Talk About Tools - FOREO LUNA mini

I really love beauty tools. I especially adore makeup brushes and skincare tools. I’m obsessed with both and thought it would be fun to start a series dedicated to tools! I’ve never loved the idea of Clarisonic, but I have wanted a Foreo Luna Mini for a really long time and my wonderful parents surprised me by getting me one for my birthday. Thanks Mom and Dad!

The first few times I used it I really didn’t like it. I swore I could feel it vibrating my brain or something, but with each use it became a little less intense and became more therapeutic and enjoyable.

This waterproof and perfectly palm-sized facial cleansing device is made with super gentle silicone touch-points and uses T-Sonic pulsations to cleanse any type of skin. This completely waterproof skin tool is made with quick drying nonporous silicone that resists bacteria buildup so it’s totally safe and hygienic. It also has an unbelievable battery life and only needs charged every 300 uses. It also comes in 5 cute colors! I have the Turquoise Blue because it’s my favorite color of all time.

I use it in the morning and the evening and have seen a massive difference in the texture and tone of my skin. My complexion has become noticeably more radiant and a lot more even. My skin has been so soft since I started using this little gem and I really love the way it leaves my skin feeling. I’ve noticed fewer blackheads around my nose and my pores are a lot less noticeable now. I’ve also had a reduction of the little bumps I used to get around my chin and hairline. My skin also seemed to balance out and I no longer have dry patches. Oh, and my makeup seems to glide across my skin now because it’s so even in texture!

I did have a very short purging phase and had a couple of blemishes pop up but they went away pretty quickly. It also took me a few days to figure out exactly how I should use it (even with watching informative YouTube videos) but once I got the hang of it, it became really easy to use.

I feel a lot cleaner when using this than I did with just my hands or a washcloth and my moisturizer seems to absorb better and penetrate deeper. I did a lot of research about the FOREO Luna Mini and didn’t quite believe the spectacular results people we claiming to get but now I fully believe because I, myself, have seen an amazing change in my skin with this little device being a part of my life.

My parents purchased this for me on Dermstore but Ulta, Sephora, and Foreo all sell the device as well. Do you use a skin cleansing device or brush? Leave me a comment and let me know!

Talk About Nail Polish - JoShik

I don’t know what it is about nail polish but there’s something about it that makes me really happy. It could possibly be because there are so many stunning nail polish shades or the fact that it’s an easy way to express yourself with a pop of color or the fact that it’s just super fun. However; traditional nail polish can be full of scary, toxic ingredients. These days, though, there are healthier, cruelty-free options on the market that pack just as much punch without the chemicals.

JoShik (pronounced Jo-Chic) polish is a Chicago company offering safer and gorgeous polish options. JoJo Shiku, a wife and mother who also happens to be a health enthusiast, created the line of vegan, cruelty-free, non-toxic polishes after first becoming pregnant and realizing that traditional nail polish is full of health-altering ingredients.  After doing her research she launched a line of products free from Formaldehyde, Formaldehyde Resin, Toluene, Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP), Camphor, and Triphenyl Phosphate (TPHP). In other words, JoShik products are luxurious but nontoxic.

254 is described as a Cosmo Pink Crème and it’s so, so pretty. This is the exact kind of color that I adore and can’t get enough. The formulation of this particular pink is perfect. I mean it, it’s perfect! The ease of application is incredible and the polish is so smooth and beautiful. The shine! So pretty!

I’m beyond impressed with JoShik polish, and absolutely adore 254. Any polish that is this foolproof and easy to apply that looks as good as this one is a big time winner in my book!

You can learn more about JoShik and their other shades and products by visiting their website. You can also find JoShik on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

(FTC: This polish was sent to me for free for review consideration. I am not being compensated for this post. All thoughts and opinions are my own.)

Juice Organics Giveaway

I know how much you all love giveaways (I do, too!) and thanks to Juice Organics and Goodbeing one of you Beauties will be the lucky winner of the Volumizing Shampoo and Conditioner Bundle.




This Leaping Bunny Cruelty-Free and PETA Cruelty-Free Certitifed line uses at least 70% organic ingredients in each of their products and you don't have to worry about parabens, petroleum, propylene or butylene glycol, sodium lauryl sulfates, phthalates, PEGs, TEA, DEA, GMOs, silicones, artificial dyes or endocrine disrupting synthetic fragrances.

To enter to win this hair pair simply use the Rafflecopter form below. All entries will be verified. US only.

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April Goodbeing Review + Giveaway

I just want to quickly say thank you so much for all of the wonderful birthday wishes. I had an amazing birthday and I’m looking forward to seeing what my 29^th year brings.

So, what are we talking about today? The ever-famous Goodbeing and my April box. I have so much fun sharing the contents of my Goodbeing box every month because the majority of you seem so interested in this eco-friendly subscription service and the contents of their boxes. I’m also doing another giveaway so be sure to read through to the end of this post for your chance to enter to win.

If you’re new around here or you’re simply unfamiliar with Goodbeing here’s what you need to know: Goodbeing is a customizable subscription service with several different plans to choose from. You can purchase a subscription or a single box for yourself or as a gift for someone else. Depending on which plan you purchase you can pay as little as $18 for a subscription or $21 per box if you would prefer to pay as you go. Each month you will receive 4-5 trial-sized (and sometimes even full sized) products that have been selected for you based on your member profile. You get to tell Goodbeing exactly what you like and dislike in the in depth survey you are asked to fill out when you sign up. You can specify scents you like and dislike, particular shades of cosmetics you’re interested in, and what your skin is like.

If you want to know more about what I found when I opened my April Goodbeing box then keep reading, but if you want to check out my past reviews feel free to click on the months and the review will open in a new window – December, January, February, March.

The whole point of Beautiful Basics is to share my honest opinion with you all, good or bad. And I’m sad to say that I’m unhappy with this months Goodbeing box. Every other month I have felt like the box has been perfectly tailored to me and my preferences but I was really disappointed with this particular box. I don’t feel like any of my tastes were taken into consideration when selecting products to send to me.

I received:

Zoe Organics Insect Repellent (Full Size - $20)

Meow Meow Tweet Makeup Remover & Cleansing Oil

4 samples of Juice Organics Volumizing Shampoo & Conditioner

Bonnie Resurfacing Enzyme Mask

Moondani Natural Breath Mist

(I don’t have any details about this. I didn’t receive a card for this product. I did, however, receive a card for the HAN Eyeshadow so I contacted the company and asked if I was supposed to receive one of the eyeshadows, I’ll let you know what they say)

ME to WE Education Rafiki Bracelet ($10)

I’m not able to use the Zoe Organics Insect Repellent, Meow Meow Tweet Makeup Remover, Bonnie Resurfacing Enzyme Mask or the Moondani breath mist because of their scents and/or ingredients so these will all be going to family members.

I really love having another ME to WE Bracelet. This is the third consecutive bracelet members have received and I’ve seen some complaints but I absolutely love them and what they stand for. I will never, ever complain about getting one of these super cute bracelets! I’ll also be able to use the shampoo and conditioner.

Goodbeing in general is a great service and with any subscription box some months are going to be better than others. This is the last box of my subscription and it was pretty much a miss for me. I am, however, giving one away so hopefully one of you will love the contents of this box much more than I did!

In the meantime, if you want to sign up for Goodbeing you can click on this link! 

To enter, simply use the Rafflecopter form below. All entries will be verified. This giveaway is open only to those of you in the US. Good luck!

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(FTC: This box was provided to me free of charge by the company for reveiw consideration. They are also giving away a box to one of you for free. I am not being compensated for this review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.)

Gabriel Eden Palette Look and Swatches

I used Trinity all over my lid up to my brow and then applied Genesis to my lid only.
I blended Reign into the other half of my lid and used Mercy in my crease to add warmth to my eyes.
I also used Veil, the matte highlight, in my inner corners and directly under my brow. 

Left: Swatches of Veil (matte highlight) and Serentiy (delicate pink)
Right: Top Row - Trinity (neutral matte beige), Mercy (warm shimmering copper)
Genesis (tender brown with shimmer) and Reign (a soft cocoa with shimmer)

Talk About Cosmetics - Gabriel Cosmetics Eden Palette

Gabriel Cosmetics is a brand that I really love, and for good reason. They have totally pure, healthy products that perform like any of the super popular traditional cosmetics can. Their American made products are formulated with completely natural ingredients and their entire range is vegan, cruelty-free, and gluten-free.

I recently got my hands on their Eden Palette, part of the new Spring/Summer 2016 collection, a gorgeous compilation of soft and feminine cheek and eye colors. With a matte highlight, called Veil, and a delicate pink blush, Serenity, and four lovely eyeshadow shades this palette is all you need this spring to create a fresh and flirty look. This palette setup is also good for those of us on the go. Simply toss this beauty in your makeup bag and you’ve got a complete look during any vacation or trip.

The eyeshadows in this palette are Trinity (neutral matte beige), Mercy (warm shimmering copper), Genesis (tender brown with shimmer) and Reign (a soft cocoa with shimmer). I really like each of these shades and find the combination of warm and cool to be perfect for someone with neutral undertones like I have. I find that I can get a lot of different looks out of this palette and I love the formula. They’re very soft shades that are so silky, smooth and easy to blend out. They never go on looking too heavy or over the top and instead look effortless and chic.

The matte highlight shades makes a great setting powder/brightener for under the eyes and the blush is the type of color that I absolutely love to wear. It’s a really pretty pink that leans more the cool side of the spectrum and it looks great once applied.

Every single product in this palette wears beautifully throughout the day and doesn’t end up fading or looking patchy. And the palette itself is a great size with a perfect amount of product!

Gabriel De Santino, the genius behind this green beauty brand, is also the mastermind behind ZuZu Luxe (a brand I have yet to try but definitely interests me). Have you tried anything from either brand? I’d love to hear your thoughts and product recommendations! You can check out their website by clicking here. 

Make sure to check back on Thursday for a post featuring this palette as modeled by me and swatches. See you then!

(FTC: This beautiful palette was 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 It - Pacifica 7 Free Nail Color Trio

All Pacifica products are cruelty-free and vegan and it’s pretty obvious by now that I really like a lot of their products so it’s no shock that I’m also a fan of their 7 free nail polish. Sometimes less toxic nail polishes tend to be hard to apply, streaky, or not very opaque, but their polishes are super!

Not only are they healthier, eco and animal friendly but they also go on beautifully and look heavenly after a single coat. I’m not great at painting my super short nails but this formula was so easy to use! It went on smoothly and didn’t bubble or become patchy in any way shape or form. One coat gave me flawless and opaque color (on Super Fox and Midnight Rambler, Star Dust Memories makes a great polish topper or two layer polish) that looks absolutely beautiful on the nails.

This trio features the shades Midnight Rambler, Super Fox, and Star Dust Memories. I’m actually a pink, orange and coral lovin’ lady so I wasn’t sure I would love these colors but it turns out that I really do. These shades are really pretty. 

Super Fox is a really gorgeous teal shade with silver shimmer. 

Midnight Rambler is a deep midnight blue
and Star Dust Memories is a silvery gray shimmer.

Again, please forgive my terrible application but hopefully you can get a good feel for the colors and the formula.

Another thing to note is that Midnight Rambler was a bit hard to remove. I had to scrub my nails a little more than with the others but eventually got it all off.

Check out Pacifica’s website or you can find them on Ulta.com (and in stores). You can also follow Pacifica 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 - Orglamix Enlighten Cream Luminizer

I had a couple of you Beauties ask me to talk more about the Orglamix Enlighten Cream Luminizer in Illume that I received in my MarchGoodbeing box, so I wanted to devote an entire post to this magical little pot of glow.

Before I start talking about the product, I just want to tell you how impressed I am with the company and their customer service. I told you I had an issue with the product falling out of the jar every time I tried to use it. I wrote to the company and they quickly sent out a new one so I’ve got the perfect product in the perfect little pot.

I would also like to take a second to say thank you to Goodbeing for introducing me to Orglamix. I wasn’t familiar with the brand or their products before receiving this Luminizer in my latest Goodbeing box, but after checking out their website there are so many products that I’m interested in. Too bad I’m on a no-buy!

Anyway, the Enlighten Cream Luminizer comes in 3 different shades with Illume being the pinker champagne toned highlighter. I tried so many times to get a good swatch of this beautiful product but it is so much prettier in person than I can get it to look in any photo I take.

This stunning product is made with Coconut Oil, Candellila Wax, Sweet Almond Oil, Avocado Oil, Rosemary Extract, Lavender Oil, Titanium Dioxide and Mica. It is vegan friendly and cruelty-free.

This creamy dream is easy to use and blends in to the skin seamlessly. It never looks glittery, greasy, overly shiny, or heavy. It somehow looks like really healthy, flawless glowing skin. I really like the formula and the finish.

I can’t even begin to tell you how much this stuff amazes me. It is everything I have ever wanted in a luminizer, and more! I have dry skin that tends to look a bit flat and this cream adds so much life and vibrancy to my face. It doesn’t settle into any of my fine lines nor does it emphasize my pores. It wears well throughout the day and doesn’t end up looking splotchy or patchy at all. It actually seems to look even prettier throughout the day. This particular shade is perfect for me, too. I would have though it was too pink upon first glance but it works so well with my light skin and pairs perfectly with any blush or bronzer I decide to wear with it.

I think I should quit now because I could talk about how beautiful this product is for hours. If you’re interested in learning more about this product or checking out the other shades you can click here. You can also check out the rest of Orglamix’ offerings by checking out their website. You can also get a free $10 gift card if you sign up with your e-mail. I don’t get anything for that, I just thought I should share!  

(FTC: I received this product in my March Goodbeing box. I am not being compensated for this review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.)

Talk About Hair Care - Madre Labs Thickening Shampoo

I was recently selected to try out one of iHerb’s own products from Madre Labs. I was sent their Madre LabsThickening Shampoo. I am generally super picky about shampoo, but was so excited about the pH balanced, cruelty-free, and eco-friendly shampoo. This shampoo is designed to make your hair look and feel thicker, fuller, and healthier. It’s fortified with Biotin, Panthenol, Quinoa, Flax Proteins, and Vicia Faba Seed and Loquat Extract.

Unfortunately, I was only able to use this shampoo once because of the scent. It smells absolutely lovely in the bottle, like a light and fresh citrus, but smells incredibly masculine and slightly musky once on my hair. The smell is so strong and doesn’t go away. I mean it seriously does not fade throughout the day. It took several washes to get rid of the scent.

My Dad, however, loves this shampoo. He’s been hesitant about going natural over the years because he feels like naturally based products don’t work as well as the chemicals he is used to but after using this he exclaimed, “this is the best shampoo I’ve ever used!” That’s a huge testament to this stuff because he was an avid Pert Plus only kind of guy for 20 years.

Since I couldn’t use this shampoo I asked him to give me his thoughts.

By the way, he lost all his hair last summer while going through chemotherapy and his bone marrow transplant and his hair is now back and healthier and stronger than ever. He thinks this shampoo leaves his hair feeling really clean, squeaky clean, but still soft and hydrated. He doesn’t think it’s made his hair grow thicker or fuller but does in fact make his hair feel really healthy.

So if you’re not sensitive to scents you might want to check out this lovely shampoo. I liked the way it made my hair feel the one time I used it but couldn’t continue using it because of the smell. My Dad is a big fan, though, which is great! He’s actually going on a trip soon and this is all he is planning on taking with him.

I shop at iHerb a lot and absolutely love how many different brands and products they offer. They have amazing shipping and really great prices. You can check out this shampoo at iHerb by clicking here. You can also get $5 off of your first order (with no minimum) by using the code ZJL956 or clicking here.

(FTC: I was sent this shampoo for free by iHerb and am receiving a $25 store credit for sharing my honest thoughts. If you use my coupon code I do receive a $5 credit added to my account and an ongoing 5% commission. This does not change my thoughts about the product.)

Quick Talk About It - Little Twig Extra Mild Unscented Shampoo

I’ll be 29 in April but I still love a good bottle of baby shampoo, and I know I’m not the only adult who loves the stuff. Lately I’ve been using Little Twig’s Extra Mild Unscented Shampoo and I think it’s my favorite, ever!

Some baby shampoo formulas leave my hair feeling really dirty and strangely tangled but this stuff works just like a typical shampoo. It leaves my hair feeling silky soft, clean, and majorly shiny. It’s supposed to be unscented but it has a scent that (surprisingly) I really enjoy. It sort of smells like a pear jelly belly and it’s delicious. The scent doesn’t last past lathering so I enjoy the fleeting fragrance while it lasts and then I love the fact that my hair that simply smells fresh and clean without a smell.

I have an itchy scalp that tends to be stupidly sensitive and reactive (just like my lips!) and this shampoo is soothing, nourishing and leaves me itch free. My tendency to have tangles isn’t an issue when I use this shampoo (followed by my favorite Fragrance Free Desert Essence Conditioner)  and my hair seems to stay cleaner for longer.

I’m a big fan of this shampoo and I plan on checking out more of the line very soon.

Do you ever use baby shampoo on your own hair? Or any other products meant for tiny humans? 

(FTC: I purhcased this product with my own money. I am not being compensated for this review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.)

March Goodbeing Review + Giveaway

My Goodbeing Box showed up last Thursday and I’ve been having so much fun playing with everything that I received. I was beyond happy when I opened up this month’s package! I think it’s the best one I’ve gotten yet and it makes me feel reenergized about Goodbeing. Not that I wasn’t enjoying it, but this month was a total winner.

Can I be honest? I always am but I need to make an itty-bitty confession. I stalk social media once I get the email telling me that my box is on the way to see what other people are getting to get an idea for what I might get. Do you cheat when it comes to subscription boxes? I try so hard not to but I just can’t help it! I saw that some people had received a Luminizer and I was desperate to be that lucky… and I was! Highlighters are my current favorite makeup product and I can’t get enough. Seeing other posts also told me that I would be receiving another Me to We Bracelet, score! But I had no clue what I would for sure be getting, which makes it exciting.

Anyway, let’s get on with it. I bet you’re anxiously awaiting the contents of my March Goodbeing box so here we go!

ME to WE Water Rafiki Bracelet ($10)

Orglamix Enlighten Luminizer in Illume (Full Size - $18)

Pangea Organics Lip Balm in Egyptian Fennel with Grapefruit & Sweet Orange ($14)

S.W. Basics Cream (Deluxe Mini - $12)

Avitalin C Concentrate Optimal Skin Protector (Deluxe Sample - $34)

It’s always nice to see such generous samples and full sized products in a subscription box and with a value of $88 this box is pretty impressive.

My favorite items from this box are the Water Rafiki Bracelet (I loved my Health Bracelet last month and I’m so excited to have another one!) and the Orglamix Enlighten Luminizer. Illume is seriously gorgeous and I’m really loving it. I appreciate the smoothness of the formula and the fact that it doesn’t have any chunky glitter in it. It’s a dreamy cream formula that makes skin glow. The shade is stunning and it makes skin look so healthy and vibrant.

My only issue with the Orglamix Enlighten Luminizer is that the product within the jar was loose so it actually fell out when I went to use it for the first time and I can’t seem to get it to stick to the pot, which I think is a bit odd, but it doesn’t change how beautiful it is so whatever.

I’ve actually received this exact Pangea Organics Lip Balm before (in a Birchbox, years ago – long before I ever went green) and I’m not a fan but my Mom is! We like to share the contents of sub boxes so I don’t mind when I don’t personally like every single item. She is a serious lip balm addict. You should see her purse! I think at any given time she has 20 of them floating around in there. 20 might be a bit of an overstatement but I’m thinking it might be scarily accurate. Back to the point, she likes this balm and will use it!

I’m a huge fan of S.W. Basics (I reviewed some of their products years ago) and I was actually just looking at their minis at Target but ended up not purchasing them so this little glass jar of goodness arrived at the ideal time. I really like the simplicity of this cream and the size of the jar is so perfect. I’ll be sticking this in my travel beauty bag to take on my next trip but I can assure you it will, in fact, be used and enjoyed.

The only thing I’m not sold on is the Avitalin C Concentrate Optimal Skin Protector. It sounds really nice but I don’t love the smell. I haven’t tested it out because of my issues with smells, but I’m tempted to try it out soon because it sounds like an amazing product. I’ll keep you updated if I do try it out eventually.

And finally (not pictured) is a $10 Swap Credit Code for Swap.com.

How awesome was this box? I’m so impressed! Which product(s) sounds like you something you would love to try? Tell me your thoughts in the comments section.

If you're interested in signing up for Goodbeing you can use my code by clicking on this link. You'll get a bonus item in your first box. This offer expires on March 30th.

And... I’m giving one away to one of you! To enter simply use the Rafflecopter form below. There is only one mandatory entry and after that you can do as many or as few of the options as you would like. This giveaway is open to those of you in the US only. Good luck!

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Beautiful Basics 5th Blogiversary

I’m 28 years old (turning 29 on April 10th) and since 2009 I’ve been living with chronic illness. I’m disabled and unable to live the typical life of a twenty something, but I don’t let that stop me from living a happy and positive life. Life is what we make it so it’s really important to keep an open and positive mind and to embrace every day and every moment. Life is short but life is also beautiful.

Beautiful Basics was born when I became ill. I have Lupus, Fibromyalgia, Chronic Migraine, and some other not very fun stuff as well. The original thought and hope when I first became sick was that I would get better but as time passes I find myself getting worse and worse. It was really hard for me to go from working to being disabled and unable to do much of anything so I sat down and thought long and hard about what I could do and what I wanted to do with my time. 

I have a passion for all things beauty and green living and I’ve always loved reading beauty blogs and watching vlogs on YouTube so I decided to try my hand at blogging. Beautiful Basics was originally a place where I shared very basic beauty tips and hacks but it somehow morphed into a natural beauty blog. I now primarily review natural and organic beauty products. It kind of took on a mind of its own and continues to change right in front of my eyes. I never could have imagined how much my little piece of the Internet would grow and what it would become. Something born out of desperation for something resembling normalcy and out of a feeling of uselessness and hopelessness has become a wonderful outlet for me to write, which I love to do, and talk about beauty, which I also love. 

The past 5 years of creating content for Beautiful Basics and being able to interact with all of you has given me hope and something I absolutely love to do. I appreciate this all so much more than you could ever know. I could have never imagined how many people would read my words or what companies would want to work with me. Each day brings something new and exciting in to my life. Each like and comment you leave me means a lot and I’m looking forward to continuing to grow Beautiful Basics. I can’t wait to see what the next 5 years will bring about!

As a thank you to all of you, whether you’ve been here since the beginning or if you somehow stumbled upon my blog today, I want to give you all the chance to win some fun goodies that I’ve been collecting. You can enter 1, 2, 3 or all 4 giveaways if you would like; However, you can only win one of the prizes. Each giveaway has a separate comment option so you can leave several comments down below. Each giveaway will be open until the 15th. 

There is only one mandatory entry for each giveaway and after that you can do as many or as few of the options as you would like. Be sure to check out the terms and conditions to see where each prize can be shipped. All entries will be verified. Good luck!

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