.:: CybeleSays ::.

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.

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.

Have you heard of the CLICKR line yet? It’s made for a younger demo and with acne and is a partner of Sephora made to compete against Proactiv. The products are 100% vegan and doesn’t use abrasive chemicals in any of their products to clean and treat. It’s broken down into three overall collections – No More Derma Drama, Figure It Out and Easy Karma, depending on what your skin’s needs are but the main difference is that the ones made for acne use Salicylic Acid instead of Benzoyl Peroxide, which is what Proactiv uses.

I thankfully don’t really have acne but I’ve really taken a liking to their Diamond Dust Skin Polisher ($36/1.7oz @ clckr.com) from the Figure It Out line. It contains actual diamond dust and some key flower extracts. Think about it, what else could restore the skin’s radiance than a diamond?! So it polishes the surface and the flower extracts provide a boost in the antioxidants, increased blood flow and to release toxins among others.

This one also gets points for what it doesn’t contain – parabens, sulfates, synthetic fragrances, petrochemicals or phthalates. This line is worth checking out!

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

I was turned onto this Antioxidant Face Firming Serum from THE ORGANIC PHARMACY when I went and visited their Beverly Hills store back in November. I think most of us are conditioned to up the thickness of a face cream when temperatures drop but I think I’m changing my view on that with this one product. All I’ve been using on my face for the past month+ after washing it is this Serum and I think my skin is very thankful. And check out this ingredient list as it looks more like a refreshing cocktail I’d drink than put on my face: Rose Hip, Carrot, Grapeseed Extract, vitamin C, Grapefruit, Lemon, Sweet Orange, vitamin E, among others. If you’re tired of all the claims and magic most make, this might be one to try out as they seem to put their products where their mouth is. $130/1.1oz @ theorganicpharmacy.com. 

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

I’m beginning to think that a face serum is a must-use product. I mean, they are concentrated with really good-for-skin anti-aging ingredients so how could you not make one part of your everyday regimen? I have been using H2O+ Night Oasis Oxygenating Energizer Serum ($38/1oz @ h2oplus.com) for the past month think I have seen my skin’s overall radiance and tone really perk up. So what key ingredients does this one contain?

Melon Oxidizer – traps and converts free radicals into oxygen (didn’t know this was possible!).

Goji Glycopeptides – an extract from goji berries that stimulates collagen and protects with antioxidants.

Hydrating Marine Blend – using marine botanicals like sea fennel, sea lettuce and wakame, this blend helps optimize the skin’s moisture balance.

What else should you know about this one? It’s 100% oil-free and water-based and well, really seems to work! And since it’s summer, using something made with ingredients from the sea is fitting.

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

Since I discovered a few dark spots to the right of my right eye recently that were not there a few months ago, or at least I don’t think they were, I’ve been all hot on this new product CLINIQUE put out. The main offending spot is about the size of a pencil eraser, so I dove head first into their new Even Better Clinical Dark Spot Corrector ($49.50/1oz) when their PR people sent it to me to try out. There’s a huge push on this product right now as they claim prescription strength and that you can see a difference on the skin in as little as four weeks. It contains their patent-pending CL-302 plant-derived complex that claims to help prevent the appearance of new dark spots and visibly break up existing clusters of pigment as well as  improve the overall radiance and clarity. So how did it work for me? I have used it for about 5 weeks now and while I do see a boost in the overall radiance and slight difference around the main brown spot, it didn’t get rid of the brown spot altogether, which is what I was hoping for. So I’ll keep on using it until the product runs out and hopefully it will do some more damage to the main brown spot.

The other new product I’ve been using is their new Youth Surge Night Age Decelerating Night Moisturizer for dry combination ($48.50/1.7oz) and what a great nighttime moisturizer this one is. Based on Sirtuin Techology, this super thick balm that absorbs pretty quickly. And while it does seem a tad on the expensive side, even for Clinique, a little dab goes a long way. Both @ clinique.com.

Vitamin C is good for more than just colds. When it comes to beauty products, it can really help slow the hands of the clock. It’s a natural anti-oxidant that fights free radicals and has been proven to work on those age spots and strengthen collagen and elastin in the dermis. Here are two that are at the top of my list right now.

LISE WATIER Vitamin C Skin Perfector ($43/30 caps @ lisewatier.com) – 12-hour time release caplets and the formula contains micro-diffusers to deflect the light.

KOH GEN DO Macro Vintage Nano C Powder ($61/7-day supply @ kohgendocosmetics.com) – This highly concentrated powder can be used straight up or mixed with a lotion or cream. The breakthrough technology makes it easy for it to absorb deeply into the skin and claims to last up to 48-hours.

I’ve heard quite a few times that vitamin C is pretty unstable so if you buy a product off the shelf that contains vitamin C, chances are, it had some inside when it was manufactured by has long since lost its potency when it hits your hands. By packing it in these individual coffee creamer-like containers and tabs like these, no air can mix with the formula beforehand. This is another reason I am recommending both of these. And yes, they are on the pricey side but they are really concentrated so maybe substitute them for your monthly facial.

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

Now here’s a brand you probably should pay attention to if you are in the market for the latest in anti-aging. It comes from a new line called SUNDAY RILEY and what sets it apart from other lines is their NV-5 Ageless Complex. It’s 5 key Native American Botanicals: Blue Agave, Night Blooming Cactus, Lady’s Slipper Orchid, Prickly Pear and Biofermented Aloe plus Yeast extract. This combo claims to deeply detoxify the skin and repair cellular damage.

Ms. Riley first became interested in this when he grandmother spent the summers teaching her how to apply certain Native American Botanicals. Years later, using her background in science, she decided to create a line around the complex and spent 2 years developing products you see today.

The product I was sent to try in the line was the Skin Adrenaline Anti-Aging Concentrate ($185/1.7oz @ sundayriley.com and barneys.com). This is a good one to try if you are looking for a kick to the overall radiance of your skin, while getting the latest in helping it to stay young. In addition to the NV-5 Complex, this one also contains ingredients to build collagen, increase elasticity and to firm the skin. So basically all the things we look for in an anti-aging product.

We loved the soap when it came out and now they are introducing a few more skin care products. I tried The Silver Wrinkle Serum ($120/1oz @ corsilver.com) and like the soap, this one harnesses the power of nano-silver with silica, which they claim speeds cell repair in the skin. In addition to that super ingredient, it also contains Copper Tri-Peptides and Palmitoyl Pentapeptide. The PP molecule has shown that it can  imitate the skin’s natural rebuilding and renewal process. And they assure that this ingredient is gentle on the skin, so if your skin is sensitive to most serums because of the super ingredients used, this may be one to try.

Now this next key ingredient it contains is quite fascinating. It’s called Acetyl Hexapeptide and is an amino peptide that they claim mimics the effects of Botox but without paralyzing the muscle and in a much lesser form. I’ll say it again, it just relaxes the muscles, so don’t go all runnin’ out to get yerself boxes of this stuff because it’s cheaper!

I don’t know the last time the buzz over one ingredient has been so deafening as it is over Açaí (uh-sah-hee – now you know). It’s the antioxidant for protection from environmental factors, and I have read a few times that it works wonders at controlling rosacea. Just out last fall from our friends at KIEHL’S is their Açaí Skincare Collection of face products. What’s great about this collection is that each product is 100% all-natural and certified organic – both Ecocert and Cradle to Cradle certified. That’s pretty major. These two orgs don’t mess around.

The collection is comprised of the following products:

• Açaí Damage-Minimizing Cleanser ($24.50/5oz)
• Açaí Damage-Protecting Toning Mist ($26/6oz)
• Açaí Damage-Repairing Serum ($48/1.7oz)
• Açaí Damage-Correcting Moisturizer ($44/2.5oz)

All @ kiehls.com.

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