Spring Beauty Giveaway

Happy Spring Beautiful! In honor of my favorite season (since my birthday is in April!) I'm giving you the opportunity to win a purse-sized cosmetic bag filled with natural goodies pefect for the warmer months.

The bag contains:

2.2 oz Pikake Body Lotion from Lanikai Bath and Body (seriously smells like Hawaii)

A Mineral Bronzer from Monave (perfect for lighter skin tones)

Lizard Lips Natural Lip Balm with SPF 22 (you have to protect those lips when the sun is shining!)

and a Mad Gabs Wildly Natural Lip Shimmer in Plum

To enter to win just use the Rafflecopter form below. It may take a minute or two to load.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

DIY Acne Wipes

I feel like I haven't posted a DIY beauty recipe in such a long time so I figured it was the perfect time! Besides, spring is on it's way and I tend to experiment with beauty recipes more in the warmer months so I have a feeling I'll be posting a lot soon.

Anyway, let's talk about what's on the agenda for today. I think I've probably mentioned to you in the past that I have a problem with breakouts on my back. My spots are so embarrassing and even a little painful. They also always seem to scar, which is super irritating. I've been testing different things out and nothing seems to keep them completely at bay but I use dead sea salt in the shower, which helps quite a bit, and then I get out of the shower and use a DIY acne pad.

If you want to make your own DIY cleansing wipes (think Stridex pads, but healthy and natural) keep reading to find out how.




In a separate bowl, combine the essential oils and witch hazel and make sure the ingredients are incorporated together. Put your cotton rounds in your container and then pour the mixture over the cotton rounds, let it sit and absorb for several minutes.

You can use your freshly made wipes on your back like I do or on your face! Be sure to test your skin for an allergy to either essential oil before applying though.

Talk About It - Eminence Organic Skin Care

I've been testing out the Bright Skin Cleanser by Eminence Organic Skin Care and I have to say that I'm fairly impressed. The company has been making organic skin care since 1958 and I can see why they have earned so many awards and accolades in the past 55 years. My skin was going through a dry spell and was patchy and flaky when I started using this cleanser and noticed an immediate different in the texture of my skin. I was totally surprised by how soft my skin felt after using it for the first time.



It's light green in color and has a very smooth and creamy consistency. It also comes in a huge (8.4 fl oz) bottle that will last a very long time. It sells for $38 but you get a lot of product for the money.

It's extremely gentle and refreshing. This cleanser is moisturizing, but not heavy and rinses clean without stripping the skin or leaving a residue behind. I have normal to dry skin and my Mom has combination skin and we both really like this cleanser. I can't say that I have noticed a change in any dark spots or age spots, which is a technicality because I don't actually have any, so I can't comment on how well it fades discoloration. I can, however, comment on the fact that my skin appears to glow after using it.

The only negative thing I can say is that is has a very strong scent. It's not an awful scent, but it is very potent and lingers for hours after cleansing. It reminds me of Irish Spring soap for whatever reason.



I was also sent the Bamboo Firming Fluid, although the smell was too much for me, so I had to pass it on to my Mom who has been using it since it arrived. Here are her thoughts: "Although the smell is strong at first, it does dissipate in a short time. It hydrates well and is an excellent natural Retinol alternative. It firms and I believe I have seen a difference in my skin after using this product. My skin is becoming much more "mature" than I would like it to be but at 45 I guess that is to be expected."

To learn more about the company you can visit their website by clicking here. You can find Eminence in a spa near you by using this locator. You can also purchase the products online at Dermstore.com.

It's My Blogiversary!!!!

Today, March 15, is the 2 year anniversary of Beautiful Basics.

I can't even believe how far my little publication has come in the past 24 months! I'm so happy to have you all here as part of the Beautiful Basics community and I appreciate each and every one of you. I look forward to seeing where this blog will be in another 2 years!

I couldn't let this day go by without celebrating by launching a giveaway, so if you want to win a copy of Eco-Beautiful (a great guide to natural beauty and wellness, perfect for beginners) by Lina Hanson just enter using the Rafflecopter form below. It may take a minute or two to load.

Good luck Beauties, and thank you again for all of your support! a Rafflecopter giveaway

Talk About It - Pomegranate Nail Lacquer Royal Fairy Tale Collection

Last Halloween I posted a review of Pomegranate Nail Lacquer and my thoughts on a couple of their fall collection polishes and now it's time to talk about their most recent collection. The company recently launched 14 new lovely shades in a collection entitled the Royal Fairy Tale Collection. The polishes in this collection are fit for any princess and I'm so excited to share with you!



I was given the opportunity to choose 2 of the Royal Fairy Tale polishes to review and let me tell you how difficult it was to pick. Each and every color in this collection is stunning and it was nearly impossible but in the end I went for Book of Spells and Storm the Castle.



I have a feeling I will be wearing Book of Spells and spring and summer because I love it so much! The company describes this polish on their website as a "rich bronze metallic foil". It's so beautiful! I've never worn a shade like this before but it's so gorgeous I don't ever want to take it off. It's everything I dreamed it would be. The formula is divine. It goes on smoothly and easily. It also wears well and has a lovely high shine finish.



The other shade I ended up choosing is Storm the Castle, which is described as a "deep, cloudy teal-grey jelly". This color is so, so pretty but unfortunately it's not very flattering with my pale skin. I also found it a little harder to work with than the other Pomegranate polishes I have tried. It is unbelievably shiny which makes me appreciate it more but I'm just not sure this particular polish is for me. I will, however, try it again once my skin gets a bit of color in the warmer months.

As always, I want to point out that there is no such thing as truly natural nail polish but Pomegranate Nail Lacquers are healthier and safer since they are 4-free (meaning no toluene, formaldehyde, DBP or camphor) and cruelty free. Another important selling point is that their polish is made in the USA and retails for $8.50.

Aslo, if you're interested in picking up a bottle of any of these colors for yourself you might want to act quickly because all Pomegranate Nail Lacquers are available in limited quanities.

To learn more about the company or to purchase your choice of polish you can visit Pomegranate Nail Lacquers website. You can also find them on Facebook and Twitter.

Talk About It - Sia Botanics Desert Aloe & Jojoba Cream

Sia Botanics is a line of skin care products based on the power of the botanicals found in the Sonoran Desert like Prickly Pear, Aloe, Jojoba, and White Sage. They have formulated 4 different collections with oils and extracts from these plants to benefit all skin types whether you have dry, aging, or oily and blemished skin. All of their products are vegan and cruelty free as well as free from gluten, parabens, sulfates, petrochemicals, and synthetic colors or fragrance.

Thanks to Sia Botanics I now have a new favorite facial moisturizer. I seriously love the Desert Aloe and Jojoba Cream. This cream is formulated to nourish and renew dry and dehydrated skin and I feel that it has helped my skin so much this past month. My skin has been incredibly dehydrated and flaky this winter and when I started using this cream in January my skin immediately started to improve.



I feel like this facial cream is very simple yet effective. I use it both day and night and it works well under makeup or on its own. It absorbs quickly into the skin and doesn't leave my face looking greasy or shiny. It doesn't feel tacky or sticky like some moisturizers for dry skin do. It also doesn't irritate my skin or leave a buildup behind.

This cream is made up of: Organic Aloe Vera Juice, Jojoba oil, Grapeseed Oil, Emulsifying Wax NF, Palm Stearic Acid, Evening Primrose Oil, Vitamin E, Witch Hazel, Xanthan Gum, Organic Black Willowbark Extract, Mannan, Neem Oil, Rosemary Oil, and Citric Acid. It comes in a 2 oz jar is costs less than $20 so it is very affordable.

To learn more about Sia Botanics and their products you can visit their website by clicking here.

Booda Butter Giveaway!!!

The majority of you seemed to be really interested in the Booda Butter I reviewed the other day so I contacted the company and asked if they would be interested in doing a giveaway for you Beauties and they generously said yes! If you missed the review you can read it by clicking here.

If you're interested in winning your own tub of Booda Butter and a tube of the Booda Butter Naked Lip Balm just check out the Rafflecopter form below! a Rafflecopter giveaway