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.)