We don't usually write about books, actually, we never feature books on Cybelesays but I picked this one up the other day and I'm really into it. I've been into Pin-Up pre-Dita Von Teese and would style my hair in retro fashion here and there and thought I was doing a pretty good job. But then I came across this book, Vintage Hairstyling: Retro Styles With Modern Techniques by Lauren Rennells ($29.95 @ vintagehairstyling.com) and realized I could do a better job!

This book spells out step-by-step how to make the proper pin curl, how to get the Gwen Stefani pompadour and even gives a clear breakdown of the tools used for creating the styles. There are 25 different styles illustrated in the 164 pages. If actually creating the styles is not your thing, this book really gives the reader an appreciation  for how our mothers and grandmothers did their hair and makeup back in the early to mid-20th century.
And Ms. Lauren, if you ever come to LA, I am going to beg you to do my hair!

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 @ dermstore.com.

I don’t even need to pen anything because the picture pretty much says it all. How hot are these colors from COLOR CLUB?? So now! Let your tips welcome summer into your life with a Nail Lacquer from their Flower Power Amp’d Up Neon Shades collection. Choose from Lazer Pink, Orange Revenge, Screamin’ Fuchsia, Limelight, Pink Lust, or Power Play. My color pick so far this week is the Screamin' Fuchsia and it looks rockin' on my toes. It practically glows out in the sunlight!

And if you buy this salon pack, they throw in their new Vivid Color Intensifying Top Coat. For some reason, the polish finish is very matte, so make sure to apply this Top Coat afterward. $8.50 @ colorclub.com.

The SONIA KASHUK Spring 2008 Collection is here and blossoming with colors all around the rainbow. Here are my picks from the litter:

• Velvety Matte Lip Crayon in Nudey Nude ($6.99)
• Hydrating Lip Balm with SPF 14 in Cherrylicious ($7.49)
• Sheer Lip Color and Plumping Glossy Tint in Passion Fruit ($11.99)
• Eye Shadow Quad in Vivid Violets and Blue Lagoon ($9.99 each)
• Crème Blush in Rosey ($8.99)
• Sheer Lip Glossing with No-Feather Pencil (7.99)
• Velvety Matte Lip Crayon in Pinky Nude ($6.99)

All @ target.com

File this next one under the same category as the new 22” Monitor I just bought – a little more than I want to spend but total luxury and glad I did! It’s totally not needed as a less expensive one will do the trick but what a treat it is. WHISH Shave Crave in Papaya Coconut Shave Cream ($24/5oz, 32/6.7oz @ nordstrom.com) not only helps lift the hair to attention but moisturizes the skin with papaya and coconut oils. And this scent really makes shaving not so bad.

Wowee, wow-wow, is this one great! Then again, I should have guessed it would be pretty good because it’s HARD CANDY. While I have not been wow’d by all of their products, this Fragrance ($42/1.69oz, $55/3.38oz @ amazon.com) is pretty fab. It falls in the category of floriental and they describe it perfectly – “a hint of sweetness but with a bit of depth and mystery.” Spray it on and the nose detects the top notes of white tea and pink peppercorn (is that what that is??), middle notes of rose and jasmine and the base is a vanilla and cashmere musk. And it seems to last quite a while. Not one of those scents you put on and five minutes later forgot which scent you’re wearing. 

And the packaging? The slim bottle with black swirls around it is quite sleek and sexy and the top is like a pincushion with each size is represented by a different color – green for the 3.38oz and pink for the 1.69oz. How often does that happen? And I really liked the cardboard foil origami box it came in. Very colorful and the way it opened up was fun and unique.

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.

I really wasn’t prepared to be wow’d tonight but I was. I had heard TURBOION’s Croc professional straigtening irons were good but I never tried one. I even drooled over them at January’s ISSE show! And this past week I was able to give one a spin. And wow! I was used to straightening irons making my hair straight but this one made it stick straight with not a lot of runs through the hair. It was almost too straight!

And I put this one through quite the test. I ran the blow dryer over my hair to dry it but I didn’t style it with a round brush, which I usually do to make it straight. So with no round brush love, I grabbed a section with a comb, and three runs later with the Croc Titanium Wet to Dry Flat Iron 1 ½", voila, stick straight strands. Finished my whole head and it looked like I just came from the salon. The iron uses the most advanced “Nano-fine Ceramic Heating Plates” to seal the cuticles and eliminate frizz, while preserving the hair’s condition. If you want to read more about the technology behind this one, check out their site. All I know is what it does!

Now this one can be used on wet or dry hair but I don’t recommend using it on wet hair. I’ve consulted a few hairdressers and they don’t recommend it either.

And watching this one heat up was kinda fun (yes, I’m easily entertained) too. It has a blue digital display and the hottest it goes is 430 degrees. The heat can be set to your hair’s needs, which they recommend: 280 to 310 for bleach or fragile, 310 to 390 for normal and 390 to 430 for coarse or thick.

So help me welcome the Croc Titanium Wet to Dry Flat Iron 1 ½" to the Hall of Fame.

It’s surprising how much dirt I pick up on my bare feet just walking around my apartment on the hardwood floors. Yes, I clean them regularly (floors and feet) so I can’t figure it out. It was with much delight that when SPA DIONIS’ new Foot Scrub and Foot Butter came across my desk, I instantly had to try them. Look for this frosty mint Foot Scrub to not only deodorize your soles but it uses walnut shell powder, botanicals and rich butters from Shea and mango to really get to the deep surface dirt.

I like putting the Foot Butter on my feet and then putting socks on. Better to dirty the socks than feet, right? This one uses beeswax, jojoba oil, and Shea butter to nourish your newfound layer of skin. Hello high heels…

$13.95/6oz each @ dionisgmskincare.com.

The ESSIE Summer 2008 Nail Polish Collection is upon us and the forecast calls for bright bold color! Yeah! One of these is sure to match your prettiest summer outfit. $8 @ ulta.com.

My Place or Yours (pink rose), Escapades (red, red-coral), Risky Business (glam red meets tangerine,) Guilty Pleasures (pink strawberry bliss), Secret Stash (fuchsia), Movers & Shakes (sassy, bold pink).