Talk About It - Booda Organics

I want to share my newest obsession with you today, which just so happens to be a little tin of magical goodness called Booda Butter. Booda Butter is a 100% pure and natural multitasking moisturizer that can be used from head to toe; in fact, you can even check out the 50 ways the company suggests you can use this product by clicking here.

 Booda Butter is made with only a handful of healthy and organic ingredients. The all-star ingredient lineup is made up of Organic Shea Butter, Organic Cocoa Butter, Organic Coconut Oil, Organic Jojoba Oil, and Organic Olive Oil. The company promises to only use pure, organic, and vegan ingredients and never include any toxic chemicals or yucky preservatives. All of their products are cruelty free and handmade in the USA.



Booda Organics' Booda Butter has become an absolute staple in my daily routine. I use it for moisturizing my body after I get out the shower, hydrating my hands and cuticles, as an eye cream, on dry patches on my face, as a lip balm, and even to tame flyaways but I'm still in the process of discovering additional ways to use this delicious smelling solid yet soft butter.

It starts off as a solid but melts as it gets warmed up between your fingers. It is not scented with any type of fragrance but it does naturally smell of cocoa butter. It smells delicious and feels amazing on the skin. It is very thick and nourishing but is not sticky or heavy. It provides long lasting hydration that leaves skin feeling soft and healthy.

Speaking of long lasting hydration, the company also makes a Booda Butter Naked Lip Balm, which is formulated with Organic Coconut Oil, Organic Sweet Almond Oil, Organic Jojoba Oil, Organic Olive Oil and Candelilla Wax. It is truly unscented, flavor-free, moisture infusing, and gentle on my ultra sensitive lips.



I'm such a big fan of Booda Organics and their wonderful line of products. I even adore the packaging. I give them 5 out of 5 stars and highly recommend you check them out. To learn more about the company you can visit their website by clicking here.

The Booda Butter comes in two sizes, a 2.3 oz tin and an 8.4 oz BPA-free jar. The Naked Lip Butter comes in a flat .15 oz tube. You can purchase online by clicking here or locate where you can purchase near you by clicking here.

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

Skin Smoothing Giveaway

This giveaway is for a clear makeup bag filled with the 3 Mineral Fusion products in the above photo. The winner will receive the Skin-Renewing Facial Scrub, Revitalizing Eye Treatment, and Age-Defying Treatment Serum.

 If you want to be the lucky winner of this giveaway all you have to do is enter using the Rafflecopter form below. If it doesn't show up right away just give it a minute to load.

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Talk About It - Vapour Organic Beauty - - Part 2

Welcome to part 2 of my Vapour Organic Beauty review! Today we're talking lips and cheeks! Let's jump right in, shall we?

The Siren Lipstick in Tempt 401, described as a classic medium mauve, is the perfect MLBB (my lips but better) shade for me. You all know how sensitive my lips are but this lipstick is great for me since it is non-irritating, longwearing, and super moisturizing. I absolutely love and adore everything about this lipstick!

If you're a gloss lover then you might be interested in checking out the Elixir Lip Gloss or Elixir Plumping Lip Gloss. I don't find the plumping version to be very plumping at all but I don't mind that since my lips are fairly full as is. The Elixir Lip Gloss comes in a squeeze tube while the Elixir Plumping Lip Gloss comes in a lovely glass tube with a brush applicator. Neither are sticky, goopy, or tacky. Both lip-glosses are very hydrating and wearable (meaning they don't look like little girl lip glosses, as some can). The shade of Elixir Plumping Lip Gloss I received is Pout 407, a sheer pinky nude, and the shade of Elixir Lip Gloss I've been testing is Enigma 305, a sparkling lilac mauve.



Vapour's Aura Multi-Use Blush Classic adds the perfect touch of color to lips, eyes or cheeks. This product comes in 5 pretty shades including a light peachy pink, sheer pinky peach, fuchsia, rose, and a sheer soft pink. I've been using the soft pink shade, called Crush 201, and love it as a blush color. It's soft a velvety product that adds a lovely glow to the cheeks. It blends so easily and wears well throughout the day. This shade is one I would have never chosen for myself but it's unbelievably flattering on me and I really love it.



The final product I want to talk about in this two-part review is the Trick Stick in the shade Dazzle 702, a shimmering golden highlight. Trick Stick is described as "the Makeup Artist's secret for a lit–from–within glow". I've tried many highlighters in my time and this one is possibly my favorite since it's not loaded with chunky or iridescent glitter. It's very sheer and wearable. I particularly like to use the product on my brow bones and inner corners of the eye as well as my cupid's bow.



Something I forgot to mention in part one of this review is that all of these products have a very light citrus-y scent to them and even though I typically don't like my products to have any fragrance, I really like this one. I also forgot to mention how lovely, albeit simple, Vapour's packaging is. I really love the quality and look of each and every product.

Despite the fact that Vapour products have a bit of a higher price tag than some of the other brands out there, I highly recommend you check out the line. The quality as well as the variety of products is truly impeccable and as I mentioned in part one, since these products are waterless they will last a lot longer than the typical natural cosmetic so it's totally worth the splurge in my opinion.

To purchase your own Vapour products you can visit their website by clicking here. If you missed part one of my review (which featured the face products) you can click here.

Talk About It - Vapour Organic Beauty - - Part 1

My passion for cosmetics was born many, many years ago while playing as a small child in my Mom's train case. In my late teen years my love grew to encompass high end products when I discovered Sephora and makeup groups on MySpace. Then I went green and everything changed. I discovered that most commercial makeup contained icky, and frankly quite terrifying ingredients that no one should ever apply to their skin.

Sometimes "natural" makeup can leave us with a lot of questions about what is truly natural and what really works. Vapour Organic Beauty leaves no unanswered questions behind thanks to their lovely shade selection, wide array of products, and truly healthy formulations.

Vapour products are 100% natural and made with Certified Organic, minimally processed, food-grade ingredients. Their formulations contain 70% organic ingredients and 30% vitamins and minerals. You will never find parabens, phalates, gluten, artificial fragrance or color, nano particles, or any other toxic chemicals in their cosmetics or skin care. You'll also never have to worry about these products being tested on our furry friends since they are cruelty free and Leaping Bunny Certified. Another plus, Vapour's products are waterless so they have a shelf life of 2 years (short shelf life is my biggest complaint when it comes to natural cosmetics).

I could go on and on about the company (click here to learn more) and their awesome philosophy (click here to read about their values) but instead I think it's time to talk about the face products. I have been playing around with Vapour products since November and have only nice things to say.

The first products I want to discuss are the Stratus Instant Skin Perfector and Stratus Soft Focus Skin Perfector. I tried both of these in the shade 904, which "perfects & color balances light to medium sallow/olive skin". Essentially both of these are the same product, although the Stratus Instant Skin Perfector comes in stick form and is suited for normal, dry, and mature skin while the Stratus Soft Focus Skin Perfector is a liquid that comes in a pump bottle that works best for normal, combination, and oily skin types. The stick version has a more dewy finish while the liquid is more of a sheer satin.



These skin perfectors are amazing. They are described as an "organic BB Cream; a 3–in–1 moisturizer, primer and no-color foundation". At first I was really apprehensive about these because they look really shimmery but upon application skin feels silky soft and looks radiant, diffused, and super smooth. I love the way both feel on my skin, under makeup or alone. I've been reaching for the Stratus Soft Focus more often while my Mom who has more mature skin prefers the Stratus Instant Skin Perfector.

Let's talk foundation next. I've been wearing 115 in both the Atmosphere Luminous Foundation (stick) and Atmosphere Soft Focus Foundation (liquid). I really like both versions and the color could not be more perfect for me. I like the Luminous version for day to day wear since it has a light to medium coverage and the Soft Focus for days when I need a little more coverage as it offers medium to full coverage. These never feel heavy or look caked on. These formulations blend magically and seamlessly into the skin and basically make your skin look like your skin, only better. Vapour's foundation just might be the best foundation I have ever worn!



Next up is the Illusionist Concealer in 020. This shade is a bit too dark for me during these cold, winter months but I'm thinking I'll be able to use it in the summer. It works on my face if blended in really well but it doesn't work under my eyes, which is where I need the most coverage. It feels as light as the foundations do and seems to melt into skin. I'll come back to this product when my skin gets a bit darker and tell you more about it then.

If you're interested in this luxurious line of natural cosmetics you can visit their website to purchase their products or learn more. You can check out the second part of my Vapour Organic Beauty review, which features my thoughts on some of their lip and cheek products, by clicking here.

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.

Talk About It - Black Rock Mud Co. MudPot

My skin has been in serious need of a little extra TLC lately since it's been freaking out. My skin has been especially congested, dehydrated and broken out! Well let me introduce you to my favorite new mask, the MudPot, a 100% organic and mineral-rich illite clay from the Black Rock Desert of Nevada.



Illite clay is the only thing you'll find in each 4-ounce jar of Black Rock Mud Co.'s MudPot, so you never have to worry about harsh chemicals, preservatives, or other unnatural ingredients. The clay is known to condition, revitalize and sooth the skin as well as draw toxins and impurities from the skin. It helps to regenerate cells and purify the skin thanks to the over 50 naturally occurring trace elements (including Calcium, Magnesium, Potassium, Iron, and Zinc) found within its structure.

I received my jar from Black Rock Mud in mid-December and have been enjoying a weekly facial since then. It's a gentle enough mask that you can use it on spots more often than once a week if you desire but I've found that once a week works well for my skin. Upon washing the mud off my skin, my face always looks fresh, healthy, and has a lovely glow to it. It also really helps any blemishes that I may have.



It is a bit on the pricey side at $59 but I do think it's worth it! It has a nice, rich consistency that spreads and no detectable odor whatsoever (and you know I have the nose of a bloodhound!). It comes in a simple yet attractive recyclable jar which is packaged in an awesome box that is embedded with wildflower seeds that you can plant in your garden!



My skin always looks and feels amazing after I apply and rinse off my MudPot facial and if you're in the market for a new treat for you face I highly suggest this one. You can visit their website to learn more or purchase your very own MudPot.

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

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.

DIY Bronze Glow

Do you have an event coming up that you want to look golden, glowy, and glamorous for? Or maybe you just want to perk up your pale skin with a little color. Instead of using harsh self-tanning products or going out into the sun (or even worse – the tanning beds) try mixing up your very own bronzing powder with simple ingredients you probably have at home.




All you have to do is mix the cocoa powder and cinnamon together until you have the perfect shade for you. Everyone has different skin and different preferences so some of you may want more cocoa in the mix while others may prefer more cinnamon. Once you have the perfect shade, just pour the powder into an old jar or container and apply to your skin where you want a golden glow!

If you want to bronze your body all you need to do it add your powder into enough of your favorite lotion to cover whichever parts of your body you want to bronze. The best part about this is that it's temporary so as soon as you get home from your event you can hop in the shower and rinse the golden glow down the drain. Make sure to let dry completely before putting on any clothes and don't get wet while it's on your skin.

January Sampler Bag GIVEAWAY

Hello there! Are you ready for a Sampler Bag giveaway? The majority of you seem to really enjoy these so I decided it was time for another.

After so many of you complimented the bag from the last giveaway I have another leopard (or cheetah? I'm unsure of my animal prints) printed bag up for grabs. This times it's filled with samples from Jason, Avalon Organics, Nature's Gate, Harvey Prince, C3, Two Leaves and a Bud as well as deluxe sized samples from Out of Africa and Beyond Coastal. I'm also throwing in four full sized items as well from EOS, Verdant, Aromatherapaes, and Zeb Botanical Beauty. 

If you're super sensitive to scents you might want to skip this one because there are many fragranced items in the bag (think perfume, lotion, and soap).



 If you want to be the lucky winner of the newest Beautiful Basics Sampler Bag all you have to do is enter using the Rafflecopter form below.

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Talk About It - Benjabelle Brush Tree

A couple of weeks ago I received a Benjabelle Brush Tree in the mail and I have to tell you, it just might be the coolest thing EVER! A lot of you have been asking me how to take better care of your brushes and this is a total must have for treating your tools with the respect they deserve. I'm absolutely in love with the Benjabelle Brush Tree and I'm so excited to get to introduce this innovative product to you today!

Benjabelle was born in 2012 at the hands of Ben and Jan of Madison, Wisconsin. Jan wanted something to hang her cosmetic brushes with after cleaning to allow them to dry quickly and take up less space than if they were just laying on the counter. The pair sat down and designed the Brush Tree. Each and every Brush Tree ordered is handmade and assembled by Ben or Jan.

The Brush Tree retails for $34.95 and the shipping is also very reasonable. They even ship worldwide; you can find the rates by clicking here. It comes in three sleek shades including chic black, classic white, and pretty pink.



The Brush Tree itself is easy to assemble, as well as to disband for easy storage, and easy to clean (just wipe down with warm water and a soft cloth). To use the Brush Tree all you have to do is insert brushes from below, allow the brushes to dry, and then pull them through the top when they're finished. It's so simple, yet incredibly brilliant.



The Brush Tree allows brushes to dry upside down, which keeps water from entering the ferrule (if water gets into the ferrule it can cause the glue that holds the fibers together to break down and fall apart; it can also cause mildew problems). The way the brushes hang also allows them to dry to their proper shape. I can't tell you how many times I have laid a brush flat on the counter to dry and come back to a misshapen brush! You can even use it to store your brushes!



The coolest thing about the Brush Tree is that the special slots fit any and every size of brush handle. I have many different brands and types of brushes from short handled, travel sized, long handled, thick and thin, and every brush is able to be hung up to dry. The thinner brushes do hang at an angle but it doesn't effect the way they dry.

To learn more about the Benjabelle Brush Tree, or to purchase one of your own, check out their website by clicking here. You can also visit them on Facebook or Twitter or check out their Brush Tree Intro video on YouTube.
(FTC: This product was so generously provided to me for review consideration by the company. I am not being compensated to write this review. All thoughts and opinions, as always, are my own and honest.)

Shower Cleaner

No one can argue about the benefits of using natural ingredients and products but there is one downside that comes to mind, dirtier showers. I don't know if this happens to everyone or if it's just what happens in my house but my shower gets coated with an oily residue that's tough to clean.

My Mom shared this recipe that she uses with me so I thought I should pass it on. It's easy and healthy!


Combine the baking soda and castile soap together in a bowl, and then add the water and lemon juice. You should need about a tablespoon of each but gauge it based on the consistency, which should be a soft paste. Once you have your paste you can scrub the shower and tub clean. Once you rinse your shower should be sparkling!

Bonus cleaning tip – pour some baking soda into your toilet and then add some vinegar! Of course it's not magical, you'll still have to use your muscles and a sponge, but it's a great cleaning solution.

December Sampler Bag Giveaway

Hey Beautiful! Welcome to December! This is one of my absolute favorite months of the entire year. I love being able to spend time with my family and of course I adore Christmas! Yesterday we decorated our tree and got the house ready for the season. Now that I'm officially in the Holiday mood I decided that today would be the perfect day to launch a new giveaway!

Are you ready for it? I have another Sampler Bag to give away! You all seemed to really like the last one so I created another one just for you!



This one comes with: Samples from Harvey Prince, Nature's Gate, Jason, Avalon Organics, and Rahua; As well as a deluxe sized Organic Shea Butter Complexion Bar from Out of Africa, travel sized bottle of Body Lotion from Lanikai Bath and Body in Pikake and a full-sized EOS Sweet Mint Lip Balm and Coconut Cake Soap from Zeb Botanical Beauty.

This bag would make a great gift for yourself or the beauty lover in your life. You could even break it up and use the contents as stocking stuffers!

I hope you enjoy! Good luck!

To enter please use the Rafflecopter below. Open only to US and Canada.

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