Talk About Skin Care - NAYELLE

Today I would like to introduce you to a company whose core values are “honesty, integrity, and quality”. Canadian based NAYELLE offers a complete Rejuvenating Skincare Regime made with bioactive ingredients. Their line is completely cruelty-free and formulated without gluten, parabens, propylene glycol or other yucky stuff. Instead, you’ll find ingredients like Probiotic Goat Milk Kefir, Sea Kelp, Glacial Organic Clay and Snow Mushroom.

Image from nayelle.com/

NAYELLE is a four-step process scientifically designed by Peter Jurkemilk, CEO and Chief Biochemist, to help rejuvenate and repair the cells at the cellular level and make skin healthier and more radiant. Peter said, ” It’s the difference between eating processed canned, shelf food — versus — organic, live fresh food!” I adore that philosophy.

You can learn more about the company, their philosophy, and their ingredients by clicking here.

First up is their facial cleanser, aptly called CLEANSE. I need to get this out of the way and tell you that this is my least favorite part of the regime. This cleanser is a cream formulated with exfoliating bamboo and glacial oceanic clay. It’s designed to be gentle enough for all skin types but my dry, sensitive skin just didn’t love this particular cleanser. It’s a bit too much for me to use regularly but I do like it for days when I need a deep clean. I think anyone with oily, congested skin would be a huge fan.

My favorite product, hands down, is the PURIFY Clay Face Mask. This mask has become my ultimate go to when my skin needs a little something special. I’ve been using it once, sometimes even twice, a week since it arrived and I think it does something really wonderful and magical to my skin. It somehow purifies and hydrates, which is an uncommon combination. It’s like the Unicorn of my skincare routine! This magic mask is made with mineral rich clay composed of 60 rare minerals and ions that detoxifies impurities, restore the skin’s pH balance, helps restore damaged skin cells and hydrates, tightens and tones. Every time I use this mask I’m left with vibrant, clearer, healthier, softer skin that seems to glow from within. I’m always impressed after I rinse it off, as it makes an immediate and noticeable difference.

NAYELLE has two moisturizing products, HYDRATE, a moisturizing cream, and REJUVENATE, an anti-aging night cream.

HYDRATE is formulated with a very high concentration of Snow Mushroom which is said to be 3x more hydrating than hyaluronic acid and has the highest source of Vitamin D found in nature. It’s instantly hydrating and makes the skin feel really velvety and smooth. It’s not too heavy to wear under makeup so it’s perfect for daily use.

REJUVENATE is my favorite of the two creams, however, because it is so delightfully thick and rich. My dry skin adores it! It was created with all for of their core ingredients I mentioned above and is rich in protein, essential fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. It leaves my skin with such a gorgeous glow and makes my skin feel so plump and fresh. I love applying this before bed and when I wake up I’ve got a super healthy, happy, hydrated complexion. Love the stuff!

All of the products come in fairly simple but lovely packages. The two creams are in airless jars and the other two products are in squeeze tubes. Each of the four products has a slight citrus scent, which is light and fresh.

I think many people with different skin types can easily fall in love with this line and their products. You can learn more about NAYELLE by visiting their website by clicking here. You can also find the brand on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

(FTC: These products were sent to me for free for review consideration. I am not being compensated for this post. All thoughts and opinions are my own.) 

Talk About Cosmetics - Avril Cosmétiques

I am so excited today because I love skincare and I love all things beauty related but I think I love makeup the most. There’s something so fun about experimenting with cosmetics and recently a French brand reached out to me and offered to send me some products. I was beyond ecstatic when I got the e-mail and thrilled when the products arrived (in 5 days, by the way! That’s insane!) because they’re absolutely stunning!

The first thing you need to know is that they are completely cruelty-free! In accordance with European regulation, they do no animal testing and are also certified by PETA. The brand launched in April of 2012 and has four main values in their mission of making organic cosmetics affordable for every woman and those values are quality, ecology, price, and service. Their organic range is certified by Ecocert, which guarantees that at least 95% of the total ingredients in each product are natural or from natural origin and at least 10% of the ingredients are organic. To check out their mission statement and read more about their values you can click here.

I selected a few products that I thought looked nice from their website and wound up completely blown away by them once they arrived. The products I’ve tried are on par with luxury products, with steep price tags, that I’ve tried for a fraction of the price. They are so richly pigmented, beautifully formulated, easy to apply and wear wonderfully throughout the day. I am so impressed that I can’t even find the words to describe how good I think these products are. Of course, I haven’t tried everything from the line but the ones I have tried are delightful.

The Eye Shadow Palette Nude is probably my favorite of the bunch. There are 6 brown-toned shadows housed in a very thin, but sturdy, cardboard package. Each individual pan of product is quite large (1.5g, to be exact) and the powders are quite pigmented so you’re getting a lot of product for your buck. You’re getting 3 shades described as iridescent in the top row and 3 mattes on the bottom. I find that I can create multiple looks using only this palette and all six shades pair well together or wear well individually. They are all buttery smooth, easy to blend and stay put on the eyes. I like each color a lot and I find that the formula is just so beautiful.

Next up, let’s talk about the L’Highlighter, a beautiful champagne-toned highlighting powder. This little compact is gorgeous. It’s slightly powdery because it’s so finely milled but it’s nothing too difficult to deal with it. I’ve found that it goes on so smoothly and looks so natural and effortless once applied. It’s not all glittery or chunky and just blends seamlessly into the skin to make you look glowy and ethereal. I’m a huge fan!

The L’Anti-Cernes, or Concealer, in Ivorie, is a product that I’m not completely sold on. It actually has a really great finish that looks like real skin, it's quite luminous, but it has a scent that I don’t adore. It’s thin and easy to apply. It seems to melt into the skin but I can continue to smell it once it’s on my skin and I don’t like that part. I’ll have to keep experimenting with it because the finish is so great.

The Lipstick Pencil in Corail is so pretty! I love the shade, a matte coral color, and the formula is really nice, as well. These crayon-type lip colors are so easy to use and make application a breeze. I’m so happy because this product doesn’t irritate my lips at all, and you know how sensitive my lips can be! It doesn’t tug or drag and seems to provide a nice level of hydration. It’s a perfect lip product to keep in your purse!

Finally is the Mascara Volume Noir. I adore the brush, and the formula is really nice! It’s a nice teddy bear bristle brush with a great shape that really helps define and add volume. The formula is gentle and perfectly pigmented. It seems like a really dry mascara at first but is buildable so each swipe makes the lashes look more and more volumized and long. I like to use about 3 coats for a full lashy look. It lasts really well throughout the day and doesn't irritate my eyes at all. It’s a really nice, natural mascara.

If you’re interested in learning more about Avril or checking out their entire range you can visit their website by clicking here. You can also find them on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

(FTC: These products were sent to me for free for review consideration. I am not being compensated for this post. All thoughts and opinions are my own.) 

6th Blogiversary + 2017 Birthday-to-Birthday Giveaway

Today is a really special day because on this exact day six years ago I decided to try something new and enter into this world that I essentially knew nothing about. I was never really someone to put myself out there but I decided to take a chance and here we are six years, hundreds of blog posts, and thousands of followers later.

Many of you already know the story but I’ll dive into it just a bit for those of you who might be new around here. Beautiful Basics was created because I became ill in 2009 at the age of 22. I went from being able to do anything and everything I could have ever possibly dreamt of doing to being bedridden most days. When I first got sick I thought with all of my heart that I would get better but with time I found myself getting a little worse each and every day. I can’t even tell you how hard it was to go from being a normal 22-year-old with a job I loved and endless possibilities to being as sick as I was. I wasn’t doing anything and I needed to do something.

I really thought long and hard about things that I enjoyed and what I could possibly still do. I couldn’t go for a run or take up mounting climbing or anything strenuous so that narrowed my possibilities. In my free time, which was essentially all of my time, I watched a lot of beauty videos on YouTube and I read a lot of beauty blogs. I realized how much I loved it and wanted to try it myself so Beautiful Basics was born. It started as something very different than what it has become. It was originally a place where I shared very basic beauty tips and hacks but it morphed into a natural beauty blog where I now primarily review natural and organic beauty products. It kind of took on a mind of its own and continues to grow and change. Something born out of desperation for something resembling normalcy and out of a feeling of uselessness and hopelessness has become a wonderful outlet for me to write, which I love to do, and talk about beauty, which I also love.

I also created Beautiful Basics – The Sick Life as a way for me to share my journey to being well while living with chronic illness. Blogging has changed my life in a lot of ways because I have a way to get out my feelings while forming relationships with all of you. Whether you’ve been here since the beginning or if you somehow stumbled upon my blog today I want to tell you how thankful I am for you. I am truly grateful for each and every one of you.

The past 6 years of creating content for Beautiful Basics and being able to interact with all of you has given me hope and something I absolutely love to do. I appreciate this all so much more than you could ever know. I could have never imagined how many people would read my words or what companies would want to work with me. Each day brings something new and exciting into my life. Each like and comment you leave me mean a lot and I’m looking forward to continuing this journey with you all.

Today I’m launching the annual Birthday-to-Birthday giveaway for this year.  I put together one of those super popular sampler bags you all seem to enjoy. I like to do this as a way to say thank you. I only wish I could give you all a special prize because you mean a lot to me.



There is only one mandatory entry for the giveaway and after that you can do as many or as few of the options as you would like. Be sure to check out the terms and conditions. All entries will be verified. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

You Tell Me

I created Beautiful Basics, almost 6 years ago, for myself initially but it has become something I continue to do for each and every one of you.

Please help me out and leave a comment below letting me what you like to see on Beautiful Basics, and what you want more of.

What type of blog posts do you enjoy

seeing on Beautiful Basics the most? 

Skin Care Reviews

Cosmetics Reviews and Beauty Looks

Lifestyle posts (fashion, food, sick posts, etc)

Hair Care Reviews

DIY Beauty Recipes

Bath and Body Product Reviews

Or something else...

I'll be reading whatever comments you leave below. 

Thank you!

Talk About Skin Care - Wedderspoon Honey

Dearest Honey, I want you to know that I adore you. You’re a sweet treat for the taste buds but also for the skin. You never fail to brighten and hydrate and you always succeed in perking up my skin and making it feel soft and smooth. I can also turn to you when I’m getting spotty or my skin needs a helping hand. You’re my absolute favorite kitchen beauty staple and I need you in my life.

Okay, now that I’ve gotten my love letter to honey out of the way let’s talk about Wedderspoon. I’ve known about Manuka Honey for years but hadn’t tried it until I got a pot of their Raw Manuka Honey KFactor 16 and I absolutely love it. Manuka Honey is a special kind of honey that comes from the Manuka Flower, which grows on New Zealand’s North and South Islands. The plant itself is related to the Tea Tree Plant and has a very short blooming season. This stuff is like liquid gold!

Of course, it tastes delicious and has a lot of great health benefits but since Beautiful Basics is all about natural, holistic beauty I’m really into slathering the stuff all over my face and reaping the benefits. Manuka Honey is rich in antioxidants and is anti-inflammatory and antibacterial, acting as a humectant, promoting skin regeneration, repairing cellular damage and helps heal scars. 

I like to coat my entire face (lips, too!) in Manuka Honey once or twice a week and let it sit for as long as it can. I usually do it the bathtub so it’s part of a perfect self-pampering routine. I also occasionally use it as a facial cleanser and a spot treatment. This honey really helps my dry, sensitive skin in so many ways. It’s one of the most important steps in my skin care routine.

I’ve noticed that Manuka Honey has a much stronger smell than your average honey but it still smells sweet and slightly floral. While it’s a bit pricier than you might expect it spreads easily and a little goes a long way so a single jar should last quite a long time.

I’ve also been experimenting with the Gourmet Gift Set, containing 5.3-ounce jars of Wedderspoon Gold Raw Beechwood, Wedderspoon Gold Raw Dandelion, and Wedderspoon Gold Raw Rata Honeys.  They each taste delicious and work beautifully on their own as a skin treatment or mixed with other DIY beauty ingredients. It would make a fantastic gift!

Whether you’re looking for honey to consume or honey to take care of your skin Wedderspoon has something for you. They also have soap, lip balm and night cream. You can check out their products by clicking here or you can click here to learn more about the company. You can also find them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

(FTC: These products were sent to me for free for review consideration. I am not being compensated for this post. All thoughts and opinions are my own.)