Spring Mini Reviews

I want to keep things simple today and talk about several things I've been using that I haven't talked about and would probably never give an entire post to. Some things are good but don't need a dedicated review, you know? Let's get to it!

First up is HURRAW! and their lip balm. I've purchased several of these for my Mom in the past but never tried it myself. I'm really picky when it comes to lip balm but I've really been enjoying these balms. I have both the unscented and the mint but HURRAW! makes so many different scents you're bound to find something that piques your interest. Mint is my favorite scent and this one, in particular, is a true mint scent/flavor. It's really fresh, slightly sweet, and really beautiful. The unscented has the tiniest bit of a cocoa butter vibe but has no other scent or flavor going on besides that, which is impressive.

The impossibly smooth balm is soothing, gentle, hydrating and rich. I have really sensitive lips and these have never caused any irritation. It's a glossier formula than I normally go for, as I usually prefer dry balms that look a bit matte once on, but these both look really pretty on the lips. It provides long-lasting hydration and works perfectly alone or under or on top of any lipstick. I love the safe, healthy ingredients and the fact that they're vegan, cruelty-free, raw, non-GMO, gluten-free and totally safe.

Continuing on with lip balm, I recently purchased a couple more tubes of Portland Bee Balm. In Oregon Mint and Unscented. Have you noticed I stick to what I like? Always mint and always unscented. Anyway, I reviewed these lip balms a long time ago and ended up giving a lot of them away to you ladies and even gentlemen. I still like the formula. Unlike HURRAW! These balms are quite dry and very matte once on.

I recently picked up their latest offering which is the Solar Eclipse Unscented balm. This tube is basically their regular unscented balm with 8% non-nano zinc oxide added to provide mineral-based SPF 15. The weather has been insane here, with snow one minute and sunshine the next, but I've been preparing for summer since before my birthday. I'm ready and this lip SPF is a perfect warm weather companion. It does have a white cast and it can make your lips look a little dead if you apply too much but I've found that I can apply a very thin layer for protection and only a little dulling of my natural lip color, which I'm all for. I don't need super pigmented lips while I'm spending time outdoors.

Next up on the agenda is the Honest Beauty Invisible Blurring Powder. Ever since Honest Beauty first launched I've been curious about the line but I just haven't made a purchase until I dropped this powder into my Target.com cart around the first of the year. I needed a new powder and this one sounded simple but packed a list of claims that made me want it.

This powder is made with Corn Starch, Silica, Rice Starch, Zinc Stearate, Magnesium Stearate, and Iron Oxides. It's meant to even out the complexion, blur imperfections and soften the appearance of fine lines and pores. It sounds like the perfect powder, doesn't it? It feels silky and smooth and does a great job of setting my makeup. It's very finely milled and the container is rather large. I also love the fact that it has a way to close the inside so you don't make a mess. I like to sprinkle out a small amount of powder into the lid and close it up so I don't get too much that will inevitably end up everywhere. It's a bit expensive but should last a long time.

I don't much about the brand found (all lowercase on purpose) besides the fact that I started seeing photos of their line in my feed from bloggers I follow earlier this year. I also know they can be found only at Walmart (or on their website I just discovered). Let me tell you something, I'm not an elitist, I promise, but I dislike Walmart with a deep passion. I don't use the word hate but I'm close to hating Walmart. I just don't like it. I actually have a Walmart in my town, not much else, but I refuse to go there. I end up there once or twice a year but refuse any other time. I always get a terrible migraine from the lighting (or a seizure if I'm really unlucky), get nausea from all the outgassing smells, and end up with a panic attack because people there tend to have no space boundaries. Okay, enough complaining. I had to stop in for something about 2 months ago and saw that they had a whole display for found setup.

It was pretty picked over but since I love concealer I decided to grab this Full Coverage Concealer (in the shade Light). I told you recently that I tend to judge makeup lines on how much I like or dislike their concealer. Well, I don't like this one at all. It's one of those stick concealers so I probably should have known before I got it home, seeing as how I don't typically like stick formulas. Found describes it as creamy but I don't find it be creamy, whatsoever, It is SO incredibly dry. It makes me look crepey and Sahara-desert level dry. I'm not a fan of this as a concealer, although I've been playing around with it as an eye primer and since it's so dry it seems to work well.

Are there products you've purchased lately that you love or hate or aren't sure about yet? Leave me a comment about it!

(FTC: I purchased all of these items with my own money. I am not being compensated for this post.)

Talk About Cosmetics - Kari Gran

I am completely in love with Kari Gran and from the comments and messages I’ve received from you Beauties asking for my thoughts on their line you’re also really interested in the brand! I don’t think it would be an overstatement for me to say that Kari Gran is one of my absolute favorite green beauty brands and I’m so excited to be able to share my review of their cosmetics line with you today.

If you’re new to Beautiful Basics or you want a refresher about Kari Gran all you need to know is that this company is comprised of simple but luxurious cruelty free skin care and cosmetics that are made from natural, wild harvested and non-GMO ingredients that are good for the body and the world. You'll never find any toxic ingredients inside any Kari Gran products. You won't find water either, only natural plant ingredients and essential oils. The line is designed to be gentle and safe for all ages and skin types. 

You can also check out my past reviews of the Kari Gran Starter Kit and the Marsala Lip Whip.

Let’s talk about the products in the order that I apply them starting with the Foundation that you can either use as a powder foundation or as a customizable liquid foundation. By mixing the Essential Serum with as much or as little as you desire of the powder foundation, which comes in 8 different shades, you can create the perfect base for your needs. The combination is a tinted, smoothing, hydrating base that evens out your skin tone while feeding the largest organ in your body essential nutrients. I typically don’t love wearing foundation, choosing to instead use concealer where needed, but this mixture feels lovely on the skin and wears evenly throughout the day.

Kari Gran’s Concealer is one of my absolute favorite products. I mentioned it briefly in my Concealer Menu post but wanted to go in to more detail in this review. I have the color Fair and it’s the perfect shade for me and the formula is divine! The coverage is impressively opaque but still lends a natural and luminous glow to the skin. Both the Mineral Concealer and Foundation have shimmer in them but neither gives the skin that teenaged disco ball look. Instead they go on to the skin and make it look effortless, healthy, and flawless. A little of this concealer goes a long way. I especially love to use it under my eyes and down the center of my face because it does a beautiful job of brightening my complexion.

Next up is the Mineral Setting Powder. This powder has a very short list of ingredients (Mica and Aloe Barbadensis Powder) and is feels absolutely heavenly on the skin. It’s like really silky air that feels so soft going on and keeps my base in place all day long. It sets the skin without building up and looking cakey or heavy. This is the best setting powder I have ever tried and that means a lot coming from someone with dry skin who tends to skip the setting powder step.

The Peony Mineral Blush is universally flattering and can be applied sheer or built up for more intensity. I have found that you can do no wrong when applying this blush because it always looks fresh and natural. The color is so stunning and absolutely beautiful on the cheeks for a pop of pink that I can’t get enough of. I’ve been reaching for it nonstop since it arrived. It’s a great “in from the cold” color but I think it will be a nice cheek topper for all 4 seasons.

I forgot to mention that the Foundation, Blush and Setting Powder each come in a huge 4.5 gram jar so you’re getting a ton of product for your money!  The Concealer comes in a 1.4 gram jar and the Eye Shadow is housed in a .85 gram jar. Each product is also very affordable.

The company describes their single Eye Shadow as Sandalwood, a perfect brown for everyone that can be applied sheer or opaque. You can use this shadow wet or dry depending on the look that you’re going for. It’s a beautiful color that makes my blue eyes pop, but it would be great on anyone. It has a very fine silver shimmer throughout but it never looks over the top or too heavily sparkly. I’m a matte kind of gal but still find that this particular eye shadow is very wearable. It blends beautifully and wears evenly throughout the day. It’s the perfect product for doing a one-shadow look because it can be applied in so many ways that it’s almost like having more than one eye shadow.

In the following look I am wearing only Kari Gran Cosmetics with the exception of my brow pencil and mascara, The color on my lips is a thin layer of the Tinted Lip Whip with another thin layer of Jolene Lip Whip on top.

I was originally going to talk about the Lip Whips in this post but I’m actually going to devote an entire review to the newest Limited Edition Lip Whip, Jolene, soon. However, the one in the photo above is the Naked Cinnamon Pimenta Berry and it’s one of my very favorite lip products… ever! We’ll talk about them more soon, though.

To learn more about Kari Gran and her lovely line up of products you can visit the website by clicking here. You can also find Kari Gran on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Leave a comment and let me know if you have tried any Kari Gran products or if you have your eye on any of them. Don’t forget to check back soon for my Lip Whip Overview. See you then!

(FTC: These products were provided to me free of charge by the company for review consideration. I am not being compensated for this review. All thoughts and opinions, as always, are my own.)

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.)

Talk About Cosmetics - Mineral Hygienics

Lets talk minerals… mineral makeup that is! I first started experimenting with mineral foundation way back in 2006 during my college days. I discovered that applying a light dusting of the stuff was much easier and more time efficient than liquids and creams when I was running late to class. I also discovered that I preferred the feel and finish of mineral powder.



These days I have been using Mineral Hygienics and their cruelty free, 100% natural formulas. I have really been enjoying the look and feel of the products I got to try. In addition to being pure, animal friendly, and fabulous, the products actually come in fairly large jars so you're getting a good amount of product for your dollar!



The company has 15 shades of their Sheer Mineral Foundation with both cool and warm undertones, from the fairest of the fair to deep shades, so everyone should be able to find their perfect shade. I was sent Light, Medium Light, and Medium. Light and Medium are perfect for me since they have a slightly more yellow undertone (Medium Light is a little pink and is perfect for my Mom!) and I actually wear both at the same time. What I do is use Light in the center of my face and Medium around the outer parts of my face, which helps add dimension. However, they are very similar in color and both work well for my skin tone.



The ingredients list of Mineral Hygienics foundation is comprised of Titanium Dioxide, Zinc Oxide, Mica and may also contain Iron Oxides and Ultra Marines. The formula is very fine in texture and blends into the skin really easily. It almost melts into the skin once applied and looks flawless, but not in an artificial way. It never looks flat, nor does it have shimmer that makes it look overly luminous. The formula has a very natural looking finish that can be applied in a sheer layer or built up for more coverage. It also doesn't irritate my skin like some other mineral foundations can.



In addition to the Sheer Mineral Foundation I have also been using the Sheer Perfection Mineral Finish in Transluscent. It seems a little strange to set powder with powder but this particular product can be used as a powder primer that evens out the tone and texture of the skin or as a finishing touch on top of foundation. I find that I don't use this every day but I do, however, like to use this to touch up when I start to get a little shiny in the afternoon or evening.



The final Mineral Hygienics product that I have been using is the Cool Kiss Mineral Bronzer. This product is a shimmery, cool-toned Mineral Enhancer that doesn't look great on my skin. I have found that it is just a touch too shimmery for my tastes for me to wear as a cheek product but it looks so amazing as an eye shadow! I've been rocking it on my lids and really love the effect!



I was also sent the Full Coverage Kabuki Brush and it couldn't be more perfect for buffing my minerals into the skin with. It provides such an even coverage, has super soft and fairly dense bristles, and is the perfect size and shape. I absolutely love the handle because it makes it a little easier to use than regular kabuki brushes.

You can learn more about the company and their product offerings by visiting their website. You can also find them on Facebook and Twitter.