Talk About It - NOW Solutions

Whether you're new to natural beauty or you've been enjoying the spoils of the natural beauty aisles for a while now, you're probably somewhat familiar with NOW Solutions. I was contacted by the company and offered the chance to feature them on Beautiful Basics. NOW Solutions is a family owned company that has been creating and selling cruelty free personal care products made with only pure ingredients since 1968. Their products are high quality, affordable, and accessible! They have a fantastic selection of products you can use to stock your beauty pantry with, like essential oils and carrier oils, or ready to use formulas, like cleansers and moisturizers.

I think the products from their line that stand out most for someone like me, who likes DIY beauty, is what I like to call the beauty pantry staples. These are the products that you can use to produce your own beauty creations that every green goddess needs in her arsenal.



They have so many essential oils, organic and not, to choose from. Peppermint is my absolute all-time favorite essential so I obviously had to try the NOW version and I also selected 3 more of my favorites to test out. I went for the Certified Organic Essential Oils and I'm so pleased with them, with the exception of the Lavender – more on that in a sec. The Peppermint is such a beautiful and true essential oil. I'm in love with it. I'm a migraineur so I'm always appreciative of a good peppermint and this one is pleasant, perfect, and refreshing. The Tea Tree is your typical Tea Tree and the Orange is light and fresh, my Mom's favorite! I'm not really sure why I don't like the Lavender but it smells like artificial lavender to my oversensitive sniffer. Maybe I just don't like Lavender Essential Oil? I've always used another well-known brands essentials oils but these are far superior and I highly recommend them. I also love the bottles and simple but pretty labels.

Next on the agenda is the rest of the DIY lineup including a humectant, carrier oils, and clay. You can mix and match these oils to your hearts content to come up with the perfect ration for you and your skin type. I've been experimenting with Avocado Oil, Sweet Almond Oil, Castor Oil, Coconut Oil, and Organic Argan Oil. All of NOW's oils that I just mentioned, with the exception of the Organic Argan Oil which comes in a dark glass bottle with a dropper, are housed in clear bottles that contains UV light protection. They are all expeller-pressed and Hexane free.



Each oil has wonderful hydrating properties and can be used for different things. I love to add a few drops of Castor Oil to my hair conditioner and I love to use the Coconut Oil as a base for scrub recipes while the Almond and Argan Oils make great skin moisturizers. I think the Avocado Oil is my favorite because it's so rich and deeply hydrating which is perfect for us dry skinned gals.



Vegetable Glycerin is a must have humectant that helps bind water to the skin and is great to add into almost any DIY beauty recipe. You can add a few drops it to your shampoo, conditioner, facial moisturizer, or serum for an extra boost of hydration. The Moroccan Red Clay Powder has become one of my favorite go to products for an easy mask that is gentle on my sensitive skin but helps purify, brighten, and make my skin look better. I love the stuff! It's messy but that's part of the fun. I simply mix some of the powder with water, adding honey sometimes for an extra something special, and apply the paste to my skin and let dry. I can feel it tightening my pores as it dries but it's not one of those masks that hurts or feels really uncomfortable. My skin loves it and I love the result once I rinse it off.

Now let's move on to my thoughts on their personal care products that I've been testing out.



I've been alternating between the Vitamin C & Oryza Sativa Gentle Scrub and Nature's Microderm when my skin needs a little exfoliation. Both are surprisingly gentle but pack quite the brightening punch. My skin has a tendency to get a bit irritated but these two scrubs are mild and leave my skin looking renewed and healthy without the redness that sometimes goes along with exfoliation.



I was also sent the Vitamin C & Sea Buckthorn Moisturizer for face and the Vitamin C & Sea Buckthorn Lotion for body. I absolutely love the Moisturizer and the way it makes my face feel. It's the perfect day cream and wears beautifully under makeup and doesn't cause any meltdown. The body lotion is nice but nothing special. Both have a very nice scent and leave behind a lovely amount of moisture without feeling tacky, sticky, or greasy.



Finally, let's discuss the Citrus Moisture Shampoo and Citrus Moisture Conditioner. I really like the way these smell, very light and clean. They are both fairly basic but they're nice and leave my hair feeling manageable and soft. The shampoo lathers really well and the conditioner is very moisturizing without being heavy and it never leaves my hair looking limp or greasy.

To learn more about NOW you can visit their website by clicking here. You can also find them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Simple Sea Salt Solution for Troubled Skin

Have you ever been fortunate enough to spend some quality time at a beach, enjoying the sunshine and salt water? If you have you may have noticed that the salty ocean water helps to clear up skin and makes it look radiant and fresh. Nothing does the body, or the soul, better than a relaxing beach getaway but if you're like me you're stuck in a cold, gray part of the world with no coastline in sight. I do have one of the largest lakes in North America nearby, but it's currently frozen and full of algae.

Anyway, the point is, you can make your own salt water treatment at home if you're not lucky enough to be able to take a dip in the sea! Please be warned, this is not for those of you with dry skin!

All you need is some finely ground pure sea salt and some warm purified water! Combine the two and let sit until the salt is completely dissolved. I'm not going to give you exact measurements for this recipe because it all comes down to your personal tastes. You can use more or less salt depending on how oily/blemished your skin is. You can put it in a spray bottle if you would like to spritz your face and body or you can just apply it with a cotton pad.

I use this as a toner on my face, neck, chest, and back as needed. I also like soaking a washcloth in hot salt water and applying the cloth directly to my problem area(s). Remember to rinse the solution off though, because leaving it on too long will cause dryness. It's a nice little relaxing treat that helps purify the skin!

Try it out! It's incredibly cheap and easy and is an excellent spot zapper. You can also use it as a spot treatment if you're worried about drying your skin out too much. Enjoy!

This is what the closest ocean to me looks like. Not quite tropical and warm enough to dive in, but still pretty! We go there often just to enjoy nature. What about you? Do you live near the ocean or frequent the beach?

Papaya Glow

One of my favorite foods in the entire world is a fresh, ripe papaya. I could eat a million papayas and not get sick of them! I find them so delicious I just can't get enough! I don't only enjoy eating them though. Whenever I finish eating a papaya, I take the peel into the shower with me and rub it directly onto my face, chest, and neck.



Papaya is rich in antioxidants and has a special enzyme called papain that acts as a natural exfoliator. The natural alpha hydroxy acids in the fruit help break down dead skin cells leaving skin looking smoother, brighter, more even in tone and texture, and overall healthier looking and feeling.

Lately I have been leaving a little extra papaya meat behind to mix with honey to use as a facial mask. I take a fork and just mash the papaya until its mostly broken down and then add a spoonful of raw honey. After washing my face with a gentle cleanser I apply the mixture to my face and neck and let it sit for 20-30 minutes.

Since there are natural acids in the fruit it can burn a little but it is nothing to worry about. Rinse off with lukewarm water and a wash cloth and apply your favorite serum and/or moisturizer. With continued use, this mask should help with uneven skin tone, hyperpigmentation, and blemishes. It will also leave your skin looking more radiant and glowing!

Remember, it is important try a small amount on your arm to check if you're allergic. If it feels more intense than very minor stinging you may be allergic or too sensitive to use this mask so rinse off right away.

Travel Friendly Vegan Lip Scrub

Super soft and healthy lips are a must for me and I love making my own lip scrub but my favorite recipe is olive oil based so it's a little hard to travel with. This summer if you're on the go and want flake free lips you can make a jar of this lip scrub to toss in your bag, and since it's made of coconut oil it will fare a little better in your luggage. Just be warned that coconut oil does melt when it gets hot. Also, this recipe is vegan!


Put the coconut oil in a bowl and place the bowl in hot water until the oil is liquefied. Stir in the sugar and agave and pour the mixture into a small lip balm or skin care pot. Apply to your lips and massage gently. Obviously this scrub is edible so you can lick it off if you would like but I prefer using a warm, damp washcloth. I like using this scrub at night before I go to bed and I always follow up with a heavy-duty lip balm to lock in the hydration the oil provides.

Oats to the Rescue

I have been absolutely and completely obsessed with oatmeal lately but not in the way you might think. While I do enjoy a warm, hearty bowl of oatmeal for breakfast on occasion I'm not talking about mealtime today. Oatmeal works wonders on the skin and I cannot get enough!

My skin has been looking a little sad lately, thanks to my whacko hormones. I've had dry patches, oil slicks, blemishes, and even some flakes. My skin has also been really dehydrated, which makes no sense to me since I drink a gallon of water every single day, so I needed a little something extra to pamper my skin.

Oatmeal is really calming, soothing, moisturizing, and it acts as an anti-inflammatory, which makes it a powerful skin care ally. I've been using oatmeal in several forms for the past couple of weeks and I wanted to share my 3 favorite ways with you. All 3 oatmeal recipes require ground up oats. I use my coffee bean grinder to turn my uncooked oatmeal into a fine powder.



As a gentle, daily cleanser – This one is super simple. Mix your oatmeal powder with water until your mixture turns into a paste. Start with a little water and slowly add more until you get a consistency you like. I personally like mine a little thick. Massage your paste gently onto your face like you would a normal cleanser and rinse off. I use it daily and my skin really loves it!

As a scrub – If you need a deeper clean try adding a little baking soda into your cleansing paste.

As a mask – Mix dry oatmeal powder with raw, organic honey until you have a thick paste like consistency. This needs to be a pretty thick consistency so it sticks to your skin and doesn't make a huge mess. I use more oat powder than honey in my mixture. I wash my face first and then massage the oat and honey mask into my face and neck. I like to leave this on for 20-30 minutes before rinsing off with warm water. Be careful with this since it's messy and can still drip a little regardless of how thick you make it. This mask makes my skin look fantastic, healthy, and luminous. It also helps get rid of blemishes!



Do you know of any other ways to use oatmeal powder?

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.

Dehydrated Skin Saver

If your skin is feeling the harsh effects of the cold winter months, like mine has been, then todays DIY beauty recipe will be perfect for you. The ingredients in the following mask are nourishing, soothing, and super rich so your skin will drink it all in and be left feeling hydrated and healthy.




Chop up the cucumber and avocado, then place all four ingredients into the blender or food processor to create a paste. Once your mixture is thouroughly blended you can massage the mask onto your freshly cleansed face, neck, and chest. Let the mask sit for 20 to 30 minutes before rinsing off with lukewarm water. Follow up with your favorite facial oil or moisturizer.

Simple Blemish Busting Mask

I don't know about you but acne really bums me out. I've been lucky for the majority of my life and had clear skin but now that I'm in my mid-twenties my skin has been having some serious hormonal acne problems. I have always known about the benefits of using tea tree oil to combat blemishes but I'm just now beginning to experiment.

Even though the recipe I am sharing with you today is super simple, it's an awesome treat for your skin. If you're seeing spots this mask will become your new best friend! The following two ingredients combine to create an antibacterial and antiseptic yet hydrating facial mask.



What you need:
1 tablespoon of honey
3-5 drops of tea tree oil (start with the minimal amount and then you can adjust according to your personal preferences)
Once you mix the tea tree oil into the honey just apply evenly on clean skin and let sit for 15 to 20 minutes before rinsing off with lukewarm water. If you want to cover your neck and chest you can double the recipe.

You can use this mask several times a week as desired and it should keep pesky pimples at bay. However, this isn't a miracle mask and it won't completely heal your skin. In fact, any product promising miracles probably will let you down. This mask will help brighten, refresh, and minimize red and angry blemishes. Remember to spot test before using in case your sensitive to the oil.

Hydrating Carrot Mask

For a lot of people, myself included, fall and winter tends to lead to dry (or dryer than normal) skin. I always amp up my facial routine during the colder months and use creamier cleanser, thicker moisturizers, and moisture infusing masks and treatments. If you have oily skin, today's recipe is not for you. If you need a hydrating and nourishing facial mask then look no further!


Combine the yolk with the carrot and apply the mixture to your face. Massage it into your skin and let it sit for 20-30 minutes before rinsing off with warm water. Make sure to use your favorite moisturizer afterwards to lock in the benefits of the mask.

Skin Clearing Facial

It's been a while since I've talked about the skin benefits of apple cider vinegar, but if you've been with me since the beginning you remember how much I love the magical, amber colored liquid for toning and taming breakouts as well as using to clean nails before a manicure or using it as a rinse for hair. Since I've had several readers asking for DIY recipes that are perfect for oily and acne prone skin, I figured now was the perfect time to bust out ACV again.

The three, simple ingredients in this recipe combine to create a nourishing, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial mask so it's perfect for using on blemished skin. It's also good for those of us who want to clarify our skin. Be sure to patch test this mask (like all masks, treatments, and scrubs) before applying to your face.


This mask is supposed to be a bit runny so you may need to adjust the ingredients until you have a consistency you're happy with. Once you have the consistency you desire, apply to a clean face. Let the mask sit for 20-30 minutes before rinsing off with water. Be sure to follow up with your favorite moisturizer!

Sweet and Sour Scrub

I absolutely love to exfoliate my skin. It's my favorite step in taking care of my skin so I love playing around and experimenting with different scrubs. This one features pantry staples including my favorite DIY beauty ingredient, honey, as well as lemon and sugar. It's super simple and easy to make and use. This scrub comes in handy for people with discolored and uneven skin, dull skin, large pores, or acne.

Any of the aforementioned skin types will benefit from using this scrub, however it's important to test how your skin reacts to the ingredients, especially since many people have sensitivities to citrus. Lemon juice, as all citrus juice, will make skin sensitive to the sun so be sure to use SPF if you do this during the day; however, I recommend using facial scrubs like this before going to bed so your skin has time to regenerate.


Mix the ingredients together in a bowl and apply to your freshly cleansed face. Massage the mixture gently into your skin for several (2-3) minutes before rinsing off with warm water. Be sure to avoid the delicate eye area. Make sure to follow up with your favorite serum or moisturizer.

Roses Are Red...

Roses are beautiful, timeless, fragrant and also therapeutic. Rose water has been used and revered for centuries all over the world for so many different purposes. It is said that Cleopatra even used rosewater as part of her daily beauty routine and loved it! It has antibacterial, soothing, antiseptic and healing benefits. It is often used in cosmetics, skincare, hair products, medicine and even for cooking and baking.

Rose water is very effective when it comes to skin infections and problems. It can hydrate dry skin, reduce swelling and redness, purify and tone the skin, and help with blemishes. It can also tame irritated, sensitive skin. You can find rose water available for purchase at any store with a good natural or organic section, but you can make your own at home. It's so easy, and when you make your own you know for a fact that it is high quality and 100% natural.

You need 1 cup of rose petals (make sure to rinse them well before beginning), packed down in the measuring cup like you would do with flour or brown sugar while baking. Put the petals into a heat resistant bowl and pour two cups of boiling distilled water over them; use just enough to cover them. Steep for half and hour before pouring the rosewater through a strainer into a bottle or jar of your choosing. Your rosewater will be good for about 7 to 10 days in your refrigerator.


You can use your rosewater for:

Toning your face after cleansing
As an aftershave to calm the skin
Spraying on your face to cool and refresh
Adding to your bath to smooth skin
Creating your own natural beauty products

Cocoa Facial

Chocolate is becoming a hot commodity in the spa and beauty industry, especially in the form of facials and body treatments, however these sweet treats for your skin can get a little pricey. Instead of forking over your hard-earned cash each time you want to pamper your skin with cocoa, try making your own mask at home for a fraction of the cost.

What you need:
1 tablespoon of pure organic cocoa powder
1 tablespoon of kaolin clay
1 tablespoon of honey
½ tablespoon of cream
Mix your dry ingredients in a bowl together before adding the honey and cream. Stir the mixture until it is fully combined and smooth, then apply the mask to clean skin. You want to apply the mask evenly so your entire face is covered. Leave the mask on for 10 to 15 minutes before rinsing off with warm water. Make sure to apply your favorite moisturizer after any mask, scrub or treatment.

The ingredients in the mask act to brighten, exfoliate, purify, and soften the skin. When your finished your skin should feel fresh, clean, and rejuvenated. Enjoy!

Carrot Juice Facial

I absolutely love carrot juice. It is delicious and rich in nutrients, vitamin c, and antioxidants. Everything that makes carrot juice a healthful drink also makes it a wonderful natural beauty recipe ingredient. The skin craves the vitamins found in carrots and the vitamin c helps skin produce collagen and makes skin appear younger and more supple. Adding honey and baking soda to carrot juice will form a thin paste perfect for applying as a facial mask to plump up the skin, hydrate and brighten.



What you need: 1 tablespoon of honey
½ teaspoon carrot juice (you can make your own or buy an organic version)
¼ teaspoon of baking soda (you can use more of less depending on the consistency you would like your mask to be)

Mix the ingredients together making sure to blend them well. Once the mixture is ready to be applied gently massage over the face and neck. You should always apply masks and treatments on clean, dry skin. Leave it on for 20 to 30 minutes before rinsing off with warm water. Follow up with your favorite moisturizer.

Cucumber Cooler

Cucumbers are not only incredibly delicious and healthy - They are also good for you, and your skin. Many companies have been infusing their cosmetics and skincare products with cucumbers but you can use this at home recipe I'm going to share with you and get the same benefits. Cucumbers have so many health benefits because they are packed full of vitamins and minerals. They're also made up of 90% water, which makes them hydrating and cooling. Another cool thing they do is work to prevent water retention due to a couple of acids found in their flesh. They're known to soothe and soften.


Today's recipe is for a cucumber toner, and it's so easy!

All you need is one medium sized cucumber and 2 tablespoons of distilled water (it's really important to use distilled water when your skin is involved because it doesn't have the heavy minerals, salts, and iron that tap water can have). Take the cucumber and peel the skin off and cut into cubes. Put the cucumber cubes and water into your blender and blend until you get a thick, liquid substance. Now you need to strain the mixture to get rid of the pulp and the seeds and pour it into a bottle.

It is REALLY important to keep this toner in the refrigerator and use it up within 3-5 days. You can always use a smaller cucumber and less water if you don't think you'll use the mixture before it needs to be tossed but I find that in the warmer months it's such a nice, cool treat you'll want to use it all up.
Using a cucumber toner on your face is great all year round, but it's especially helpful in the spring and summer because of the cooling effect it has. When you are hot and uncomfortable, cucumber can calm and cool your skin. It's great for every day use on your face or for helping to put out the fire that sunburns cause. Try putting your mixture into a spray bottle, keeping it in the fridge, and spritzing it on after a long day in the sun. You'll love the feel of it on your skin.

You can also use this mixture to reduce puffy eyes and combat dark under eye circles. Oh, and I forgot to mention that this is perfect for all skin types and tones.

Try it out and let me know what you think!

Creamy Berry Facial

Strawberries are superheroes when it comes to nourishing skin and fighting acne. They also happen to be one of my favorite fruits (actually, one of my favorite foods in general!). I took my first steps for a ripe, red strawberry and now in addition to eating them regularly, I use them to supplement my skin care routine. Strawberries are in season and perfect for the picking right now so it's a terrific time to share a berry great facial mask.

Since strawberries have a natural type of salicylic acid in them they are perfect for those of you with oily or acne prone skin, but they're also beneficial for normal skin. They help soften, exfoliate, and brighten the skin. You can use them on their own or you can mix up a batch of the following facial mask:

What you need:½ cup of fresh strawberries (this is around 3-5 berries)
1 tablespoon of plain yogurt (I like Greek yogurt for my skin)
2 teaspoons of honey

You can either use a blender to mix the ingredients with a fork to mash them. You should end up with a consistency similar to a smoothie. Apply on your clean face and let your skin soak up the nutrients for 20 minutes before rinsing off with warm water.

Sweet Cream Facial

Does your skin need a little brightening, revitalizing, or exfoliating? Well, you have come to the right place if it does, because I have the perfect healthy, do-it-yourself facial recipe today! I love all three of the ingredients used in this recipe on their own and in a million other combinations but this one is at the top of my favorites list.


What you need:
2 tablespoons of finely ground oatmeal (you can either buy oat powder or use a coffee grinder to mill your own regular oatmeal)
1 tablespoon of honey
2 tablespoons of cream or milk (you can use what you have but the higher the fat content the better)

Mix your ingredients together until smooth and apply to your freshly cleansed skin. Once it's applied, you can massage your skin in small, gentle circles to let the oatmeal act as a scrub and then let your mixture sit on your skin for 15 minutes before rinsing off. The oatmeal and cream will act as exfoliants while the honey imparts moisture and antibacterial properties. Once the mask if off you skin should be softer, brighter, and cleaner.

Going Bananas

Bananas are staples in most homes, and my family members could be considered connoisseurs of the healthful, yellow fruit since we go through bunches of bananas. I love to eat bananas and never feel guilty about doing so because they are packed full of potassium, phosphorous, magnesium, calcium, and tons of vitamins. Since they are so good for your insides, I decided to do a little research and discovered that they are really good for your outsides as well.

If you want to keep it simple, just mash up half of a banana until smooth and apply the mush directly to your cleansed face. Leave it on for 15 to 20 minutes before rinsing off. When it's time to rinse your skin will feel a bit tight. Bananas are really soothing and good for irritated or inflamed skin. Using a banana on your face will help soften, smooth, and refresh.

If you have some left over from your facial, apply a generous amount to your under eye area and let sit for 20 minutes. The high potassium content in the super fruit will help get rid of dark circle, puffiness, and fine lines.

Wait - Don't toss the peel just yet! Despite the fact that it sounds a bit gross and the peel feels really slimy and weird rubbing the inside of banana peel directly on your skin will also make the skin feel really soft and hydrated. Doing this often has also been known to reduce acne. I think this would be perfect for sunburned skin as well since it's so cooling and soothing.

Let me know how you feel about using bananas for beauty and if you have any other banana beauty tips!

Moisture Matters

A common misconception about skin care that people with oily skin have is that since their skin is oily they don't need to moisturize. That thought could not be any further from the truth. Everyone regardless of skin type needs to moisturize. Oily skin is often oily because of a deep-seated need for hydration – oily skin is often actually very dehydrated skin that is overcompensating by creating excess sebum.

It's important to find the right moisturizer for your own skin type – which in your case oily gals is a light, water-soluble moisturizer so here is a super simple light lotion recipe that would be perfect for daytime use.

What you need :
1 ounce of Aloe Vera gel
2 teaspoons of vegetable glycerin
1 teaspoon of melted beeswax (you can skip this if you're a Vegan)
½ teaspoon of jojoba oil

Add all of the ingredients together and stir them until the beeswax starts to cool which will take about 5 minutes. Put the mixture into a jar or a bottle and voila! You have you very own facial lotion that is perfect for combating the "greasies". This will last for about 3 weeks.

The Masked Avenger

Pimples are pesky and stubborn annoyances in our lives that seem to pop up at the worst times possible. If you have an irritating spot that you want to decrease in size, severity, and redness then I've got the perfect facial mask for you with a combination of minerals, potassium, alpha hydroxy acid, and honey which is antibacterial and anti-inflammatory.




What you need:
½ ripe banana
1 tablespoon of honey
1 tablespoon of lemon juice

Mash the banana and work the ingredients together until you have a paste-like consistency. Apply evenly to your skin and let it sit for 15-30 minutes before rinsing off. This mask should greatly reduce the severity of any active breakout you have and leave your skin feeling clean and revitalized. You can do this once or twice a week depending on your personal preference. It will also help to decrease oil.

I don't recommend using this mask on extremely sensitive skin, only because lemon juice is an acid and super sensitive skin should never go near acid of any type. With that being said, I do tend to have skin that has sensitivities and I have never had a problem with lemon juice. Always remember to spot test a new beauty product, treatment, or recipe on your inner arm so you can test for allergies.