Author: Adventures in Polishland

2020 Makeup Inventory | My Minimalist and Vegan Makeup Collection

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

Since discovering the online makeup world in 2012, my makeup collection has grown and changed a great deal over the last few years. While it can be a lot of fun to have a large makeup collection, I personally find that a small, curated collection of the products I actually use is best for me. As someone who typically wears the same face of makeup every day, there is no reason for me to have a lot of options. Instead, I focus on owning products I will use up to completion. This helps me eliminate waste, it saves me a great deal of money, and it allows me to choose my makeup collection with great care. I wanted to start off 2020 by sharing with you my current makeup inventory in its entirety.

2020 Makeup Inventory | My Minimalist and Vegan Makeup Collection

All of the products I share with you today are cruelty free and vegan. I will also be using affiliate links to share these products with you. If you make a purchase after clicking on a link in this blog post, I will earn a small commission. Thank you!

Face Products

Face Products | Primer, Foundation, and Concealer

I currently own one face primer, one foundation, and two concealers. I am very happy with this category in my stash! I am currently using a facial moisturizer from Derma E that works really well under makeup, so there is no need for me to have more face primers at the moment. I also haven’t been wearing a full face of makeup lately, so I rarely reach for foundation. Instead, I use concealer to cover redness in my T-zone, and having two concealers makes sense for me.

Setting Powders | Vegan and Cruelty Free

I currently have three face powders in my collection. That being said, two of these are basically empty right now! I need to repress those two so I can use them up completely. I only need one setting powder in my collection, and this one from Pacifica is a favorite of mine.

Eye Products

Eye Makeup Collection | Brows, Shadow, and Mascara

My eye makeup collection is one category where I’ve greatly reduced the amount of products I own. I fill in my eyebrows every day, so I have my one tried-and-true brow powder and one open eyebrow gel. I do have one eyebrow gel in my backup drawer as well. Since I do not wear eyeshadow regularly, there is no need for me to have more than a few basic items. I am currently using a concealer as an eyeshadow base, and I have one primer in my backup drawer. For eyeshadow, I have one duo and one holographic liquid shadow for the few times a year I want something more. Lastly, I own one mascara that I replace every three to four months.

Cheek Products

Cheek Products | Blush, Highlighter, and Bronzer

I think cheek products are my favorite part of makeup! I love blush and highlighter, and I am happy with the amount of products I own in this category. I have one blush palette, which is more than enough. But, I also love the matte Tarte blush I got from a kit, and The Body Shop Shimmer Waves palette is great for blush, highlighter, or eyeshadow. I also use my contour palette from The Body Shop for eyeshadow as well. The only product I probably don’t need is the liquid highlighter from NYX – I don’t use it often.

Lip Products

Lip Products | Lip Liner, Lip Oil, and Lip Balm

Just like eye products, I used to own a lot of lip products. However, I learned in the past few years that I really do not like wearing lip products! I am always drinking water, and I don’t like it when lip products transfer or wear off throughout the day. I currently have three lip products in my collection, and I could probably declutter all of them! I have an invisible lip liner, a lip oil, and a tinted lip balm. If I don’t grab for these throughout the year, I will declutter them and not buy anymore lip products unless it is for a specific reason or occasion!

Setting Sprays

Setting Sprays

Last but not least, I have three setting sprays in my collection. I am currently using one from elf, and I got two of my holy grail sprays from The Body Shop for Christmas this year. I love setting spray, but I know some people feel like it doesn’t do anything. For me, it is a must!

Total Inventory

As 2020 begins, I currently own a total of 27 makeup products! Overall, I am really happy with my collection. There are only a few products in my stash that I do not use regularly (mainly the lip products), but everything else is part of my regular routine and rotation. I like having my go-to products that work for me, with a few fun options in my favorite categories – blush and highlighter. The last time I did a full makeup inventory was in 2018, and at that time I owned 55 makeup products. I am amazed that my collection has shrunk in half! It shows I truly don’t need a large quantity of products.

Please share with me in the comments if you prefer to have a small or large makeup collection. If you are looking to be more minimalistic and mindful with the things you own, I find your makeup is a great place to start. If you would like to see a full review of a product I mentioned today, please let me know in a comment as well!

My 2020 Reading Plans | The #MyYearofRereading Project

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

As 2020 began today, I did not expect to find myself creating a list of reading resolutions or goals for this new year. Yet as I was resting on this holiday off from work, I spent some time looking at my bookshelves and realized I do, in fact, have some exciting reading plans as the year gets underway. I recently shared with you the #MyYearofRereading Project that I created in my last blog post. I will absolutely be continuing on with that project, but I also have a few other goals that I would like to share with you.

First and foremost is the Goodreads Reading Challenge that I participate in every year. This challenge is purely about quantity – how many books do you want to read this year? I decided to do some math and figure out a goal that is challenging yet still based on reality. Since I mainly read on my commute now, I created a formula based on how many hours of time I spend commuting a year, how many pages I read in an hour, and how long the average book I read is. The result was about 58 books, and I decided to round that up to 60 for a bit of a stretch goal. You can follow me on Goodreads here to see how I am getting along with this challenge throughout the year.

My next goal is to empty my physical TBR (To-Be-Read) bookshelf by the end of the year. Notice I did not say that I want to read my entire TBR shelf. That is because I may end up decluttering some books that I decide I no longer have the desire to read. I fine-tuned this shelf a lot during 2019, and I now have 31 books that I consider on my TBR. This does not include my Stephen King collection, my Rick Riordan collection, and my Puffin Classics, as these are all books I plan to read and own over the course of my lifetime. That being said, I believe I can empty out my entire TBR shelf in 2020 by either reading or decluttering all 31 of those books!

Speaking of Stephen King, I would like to continue on with my journey in reading his entire bibliography in publishing order. In 2019, I reread both Carrie and ‘Salem’s Lot, and I look forward to picking up The Shining sometime this year. Ideally, I will read at least two Stephen King books in 2020, but I would love to read more! His books are often quite long, and I am sometimes intimidated by the time commitment each book requires. I’ve heard that The Shining is a fast read despite its length, though, so I am excited to get to it soon.

Lastly, I hope that 2020 is the year I finally get my book buying in check. I did a great job in 2019, and this was 100% thanks to the #MyYearofRereading Project. Since I was focused on rereading books, I did not spend a lot of time acquiring new books. My main concern is not with spending money on books, but on buying books in large quantities. I cannot tell you how many times I’ve lost interest in books on my TBR shelf before making an effort to read them. Instead, I plan to use my library to read new-to-me books. If I love a book I read from the library, I can always purchase it for my bookshelves later!

I hope you enjoyed hearing some of my reading goals for 2020. Please share any of your reading resolutions for the new year with me in the comments. I love hearing from other readers! I hope you will also join me over on my bookish Instagram account, @PolishlandReads! I regularly update my story with my current reads, and I post mini-reviews and wrap-ups somewhat regularly. Here’s to a great reading year in 2020!

Why I Reread 50 Books in 2019 | The #MyYearofRereading Project

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

As an avid reader and book collector who also happens to be a strong proponent of the KonMari method, my bookshelves are replete with books that sparked so much joy for me upon the first reading that I held onto them for future reference. Yet despite my good intentions over the years, rereading books did not happen very often. With so many new releases and an unending supply of backlist options, I maybe reread a favorite title a few times a year. Eventually, I came to the same conclusion that many readers do at some point: I will never be able to read all the books. I just can’t! Life is too short to consume every work that interests me. If I wanted to reread my favorite books, there was no better time than the present. Thus, the #MyYearofRereading Project was born as 2019 began, and I’m so happy to report that I successfully reread 50 books from my collection, and plan to continue this project into the new decade.

I began the #MyYearofRereading Project by creating some rules for myself. My main goal with this project is to reread the books I own in physical form on my bookshelves. The three guidelines I gave myself are as follows:

  1. If I read the book in 2018, I don’t need to reread it in 2019. However, I can if I choose to do so.
  2. If I don’t feel any desire to reread a book, I will declutter that book. Why was I holding onto it in the first place?
  3. I am not limited to rereading. If I want to read a new-to-me book during the year, I can do so. This will be especially useful when I am attempting to finish a series I’ve already started.

These three rules worked quite effectively for me. As it turns out, the only book from 2018 that I reread in 2019 was Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling. In terms of decluttering my bookshelves, I only let go of a handful of books. For instance, I finally came to terms with the fact that I am not going to continue on with the Game of Thrones series, and there were a few other titles I chucked when I realized if I truly wanted to read them again, I could just check them out from the library.

The #MyYearofRereading Project in Numbers

Let’s take a closer look at my reading in 2019. In total, I read 68 books, which is the most I’ve ever read in one year, at least in my adult life. Part of that has to do with a lengthened commute, but I do think rereading attributed to the quantity as well.

I am excited to report that over 75% of my reading in 2019 was rereading. Exactly 50 books were rereads from my physical bookshelf, but I also reread two Ebooks, which don’t officially count for the #MyYearofRereading Project since I do not own them in physical form.

One of my biggest takeaways from the #MyYearofRereading Project comes from my reading of new-to-me books. Of the 16 books that I read for the first time in 2019, only seven of them were from my own personal collection, otherwise called my “TBR” or To Be Read Pile. Funnily enough, six of the seven books I read from my TBR were part of a series in some way (either a direct sequel or a spin-off novel). This shows me that, when it comes to reading new-to-me books, I should be utilizing my library more. It seems I am more interested in reading books I don’t own than the ones sitting unread at home!

Since one of my rules mentioned finishing book series, I wanted to take a look at that category as well. Interestingly enough, I only completed two series that I had previously started. However, I ended up rereading three series from start to finish. One of my ongoing struggles as a reader is completing series, and I do find that I am most successful when I read the books back-to-back. Rereading can help me complete a series, but I am a bit more likely to return to a favorite series, than complete a new one. If you have any tips on completing book series, please share in the comments!

The #MyYearofRereading Project Results

As 2019 draws to a close, I am so happy that I gave myself the excuse to reread all year long. I know many readers who find rereading to be a waste of time. The argument is often that there is nothing more to gain from a story if it has already been consumed once. You will not be surprised to find that I wholeheartedly disagree. I learn something new every single time I reread a book, even if I’ve read it several times. For example, one of my most reread books is If I Were a Teenage Fairy by Francesca Lia Block. I first read this book as a child, and each time I pick it up I am amazed at how much I previously missed. This is due to maturity, and learning more about the world around me. But, it is also due to getting to know the characters more with each reading. Additionally, each reread provides me with the opportunity to look at the plot from a new angle. Thus, I find rereading to be quite valuable and enjoyable at the same time.

My Reading Plans for 2020

When I began the #MyYearofRereading Project, I intended for it to only last for 2019. I hoped the project would encourage me to reread on a more consistent basis, but I fully expected I would walk into 2020 with the goal of clearing out my TBR shelf, and only rereading once in a while. However, I loved this project so much that I plan on continuing the #MyYearofRereading Project for the foreseeable future! I do want to read more new-to-me books in 2020, but I will be continuing my journey in rereading. There are still dozens of books on my shelves that I have yet to reread, and I look forward to the day where my personal book collection contains only those books that I have read at least twice.

Follow the #MyYearofRereading Project on Instagram for reviews and reading updates: @PolishlandReads

LUSH Aromaco Deodorant Review | #PlasticFreeJuly

LUSH Aromaco Deodorant Review | #PlasticFreeJuly

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Sunday! Today I’m excited to bring you another review of a plastic free beauty product as part of #PlasticFreeJuly. If you would like to learn a bit more about this month-long project, please read THIS blog post. One of my favorite zero waste products is the Aromaco naked deodorant from LUSH. I tried this after having a horrible experience with another natural deodorant, and this is now a staple in my body care routine. Let me tell you a bit more about why I love Aromaco!

I first purchased this deodorant because it is an affordable vegan option that comes without a plastic tube. I was quite hesitant to try it, because Aromaco does contain baking soda, and I had a very bad reaction after using another deodorant with baking soda in the past. Luckily, I think it is far enough down on the ingredients list, because I have not had any irritation at all with this deodorant. In fact, I am very impressed with the formula! It goes onto the skin easily without being sticky, and it doesn’t leave a white-cast on your body or on your clothing. The scent is a bit herbal, but it’s not strong, which I prefer. My only criticism of this product, is that I wish it were a bit stronger. Aromaco is an effective deodorant, but at the end of a hot, sweaty day, my armpits don’t smell as peachy as I would like. Nonetheless, re-applying the product helps take care of any stink, and I find I have to stick my own nose into my armpit to truly smell anything.

Overall, I love the LUSH Aromaco deodorant! One block of it is about $6.95, and it lasts for several months. I’ve already repurchased a second block, and I think this is going to be my go-to deodorant for quite some time! I store mine in a repurposed body scrub jar, and I recommend using any upcycled air-tight container. Can you imagine how much plastic we would prevent from ending up an a landfill just by switching to plastic free deodorant?! I highly recommend giving this one a try!

Have you tried any packaging free deodorants? Share your experience in the comments!

Dr. Bronner’s All-One Hemp Tea Tree Pure Castile Bar Soap Review | #PlasticFreeJuly

Dr. Bronner’s All-One Hemp Tea Tree Pure Castile Bar Soap Review | #PlasticFreeJuly

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Monday! Welcome back to Adventures in Polishland! I am excited to be back on the blog for the first day of an event called Plastic Free July. This month-long challenge is a global movement encouraging people to ditch single use plastics for the entirety of July. This is the first year I am participating in the challenge, and I thought I would celebrate by sharing some reviews of my favorite plastic free products with all of you. My zero waste journey truly began last year, and I’ve slowly continued transitioning over my beauty collection, and the rest of my life, to be more eco-conscious. Today I have a review of one of the first plastic free products I introduced into my routine, and that is the Dr. Bronner’s All-One Hemp Tea Tree Pure Castile Bar Soap.

This post includes affiliate links. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

I purchased this bar soap for the main purpose of cleaning my BeautyBlender. I’ve heard great things about the BeautyBlender BlenderCleanser Solid, but that comes wrapped in plastic and is a bit pricey at about $16.00. Thus, I decided to try the Dr. Bronner’s Pure Castile Bar Soap, which also has excellent reviews. I love that this product is vegan, and that it comes in a 100% post-consumer recycled wrapper that is biodegradable. Plus, it is very affordable at just $4.69 at Ulta. Dr. Bronner’s offers a few different varieties of bar soap, but I purchased the Tea Tree scent since tea tree oil is a natural antiseptic, and I thought that would be a great option for cleaning my BeautyBlender.

I kept this bar soap on my sink in a vintage carnival glass dish that I purchased at an antique store. I found the exact one on Etsy HERE if you would like to match me! I love using a bowl as a soap dish, because it allows the soap to sit an an angle and not get soggy. In fact, this Dr. Bronner’s soap held up really well! It lasted me a few months, and did a great job at cleaning my BeautyBlender. I wash my BeautyBlender before each use, and this soap kept it looking stain-free. In addition, the scent on this soap is very light, and I would describe it as a bit herbal or earthy. However, the scent does not linger once rinsed off, which I personally enjoy. I will say that the formula of this soap can be a bit drying for the hands, but that isn’t a problem when you’re using it as a makeup brush shampoo.

All in all, I’m so glad I finally tried this cult favorite product! The Dr. Bronner’s Pure Castile Bar Soap is a budget-friendly option that is widely available at drugstores and department stores. I have yet to repurchase this product because I’ve been enjoying testing out other bar soaps, but I would definitely grab this again in the future. If you are looking for a vegan and zero waste bar soap that won’t break the bank, I highly recommend it!

What is your favorite plastic free product for cleaning your BeautyBlender or makeup brushes? Let me know in the comments!

You can purchase this product and support my blog by using one of the following affiliate links:

Amazon | Ulta | Walgreens

Why I Returned the Lush Cosmetics No Drought Dry Shampoo | Lush Dry Shampoo Review

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Sunday! Today I am excited to share my thoughts on the Lush Cosmetics No Drought Dry Shampoo. One of my goals this year is to go as zero waste as possible, and that includes my beauty products. When it came time for me to buy a new dry shampoo, I decided to purchase the one from Lush. I wanted a dry shampoo that was not in aerosol form (learn why that is bad for the environment HERE), and also one with ethical packaging. I love that the Lush plastic bottles are made with 100% post-consumer plastic, so I decided to try No Drought. Unfortunately, I made the decision to return this product to the store when it did not work for me.

This post contains an affiliate link. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

The No Drought Dry Shampoo claims to be a formula that absorbs excess oils and adds volume to the hair. I spoke with a sales associate at my local store before purchasing, because I was concerned the white powder wouldn’t blend in well with my light brown hair, and she assured me that wouldn’t be a problem. She also mentioned that this product does a great job at absorbing oils. While I was able to get the dry shampoo to blend in just fine with my hair color, this product was, unfortunately, quite ineffective in my hair. In fact, my hair looked and felt even dirtier and greasier whenever I used this product!

The issue, for me, lies in the fact that this is a texturizing dry shampoo. Over the years I’ve found that dry shampoos fall into one of two camps: dry shampoos that absorb oil and dry shampoos that texturize. I steer clear of texturizing dry shampoos because I have very fine hair. When texture is added, it weighs my hair down, and makes it cling together. I tried a few different techniques with No Drought in an attempt to get it to work for me, but my hair always came out feeling very heavy and greasy. After about a month of use, I made the decision to return this product to the store. I try to never return used beauty products, as I know they cannot be resold to other customers, but I was very let down that I spent $15.95 on a product that was not living up to its claims. I certainly did not achieve the promised matte finish!

In the end, I would only recommend the Lush Cosmetics No Drought Dry Shampoo if you enjoy using texturizing hair products. For instance, if you have thick hair, this may work better for you than it did for me. That being said, I will still continue to purchase other products from Lush, especially those that come packaging free. As for dry shampoo, I am now testing the one from Verb sold at Ulta (shop HERE).

Have you tried a non-aerosol dry shampoo? Let me know in the comments!

Schmidt’s Bergamot + Lime Natural Deodorant Review | The Best and Worst Natural Deodorant I’ve Tried

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Thursday! Today I have a review of the Schmidt’s Bergamot + Lime Natural Deodorant to share with you. I’ve been on the hunt for a deodorant that is natural, vegan, and effective for about two years now. While I’ve found some options that are just okay, I was very excited to give Schmidt’s a try after spotting it at my local Target store. I know this brand is a favorite of many, including beauty influencer Ingrid Nilsen. Unfortunately, after using up my first stick of Schmidt’s, I know it is going to be my last. Let me tell you why this is both the best and worst natural deodorant I’ve tried thus far.

This post includes an affiliate link. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

As mentioned, I purchased a stick of Schmidt’s from my local Target. I love that this vegan deodorant is easily accessible, and available at the affordable price of around $5.00. I grabbed the Bergamot + Lime scent, as the only other option available in-store was Lavender, and I’m not a fan of florals. While I never really enjoyed the strong citrusy scent of Bergamot + Lime, it was something I was willing to ignore if the deodorant worked well for me.

I began using this deodorant according to the instructions on the packaging, and, at first, I was absolutely in love. This is the first natural deodorant I’ve tried that actually kept me smelling fresh and clean all day long. In fact, when I got changed at night before bed, I was amazed to discover that my armpits did not have any bad smell at all! This is definitely a departure from other vegan and natural deodorants I’ve tried thus far that did not have a long-lasting effect. I was so excited that this deodorant prevented odor all day long, and I thought I had discovered my new Holy Grail deodorant!

Unfortunately, after I had used this deodorant for around two months I developed a rash in my armpits. At first it was quite mild, and only on one side, but then it became more painful and irritated under both arms. I decided to take a break from the deodorant, and the rash cleared up. Whenever I attempted to go back to the deodorant, the rash would reappear.

After a quick Google search, I discovered that many other people have also reported getting a rash when using Schmidt’s deodorants. In fact, the company acknowledges this “sensitivity” on its website HERE claiming it is “underarm detox.” For me, this is a huge red flag that I wish I noticed before purchasing this product. Not only have I used natural deodorants for about 18 months now, but there is also evidence that the term “detox” is improperly used in marketing in order to encourage consumers to purchase products. Thus, even if “underarm detox” is scientifically based, I should not be experiencing any such detox after using natural deodorants for an extended period of time.

At the end of the day, I am very disappointed that I cannot recommend the Schmidt’s Bergamot + Lime Natural Deodorant. It truly is the best and worst natural deodorant I’ve tried! If I did not get a rash when using this product, I would jump at repurchasing it again. However, I am now using a package-free deodorant from Lush that is better for the environment and my armpits.

What is your favorite natural deodorant? Let me know in the comments!

I Tried 8 Vegan Mascaras So You Don’t Have To | Vegan Mascara Mini Reviews

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Wednesday! Since going vegan in the summer of 2016, I’ve been on the hunt for my new Holy Grail mascara. While it’s been quite easy to find a vegan substitute for the majority of my makeup products, finding a vegan mascara has been a bit more challenging. Today I am going to share mini reviews of the eight different mascaras I’ve tried in the past couple of years. These mascaras range widely in both price and quality, and I will share my thoughts on them in the chronological order in which I tested them. Let’s go on a journey through all of the vegan mascaras I’ve tried!

This post contains affiliate links. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Wet ‘n Wild MegaVolume Mascara – $2.99 [BUY]

The first vegan mascara I tried is the Wet ‘n Wild MegaVolume. I decided to start out with a very affordable option, as I always hope to find a product that is extremely budget friendly. I posted a full review of this mascara on my blog HERE. Overall, I thought this mascara was okay, but it didn’t provide me with too much volume or length. If you are looking for a natural-looking mascara that will give you just a little definition, the MegaVolume is a good option.

e.l.f. Cosmetics Volumizing & Defining Mascara – $2.90 [BUY]

I then decided to try another drugstore brand to see how that mascara would compare. I bought the e.l.f. Cosmetics Volumizing & Defining Mascara because I really enjoy this type of plastic wand as opposed to natural bristle wands. Unfortunately, this mascara was a huge disappointment! As I outlined in THIS blog post, the formula was extremely thick and heavy. Worst of all, it gave me the dreaded uni-lash, meaning all of my lashes stuck together in one clump. This was strike one for e.l.f., a brand I usually love!

Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes Mascara – $23.00 [BUY]

After two frustrating rounds with drugstore mascaras, I tried my hand at a high end option from Tarte. I am happy to report that I really enjoyed the Lights, Camera, Lashes Mascara. It provided me with longer and fuller lashes, and was definitely the best option I tried thus far. However, I prefer a drier mascara formula, and this one is a bit on the wet side. That being said, I do recommend this mascara, and I can see myself going back to it at some point in the future. I don’t like spending a lot on high end mascaras, but this one is worth it if you like a wetter formula.

Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara – $23.00 [BUY]

I next decided to try a cult favorite mascara in the beauty community – the Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara. Unfortunately, this mascara did not work out for me at all! I found the formula to be extremely heavy, and it made a huge mess every time I tried to apply it. I think the natural bristle brush combined with the wet formula was just a big no for my lashes. Despite so many people loving this mascara, I would not recommend it! It was back to drugstore formulas (and prices!) at this point.

e.l.f. Cosmetics 3-in-1 Mascara – $3.00 [BUY]

I decided to give e.l.f. a second chance, and purchased the 3-in-1 Mascara. Again, I went with a plastic mascara wand, and chose a formula advertised to define, lengthen, and volumize. This time, it wasn’t the mascara formula that went wrong – it was the packaging! The opening of the mascara was so narrow that the brush could barely fit through it. That meant that almost zero product made it onto the wand and onto my lashes. I consistently felt like I was putting absolutely nothing on my lashes with this mascara. I do want to mention that this product has since been reformulated, but I have no desire to try it again. We’ll call this strike two for e.l.f.

e.l.f. Cosmetics Volume Plumping Mascara – $3.00 [BUY]

I gave e.l.f. its third and final chance with the Volume Pluming Mascara. I grabbed this at Target, hoping that the promised “New Formula” would be good. Well, this was strike three for e.l.f. mascaras for me. Once again, the formula did almost nothing for my lashes. Remember how I said the Wet ‘n Wild MegaVolume looked very natural? This Volume Plumping Mascara did even less than that. I’ve now come to the conclusion that e.l.f. mascaras are not for me. I absolutely love e.l.f. Cosmetics as a brand, but I do not plan on ever trying another mascara from the company.

Wet ‘n Wild MegaLength Mascara – $2.99 [BUY]

At this point in the game, I did some thinking. I wanted to stick with a drugstore mascara to save money, but I also needed to stay away from e.l.f. I decided to go back to Wet ‘n Wild and try a different mascara formula. This time I got the MegaLength, and I was pleasantly surprised! This is by far the best vegan mascara I’ve tested, and it’s only $2.99 regular price! I like this mascara because it does a great job at lengthening my lashes. It doesn’t provide much volume, but I would rather have long lashes than clumpy ones. While still not a Holy Grail product for me, this is a mascara I’ve repurchased a few times already.

Tarte Amazonian Clay Gifted Mascara – $23.00 [BUY]

Last but not least, I got a mini size of the Tarte Gifted Mascara as a point perk  from Sephora. I really liked this mascara, too. It can be a bit messy, but I like how my lashes looked really full and long after application. That being said, I wouldn’t buy this mascara at the full price. If it went on sale, I would consider getting this again, and I do recommend it if you’re looking for a weightless yet effective mascara.

Final Thoughts: I’ve learned a few important things during these past 18 months of testing vegan mascaras. First, e.l.f. Cosmetics mascaras are to be avoided (at least, for me). Second, spending a lot of money on a mascara isn’t worth it for me. I like to change out my mascaras every three to four months, so keeping the cost down is important. In the same way, more money doesn’t necessarily mean a better formula. In the end, I’m going to continue testing out vegan drugstore mascaras to see if I can find my new Holy Grail. Until then, I highly recommend the Wet ‘n Wild MegaLength!

What’s your favorite vegan mascara? Let me know in the comments!

How to Eat Vegan at a Hotel Continental Breakfast Buffet | #WhatVegansEat

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Thursday! Today I am excited to share with you how I recently ate vegan while traveling. Many hotels offer a complimentary continental breakfast with your stay, and I definitely want to take advantage of that perk to save money on the go. While at first the breakfast buffet might seem intimidating, there are bound to be at least a few options for those of us with a vegan lifestyle. This post will share with you all of the vegan options I found at the Fairfield Inn & Suites during a recent stay.

I am not affiliated with the Fairfield Inn & Suites. Ebates referral link used. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

The Fairfield Inn & Suites is a business hotel with limited amenities. In fact, the location where I stayed was very simple. There is no restaurant, bar, pool, gift shop, or anything that you might see at a hotel aimed at tourists. I appreciated that the hotel is very clean and simple, and equips the rooms with things like free WiFi and a microwave and mini fridge. If you like efficiency, the Fairfield Inn & Suites is a great place to stay. Of course, I also appreciate that a continental breakfast buffet is included! I was very happy to see a handful of vegan options that allowed me to easily fill up before heading out the door.

Let’s begin with my favorite vegan option available – the oatmeal bar! I double checked with hotel staff that the oatmeal was prepared with water, and not a dairy product like milk. I was also super excited for all of the vegan toppings available. The toppings included are dates, apricots, walnuts, almonds, raisins, and brown sugar. There is even a bottle of agave next to the oatmeal bar (no honey here!). If you stay away from sugar that may have been filtered with bone char (more info on that HERE), avoid the brown sugar. Everything else in the oatmeal bar is vegan, though! I even added some maple syrup from the waffle area to my oatmeal for added flavor.

The buffet also includes a section with fresh fruit. There are bananas and apples available daily. The two domed cases held different fruit depending on the day. This day there was cantaloupe and grapes, but I also saw pineapple and mixed fruit during my stay. Whether I wanted to add some fresh fruit to my breakfast, or grab an apple for later, I was glad that fruit was always available for me.

The Fairfield Inn & Suites also offers a variety of breads and bagels for toasting. Bagels are almost always vegan, especially plain bagels. If you want to double check the bread’s ingredients before eating them, ask the staff at your hotel. During my stay, there was always a staff member available during breakfast who was more than happy to answer any questions I had. I absolutely love bagels, so I did enjoy a couple during my stay. Toppings for toast included peanut butter and fruit spreads.

Last but not least, I wanted to quickly mention the cereal bar. While the cereals can rotate depending on the day, the varieties available during my stay were Frosted Flakes, Kellogg’s Granola, and Raisin Bran. All of these cereal varieties do contain micro-ingredients that are not vegan. That being said, I like to follow PETA’s suggestion and not worry about these micro-ingredients, especially in situations like this one where this cereal might be your only food option. You can learn more about PETA’s stance on the organization’s website HERE. Of course, you have to do what you feel comfortable with, and I decided not to eat these cereals because there were other vegan options available to me at this particular hotel. I would love to see this hotel offer some dairy-free milk options, too!

In the end, I hope this blog post helped you to discover that vegan options can easily be found at a hotel continental breakfast buffet! As I mentioned at the beginning of this post, the hotel I stayed at is very basic, so there is a good chance that a larger hotel would have even more vegan options! While I am in no way affiliated with Fairfield Inn & Suites, I do recommend this hotel chain. I’ve had a great experience during each stay, and I love that my breakfast is included. Make sure you book your trip through Ebates HERE to earn cash back on your stay.

What vegan options have you found at a hotel breakfast buffet?

Let me know in the comments!

Follow me on Instagram HERE for daily vegan lifestyle posts.

 

 

All the Vegan Options During the Ulta Beauty Spring Haul Event | April 2018 Sale Event

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Tuesday! Today I am excited to share with you all of the vegan options during the Ulta Beauty Spring Haul Event. This event is taking place now through April 21, 2018. The event is split up into two weeks, with different promotions occurring each week. I apologize for not having this post up sooner, but there is still time to take advantage of all the current deals. As always, I hope this post is helpful in making your shopping experience at Ulta easier. Finding fabulous and affordable vegan beauty products is not as complicated as one may think!

This post includes affiliate links. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

You can find complete information about the Ulta Spring Haul event on the retailer’s website HERE.

Week 1 Deals – April 8 – 14, 2018:

  • Ulta Beauty Collection Implements – $1.25-$8.00 [BUY]
  • Eyelure and Ardell False Lashes – $3.59-$8.39 [BUY]
  • Makeup Revolution Select Eyeshadow Palettes (Vegan Option: Fortune Favors the Brave Ultra 30 Eyeshadow Palette) – $9.00 [BUY]
  • Bh Cosmetics Carli Bybel Deluxe Edition 21 Color Eyeshadow & Highlighter Palette – $16.88 [BUY]
  • Not Your Mother’s Clean Freak Line – $2.99 [BUY]
  • Pacifica Skincare Mists – $5.00-$6.00 [BUY]
  • Hempz Haircare (Vegan Options: Vanilla Plum Herbal Moisturizing & Strengthening Shampoo and Conditioner, Original Herbal Shampoo for Damaged & Color Treated Hair, Herbal Dry Shampoo & Style Extender, Triple Moisture Rich Daily Herbal Replenishing Shampoo and Conditioner & Hair Mask,  Pomegranate Daily Herbal Moisturizing Shampoo and Conditioner, Herbal Workable Hairspray, and Pure Hemp Ultra-Hydrating Healthy Herbal Hair Mask & Deep Conditioner) – $5.00-$13.50 [BUY]

Week 2 – April 15 – 21, 2018:

  • Yes To Towelettes – $1.50-$4.25 [BUY]
  • Real Techniques Sponges and Kits – $3.59-$11.99 [BUY]
  • EcoTools Sponges and Kits – $2.99-$8.99 [BUY]
  • Physicians Formula Butter Bronzer, Highlighter, and Blush (Vegan Options: All Butter Bronzer shades are vegan. All Butter Highlighter shades are vegan except for Pink. I cannot confirm if any Butter Blush shades are vegan) – $6.59-$8.99 [BUY]
  • Models Own Eyeshadow Palettes (Vegan Options: Barely There, Rockstar, Vintage Rose, Wonderland, Supernatural, and Colour Chrome) – $7.50 [BUY]
  • Wet ‘n Wild Photo Focus Foundation – $3.59 [BUY]
  • Winky Lux Glimmer Balms – $7.00-$8.00 [BUY]

*Please Note: I have done my best to provide an accurate and complete list of all the vegan products available during the sale. If I could not confirm that a product is vegan, I did not put it on this list. If you have any questions or further information, kindly leave me a comment.

Will you be purchasing any products from the Spring Haul Sale? Let me know in the comments!

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