone and at first my face looked kind of chalky but that faded after 5 minutes or so and the coverage is pretty sheer, so perfect for just evening out the skin tone.

From what I understand, BB Creams are really big in Asia and they are just being made available stateside and I can see why. If they do all this multi-tasking, what’s not to like or love?

Will you be trying this from Dr.Jart+?

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.

It’s sad to say that most people only think of sunscreen when it comes to the spring and summer but I think overall we are getting better with it and soon every woman with think of donning it year ‘round. Incorporating it automatically in your moisturizer is a good way to always remember and the NEOVA line has one that’s getting high marks on my end. It’s called Day Therapy SPF 30 and think of this one as a deluxe sunscreen in that it not only protects against both UVA/UVB rays but it uses major anti-aging ingredients. The only other company I have heard of that embraces copper like this one does in its products is this one. It contains a GHK Copper  Peptide Complex, that’s a major antioxidant boost to the skin. So if you’re going to SPF it, and I hope you do often, why not help fight the signs of aging at the same time? $85/1.7oz @ nextderm.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.