Cranberry Body Scrub

Fall and winter are the perfect seasons to utilize fresh cranberries, but this recipe features frozen ones which you can find almost anywhere at any time of year. Cranberries are a great source of vitamins and antioxidants which help protect our bodies and skin from free radicals. Cranberries make a wonderful base for beauty products like this body scrub.

What you need:
1/2 cup of frozen cranberries
1/4 cup of oil (coconut, olive, jojoba, grapeseed, whatever you want!)
1/4 cup of sugar
2 tablespoons of oatmeal or oat powder (you need this to be fine so you can put regular oatmeal in a coffee grinder or food processor. If you would like thicker oatmeal you can just leave it and it will get ground a little bit in the first step.)

Put all of your ingredients into a food processor, and turn it on for 30 seconds. That's it! Your body scrub is ready to be applied – you'll want to apply to damp skin and massage in gentle circular motions. This recipe should make enough for your whole body to be scrubbed once. Keep in mind that this can get messy, so I recommend doing it in the tub or shower (with the water off). Once you are done rinse off and don't forget to moisturize after stepping out to lock in your new hydration and radiance.

Talk About It - Ilia Pure Lip Care

Berry stained and barely there are my favorite lip looks and lately all I've been using are my beloved Ilia Lip Conditioners in Arabian Knights and Nobody's Baby. I can't even begin to describe the level of love, adoration, and respect I have for these lip products. I think I have a problem – seriously! I've never loved a colored lip product more (I say colored because if you've been with me for a while now you know of my addiction for lip balm).

Since receiving these two products at the beginning of November, I have reached for them more often than not; which is saying a lot since I have a decently sized lippie collection. I absolutely love them!
First thing I should mention is that the colors are fabulous. Ilia Pure Lip Care offers 6 different color choices but I chose Arabian Knights and Nobody's Baby and I'm so glad that I did.

They apply a lot like a lip balm, with the color payoff of a lipstick, the shine of a gloss, the conditioning ability of a lip treatment and all-natural, organic ingredients (like jojoba oil, cocoa butter, vitamin e, jasmine and orange blossom essential oils, and pomegranate). The color of each is sheer but buildable so you can get a number of different lip looks out of just one lip conditioner. The packaging is also something worthy of noting in this review – they come in an absolutely gorgeous, sleek and chic recycled aluminum tube. They also smell and taste nice.
  
Arabian Knights is possibly my favorite of the two but only by a hair. It's a flattering berry shade that looks a bit intimidating in the tube but looks gorgeous on the lips. Like I said it's sheer but buildable so you can wear it as a light berry stain or a more burgundy lip. Here is its official description: "Off in a far distant land, you wait under a warm, desert moon. Arabian Knights offers a fantasy of mystery and seduction. The deep tones of violet, and burgundy melt together forming a beautiful berry stain. An ideal shade that is easily carried from day to night.

Nobody's Baby is on the opposite end of the color spectrum. It's a pretty nude color that is neither too pink nor too brown. It doesn't make me look dead like some nudes can and it compliments any and every eye makeup look. I think it would look fantastic on any complexion! Here is the description from their website: "The perfect, sheer nude suited for any occasion. Nobody's Baby reflects your subtle need for quiet independence. You always get what you want, and tend to move through any situation with grace and ease."

If you're interested in learning more about Ilia Pure Lip Care you can find them online at http://iliabeauty.com/ where you can view the shades they offer, find a store who sells their products, and even shop online for your favorite lip conditioner.

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

Here's Lookin' At You!

I'm obsessed with eye cream! I have such dry undereyes that I have a compulsion to keep them hydrated at all times. Eye cream can get pretty pricey though so I'm pleased to introduce this DIY moisturizing eye gel. This is a very light, yet moisturizing gel that won't irritate the eyes or cause milia (tiny white bumps underneath the eyes that can be caused by heavy products). It's simple to make and although it's very basic, it's effective.

What you need:
¼ cup of aloe vera gel (make sure you get 100% aloe)
1 vitamin E capsule (I love these things!)

Combine the ingredients and store in an airtight jar or other container. This will last for about 3 weeks so it's important to keep the container sealed tightly. If you want your eye gel to have antioxidants you can add 3 drops of green tea extract (which you can buy or make yourself). If you want a cooling eye cream you can add ½ teaspoon of cucumber water (which again you can buy or make by pureeing and straining a whole cucumber). If you add any extras you will need to keep the gel in the fridge.

Here's to youthful looking undereyes! See you soon!

Clean Sweep

Hi beautiful! I'm so excited about this idea – I know it's probably not original but it's still really awesome and I'm thrilled to share it with you. If you have been with me since the beginning of Beautiful Basics you know how much I love using oils to remove stubborn eye makeup. This DIY recipe puts a twist on natural eye makeup remover.

Pre-moistened makeup removing wipes are a big deal for a good reason – they're so simple and easy to use! This is a recipe for eye makeup removing wipes and they are incredibly uncomplicated to make and use.


What you need:

1 ounce of extra virgin olive oil

1 ounce of jojoba oil

1 vitamin E capsule (or a few drops of vitamin E oil)

You will also need cotton rounds or squares (not balls) and a container with a secure lid. You can use a glass or plastic jar, Tupperware, or anything else you have handy.

Mix all of the ingredients together and saturate your cotton in the mixture. You will then want to stack the rounds or squares in your container. If you have any liquid left over you can pour it into the container once the cotton is all in place.

That's it! Simple, easy, and cheap! One pad will work to get all the makeup off your eyes while conditioning the surrounding delicate skin. It won't leave you greasy or dry, just comfortably clean. These DIY eye makeup remover pads cost a fraction of the ones that the stores sell. How cool is that?

Pimple Blaster

Pimple suddenly pop up and threaten to ruin your day? I've bragged and boasted about how much I adore honey, apple cider vinegar, and lemon juice individually so today's post is especially thrilling. Here is a recipe for a quick and powerful zit buster made using the 3 kitchen staples.

What you need:
An equal amount of lemon juice and apple cider vinegar (depending on how much you want to make, a small squirt should do)
Honey

Mix the lemon juice and vinegar together and apply directly onto the clean, affected area. Once it's on the pimple apply a small amount of honey.

The lemon juice and vinegar will help to kill the bacteria and reduce the inflammation and redness while the honey forms a barricade from the elements. Honey is also antibacterial.

If you wish to sleep with this on your face and you're not a back sleeper I would suggest putting a band aid over the top just to protect your pillowcases, although honey does dry so it won't stay sticky all night.

Talk About It - J.R. Watkins

Hi beautiful! Today's Talk About It is a long overdue review of an awesome, affordable, and accessible company you may or may not be familiar with. J.R. Watkins has been around for over 140 years (the company was founded in 1868) and they create and sell personal and home care products in addition to remedies for common ailments and cooking supplements like spices, oils, seasonings, sauce mixes, and extracts. Everything they produce is made with the highest quality natural ingredients.

J.R. Watkins was the very first natural apothecary and product maker. He pioneered the natural lifestyle that is gaining popularity in America today. The company started when J.R. created his original product, Natural Pain Relieving Liniment, in his kitchen, which he sold door to door in Minnesota. Mr. Watkins was far ahead of his time and extremely innovative. He even offered the very first money back guarantee. Now the company has grown to have a catalogue of around 400 products, all created using the same standards that Watkins strived for.

The company's line of personal care products is made up of natural and eco-friendly ingredients that come from renewable and sustainable sources. You'll never find any of the scary stuff like parabens, sulfates, phthalates or the rest of the bad beauty product additives in their offerings. They are even certified by the Natural Products Association. The packaging of their products is recyclable and they never test their formulations on our furry friends.

I love their spices (I have many in my cupboard) and cleaning solutions but today is all about their personal care products. I was so fortunate to be able to try several things and there is not a single product that I dislike in the bunch. First up is the Sugar and Shea Body Scrub in Coconut Milk and Honey – it smells so delicious! This 100% natural formula leaves my body feeling hydrated, supple, and radiant by buffing all of my dead skin cells off while conditioning the skin. I love using it in the shower. It's gentle yet effective and I just adore it. I feel as though I can't stop touching my arms and legs after exfoliating with this yummy scrub.



After exfoliating I have a compulsion to moisturize to really lock in my new found hydration and their Hand and Body Lotion in Vanilla is just perfect. I use it daily, not just after exfoliating, because it's extraordinarily moisturizing while being neither too thick nor too thin. It's the perfect consistency and it leaves me feeling comfortable in my own skin. The vanilla scent is divine - it smells like a tasty cupcake covered in butter cream!



Speaking of cupcakes they make a wonderful Shea Butter Hand Cream that comes in several scents. I got to try out the Lemon Cream (which smells like a lemon cake!) and Mango. Their hand cream formula is rich and thick! It works hard to moisturize and refresh dry hands. It's also wonderful for the feet. The scents of both are great, but they do linger for hours and are very strong so if you're sensitive to smells you might want to skip these.



Another product that I use (almost) nightly is the Lavender Body Oil. I add a little to my warm, nightly bath and soak. My skin absorbs all of the oil and the scent helps me get ready for bed. Lavender is my signal that it's time to settle down and relax. It's a very simple, straight-forward yet fabulous product. A little goes a very long way! You can use body oil in a multitude of ways but I like using it in the tub.



Last but certainly not least are the lip products I got to try. I received two of their Lip Tints in Strike-A-Rose and Stardust. I like these a lot! They're minty, hydrating, shimmery, and tinted. Strike-A-Rose is a fairly pigmented, cool pink and Stardust is a really pretty champagne/clear shimmer. I've gotten more use out of the rose shade but I like both. They go on smoothly and last a long time on the lips too. They have very finely milled shimmer so it doesn't look like you've piled a bunch of glitter on your pout.


The other lip products I tried came in a set called the Lil' Lip Combo Pack. This set came in a little plastic, zippered pouch stuffed with 4 balms - two Weatherproofing Lip Balms in Raspberry and the Natural Beeswax Lip Balm in both stick and tin form. The Weatherproofing Lip Balm is yummy smelling. It's also perfect for the harsh winter months because it forms a moisturizer barrier against the elements. It's not sticky or too thick. It's a great balm but so is their Natural Beeswax version. The Natural Beeswax Lip Balm is packed full of refreshing peppermint scent and flavor. It's also got tons of beneficial ingredients to keep lips soft, full, and hydrated. It definitely helps chase away the chap.

You can check out and purchase these and other great J.R. Watkins products on their website by clicking here. I know they sell their products at my local Fred Meyer and Rite-Aid so check in stores near you to find out if they're available locally. You can even join their Clear Conscious Club to discover members only benefits like discounts, news, tips and advice, and exclusive updates.

(FTC: These products were 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.)

Talk About It - Dr.'s Remedy Enriched Nail Polish

I love anything that shimmers and shines as well as anything glitzy and glamorous – I have a feeling that I'm not alone so today is all about Dr.'s Remedy Enriched Nail Polish!

Let me start off by saying that there is no such thing as 100% natural nail polish, only smarter and safer formulations. Dr.'s Remedy is a safe and enriched nail polish that was created by two doctors who are both board certified podiatrists who care about their patients and the products they use. Both Dr. Adam Cirlincione and Dr. William Spielfogel are skilled surgeons who realized the top concern with their patients is brittle and discolored nails that is often associated with the harsh chemicals that can be found in commercial nail polish.

Dr. Cirlincione's wife was pregnant and was advised against using hair dye, eating certain foods, and being exposed to harsh chemicals. This warning led the doctor to do some research on chemicals and toxins. Along with Dr. Spielfogel they created Dr.'s Remedy, which is 3 Free (formaldehyde, toluene, and DBP – which can cause some serious damage to ones health) and enriched with good for you ingredients like tea tree oil, garlic bulb extract, and wheat protein.

These enrichments help promote healthier and stronger nails and also provide anti-fungal properties so it won't cause any damage. Their nail polish come in a wide variety of gorgeous shades and is safe enough for anyone and everyone; including those who are extremely sensitive to traditional nail polish or chemicals in general.

I got so lucky because I got to try out their new seasonal collection Jolly and Joy. The collection is made up of 5 amazingly lovely and flattering festive shades perfect for the holiday season, and beyond.



ESSENTIAL Emerald is one of my favorite nail polishes, ever! I don't have anything like this shade and I just love the way it looks on my nails. It compliments my skin tone and applies like a dream. It wears well and I had no problem with chipping, although I only wore it for 2 days. This is such a gorgeous color that I can't get enough of! They describe it as "a take on the classic tree-and-plant-inspired gem of a shade, with delicate glimmer and unparalleled amounts of glamour".



RESOLUTION Red Glitter is my other favorite from the collection. This polish applies so well and looks great on the nails! The only drawback to this polish is the fact that glitter polishes are really difficult to remove, but everything else about this is perfect! It adds the perfect amount of glitter to the fingers without being too over the top. I feel like this polish would be appropriate for any situation because it's almost a nude pinkish-red color. They describe it as "a red meets copper spin that's sequin-look-alike laden with high shine and sparkle.

 

REVIVE Ruby Red is the most perfect red color that I've ever seen. It's absolutely perfect for fall and winter, and I think it would make a wonderful statement on the toes. It's deep yet feminine and pretty. It is described as "a shimmer-infused Wizard of Oz-inspired shade of crimson.



SERENE Silver Glitter is so special and unique. It changes color in different lights and makes the nails look fancy, sort of like a perfectly pretty disco ball. It wasn't the best with my skin tone but that won't keep me from rocking it because it's so interesting! It's described as "a seasonal sizzler like no other: shine, chic, totally unique in the metallic scene."



PASSION Purple is last, but not least. It's "a bombshell-boysenberry with subtle silver meshed throughout". It's not my favorite for fingernails but I have high hopes for how amazing it will look on my toes. This is my Mom's favorite of the collection though and it looks amazing on her. For whatever reason I had the hardest time applying this one. Don't get me wrong – it was still easy, just not as smooth as the others.



These nail polishes are fabulous, right? They're a little expensive at $17 each but I think they are totally worth it. I've never seen such lovely shades before. If you were only going to get one I would highly recommend either Resolution Red or Essential Emerald.

You should check them out on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/Remedynails or on Twitter at http://twitter.com/#!/remedynails. If you're interested in owning these for yourself Dr.s' Remedy is sold exclusively at www.remedynails.com or by calling 877-323-NAIL.

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

What a Sweet Potato!

I absolutely love Sweet Potatoes! They're one of my favorite foods – mashed, baked, steamed, any way at all! They also happen to be really, really healthy! They are an excellent source of Vitamin A, Beta-Carotene, and antioxidants. They are considered a super food and are definitely a must have in my kitchen. Since I love the way the taste and that fact that they are really great at nourishing the skin I thought today would be the perfect time to share this sweet potato facial mask recipe.


What you need: 2 ounces of mashed sweet potatoes (just steam them, take off their skin, and mash them)
1 tablespoons of oatmeal
1 tablespoon of honey
A dash of nutmeg


Once you've got the ingredients all together all you need to do is mix them together to form a thick paste. Apply the mixture onto your face, neck, and chest after washing with a gentle cleanser. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes before rinsing off with warm water. Make sure to moisturize afterwards (as you should with all treatments). This mask will leave your skin looking and feeling soft and smooth. It will also help new skin cells form. Sweet potatoes aren't just for Thanksgiving anymore!

Talk About It - Mad Gab's

Stockings are one of my favorite parts of the Christmas Season! Today I'm sharing with you a few products from an awesome company called Mad Gab's that would make excellent stocking stuffers, or even gifts.

Gabrielle Melchionda starting making lip balm in 1991, while still in college, after she came across a recipe that she thought sounded easy to make. She gathered the necessary supplies and began mixing up batches in her mother's kitchen. The lip balms were such a hit with her friends that they encouraged her to market them and sell them in a store. By her senior year of college, Mad Gab's was in 10 stores and Gabrielle embarked on a journey to learn how to make a business work.

Fast forward 20 years and the business has grown into a huge success. People all over the world love Mad Gab's products. They moved from their original 200 square foot office to a 4500 square feet space where the Mad Gab's team makes, ships, and sells their products. They strive to create unique, high quality, and effective all natural beauty products while creating minimal waste. They also wish to "inspire others that anything can be done with good ideas, hard work and a strong team."

Mad Gab's formulates their products with ingredients like beeswax, shea butter, organic extra virgin oil, vitamin e, natural flavors, essential oils, mica and other healthy and beneficial ingredients. All of their products are great and they come in the most adorable packaging with fun little facts on them. Oh, and by now my loyal readers know how crazy sensitive my lips are, right? Well, none of these lip products irritate them in the least! I absolutely love and adore all of the products I got to try, so let's get to the reviews!

I'm going to start with the newly launched (October 1st, 2011) Wildly Natural line of lip products. These lippies are inspired by patterns in nature like peacock feathers, giraffe spots, and the wings of a butterfly. This line offers Lip Butters, Shimmers, and Glosses each with 3 flavors. The glosses come in pink, plum, and bronze while the shimmers come in the same colors with added glitter. The lip butters come in Coconut Lime, Juicy Mango, and Lavender Vanilla.

The pink lip gloss is the most perfect pale pink that provides the lips with a very sheer dusting of pretty color. It's not sticky at all and it feels super lush and hydrating. It's shiny without being over the top. The Juicy Mango Lip Butter is so smooth and applies easily. It makes my lips feel moisturized and silky. It smells great and tastes good without making me lick my lips 24/7. The Plum Lip Shimmer is probably my favorite of the 3 because it's so gorgeous and flattering on my lips. It has the perfect amount of shimmer and color.

Moving on to the other Mad Gab's products I was lucky enough to try - lets talk about the Turtle Shimmer which is a glistening pink color perfect for any pretty pout. The Shimmers have a lovely peppermint scent and flavor to them which I just adore. The minty tingle adds a cool feel to the lips. I love the turtle on the packaging too!

I also got to try a couple of the smooch products; one is from the Zoo Smooch line and the other is from Dino Smooch. My zoo balm is the Giraffe Smooch in vanilla with SPF 15. I find giraffes irresistible, so I think this one is really adorable. It's got a really warm vanilla scent that is just delicious. My favorite balm of the bunch is the Stego Smooch lip balm in berry, which comes in a recyclable tin. This smells fantastic and I'm mad about the formulation. It's wonderful! It applies like butter and lasts for an irresistibly kissable mouth. I normally don't like balms in tins because I'm a bit of a germ freak but this one is incredible.



Last but certainly not least is the Hi-Bear-Nating Balm which is a calming lavender body balm. I can't remember if I've told you how obsessed with lavender I am before but just take my word for it – I can't get enough! This is perfectly divine smelling lavender (not all are) and it works so well to calm and relax me for bed. I just massage a little bit of this onto my neck and temples (as per instructions on the package) right before bed and I'm ready to doze off and get a peaceful night's sleep.

I love Mad Gab's so much that I'm planning on checking out their Holiday Smooch Lip Balms very soon. Their prices are affordable and their products are worth a try so check them out for yourself at http://www.madgabs.com/

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

Pumpkin Cranberry Muffins

Happy Monday beautiful! I hope you had a fantastic week. I know Beautiful Basics is a beauty blog but today is going to be a little different because I'm going to be sharing a recipe for muffins. They're not just any muffins though, they're truly delicious, and healthier than other options. I made them last weekend and they were gone by the next morning, because everyone loved them so much. I figure since Thanksgiving in the U.S. is on Thursday now would be the perfect time to share my treats!

Ingredients:
2 1/4 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
2 cups sugar (I used 1 ½ cups of white and ½ brown but you can use whatever you want – including raw or a sugar substitute)
1 cup pumpkin puree
¼ cup of vegetable oil
¼ cup of applesauce
1 cup of fresh, frozen, or dried cranberries (I used Craisins, but if you use fresh or frozen you'll want to chop them up)

In a bowl, combine the dry ingredients. In a mixing bowl, beat the eggs and sugar together and then add the pumpkin and oil – make sure to mix very well. Next you'll combine the wet mixture into the dry ingredients and mix until moistened. Now it's cranberry time! You need to gently fold in the cranberries so they don't get broken down and mushy. Fill your lined muffin cups ¾ of the way full and stick your muffin pan in the oven. Bake at 400 degrees F for 18-22 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks. I then dusted the muffins lightly with powdered sugar, but you can skip this part if you'd like!




I hope you enjoy!

Talk About It - Rand Hill Naturals

It is no secret that I love honey. I also love natural skin care and cosmetics as well as my home state – Oregon. What do you get when you combine all three things I just mentioned? You get an Oregon based natural skin care company who makes honey facial care products (in addition to other products) called Rand Hill Naturals.

Randie Hill started to develop sensitivities to traditional products in the mid 90's but couldn't afford the hefty price tags of natural products so she decided to create her own. Her goal now is "to create a line of unique and effective products that incorporate plant based ingredients in their simplest, most unrefined form." All Rand Hill Natural products are pure and safe, free from any artificial ingredients like color, fragrance and preservatives. They are also very affordable!

I was lucky enough to get to try the Complexion Essentials, which includes a cleanser, a cleansing mask and a serum. All 3 products feature raw and unfiltered honey, essential oils (including Lavender, Rose Geranium, Orange, Neroli & Grapefruit), and other natural skin beneficial ingredients.



First up is the Daily Facial Honey Wash, which is a really great cleanser for any skin types (except those allergic to honey, of course) because it's so gentle. It smells amazing; like honey with a touch of citrus mixed in. It has the exact consistency of honey so it doesn't produce foam or anything that other facial cleansers may do but it's just as efficient if not more so. It's non-sticky and spreads easily across the skin. I massage it onto my damp skin and rub gently in small circles until I'm ready to rinse. It rinses off so effortlessly and leaves skin feeling comfortable and healthy. I feel like it really keeps my skin looking clear and it also brightens. It makes my face feel fresh and fit.



Once a week I use the Honey Oatmeal Cleansing Mask, but I use it as a facial scrub instead of a mask. You all know how much of an obsession I have with scrubs and this particular one has made it onto the favorites list. It smells like floral-y citrus and makes my skin look radiant. I'm obsessed with this scrub! I particularly like to use this when I've had a long day or worn a lot of makeup because it gets deep down into each and every little pore leaving them shiny and new thanks to the exfoliating oatmeal powder. I do occasionally use it as a mask, but I prefer it as a cleansing scrub. It's very hydrating and improves the condition of my skin.



The last product were going to talk about is the Ultimate Face Quenching Serum which is made up of Jojoba Oil, Vitamin E, Tea Tree and Rose Geranium essential oils. A lot of people are afraid of using oil to moisturize their skin but this serum is incredibly lightweight yet conditioning. It absorbs almost instantly and leaves skin feeling softer than you could even imagine without being the least bit greasy. The smell of this is a bit strong, but it's tolerable and dissipates within about an hour. Its great for morning and evening use and really plumps up and smoothes skin.

If you're interested in checking these products (or other Rand Hill Naturals products) out for yourself you can visit their website by clicking here. You can purchase online or use the Find a Store tab to see if there are any stores near you that sell these products.

(FTC: These products were 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, and my own and honest.)

Superstar Face and Body Mask

Hi there, beauty! In the past I've shared a lot of things that I love (and shared why I love them so much) and today's DIY Beauty Recipe is made up of 3 of those things on my love list. Yogurt, Honey, and Pumpkin have all had entire weeks dedicated to their uses and why they are beneficial for skin but today I'm combining all 3 to make a super face and body mask.

What you need:

3 tablespoons of puréed pumpkin
3 tablespoons of honey
1/4 cup of yogurt
Mix all of the ingredients together in a bowl until smooth and combined. Steaming your face before applying the mask is a good idea but not necessary. Apply the mask evenly to your face, and even your body if you want (it's great for chests and backs). Let the mask sit for anywhere between 10 to 20 minutes before rinsing with warm water. Don't forget to moisturize afterwards! Your skin should look luminous and rejuvenated.