S.W. Basics

Did you know there’s an annual event that celebrates the bountiful world of green beauty? And that it was earlier this month? (Most of you bloggers and green beauty fans are probably nodding, “Yup. DUH.”)

But just in case you haven’t heard of A Night for Green Beauty (ANFGB), put on by green skincare line La Bella Figura and drawing bloggers and product manufacturers from around the country, (kind of like charcoal draws dirt out from pores…OK, terrible green beauty joke…) let me paint you a quick picture.

Twenty-two green beauty brands set up shop at the W hotel in Los Angeles to share their fantastic wares, (and samples…samples!) including the beloved Jose Rosebrook, Osmia Organics, Alima Pure, the list. GOES. ON!

Flowers crowns were sported.

Cold-pressed juice was sipped.

A cornucopia of sustainably and stylishly packaged beauty and skincare products, teeming with powerful natural, nourishing and organic ingredients awaited all in attendance.

I mean…it’s pretty much what you would expect: HEAVEN. ON. EARTH.

I can’t tell you how hard it was going to ANFGB in Los Angeles without my dear baby sister & blogger-in-crime, Jennifer. Well, hard may be an overstatement, heh, because it was like a dreamland I could have never fathomed (sorry, sis!)…it was overwhelming and beautiful! All those green brands all in the same place?! It was so magical!

My hubby came with me to help snap photos. He may not be a fan of shimmery mineral eye shadows and citrus-scented body oils, but he is pretty much the best ever for snapping photos and coming along for the ride while I covered myself in natural perfumes from Lurk and swathed in various facial serums. I might have left looking a little crazy, but by God, it was WORTH IT!

Meeting the people behind the brands and blogs that Jennifer and I have loved, admired, and gained so much knowledge and enlightenment from was truly special. I could go on about it forever. But in the interest of your boredom and my social life, I am going to highlight just a few of my favorite experiences for you!

KATHRYNE: S.W. BASICS HIBISCUS MASK
We are no strangers to the awesome-ness of the S.W. Basics brand. And this Christmas, Jennifer spoiled me with the S.W Basics Hibiscus Mask as one of my lovely, all-natural presents ($22 for 2.5 ounces). Now, outside of doing a random mask that I might get as a free sample when ordering other goods, I don’t really do masks. I am a washer, a toner, a moisturizer, but not really a “mask” girl. The reason being: I spent the majority of my teen years absolutely destroying my skin with benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid in layers over layers in an effort to make my pimples disappear and my oily skin go away. Masks have the connotation of being “tightening” and “drying” to me. Now that I am older, I really only like to put moisture back IN my skin, not take it away. I embrace it! Hence, why I generally don’t buy masks for myself. But this turned out to be a really sweet surprise!

With direct-trade hibiscus, french green clay and lavender powder, the mask arrives as a powder. You mix one teaspoon of the mask powder with one teaspoon of water, yogurt or honey. Mix and apply, and you will look SOOO funny! My fiancé said it looked like I just got done murdering someone – the mask, when applied, is BRIGHT red! As S.W. Basics encourages, take hilarious pictures of yourself with your hair up, in pajamas, on your couch with pizza! (Or salad. Salad.)

Toner: you crafty bastard. You sneaky snake! For the past decade, I’ve associated “clean skin” with a stinging and dehydrated face because of you. You leave my mug feeling drier than a piece of beef jerky. You’re the bully in my bathroom cabinet.

That all changed when I tried S.W. Basics’ all-natural toner earlier this year in their Bestsellers Mini Kit (which I highly recommend to anyone who’s interested in jumping on the all-natch skincare bandwagon. You’ll undoubtedly be HOOKED. I love S.W. Basics!). For the first time, I realized that a toner could actually be nourishing and gentle while still being effective. To my old toners: I’ll never wade into your fluorescent-tinted waters again.

S.W. Basics Toner

After I ran out, I decided to make a homemade batch inspired by the ingredients in the S.W. Basics toner. This one’s a real winner for me – hope you try it out, or grab the good stuff from S.W. Basics!

Here’s the recipe:

1 tablespoon of organic witch hazel
1 tablespoon of organic raw apple cider vinegar (with the “mother” – I used Bragg brand, which you can get at most grocery stores)
½ cup of water
5 drops of clary sage essential oil

Guys, I definitely advise you to clear out your whole afternoon if you’re going to try your hand at making this toner. Though worthwhile in the end, it’s extremely time-consuming and requires constant attention.

JUST KIDDIN’. All you have to do is mix well. Add the drops of clary sage in last.

Hubba, Hubba…! A Night For Green Beauty

Sister Scoop: A Tale of Two (All-Natural) Masks

Make It: Calming Facial Toner