I caught a nasty cold a few weeks ago and it seemed that nothing could clear my head up. I was looking in the cabinet for some sleep aids and forgot I had BATH BY BETTIJO’s new Shower Infusers ($36/8 tablets @ bathbybettijo.com) there. And just in time! Instead of popping a pill, I popped open the jar and grabbed one of these soothers, put in on the floor of the shower and turned it on full blast. And it really helped open up my head while at the same time relaxing me. I seem to remember seeing something like this a few years ago though I can’t recall what they were exactly.

And these are made with some really good basic ingredients. Here’s the list from right off the back: sodium chloride (sea salt), citric acid, baking soda, corn starch, peppermint oil, vanilla extract and jojoba seed oil. That’s it! Yes, these are a little pricey but you know exactly what’s in them, right?

Disclosure: The following item was provided to Cybelesays.com for review purposes.

TARTE is on fire these days. Seems like they are adding products every few weeks! I finally was able to catch up to them and try their new Natural Lip Stain with LipSurgence Technology and I’m really liking them but I do have a small problem with the name. It’s not a true stain as in, it doesn’t stain the lips, just colors them. Am I being too technical? It’s just that when something has the word stain in it, it should be a true stain. Then again, their Cheek Stains are not true stains either and these are meant to be an extension to those. Anyway, these are each peppermint-infused and look like the cheek formula formed in an oversized crayon form. Wait, maybe these are  the cheek formula put into a pen form?? I did try one of the berry shades on my cheeks and it looks like it could be. Hmmm…

Anyway, think of these as a hint of tint balm. While there are not real lip balm ingredients inside, the result looks like a semi-glossy tint Color picks: Joy (peach) and Moody (deep berry). $24 @ amazon.com.

Have you tried these yet? What did you think?

Disclosure: The following item was provided to Cybelesays.com for review purposes.

Whenever Sephora takes a new brand on, you better pay attention because chances are, it’s pretty good. FIRST AID BEAUTY was created by a beauty industry veteran after what else? Seeing a gap in the marketplace for those with sensitive skin or those that have what is considered a challenging condition like rosacea or dermatitis. I became interested in the line after reading about it on Sephora and started by trying a few sample packets of the Ultra Repair Cream ($28/6oz @ sephora.com) their PR people sent to me. It’s for the face AND the body (how often do you come across that?) and is perfect for those who suffer from Eczema. The colloidal oatmeal and ceramides are especially helpful. I know I have mentioned this one spot about the size of a quarter on my right ankle that is perpetually dry so I’ve applied this a few times over the last 2 weeks to just that area and if it’s able to keep that spot moisturized for hours, I’m sold.

For me, the CARMEX brand did not come into my life until I was well into my teens and I remember it well. Eyeing it a few times in CVS with its glass bottomed jar and yellow top, I snuck a sniff of it in the store. It smelled strongly of camphor oil. I think I finally broke down on the next trip to the drugstore and bought one and totally used up the whole thing. Nowadays, that’s kind of a rare to use up a whole balm since I have quite the collection and I stash them everywhere like a squirrel with nuts in my house, car and office.

Well Carmex has come quite a long way since then. The formula still contain Menthol, Aloe Butter, Campfor and Lanolin, among others, like the original but they have expanded like adding flavors to some (Mint, Strawberry and Cherry), new packaging like a stick and tube form and even different types of formulas like the newish Moisture Plus. And it can be used for so many different things besides lips and cold sores. When a friend of mine was over recently and saw the box of Carmex I had, she said she swears by it for zits. Go figure!

So if you are looking for an all-in-one lippie to moisturize, protect and heal, Carmex could be your go-to balm. All @ walgreens.com or drugstores nationwide.

How I can tell if I really believe in a beauty product is if I find myself reaching for it in an off-time, as in, when I done testing it. Mineral eye shadows fall in this category. They just seem to blend better and I like the textures of them. One that I am into these days is ALIMA PURE’s Yoga Collection of eye shadows. They  describe the finish of these as, “almost matte or semi-shimmery … a unique blend of matte and shimmer. In direct light, they look shimmery and on the skin they are matte until you turn your head just so.”

$25/all 4 colors @ alimapure.com.

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

Remember a few weeks ago when I found this liquid liner that didn’t sting my inner eyelid? Well I found another one to add to that list! It’s from SMASHBOX’s new Heartbreaker Collection and is called Liquid Liner Pen in Jet Black ($24 @ smashbox.com and nordstrom.com). 

There’s something about this pen form that makes it easier to apply then the regular liquid liner applicators. I think it’s because the tip doesn’t move as much as others and it’s pointed. Are you familiar with ones like that? I just hope this one doesn’t dry out like a different one I had a few months ago. Will keep you posted!

Disclosure: The following item was provided to Cybelesays.com for review purposes.

MAYBELLINE NEW YORK XXL Pro Volume Mascara ($7.99 @ amazon.com) – this two-sided mascara contains a microfiber basecoat one side and then rich color on the other. The microfibers are like tiny extensions!

CLINIQUE High Lengths Mascara ($14 @ sephora.com) – the brand is taking a new approach to mascara, at least the brush is. Instead of the usual wand, it’s a curved fine tooth comb that helps you get every last lash. Love it!

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

I’ve seen a lot of product launches in the past 9 years of writing about products on Cybelesays.com (it’s my 9 year anniversary this month!) but this latest one from CHANEL has to be one of the coolest I’ve seen in some time. The launch is for the new 20-lipstick collection of Rouge Coco Lip Colours and yesterday I was sent a package with some of the lippies, a cloth 14" x 12" cross-body bag, a full color book about the product and how it came to be by Peter Philips, a poster with all the shades shown and a set of pins. Yup, that’s right, Chanel pins! The bag came like you see in the picture with some of the pins on it but I’m sure I will get creative with the bag at some point and design my own Rouge Coco bag with the pins!

And I’ll keep you posted on my favorite colors of the Rouge Coco Lip Colours that are out on February 25^th. Are you excited for this launch? Do tell in the comments!

 

Another day, another fragrance. While I’m still feeling the glow of yesterday’s product, I must. Move. Onward. And this is a fun one on this post-Valentine’s Day. Yup, it’s another scent and this time it’s the fun cherry scent but don’t think this is kid’s stuff. It’s the latest from the L’OCCITANE line so you know is sophisticated. When I was little, a few of the neighborhood kids and I would walk up to the corner store where we would splurge on the latest sugary candy. No matter what it was, we were true to one thing. Sharon always got whatever it was in lime, Kim got the grape and I always got the cherry. We would then walk home discussing why each of us loved all things lime, grape or cherry (we didn’t associate with anyone who loved orange. Ewww!).

So catching up to the present day, when I saw the Cherry Blossom collection from L’Occitane, the pleasant flashback of picking out cherry candy at the corner store came rushing back. Then I learned there are three collections of cherry products in the line - the (classic) Cherry Blossom, limited edition Cherry and the limited edition Wild Cherry ones. See here for what notes are in each. Here are my picks that really satisfy my adult craving:

Cherry Blossom Eau de Toilette ($32/1.7oz), Wild Cherry Solid Perfume Stick ($14/.17oz), Cherry Blossom Soap ($4/1.7oz), Cherry Blossom Petal-Soft Body Cream ($34/8.8oz). All @ loccitane.com.

Did you have a favorite flavor growing up? Tell me in the comments!

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

Today may be the official day of love around the world but every day is Valentine’s Day on Cybelesays because day after day I declare my love of various beauty products! And I think I’m getting some off-line help on the love front with this next one. There are very few brands that are featured over and over on the site but LAVANILA is one that has been consistent. The latest product added to the line is the Vanilla Passion Fruit Eau de Parfum ($58/1.7oz @ dermstore.com). Like their other six fragrances in the line, this one is also free of a lot of things like parabens, synthetic dyes and fragrances, phthalates and sulfates, among others so they call this a healthy fragrance.

So what does this one smell like exactly? It’s in the oriental family and is a blend of passion fruit, guava, and peach nectar on a warm base of sandalwood and Madagascar vanilla.

And how does this one help me on the love front? It contains a blend of aphrodisiac oils like Blue Lotus, Clary Sage and Juniper Berry, so I’ll let you know if this one works in attracting a winner! 

Disclosure: The following item was provided to Cybelesays.com for review purposes.