Browsing Posts from March 2016

Thursday, March 31, 2016

5 Unconventional Beauty Products

What triggered this post’s topic was seeing this YouTube video by NikkieTutorials and her declaration that Nivea Men Sensitive Shave Balm worked as a great makeup primer! It got me thinking of other items that have been used in ways other than intended.

5 Unconventional Beauty Products

So these are a few that I could think of off the top of my head. Do you have any to add? Let me know in the comments!

5 Unconventional Beauty Products that you can use in your routine.

1. Preparation H – I think this trend came from the drag world of using it for under eye bags, and well, to deflate them.

2. Credit Card – In addition to Scotch tape, I’ve seen a few videos of using a card to get the perfect winged eyeliner. Just place it at an angle at the outer corner of the eye as a guide when applying the liner pencil or liquid.

3. Spoon – I’ve seen this used like the above not only as a guide to get a good winged liner but also as a guide to getting a clearly defined line of color along the bottom of each brow.

4. Milk of Magnesia – Again I think this trend came from the world of drag and has been around for a long time. Some swear by this one as a face primer for keeping makeup on long and strong.

5. Nivea Men Sensitive Post Shave Balm – And as I mentioned, this one started the thought behind this post. And of course I will be trying it out!

Wednesday, March 30, 2016

4 Favorite Spring Scents

My nose seems to come out of hibernation this time of year when the seasons change and everything just smells so much richer right now. Here are some of my favorites I can’t get enough of! What are some of your favorites? 

4-Favorite-Spring-Scents

CLEAN Blossom Eau de Parfum ($40/1oz, $72/2.14oz @ ulta.comcleanperfume.com) – released early this year, this one seems to fit perfectly right now. This floral contains notes of neroli, lilac, orange blossom, lily and musk and sandalwood. Super feminine and a little heavier than a traditional floral.  

FRESH Rose Deep Hydration Cream ($40/1oz @ freshbeauty.com and sephora.com) – made for normal to dry skin, I almost like applying some of this each night just to smell the roses! This cream will increase the skin’s hydration by including hyaluronic acids in it as well as rosewater and vitamin E to nourish.

SALVATORE FERRAGAMO Emozione Dolce Fiore Eau de Toilette ($79/1.7oz, $99/3.1oz @ macys.com) – this floral releases top notes of bergamot, grapefruit and white peach, heart notes of rose buds and peony and a base of white musk, vanilla and suede. Really unique and calming.

ST. IVES Nourished & Smooth Oatmeal Body Scrub ($5.99/9oz @ target.com) – this gentle body scrub uses walnut shell powder to slough off the rough winter skin to reveal a softer side.

 

Sunday, March 27, 2016

Hurraw! for this Lip Balm! Seriously.

These balms have been taking my lips by storm since discovering them recently! They are called HURRAW! and might the best lip balms I’ve ever tried.

Available in 24 styles/scents/flavors/whatever you want to call it, know that each is vegan, not tested on animals, free of GMOs and made in the USA, not to mention some of the pretty fine ingredients inside them.

Hurraw-Lip-Balms

You know when you are doing something and mindlessly start biting at some peeling skin on your lip with your teeth? Well, that doesn’t happen anymore.  I have no skin to pick at since I started using these! Seriously, my lips are really in good shape, which I really need right now since my obsession with liquid lipsticks is at a peek.

And some of the scents available remind me of Lip Smackers from many years ago: Black Cherry, Lemon, and Root Beer to name a few.

Since I’m a fan of swiping some moisture on my lips at bed time, their night treatment balm called Moon Balm is always on my nightstand.

Hurraw-lip-balm-top

And if all that’s not enough, they seem to throw in an extra balm with each order. Now that shows how much they care about their customers, right? Highly recommended brand. $3.79 and $4.29 @ hurrawbalm.com

So tell me, are you in the market for some lip balms that actually work?  

Disclosure: I bought these. 

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Tuesday, March 22, 2016

Are You Jumping on the Color-Correcting Bandwagon?

Algenist-REVEAL-Color-Correcting-Radiant-Primer-and-Concealer
Color correcting makeup is all the rage right now and there have been quite a few brands that have splashed products on the scene. Here are a few I’m digging right now.

This is the ALGENIST’s first foray into the makeup world and they latched onto a pretty hot trend right now! Not only do each of these two products contain their AlgaCorrecting Complex to fight aging, but it uses the naturally-occurring red, blue, green and golden algae that exists in the complex to do the correcting.

ALGENIST REVEAL Color Correcting Radiant Primer ($36) – smooths out your skin creating the ultimate canvas for what’s to come next!

ALGENIST REVEAL 6-in-1 Color Correcting Concealer ($28) – yup, this does 6 things: primes, brightens, treats, color corrects, provides high coverage and helps fight aging. This one camouflaged some pretty nice dark circles I was sporting one morning.

Both @ sephora.com.

 

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Monday, March 21, 2016

Getting Acquainted with Charlotte's Web #ad

Now that's we've passed Daylight Savings Time and are on our way to Spring, I just pulled out my blender. I try to curb the comfort food when the temps go up and drink at least one green shake every day. And the best part is trying out different greens like all the varieties of kale available as well as the supplements I can add to the shake. One ingredient I was recently introduced to for my shakes is cannabinoids or CBD. It’s derived from hemp and contains major vitamins and nutrients like Omegas 3, 6 and 9 found in fish in a bottle.

Studies have shown that CBD promotes increased cognitive functioning so why not give it a shot?!

Green-Minty-Goodness-with-Charlottes-Web-Hemp-Extract

The one I’ve been using in my shakes is CW Botanicals Hemp Extract in Mint Chocolate Chip and it smells just like the famous Thin Mint cookies!

Here is the recipe I’ve been mixing up with it:

Green Minty Goodness

  • 2 Ice cubes
  • 1 cup fresh greens
  • 1.5 cup banana
  • ¼ cup nuts (using Chia Seeds in this one)
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1 Tbsp cocoa powder
  • ¼ tsp Charlotte’s Web Hemp Extract

Charlotte's-Web-Hemp-Extract-bottle-back
And I love the CW Botanicals grows and manufactures their hemp/CBD product all under one helmet. I think it's important to know where the products you use are coming from, right?

Pick up a bottle on their site and they now ship to all 50 states. Check out more about all their hemp-rich products here on their website @ cwbotanicals.com, follow them on Twitter and Facebook.

Most people don't know that in 2003 the US Government patented Cannabinoids as Neuro-Protectants and Anti-Oxidents.  This is evidence of the potential power in the use of products derived from the Cannabis plant, such as CBD-Rich Hemp.

CW Botanicals is the only hemp oil derived exclusively from the proprietary CBD-Rich Charlotte's Web™ hemp. CW Botanicals is the exclusive provider of premium Charlotte’s Web™ products made from our proprietary hemp genetics, grown internationally as well as in Colorado. Our products have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of CW Botanicals. The opinions and text are all mine.

 
Monday, March 14, 2016

Cybelesays Special Report: Is miraDry Your Answer to Perspiration?

Throw-Away-Your-Antiperspirant-Forever-sign
Imagine having to never buy or apply deodorant again? Yup, just like the picture says! Well I may have found something that can give you that freedom. It’s called miraDry and was created for those with Hyperhidrosis aka excessive sweating. Now I don’t have excessive sweat but I do have a, ahem, funk problem. Like I will wear a top for a few hours and I already know the armpits smell; cotton, poly, I’ve tried them all and they all have the same outcome, funky armpits.

Now I don’t mind my body odor smell and I’ve never noticed anyone move away from me because of it but I sometimes wonder. And then there’s shopping! I tend to shy away from most items that have to be dry cleaned, especially if they lie snug under the arms.

And I’ve tried every deodorant out there, the time-release ones, the clinical strength ones etc. The only one that seems to have been helping a little lately in the keeping-me-dry category was Fresh Sugar Deodorant Antiperspirant. 

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Saturday, March 12, 2016

Do You Need a Face Mask Primer?

Origins-Maskimizer
Ever wonder if your mask is really doing all that it can? I do and this new one from ORIGINS claims to help. Maskimizer Skin-Optimizing Mask Primer ($22/3.2oz @ sephora.comorigins.com) mist is made with a Marine Algae Complex, which hydrates and is supposed to prep the skin and enhance the mask you’re using.

Just spray some of the 3.2oz bottle over clean skin, lightly pat and then apply your mask. So did this really “enhance” or make my mask work better? From my experience, it’s hard to say. I mean, I used a Nip + Fab Soften Kale Fix Clay Mask twice with it - once using the mist beforehand and once not using it and I really didn’t notice a difference. Maybe if I did a longer trial test, I could get a better read? But when doing a controlled experiment like the aforementioned, all the factors have to remain a constant, and with the changing of the season … I’m not sure how accurate I could be.

Bottom line: Origins doesn’t seem to have any scientific study to back up their claims and it seems like if you use any kind of hydrating toner before a mask, your mask will just work better. So unless you are a die-hard masking fan, I’d give this a hard pass.

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

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Wednesday, March 09, 2016

An All-in-1 Foundation from Physicians Formula

Looking for an all-in-one foundation for a good price? This one might be it. It’s PHYSICIANS FORMULA Mineral Wear Talc-Free All-in-1 ABC Cushion Foundation SPF 50 ($16.95 @ physiciansformula.comulta.com and drugstores nationwide). It’s a medium to full coverage liquid foundation and is in one of those cushion foundations, as in inside is a sponge that houses the formula. And to keep it fresh, there is a clear protective cover that snaps over the top of it.

Click after the pictures to see what's inside this cute pin-cushion looking compact!

Physicians-Formula-Mineral-Wear-All-in-1-ABC-Cushion-Foundation-compact

Physicians-Formula-Mineral-Wear-All-in-1-ABC-Cushion-Foundation-compact-top

 

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Tuesday, March 08, 2016

PUR Eye Polish + Top Coat

File this under, ‘How did I miss these?’ They came out last fall and when I recently saw them online I knew they were a must try. Inside the formula is a thick creamy pigment and eye primer and outside is a top coat, which keeps it from creasing on the lids and makes it long-wearing.

PUR Eye Polish Eye Base + Top Coat ($26 @ purminerals.com, ulta.com)

Velvet – burgundy amethyst

Caviar – blackened olive with gold flecks

PUR-Eye-Polish-main

 

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Friday, March 04, 2016

Cybelesays Special Report – Taking Some of the Mystery Out of Injectables

Face it, getting any kind of Botox or fillers requires someone who knows what they’re doing. I mean, do Botox parties still exist? I wouldn’t be caught at one of those getting a treatment; too fly-by-night. So for me, it’s all about referral like a dermatologist or eyebrow waxer. Every person has their own style and you just want to make sure you get one that knows what they’re doing. But if you don’t know who or what to ask, how can you find a good one for you? This is why I wanted to write this piece; to take away some of the mystery.

I recently had to opportunity to experience Cosmetique Aesthetics in Culver City, CA. And it came around at the best time as I had been asking around to friends to see who they have been using. I have had some Botox and fillers in the past but not on a consistent basis and the one woman I had gone to like once a year for the past 3 years left where she was, so back to square one.

Cosmetique-Aesthetics-entrance

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