Another awesome gift idea for the makeup lover in your life (but let’s get real, it would be a perfect spoil yourself gift too) is the Jane Iredale Grab&Go Kit. I have the Mesmerizing Grab&Go Kit, which was part of their Fall collection, but they have two other versions as well including the Cool Grab&Go Kit and the Spellbinding Grab&Go Kit.

I love this kit, especially the Barely Rose Blush (which I have been reaching for a lot since it goes with absolutely every look and makes my skin look healthy and naturally flushed) and the Lip Plumper. With regards to the Just Kissed Lip Plumper I have to say that I don’t get much of a plumping effect or tingling sensation, but I’m not complaining. I have decently sized lips and can’t stand the feel of plumpers on my sensitive lips. The formula is actually surprisingly moisturizing and the Montreal Shade is the perfect daily red so I’m very pleased with it.

The quality of the products is exceptional, which I have come to expect from all Jane Iredale products. This set has a retail value of $116 and sells for $90. I think the products combine to create a perfect sultry look that would work well for the holiday season.

I’m a big fan of 100% Pure for about a dozen reasons and 100% Pure has a lot of great gift ideas for the makeup loving Green Goddess in your life. They have a lot of different sets but I think their 8-piece Fruit Pigmented Color Collection would make an exceptional gift.

This set includes a full face of full-sized cosmetics as well as a couple of cruelty free vegan brushes to help complete the look. All eight pieces are housed in an adorable blue box. I absolutely love the products in this set. The colors are goregous, super flattering and wearable, and perfect for any makeup collection.

100% Pure’s products are completely safe and healthy since they are made without parabens, sulfates, synthetic chemicals, chemical preservatives, artificial fragrances, artificial colors, detergents, or any toxic ingredients. Their cosmetics are created using antioxidant-rich fruit and veggie pigments. They never test on animals and are vegan, with the exception of their products that contain cruelty free honey. They are also gluten free.

This set is a must for any Eco Beauty! It’s fun, functional, and cute! It has a retail value of $122 and sells for $65.

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. One of you will even win your own set of 3 products – so stay tuned to the end of this post to learn how.

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/

To enter to win your very own set of Wildly Natural products (Juicy Mango Lip Butter, Plum Shimmer, and Pink Gloss):

(US only please!)

Optional Extra Entries (leave a separate comment for each):
-“Like” Mad Gabs on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/madgabsinc
-“Like” Beautiful Basics on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/BeautifulBasicsBlog
-Post a comment on the Beautiful Basics Fan page sharing your favorite beauty tip, recipe, or secret or you can tell me what your favorite product of the moment is
-Share this giveaway on your Facebook or Twitter for 1 extra entry (every person you refer who enters this giveaway OR likes my Facebook page and mentions your name will get you 2 extra entries)

This contest will run until December 15th and will end at 12 noon PST. The winner will be chosen using random.com and will be posted on the Beautiful Basics Facebook page)

(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.)

I hope you had a lovely holiday (those of you in the US) and a lovely weekend. I’m really excited about today’s review because it marks the first of my Christmas Gift Idea Guide posts. Today is all about a gift that keeps on giving for 3, 6, or 12 months – a monthly natural beauty delivery service called Green Grab Bag which is brought to you by White Apricot.

Every month for only $15 you can get at least 6 natural beauty miniatures delivered to your doorstep, and let me tell you – it is worth every penny! Receiving the box with the Green Grab Bag in it was electrifying in the best way possible.

Five years ago the women of White Apricot set out to find the best all natural beauty alternatives to the traditional chemically loaded products on the market. Green Grab Bag was born after realizing that it was probably overwhelming for most White Apricot readers to know exactly which products to buy therefore they came up with the idea for the delivery service which gives customers a chance to try before they buy.

The most exciting thing about Green Grab is the fact that every month is a surprise, and you never know what you’ll find when you plunge into the recycled paper gift bag. Each month’s bag can contain any combination of hair products, skin care, makeup, and fragrance from some of the best all natural and eco-friendly companies out there. All of the packaging is eco-friendly as well and it comes with a card explaining each product and how to use it. And as a bonus if you find something you love and need in your life you can even get a special deal on the item(s).

The reason I’m including this in my Holiday gift guide is because this would make the most fabulous gift for any green goddess or beauty lover. Right now if you purchase a gift subscription for someone special in your life (and you’re one of the first 50 people to do so) you’ll receive your very own gift from Green Grab Bag. You’ll receive a special holiday bonus bag that is filled with holiday themed beauty minis. For gift subscriptions you have the option of choosing from a 3, 6, or 12 month subscription and you can even pick how the recipient receives the gift. I know I’d be thrilled to receive my very own subscription and have a hard time believing that someone wouldn’t feel the same way.

Okay, let’s get to the review on the November Green Bag now. I loved it, absolutely and completely loved it. Once I opened the bag I found: 2 Maris San Francisco Body Crèmes in Eucalyptus and Grapefruit Mimosa, Bambola Acai Anti-Oxidant Cleanser, Dropwise Revitalize Room and Body Spray, Dr. Alkatis Organic Nourishing Treatment Oil, Cocoon Apothecary Rosey Cheeks Facial Cream, Ferro Cosmetics Radiance Mineral Foundation, and a full-size Vapour Organics multiuse balm.

Everything I received in the bag is wonderful, especially the Ferro Cosmetics foundation and the Vapour stick. I’ve also been using the Dr. Alkatis oil nightly since receiving it. It’s great! The Maris body crèmes have been used up and loved and the Dropwise has been sprayed many a time already. I gave my mother the Rosey Cheeks and she’s been using it nightly.

For only $15 a month, what do you have to lose? I highly recommend Green Grab Bag and encourage you to check it our for yourself at http://greengrabbag.com/