.:: CybeleSays ::.

* Ding-Dong* Avon Calling ...

Speaking of minerals, AVON just steered into the mineral makeup lane and put out a line of powder foundations, blushes and eye shadows. I, of course, gravitated to the powder foundation with Smooth Mineral Makeup ($10/.21oz). I couldn’t find any ingredients to the powder so I’m not sure if it is made with from pure minerals and if it has filler ingredients in it. Anyway, out of 137 reviews on avon.com, 82% of them would recommend it, and so do I. And the price is so right. $10? Nice. The Smooth Mineral Eye Shadows ($8/.05oz) rated a little higher than the foundation and the packaging is the best I’ve seen for mineral shadows. There is a hole in the middle of the pan where you can stick the brush in to grab some color or dip your brush in the hole in the cap. Both @ avon.com

New MINERAL line ALERT! NEW mineral LINE alert!

Just popping up on the scene is STRiPT Natural Mineral Make-up. The face powders, blushes, eye shadows and eye pencil products use a paraben-free preservative called Natural Broad Spectrum Microbial Growth Inhibitors (sounds like a sunscreen). I did a google search and couldn’t find anything on it so I am guessing it is something they created. Let’s get back to the products. In addition to the above preservative, they also stay away from other additives found in makeup and replace them with other natural botanicals like marine botanicals and mica. My pick of the line right now is the Passionate Kiss Lipstick-Liner Pencil in Star ($17 @ striptmakeup.com). This fat matte pencil lines and fills in your lips and is scented with just a hint of vanilla and almond. The color Star looks more of a pink on their site but in person it is definitely a brown. If you love matte, this is your Lipstick/Liner.

It's All In The Stick

We’re pretty fascinated with packaging and always pay special attention to it when trying out a product as presentation is everything. A few years ago, I remember being quite taken with this kind of self-dispensing brush that SUSAN POSNiCK’s Colorflo Mineral Foundation ($64 @ beauty.com) comes in. I can’t recall the first one I used but it is great for on the go. And this one is also refillable, which I never knew they could be. Or maybe just hers is? At first, I couldn’t quite figure out how to refill it but I found it. The bottom unscrews and it’s easy to get powder inside. Halleluiah! It comes in 15 different shades (even those with a really dark skin tones) and even a shimmer and a bronzer. So at least pick one of these up and you can change the powder out as needed. Now if they just sold refills for the brush part, I could use this for the rest of my makeup wearing life.

I’m On The Minerals And Can’t Get Off

All foundations seem to pale in comparison since I discovered mineral makeup a few years ago. It’s easy and quick to apply and really looks natural. I’ve only come across one other liquid mineral foundation, Illuminare, and I loved it, so I was really open to this liquid one from YOUNGBLOOD. Their Liquid Mineral Foundation just came out and it is infused with Reduced Salt Deep-Sea Water and also Calendula, Cucumber and Green Tea to name a few. Let’s talk about what you see and feel.

See = nothing

Feel = nothing

Like it’s supposed to, it really does feel like I don’t have anything on my face and it evens out my skin tone beautifully. So I guess you could say I'm going au-natural! $39.95/1oz @ ybskin.com

What's Your Philosophy On Philosophy?

We simply loved PHiLOSOPHY’s The Supernatural Mineral Blush Duo back in January and we were able to try out some of the other products in the collection. This line has proven to me that they are not just body and skin care. Their color collection is a force to be reckoned with! All @ sephora.com

• Airbrushed Color Corrector Concealer ($25)
• Lip Gloss in Mauve ($15)
• Airbrushed Canvas SPF 15 ($35)
• Oil Control Blotting Papers ($10)

Two Nudes To Get Into

PUR MiNERALS Mineral Lip Tint SPF 15 in Sandy Quartz ($16.50 @ purminerals.com) from the Spring 2008 color collection. Sheer nude with a slight hint of iridescence.

SHU UEMURA has THE perfect pinky-nude lipstick included in their latest collection. I find most nudes too chalky or matte. Basically too there! This Rouge Unlimited in Serene Pink from the Rebirth Collection balances matte and glossy for the perfect smooth finish. And nude lips are so in right now. $23 @ sephora.com

When UD Speaks, I Listen

I just love URBAN DECAY’s shadow colors. Always have and probably always will. They are just so unusual and fun. And they just put out some new loose mineral ones that have me jumping from color to color trying to decide my favorite. Each container only contains 1 grams of color in their Loose Pigments ($20 @ sephora.com) but know that they are extremely concentrated or pigmented so a little goes a long way. And the short handled brush makes it easy to control the application. Color picks: Goddess (midnight blue with electric blue micro glitter) and Shag (pale bronze).

Hallo From Down Undah

I really do love makeup palettes. And what girl doesn’t? I can’t think of one line that doesn’t have one in their line. Sometimes they have a theme or they are just a great family of shades that are totally wearable like with this BECCA Sateen Eye Palette ($49 @ beccacosmetics.com). It’s just five fantastic mineral shades in one slim palette. Four Eye Colour Powders, one Eye Liner and a Mini Dual Ended Eye Powder/Eye Liner Brush. Are shimmers your thing these days? Or maybe, like me, you’re on the matte wagon? See what mood these shades fill.

Eye Colour Powder Shimmers in Tussah (antique gold) and Lame (silver-mauve shimmer), Eye Colour Demi Matt in Chantilly (lavender infused cream) and Tweed (warm burnished brown), Eyeliner in Bambi. These colors will work on anyone!

New Mineral On the Block

Well it’s not really new since the line has been around since 2006 but it’s new to us! And this is not just another mineral cosmetic line so get to know it. FERRO COSMETiCS signed a pledge to the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics and truly does not use any non-mineral ingredients that we, well me for one, assume the larger mineral lines don’t use. Ingredients like Bismuth (cheap filler) and Talc (a known carcinogenic. Yikes!) are two of the main offenders. Thanks for the education, Ferro!

Now let’s get to what they do offer - some great powder foundations like the Ultimate Foundation ($7-$29/1 and 5grams) and the Radiance Foundation ($7-$25.50/1 and 5grams). And I’m really into matte shadows right now so the Eye Candy Matte in Toasted Plum  ($9.99/2grams) has me smitten!

The line also has products for the cheeks, lips and even brushes so you can make sure you are using the right tools for application. Each of the products comes in a mini version so you can try many different shades and the $7 for the minis will get you a coupon for $7 off a full size. Perfect!

And my favorite discovery in the line? The Face Palette ($6.99). It's an artists paint palette with slots to pour out different colors instead of using the top on the jar, which I think we all do. This palette is so useful and seems so obvious. I'm just glad someone thought of it. All @ ferrocosmetics.com

Quick Pick

It’s made of minerals

It’s blush on one half and bronzer on the other half

It’s two hot and totally wearable colors in one compact
It’s PHiLOSOPHY The Supernatural Mineral Blush Duo in Berry/Chestnut ($25 @ philosophy.com)

Holiday Pick - Gimme Minerals

Got someone in your life that hasn’t experienced mineral makeup just yet? Use this Holiday as an excuse to get them the BARE ESCENTUALS Classic Rock Diamond Collection Kit ($59 only @ sephora.com). This one is packed with 9 luxury products. I can’t express what a value this kit is! I just might have to stock up on more sets since this is limited-edition. 

Here’s what you get: Diamond Gossamer (luminous powder for face and body), bareMinerals Classic Rock Eyeshadow (white/silver), bareMinerals Nice Rock Glimmer (chocolate), Double-Ended Mascara (black on one side and silver on the other). Diamond Laughter Blush (peach), Diamond Buxom Lip Polish (clear), Full Flawless Brush (new tool perfect for Diamond Gossamer and Diamond Blush), Full Tapered Shadow Brush (eyeshadow brush), Diamond Bag (pearl white to carry all your bareMineral items.

Can I Get One To Go, Please?

Well we’ve seen the loose mineral eye shadow and pressed mineral eye shadow, but this is a first. Mineral eye shadow with a wand in a portable case! PHYSiCiANS FORMULA came up with this cool trick. Not only is there no mess with the sponge applicator wand of these new Mineral Wear Talc-Free Mineral Fluid Powder Eye Shadow ($6.95 @ physiciansformula.com) but the powders are encapsulated in mineral water and they have a cooling effect when applied to the eye. Check out the six colors available and my favorites are Amethyst and Plum Garnet. These are so “mess free” that you can even apply these in the car if you are really rushed, but no driving while applying. I am loving this innovation and the price is right too! ~Lisa

Build Me A Face

Anything I can build on my own is a big plus in my book and that includes makeup. On my quest to really learn the art of sculpting my cheeks, this next one really helps make me stunning. GENiE BEAUTY Make Me Blush All-Over Face Color ($20 @ geniebeauty.com) is one of those “looks darker in the packaging then it really is” type products. So don’t be scared! The medium brown looks like it would only be good for certain tones but I tried it on three different friends (thanks Stacy, Rebecca and Melissa) and the cream gave each a boost. The mineral-based formula does not contain any shimmer, glitter or gloss and as I mentioned above, the color is totally build-able. Apply a swipe on the apples of cheeks and a little more under the cheekbones to really bring them out. The color can also be used on lips and lids.

Red, Red Lips

This is our last installment of Red, Red Lips and we have some serious ones on this list. Just do me one favor when it comes to red lipsticks, don’t let the look in the tube deceive you from trying what could be, your perfect shade!

1. NARS Lipstick - Jungle Red ($23 @ narscosmetics.com) – this is one bright red! It’s matte and very pigmented.
2. MAC new Mattene Lipstick - Your Say Tomato ($14.50 @ maccosmetics.com) – semi-matte bright orange-red. For the experienced only!
3. SHiSEiDO The Makeup Perfecting Lipstick - Red Luxe ($22 @ sephora.com) – you need sunglasses when you put this shade on. Bright and creamy. Proceed with caution.
4. DiANNE BRiLL COSMETiCS Lip Lingerie Lipstick - Cuban Heel ($28 @ beautyhabit.com) – when I think of this line, I think of this rich cocoa red. Deeply pigmented and it’s one of those that is lighter red on lips than it appears.
5. URBAN APOTHECARY Big Fat Kiss - Smirk ($20 @ urbanapothecary.com) – part gloss part lipstick. This is a warm glossy red that will make your lips look wet.
6. SCOTT BARNES Lip Suede - Crystal ($24 @ scottbarnes.com) – thick and rich pigment. Scott doesn’t mess around with sheers. This is a serious girls’ red lipstick.
7. OPI Lip Color - St. Petersburgundy ($10 @ amazon.com) – this is a deep burgundy red, like a shade you see on a model in a magazine. Pair with a pearl necklace and your look is ready.
8. TRiSH McEVOY Flawless Lip Sheer Lip Liner – Rouge ($20 @ nordstrom.com) – for perfect precision with any red, use a pencil to line. This rosy red is not too dry or oily and it stays put.
9. LiPSTiCK QUEEN Lipstick - Rouge Sinner ($18 @ lipstickqueen.com) – "all pigment and no shimmer or frost" is their tag line. This is a serious dark red.
10. SHU UEMURA Rouge Unlimited Red Collection - #195 ($23 @ shuuemura.com) – they are so confident about their formula for red, they came out with a whole collection of them. This one is silky and on the sheerer side.
11. SUKI COLOR Pure Cream Stain - Vermillion ($36.50 @ sukipure.com) – this glass pot is filled with pure deep burgundy wine pigment. Swipe this creamy mineral color on lips, cheeks, everywhere. Very sheer.

We know that not every red will fit every person so Linda, one of our faithful readers, has a suggestion for those with lips on the thin side or if you are over 40. “I found two from GARDEN BOTANIKA that are sheer and glossy and give my lips a deep red hue. The colors are Vitamin E Lip Tint’s Rhubarb and Black Raspberry Volumizing Lipstick. Despite the names they look red on my lips.” Thanks Linda!

Fall Color Pick - Mauve

Think purple is too much for some occasions? Then try its cousin Mauve. In addition to purple wine, green moss, and nude shimmer, mauve is kicking up quite a storm in fashion this fall. The best trait about the shade is that is can be a focus color or blend in the background. Here are our picks for our fourth color pick for the fall, Mauve:

1. DURI COSMETiCS Nail Enamel in All About Mauve $5 @ duri.com
2. LORAC Lip Polish in Delicious $17.50 @ sephora.com
3. MAC Lip Liner in Dervish $12.50 @ maccosmetics.com
4. VON NATUR Lip Colour in Lovage $16 @ vonnatur.com
5. SUSAN POSNiCK Colorforever Long Lasting Lip Color/Conditioner in Janis $24 @ beauty.com
6. KiEHL’S Lip Gloss in Icy Everest $13.50 @ kiehls.com
7. BARE ESCENTUALS bareMinerals 100% Natural Lip Color in Ripe Fig $15 @ sephora.com
8. ORLY Nail Lacquer in Not Your Mama’s Mauve $7 @ orlybeauty.com
9. SCOTT BARNES Creme Color in Sultry $24 @ scottbarnes.com
10. MiLANI Powder Mosaics in Honey Kissed $7.49 @ walgreens.com
11. SEPHORA Nail Polish in #37 $4 @ sephora.com
12. BOOTS No7 Moisture Drench Lipstick in #75 Sugar Plum $9.99 @ boots.com
13. NARS Lip Lacquer in Sweet Charity $23 @ sephora.com

Antiquitease – One Who Flirts With The Style Of An Ancient Time

And in this case, it’s MAC. Gold and silver inspired by ancient times sums up the much buzzed about MAC Antiquitease collection. It hits all the season’s trends. Here are our picks we’ll feeling:

Frost Lipstick – Queen’s Sin ($14)

Lustre Lipstick – Budding Lust and Gilty Kiss ($14 each)

Lipglass – Corsette ($14)

Pigment – Gold Stroke ($19.50)

Fluidline – Blacktrack ($15)

Mineralized Eye Shadow in Family Silver and Earthly Riches ($16.50 each)
Nail Lacquer – Vestral White ($10)

All @ maccosmetics.com

Mineral Madness

Line, shade, whatever you wish with NYC NEW YORK COLOR Smooth Mineral Kit Eyeliner/Eyeshadow ($7 @ Walgreens stores) from the Electric Avenue Fall/Winter 2007. It’s a 2 ¼” x 2 ¼” Lucite quad with four build-able basic dark mineral colors inside. Use a wet or dry brush to create a unique look. If you haven’t tried minerals yet, what are you waiting for?

Red, Red Lips Part II – More To Make Your Heart Pitter Patter

In continuing our fall feature of Red, Red Lips, have you noticed they are everywhere? Keep in mind that looks in the tube can be deceiving and you only truly know a shade’s coverage once you apply it.

Here are our October picks for Red, Red Lips (Clockwise from Left). ~Lisa

1. Intensely dark and mystifying is the color Cassis from BOBBI BROWN. This is a mixture of dark berry red with a touch of claret and brown. This Lip Color Lipstick is a semi-matte with creamy rich full coverage. $21 @ bobbibrowncosmetics.com
2. BOURJOiS Lovely Rouge Satin Lipstick in Rouge Best is a deep cherry red for medium to fair complexions (blue undertones) from the Lovely Rouge Line. It’s super creamy and one of the sexiest reds around! $14 @ sephora.com
3. Berry reds look great with the gray we are all wearing for fall. Carnelian Whisper from ViNCENT LONGO fits the bill perfectly. The Velvet Riche Rejuvenating Lipstick collection brings us emollient lotion like lipstick. Mmm… $23 @ sephora.com
4. Start your engines with Race Car Red from PRESCRiPTiVES Colorscope Lipcolor. This long lasting creamy formula is full of pigment for a vibrant apple red hue. $17.50 @ prescriptives.com
5. I call this a classic Marilyn Monroe red, but its official name from MAKE-UP DESiGNORY is Lady Bug Lipstick. This is a satin formula but it gives a matte full coverage finish. $18.50 @ mudshop.com
6. It’s absolutely FAB. British Red from the L’OREAL Colour Riche collection is one for all seasons. It’s a gorgeous red with a bit of orange that will work with all skin tones. Wear creamy moisturizing color from the sassy gold case. And it has a fragrance that reminds me of lipsticks from long ago… $8.49 @ walgreens.com
7. In the matte category, I am loving FACE ATELiER in Strawberry Lipstick from the Power Play collection. It’s a true intense matte look, but not drying at all! You will get noticed with this color! Blow strawberry red kisses to your fans. $20 @ faceatelier.com
8. Imagine red and brown/brick together. Imagine this color with a stunning mossy green tweed suit. Run right out to get SHiSEiDO The Makeup Perfecting Lipstick in P7 (Red Luxe). Rich with 3 D Powder and Full Saturated Color Powder, this one’s a winner. $22 @ sephora.com
9. ISADORA Cream Intensive Lipstick is fragrance free and color rich! Golden Red is a red/coral shimmer for the days when you want a less intense red. It’s just what it says it is, creamy with intense moisturizing color. $10.49 @ walgreens.com
10. Mineral Shea Butter Lipstick. Yeh baby! Glide on the shade Red Ruby from PUR MiNERALS and you’ll feel the difference. Red Ruby is an intense dark scarlet red. Best for medium to olive skin tones. $15 @ purminerals.com

Fall Color Pick - Mossy Green

I consider greens, as in mossy greens, a very neutral color. They are so earthy, warm and natural that they could take the place of nudes in most cases. Olive, tarragon, and the creatively named products below, all make up our 2^nd Fall Color Pick, Mossy Green.
The way I’m thinking about this piece is if I were to paint a picture of moss using different shades and textures, which ones would I use? Here are our picks to make up our portrait:

1. PORTiCO SPA Clarifying Shampoo $14/6.7oz @ porticospa.com
2. L’OREAL H.I.P. Pure Pigment Shadow Stick in Mesmerizing $9.99 @ walgreens.com
3. PUR MiNERALS Pur Colour Shadow in True Emerald $12 @ purminerals.com
4. URBAN DECAY Smokeout Blending Eye Pencil in Green Goddess $14 @ beauty.com
5. ORLY Nail Lacquer in Green With Envy $3.19 @ head2toebeauty.com
6. CREATiVE SPA Sea Rocks Soak $12/5oz @ prettylikeme.com
7. THE BODY SHOP Shimmer Smudger in Slate Green $13.50 @ thebodyshop.com
8. ASTARA Green Papaya Nutrient Mask $39/2.2oz @ beauty.com
9. BECCA Line + Illuminate Pencil in Fiji $22 @ bergdorfgoodman.com
10. LORAC Front of the Line Waterproof Eyeliner in Green $20 @ sephora.com
11. URBAN APOTHECARY Mineral Shadow in Citrine $10 @ urbanapothecary.com
12. SiSLEY Phyto-Ombre Eclat Long Lasting Eye Shadow in Anis $40 @ sisley-cosmetics.com
13. DiORkiss in Granny Smith 308 $19 @ sephora.com
14. SONiA KASHUK Eye Definer and Eye Smudger in Olive Suede $5.99 @ Target stores
15. PRESCRiPTiVES Colorscope Creamy Eye Color in Jungle $18 @ prescriptives.com
16. GiELLA Nail Polish in Cat’s Eye $25 @ giella.com
17. MiSTRAL Bath Salts in South Seas $5.50/2.1oz @ mistralsoap.com
18. H2O+ SPA Exfoliating Sea Marine Body Wash $18/8oz @ h2oplus.com
19. TARTE Eyeshadow in Peyton Place $17 @ tartecosmetics.com

Calling All Cheeks

I sometimes get all caught up in eye shadows and glosses that I forget about blushes. One of my fall resolutions is to not forget about cheeks. PHYSiCiANS FORMULA Powder Palette Multi-Colored Blushes ($10.49 @ drugstore.com) are keeping me in line and at the same time looking beautiful! The several swatches of shades can blend together in the palette to sculpt and define cheeks. Three different blends to choose from. Picks are Blushing Berry and Blushing Mocha.

Fall Color Picks - Nude Shimmer

Fall is here and we couldn't be more excited! And with the season come some great color trends. Twice a month until December, we will be featuring two colors we are loving and the makeup products that highlight them. Here's our first installment!

Ask most men about NUDE and they think of well, besides that, one color. Women … well, we know all the variations. There’s fleshy nude, beige nude, beige-y pink nude and even metallic-y nude and the formulas can be sheer or very pigmented. I love that the color can really polish off a look if you’re going for simple and low maintenance or if you want to make one feature really stand out. Add a sprinkle of shimmer and you have one of this season’s “it” colors. And what’s great about this shade as it’s hard to go overboard. You can do all your features in different nudes and still look fab. Lips, face, eyes ... here’s our picks of Nude Shimmers for the season:

BOURJOiS Effet 3D Les Nudes in 33 Brun Poetic ($15 @ ulta.com) – looks darker in the tube than it actually appears in the tube
SPA RiTUAL Nail Lacquer in Savant ($10 @ sparitual.com) – has a hint of gold shimmer
SHiSEiDO The Makeup Lip Gloss in G27 Rose Toffee ($20 @ sephora.com) - light and glossy
JOEY NEW YORK Eye Shading Powder in Soulful Eyes ($16 @ joeynewyork.com) – apply up to the brow bone and then lots of mascara
CLiNiQUE Touch Tint For Eyes, New Cream Formula in Natural Suede ($14.50 @ clinique.com) - water-resistant tint
SHU UEMURA Cream Eye Shadow in Soft Seashell White ($25 @ shuuemura.com) - sublte and sleek
VON NATUR Spruce Powder Foundation ($27.99 @ vonnatur.com) – a little on cheeks, cupid’s bow, under the eyebrows
DEBRA MACKI Lip Gloss in Sucre ($16 @ debramacki.com) – a beige-y metallic that’s all shimmer
SEPHORA Radiant Powder In A Brush ($18 @ sephora.com) - translucent powder with a kick
RiMMEL Glitter Eye Shadow Pencil in Starlight ($3 @ drugstore.com) – to highlight and add some fun