.:: CybeleSays ::.

As I wind up the Fall Product Picks 2011, I think it’s only fitting to end the on-going feature with something that tends to hibernate all winter long, the feet. Just because temps are dropping doesn’t mean your attention should also drop from taking care of your feet. DR. TEAL'S just came out with some foot-specific products that my tootsies are loving right now, specifically the Cracked Heel Therapy. Now I should tell you up front, not that you really care, but for the record, I don’t have cracked heels, ewww, but even if I did I probably wouldn’t tell you out of embarrassment. So let’s just say, if you do have really dry (my case) or cracked heels (not my case), you may want to give this one a spin. It comes in the very convenient push up container and contains Emu oil, paraffin, and Shea butter, as well as peppermint oil. Now I should note that when most foot products say they have peppermint inside, they tend to overload it with peppermint so your feet feel tingly, which I don’t always like. This one has just the right amount for the skin and nose.$9.99/2oz @ Walmart stores nationwide.

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

  ELIZABETH ARDEN Eight Hour Cream Targeted Sun Defense Stick SPF 50 Sunscreen PA +++ ($20 @ elizabetharden.com) – I’m loving the totablility/no white residue of this sunscreen!! Yes, I’ve gotten better about making sure I have sunscreen on before leaving the house in the morning but tucking this one in my purse guarantees I will never have an excuse.

THE SEAWEED BATH CO. Foot Butter ($12.89/2oz @ seaweedbathco.com) – this reminds me of this one and is just in time for summer feet! The ingredients include: Cocoa butter, natural beeswax, bladderwrack, seaweed extract in safflower oil, neem oil, kakum butter, arrowroot powder, lanolin, vitamin E, peppermint essential oil, tea tree essential oil. Need I say more?

And there’s even a travel version of this one too, so like the above sunscreen, the purse will be housing this one too this summer.

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

If the words organic and natural are not enough for you right now, I have another term to throw on the heap. Ayurveda. It’s a form of traditional medicine native to the Indian subcontinent and practiced in other parts of the world as a form of alternative medicine. It is grounded in metaphysics and based on the five great elements to bring harmony to the mind, body, soul and universe.

I was recently introduced to a new Ayurvedic line called BHAKTIVEDA. Each of the 5-skew products in the line is made in India according to strict Ayuvedic principles and uses a lot of botanicals. The one I jumped head first into was their Neem Hand & Foot Cream ($18/4.4oz @ bhaktiveda.com). It contains neem powder, neem oil, among others and the herbs in contains are grown right on the Himalayan Mountains. Not only is it really thick and rich, it smells amazing! A little geranium, rosemary and I know I can smell the sesame too. And with the cold, cold coming up, I’m giving this one a BIG recommendation.

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

I’m a really big fan of this next line but have been out of touch of it lately. PRINCIPESSA BEAUTY is going to keep my feet pretty in my boots this fall with their Pretty Piede Foot Balm ($18/4.2oz @ principessabeauty.com). It contains fruit acids, shea butter, vitamin E and organic indulgent extracts that really seem to soften even the roughest skin on my feet. And it’s scented with the floral scent of Bellocia, which is top notes of peach blossom, vanilla, middle of night blooming jasmine, ylang-ylang and a base of sandalwood and warm amber. Yes, it sounds like a lot of notes but it’s really subtle and really pleasant. And I just saw that they bottle the scent it in a roll-on perfume!

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

I forgot how much I love the AROMAFLORIA line as I’ve been out of touch with the line lately. It wasn’t until I needed a foot perk-me-up that I was led back again and their For Feet’s Sake line is getting top honors from me. Each of the four products is made with organic oils of tea tree and spearmint. Mmm! And like all their products, I don’t have to worry about bad ingredients hiding in them like I do nowadays. Take the Foot Scrub for example, the first ingredient listed is organic sugar cane and it also has rosemary, peppermint and eucalyptus oils. And the Double Action Spa Foot Scrub ($10.50/6oz) and Intense Repair Spa Foot Butter ($10.50/4oz) smell just like spearmint gum! And who doesn't love that scent?

Also available: Perfectly Soft Spa Foot Soak ($10.50/10.5oz) and Refreshing Spa Foot & Let Mist ($10/4oz). Big recommendation! All @ aromafloria.com.

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

No matter what lotion or balm I use on my feel, my soles seem no better by the end of the day and there  I am, back at square one. What the dilly? And I’ve been using products that are made especially for feet but just don’t think most are truly made to be able to penetrate the tough skin. I don’t get it. I was about to give up when I was sent over EXUVIANCE new Heel Repair ($38/3.4oz @ neostrata.com). I had been using this one and like it ok but the clove scent started bothering me so I tossed it. What I initially liked, I started to dislike! Has that ever happened to you? Anyway, this Heel Repair contains Alpha and Polyhydroxy Acids (AHAs and PHAs), that really penetrate the skin to repair trouble spots like the heel and the Pro-Vitamin E and skin conditioning oils to sooth the skin. Don’t you need something to get your feet in sandal shape? Big recommendation.  

There’s nothing worse than those before and after pictures of heels, don’t you think? Ewwww! But unfortunately, dry and cracked heels are a fact of life. I mean, I can lotion up my feet to the max and a few hours later, the heels look dry again. I love the As Seen on TV products so when I saw this next one, I knew it was a must try. HEEL-TASTIC is a push up balm that contains coconut oils as well as Neem oil, Shea Butter and olive oil, among others, as well as anti-fungal and anti-bacterial oils as an added bonus. Combine all those and you got one major foot softener. And the scent? A combination of lemongrass and ginger. Nice! $9.99 @ heeltastic.com .

I’m a little obsessed with smooth feet. As I mentioned a few weeks ago, cracked heels are just so gross but they seem to dry out so fast as you get older. Here’s an interesting one I came across recently and it’s not your typical cream or lotion. FARMHOUSE FRESH Honey Heel Glaze ($24/3oz @ farmhousefresh.com) is ooey, gooey and quite moisturizing. It looks like honey, smells like cinnamon and clove and infuses aloe leaf juice, pineapple and papaya fruit extracts inside. I’m tell you, this is one to experience. It even comes with its own flat brush.

0

There’s nothing more unsightly then sitting and drinking your morning coffee at a café and notice the person next to you’s dry cracked feet tucked into a pair of ratty flip flops. We won’t even begin to comment on the choice of shoes (a trashcan would be a good place to put them) but there is no excuse for shoddy looking feet. Not all scrubs can be used on the feet since most have oils and can make surfaces slippery so I only use ones made especially for the feet.

CND Raw Earth Foot Buff ($15.95/5oz) from the Spa Pedicure line is one of those and I am really loving it these days! It’s one of those warming scrubs with a sugar base. It also contains citric acid, so the two combined really exfoliates and clean up feet.

Top off your new found feet with their Cucumber Heel Therapy Natural Nail Care Marine Spa Pedicure ($19.95/4oz). It contains skin soothing botanicals that helps soothe and seal in your new layer of skin’s moisture. Both @ bebeautiful.com.

0

We could all go a little without when it comes to beauty products. How about no parabens and artificial dyes? DIONIS SOAP’s Grounded In Nature collection doesn’t contain these ingredients and the products still pass our test. Choose from Peppermint scented products to White Clover to Almond to Tropical Fruit. With these, you’ll never feel that you’re going without.

Product picks:

Almond Moisturizing Oatmeal Soap ($3.95/5oz)

Peppermint Soothing Foot Butter ($5.95/4oz)

Tropical Fruit Cuticle Cream ($4.95/.70oz)

All @ dionissoap.com

0