Talk About Cosmetics - Wander Beauty Lip & Cheek Gels

Have you heard of Wander Beauty? I’ve been so intrigued about the brand for so, so long that when it came time to make a Christmas wish list I knew I had to include them somehow. Then I found the Carryon Wherever You Go kit and added it my list with glee. Turns out Santa (or my Dad) found my list and I unwrapped the set on Christmas morning and have been enjoying this incredible set since then.

The set contains minis of Wander Beauty’s four Carryon Lip and Cheek Gels. The colors, which all have a satin finish, are island Hop, Pink City, Tinseltown and Madisoness. They’re made with hydrating, soothing, conditioning ingredients and color that is easy to blend, buildable and long-lasting. They leave behind a gorgeous stain and work as well on the cheeks as they do on the lips and as well on the lips as they do on the cheeks. I’ve tried many lip and cheek products and I can’t say they all work that way, this is actually incredibly rare, and these minis do it seamlessly.

All four shades are so pretty! Choosing a favorite is hard but it might just be Pink City since it’s a classic, easy-to-wear mauve shade. You’ve also got the fun bright pink Island Hop, peachy nude Madisoness, and rose toned red aptly called Tinseltown. They all have their time and place, so I’ve gotten tons of wear out of each.

Top to bottom: Tinseltown, Pink City, Island Hop, Madisoness

The formula is so smooth and buttery it’s just like wearing an ultra-luxurious lip balm. My lips love the hydration and comfort they provide. They have no scent or taste. The color is gorgeous and lasts so beautifully, on cheeks or lips. After a few hours the balm wears away and you’re left with a pretty wash of color. They blend effortlessly on cheeks and last well as blush, too. These are an absolute dream! The size is perfect, too! They fit in any pocket, purse, makeup bag, hand, wherever! They’re cute but not too itty bitty. They still have a good amount of product and will last a good length of time.

They, like all Wander Beauty products, are cruelty-free, vegan, and free from parabens, synthetic fragrances, mineral oil, and phthalates.

I’m absolutely in love. If they had more colors I would purchase them. And I am certainly even more interested in Wander Beauty now that I’ve found love with these four baby beauty gems. Let me know if you’ve tried anything from Wander Beauty and if you have any favorites from the line.

My Dad bought my gift set from QVC, but you can find the full-sized individual versions (which are much larger) on Wanderbeauty.com, Sephora, Nordstrom and anywhere Wander Beauty is sold. 

Talk About Cosmetics - Ilia Tinted Lip Conditioner Trio

I love lip products. In fact, I think lipstick might be my favorite type of cosmetic. Actually, I don’t know about that because it’s too hard to choose just one favorite but I really do adore lipstick. I think there is something so wonderfully transformative about a swipe or two of a flattering lipstick applied to the lips. It’s like magic, or like the icing on top of a cake, or maybe the cherry on top of a hot fudge sundae

Anyway, enough with the weird metaphors (I guess I have food on the brain) because I’ve got the Ilia Tinted Lip Conditioner Trio on the agenda for today and it’s a good one so let’s get started!



My parents got me this for my birthday. I found it on Anthrpologie.com and put it on my wish list. When I opened it on my special day it made me smile because it’s even better in person that I thought it would be! These are the smallest and cutest little lippies I have ever seen!



I’m a huge fan of Ilia and have done a review on Beautiful Basics in the past (you can find that here) and a couple of years ago my Mom surprised me with Shell Shock which became my absolute favorite lip product of life. I love their Tinted Lip Conditioners so this set was a match made in beauty heaven for me!

I have a secret to tell you, I’ve never finished an entire lipstick before it goes bad so this size is a dream come true! This set comes with 3 of their Tinted Lip Conditioners that are miniaturized down to an adorable 1.4 gram (or .04 ounce) size. They’re perfectly portable and can fit in your smallest clutch or your tightest jean pocket.



It’s important to note that the lipsticks are housed in plastic tubes instead of the classic Ilia metal but that doesn’t bother me. As for the shades, you get Blossom Lady, Bang Bang, and Arabian Knights in the box. Let’s take a minute to talk about how beautiful the box itself is. It’s sturdy and beautiful with its pink and rose gold aesthetic. Back to the colors inside the box, though, which are all so pretty.

Blossom Lady is a gorgeous pink shade, perfect for daily wear. It’s such a pretty pink color that looks very feminine and soft. Bang Bang is a classic, but easy to wear, red that is absolutely gorgeous. Arabian Knights is a buildable berry shade that is super flattering on.

Top Left: Arabian Knights   Top Right: Bang Bang
Bottom Left: Blossom Lady

The Ilia Tinted Lip Conditioners are a really cool hybrid product. They are super nourishing and hydrating on the lips so they feel like a lip balm but they pack a pretty punch of color that is more reminiscent of a lipstick. The colors are effortless and can be applied for a sheer wash of color or built up for a more intense and opaque look. They are truly versatile!

As with all Ilia products, these little babies are cruelty-free, gluten-free and made with certified organic ingredients. They’re beautiful, nontoxic, and so fun to wear! This set is a winner in my book! Thanks, Mom and Dad!

Have you tried any products from Ilia? Do you have a favorite? 
Let me know in the comments below!

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.) 

Talk About Cosmetics - Pixllady Lipstick + GIVEAWAY

Hey there, Lovely! Welcome to the first post on Beautiful Basics in the new year. Can you believe it’s 2017? I don’t know how last year went so quickly but I guess that happens as you get older, doesn’t it? With a new year comes new (whether newly launched or simply new to me) brands to discover, new products to try out, and new and reviews to post so I can share my thoughts with all of you and today is a perfect review kind of day and guess what we’re talking about? One of my absolute favorite types of beauty products to blog about and to just wear in my daily life, lipstick!

Traditional lipstick can be really scary with a terrifying roster of toxic ingredients but every day more and more green beauty companies are coming out with beautiful, hydrating and healthy lippies that prove green can be glam. Pixllady Cosmetics is one of those companies. With 100% natural, vegan and cruelty-free lipsticks in a range of stunning shades, you’ll want to collect them all.

Simply made but beautifully formulated this line of lip products is made with ingredients like Organic Sweet Almond Oil, Organic Unrefined Coconut Oil, Candelilla Wax, Unrefined Shea Butter, Cold Pressed Castor Seed Oil, Vitamin E, Boron Nitride, and Organic Benzoin Resin and may also contain Mica, Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides, and Manganese Violet for color. Each tube of Pixllady Lipstick is smooth, buttery, and gorgeously pigmented. I have 3 of them and really enjoy each of them!

I also have the Cocoa Shimmer Gloss that is rich and luxuriously moisturizing while giving the lips a shiny, shimmery finish. It’s lovely on its own or layered on top of lipstick. It’s got a yummy cocoa butter scent and flavor that is absolutely dreamy!

Now on to the colors! I selected Brussels, Sofia, and Budapest. All 3 are surprisingly wearable and flattering. I like them all and can’t decide if Sofia or Brussels is my top pick so it’s a toss up between the 2.

Budapest, Brussels and Sofia

Brussels is described as “a warm rose with medium coverage and a satin finish.” This particular shade is a bit lighter than what I normally gravitate towards and I really love what it does for my complexion!

Sofia is described as “a beige-rose with medium coverage and a satin finish.” This is a perfect MLBB (my-lips-but-better) shade for me and makes my lips look plump and perfected.

Budapest is described as “a dark brick with high coverage and a satin finish.” This is the only one that surprised me color-wise because it looks much more brown in person. It’s a chocolate kind of color on me. Once I saw it in real life I wasn’t sure I would love it on me but I actually do! I’ve even gotten a couple of compliments about it when I’ve worn it. This is a very on-trend shade since it’s kind of reminiscent of shades from the 90s!

Top Row: Left - Brussels  Right - Sofia
Bottom Row: Left - Budapest  Right - Cocoa Shimmer Gloss

Like I mentioned above, all of these lip products are super softening and feel like they do an excellent job of hydrating, smoothing, soothing, and protecting the lips. They have a very light scent that is uplifting and fresh but doesn’t appear to linger. I’m a big fan! 

As for other colors I would love to try, I’ve got my eye on South Beach! I think it’ll be the perfect warm weather lip color! The entire collection is beyond pretty, though, and I don’t think you can make a wrong choice! In fact, one of you Beauties will win your choice of lipstick! How awesome is that? Simply enter the giveaway using the Rafflecopter form below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Talk About Cosmetics - Honeybee Gardens Fall Favorites

I’m super duper proud to be a Honeybee Gardens Ambassador for good reason, their products are absolutely loveable. They make some of the most wonderful pressed eyeshadows I have ever used and their lipsticks are wearable and nourishing while coming in an array of easy to wear shades that can amp up any look. Oh, and their blushes? They’re great, too! In fact, I really do love every single thing I have tried from the brand.

They also happen to be totally cruelty-free and are even certified by PETA. Honeybee Gardens uses only nontoxic and healthy natural ingredients in each of their products; in fact, all of their products have been reviewed by the Environmental Working Group and have a score of 2 or lower.

Today I want to share this look I created using some of their products. I think it’s a perfect daily look for fall and I know I’ll be rocking it lots in the coming weeks.

I started with Mojave, a perfect (but hard to photograph) neutral light-toned brown shade that makes the perfect transition shade, in my crease. I then applied Cairo, a slightly shimmery and super gorgeous plummy brown shade, to my entire mobile lid. I made sure to blend the edges really well so it didn’t look at all harsh. I packed on a little more of this shade to the outer half of my lid for more pop and then used Coco Loco, which is a rich matte chocolate brown, on the outer edge and as a liner.

Left to Right: Mojave, Coco Loco, and Cairo

Their shadows are perfect, seriously. The texture is incredible and so easy to work with. I get absolutely no fallout from any of these shades and love each them all. Mojave has become a go-to shade that I use with any look in my crease. Cairo really makes my eyes pop and I love the way they look when I’m wearing it. And Coco Loco is a perfect essential shadow for any makeup collection. 

I used Seduction Truly Natural Lipstick on my lips, which is a lovely neutral rosy toned matte lipstick that is one of those perfect “My Lips But Better” kind of shades. It’s a bit deeper in tone than my actual lips and I love the effect. It’s a very wearable, and comfortable, shade to wear. 

I also have a tiny pop of the Complexion Perfecting Maracuja Pressed Blush in Breathless on my cheeks. I reviewed this blush here. I love a pink pop of color on the cheeks in the colder months.

Check out Honeybee Gardens' website by clicking here. You can also find them on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. You can also check out the Brand Ambassadors page by clicking here.

I also want to know what kind of shades you go for in the fall so leave me a comment below telling me your favorites.

(FTC: I paid for the three eyeshadows with my own money. The blush and lipstick were sent to me by the company. I am not being compensated for this review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.)

Talk About Cosmetics - Kosås Cosmetics (Part 2!)

In February I was lucky enough to get to try Kosås Cosmetics and when I shared my review (here) I told how in love with the line I was. Well, flash forward to today and I’m even more smitten with this beautiful range thanks to their four recently launched additions to the collection. Kosås  Cosmetics now has an all-star roster of eight easy to wear and ultra flattering lipsticks.

These eight MVLs (most valuable lipsticks) are made in small, handmade batches in Los Angeles, and are cruelty free and beautifully formulated to be creamy, yet weightless as well as hydrating, long-wearing and pretty much perfect; I mean these are seriously dreamy. I couldn’t have dreamed up a more perfect lipstick if I tried with all my might. Bonus, they smell (and taste) really nice!

My ridiculously sensitive and reactive lips are left nourished and feeling really moisturized. Each one of these magic little lip bullets feels like a really luxurious lip balm with a gorgeous color that will suit anyone and everyone. These are not your typical lipsticks and are very low maintenance, easy to apply and wear, and each shade does something really wonderful; somehow each shade is really wearable and looks great once applied. Each shade perks up my complexion and makes me look and feel perfectly put together without feeling like I’m over the top.

Stardust is described as a sheer neutral nude with pink and brown undertones with a hydrated finish. This is the perfect warm weather nude shade and I’ve been wearing it a lot with bronze tones for the perfect sun kissed look. This might be my perfect pinky nude shade and it has become my daily go-to! I’m not sure if this one or Rosewater is my ultimate favorite. It amps up my natural lips and makes them look plump and really healthy. Love it!

Thrillest is described as a full-coverage and semi-matte playful poppy red with a bright orange lean. This shade is so much fun! It’s perfect for summer because it’s vibrant, warm, and totally eye-catching. It’s a lot brighter than it appears on first glance and makes me look so perky and alive! I do like to sort of sheer it out a bit, though, since the color is so opaque.

Royal is described as a full-coverage and semi-matte warm, modern purple. The thought of purple on my lips has always scared me a bit and I thought I wouldn’t really like Royal very much. This shade, however, surprised me. It is a beautiful shade that looks sort of like a purple mauve once applied and I really like it!

Electra is described as a full-coverage and semi-matte luscious rasberry red with cool neutral undertones. This one is a boldly bright but wearable that looks super fun and flirty. I like to apply a thin layer of this particular lipstick and then blend it out with my finger for a softer stain-like look.

I am nothing short of impressed and head over heels in love with Kosås Cosmetics and all eight of their stunning shades. I reach for one of these square black tubes of luscious lipstick more than any other product and I can’t recommend them enough to you. I can promise you that you’ll love them just as much as I do, because there’s nothing in the formula or the shade range that isn’t lovable.

You can learn more about the brand by visiting their website. 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.) 

Talk About Cosmetics - Ere Perez

Foundation is a difficult product for me to fall in love with. It’s not because I haven’t tried or that there aren’t any good ones out there, because there are, but more the fact that I don’t like covering my face with makeup. I’ve always been a fan of using concealer and applying it to the areas that need some coverage and keeping the rest of my skin bare and clean. I hate when it looks like I’m wearing a weird full coverage mask and I’ve always believed that doing it this way keeps skin looking younger and fresher than blending foundation over your entire face.

I’m excited to be able to tell you that I recently found a foundation that I actually like! I think it looks and feels fabulous on my skin and I’m a big fan! I’m talking about the Ere Perez Oat Milk Foundation and it’s incredibly weightless and smooth, but natural looking, formula. I seriously can’t feel this stuff on my skin!

It magically allows my skin to breathe while making my complexion look even and healthy. I would say that it has a light to medium coverage, depending on how you apply it – my preferred method is with a damp beauty blender, and it lasts a really long time with no uneven or patchy fading throughout the day. It has no scent and feels incredibly gentle, making it perfect for those of us with sensitivities. It’s not greasy in the least bit and has an almost waxy feeling that feels protective and nourishing. It does go on a bit dry and sets pretty fast so you need to work quickly and in small areas when blending out.

I have mostly dry skin, and a normal t-zone, but have found that it doesn’t cling to any dry patches or have any issues with shine breaking through after a few hours of wear. It doesn’t gather in my fine lines or accentuate my pores. It looks nice right away but I think it looks even better after it’s been on for a while. It actually makes my skin feel quite balanced. I don’t even need to powder it to set it. It seems to be completely transfer resistant.

I did have trouble picking a shade from the website and couldn’t decide between Light and Light-Medium. I went for light even though I’m not extremely fair and the shade seems pretty perfect and blends seamlessly into my skin. And I can always use bronzer to warm up my skin if I get a tan in the midst of summer.

Left: No Makeup
Right: Foundation done

Here are the color descriptions:

Light - for the fairest skins.

Light-Medium - for honey blondes, light-brunettes and light freckles.

Medium - for middle-of-the-spectrum skin. For those whose skin goes noticeably darker in summer, for olive and yellow-based skins.

Dark - for deep skin tones that are brown or caramel based.

I wasn’t totally sold on the idea of the Beautiful Beetroot Check and Lip Tint Joy and didn’t think I’d like it very much but was still curious. First of all, it smells like a natural version of cherry Twizzlers. If you’re familiar with my blog than you know that I like products to be unscented but I actually really, really love the way this smells (and tastes!).

It stains your lips with a (buildable) touch of color that lasts and lasts. It’s so easy to use thanks to the rollerball applicator but can also be used with a brush. It leaves my lips looking so flirty and cherry stained. I can already tell you this is going to be my go-to summer lippie. It does cling a bit to any dry skin on the lips but the formula itself is not drying or irritating at all. If you want some extra moisture you can easily apply a lip balm over top since it’s a stain. It is transfer resistant when dry. I also like that it comes in a plastic bottle because it’s safe for gals on the go.

I don’t like it on my cheeks, though, because it’s a bit too red since I have a natural pinkness already. I also find that since it dries so quickly it’s a bit hard to blend out.

A finished look featuring the products mentioned in this post
(Please forgive how tired I look, I'm ill and had a hard time getting a perfect photo)

To learn more about the company or their products you can visit their website. You can also find them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Have you tried anything from Ere Perez? Have your eye on any of their products? Leave me a comment and let me know!

(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 Lip Care - Favorite Lip Products

For the second post in my Lip Lovers 2016 series I’m talking about all of the lip products I’m loving (besides the lipsticks I talked about on Tuesday, because obviously those got their own post!). Keep in mind that I try a lot of products and like a lot of them, but these are just the ones I’m constantly reaching for at the moment.

Let’s start with lip balm. This one from Eco Lips that I kind of created myself is one of my all-time favorite balms. I say kind of created because they give you a list of things you can choose from so you make it but it’s still really just an Eco Lips balm if that makes any sense. I kept it simple and selected Sunflower Oil, Beeswax, Coconut Oil, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, and Vitamin E. It’s minimal but it’s great and I really like using it. My ridiculous and over the top lips really drink this stuff in and I love that I made the tube purple and named it after my blog. It has a nice slip but isn’t shiny or tacky. It’s got a really lovely formula that lasts all day. I’ll have to make some more of these for you guys in the future. Maybe I’ll even make a tinted one!

Another favorite from Eco Lips is the Medicated Lip Balm. I use this every single night before going to bed. It keeps my lips looking and feeling so healthy and nourished. It’s a bit medicinal (it is called Medicated, after all) and I really adore this stuff. It keeps my lips happy and I can’t live without it. I’ve gone through 3 tubes and I’m currently halfway through my 4th. 

I also really like the Unscented Portland Bee Balm, which I’ve talked about a lot, and the Booda Butter Naked Lip Balm, which has also been talked about a lot of Beautiful Basics.

I have talked about Kari Gran on the blog a lot and for good reason. I love the company and their amazing products as a whole. I’m not going to talk about these too much since they’ve gotten individual reviews here, here and here but I couldn’t make a lip post without sharing my love for my favorite Lip Whips; Cinnamon Pimenta Berry Naked, Marsala, and Jolene.

Ilia Shell Shock Tinted Lip Conditioner is my signature lip product. I love the shade with all of my heart and the way it makes me look and feel. I always look so healthy and vibrant when I’m wearing it. The formula is also dreamy and hydrating.

I’ve been really into Bite Beauty and while some of these shades were limited edition I still wanted to mention them. I love the shade range of the line and the formula. They’re made using pure pigment and food grade ingredients. The Matte Crème Lip Crayons are so fun and easy to use and provide such a pretty pop of color. These 4 were part of a limited edition set but they have so many awesome shades and I highly recommend the formula. I also love the Luminous Crème Lipstick, which I have a cute little duo of in Fig and Date (not pictured). 

What lip products and/or brands do you love? Do you have a favorite lip balm? A signature shade? Tell me about your lip product love down below.

Talk About Cosmetics - Kosås Cosmetics

When asked what type of cosmetic is my favorite I would have a hard time deciding between lipstick and blush/bronzer, but I can tell you that I have a new lipstick love, Kosås Cosmetics. This line consists of four absolutely beautiful, yet totally wearable lip colors that I recently got my hands on and was able to take for a test drive. These square, black tubes house some seriously amazing lipsticks and I’m excited to get to talk about them and introduce you all to the line.

These beautifully formulated lippies are made in small, handmade batches in Los Angeles and are cruelty free, hydrating, long wearing and super flattering. Each one is dreamy, creamy, weightless yet moisturizing and provide the lips with a beyond stunning color. These look like a lipstick and feel like a super smooth lip balm. They also smell (and taste!) nice.

You know how my lips are crazy sensitive and highly reactive? These do nothing but nourish my lips and somehow all four colors seem to suit me. There is something really magical about a line of products that feels nice, looks great and seems to be universally flattering. They aren’t your typical high maintenance lip product but all four shades do something really wonderful. Nothing makes me feel more put together than a swipe or two of a pretty lipstick.

Up first, I’d like you to meet Rosewater. This lipstick is potentially my favorite, maybe ever. That’s a huge statement, right? But I mean it. At least it’s tied for first with my Ilia Shell Shock Lip Conditioner. Anyway, this pretty neutral pink is a MLBB (My Lips But Better) kind of shade that is so pretty. I can’t even explain to you how much I adore this color. Also, this lipstick makes my lips look really full and plump. It’s like I had a really fantastic plastic surgeon but all I did was apply some of this gorgeous pink lipstick. Talk about a perfect lip shade! This pink packs a punch that makes me feel so lovely and feminine. It’s easy to wear and goes with any and all makeup looks.

Undone is the perfect fully opaque and semi-matte not naked nude color. By not naked I mean it’s a nude but it doesn’t make me look washed out or ill. It falls perfectly between brown and pink so it pumps up your lip color without looking over the top. This one is also an easy color to wear that goes with everything.

Next up is Fringe, a fresh semi-matte red shade that is described as “earthy” on the website, but appears more bright when applied to my lips. I think I’ll really like wearing this one in the summer because it’s fun and does a great job of brightening up my complexion. It can also be built up for more intensity so it does double duty.

The final shade in the collection is Darkroom, which is the deepest of the four. On me this lipstick turns out to be the most perfect berry shade. This one is also buildable so you can wear it sheer like a stain or full like a rich lipstick. I absolutely love the way this looks on my lips!

I seriously cannot find one bad thing about Kosås or any of their lipsticks. I honestly don’t understand how I can love all four colors as much as I do but I guess I can’t complain about adding these beauties to my rotation. I think that these four lipsticks make up a complete lip wardrobe and that’s pretty awesome. They each cost $24 but these shades are seriously worth it.

You can learn more about Kosås by visiting their website. You can also find them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Leave me a comment and let me know which color catches your eye most?

Talk About Cosmetics - Antonym Cosmetics

So many of you have asked me to review Antonym Cosmetics and your wish is my desire so, here is a run down on some of their products. If you haven't heard of Antonym Cosmetics yet here is what you need to know: They are an eco-friendly cosmetics company combining technology and natural ingredients to create luxurious and healthy products that are Ecocert Certified and cruelty free. The range is made up of premium quality eye shadows, lipstick pencils, mascara, eye pencils, baked foundations and baked blushes as well as a complete collection of 20 vegan makeup brushes.

First thing is first, the packaging is amazing and ecosexy. Have you ever seen such lovely products? I don't think I have and luckily the actual products inside the pretty packaging are pretty awesome too, so this brand is a big time winner in my book.

The Baked Blush in Rose is the newest addition to the Antonym roster and it's my new favorite blush, hands down. I have been using this blush and only this blush since it arrived. There is something so magical about this blush. It's the perfect combination of brown and pink. It's been great for these warmer weather months but I think it will also transition beautifully into the colder seasons. It gives me a natural flush that adds a vibrant and healthy look to my skin. I always feel pretty when I'm wearing it. It's a flirty shade that never looks over the top and goes with any and all eye looks and lip combinations. The formula is buttery, rich, and weightless so it never looks flaky or powdery. It seems to melt into the skin and looks absolutely stunning and fresh. It lasts throughout the day and doesn't tend to fade. I also think you're getting a lot of product for your money so it's definitely worth the $36 price tag. It's perfect! I can't recommend this beautiful blush enough.


I've also been playing with the Lipstick Pencil in Pinkish. These chummy pencils are always great purse lippies because they're easy to apply. This one is a really pretty neutral shimmery pink. The color is fun and feminine! I'm impressed with the staying power! It lasts a very long time on my lips. I don't find it very hydrating but it's also not drying or irritating on my ridiculously sensitive lips.

I was also sent the Lip Brush #15 but I haven't really gotten a lot of use of it. I love the handle but I find that I do a better job of applying lip color with the actual product so I don't tend to reach for this brush often.

The final thing I got to experiment with is the Lola Lash Mascara. I really love the wand, which is curved and I also love how black the formula is. It provides my lashes with a natural but defined look and seems to do an excellent job conditioning lashes. It's a great daily mascara but I do find that I get some smudging throughout the day. It's very gentle and doesn't irritate my eyes at all.

Have you tried any of their products or do you have your eye on any? I'm coveting their Baked Foundation in Light and the Noisette Eye Shadow Quattro as well as their full range of blushes. If you couldn't tell, I really love their blush!

To learn more about Antonym Cosmetics and their product offerings you can visit their website. You can also find them on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Talk About Cosmetics - Pacifica

Pacifica is an excellent natural beauty brand for so many reasons. They are a cruelty free company who specializes in creating affordable and healthy vegan products that are highly effective and luxurious but available in stores like Target and Ulta. I can also find their products at my local Fred Meyer so I often find myself in front of their display trying to pick which products I need to add to my collection. I seem to be constantly adding products from their line into my beauty arsenal so I figured it was time to talk about Pacifica.

My first experience with Pacifica was several years ago when my Mom gave me a Hawaiian Ruby Guava candle and body butter. As many of you might know, I really love unscented things but even then I still fell really hard for the glorious, tropical, fruity fragrance. The candle was particularly awe-inspiring. Fast forward a few years and many of their cosmetics have become beloved treasures in my makeup drawers.

Their products all have a scent but the most surprising thing is that it doesn't bother me at all. If you're a regular reader of my blog than you know how very sensitive to any kind of scent I am but the Pacifica fragrance is something I actually enjoy. I think it's a bit odd to apply strongly scented makeup to my face but I don't mind it, although it is something to be cautious of if you're also very sensitive. Many of their products also pack quite a shimmery punch so if you don't like shimmer keep that in mind.

I am totally obsessed with Pacifica lip products and their Devocean Deeply Devoted Natural Lipsticks in particular. I only have two of their shades but I adore them. I have Tenderness, a lovely and creamy my lips but better shade that makes my lips look lush and full, and Rebel Sol, a bright and cheerful coral color perfect for the warmer months. My lips are incredibly sensitive so I have to be careful about what I apply on them but these lipsticks are gentle, hydrating, and comfortable to wear. The color lasts quite a long time and wears well. I also love the long tube format and how easy they are to apply. I also have one of their Color Quench Lip Tints in the color Sugared Fig. The scent is divine and while it doesn't provide much color it does add a nice touch of something special to the lips. It is a bit on the drier side so I like to layer it with a lip balm but it's a nice, easy go to product for me.

I've talked about the Dreamlit Illuminating Under Eye Brightener in Dreamlight a few times on Beautiful Basics and for good reason – it's a miracle in a tube. Seriously! It's one of my holy grail products and I have a feeling I'll always have a tube on hand. I have some dark and heavy baggage under my eyes and this creamy product leaves me looking bright-eyed, heavy, and well rested. It also never settles into my fine lines so it's a winner all around. I love the Under Eye Brightener so much that I decided to purchase their Transcendent Concentrated Correcting Concealer in Light as well. It's a bit on the drier side so I have to be careful about applying this only to well hydrated skin but it does a fantastic job of concealing and correcting my skin leaving me looking even all over. It's also the perfect color for me!

The Ultra CC Cream Radiant Foundation with SPF 17 provides light coverage and helps even out my skin. It's lightweight, smells great, and wears beautifully all day. I can get away with wearing it on it's own but those of you who prefer heavy coverage should look elsewhere or you can layer it with another foundation.

My latest purchase is the Perfect Lotus Universal Powder in Light and it's another winner. I absolutely love the packaging and the powder itself is so soft and smooth. The Light color is perfect for me! I've been having issues with wearing powder for a few months now but there is something magical about this one because it never looks dry or heavy on the skin and instead is almost hydrating. It's the perfect setting powder!

As for the Smolder Eye Lining Gel in Anchor and the Natural Eye Pencil in Bare (not pictured) I can't say that I'm very smitten with either of them. The Eye Pencil in Bare is a creamy colored pencil that goes on smoothly but tends to irritate my eyes a bit. I chalk it up to the fact that I have extremely sensitive eyes when it comes to liner. I do like using it under my brows though. The Smolder Eye Lining Gel is beyond shimmery, which I don't love, and a bit of an odd color on me so it's not necessarily a bad product but it's not the right product for me.

As for my Pacifica wish list I really want to pick up their Power of Love Coconut Infused Mineral Eye Shadow Palette, Love 3 Natural Mineral Coconut Eye Shadow Trio, Power of Love Natural Lipstick in Nudie Red, Coconut Kiss Creamy Lip Butter in Shell, and Aquarian Gaze Water-Resistant Long Last Mineral Mascara in Black. You read about my favorites and which products I'm coveting and now I want to know which Pacifica products you love or which ones you're interested in trying!

To learn more about Pacifica and their products you can check out their website by clicking here. You can also find them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. If you want to find a retailer near you can use this locator.

(FTC: I purchased these products with my own money. I am not being compensated for this post. All thoughts and opinions, as always, are my own and honest.)

Lip Lovers Series - Lipstick and Tinted Lip Balm

Who here loves lipstick? I do! I do!

Lipstick is my preferred method of applying color to my lips. It's funny because my Mom is a gloss kind of gal but I find something transformative and super special about lipstick. Don't get me wrong, I don't hate gloss (I'll even be sharing a review of 5 gorgeous glosses later this week) but I don't love it nearly as much I love a good tube of lipstick.

Today I'm opening up my makeup stash and pulling out some of my current favorite lippies to share with you. I hope to make this an annual (or maybe seasonal) series if you all like it. Also, please remember that I have super sensitive lips that are easily irritated and none of the following products bother me in the least bit.




Ilia makes gorgeous, stunning, amazing, and unique lip products. They have a superb selection of shades, finishes, and formulas that come in sleek and sophisticated metal tubes. Shell Shock, a Tinted Lip Conditioner, is number 1 on my favorites list. My sweet and thoughtful Mother knew I had this beauty on my wish list and ordered it for me as a surprise. Surprised I was and in love I quickly fell! I think I might even call Shell Shock my signature lip shade. It is a lovely sheer, but buildable, coral pink that brightens up my face and makes me look healthy and awake. We went on a couple of vacations last summer and this is all I packed with me lip wise. It is appropriate for any situation and goes with every makeup look. It applies and wears perfectly. It leaves my lips soft and hydrated.

I talked about Arabian Knights and Nobodys Baby years ago. You can check out that review by clicking here.

Another gift from my Mom (and Dad!) is the Bite Beauty Luminous Crème Lipstick Duo in Date and Fig. First of all, I love the size of this little guy. It's perfect! The colors are great and the formula is exceptional. These particular shades are pretty similar and end up being the perfect MLBB (My Lips But Better) shades for me. They are very long lasting as well! I'm happy to have it! They have several different versions too with some brights and reds but I'm really loving the nude selections in this duo.

I had been eyeing Pacifica's Devocean Lipsticks for quite a while before I settled on Tenderness. I don't know what it is about this color but my lips look huge and full when I wear it. I hate the description I'm about to use but I can't find another way to say it – this lipstick makes my lips look juicy! It's great! Love the tube and the formula. This lipstick definitely makes me curious about the others in the line.

Another Mom gift is the Pacifica Color Quench Lip Tint in Sugared Fig that she stuffed in my stocking this past Christmas. I remember receiving one of Pacifica's jumbo tints in a Goodebox years ago and I really didn't like it so I was pleasantly surprised when I ended up loving this one. It doesn't provide a lot of color but it does give a nice little tint to the lips and it smells and tastes excellent. It's perfect for girls on the go because it's effortless and easy to use. I'm actually planning on doing an entire post about Pacifica and the products I've tried from them so keep an eye out for that if you're interested.

I did a whole review of the Noyah lipsticks not too long ago so I'm not going to talk about this next lipstick in depth. You can check out that review by clicking here. Anyway, Deeply in Mauve surprised me by becoming my favorite of the range. It's a beautiful shade that suits me. It's not a fuss free shade since it's on the darker side but if you have some time to dedicate to applying it you won't regret it. I think this color would look great on so many different skin tones.

My final favorite is Hannah PureMoist Lipstick by Jane Iredale. The Jane Iredale website decribes this shade as a creamy matte brown plum but it ends up being a pretty brick color on me. It is very wearable and works day to day or for evenings as well. It has a gorgeous smooth and velvety formula that makes lips look and feel soft. I also love the rose gold packaging!



I want to know what your favorites are so please feel free to comment on the Facebook page and share what you love with me!

(FTC: Some of these were gifts from my beautiful Mother and some of these were prizes that I won from giveaways. The Noyah lipstick was given to me as a PR sample by the company. I am not being compensated for this review. All thoughts and opinions are my own and honest, as always.

Talk About Cosmetics - Noyah Lipstick

I'm not sure whether it's the fact that a swipe on the lips can change your entire look, or they way it can make you feel more put together, or whatever it may be but I really love lipstick. There is something really special and magical about finding the perfect tube of lipstick that compliments your skin tone and makes you feel great!

Like I said, I really love lipstick and right now I'm really loving Noyah and their stunning lipsticks. With 5 awesome shades of all-natural and kosher lipstick everyone can find the perfect shade to suit them and their tastes. With ingredients like Castor Oil, Beeswax, Carnauba Wax, Candelilla Wax, Sunflower Seed Oil, Shea Butter, Cocoa Butter, Jojoba Seed Oil, Coconut Oil, and Vitamin E the lipsticks have a smooth formula that applies like a dream.



I was recently sent all 5 lipsticks and I'm absolutely thrilled that I'm able to tell you all about them. They're amazing! The shades are Empire Red (a true red), Apricot Swirl (a light apricot), Valentine Pink (a soft pink), Hazelnut Cream (a rose), and Deeply in Mauve (a rich mauve). The shades are all creamy, semi-matte shades with the exception of Hazelnut Cream, which has a slight frost to it.



Like I said above, they apply seamlessly and flawlessly. They also wear extremely well throughout the day. I haven't worn them for more than a few hours at a time but they last really nicely! I have found that they can be applied and blended out with a finger for a more sheer look, applied in a single layer for a wash of opaque color, or built up to look more rich and vibrant. Color wise, I originally thought that I was going to love Empire Red the most (it's a gorgeous color but I don't think I can pull it off!) but I was pleasantly surprised by Deeply in Mauve and Valentine Pink. These 2 shades have become my absolute favorites and I have been wearing Deeply in Mauve quite a lot when I go out. It's a little bit vampy while still being classic and easy to wear.



I'm not completely sold on the packaging of these lipsticks but I can deal with it since the lipsticks themselves are so wonderful. I just think it feels a little bit like cheap plastic, but like I said – I can deal. As far as the smell and taste goes there is nothing really to mention on this front since there is only an extremely faint scent that I can't quite place my finger on and no taste.

If I was a teacher and these lipsticks were my students they would be at the top of their class. Where did that weird teaching reference come from? Not quite sure, but what I'm trying to get at is these rock my socks off and I highly recommend them. They would make fabulous stocking stuffers or gifts for the holidays too!