Tag: vegan

Nature’s Gate Aloe Vera Body Wash Review

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Monday! Today I have a review for the Nature’s Gate Body Wash in the Aloe Vera scent. I purchased this product from the online store Vitacost, which I love for finding a wide variety of vegan products. I had never tried any products from Nature’s Gate before, but I liked that I got a big, 18oz bottle of body wash for around $5.00. Let me share with you more about this product, and my experience using it.

The Nature’s Gate Body Wash comes in a large pump bottle. In addition to being vegan, the product is also made with wholistic beauty in mind. I decided to purchase the Aloe Vera scent, as I figured it wouldn’t be a heavy fragrance. I really like that Nature’s Gate does not add any synthetic fragrances to its products. I also hoped that the Aloe Vera variety would be on the moisturizing side, since the plant is naturally hydrating.

Overall, this is a nice body wash. I use about 2-3 pumps on a loofa and it produces a lot of lather. The scent of this product reminds me of the Flintstones vitamins I used to take as a child! While that is a bit odd, it definitely does not bother me. The scent also does not linger on the skin once you get out of the shower.

My biggest surprise with this body wash is that it is quite drying. I expected it to be more hydrating than other body washes I’ve tried since it is made with aloe vera, but my skin is quite dried out when I get out of the shower. I make sure to apply a body lotion after washing to combat the dryness. Thus, while I will use this whole bottle of body wash, I do not see myself repurchasing it. I love that it is affordable and convenient to use with the pump dispenser, but I will be trying something more hydrating in the future.

What is your favorite body wash? Let me know in the comments!

Save $10 on your first Vitacost purchase when you use my referral link HERE.

 

Vegan Recipes I’ve Tried and Loved | Fall Dinner Ideas

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Food Friday! Today I am excited to continue on with my series where I share with you vegan recipes I’ve tried and loved. It can be really time consuming to search for the perfect recipe online. In fact, I comb through dozens of recipes before I find one that I hope will work for me! Today I’m saving you some time and sharing four fall dinner recipes I highly recommend. Each of these recipes is simple to make, but absolutely delicious. I still consider myself to be a beginner cook, so if I find these recipes manageable, there is a very good change you will, too. Let me share these vegan recipes that are perfect for fall with you!

Easy, Healthy Vegetarian Lentil Soup Recipe [LINK]

I haven’t always been a big fan on lentils, but I definitely want to find new ways to enjoy them since they are an amazing source of plant-based protein and other vitamins and minerals. I began with this super easy soup from The Spruce. If you are new to making soup, this is a great place to start. There are less than ten ingredients, and the recipe is easy to customize as well. I found this lentil soup to be very tasty!

 

Curried Potato & Lentil Soup (1-Pot!) Recipe [LINK]

I then kicked my lentil game up a notch by trying this amazing soup from Minimalist Baker. This curry-flavored soup is still quite simple to make, but it is so flavorful and packed with amazing fall foods. I left out the ginger and coconut sugar, and used sweet potatoes and green kale. I cannot stress how delicious this soup is! I highly recommend trying this if you are looking for a unique soup that is a bit on the spicier side.

Easy Chickpea Curry Recipe [LINK]

Another curry dish that I’m loving lately is from the website Say Yes. My sister-in-law shared this recipe with me, and it is an easy dinner to whip together in a short amount of time. As per my sister-in-law’s suggestion, I add about one cup of coconut milk to the curry recipe. I did use dried ginger the first time I made this, but I’m going to skip that step in the future. I’m not a huge fan of ginger, and this dish can easily go without it and still be very flavorful. I served the curry over Indian style rice (my favorite is Kasmati from RiceSelect). I really love this dinner, and it also heats up really well for leftovers. Throw in some different veggies each night to keep it interesting!

Spaghetti Squash with Creamy Pumpkin Sauce Recipe [LINK]

Last but not least is this amazing spaghetti squash dish from the blog Lean Green Nutrition Fiend. I love anything pumpkin based in the fall, and this was a fun new way to eat it! I would describe this dish as a plant-based macaroni and cheese. I, of course, made the recipe using Nutritional Yeast instead of cow’s cheese, and I left out the red pepper flakes. This isn’t a recipe I would make all the time since it has a very distinctive flavor, but I will definitely be making it again at some point. If you’re looking for a festive autumn dish, this is perfect!

That wraps up my four vegan dinner recommendations for the fall season. I hope you discovered a new yummy meal to make! I will have another blog post very soon featuring all of the sweet treats I’ve tried lately, so make sure to follow my blog to see when that goes live. As always, if you try one of these recipes, please tag me on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter so I can see your creation!

What is your favorite fall food? Let me know in the comments!

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

The Body Shop Camomile Waterproof Eye and Lip Makeup Remover Review

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Wednesday! Today I’m excited to share a review of The Body Shop Camomile Waterproof Eye and Lip Makeup Remover with you. I purchased this product a few months ago when I was having a difficult time removing my mascara (see my full haul HERE). Since I’ve decided not to purchase makeup remover wipes for a while, a dedicated eye makeup remover was definitely needed. The Body Shop offers many vegan products, so it is one of my favorite places to buy skincare products at an affordable price. Let me share a bit more about this product with you, and let you know my experience with it.

The Camomile Waterproof Eye and Lip Makeup Remover is formulated to remove all traces of makeup quickly and gently. This product is fragrance free and suitable for sensitive skin, which I really love. To use, shake the product thoroughly and apply to a cotton round. I use this regularly for removing eye makeup, but haven’t tested it much for removing lip products. Thus, my experience is based on eye makeup only.

Overall, I think this is a good eye makeup remover. I really appreciate that it is gentle and fragrance free. However, I do find that it doesn’t take off all of my mascara. Whenever I use this product, I can still see traces of mascara on my lashes. I do try to get it all off by gently massaging the cotton round on my lashes, but I avoid rubbing the eye area too vigorously. Nonetheless, I’m able to get off the majority of mascara with this product, and I also sweep the cotton round through my eyebrows quickly to dissolve my brow gel.

In the end, I do recommend The Body Shop Camomile Waterproof Eye and Lip Makeup Remover if you have sensitive skin. It does a good job at removing the majority of my eye makeup, but it does not remove all traces of mascara. I would consider repurchasing this in the future, but I hope to try at least one other eye makeup remover to see how it compares. This product retails for $18.00 at The Body Shop, but make sure to shop during one of the store’s many coupon events for big savings. You can also buy this product at Ulta HERE for $15.00.

What is your favorite eye makeup remover? Let me know in the comments!

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

Busy Beauty Showerless Shave Gel Review

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Monday! Today I have a review of the Busy Beauty Showerless Shave Gel. The brand sent me this product to try, and I was so excited to receive it! I love the idea of a product that lets you shave without using any water. Not only does it make shaving more convenient, but it is better for the environment as well. Let me tell you more about the Showerless Shave Gel, and share my experience using this product with all of you.

The Busy Beauty Showerless Shave Gel is a shave gel and moisturizer in one. To use, simply spread the gel over the area you would live to shave, and shave as usual. Once you are done shaving, smooth the excess gel into the skin as you would any other lotion. I love that the shave gel is vegan, and it is great that the packaging is designed with travel in mind. The full size is 3.4 oz, and is thus TSA approved for your 3-1-1 bag! Busy Beauty also states that this product is safe for sensitive skin.

The Showerless Shave Gel is a clear gel that applies easily. I love that I cannot detect any added fragrance in this product. As for the shaving experience, the razor glided smoothly over the gel, and I didn’t have any issues with bumps, nicks, or burn. I was also pleasantly surprised with how nicely the gel dries down as a moisturizer – it isn’t at all sticky!

I am, however, extremely disappointed that water is needed even when shaving with this Showerless Shave Gel. As you can see on the product’s packaging, “No Water Needed,” is a big claim made by Busy Beauty. Unfortunately, my razor got clogged with shave gel and hair quite quickly, and in order to get it out I needed to rinse it in water. Depending on how much you are shaving, you will need to rinse your razor a few times during the shaving process. Thus, while no water is needed for the shaving, it is needed in the overall process.

Overall, I am happy with the Busy Beauty Showerless Shave Gel even though I am disappointed that some water is needed. I think this is the ideal product for touch-ups, or those moments when you really want to shave, but don’t have time to shower. I still shave in the shower on a regular basis, but will definitely use this product on occasion, especially when traveling. You can learn more about Busy Beauty on the brand’s website HERE. The Showerless Shave Gel retails for $14.99, but is on sale for $11.24 on Amazon HERE as I write this post.

I want to hear from you in the comments – do you shave in the shower or outside of it?!

Let me know what you think of this Showerless Shave Gel!

The product in this post was provided for my unbiased review. This post includes an Amazon affiliate link. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information. 

So Delicious Dairy Free Coconut Milk Yogurt Alternative Review | Strawberry

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Food Friday! Today I have a review of a vegan yogurt from the brand So Delicious. I will be honest with you – I have never liked eating yogurt, but I wanted to give the vegan variety a try to see if it tastes different. I had a coupon for So Delicious, and I decided to grab the Coconut Milk Yogurt Alternative in the flavor Strawberry to try. Let me share my thoughts on this product with all of you!

The So Delicious yogurt is coconut milk based. I was quite surprised to find that this container has less than one gram of protein, but 15 grams of sugar. That’s quite disappointing! I know many people enjoy eating traditional yogurt for breakfast because it is high in protein, but this one does not pack the same about of nutrients at all. I am glad to see that the yogurt does have 20% each of calcium, vitamin D, and vitamin B12.

I picked up the strawberry flavor of yogurt. As soon as I opened the package I smelled that distinctive yogurt smell. Keeping in mind that I did not eat much yogurt as a non-vegan, I find this So Delicious Yogurt Alternative to taste exactly like traditional yogurt. The strawberry flavor is nice, and the consistency is the same as non-vegan yogurt. Unfortunately, that means I personally do not like this product, but I am glad that vegans who do love yogurt will not have to miss out on a favorite food!

Overall, I’m quite impressed that the So Delicious Dairy Free Coconut Milk Yogurt Alternative tastes just like traditional yogurt. I do wish it contained much more protein and a bit less sugar, but if you are a yogurt lover who wants to go vegan, this is a great option for you! You can learn more about this product on the So Delicious website HERE. I’m glad I tried out this product even though I ended up not liking it much. It’s always fun seeing how a vegan alternative compares to the traditional option!

Have you tried a vegan yogurt? Let me know in the comments!

 

Zoya Summer 2017 Lipsticks | Wanderlust Collection

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Monday! Today I am excited to share with you swatches and my review of the Zoya Lipsticks for summer 2017. Zoya released three lipstick shades to go along with the Wanderlust Collection, which celebrates summer adventures. If you would like to see my swatches of all twelve nail polishes in this line, visit THIS blog post. The three lipsticks are all in shades of pink, but the formulas are all different so there is most likely an option for you! Let me show you the vegan lipsticks from Zoya for summer 2017!

First up is Kitty, a shimmering pink lipstick with a frost formula. When I first saw Kitty, I was a bit disappointed, because I really do not like lipsticks with shimmer. I was completely surprised when I applied this shade and found that it looks great! Not only does Kitty’s pink shade look great with my skin tone, but the metallic effect doesn’t show up much on the lips. I’m really excited to add Kitty to my lipstick collection!

Next up is Kirby, a bright watermelon pink lipstick with a cream formula. Zoya describes Kirby as sheer, but I find it to be quite pigmented. This lipstick is brighter than I would choose to wear, but the formula is really nice, so if you like bold lipsticks Kirby is for you. It is so much fun for spring and summer!

Last but not least is Kay, a reddish pink lipstick with a sheer cream formula. Kay’s swatch looks quite bright, but when the lipstick is applied to the lips is balances out to a more wearable shade for me. I like that the sheer formula is a bit on the glossy side, which makes the lips look really hydrated. Of course, Zoya lipsticks have a very comfortable feel and wear nicely.

All in all, I think the three lipsticks Zoya released for the summer 2017 include a nice variety of pink shades. If you are looking for a fun shade for the warm weather, there is a Wanderlust Collection lipstick for you! Each Zoya lipstick retails for $12, and can be purchased on the brand’s website HERE. Be sure to let me know in the comments which Wanderlust lipstick is your favorite!

The products in this post were provided for my unbiased review. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Zoya Nail Polish Wanderlust Collection for Summer 2017

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Monday! Today I’m excited to share with you the Wanderlust Collection from Zoya Nail Polish. This nail polish line celebrates summer adventures with twelve new shades, including four shimmers and eight creams. Whether you like bright pinks or earthy greens, the Wanderlust Collection has a polish for you. Let me share with you swatches and my full review of this vegan nail polish line!

All of the swatches in this post are photographed in natural sunlight. I am wearing two coats of nail polish in each swatch, and no top coat.

First up is Sonja, a bright red with a cream formula. Sonja applies well and dries to a high-gloss finish without the need for a top coat. I like that the red shade leans towards pink, as I feel it compliments my fair skin tone well. If you’re not a fan of the traditional red manicure, this brighter option is a lot of fun!

Next is Byrdie, a fuchsia nail polish with a cream formula. This polish also applies evenly, and I really like the purple undertones in this shade. Byrdie is a great nail polish to transition you from summer to fall since the pink is a bit deep in tone.

If you are looking for more of a true pink, try Esty. While Esty is not a big change from Byrdie, it doesn’t have the same purple undertones. Zoya describes Esty as a bubblegum pink, and I definitely agree! I’m getting Barbie vibes from this polish!

The last pink polish in the Wanderlust Collection with a cream formula is Winnie. I am obsessing over this bright, watermelon shade! Winnie is one of my favorite polishes in the collection. I think the bright pink is a ton of fun, and would make a great pedicure shade as well. Plus, I think this polish will look beautiful with any skin tone.

Next up is Cora, the first of two orange creams in the collection. Zoya describes Cora as a muted coral, but on me it appears as a bright orange. This polish is so summery, and I can see it being used in a lot of nail art looks as well as on its own. If you are a fan of orange nails, Cora is a must have for you!

The other orange shade is Sawyer, a pastel orange cream. I’m a huge fan of Sawyer, as I think it makes orange extremely easy to wear even if you’re not a fan of bright colors. This polish reminds me of one of my all-time favorite Zoya polishes in Cole, but Sawyer is a bit more pigmented. If you’ve never worn an orange polish before, Sawyer is a great place to start!

The Wanderlust Collection contains four shimmer polishes, and I am beyond impressed with their formulas. First up is River, a cobalt blue shade. As with all of the shimmers in this line, River has a great formula that applies smoothly and evenly, and is opaque in two coats. I don’t typically go for metallic nail polishes, but River is so stunning that I can see myself wearing this again!

My favorite shimmer is Mandy, a bright berry pink. I absolutely love how multi-dimensional these polishes look on the nails. They are perfect for summer because they really come alive in the sunlight! Mandy’s fun shade is great for the fall months, too.

I’m also loving Journey, which is a red shimmer polish. Journey shifts towards gold in the sunlight, and the result is gorgeous. I love watching this polish go from pink to red to gold. Journey is quite a unique nail polish, and I’m excited to add it to my collection!

The last shimmer polish is Scout, a moss green shade. Scout is my least favorite polish in the collection, simply because the color is not for me. It still has a great formula, but I do not see myself wearing this polish on its own. I think the shade just clashes with my skin tone!

That being said, I really love Arbor, an olive green cream polish. Arbor has a rich pigmentation that is absolutely perfect for fall. I can see it matching with camouflage jackets and jeans as the weather gets cooler. Arbor is a great addition to the Wanderlust Collection, as it rounds out the summer perfectly.

Last but not least is Lois, a medium purple cream. Zoya describes Lois as a magenta violet, and I can see the pink undertones softening this shade. I think Lois is another nail polish that transitions well from summer to fall, and will look great with any skin tone.

All in all, I’m loving the Wanderlust Collection from Zoya Nail Polish! I’m quite impressed with the wide range of shades and formulas in this line. My favorite polishes are Winne and Mandy, but they all have excellent formulas. You can purchase the Wanderlust Collection on Zoya’s website HERE. Polishes are $10 each, but make sure to keep an eye on Zoya’s social media for sales and coupons.

What is your favorite nail polish in the Wanderlust Collection? Let me know in the comments!

The products in this post were provided for my unbiased review. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Vegan Recipes I’ve Tried and Loved | Summer 2017

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Food Friday! This past year I’ve spent a lot of time finding easy and delicious vegan recipes online. It can take a lot of searching to get that perfect recipe, so I thought I would save you some time and share some of my favorite recipes with you! If you are looking for some simple vegan recipes that anyone will love, this is the post for you. Let me share with you the delicious recipes I’ve tried and loved this summer.

Super Easy Vegetarian Chili Recipe [LINK]

I was never a big chili fan growing up because I’ve always disliked ground beef. Now that I love beans, though, chili seemed like the perfect dish for me! This recipe from The Spruce is really easy and beyond delicious. I do not put in any of the ingredients listed as optional, but otherwise I stay true to the recipe. Plus, this chili freezes really well! I made a double batch and froze half of it so that I could have meals ready to go on busy days.

 

No-Fuss Vegan Cornbread [LINK]

Of course, I had to make cornbread to go with my chili! This recipe from Food52 stays true to its name – it really is no-fuss. I follow the recipe exactly and it comes out really well each time. This cornbread also freezes well, so if you are cooking for 1-2 people just save some of this for later! I’ve always loved cornbread, and this one is absolutely delicious.

Healthy 5-Ingredient Granola Bars [LINK]

Next I tried a breakfast food, and that is granola bars from Minimalist Baker. I’ve never made granola bars before, and this recipe made it really simple. I followed the recipe exactly, but also added in about 1/3 cup of peanuts that I had on hand. My bars came out great, but I used a 9×9 pan instead of an 8×8, so they did fall apart easily in some spots. Nonetheless, they are beyond yummy, and I love pairing a bar with fresh fruit for breakfast.

One Pot Vegan Fettuccine Alfredo [LINK]

Last but not least is my favorite of the bunch, an absolutely amazing Vegan Fettuccine Alfredo from Neurotic Mommy. I found this recipe on Pinterest, and knew right away I needed to try it. I cannot stress to you how delicious this pasta dish is! I’ve already made it twice, and I know it will be a part of my regular dinner rotation. The one change I make to the recipe is that I keep the stove on medium-high as opposed to medium-low when cooking the pasta. Otherwise, the pasta does not absorb the sauce. That being said, if you are craving some creamy pasta, you need to try this now!

That wraps up the new-to-me vegan recipes I’m loving at the moment. I hope you found this post helpful, and that you will give some of these recipes a try. I plan on sharing my favorite recipes with you every season so you can know what I’m loving at the moment. You can also follow me on Instagram HERE to see more of the food I eat on a regular basis!

Have you tried an amazing recipe lately? Please share it in the comments!

Dare to Compare | Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush Royal vs. Insightful

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Wednesday! Today I’m excited to share with you a comparison post between two Tarte blushes. Tarte has quickly become one of my favorite makeup brands. While the products are a bit more expensive than I would normally like, the quality is amazing and I appreciate that Tarte offers many vegan products. I recently purchased the No Shower Happy Hour kit at Sephora, and one of the items it came with is an Amazonian Clay 12-hour Blush in the shade Insightful. I realized this blush looks very similar to Royal, another Tarte blush that I already owned. I wanted to share these blushes side-by-side so you can decide if Insightful is a must-have in your collection.

The Amazonian Clay 12-hour Blush in Royal was released in the limited edition Sculpted Cheeks set for the 2016 holiday season and is no longer available for purchase. Similarly, Insightful is only available in the No Shower Happy Hour kit. I thought this post would be helpful for those of you who own the Sculpted Cheeks set and may be interested in purchasing the No Shower Happy Hour kit.

When I added Insightful to my beauty stash, I noticed the packaging color was exactly the same as Royal’s. I took a closer look at the blushes next to one another, and while I thought I could see a slight difference, I knew the shades were quite close.

Here are swatches of Royal and Insightful side-by-side. While it is clear they are not exact duplicates of one another, the shades are quite close. Royal is described by Tarte as a Nude Mauve, and Insightful is described as Peachy Pink. I definitely agree that Royal feels like more of a brown shade, while I can see orange undertones in Insightful. That being said, if you do own Royal, I don’t think it’s necessary to buy Insightful. However, if you are wanting to get the No Shower Happy Hour kit to try the other products, it is worth it for the value of the other items included. Plus, both of these blushes are amazing quality. I love how smoothly they apply to the cheeks.

All in all, I hope you found this comparison post helpful if you were interested in purchasing the No Shower Happy Hour kit. I think it is an amazing value for the money, and am so glad I didn’t get a duplicate blush shade. Make sure you buy this limited edition kit HERE before it is discontinued!

What is your favorite Tarte product? Let me know in the comments!

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

The Body Shop Haul | Trying New-to-Me Skincare Products

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Monday! Today I’m excited to share with you my most recent haul from The Body Shop. I keep a running list of all the beauty products I want to buy so that when I see a sale going on, I can grab everything at a discount. There is always some sort of promotion happening at The Body Shop, but I recently saw a 40% off flash sale on the website, so I picked up everything on my shopping list! Everything I purchased this time around is new-to-me and vegan. As I show you what I got, please let me know in the comments if you would like a full review once I’ve tested the product.

Tea Tree Flawless BB Cream [BUY]

I recently used up the only CC cream in my beauty stash, so I really wanted to get a replacement for it. I love wearing a light base in the summer months, and the Tea Tree Flawless BB Cream sounds perfect for my skin type. This BB Cream is designed to provide lightweight and non-sticky coverage, all while drying to a matte finish. My skin gets very oily throughout the day, so I’m really glad this product is designed to stay matte. I got the shade Light, and I think it will be a great match for me.

Camomile Waterproof Eye & Lip Makeup Remover [BUY]

I also really needed a makeup remover, as I’ve had a difficult time removing my mascara lately. The Camomile Waterproof Eye & Lip Makeup Remover should do the trick! I love that it is unscented and suitable for sensitive skin. Plus, it was carefully packaged in a plastic bag during shipping so it wouldn’t spill. I hope this makeup remover will get that mascara off with ease!

Tea Tree Skin Clearing Clay Mask [BUY]

The next product is one I also really wanted to buy, and that is the Tea Tree Skin Clearing Clay Mask. With the summer heat and humidity, my pores definitely get clogged more easily than in the winter. I wanted a skin treatment that would help to clean out my skin without drying it, and this product seems like it will do just that. The mask itself is bright green, so this will be a lot of fun to use!

Seaweed Deep Cleansing Gel Wash [BUY]

Since the sale promotion was so good, I decided to pick up a face cleanser as well. The cleanser I keep in the shower is almost empty, so I’ll be glad to have this on hand. I like using gel cleanser with my FOREO, so that’s the first reason I went with the Seaweed Deep Cleansing Gel Wash. I also like that this product is soap free and oil free, simply providing a gentle cleanse.

Nutriganics Smoothing Eye Cream [BUY]

Last but not least, I decided to purchase an eye cream. While I’ve tried a handful of eye creams in the past, I’ve never found one that actually works for me. The Nutriganics Smoothing Eye Cream seemed like a good fit for me, since it helps fight the first signs of aging. I’m in my late twenties, so I think this will be a nice addition to my skincare routine. In addition, I love that this does not contain harsh chemicals, so I can use this eye cream both in the morning and evening.

That wraps up this haul from The Body Shop! With the 40% off coupon code, I spent $56.10 total, making each item just over $11.00. I think that is a great price point for vegan skincare products that will last me a long time. I’ve had really great luck with products from The Body Shop in the past, and that is why I continue to shop from this store. Plus, I love shopping online so I can earn cash back with Ebates! You can sign up for Ebates for free with my referral link HERE.

What are your favorite products from The Body Shop? Let me know in the comments!