Mom.

The word ‘mom’ can mean so much. We use it to call a person in our lives, but it  represents so much more than a person. It invokes thoughts of love, protection, caring and—ultimately—a person or persons you know you can count on.

The name ‘mom’ is not given to one after having a child (you’re a mother at that moment, but not always a mom); it is an ongoing choice to act in a way that inspires young people to reach higher than they thought they could, to stand tall and not take shit from anyone. 

I grew up with a single mom, who, as a child, immigrated to Canada during WWII. It wasn’t easy for her, especially working to provide for four boys. She always worked hard to teach us values that matter—values like respect, hard work, caring for others around you, that your actions and words mean something. I grew up always knowing I needed to care about others, and her selfless actions instilled a deep sense of social justice. 

If the world today had a little more “mom love” from everyone, it would be a place we all could trust to run freely with our imaginations, to create new thoughts and inspire others. “Mom love” is that unconditional love for those around you, to put out a hand when someone is down, to give up your food to someone who is hungry, and to give the jacket off your back to shelter from the cold.

For that, I am going to share the top five things I learned from my mom.

• You choose how you feel and react. You can’t stop people from trying to hurt you, but you can stop them from being successful at it.

• Even if those people somehow hurt you, don’t let it linger. When you forgive, you get a chance put your energy into something positive.

• Be positive. Life opens so many small doors of opportunity, but you can only see them if you're looking up.

• Stand up for yourself. Life might give you lemons, and you can make lemonade, or you can throw them back at life and find a fruit you love. Throw the lemons back!

• Find your passion. If you are doing what you love, everyone around you will feel it. Passion comes in so many expressions. In work, in life and in love. Find that flame and make it glow, babe.

Today let’s turn MOM on its head with the love we have and make the world say WOW.

To all the moms, stepmoms, aunts, friends or anyone who loves others with no expectation of anything in return…

Thank you.

Happy Mother’s Day.

by Phil lebeau

It’s that time of year again, when summer looms large in the distance and every fitness magazine and exercise product throws out that phrase—“bikini body.” You’ll be encouraged to try this exercise regime or that special diet, with promises that you’ll be beach-ready in just a few short months. But at basd, we have a different feeling about bikini bodies, babes, and it doesn’t involve changing your lifestyle at all. It involves you looking for a cute swimsuit you love and putting it on the body you already have. No overhaul necessary.

A few weeks ago, we came across this brill article, from Good Housekeeping, on the history and harmfulness of the very term “bikini body.” It covered everything from the early days of the diet industry (Slenderella, anyone?), right through Baywatch and Pamela Anderson, and smack into the (happier, much more accepting) turn of events that came with campaigns like #effyourbeautystandards. So why do we still see ads for bikini-body quick fixes? Bottom line: If you want to get healthier, or if fitness is your jam, awesome. We’re behind you. But be smart and safe about the programs and products you try, and don’t make changes just to fit into some impossible ideal of what your body should be.

basd is built on the idea that great, plant-based products should celebrate and nourish you, giving your bod the treatment it deserves. (PSA: Our coffee scrub is the best everyday indulgence). But it also deserves your pride, so don’t wait to show it off until you’ve lost those extra pounds or worked on those arms or toned up those legs; you’re perfectly you, so dig out the sunscreen, babe, and hit the beach.

by trevor ellestad

With age-defying skin creams, physique-enhancing surgical procedures and hair-thickening follicle strategies all at our fingertips, it's no wonder that many believe the modern man to be equally susceptible to the exaggerated advertising claims and deceptive beauty myths women have been dealing with for decades. The male beauty industry continues to boom, and along with it, come an increased selection à la carte treatments and products catered specifically to men.

So what is it that has us 21st century fellas under the tattoo gun, the botox needle and the whitening laser? What are the myths that we keep telling ourselves about what it means to be a man who keeps himself well-groomed, and how do we find the organic, cruelty-free grooming products that are right for us?

Myth #1: Male Beauty is A 21st Century Anomaly

For most young men, growing up means having to find one's identity among their peers. Unfortunately, in this digital age, this means having to do this online too. A shining personality, charm and humour are all only as good as the profile picture they hide behind, all too often swiped left, blocked and dismissed. Is it really any wonder that men are discussing grooming with their buddies, buying chemically-laden lotions with radical claims, and consuming stacks of powders, pills and potions trying to mould themselves into someone different?

Male beauty is not a 21st century anomaly, but our ideas are always shifting around what makes a man beautiful. Attaining the lean, muscular body type that's in vogue takes much more than a little extra time in front of the mirror primping and preening. Maintaining the chiseled abs and perky pecs worn by our favorite role models is a daunting task with an exhaustive list of premium supplements all claiming to get us there quicker. Take that overwhelm, throw in our smartphone cameras, the internet, social media, Tinder and Grindr, and you can see why men might be talking a little more about their appearances these days.

Myth #2: Male grooming is totally unnecessary and modern men are more shallow.

Ok, now that's just downright mean. Last time I checked, the male body responded quite well to quality, plant-based grooming products. A dab of moisturizer, a regular shave and a couple minutes with some clean, gentle soap can make a world of difference. Whether a man calls it his beauty routine or just regular maintenance, no one is complaining about a guy getting up close and personal with a razor or some body scrub every once in awhile. Sure there are shades of shallow in every gender. No one likes someone who spends their life in front of the mirror or takes endless reams of selfies, but take away our "unnecessary grooming" and many of us men would be left with only a tattered pile of smelly flannel shirts on the floor and a greasy Rip Van Winkle beard to wrap around our blackheads and thick calluses. That's a future none of us want to be a part of. 

Besides, no one ever said getting clean meant you couldn't get a little dirty first. In fact mud, clay, charcoal and coffee are just a few of the messy ingredients that help some of my favorite products shine! Some men may be surprised just how much they enjoy the invigorating mint basd coffee body scrub which uses sea salt and organic coffee grounds for exfoliation, and vitamin e and sweet almond oil for some undercover hydration. Talk about how an organic cup of coffee that does all the dirty work! This one is a sure winner for the guy looking to satisfy the little boy in them wanting to roll around in the mud at the first sign of rain and the man in them who starts every morning with a premium cup of of java. 

Myth #3: Men with a beauty routine lack masculinity.

The myth is simple. The modern man is weak, soft and feminine because our society lacks the masculine role models that build real men. Male stereotypes in the media are no longer defined by the same high standards of hairy, macho moustached masculinity they once were, and in turn, this has created a society of men who like to wash their faces once a day and apply moisturizer to dry, cracked skin. The evidence all supports this conclusion. I mean, when was the last time that you saw a man on television in a position of power exerting his machismo and making rash, aggressive decisions? 

Saying we lack masculine stereotypes and that this has led to a decline in societal testosterone is about as near-sighted as saying boys can only grow into real men under the watchful eye of an unkempt hero who spends his time behind the wheel of a noisy, yet helpful talking car, slinging scantily clad, greasy ladies across his lap. Men in the public eye have been grooming themselves for generations. 

I know exactly two men with access to talking cars. Mr. Labeouf may have had a much wider collection of verbose vehicles to choose from in Transformers, but Mr. Hasselhoff (and KITT too, for that matter) had a million times more macho male bravado on Knight Rider, not to mention those shiny chestnut locks.

The Truth About Beauty: No matter our gender, it's our conversations about beauty that are skin deep.

Men's beauty is about as new to humanity as our diversity as a species, but we're living life louder than ever before and demanding more information from our smartphones at every step of the journey. Recycled conversations about metrosexuality and the changing face of masculinity are enough to keep the internet buzzing for another decade with memes and infographics about body wash, skin peels and cryotherapy. So I don't really need to talk about that, nor do I want to. I'd rather ask some bigger questions. 

What does beauty really mean to you? 

I imagine my self-care routine to be just as rushed and erratic as any busy woman in my life. I do what I can, when I can. I'm not ashamed to admit that I'm addicted to hot baths with Epsom salts, or that I probably don't wash my hair as often as I should. Most importantly, I see my relationship with grooming as an opportunity to be present and respectful of myself. I see my value as a man who respects his heritage, his body, and his planet and still feels masculine. Tthis means taking care of myself and choosing cruelty-free products that are kind to the earth. Considering how much time I spend traveling on dry airplanes and digging in the dirt, I’ve been relying on the invigorating mint basd body lotion, filled with organic ingredients to repair my ragged hands and dry skin with its serious badass skin hydration.

Data may suggest that our conversations are changing about gender and the roles we play in society. Most men may not face the same adversity or be burdened by the same grueling physical work that their parents and grandparents did, but it doesn't make us any less courageous or stressed. I am fortunate to feel protected from war, famine and poverty, but it doesn't mean that I lack the respect for my grandfather's sun-beaten skin, toughened from wiping sweat off his brow behind the wheel of a tank and then a tractor. 

No product or procedure will ever truly make us more beautiful or transform us into better people. But maybe, this morning, there was a cream, soap, scrub or face mask that helped you leave the house feeling a little more connected, a little more courageous, a little more beautiful. We are all allowed to feel good about that. 

Expose yourself, get naked, and ask yourself the questions that really matter, starting with this one: What does beauty really mean to you?

by danielle maclean

we here at basd love to explore. whether it’s in our own backyard (come on, canada is pretty freaking gorgeous) or around the globe, there’s an inner spark that lights up when you get out of your environment and see the world with fresh eyes. that said, we can all agree that traveling isn’t always easy. so to help out our fellow wanderers, here are our top picks to help lose the stress of your travel day:

water: let’s be real, travel can dehydrate you. you're up against changing climates, recycled airplane air and lack of sleep, and i know i'm not the only one who feel sluggish after switching time zones. on travel days, getting in the recommended eight glasses of water is my minimum. i bring my glass water bottle everywhere, and make a point to fill it up multiple times on travel days. trust me, it’s worth the extra trips to the rest room!

lotion: after you’ve hydrated from the inside, it’s time to hydrate from the outside. just because you’re travelling doesn’t mean you need to expose your skin to anything harsher than it deserves. pure, plant-based body lotion is where it’s at. a few pumps of basd body lotion (both scents do it for me, but i love the refreshing mint on travel days) and a hot tea are my perfect midday pick-me-ups.

delicious, healthy snacks: my carry-on is basically all snacks. i load up on fresh fruit, a mixed-nut bar, a shake (just add water on the plane), even some dark chocolate. because really, do you want to rely on soggy overpriced pizza that tastes like cardboard? save your splurge for a cocktail at your destination!

something to pass the time: a laptop to work, a book to relax, a notepad to compose—whatever your jam, having something on hand to pass the time can be a lifesaver (and don’t forget a backup!). plus you never know when inspiration may hit.

a sense of adventure: sure, visit the highest rated restaurant on yelp. but also hit up the hole in the wall recommended by your cab driver with the best tacos in the city. strip away conventional thinking and keep an open mind. It might take you somewhere amazing.

bonus basd tip—give back: the world needs us, more now than ever. whenever possible, consider tacking on a volunteer day at your new destination, or giving a donation to a local charity in need. we’re lucky to be able to travel to these amazing places. this is your chance to leave your mark.

hellen keller said, “life is either a daring adventure or nothing.” dare away, fellow travelers.

by beata rydyger, bsc run

by now we all know the two commandments of good health: thou shall eat a healthy diet, and though shall exercise regularly. but beyond avocado toast and morning dates with the treadmill, we tend to overlook another key gatekeeper of our health—our skin!

whether it’s the makeup on your face, the lotion on your hands or the perfume on your neck, the ingredients in your beauty products are just as important as the ingredients on a food label. that’s because the skin absorbs as much as 60% of what you slather on it. the toxic chemicals that comprise conventional beauty products then seep into the bloodstream and wreak havoc on your health. yikes!

so to lessen the burden of toxic topicals, it’s important that we be mindful of not only what we put into our bodies, but what we put onto them too. enter basd body care line of scrubs, lotions and washes. not only are they super-effective but they’re also non-toxic because they use only the best, naturally sourced ingredients.

here’s a look at some of these ingredients and why they’re good for our health:

organic arabica coffee granules: the days of tossing out coffee grinds are long gone! move over, microbeads, because coffee is one of the best natural exfoliators around and forms the basis behind basd body scrubs. potent levels of caffeine work to minimize cellulite and wrinkles, reduce puffiness and redness, encourage firmness and improve circulation in the skin for a bright and beautiful glow. the coffee in basd’s scrubs is roasted to preserve caffeine levels, and it’s organic, which is important because conventional coffee is among the most heavily chemically treated foods.

organic sunflower seed oil: who doesn’t enjoy the sight of bright yellow sunflowers or the taste of salty sunflower seeds? I know I do! but did you know that the oil of sunflower seeds is a powerhouse of health? nutritionally speaking, sunflower oil’s impressive content of polyunsaturated fatty acids like linoleic acid help boost the immune system and protect the heart. when it comes to the skin, sunflower oil helps moisturize and is rich in vitamin e, a powerful antioxidant that protect the skin against uv damage.

organic aloe leaf extract: there’s a reason why you’re told to smother yourself in aloe after too long in the sun! thanks to its mucilaginous and anti-inflammatory properties, aloe enjoys skin-boosting benefits that range from combating dryness to minimizing stretch marks and wrinkles. when its gel is consumed, aloe even heals irritated gut lining. aloe is the soothing star behind all of basd’s body lotions.

theobroma cacao seed butter: also known as cocoa butter, theobroma cacao seed butter is the fat portion extracted from the roasted seeds of the theobroma cacao, a tree native to the americas. cocoa beans have been harvested for centuries and the fat used as a natural skin moisturizer going all the way back to the mayan civilization! cocoa butter is not only rich in fabulous saturated fat—which is beneficial for healing dry, cracked skin—but it’s also high in antioxidants like polyphenols that help restore skin elasticity. basd is crazy for cocoa butter!

there you have it! these are just a few of the clean, non-toxic, mostly organic and good-for-you ingredients found inside the basd line of body care products. if you care about your skin care then why not step up your self-care game and start swapping your conventional chemically laden beauty products for some chemically free products? your beautiful body will thank you!