.:: CybeleSays ::.

I don’t know about you but I’d rather get a lot of cool little things than one big thing. And here’s some I think are cute enough to be giving this season (from L to R clockwise):

MALLY BEAUTY High Shine Mini Lipgloss 5-Piece Set ($30 @ qvc.com)
TRISH McEVOY Orange Ginger Votive Candle ($17.50 @ nordstrom.com)
LUSH Angel’s Delight Body Soap ($5.95/3.5oz @ lush.com)
JUICY LOVES SEPHORA Charm Hair Elastics in Gold Diamond ($18 @ sephora.com)
GO SMILE Jet Set Kit ($9 @ gosmile.com)
URBAN RITUELLE Candy Cane Lip Balm ($8 @ urbanrituelle.com)
OJON Rub-Out Dry Cleanser To Go ($10/2oz @ sephora.com)

Color doesn’t have to be complicated, especially when finding good ones to create your look so I’m declaring these two browns from TRISH McEVOY’s The Bronze Collection, the Best Summer Duo. They are just perfect and complement each other beautifully. Picture a matte brown eye, maybe a little smudge and then lips glossed and gleaming when the light hits. That’s her Sparkling Bronze Eye Definer ($28) and Irresistible Lip Gloss ($22). Get 'em before the season ends!

Every once in a while a scent comes along that totally takes your breath away and this Blackberry & Vanilla Musk Body Polish ($48/19oz @ nordstrom.com) from TRISH McEVOY is one of those. Blackberry? Vanilla? And musk? Such a nice combination. This sugar-based scrub is a total body treat.

Just because you’re away on vacation doesn’t mean you want to use those crappy hotel products! Just about every item out there comes in a smaller size for travel so you don’t have to compromise. TRISH McEVOY Bath & Shower Gel and Body Polish Sugar Scrub in Mandarin & Ginger Lily are such a treat. I think or rather I’m pretty sure my nose is more aware of scents in the summertime and this is not too mandarin-y, too ginger-y or too lily-y. It’s just the right balance and it’s really nice. So layer these on in the shower and then top it off with the Body Cream upon exiting. No need for additional fragrance when you have these three on hand. $18/2oz each @ nordstrom.com

Like people, great makeup brushes come in all shapes and sizes and I’m sure you know that you need to use good ones to get the right application. So throw out those flimsy small eye shadow applicators and step up your game with any of these as we continue our feature on great makeup brushes.

1. BARE ESCENTUALS Double-Ended Liner Shadow Brush ($24 @ sephora.com)
2. PHILOSOPHY's new The Supernatural Multi-Use Brush ($25 @ nordstrom.com)
3. ESSENCE OF BEAUTY Synthetic Foundation and Powder Brush ($7.99 @ cvs.com)
4. TRISH MCEVOY #50 Angled Eye Lining ($25 @ nordstrom.com)
5. MAKEUP DESIGNORY Shadow Fluff Brush #330 ($19 @ mudshop.com)
6. CLINIQUE Foundation Brush ($28 @ nordstrom.com)

In continuing our coverage of great makeup brushes, we have some more recommendations. Some are brand new and some are not but they all get the thumbs up from us.

• URBAN DECAY’s new Big Buddha Brush ($36 @ urbandecay.com) is their answer to the kabuki brush. It’s 3” tall and 2” wide and made of the manmade fiber, Taklon.
• Use the tip of TRISH McEVOY’s #23 Angled Crease Contour ($32 @ nordstrom.com) to get color deep into the crease and then use the flat part to blend the color in.
• JAPONESQUE Travel Angled Foundation ($23 @ amazon.com) brush is made from Taklon and is pointed to help you get into those corners around the nose.
• DEBRA MACKI Angled Blush Brush ($28 @ debramacki.com) is made with pony hair and the angle helps sculpt the perfect cheek.
• ESSENCE OF BEAUTY Blender Brush ($7.99 @ cvs.com) is made of natural hair and especially for mineral makeup and will blend, blend, blend your bronzer, foundation or blush. Big recommendation.

Good things come in small packages and that’s surely the case with TRISH MCEVOY’s ‘Be Prepared’ Pink ($28 @ nordstrom.com). It’s two levels of lip treats! The Top Deck is three glosses and a lip color: Tropical Pink, Babydoll, Rosette, Sparkling Pink Lip Color. The bottom is three lip colors and a gloss: Bare, Buff, Sugared Pink, Sexy Lip Gloss. I don’t think you can get any smaller or cuter than this cube.
And the name? The net proceeds will go to support Girl Scouts of America. 

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 in Jungle Red ($23 @ narscosmetics.com) – this is one bright red! It’s matte and very pigmented.
2. MAC new Mattene Lipstick in You Say Tomato ($14.50 @ maccosmetics.com) – semi-matte bright orange-red. For the experienced only!
3. SHISEIDO The Makeup Perfecting Lipstick in 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 in 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 in 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 in 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 in 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 in 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 in 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 in #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 in 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!

I really like the concept of putting mascara in a metal tube with a metal wand.  Seems like it stays fresher that way. TRISH McEVOY High Volume Mascara has a special wand that helps you get each little lash and build them into big think lashes. The Jet Black color is highly pigmented so you can build full sweeping lashes every time. $26 @ nordstrom.com ~Lisa

TRISH McEVOY Eye Base Essentials ($22) will not only extend the wear of your eye shadow but it’s waterproof so cry, cry away at that upcoming wedding. Available in Sand, Vanilla, Soft Peach and Linen.

There’s also a new Luminizing Eye Base Essentials that can be worn under shadow or alone.
$22 each @ nordstrom.com