.:: CybeleSays ::.

When I first heard that the L’OCCITANE line was getting into color cosmetics, I thought, no, no, stick with what you do best, bath and body, as this isn’t always successful. But I must say, I am eating my words right now as so far I'm pleasantly surprised.

Here are the deets - the two I tried were from the Pivoine Flora collection, which just came out last month – Lip Shine in Rose Ballerine ($14) and the Duo Eyeshadow in Duo Blanche Etoile ($16).

The Lip Shine contains peony extract to soothe lips and it smells so beautifully of roses; I don’t know of a gloss that has smelled this great! And the formula contains grape seed oil and vitamins C and E and most importantly, it’s not sticky at all!

The Duo Eyeshadow – these shadows are made from minerals and also contains the peony extract and the colors blend together beautifully, and this is a good one to create a smoky eye.

Both @ loccitane.com.

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

Another day, another fragrance. While I’m still feeling the glow of yesterday’s product, I must. Move. Onward. And this is a fun one on this post-Valentine’s Day. Yup, it’s another scent and this time it’s the fun cherry scent but don’t think this is kid’s stuff. It’s the latest from the L’OCCITANE line so you know is sophisticated. When I was little, a few of the neighborhood kids and I would walk up to the corner store where we would splurge on the latest sugary candy. No matter what it was, we were true to one thing. Sharon always got whatever it was in lime, Kim got the grape and I always got the cherry. We would then walk home discussing why each of us loved all things lime, grape or cherry (we didn’t associate with anyone who loved orange. Ewww!).

So catching up to the present day, when I saw the Cherry Blossom collection from L’Occitane, the pleasant flashback of picking out cherry candy at the corner store came rushing back. Then I learned there are three collections of cherry products in the line - the (classic) Cherry Blossom, limited edition Cherry and the limited edition Wild Cherry ones. See here for what notes are in each. Here are my picks that really satisfy my adult craving:

Cherry Blossom Eau de Toilette ($32/1.7oz), Wild Cherry Solid Perfume Stick ($14/.17oz), Cherry Blossom Soap ($4/1.7oz), Cherry Blossom Petal-Soft Body Cream ($34/8.8oz). All @ loccitane.com.

Did you have a favorite flavor growing up? Tell me in the comments!

Disclosure: The following items were provided to Cybelesays.com for review purposes.

CND Scentsations Holiday Gift Set ($11.70/3-2oz bottles @ cnd.com) consists of Vanilla Shimmer Hand & Body Lotion, Clementine & Mistletoe Hand & Body Lotion and Cranberry Hand & Body Lotion.

L’OCCITANE Hand Cream Bouquet ($45/1oz tubes @ loccitane.com) is (2) Shea Butter Hand Creams, Acacia Shea Butter Hand Cream, Frangipani Shea Butter Hand Cream, Rosebud Shea Butter Hand Cream, Ylang Ylang Shea Butter Hand Cream.

Ever just want to throw caution to the wind and make your own beauty products to ensure freshness? Yeah, who has the time not to mention the resources? Just think of those nasty preservatives inside our products that are needed to make them last from the manufacturing facility to your home. So I had some fun with this next one as it made me really get in touch with my inner chemist! L’OCCITANE’s Ma Crème Nature ($42/5.1oz @ loccitane.com) takes four steps to create: 1) fill the enclosed bottle with mineral or spring water 2) shake and set aside 3) pour the sachet that contains plant oils into the main 5.1oz jar 4) slowly add the contents of the bottle to the 5.1oz mixture and voila! There is also a label you stick to your jar and there is a space when you can mark the date you created it and a date you need to toss it by. And the contents of this are certified organic by Ecocert.  

Need to get it soft and smooth right now? Here are two we are coveting right now!

NOODLE & BOO Glowology Opulent Body Butter ($18/2.5oz @ noodleandboo.com)

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Lots o’ buzz about serums for the hair. Work them into towel dried hair to help keep the frizzies far, far away. Here are two we are digging right now.

RENE FURTERER Karite Repairing Serum ($30/1oz @ sephora.com)

L’OCCiTANE Aromachologie Repairing Serum ($20/3.4oz @ sephora.com)

Now here are some products staying true to their source. L’OCCITANE’s new L’Occitane Do Brazil products are all made in Brazil. How many times does a product use a regions name just for the sake of sales? Well they are living it with this collection! Brazil’s Northern region is known for the nourishing ingredients found inside of the products and they truck them south to the Sao Paolo region (I’ve been dying to visit this city for the past 2 years), where they are manufactured.
Now let’s explore ingredients inside that make these worth checking out: Buriti (bour ee chee) - a fruit that is really high in antioxidant beta-carotene. This component is found in the Sun Cream High Protection SPF30 ($24/5.1oz) and the Sun Milk Medium Protection SPF15 ($24/5.1oz) and here’s a first, both of these are 100% mineral based. As in, mineral makeup, mineral based! The Daily UV Veil High Protection SPF30 ($22/.8oz), which is specially for the face and eye area, and the Sun Veil Intensive Tanning SPF6 ($24/5.1oz), also contain this awesome Buriti ingredient.

Continuing with the ingredients, Cupuacu (coo pa choo) - comes from cocoa and is used in the After-Sun Balm Lotion ($22/5.1oz) because of this elements’ ability to keep the skin immensely hydrated. You know how fatigued you are after a long day in the sun? Just think of what your skin has just endured. This one really helps you bounce back.

And lastly, the Castanha (cah stahn ya) - the oil from this nut is has superior anti-oxidant properties and is rich in vitamins A, B, C, and E and is found in the formula of the Self-Tanner Progressive Natural Tan ($24/5.1oz).

The other two products are the Body and Hair Sublime Oil ($22/3.4oz) and Self-Tanning Veil ($22/1.7oz) and the Sublime Oil smells good enough to wear straight up as a summer scent! So get your summer on already with these nourishing sun care products, girl! All @ loccitane.com

Here are some more products that max out the Shea Butter.

1. LA COMPAGNIE DE PROVENCE Hand Crème ($14/3.4oz @ lcdpmarseille.com)
2. SWEET GRASS FARMS Shea Butter Lotion in Fresh White Lilac ($8.95/16.9oz @ sweetgrassonline.com)
3. MD SKINCARE Powerful Sun Protection SPF 25 Lip Balm ($18/.25oz @ sephora.com)
4. L’OCCITANE Shea Cotton Ultra Comforting Cream ($38/1oz @ beauty.com)
5. IN KRISTINE’S SHOWER Shea Butter Bathbombs ($2/1-2oz to $17.99/12-2oz-pack @ inkristinesshower.com) in scent picks Malibu Baby, Sunny Days and Girly Girl.
6. NATTY GIRL Body Sugar Scrub in Yuzu Peach ($26/13oz @ nattyproducts.com)