I’m starting a new on-going feature here on the site called Get Acquainted With … where I spotlight a brand, ingredient or trend I think you should be aware of. First up is Argania Spinosa Kernal Oil, also known as Argan Oil. Argan Oil is a plant oil produced from the kernals of the argan tree that is andemic to Morocco. It can be used to help heal burns, in foods like to dip breads and on salads. In beauty it is known for its super moisturizing properties, to help with juvenile acne and of course in hair and body products. Source: Wikipedia.org.

Here are some that use it in beauty products:

1. YES TO BLUEBERRIES Face & Neck Oil $15.99/1oz @ walgreens.com.

2. BOTANIC ORGANIC Pomegranate & Argan Antioxidant Serum $30/1oz @ botanicorganic.com.

3. DERMORGANIC Leave-In Spray Therapy $19.99/3.4oz @ target.com. 

4. NAIR 'Shower Power' Max with Moroccan Argan Oil $8.99/13oz @ walgreens.com. 

5. HERBAL ESSENCES Moroccan My Shine Nourishing Shampoo and Nourishing Conditioner $4.49/10.1oz each @ walgreens.com.

Now if you just want to cut out all the other ingredients like silicones and others that can be found in the above products and just get to the nitty-gritty, there are quite a few companies that make 100% Pure Argan Oil:

1. JOSIE MARAN 100 Percent Pure Argan Oil $16/.5oz, $48/1.7oz, $96/5oz @ sephora.com.

2. ACURE ORGANICS 100% Certified Organic Argan Oil $14.99/1oz @ walgreens.com.

3. SHEA TERRA ORGANICS 100% Organic Moroccan Argan Oil $24/2oz @ walgreens.com. 

Disclosure: Some of these items were provided for review purposes. Some I bought.

We’ve all read about the best multi-taskers there are out there when it comes to beauty but most of the lists I’ve seen list products that maybe take care of two or three things, not truly multi. So here are some that really are MULTI!!

1. PUREOLOGY Colour Fanatic ($24/6.7oz @ ulta.com) – where do I start?? This 100% Vegan product protects against heat, environmental damage and color fading, controls frizz and is a great leave-in conditioner, among other things; 21 things specifically.

2. TARTE BB Tinted Treatment 12-Hour Primer Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Sunscreen ($34/1oz @ ulta.com, amazon.com) – it’s a face primer, so it makes your foundation or tinted moisturizer last longer; it’s tinted so ixnay what I said previously! No extra color needed (comes in 4 shades). This one includes anti-aging ingredients in the formula; has UVA/UVB blocker of SPF 30. No pitiful 15 here, baby, and it’s quite moisturizing.

3. JOSIE MARAN Argan Balm ($42/4.6oz @ qvc.com) – I adore a balm because of their multi-tasking-ness (yes, that’s a new word!). And this one is no exception and it is heavy in the argan oil. Use it on cuticles, to defrizz hair, dry spots on the skin, lips and I even use it on my heels before I go to bed. 

Disclosure: Some of these items were provided for review purposes. Some I bought.

Gels, jells, Jello … any kind of gel makeup product always gets me excited even though it’s usually only for the cheeks and lips. The latest to get my attention in the category is from the JOSIE MARAN line and it’s her Coconut Watercolor Cheek Gelée ($22 @ josiemarancosmetics.com).

What it is: This buildable, blendable blush hybrid provides the natural look of a cream blush with the long-lasting 14-hour hydrating color of a gel stain. Infused with 50% pure Coconut Water, it instantly hydrates while nourishing with the powerful benefits of Vitamin E-rich Argan Oil. Like a refreshing sip of Coconut Water for your skin, this moisture-packed blush instantly drenches cheeks in a cool veil of color.

They look great but since it’s all about performance when it comes down to the decision of purchasing or not, how did these perform? Click after the jump to find out.

Click here to read more

I’m a big fan of dry products as in those that you add water to, to activate. I know freshness is always a concern when it comes to any product and those that need to have a shelf life must contain a preservative, which some people can be sensitive too.

Leave it to JOSIE MARAN to come out with a facial exfoliator that is not only in the powder form, but also has some seriously nourishing ingredients to boot. It’s called Argan Exfoliating Powder and is formulated with rice powder and argan nuts.

If you are not familiar, Ms. Maran has built her line on the power of Argan Oil, which is known for its rich anti-oxidants and its non-irritation with most skin types.

To activate, just add a little water and smooth it onto the face. It doesn’t feel grainy at all, just like a very fine powder buffing away skin cells. And they recommend adding this to their Argan Cleansing Oil. Nice.

$40/1.76oz @ sephora.com.

Here we are at the end of our on-going Spring Color Picks feature. So have you added any of the suggestions like Coral, Turquoise, Tuscany, Violet or Tomato Puree to your makeup routine? Here are some more recs for Tomato and Turq. What’s great about turquoise is that sometimes it’s on the green side and sometimes more on the blue side. The two nail polishes here really depict that.

From L to R clockwise:

MAYBELLINE NEW YORK Color Sensational Lipstick in #635 Very Cherry ($7.49 @ walgreens.com)
GIVENCHY Phenomen’Eyes Waterproof Mascara in Water Turquoise ($29 @ sephora.com)
ESSIE Nail Polish in Turquoise & Caicos ($8 ulta.com)
SULA BEAUTY Paint and Peel Nail in Haze ($9 @ sulabeauty.com)
CHINA GLAZE Nail Lacquer in Italian Red ($6.50 @ jcpenney.com)
LUSH Ickle Baby Bot Bath Bomb ($3.95/2.1oz @ lush.com)
DIOR Addict Ultra Gloss in Little Red Dress ($26.50 @ qvc.com)
JOSIE MARAN Eye Shadow in Bali ($20 @ qvc.com)
DAVINES Wizard No 9 Structuring Mist ($26/8.45oz @ walmart.com)
L’OREAL Infallible Plumping Lip Gloss in Plumped Red ($9.99 @ lorealparisusa.com)
ERNO LASZLO Blue Firmarine Treatment Bar ($39/5oz @ sephora.com)

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

Here are some more new beauty products gettin’ us in the mood for some warm weather! Clockwise L to R:

SOFTLIPS Lip Protectant/Sunscreen in Coconut Cream and Cherry ($2.99-$3.99 @ walgreens.com)
CLINIQUE Almost Bronzer SPF 15 in Light/Medium ($28.50 @ clinique.com)
PRESCRIPTIVES Exhilarating Lipcolor in Papaya ($17.50 @ prescriptives.com) from the Exhilerating Summer Collection.
BOND NO9 Astor Place ($145/17.oz @ saks.com)
REDKEN Sparkling Shield ($11/5oz @ redken.com for salons) from the Color Extend Collection.
ZOYA Hot Lips Glossy Lip Balm in Starlet ($10 @ zoya.com)
JOSIE MARAN Bronzing Argan Oil ($52/1.7oz @ qvc.com)

In a way, I envy models. They are able to try just about every kind of makeup available in the world. In the WORLD! So they know the Holy Grail products and the clunkers. Sucking up all this knowledge up is what led former Maybelline New York spokes model to create JOSIE MARAN COSMETiCS. Her new eco-conscious cosmetics line contains everything you need and nothing you don’t. From Concealer to Lip Gloss and everything in between. My pick of the litter is her Lipstick ($18) in the creamy pink shade of Flirtatious. It really moisturizes and glides over lips. My other pick is the Pressed Powder ($30) in Natural. Not too cake-y and it gives a smooth natural finish.
And each rose-colored metallic case is made of corn based plastic, recycled aluminum or glass. I like that she goes the extra mile. Look for more features on this very wearable line. The site was supposed to be available in September so check back often @ josiemarancosmetics.com