.:: CybeleSays ::.

Quick Pick Makeup Brush - Sonia Kashuk

I usually use the tip of an eyeliner duo to smudge my shadow but now I have a brush specially made just for smudging. SONiA KASHUK Pointed Sponge-Tipped Smudger ($7.99 @ target.com) has a nice sized tip and the handle is loooong enough and helps you get a good smudge in. I only wish this had some way to change out the sponge tips so it would last years to come.
Speaking of years to come, while I'm hot on the brush, the excesive packaging I could do without. It's a hard plastic container and while it looks good, we have all got to do our part in cutting down on waste as it couldn't be reused for anything.

Quick Pick – Mineral Makeup Lips – Illuminare

The ILLUMINARE line makes one of my all-time favorite foundations and they just came out with a line of mineral-based lippies - UltraShine Mineral LipGloss ($17) and All Day Mineral LipColor ($16). The UltraShine comes in five shades and the texture is like a thin lipstick. The LipGloss also comes in five shades and each color will accent, not overpower, any look. The only attribute I was not too wild about was the vanilla scent to these; smelled more like coffee, which I don’t drink. Overall, I like these but can’t wrap my head around the fact that they are mineral-based! Love that you are, again, setting a trend Illuminare. Both @ illuminare.com

Quick Pick … Everywhere! Smashbox Desert Chic

How HOT is this SMASHBOX Desert Chic Fusion Eye & Cheek Color Heatwave ($28 @ sephora.com)? This one screams SUMMER and is part of the new Desert Chic Collection, if you didn’t guess. The powder formula is made with red earth minerals so swipe a brush across any of the three shades on any of your features for an instant glow.

Quick Pick Lips

If you are looking for a long-wearing lippie, this is not the one for you. L’OREAL HIP High Intensity Pigments Intensely Moisturizing Lipcolor in Bold #358 ($10 @ drugstore.com) is a deep rich red that would make Bette Davis jealous. This is the lush and creamy old-fashioned of formula  you grew up on.

Quick Pick Body - St. Ives

This one should have been filed under Heavenly Scents feature as the scent is just that, oh so nose pleasing. This oatmeal in ST. IVES Oatmeal & Shea Butter Moisturizing Body Wash ($4.55/18oz @ amazon.com) is known for soothing dry itchy skin and the Shea inside is to moisturize. Yes, this one contains the super lather agent, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, as most drugstore brands do, which I am not a big fan of but if you don’t care, this is nicely priced and does the job well.

Quick Pick Eyes

I never thought I could do double-duty so thoroughly with a slim pencil but FACE ATELiER’s Powder Eye Pencil ($19.50 @ faceatelier.com) does it effortlessly. Then again, since this is a kohl liner, I should have guessed it would. Color pick: Satin Bronze (shimmer).

Quick Pick Nails

Raged, dry nails are not appealing and there’s not excuse for it. Keep them in tiptop shape with SALLY HANSEN Shea Butter Cuticle Balm ($5.99 @ walgreens.com). Jojoba, Cocoa butter, Shea butter and Grape seed nourish and lock in moisture. Keep some in your car, desk and nightstand. 

Quick Pick Lips

The weather has been hot here so let's make sure I have everything for my excursion to the beach...
Beach bag – check

Sunscreen – check

Big brimmed hat – check

New Armani sunglasses – check
CHANEL Rouge Hydrabase Crème Lipstick in new Rose Flamingo ($26 @ chanel.com) from the Summer 2008 Colour Collection to go with my killed bottled tan – check

Quick Pick Palette

HARD CANDY Peace Palette ($22 @ sephora.com) is probably one of the most pocket book friendly palettes I have ever come across. It’s about the size of the average wallet! Here’s what you get:

• 4 Eye Shadows - bronze, golden beige, pink, dark plum brown
• 3 Lip Glosses - fuchsia, light pink, nude, sheer red
• Bronzer
• Anywhere shimmer shadow
• 2 Applicators
• Large Mirror

All for $22? And all very wearable colors!

Quick Pick Face

A favorite new face finisher-offer this spring is CLiNIQUE’s Blended Face Powder and Brush ($18.50 @ nordstrom.com) in new Invisible Blend. It helps set makeup and the travel brush is totally totable. And because the brush has a cap on it, they even recommend loading one application into the brush and take it with you in your evening purse for a "out on the town" touch up.

Quick Pick - YLBB

I am really liking these Retractable Liptones ($18 @ beauty.com)  from DuWOP. In addition to being infused with vitamins C and E but each of the four shades is made to match the natural lip hue. So each is YLBB as in add a dash of gloss and you’re ready to take on the day with a color that stays. 

Quick Pick Nails

Clamoring for Chanel’s Blue Satin? Relax and pick up NAPOLEON PERDiS’ Chandelier Shine in Poolside. This is not the fraternal twin, it’s the identical twin. $12 @ napoleonperdis.com

Quick Pick

Touch up shiny spots on the go with BOURJOiS Anti-Shine Blotting Sheets ($13.50/50 sheets @ sephora.com). They’re powder-free and come in such a cute giraffe-print dispenser.

Quick Lippie Pickie

INUOVI Ivoluxe in Sensual has to be the most perfect mauve color I’ve ever seen. This formula is very creamy and lushly thick. Not familiar with this line? They hail from Asia and just made their debut here a few weeks ago at the ISSE expo. Will keep you posted on other products we like from the line. $22 @ inuovi.com

Quick Pick

Bored of lip healing tubes? Dive into a pot of KORRES new Lip Butter ($9 @ sephora.com). Each contains Shea Butter so choose one with a tint or without. Big moisturizing and lip smacking recommendation.

Quick Pick Lips

Sometimes, I just want a basic creamy lipstick. Moisture Drench Lipstick ($9.99 @ boots.com) from UK line, BOOTS, is that basic lipstick. It’s smooth and slightly moisturizing. Color pick #75 Sugar Plum.

New Feature! *Quick Pick*

We’re starting a new on-going feature called Quick Picks. These are products we recommend but how much can you say about a new non-sticky lip gloss or a shade of eye shadow that really enhances blue eye? Not enough to make up a full feature. So we’ll just list the facts, Ma’am.

No bells or whistles here, just straight matte burgundy is what you get with SMASHBOX Eye Shadow in Dream ($16 @ sephora.com). I have really dark brown eyes and this one is a great alternative to browns for the office. I even got two complements the first day I wore it.