One of the best parts of running a fashion/beauty blog is that I'm introduced to so many awesome brands and products, and I get to bring them to you all! It's something I really missed during my hiatus. That's why I was SO excited when Maple Holistics reached out to me to try out their Tea Tree Oil Shampoo!

As you all know, cruelty-free beauty is extremely important to me, mainly because I hate that beauty brands test their products on innocent, helpless animals. The way I see it, if products are made with ingredients that have the potential to do things like burn a bunny's eye off, why would I want to use them? Lately, I've been trying to learn more about what's in the products I use every day. Unfortunately, I've had a coule of rude awakenings, but Maple Holistics is all about cruelty-free beauty, as well as all-natural beauty in general. When I use this shampoo, I'm confident its ingredients. All of Maple Holistics' products are all natural and sulfate-free. This shampoo in particular is also GMO-free, gluten-free, and paraben-free.

And Maple Holistics is truly a holistic company. My beauty routine is my favorite part of the day, and Maple Holistics takes steps to elevate that special part of the day for all of their customers. They meticulously select essential oils to put in their products, which seriously makes the WORLD of a difference. I've been getting into aromatherapy lately, and it's amazing how much a good scent can improve your mental health. This Tea Tree Oil Shampoo smells amazing. Imagine taking a hot, steamy shower, letting hot water wash away your day accompanied by the amazing smell of tea tree oil. It's encapsulating!

Now that you know all about how amazing Maple Holistics is as a company, I need to tell you about how amazing this shampoo is. I feel like it was basically created for me! Tea tree oil is great for moisture and wound care, so it only makes sense that this shampoo has amazing healing properties for the scalp. Mine is always irritated, especially when I wear my thick, heavy hair in a high ponytail. And now that I'm enduring my twentieth East Coast Winter, my scalp is drier than ever. After I started using this shampoo, my head felt so much less irritated, and my hair was a lot softer and healthier. It even solves dandruff and lice problems! This shampoo is also great for hair growth. I love my long hair, and I'd do anything to make sure it stays thick and healthy.

Overall, I am so happy I tried this shampoo! It really made a difference for me, and I admire that it comes from such an ethical company. You can get your hands on a bottle of your own here, but if you're interested in trying more products from Maple Holistics, they offer the opportunity to try some of their products through their Free Samples Program, because they're just that awesome.

If you’re interested in going cruelty-free, check out PETA’s Searchable Database and Cruelty-Free Kitty’s alphabetized list of cruelty-free brands. If you have any cruelty-free recommendations, please comment them below!

Makeup Monday

August 14, 2017Cruelty-FreeKristenComment

When I first started using brushes to apply my makeup, I used to spritz some e.l.f. Daily Brush Cleaner on them whenever I was done. But one day, I ran out, and I never purchased it again, not because it was bad, just because I kind of forgot. And now that I think about it I haven't actually cleaned my brushes for about three months, which is disgusting. It may be the reason I've been breaking out a TON lately. So, I decided to try a product that I've had in my makeup bag for a while, but have never had the chance to try, e.l.f.'s Brush Shampoo.

Today, I cleaned my foundation brush, blush brush and concealer brush, which are all made by e.l.f. The directions on the bottle say to wash them in warm water and work a small amount of the shampoo from the base of the bristles up, and that's exactly what I did. Since the concealer brush is super small, I didn't really have a problem cleaning it, and my blush brush didn't seem to be that dirty.

My foundation brush was a whole other story. As I was washing it, caked up foundation started oozing out of it, which I figured was a good thing! But I was washing this brush for like ten minutes, and old makeup was still spilling out of it. I put it to the side and tried again, and it just kept coming. Now that all of my brushes are dry, I realized that the shampoo really didn't do anything for the foundation brush. When I fan out the bristles, I can still see my makeup in between them, and I get crap all over my fingers.

So to be honest, even though I love e.l.f.'s products, this one was definitely a disappointment for me. Maybe I'll see a bigger difference when I use my brushes to apply my makeup, but I'm kind of afraid to use my foundation brush now knowing that there's still so much stuff in it. I feel like I should just buy a new one. I'm extra disappointed because I used a shampoo made by e.l.f. on e.l.f. products, so I thought they would work really well together. I guess I was wrong.

Now that I've had this unfortunate wakeup call, I'm on the search to find a brush cleaner that actually works. I heard that coconut oil is a good one! At least this brush shampoo is cruelty-free, though. If you’re interested in going cruelty-free, check out PETA’s Searchable Database and Cruelty-Free Kitty’s alphabetized list of cruelty-free brands. If you have any cruelty-free recommendations, please comment them below!

Cruelty-Free Beauty: Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick

July 17, 2017Cruelty-FreeKristenComment

The other day, I went to Sephora with one of my beauty-obsessed sorority sisters and came across Kat Von D Beauty. I've been hearing a ton of great things about Kat Von D lately, so I decided to try out one of her lip colors since my lipgloss had worn off. I picked a dark tan color called Sanctuary, and as soon as I tested it, my sister started freaking out. "HOLY SHIT! YOU HAVE TO GET IT!"

I've been looking for a deep tan lip color for a while, and this one was absolutely perfect. It really was my shade. I'm in love! I wasn't planning on buying anything at Sephora, but I had to buy this. And it wasn't super expensive, just $20.

One of my least favorite things about matte lip colors is putting them on, because it can get ridiculously messy. This lipgloss went on like a dream. I was able to layer it and reapply without it looking or feeling gross. I will admit that it did feel a little sticky, but not enough that I was grossed out. In fact, I think the slight stickiness contributes to the fact that this lipgloss stayed on so well for a really long time.

And the best part is, it's cruelty-free! I really admire Kat Von D for her firm stance on animal rights. Her line further proves that amazing beauty products can be made without harming animals.

I'm so excited to wear this lipgloss again, especially in the Fall! I'm so happy that I treated myself with this lip color. I'd 100% buy more of Kat Von D's products in the future!

Seven Reasons You Should Buy Kiss My Face's Newest Sunscreen

June 25, 2017Cruelty-Free, Beauty, Beauty Review, Sponsored, WellnessKristenComment

You guys know how passionate I am about sunscreen. So when Kiss My Face asked me to review their new All Natural Dry Oil Spray Sunscreen in SPF 15, I couldn't say no! Read on to find out why you should get your hands on a bottle.

1. It works!

The purpose of sunscreen is to keep your skin safe from the sun's harmful rays. This sunscreen did just that! One day I put it on my whole body, but I missed a spot behind my neck, and I got a nasty sunburn. But the rest of my skin was perfect! The sunburn sucked, but it proved how well the sunscreen works. It's also water resistant for up to eighty minutes, which is perfect for a day at the beach.

2. It still gives you a little tan

A lot of people don't use sunscreen because they want a tan. However, Kiss My Face's sunscreen gives you a little "sun-kissed glow." I'm hopelessly pale (thanks, Irish heritage...), and this sunscreen still gave me a little bit of color so I didn't look like I've been locked in my basement for ten years.

3. Its ingredients

This vegan sunscreen is free of gluten, phthalates, SLS, parabens, and artificial fragrances. Since this sunscreen is air-powered, you don't need to worry about chemical propellants being in there either. It's made with vitamin E, coconut oil, argan oil, and green tea, ingredients that absolutely pamper your skin. So not only are you protecting your skin from harm, but you're only putting good things into it.

4. It's animal friendly

I started using Kiss My Face because they made high-quality products that were cruelty-free (and vegan!). This sunscreen is no exception! It's so great to find a company that's as passionate about ending animal testing as I am. For this sunscreen, Kiss My Face partnered with the Beagle Freedom Project, an organization that aims to end animal testing and give released animals a second chance at a normal life. When you purchase this sunscreen from Amazon Smile here, a portion of the purchase will be donated to the Beagle Freedom Project.

5. It's environmentally friendly

Kiss My Face makes a different type of spray that's just better in general because it's not an aerosol. It sprays from any angle, including upside-down, so it's perfect for getting those hard-to-reach places (like the back of your neck, when you actually remember to apply sunscreen there... but I'm not bitter...). It's not harmful to the environment like aerosols are. The bottle is also made of recyclable aluminum!

6. It smells yummy

I've always loved the smell of sunscreen! When I applied this, I also got a little hint of coconut from the coconut oil in the formula. As I mentioned before, this sunscreen is free of artificial fragrances, so you smell good, real good.

7. It's lightweight

Usually, sunscreen is gross and greasy, but not this one. This formula is so lightweight you don't even need to rub it in. I don't even feel like I'm wearing sunscreen!

Basically, if you're looking for some high-quality sunscreen that actually works and does a lot of good for the world, look no further than Kiss My Face's All Natural Dry Oil Spray Sunscreen. Buy it here through their website, or here if you'd like to make a difference with the Beagle Freedom Project! Thanks Kiss My Face!

More Cruelty-Free Mascara

April 10, 2017Beauty, Beauty Review, Cruelty-FreeKristenComment

You all know how much I love my mascara, especially when it's cruelty-free! A while ago, I switched out my old mascara for another one of e.l.f.'s mascaras, and I absolutely loved it. So when someone posted an unopened bottle of this e.l.f. mascara on my school's Free and For Sale page, I had to jump on it.

What I'm Using Now: e.l.f. Lash Extending Mascara

At first, I used this mascara by itself to see what it would do. Basically, the brush of this mascara is much thinner and has a lot of spikes. It's basically made to separate your lashes finely, which is great since I hate it when my eyelashes get super clumpy. Also, the brush can move and bend like the other mascara's, which really makes a difference for me.

Though I do wear this mascara on its own every now and then, I do prefer my e.l.f. 3-in-1 Mascara, mostly because the brush has so many shapes that it can really get everywhere it needs. I do like wearing this mascara on its own when I want a more feminine look, but most of the time I use it to top off the mascara that I already have. Like I mentioned before, the brush is super fine, so it helps me separate my lashes when they get gross and stuck. Usually, I use it to top off my eyelashes and give them that extra spidery kick.

Overall, I would 100% recommend this mascara, as I do with basically everything I review with e.l.f. For more information about going cruelty-free, check out PETA’s Searchable Database or Cruelty-Free Kitty’s alphabetized list of cruelty-free brands.