.:: CybeleSays ::.

If you’re a frequent traveler than you’re used to the 2oz rule but it doesn’t mean it’s still not a pain in the neck. SEPHORA feels the pain of that extra step in getting everything ready and has created the Frequent Flyer Travel Set ($12 @ sephora.com). The set is a .51oz pump container for shampoo/lotion etc and a .51oz jar for a scrub or night cream. What I like about this set it that the containers are a good quality but they also thought of some small details that the drugstore ones don’t have – two tools to help get the product into the containers (a spatual and piston push stick) and clear waterproof labels to put on the item when you finish. Nice!

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

I have amassed quite the collection of fragrances since they are one of my favorite categories of beauty products to try out. But it’s not always easy to find true love with one and sniffing a lot is on the menu.

I think we can all agree that small sample vials are not the most ideal way to try a fragrance because they  are usually hard to open and spill as you are popping the tiny top off. But then again, a full size bottle is not always ideal either, since fragrances are not cheap and think about how many you sniff vs. how many you really love.  

I think that fragrance samplers are just about the best thing on the planet as they are a great way to really get a feel for a some of the latest scents, like this one from Sephora.

Another one I’m really feeling right now is ATELIER COLOGNE Collection Voyage. The box it comes in is beautiful, with a cute read postage stamp in the upper right hand corner, like an internationally stamped box.

This sampler of eau de colognes is .25oz sprays of the following scents: Orange Sanguine (fresh fruit), Grand Néroli (aromatic citrus), Bois Blonds (woody floral), Trèfle Pur (citrus + green), Oolang Infini (green + citrus), Vanille Insensée (woody vanilla), and Ambre Nue (oriental floral).

And as you can see from the above list, this one pushes all the fragrance envelopes! There are a few mellow ones and then some, whoa ones that will help you max your sexiness for an eve.

So which ones are my faves? I can see why the Vanille Insensee has such a following; Bois Blonds is really pleasant and while I normally love oriental florals, the Ambre Nue was just too much, surprisingly. Maybe one of the notes just didn’t jive with me but the Grand Neroli, oy, so sexy and full-bodied. $95 @ sephora.com. Will you be checking out this collection?

I have to admit I’m not much of a fan of reality star lines, the shows yes, the lines, no, but I was intrigued by the CHARLOTTE RONSON line and especially after I saw her 2X A Charm Blush/Bronzers.

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Ummm, what the heck is this from Sephora?? Click after the jump to see!

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I’ve been pretty lucky lately when it comes to hand creams by finding ones that really work! The latest one I am touting is VOTRE VU’s Duette Luxe Lip Balm & Hand Crème. Yup a two-in-one hand cream in the tube and lip balm in the cap. I’m all about having multi-taskers in the car and this one is perfect for that.

The hand crème has Shea Butter, oils from coconut, jojoba, and grape seed, to name a few and the scent is a cross between biscotti and supermarket frosting (I had one friend tell me this), which they call Almond Pie. I must say that I am not always in the mood for the scent so I wish they’d stuck with a more neutral fragrance with this one or maybe had an option with it.

As far as the lip balm, there is an option for a straight up balm or a tinted balm but the tinted balm didn’t seem to leave any tint to my lips. It’s a great idea but would have been nice to get some color in the tinted one! However, it does soften lips with Shea Butter, coconut oil and beeswax, which is what matters most. $38/1.35oz @ votrevu.com.

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

ELLIS FAAS just put out Summer Set - an eye, blush and a lippie. The Eye Light (shadow) is E303 bronze, the Blush is S303 bronze and the Glazed Lips is L309 clear. I’m just focusing on the eye and lip since the lippie is just clear.

Pros: I. Love. Their. Shadows! I wrote about this one before and I have to say that this is one of the most pigmented cream shadows I have ever come across and the staying power is bomb. The E303 color is like spun gold so I would use a brush to apply it instead of right from the dispenser.

And with the blush, they advise putting a dot of color in the center of the cheek and blending out with fingers. But act quick because it dries quickly!

Cons: I must confess, I am not a fan of these click pens and I know this is part of their whole thing. The blush one took me forever to get going. Click, click, click, must have turned it 80 times before anything finally came out and when it finally did, it spewed up way too much product at one time and it’s not like I can put the product back in to use later. I had this problem last time.

Summer Set is $85 @ ellisfaas.com.

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

I love introducing a new line here on the site and this one comes from the clothing line, LIV GRN. They just launched a really fun fragrance and body collection. And what this line really reinforces is that now more than ever, the average consumer has a choice - we are able to find quality body and fragrances that are made with organic ingredients and are priced reasonably.

The scents come in different forms – eau de parfum ($60/3/4oz), mini rollerball oil ($15/30ml), body lotion ($18/3.4oz), body scrub ($15/3.4oz) and shower gel ($15/3.4oz) @ livgrn.com.

Scents come in: Cherry Wood – top notes of Anise, Tangerine and Mandarin. Middle notes of jasmine, apple, lily of the valley and bottom notes of cedar, vanilla and musk.

Earth – top notes of jasmine, green leaves. Middle notes of lavender, lily of the valley, ocean. Bottom notes of musk and sandalwood.

Natural – top notes of lime, neroli, orange flower. Middle notes of geranium, rose and cyclamen. Bottom notes of jasmine, Egyptian musk and pear.

And 10% of all profits go to globalgreen.org.

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

  ELIZABETH ARDEN Eight Hour Cream Targeted Sun Defense Stick SPF 50 Sunscreen PA +++ ($20 @ elizabetharden.com) – I’m loving the totablility/no white residue of this sunscreen!! Yes, I’ve gotten better about making sure I have sunscreen on before leaving the house in the morning but tucking this one in my purse guarantees I will never have an excuse.

THE SEAWEED BATH CO. Foot Butter ($12.89/2oz @ seaweedbathco.com) – this reminds me of this one and is just in time for summer feet! The ingredients include: Cocoa butter, natural beeswax, bladderwrack, seaweed extract in safflower oil, neem oil, kakum butter, arrowroot powder, lanolin, vitamin E, peppermint essential oil, tea tree essential oil. Need I say more?

And there’s even a travel version of this one too, so like the above sunscreen, the purse will be housing this one too this summer.

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

What beauty lover doesn’t love a fun way to do something?! Take these beauty fixation by JAPONESQUE packs. They are 24 pre-filled portable swabs that are all things beauty like Pre-Tweeze Treatment, Tinted Lip Conditioner (shown here), and Makeup Remover, to name a few. Just snap the side with the colored ring and apply the other end. No matter which you choose, these are so perfect for traveling as there’s no messy caps to fall off at the bottom of the bag! $4.95/24 swabs @ aveyou.com.

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

If you’re not familiar with the AROMAFLORIA line, they are pioneers of holistic aromatherapy and continue to come out with unique collections like this new Healing Waters Collection. The products in this one are centered around sea salts and 250 million year-old lava clay mud (huh??). I don’t even know how one gets ahold of anything that is 250 years old! Anyway, the collection contains 5 products – Bath/Shower Gel – Purifying Treatment ($18/12oz), Anti-Aging Lotion – Firming Treatment ($22/12oz), Dry Body Oil – Smoothing Treatment ($20/5oz), Salt Soak – Mineral Bath Treatment ($20/32oz), Sugar/Salt Exfoliating Treatment ($24/23oz) and a Total Body Treatment Collection ($16), shown here.

And don’t worry about ingredients when it comes to this line, they get my full stamp of approval! All @ aromafloria.com.

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