.:: CybeleSays ::.

I just finished off the last of the pumpkin pie leftover from Christmas dinner and I don’t think I will ever get sick of pumpkin but it’s nice to get a break. So instead of increasing my waist line, I’ll settle for JUNE JACOBS’ Perfect Pumpkin Peeling Enzyme Masque.

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Heard the buzz loud over the anti-aging benefits of Retinol but have sensitive skin? If your skin gets red just at the mention of the word, the RoC line has one for the eye and one for the face just for you. RoC Retinol Correxion Sensitive Eye Cream ($22.99/.5oz) and RoC Retinol Correxion Sensitive Night Cream ($22.99/1oz) will help with wrinkles and lines and the prices on both are phenomenal. Both @ drugstore.com.

Will you become a Retinol user now?

I had a conversation over the weekend at a holiday party about beauty gifts (go figure!) and they thought that giving skin care was a strange gift to give someone. And they compared it to giving a set color of foundation. While I thought that was a tad too far, I can see where she was coming from but there are so many great deals out there, how can I resist? One I don’t think you can go wrong with is any of the PREVAGE items from ELIZABETH ARDEN. There are a few gift sets that are a total bargain, like the PREVAGE Day Anti-Aging Gift Set ($120 ($210 value!) @ elizabetharden.com).

Gift Set  includes:

PREVAGE Day Ultra Protection Anti-aging Moisturizer SPF 30, (1.7oz)
PREVAGE Body Total Transforming Anti-aging Moisturizer, (2.4oz)
PREVAGE Eye Ultra Protection Anti-aging Moisturizer SPF 15, (.17oz)

The holidays are a good time to pick up something you know the receiver would probably not buy for themselves. I think the NEUTROGENA Microdermabrasion System is good for a, “wow, thanks!” out of the recipient and this one looks pretty impressive and I’m glad the price is too. $19.99 kit + 1 month supply of puffs. $12.99 refill pack 2 month supply of puffs @ drugstore.com.

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.

'Tis the season for holiday scents! Pine, cranberry, nutmeg and my favorite, pumpkin. It’s known for its awesome exfoliating properties so I always pay attention when I come across one. The SANITAS line has a Pumpkin Enzyme Mask ($32/2oz @ sanitas-skincare.com for locations) and it smells so good!! It contains organic pumpkin and a blend of essential fats and nourishing vitamins, Squalane, and Hyaluronic Acid among others. For some reason I thought it might sting a little on the skin but it didn’t at all. Leave this one on for 10 minutes and remove with lukewarm water. Big recommendation.

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

Quite a few skin care products have come out and here are three I am giving my stamp of approval.

COLORESCIENCE PRO Illuminating Cleanser Mineral Powder Formula ($37.50/1.4oz @ colorescience.com) – this powder looks like diamond dust and is great at not only cleansing and exfoliating the skin with Salicylic Acid but it also removes makeup. No tightness of the skin after using this one. Big recommendation.

BURT’S BEES Sensitive Night Cream ($15/1.8oz @ burtsbees.com) – part of the new Sensitive line they just put out, which includes a Cleanser, Moisturizing Cream and Eye Cream. These contain Cotton Extract to help minimize the effects of potential irritants, as well as aloe. So your skin is getting what it needs but gently.

PREVAGE Day Intensive Anti-aging Moisturizing Cream SPF 30 ($129/1.7oz) – Liz Arden’s Prevage brand has received rave reviews and they just came out with two new products. This day cream not only guards against UVA/UVB rays, but it also contains the powerful ingredient Idebenone to protect the skin from daily environmental assaults. The other new one is their Night Anti-aging Restorative Cream ($132/1.7oz). Get them both @ prevageskin.com.

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

I use a face serum regularly but sometimes I want an instant pick-me-up and I’m getting that with MURAD’s Intensive Resurfacing Peel ($45/4 treatments @ murad.com). This is a 10-minute treatment that’s similar to a chemical peel, but obviously not as strong, and can be used in the privacy of your own home. Each tube contains enough for one application and contains glycolic and salicylic acids to stimulate cell turnover. It also has bamboo bead microdermabrasion, which I don’t quite get since from what I understand and how it’s used is as more of a face mask and not like a face exfoliator. So I’m not sure where that ingredient comes in. Anyway, as far as how it felt on my skin, I didn’t feel anything uncomfortable besides a really slight tingle. They do advise a spot test for this one since it does have small amounts of ingredients that can irritate some. Use weekly for a boost in overall luminocity and radiance. Two big thumbs up.

Have you heard of the IMMUNOCOLOGIE skin care line yet? It’s quite interesting but pretty technical so hopefully I can clearly explain it. It’s the first skin care line formulated to work with the skin’s own immune system using a unique Bio-Technical Fermentation Process (Bioferm), whereby each ingredient is fermented in a special atmosphere and oxygen condition so the product can repair the skin from the inside out. As we age our immune system become weaker, which can lead to the production of free radicals, something we don’t want. This line stops the inflammatory process thus stops what can lead to wrinkles and sagging skin. 

Immunocologie was created by two already well-known chemists (one discovered the use of vitamin C in skin care and the other alpha hydroxyl acids) and was 40 years in the making. The easiest way to understand the technology is by comparing it to something most of us are familiar with, nanopeptides. Just like those, the ingredients in their products undergo their aforementioned Bioferm process thus are able to penetrate the skin deeper and more effectively. If you want to read more about the technology, click here.

The product I tried was the Treatment Crème VenoMAX Light and here are the details.

What it does: This one contains their VenoMAX ingredient which is a complex that mimics snake venom activity except it goes the other direction and becomes a super healer to conquer all … like a super hero product! Smoothing wrinkles and lines, working on sun damage, brightening among others.

My take: I’ve been using this one for about 6 weeks now and I do see an overall difference in the tone and brightness of my skin. It’s hard to see a real big difference when it comes to wrinkles and skin damage but it’s got my vote thus far.

Yes, @ $125/1.7oz, this is a major investment in your skin but isn’t it worth it? Get this @ immunocologie.com. 

This ExfoliKate face exfoliate from the KATE SOMERVILLE line has made just about every Top 10 list I have seen so I was super excited to try it. Besides having mass appeal (it’s good for all skin types), this one uses super good ingredients to do the exfoliating and it’s a two-fold-er – you have the physical microbeads and the chemical of fruit enzymes (the 3 p’s of papaya, pineapple and pumpkin). So if you don’t feel you are giving yourself and every inch of your face the full scrubbing, the chemical in this one will help. Why isn't every exfoliator like this?

Also inside is Salicylic Acid for hydration as well rosewood and cinnamon extracts for its anti-aging properties as well as aloe vera, honey, and vitamin E. Don’t let the brightish green color or slight minty feel on the skin turn you off as I was mildly shocked at both traits but quickly warmed up to them after a few uses.

Yes, this one is a little on the expensive side but consider it one of those investment products. For me, one of mine is Kiss Me Mascara every few months @ $24 and a few others I know I just can't live without!

Overall I’d give it a B+ and not an A only because of the price of $85/2oz, $175/5oz @ katesomerville.com.

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