More vlogging

Here is the link to my video blog on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/cupidian335/videos

I've been posting a lot of videos recently including one that will be posted tonight of November's Eco Emi box!!

Check it out!

I'm vlogging!

So I recently tried my hand at a blog video and it went smoothly enough that I might try to blog in that format as well as my written blog. If you're interested you can check out the first vlog here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_49l1yBNb5Q

Eco Emi October Review

Got my Halloween treats from Eco Emi a few weeks ago!

As you can see the box had a Halloween theme with purple tissue paper and the cutest little orange gauze pouch with spider webs and glitter on it. There was a little leakage from one of the products but it cleaned up easily with a little water and didn't get on any of the paper products.

 

The products in October's box were:

 

Dark Chocolate Mint Cups by Sun Cups - This candy felt a little melty so I stuck it in the fridge right away. It contains dairy and my husband doesn't like mint so I'll give it to a friend. I bet it's delicious!

 

Fuchs Soft Pocket Travel Toothbrush by Lotus - This is a travel toothbrush (the kind where the case becomes the handle.) Definitely a useful thing to have for travel.

 

Spicy Chili Seasoning Mix by Simply Organic - I'm not a huge chili fan but I bet I can incorporate this into other dishes as well.

 

Pumpkin Jack O'Lantern by Botanical Interests - Sweet! Pumpkin seeds :) As much as I loved eating them as a child, I'm excited to actually plant these next year. I love garden surprises!! Also included an online coupon to Botanical Interests which I will definitely have to check out.

 

Organic Shaving Cream by Grass Roots Essential - This was a small tin of shaving cream. It recommends placing in the fridge before using so that's where mine ended up. Only problem is I never remember to take it out before taking a shower :/ Have a feeling it might get forgotten about.

 

Natural and Organic Dry Shampoo by Eco Friendly Living - This is a good sized sample pot of dry shampoo. I'm not sure if I used it wrong but it seemed to make my hair a little grayer than usual. The packaging said to shake it out of your hair and I tried to comb it in so maybe that was my issue? But I'm not sure how you would shake it out of your hair?? I'll have to experiment with this one.

 

Vegan Caramel Brownie Gel Eyeliner by All Natural Face - I think this is the product that was leaking a little. The packaging felt oily. I've noticed that with my All Natural Face lip gloss too. May just be an issue with their packaging. At first I was kind of underimpressed with this one. I felt like I didn't need more liquid eyeliner, especially brown. Also the applicator was a brush and I prefer applicators that are like a marker. However, after actually using it, I think I really like it. As long as I let it dry well the brush worked fine and the brown shade was really nice.

 

Vegan Mineral Warm Honey Eye Shadow by All Natural Face - A small eyeshadow pot with copper eye shadow. I love this! I thought I couldn't wear brown eyeshadow until now. This shade looks really good when paired with a nice green for fall. I'm very impressed with the All Natural Face.

 

Bonus - Potionwitch Apothecary Honey Bee Lip Balm - This is a pot of lip balm that was not mentioned on the product card. It contains honey and I have plenty of lip balm so I will probably give this to a friend.

 

I thought this was a pretty good box this month. I loved the little Halloween pouch, the All Natural Face products, and the pumpkin seeds. Looking forward to the next few boxes now that Christmas and winter are approaching! 

Latest Vitacost Haul

A few months ago I realized I was placing an order with Vitacost almost every month. So I did myself proud and waited several months before placing this order. While I forgot to order one of the main items I "needed" (St. Claire's Ginger Pastilles), I think I made some pretty good choices.

Here's what I picked up:

Ecover Dishwashing Liquid - This is my favorite dishwashing liquid right now. I feel like it does slightly better than 7th Generation (although I love that brand too.) It's really good at cleaning caked on food.

Preserve Recycline Triple Blade Razor - Sooo excited about this! I have made a large portion of my purchases cruelty free but razors were one of the items I had not extended this philosophy to. I found these on Vitacost and they were Leaping Bunny Approved. You get a reusable handle made of recycled yogurt cups which is also recyclable when you choose to dispose of it. The razor comes with 2 cartridges and only costs about $5. You can also buy 4 more replacement cartridges at about the same price. I think I will definitely do a separate review on this once I try it out!

Thayers Cucumber Witch Hazel Toner - Love Thayers toner and cucumber is one of my favorites. I like how cooling it is and love the smell. If you are not a fan of cucumber there are many other scents to choose from.

Desert Essence Organics Pumpkin Spice Hand Repair Cream - This had been out of stock and I was able to snatch one up just before I placed my order. I love pumpkin scents around this time and since I also love this brand thought this would be a win-win. Unfortunately it does not smell like pumpkin at all. Now it does contain pumpkin so maybe that's where it gets its name from? The cream comes out dark but absorbs quickly into the skin. It's non-sticky and does a very nice job of moisturizing. My hands get very chapped in winter so I will definitely be using this even if it doesn't smell of pumpkin.

Desert Essence Coconut Shampoo - I love this shampoo and it is my second time purchasing this from Vitacost. It's like $3.50 so is really too good a deal to pass up. Eventually I'd like to try some Beauty Without Cruelty hair care products too.

Desert Essence Gentle Nourishing Night Cream - Hmmm, are we sensing a trend here? This is also a second time purchase and a great product to have in winter. It contains argan oil and aloe vera and is so incredibly nourishing when used as a night cream. I seriously wake up and am amazed at how good my skin looks. This small jar costs a little over $10 but will easily outlast its six month shelf life. You only need a little.

Every Man Jack Post Shave Lotion - I bought this for my husband (love that he is interested in trying cruelty free and natural products!) It's a brand I've seen at our local Whole Foods and seemed to have some good reviews. Not Leaping Bunny approved but the packaging claims to be cruelty free.

Vitacost is a great place to find cruelty free and natural products at really affordable prices. If you're interested in checking them out you can use my referral code below to save $10 on your first order of $30 or more. And I'll get the same savings. It's a win-win! :)

https://www.vitacostrewards.com/VbK1GTE

Eco Emi September Review

Hi, all! I just saw on Facebook that they are shipping out October's Eco Emi boxes and figured it was time to post my September review! Life's been a little crazy recently so I apologize for the delay. I received my September Eco Emi box in a rather battered condition (not the fault of Eco Emi.) As you can see the post office left me a long note apologizing for its state. I love the US Postal Service but really? WE CARE in bold print. Not really congruent with the end result. Oh well. I suppose it's expected that this sort of thing happens eventually.


 

Inside the box everything appeared to be fine.

 

 

 

This month's box contained:

 

Organic Peru La Florida Coffee by Cool Bean Perks Coffee - This is a small foil packet of coffee (enough for 3 servings.) We don't currently have a coffee maker for loose ground coffee but have plenty of friends who do and will love this.

 

Mint + Acai Whitening Gum by VitaCare - I've had the lime and mint flavor before and liked it so much I ordered some from Vitacost. This flavor is good as well but the combination is a little unexpected. Fruity and minty at the same time. It's a nice thing to have in my purse.

 

Organic Sweet Orange Deoderant by Only Nat Cheryl - This is a chapstick shaped deodorant sample (it's in my purse now and I'm so scared I'm going to use it as chapstick by accident one day!) I really love my Crystal deodorant and don't feel the need to switch so I'm just going to carry this with me as an emergency/travel item. I was intrigued by the ingredients: organic coconut oil, organic corn starch, baking soda, essential oils, cocoa butter and candelilla.

 

All Purpose Healing Salve by the Natural Choice Apothecary - This sample came in a small pot. Useful item to have stashed away for emergencies or when winter makes your skin really dry.

 

Ginger Peach Iced Tea by Mighty Leaf Tea - This is a giant tea bag you can use to make a pitcher of iced tea. I'm not a big fan of peach flavor and can't see myself making a whole pitcher of tea, but we'll see...

 

Cleansing Towelettes by Desert Essence - A sample of towelettes for facial cleansing. These are great to have when you travel and don't want to bring soap or facial cleanser. Love the brand Desert Essence!

 

Organic Mayan Riviera Honey Moisturizing Exfoliant by Zola Jae- This is a good size sample of sugar scrub. I love sugar scrubs! It does contain honey though so not truly vegan.

 

Ochre, Juicy Orange Flavor Lip Gloss by Purely You Minerals - This is a little pot of lip gloss with an applicator. The card that came with it indicates this would normally come in a tube. Personally I hate lip gloss that you have to apply with fingers or an applicator. It's a nice consistency, does taste like oranges, has a nice pinky-red color and just the right amount of gloss. Also contains Vitamin E and essential oils to moisturize. I would definitely consider buying this if it came in a tube (only $7 for full size.)

 

Assorted Crème Foundation by Lauren Brooke - I love that this sample came with several different shades. I don't like when they send out only a mid-range shade because I am usually too pale. The formula contains argan oil, which I love, so I'm excited to try these out. Full size it is $27 so a little on pricey side.



Pretty good box this month. Looking forward to October's that promises to be filled with treats!

 

Vegan Cuts Beauty Box September Review

My September Vegan Cuts Beauty Box arrived a few weeks ago and I was glad to see a good sized smallish box. This felt mama bear right in size.

As you can see, there was enough room to keep items from being smooshed together but small enough that you felt like you were getting something. I think they got it right this time. Here's what the box contained:

Beauty Without Cruelty Shampoo - This is the blue bottle above, a good travel size sample of shampoo. I've gotten a sample of their shampoo before and I loved it so really looking forward to trying this one.

Manic Panic Creature of the Night Shadow and Liner in the color Raven - I was really excited when I saw this because it came in fun packaging. It's kind of like a little vampire coffin. Very Halloween appropriate. However, I was really disappointed on opening the packaging to see it was a black shadow and liner...I don't really wear black eye shadow a lot so I won't get much use out of this. Would have much preferred something more versatile like a deep purple and black or something. It does include a nice brush that should make applying liner easy so maybe I'll use both the cream and shadow as a liner! It's also got a cute mirror on the inside. It's so cute!

Weleda Body Lotions - The box came with four mini travel size body lotions by Weleda. I wanted to try this brand and was thrilled that one of the lotions was Sea Buckthorn but a tiny bit disappointed that a lot of the box was filled with Weleda stuff. I mean, what if you don't like body lotion? Besides Sea Buckthorn, there was a Citrus, Pomegranate, and Rose. I really like the Sea Buckthorn and Citrus scents and find they absorb very quickly into the skin which is good. Definitely a convenient size too. I've got one in my purse and one in the office.

Weleda Citrus Refreshing Body Oil - A little sample packet of body oil. I don't really use body oils. I prefer lotions. But it doesn't take up much value or space in the box so I'm ok with it.

Good Clean Love Personal Lubricant - A little sample packet of lubricant. Kinda funny story about that. I didn't think it was that alarming to get this, but Vegan Cuts sent out an email (AFTER I'd already opened the package) alerting parents of its presence if they were giving it to children. I can't see children getting that much of a kick out of these boxes and I don't think they'd even know what it is. The timing was just pretty funny because its likely most people had already opened the box.

GladRags Pantyliner - GladRags is a company that makes reusable sanitary pads. The box came with a code that you could enter on their website to get a free pantyliner with free shipping. A little extra work but I can see how it's better for the company and the environment since some people may not want this item. I was pretty excited. This is a great example of something I've wanted to try but don't want to spend money on until I've tried it. It came in the mail the other day. It looks like something I could sew myself! Hmmmm.

Bonus Item? Beauty Without Cruelty Lipstick in Azalea - This wasn't listed on the card so I'm guessing it was an extra item? I was definitely excited about the lipstick because I've never used Beauty Without Cruelty makeup before that I can remember and I like their shampoo. The color choice was  a little much for me. HOT pink. Could be fun for Halloween or mixing with other colors to make a different shade. The packaging is nice and it seems like it's really good quality.

I liked this box. There were a lot of fun items and it felt like a good value. I don't know how much use I will get out of the items but that's always part of the risk. I have decided to cancel my subscription as this is the third box and I just don't feel it's better than my $5 cheaper Eco Emi box. I also like the idea of having an extra $20 in my pocket each month! I might re-subscribe at a later time but for now I think this is the right choice for me.

Coming soon...September Eco Emi Review

Kashi Hummus Crisps Review

I was really psyched to be chosen by BzzAgent to participate in the Kashi Hummus Crisps campaign. Finally a product I can truly get behind! Unfortunately when my free bag got here I discovered it contains milk and is not vegan. :( And the flavor was Sea Salt and Olive Oil! Why do you need to add milk to that?!? I've noticed that several of the Kashi snacks recently have contained something making them not vegan. A little disappointing from a company that purports to be eco-friendly and healthy. My husband, of course, was thrilled to eat them for me.

Like most Kashi products it has great ingredients for the most part: Chickpeas, rolled oats, hard red wheat, rye, brown rice, triticale, barley, buckwheat, brown rice flour, etc. Each serving contains 3g fiber, 3g protein, and 5g whole grains. It's 120 calories for one serving.

So how were they? My husband thought they were tasty but not mind-blowing. He liked the portion you get for the low number of calories. It was a satisfying snack. So if you're vegetarian or just looking for a healthy snack, check out Kashi Hummus Crisps. If you're vegan, I still highly recommend the brand just check the ingredients before you buy. Kashi makes some great vegan frozen meals such as the Mayan Harvest Bake or Black Bean Mango. Great ingredients that you just don't find in other brands.

Are you interested in trying Kashi Hummus Crisps? I've got a stack of coupons good for $1.00 off two bags. Let me know if you'd like one on Facebook or post a comment with contact info so I can mail one to you. The coupons don't expire until 12/01 so you have plenty of time to match it with a sale.

Vegan Cuts Beauty Box August Review!

My Vegan Cuts Beauty Box arrived less than a week from my Eco Emi (just took me a while to get the review up.) I was hoping the boxes would be farther apart so I'd always have a box to look forward to but it was a good way to compare them. The Beauty Box is $20 per month and this is the second box they've done. I was a bit disappointed in the first box so a lot was riding on this box for me.

Last month the goodies were packaged in a small USPS box. This month the box was bigger which got my hopes up. This is what I found inside the box:

Kind of looks like a lot of filler... Let's remove the packaging.

 

 

Kind of looks like a lot of nothing. Now a large factor here is that we have a big box with a smattering of small items. Use a smaller box and it looks like much more. Here's a much better picture that had me feeling better about the box.

 



Here's what the box contained:

Sunology Sunscreen - two small packets of natural sunscreen for face and body. Actually I think both packets are the same (appeared to be same ingredients) but one was marketed as face and one as body. As pale as I am I'm not currently in the market for a new kind of sunscreen but these will be useful on a trip to the beach.

Schmidt's Deodorant - small jar of natural deodorant. Now I'm a huge fan of Crystal deodorant but I'm willing to try others. It's smells great (the scent is bergamot and lime.) And I love the name. I keep imagining Schmidt from the TV show New Girl. I did take this product on a test run for two days and while it didn't keep me feeling dry, it did keep all odor away quite effectively. However, I had an allergic reaction to it so it's a no go for me. Also didn't like that I had to apply it with my fingers. Ew.

Relogy - this is a full size acne spot treatment roll on. It contains seaweed extract. It seems to work pretty well so far from what I've seen. I like that it's a full size item ($14.95 value!)

Lip Glosserie - this is a good size sample of green tea and cucumber body lotion. It smells ok and moisturizes ok. Normally I like cucumber scent but this one kind of gives me a headache. I'm not in love with it but will definitely use it up.

NCLA - packet of 20 nail wraps. The pattern on these nail wraps is a navy blue stripe. I've never tried nail wraps before but this pattern is more my style than the animal print ones I got from my Influenster Vox Box (and vegan!) Still a tad loud though.

Perennial Soaps - this is a small artisan tea tree peppermint facial bar. This was a win for me because after getting a totally non-vegan soap from Eco Emi, it felt like righting a wrong. I checked out Perennial Soaps Etsy site and they have some great scents like Mint Mojito, Ginger Ale, and Beer Soap! Haven't tried mine yet but am hoping I like it.

Fanciful Fox - this is a peach tinted lip balm. At first I was really psyched about this. I like the concept of subtly tinted lip balm. What I've found though is that the formula is very dry and difficult to apply. I've really been struggling with getting the color to apply at all, let alone moisturize.

So I guess my overall review of this second box is mixed. While the box seemed empty initially, there were actually quite a few good size samples here. However, a lot of the items I thought would be hits have been near misses. We'll see if third times the charm!

August Eco Emi Review!

I got my August Eco Emi box this week (surprisingly even before my Vegan Cuts box got here.) No leaks this time! :)

The packaging was inspired by picnics and had pale yellow and blue tissue paper. This box contained:

Carrot, Grapefruit, and Egyptian Geranium Rose Body Lotion by Valenti Organics - This is a small foil packet sample of lotion. The scent sounds intriguing.

Café Machiatto Body Oil by Valenti Organics - Body oil that smells like coffee?!? Yes, please. Kind of excited about this one!

Natural Lemongrass Soap with French Yellow Clay by Craftsmansoap - Such a disappointment. This was a very nice smelling, decent sized soap packaged nicely that also happens to contain tallow. What?!? Yes, tallow. So not only not vegan, but not even vegetarian. And how is this cruelty free? I know I'm not the only one seriously offended by this product choice. I've read some comments on Eco Emi's Facebook page. Not good.

Edible Green Tea by Eat Green Tea - This was a little foil pack of edible green tea. I added it to my smoothie yesterday and it is literally tea. While it mostly broke up in the blender there were still specks in my smoothie that made it a little crunchy but it didn't taste bad. Apparently you get more of the antioxidants by consuming green tea this way.

Raw Organic Walnut Butter by Artisana - I'm looking forward to trying this. I've had other nut butters before but never walnut. It's a good amount too, probably enough for two servings.

Gluten Free Double Chocolate Chip Mini Cookies by Home Free Treat - I've had these before and they are really good! Kind of like mini Chips Ahoy cookies. I promised my husband I'd split the bag with him. Why did I do that??

Wooden Spoons by Bakers Confections - These confused me to no end. It's a cute little wooden spoon and spatula spoon made of lightwood wood. But it's too small to be useful for anything except maybe ice cream. I think I've found a good use for them (they might make a nice tool for my sugar scrubs), but I still think it was a bit of a bizarre choice.

Natural Eye Shadow in Run Metal Gray by Gourmet Body Treat - I really like getting eye shadows in these boxes and gray is a color I don't have. I'm disappointed in the size though. Usually samples still contain a decent amount of shadow but this one is barely enough for one or two uses.

Tiffany Color Nail Polish by Coco LacQuer - I liked this tiffany blue sample because it's a color I don't have and the size is really small. It's enough to color your nails multiple times but smaller than a full size bottle which might go to waste. The polish dries really fast but also tends to chip more quickly too. It's a fun color to have on hand.

So there are definitely a few items I am happy about but as a whole this has been my least favorite Eco Emi box. The soap was a major factor in my disappointment. Coming soon - my Vegan Cuts August review. Let's hope it's better than July's!

TCBY Silk Almond Milk Fro-Yo!

So I recently heard that TCBY was offering a chocolate fro-yo made from Silk almond milk and I had to try it! I am so sick of going to fro-yo shops and having only one choice which is usually pink lemonade sorbet or some close relative. I want chocolate people! So this news was super exciting to me.

My husband and I ventured out to our local TCBY to try some this weekend. First, I've got to say I was very impressed by the décor. It had a really fun, colorful vibe. It was self-serve which is not how I remember TCBY, but, hey it's been a while! They had two size cups and we opted for the smaller size which was still pretty big. The guy asked if we wanted to try a sample and I told him "No, I know exactly what I'm getting" and made a bee-line for the Silk. The consistency was pretty much what I expected from these type of soft serve machines. Kinda difficult to get it into the cup like they show it in the picture. But who cares? It's not staying in the cup for long anyhow.

The toppings were varied in selection which was great. They had fruit, nuts, sprinkles, Oreos, liquid toppings, even Nerds! I chose crushed nuts and Oreos on mine (yes, Oreos are vegan!) Our total surprised me a little (about $11) but we did fill our cups pretty full. My eyes were way bigger than my stomach and knowing how far away the store was I didn't know if this would be my only chance to try this new flavor.

It was soooo good. Cold and creamy and most importantly chocolaty! It had a really rich chocolate flavor and the toppings added a nice texture. I don't know what the calories are like but I was able to eat the whole cup (a lot of fro-yo!) and didn't even feel all that full afterwards (or guilty, yay!) Supposedly TCBY is going to offer this new flavor for something like 70 days and I'm really hoping the concept takes off. Think of all the other great flavors they could have! Strawberry, Cheesecake, and Peanut Butter come to mind (separate flavors not combined)! I'm also really thrilled this was an almond milk formula instead of soy. I know there is a lot of concern about the consumption of too much soy and it's great that we have alternatives now.

Hopefully, we make it round one more time before it's gone. If you have a TCBY in your area, I highly recommend trying it!

July Eco Emi Review

I love my Eco Emi boxes! This month I had a bit of a disappointment but despite that I'm still a fan. Eco Emi gives the most value and presentation than I've seen in any box subscription so far and it's about $5 cheaper than most boxes at $15 a month.

I knew this month we would be getting a lip scrub in the box and it might be runny on arrival. It was recommended to place it in the fridge right away. I should have put two and two together when I saw the package. It had a small water mark on the top. I just assumed this was from rain. When I went to open the box the moisture had spread and I had an idea of what was going on. This is what I opened up to:

 

The lip scrub was packaged in a cute green mesh bag with some other products. The tiny jar must have not been screwed on very well because it was empty. All the oils had soaked through the tissue paper, the box, and the paper materials enclosed. Not only was it a mess but I had no lip scrub! Still...one unlucky disappointment (it didn't happen to many subscribers) doesn't mean the box was a total loss. Not at all! Just check out the pretty packaging:

 

 

I was able to salvage the green mesh bag and kept the little piece of burlap for my own gift wrapping purposes. If it weren't for the stain it would have been a very pretty box!

 

 

Here's what July's box included:

 

Rose Cleansing Scrub by French Girl Organics - You can't tell very well from the picture but this was a really pretty item. It's a lavender colored dry facial scrub that you can mix with any liquid. You can also use it as a masque. This is one of those neat items it's fun to have on hand when you want a spa day.

 

Stress Relief Bath Soak by Eartha Essentials - I never seem to find time to take a bath but I can't wait to use this! It's a liquid you add to your bath and smells very nice and relaxing.

 

Lushfull Lips Lip Scrub by Eartha Essentials - This is the item that leaked so I didn't get to try it. I really like lip scrubs but the jar didn't smell amazing so probably not a huge loss. I've been using my $1 E.L.F. lip exfoliator recently and am not really looking for a different product.

 

Body Spritzer "Tangelo Twist" by Aubrey - This was a nice sample to include. It's nice to have a scent you can spritz on and carry in your purse. It doesn't really linger and Mike and the cats weren't huge fans so probably won't repurchase. Still it was fun to try.

 

Amend Facial Solar Repair Anti-Aging Serum by Blissoma - This is a very small bottle but I'm assuming a little goes a long way. I've tried one other Blissoma product and am not a huge fan but am willing to try it.

 

Whipped Cream Body Butter by Fortune Cookie Soap - Didn't love the smell of this one and the color is kinda green; however, fans were raving about this on Facebook so I'll give it a try. Although I might wait until winter when dry skin is more of an issue.

 

Cucumber Mint Green Tea by Tea Forte - This sounds really good but had a lot of oil from the lip scrub absorb into it. The lip scrub was probably food safe, but still...

 

Sleep Mask by Limitless Skies - This was a really cute addition and looks like it would be comfortable. It's nice to get a non-perishable beauty item every once in a while. I don't know that I'll have a use for it but it might be good to bring along when I travel.

 

So it wasn't really the best box I've ever gotten but compared to my Vegan Cuts box so far, even with flaws it is still by far my favorite and I have no thoughts of cancelling. On the topic of Vegan Cuts I noticed they have not charged me yet for August so I'm not really sure if I'll be getting an August box or not. If not, I'll probably let it go and will just have an Eco Emi review later this month.



 

My First Vegan Cuts Beauty Subscription Review!

My first Vegan Cuts Beauty box arrived last week and I was super psyched. This is the first time I have received the first ever box of a subscription service. The cost is $19.99 and we were told the value of the box would be at least $60. I had seen a preview of some of the items and knew I would be receiving a coral colored nail polish and a small beauty bag. I wasn't really excited about those two items but figured there would be something else exciting when it arrived. When it got here I was a little disappointed to remember that the size of the box is the same as Eco Emi (a small USPS box.) Since the cost of the box was $5 more than Eco Emi it had a lot to make up for.

When I initially opened the box I was pretty disappointed. I was expecting it to be crammed full of stuff but it was so empty they had to add paper filler.

 

Here's what it contained:

 

LVX nail polish in color Deco: I'm not crazy about this color but I'm down for giving it a shot and if nothing else it will be a more conservative color to turn to for work or other occasions.

 

Glamnatural mascara: I haven't heard of this brand before and already have a ton of mascara since I don't use it that often. I'll get around to trying this one eventually.

 

Namaste Jemma pouch: This is one of the items I knew would be in the box. It's a cute little pouch but I'm not nuts about the color, especially seeing the colors other subscribers got. It's a zipper pouch with a faux leather like exterior. I'm sure I'll find a use for it somewhere.

 

Essence of Vali Sleep oil: This was a tiny perfume sample of essential oil that's supposed to help you relax and sleep. You are supposed to put a tiny drop on the corner of your pillow or on a Kleenex stuffed inside the corner of your pillowcase. Haven't been having trouble sleeping but I think I would be willing to try it whenever I start stressing out.

 

Acure Organics argan oil: This was a small vial of argan oil. It's supposed to help with wrinkles primarily. I've been really into making my own sugar scrubs recently so might add some of this to my face scrubs.

 

NYL Skincare Rosewater Face Wash: I'm running low on cleanser so was glad to get this. I haven't tried it yet but it looks like it would be really good for sensitive skin.

 

Suntegrity Tinted Moisturizer: I'm surprised that this was in the box because it's impossible for them to choose a shade that will work for everybody. They chose a middle range shade and after a test swatch on my hand it was way too orange and dark for me. I think I'll probably give this one away since the shade won't work for me. Too bad because I like the concept of the brand.

 

Lippy Girl Extra Virgin Lip Gloss: Initially I was disappointed to get another lip gloss ( I would have preferred lip balm.) However, I was curious to try it because I'd heard others talk about Lippy Girl. It was actually kind of nice. It smells like orange olive oil and does a really great job of moisturizing. Leaves a nice gloss behind too.

 

So, my overall impression is a little disappointed. I didn't love this box as much as my Eco Emi boxes and it cost $5 more. There were a couple items I will be happy to try but nothing that floored me. By signing up for the subscription I also got a $15 gift certificate for VeganChic.com. I've been on the site twice and many of the items are far more than $15 so I may never use it. Not the value I was hoping for. I'm going to give it a few more months to see if it turns around. That being said I do love the fact that everything is vegan and I don't have to check the ingredients! Looking forward to my Eco Emi box which should get here next week!

June Fails and Wins

In the month of June I discovered several great products and one really not so great product. Let's start with the wins!

Physician's Formula Super BB Powder - This is a beauty balm compact powder. The color selection for this line is very narrow. It only comes in light/medium and medium/deep. Being very pale that makes things difficult for me. I obviously chose the light/medium and as I expected it was a little on the dark side for my skin tone. However, this was a win for me. The powder applies very nicely and blends out very easily. There is an underlying glow to this powder that is really beautiful. It kind of gives you that inner glow look. I can definitely see wearing this in the summer months since you can get away with a darker look. It does contain SPF which is a nice perk. I'd like to try to use it as a bronzer to get that glow a little more subtly. I'll let you know if that works. If you are a fan of Physicians Formula products, I recommend shopping at CVS and getting an ExtraCare card. They have had a Physicians Formula extra bucks deal almost every week this summer. You can roll your bucks (use the extrabucks toward more makeup that you will get more extrabucks on) to get the best value and stock up on Physician's Formula makeup.

Physician's Formula Eye Brightener - Yes, this is another win from Physician's Formula. I picked this up on a whim and was very pleased with it. It's an multi-colored eye shadow that you can use to highlight or for all over color to brighten the eyes. I purchased this in Natural Eyelight which is the lighter shade. It's got a little shimmer to it and just makes a nice base for colored shadow. It's also great as a highlighter to brighten up your eye area. I've been using it every morning.

Essence 3D Eye Shadow - I picked this up on a whim at ULTA to replace my dwindling Physician's Formula eye shadow trio in Baked Oatmeal. I had never tried Essence products before but had heard many good things (and they are super cheap.) I chose the 3D eye shadow in Irresistible Caramel Cream. It's a sparkly warm beige paired with a sparkly warm toffee color. It gives a very neutral look that I can wear to work but still has a little shimmer. The two colors work excellent together and there is little to no fallout from the powder. I'm excited to try more products in this brand next time I'm in ULTA.

Now on to the fail:

Juice Beauty Simply Flawless Pressed Powder - It breaks my heart to call this a fail but it was. This is from Alicia Silverstone's line of Juice Beauty makeup. I've been searching for a while now to find a pressed powder to replace Wet 'N Wild's Natural Blend Pressed Powder (which was amazing but seems to have been discontinued.) I read some reviews of Alicia Silverstone's Pressed Powder and it sounded like it might have the coverage I was looking for plus the added bonus of being made with natural ingredients. I waited patiently until there was a 20% off sale and ordered it from the Juice Beauty website. The packaging is nice. It's a compact in a paper/cardboard case. However, the color which was supposed to be universal was way too dark and orange for my skintone. Unlike the Physician's Formula BB powder this stuff does not blend well at all. Also there was no glow or added sparkle. Just dingy streaks of powder. :( Now, it does still have the perk of being made with natural ingredients, but sadly that is the only win in this product for me.

Real Techniques Brushes Review

I have been using Real Techniques brushes for several months now and feel I am familiar enough with the products to write a review. These are great brushes. Completely cruelty free and made of taklon bristles. They are durable and stylish. They cost more than ELF brushes but are definitely worth the investment. You can also find tutorials on YouTube from Samantha Chapman using these brushes. So far I've purchased the base core collection, the eyes starter set, the blush brush, and the expert face brush. I've reviewed each separately below.

The core collection - $17.99 at ULTA: This collection consists of four face brushes and a 2-in-1 case + stand. You get a detailer brush, pointed foundation brush, buffing brush, and contour brush. I don't really use the case but it is handy for travel. The handles are gold colored and very durable. The larger brushes have a flat, wide base so you can stand them up on a flat surface. All of the real techniques brushes clean very well and don't shed. Out of this collection I really love the buffing brush and contour brush. The buffing brush is great to really buff in foundation. If you added to much product, you can use this brush to buff out and blend some of the color. It's a good brush to use on the neckline or to blend blush in to foundation. I don't do a lot of contouring but the contour brush is really great at applying bronzer or highlighter or setting the undereye area. It's so soft! I sometimes also use the pointed foundation brush to set eye makeup since it is smaller.

The eyes starter set - $17.99 at ULTA: This collection consists of five eye brushes and a 2-in-1 case + stand. You get a base shadow brush, deluxe crease brush, accent brush, pixel-point eyeliner brush, and brow brush. The handles are purple and very durable. Like the core brushes some of the larger ones will stand up on a flat surface. These are hands down the best eye brushes I have ever owned. They are so fluffy and do a great job of applying and blending eyeshadow. I don't even really use my ELF eye brushes unless these are dirty. I mostly just use the base shadow brush and deluxe crease brush. These are my two go to brushes for my eyes in the morning. I use the crease brush for all over eye color and the base shadow for more detailed work. Occasionally I may use the accent brush to layer on some pigmented shadow on top of my look. I've used the eyeliner brush a few times with dry shadow and it's worked well. I'm sure it would work very well with liquid liner. The brow brush is angled and I use it to help achieve a wing look with shadow that I trace over with liquid liner.

The expert face brush - $8.99 at ULTA: This is a stand alone brush that I purchased as part of a buy one get one half off deal at ULTA. I bought it with one of the above sets making it half price. These brushes seem to be on sale all the time at ULTA so if you are interested I would recommend waiting until you can get a deal. You can also sometimes find these cheaper on Amazon. The expert face brush has a gold handle and wide base. I typically use my ELF stipple brush to apply foundation and then tap it down using the expert face brush. This brush is very compact and soft and does a great job at blending in foundation and providing good coverage. Highly recommended!

The blush brush - $8.99 at ULTA: Got a great deal on this brush at ULTA. I had a $3.50 off $10 coupon and some points saved up that made this brush practically free! And I absolutely love it. This has got to be the softest brush I have ever encountered. It is a larger pointed brush with very full bristles and is designed to apply blush evenly. It has a purple handle and wide base. Before this brush I could never get blush to apply correctly, but now it's a breeze. Like all the real techniques brushes clean up is easy and the brushes dry well with no shedding.

I am very impressed with all of these brushes and think they will last a very long time. For their quality I feel they are very affordable too.

June Eco Emi review

Yay! It's time for another Eco Emi blog! :) My June Eco Emi box arrived about a week and a half ago and was full of fun goodies.

As you can see the box had a definite Fourth of July theme. The large flag fabric that everything was wrapped in was actually a bandana. There was white and red tissue paper and TONS of little confetti stars. I love all the pretty confetti but I gotta say with this box we are still finding those stars in unexpected places because they stick to other objects.

Here's what was in the box:

Badger Cuticle Care with soothing Shea Butter - This was a little tin of cuticle lotion. It has shea butter and seabuckthorn extract. I've seen this brand in Whole Foods and was excited to finally get to try a product from them. It smells nice and does a good job at moisturizing.

The All Natural Face lip and cheek tint in Peachy Rose - This is a tiny compact of lip and cheek color in a cream. I'm excited to try a cream blush (have never used one before) but am a little nervous and haven't tried it yet. I did put some on my lips and it had a nice rosy color. I also really like this brand so was happy to get a new product from them to try.

Surf Sweets Gummy Bears - These gummy bears were sadly not vegan due to gelatin but I passed them on to others who love them. They contain 100% vitamin C so they are a healthy treat.

Nelsons Pure & Clear Purifying Cleansing Wipes - I love these! They contain Witchhazel Leaf Extract which is a really neat idea and I'm surprised more face cleansing wipes haven't done so. I am so impressed by these that I plan on buying some more this weekend at Whole Foods. The box included a $2 off coupon. The card in the box says they retail for $8.75 which even with the coupon is pretty steep. Fortunately Vitacost has them for $6.19 so that is a slightly more affordable option.

Desert Essence Coconut Hand and Body Lotion - There are several Desert Essence products that I just love (the night cream and shampoo to name a few.) Therefore I was psyched to get to try a new scent and product from them. The sample was a foil packet but it contained a good amount of lotion to get a feel for the product. I liked the scent but felt the lotion was a bit sticky. Think I'll stick with my Andalou Naturals for now.

Purely You Bronzer - This was a tiny pot of powder bronzer. I was really excited to get to try a bronzer since being so pale I don't want to shell out a lot of money on something that ends up being too dark. The bronzer worked color-wise but there was nothing spectacular about it. I also felt like it irritated the back of my hand where I placed the product before getting it on the brush. Won't be purchasing this one.

Beanitos Chipotle BBQ Black Bean Chips - Yay! Chips and they are vegan! I was super happy about this surprise. The chips were good (had a slight black bean taste to them) although they were very spicy. I probably wouldn't buy this flavor again but I like the concept of a "healthy chip" so would definitely consider other flavors in this brand.

Heirloom Organic Wheatgrass Seeds - Oh man was I psyched when I saw this. I have recently begun gardening. It's very small scale, a few potted vegetable plants and a few vegetables around the shrubs in our yard. But so far I love it and I can't get enough of gardening! So I was thrilled to get some seeds (no matter what they were.) As it turns out wheatgrass is very good for cats. We feed our cats grass from the pet store on occasion as a treat (and it helps with hairballs) so this is a great opportunity for me to grow something for the cats! It's only fair since we'll get to eat all the vegetables :)

Bonus Fourth of July Bandana - I love bandanas and this will be so fun to wear on the Fourth. It's a little stiff but I'm hoping as I wear it and wash it that it will soften up. This was a great way to incorporate usable packaging materials in the box. I love it!

I was very happy with June's box and can't wait until July gets here. Also I've decided to subscribe to a new beauty box from Vegan Cuts that will start in July. It's a brand new subscription box and I'm super excited to be getting the first box ever!

Dr. Scholl's for Her High Heel Insoles BzzAgent Review

I was invited to participate in a Dr. Scholl's for Her High Heel Insoles BzzAgent campaign. BzzAgent is a really cool product campaign site where you get to try products for free and they give you free coupons to give to friends. For the Dr. Scholl's campaign I was given a free set of high heel insoles to try out and a large stack of coupons for the insoles.

I don't wear high heels very much anymore. But special occasions like Christmas parties and weddings sometimes lure me back in to the torture of heels. These insoles work for heels 2" and up. They are clear gel insoles with a sticky bottom that you place inside your shoe. The packaging advertises that the soft gel arch will shift pressure off the ball of your foot. The FabuSTEP gel is intended to add extra cushioning. Supposedly they are practically invisible, even in strappy heels.

I brought out a pair of my highest, most revealing high heels this morning and gave them a test run. They were easy to apply to the shoes and did not harm the shoe at all when I took them out. I don't know how long the sticky part will last but it would be nice if you could switch these between different shoes on a regular basis. The insole was clear and I couldn't tell I was wearing it all once I put on the shoes. That's a definite plus! I felt like the insole was comfortable except for the arch. It may be because I have sensitive arches but I found them uncomfortable to walk on. It's possible as the day goes on it would become less noticeable. The intention of the insole is mostly to lessen the pressure on the balls of your feet and I do feel it did that. Of course the insole does not address other painful symptoms of high heel wearing, such as knee, hip, and back pain. I don't feel these insoles would entice me to wear high heels more often but I could see how they would make them easier to wear when it was a special occasion.

If you'd like to give them a try I've got a bunch of $4 off coupons that don't expire until the end of the year. If you're interested, comment below or through Facebook messaging and I'll send you one!

Items Worth a Repurchase!

I wanted to do a blog about items that are so good I have already gone out and repurchased them. That is the true test of whether an item is a must have or not. Here are my items:

100% Pure Coffee Bean Eye Cream - You've read about this one before in my blogs. I love, love, love the smell of this eye cream. I use it day and night and it always puts a smile on my face. Only $10 from www.100percentpure.com and it will last you a while (especially if you only use it once a day.) Wait for a holiday or sale where they offer free shipping to get the best deal.

E.L.F. Eyelid Primer - I don't really feel like I'm an expert in eyelid primer but all the reviews I've heard compare this primer to the high end ones. It's always worked just fine for me and you can't beat the price. Only $1 and you can find it at Target or even occassionally a dollar store. I've purchased this more than twice.

Thayer's Witch Hazel Toner with Aloe Vera Cucumber - This is my favorite toner. I love the smell and it's very refreshing. I've tried multiple scents in the Thayer's line and this is my favorite. Just repurchased on Amazon but you can get it cheaper on Vitacost.

Tom's of Maine Simply White Toothpaste in Clean Mint - This toothpaste is absolutely incredible. I actually look forward to brushing my teeth! The clean mint flavor is seriously addictive. (Tom's is owned by Colgate so some will contest the cruelty free status of this product. I try to stick to products that are independently owned but sometimes the convenience and price of other products wins out. A small step in the right direction is still a step in the right direction.)

St. Claire's Organics Ginger Pastilles Herbal Sweets - Speaking of addictive! Holy crap these are good!! I have one of these at work, one in my purse, and one in my home office. They are only 6 calories for two and I probably go through 6-10 a day. They are a little on the spicy side but really good. You can get four tins for $10 on Vitacost. I've repurchased once after trying them in a Conscious Box and will need to get more soon as I am running low!

eos Shave Cream - I found a cruelty free alternative to my shaving cream. eos brand is available at Rite Aid and Walgreens among others. It's not the most amazing thing ever, but it works just fine for shaving. Have purchased twice so far. It comes in a convenient pump and in several scents. Hint: when the pump is done screw off the top to get a little more product out of it.

NYX HD Concealer in Light - I just repurchased this. This concealer is a pretty good dupe for the Revlon Colorstay in Fair that I used to use. You can find NYX at ULTA or on Amazon.

E.L.F. Maximum Coverage Concealer - This is a very good oil-free concealer that I like to use under my foundation. The lightest shade is still a little dark for me so I pair it with a lighter foundation like Gabriel Moisturizing Foundation. I've repurchased both.

Pumpkin & Poppy Oil Absorbing Mineral Veil - OMG, I love this stuff! I've purchased twice and would have purchased a third time but she is all out at the moment. I'm using up my ELF finishing powder while I wait but nothing beats this powder made of rice. It feels so natural and is part of my routine that I look forward to. Leaves a nice finish and blends well with makeup.

Gluten Free Beauty Balancing Facial Serum - Ok, I really, really wanted to repurchase this one but the website is all out of stock at the moment. I loved the sample of this serum I got in my Eco Emi box a few months back. With my moisturizer it is a good substitute for primer and seems to be really good for my skin. I found a similar formula by a seller on Etsy that I am going to try out but I really hope that I will be able to get the original I fell in love with again. It smells amazing too! Like all the really yummy fair foods mixed together and smeared all over your face (but in a good way!!!) It's got Hazelnut Oil which I think gives it this smell.

Zoya Nail Polish Remover and Pixie Dust Polish - I love Zoya!! I've repurchased both of these and love them both. Both have fewer chemicals (like Formeldahyde) than your typical polish brands. The remover works really well at getting polish off (and doesn't smell bad!) as well as moisturizing your nails so they look great afterward! The Pixie Dust polish is this great formula that has a texture and a sparkle. Really pretty and fun! I've tried both Stevie (lavender purple) and London (cement gray). I really want to try Miranda too which is a pretty reddish pink. I don't find that two coats chips and it will last quite a while.

Influenster Spring VoxBox

I signed up for Influenster about a year ago to try out new products. My first VoxBox was half cruelty freeish. It had a Bic pen and a Bath and Body Works perfume. So I was really hopeful when I got my second box a few weeks ago that it would have at least a couple cruelty free items. I've tried to make it clear on my Influenster profile that I am only into cruelty free products (not that this really makes a difference with these things.) Anyhow long story short my box got here and nothing is cruelty free. :( So now I'm supposed to try these items and blog about them honestly. Sorry, but it's not going to happen and I realize that's a violation of what I signed up to do, but I also have to listen to my conscience. Chances are pretty good I won't be getting another VoxBox but maybe that's a good thing. In the interest of honesty I am going to post all of the items in the box and my personal thoughts about them. Here we go:

imPress Broadway Nails - These are zebra print press on nails. Ummmm, no. Honestly I'm not even sure if this company is cruelty free or not but I would not be caught dead in these. Sorry.

Secret Deodorant - This was the most difficult item to get. It's a small sample of Secret Outlast deoderant. I am ok with giving a lot of these items to friends or family but when there are so many great alternatives (that work!!!) made of more natural products I just can't stand the thought of giving another woman I care about a product that may cause cancer. I won't do it. I will probably end up donating this item which doesn't feel that great either.

Schwarzkopf Professionals Hair Gel - This is a good size sample of extreme hair gel. I'd never heard of this brand before and had to some research on it. They do test on animals. My husband offered to use it and I highly doubt we would repurchase since I'm sure there are some good cruelty free products that would do the same thing (Paul Mitchell comes to mind.)

Tasty Kake - This was a wrapped Tasty Kake that my husband snatched up before I'd barely opened the box. I believe he's already eaten it so I'm guessing he enjoyed it. I have no real issue with this product just would not personally eat it myself as it was not vegan.

NYC Appleicious Lip Balm - This was a glossy lip balm. Nice enough but not cruelty free. I gave it to someone who I thought might like it.

So there you have it. That was my Influenster Spring VoxBox. One good thing I did discover is that I've come a long way in a year on my journey to be more cruelty free ( and use more natural products.) As I looked at all the items (knowing what other products exist out there) I could only shake my head and wonder why. Heavily chemical laden products just don't have the same appeal to me that they used to. I'm really happy to be at this point and can't wait to tell you in the next few blogs about some of the great products I've discovered!!!

May Eco Emi Review

So May's box got here super early which was great! I got it in the middle of the month and I got a 20% discount.

The box was really pretty with bright oranges, pinks, and greens.

The bottom of the box was lined with a piece of beautiful flannel. I had to include a picture:

 

 

This month's Eco Emi box contained the following:

 

Assorted Nailpolish by Suncoat Girl - This was a full sized nail polish in a pale iridescent pink. It contains carmine (bug shells) so not really vegan. Before I realized it had carmine I tried it out. It's a very thin polish probably because it is water based. I got tired after two coats and it took so long to dry that I messed up two of my nails before it completed drying. I will say that the color was very pretty. Didn't think this would be a color I liked but it turned out really pretty and shiny. I have someone in mind to give this to and I think she will like the color too.

 

Pink Champagne Powder Eyeshadow by Lauren Brookes Cosmetiques - I was psyched to get another product from Lauren Brookes. I really liked the Dahlia shadow from last month. This shadow is not vegan (contains silk.) I'll use it up but wouldn't repurchase it. Not quite as pretty as the pink shadow from All Natural Face. It's a little more subtle but a nice shade.

 

Mongo Kiss Honey Vanilla by Eco Lips - This lip balm tastes great (like a vanilla milk shake or smoothie.) It also has a nice sheen and texture. However, I don't feel it moisturizes like Hurraw! lip balm does.

 

AquaSport SPF 30 Sunscreen by All Terrain - This is a small sample of sunscreen. Always a good thing to have on hand.

 

Seaweed Powder Bath with Hawaiian Kukui Oil Lavender Scent by Seaweed Bath Co - I like seaweed products so this was a nice item to get. It's a full size bath powder. Hopefully will use next time I take a bath.

 



Pomegranate Bars by Athena Bars - It's a yogurt bar so definitely not vegan. My husband will enjoy it I'm sure.

Natural Mascara by Suncoat - This full size mascara is vegan (yay!) Initially was not crazy excited because I've got plenty of mascara right now. Several things make this mascara unique for me. It is made from a sugar base and it's a brown mascara. When I first tried it out I was pretty skeptical. It was so sticky! However, I really like how natural my lashes look (probably mostly due to the brown color.) It's subtle enough that I will feel comfortable wearing this at work. It's funny how sometimes the things I am the least excited about because the things I am most excited about!

Herbal Armor Insect Repellent by All Terrain - I hate bugs! This is definitely something I will be glad to have on hand.

Aromatherapy Conditioner by Beauty without Cruelty - This is a travel size conditioner. I love getting these because they are a great way to try a new hair product. I've used this once and it seems nice. Didn't make my hair weird and smelled really nice and herbally.

I really wish there had been more vegan items in this box but once again the value of the items in this box far exceeded what I paid and as always the presentation was fantastic. I think it was probably a $30 value over what I paid.

April Eco Emi Review

Sorry. I know it's crazy late for an April review but life's been busy and I'm a little behind on my blogging.

Preface to my review: Got this box around the end of April which is when I normally expect my Eco Emi box (usually the end of the month or start of the next month.) Apparently it was late so Christine, the curator, gave subscribers a 20% discount on May's box. Sweet! This is good customer service, people!

April's box was pretty with yellow confetti and pink and green tissue paper. It also came with a little brown box and a satin pink drawstring bag. I love getting stuff like that cause I can use it later to wrap gifts. They weren't my favorite colors (not a fan of pastels) but still it's nice to get something wrapped up so pretty.

April's box included:

Oluv Care by OluvSkin - This is a good size salve made of olive oil and shea butter among other things. I've used it on dry patches on my hands and paper cuts and it moisturizes much better than other shea butter type lotions I have. It doesn't smell like much, just kind of neutral. This is a nice product to have lying around especially in winter or dry climates.

Moisturizing Hair Milk by Shea Radiance - Jury's still out on this one. It's a good size; a small pump bottle, so will get plenty of uses. I've used it about twice and the first time it made my hair a little stiff. Second time was better but it doesn't really feel like it detangles, if anything made my hair harder to comb the next day. Plus the scent is not great. At least it's not chemically smelling like some hair products. That's a plus.

Unscented Deoderant Towelettes by Crystal Essence - I've never actually tried the towelettes but I love the deodorant this company makes. I have the lavender scent and I adore it!!! I like that these are unscented for people who might be super sensitive to smells.

Dahlia Crème Eye Shadow by Lauren Brooke Cosmetiques - This is a full size eye shadow in a shimmery bluish color. At first I was skeptical because the color payoff on my first swatch was zilch. But then I tried it to set my eye color as the card recommends. Voila! I love it! It very nicely pulls together an eye shadow look with blues, silvers, or purples. Blends everything together and adds a nice shimmer on top. Supposedly it smells like vanilla but I haven't noticed that.

Organic Hemp Shine Lipstick by Colorganics - This one's a little strange to me. It's a full size lipstick which is awesome...but it's clear. I've never heard of clear lipstick before. You can apply on top of other colors to add shine or wear it by itself like a lip balm. If I wanted a lip balm, I'd choose one with great flavor (like Hurraw lip balm!) Also it seems difficult to spread which makes me think it would rub off your other color if you were to add it on top.

Organic Gluten Free Guacamole Dip by Simply Organics - I love guacamole but unfortunately this dip is not vegan. I will happily pass this on to someone who can appreciate it.

Dead Sea Mud Facial Mask by Rainwater Botanicals - I've heard a lot of good things about this company that sells its products on Etsy. It's a small, thin container so will probably only last for one to two uses. I'm excited to try it.

Comforting Geranium Mineral Bath Salts by Aura Cacia - A nice big sample, this has scents of geraniums and roses. I'm not a big fan of heavy flower scents but was able to give this to my mother-in-law who was thrilled with it.

So this box was definitely worth the price. I paid $15 and got at least $40 in value. That's amazing! Can't wait for next month's box. It should be here soon!

April's Conscious Box Review x 2 !

Here is a review on my most recent (and final) Conscious Box. I decided to cancel because I wasn't overly enamored with the last few months and I wanted to free up some of my spending money. I'm not horribly dissatisfied with the box. In fact there's a good chance I will re-subscribe later down the road. But for now, this is the right decision for me.

 

April is Earth Day month so the box has an eco-friendly theme which is pretty much the Conscious Box theme anyway. I subscribe to the Vegan version of the box so was very surprised to open it and find a bag of 100% grass-fed beef jerky. To be honest my first reaction was, "Oh, look! Vegan jerky!" Thank goodness I've trained myself to check labels! This was no vegan jerky. This was the real deal. I'd heard of people accidentally getting dairy products in the vegan box before but never meat products! I wasn't really sure if I got the wrong box or the wrong product was added to my vegan box. I sent an e-mail to customer service and was relieved to get aquick response from the staff. They said they would send out the correct box and a week later I got my truly vegan Conscious Box. So here is my review on both boxes.

Contents of first box:

The infamous Jerky - enough said

Essential Living Foods Palm Flower Nectar Coconut Sugar - This stuff is cool! It's low-glycemic and yummy. The flavor reminds me a bit of caramel and yes I've been eating spoonfuls out of the box. I think this would work really great in baking...or straight out of the box :)

KonaRed Hawaiian Superfruit Antioxidant Shot - Think I will like this much more than the wheatgrass shot of last month (yuck!) Might try this one day instead of my V-8 + Energy drink. It says it contains 27 mg of caffeine.

GFM Beyond Natural Balancing Facial Serum - Been hearing a lot about facial serums lately but not entirely sure what all the hype is. I think it's supposed to be nourishing. This serum contains pomegranate seed oil, hazelnut oil, borage oil, kukui nut oil, seabuckthorn oil, and vitamin E oil, among others. This is why I like these subscription boxes because it gives me the opportunity to try stuff without buying a huge bottle.

Seventh Generation Mandarin Refreshing Facial Cleansing Cloths - Seventh Generation has branched out into skin care/hygiene. I actually bought some of these in the lavender scent and tried my first one last night. It wasn't bad. Mandarin scent sounds like it would be really refreshing. Product is free from parabens, phthalates and synthetic fragrances.

Qspeed CoQ10 - Never heard of this before. It's a supplement that is supposed to support heart health, enhance cellular energy production, and support exercise performance. I will add this to my little drawer of exercise supplements for when I start exercising (ha, right!)

Totlogic Body Lotion - This is a large sample of lotion free of sulfates, phthalates, and parabens. It says it has a natural and light scent so not entirely sure what it will smell like.

Splash Citrus Lovers Artisan Soap by Amathia Soapworks - This is a vegan friendly shea butter soap made in Kansas. It smells really great (essential oils of bergamot, ylang ylang, orange, lemon, tangerine, pink grapefruit, and may chang.)

Dapple Baby Bottle and Dish Liquid - Nice little sample of dish soap. Not tested on animals so I will definitely give it a shot.

Natural Veggie Wash - I've always wanted to try one of these. Supposedly cleans off waxes and chemicals better than water. I'll let you know what I think.

Contents of Second Box:

Beanfields Bean and Rice Chips in Nacho flavor - Yes, please! Vegan chips in nacho flavor. Woo! Obvious love.

Alternative Baking Company Cinnamon Burst Cookie - I already love this company. Have had many of their delicious cookies. This one is gluten-free. Oddly enough I don't see cinnamon in the ingredients but it sounds yummy.

Butcher's Bunches Handcrafted Preserves - Yes, after the last box, the name gave me pause, but it turned out alright. The flavor is Dirty Diana and contains Montmorency Cherries, Pectin, Passion Fruit Rum, Nutmeg, Lime Juice, and Citric Acid. Intriguing. Not a huge preserves fan but will give it a shot.

Seventh Generation Mandarin Cleansing Cloth - same as first box

Qspeed CoQ10 - same as first box

Totlogic Body Lotion - same as first box

Naturally It's Clean by Enzyme Fresh Home Floors - This is a floor cleaner which we've been needing so very happy to get this sample. Looks like it will have a citrus smell.

Everly Thrive Drink Mix in Pomegranate Maqui Berry - I like to get drink mixes because they encourage me to drink water. This one contains Stevia which I'm not nuts about flavor-wise but I will try it.

Citrus Magic Natural Odor Eliminating Air Freshener in Tropical Citrus Blend - Good size sample that I'm sure I will find a use for. It smells very citrusy and the bottle is non-aerosol. Another good sample to try.

In summary I got a lot of great products and was very pleased with Conscious Box's customer service. As I said earlier this is my last box for now but probably not forever (I also had great customer service when I cancelled with no fuss and a quick response.)

Review of White Rabbity Beauty

I recently placed my second order with WhiteRabbityBeauty.com and felt compelled to write a blog about it. White Rabbit Beauty is a website that sells cruelty free makeup and beauty products (mostly hard to find brands.) Shipping is free on all make-up and affordable for everything else.

My first order a few months ago was two small foundation samples from ZuZu Luxe. (That's another great thing about White Rabbit Beauty. You can get samples of some of the products without committing to what can be a pricey purchase.) It was a very small order but arrived wrapped in a beautiful bag with gold stars on it and a hand written note wishing me luck that the samples would work. I thought this was very sweet.

My second order was two more foundation samples (this time from Gabriel Cosmetics) and a Deep Steep moisture stick in Grapefruit Bergamot. Again it's a relatively small order but came wrapped in the same beautiful bag with another hand written note. This time she wished me luck hoping these samples would work better and included an extra sample in an additional shade. This is such great customer service! I was really, really impressed with this site. Plus the whole Alice in Wonderland/Cruelty Free mash-up is pretty cool.

Check them out and see if they have something you are looking for. Be sure to check out the sale list too!

www.whiterabbitbeauty.com

Best Subscription Box Samples

Now that I've received three or more months of both the Eco Emi box and Conscious box I thought it would be fun to do a quick blog/review of some of my favorite products that I got to try through these boxes. Now if I don't mention something in this blog, it doesn't necessarily mean I didn't like it. There are still quite a few samples I haven't tried yet. But here's some that I have tried and loved:

Vitacare Gum in Cool Mint and Key Lime - Liked these when I first tried them, now half way through the pack and love them. I looked for them at Whole Foods and couldn't find them, but was glad to see that they are on available at Vitacost!! The flavor doesn't last incredibly long or anything but they are really refreshing and good for your teeth to boot!

Suki Exfoliate Foaming Cleanser - I wasn't overly impressed when I saw this sample in my Eco Emi box but I was so off on that impression! This stuff was amazing and I was sad the sample wasn't larger. It smells very refreshing and leaves your skin feeling so soft. Probably the best exfoliater I've ever used. I checked out the Suki website and the cost of this is way out of my price range but it was nice to try!

 

St. Claire's Organics Ginger Pastilles - Disclaimer: These do not taste that great unless you like to eat spicy ginger. However, they do exactly what I'd hoped, help curb nausea. This tin should last me quite a while and I will probably repurchase. Tins are $2.99 on their website or you can buy a 4 pack on Vitacost for $10.

 

Hugo Naturals Volumizing Shampoo in Vanilla and Sweet Orange - Excited when I got this sample and loved it when I finished the small bottle. I think I managed to get 3-4 washes out of the sample so feel like I really tested this one. The smell was ok but what I really loved is how clean my hair felt after washing. It definitely volumizes too. I have very thick hair so maybe didn't need that level of volume. I haven't repurchased yet and am not sure I would purchase this same type, but will definitely plan on getting the Hugo Naturals brand when I do.

Vapour Organic Beauty Black Eyeliner (picture shows Truffle) - This eyeliner turned out to be my favorite for several months (only reason I'm not using it now is I've gotten back into liquid liner for the moment.) It was gentle and did not irritate my eyes. It was easy to apply and had good color payoff. I also liked that it had a smudge tool on the opposite side of the pencil. Only complaint might be that it needs frequent sharpening.