Update on Cruelty-Free Products

Cruelty-Free Products!

Hey friends! It's been a long time since I have updated you guys on my cruelty-free product journey, so I thought that tonight would be the perfect time! I have been able to switch all of my makeup products to cruelty-free ones but I am still working on switching other products in my life like cleaning products and other everyday use items. So without further ado, here are the products I've been using lately! 

 This is my new exfoliating face wash that I love! I used to use an exfoliant from St. Ives but I like this one a lot more. It smells like eucalyptus spearmint and has a cooling effect. I use it once or twice a week and I also use it to scrub down my legs after I shave. I received this for free in a voxbox from Influenster a while back and I had to repurchase it!

 I got this body wash at TJ Maxx and it has lasted a super long time! It has a really subtle scent but it is nice and makes my body feel nice and moisturized!

 Who knew that loofahs could be not cruelty-free??? Not me! When I discovered this, I started using an ecotools loofah and I love them! They aren't scratchy and they are full and create a good lather.

 I love the Jason brand! (sorry I can't do that little accented "O" from this blog site) This is my favorite cruelty-free shampoo and conditioner brand! I have tried two or three different types of Jason shampoos and conditioners and I loved all of them!

 I recently ran out of my Jason shampoo and I have seen the Love, Beauty, and Planet products at Walmart for the last couple of months and have been intrigued. I have really liked the way it smells and makes my hair feel. The only problem that I have is that it is not sulfate and paraben free.

 This was another TJ Maxx buy. I have fairly sensitive skin and this is a gently foaming face wash, however I think that it's almost too gentle for what I need. I doesn't really have a scent so that is nice, with it being so close to the face.

 I was very excited to find a cruelty-free hand soap at Walmart! I like the lemon and mandarin orange combo for the scent and it is gentle and does not dry my hands out.

 Cruelty-free laundry detergent is another thing that I wouldn't have ever thought about needing, but alas, here it is. The one I got is Magnolia and Lily scented and it lasted me through a whole school year and I still have some left over. Another cool plus about this is that it has fabric softener already in it!

 I recently started using the moisturizer. I hadn't heard of the brand before I started using this and it is kind of pricey. I like the scent and it doesn't take very much to go a long way. However, it stays kind of sticky on my skin, which is not a feeling I'm very fond of.

 This is also a fairly new product for me. I was using a tea tree toner from The Body Shop but I ran out and decided to try this one. I'm not a huge fan of the smell of this, but it does the job and seems to keep my skin fairly acne free.

 I am a big fan of Pacifica products. I convinced my roomie, AA, to try one of their perfumes a few months ago and we both really love the scent. I was at TJ Maxx the other day and came across a three piece set that had a roller ball, a lotion, and a tinted lip balm in it for super cheap. Now, anyone who knows me is probably aware that I really don't like the smell of vanilla in perfumes and candles, however this one in Island Vanilla is tolerable. It lasts a long time but it is not super powerful either.

 This eye shadow primer came as a freebie in an order I made from Essence last Christmas. I have almost run out of it and I need to get a new one because I love it! It really creates an awesome base for my eyeshadow and I never notice creasing in my eye makeup looks.

 This Essence long-lasting eye pencil is a great one for the tightline and waterline. It goes on smooth and doesn't smudge hardly at all, even though it isn't waterproof.

 I love this mascara! I used to only buy mascara that had big, fat wands but I have officially been converted to the long, skinny wand. I don't use the waterproof kind and I am thankful that this mascara comes off really easily in the shower. It creates longer looking lashes and makes them look beautiful and wispy.

 I just recently started using concealer on my undereyes. I get really deep creases in my undereye makeup, and the Wet n Wild Photofocus concealer helps combat that. It also makes my dark circles disappear!

 I think almost everyone knows what Coty powder is, but I can't get enough of it. I love the smell and it is the only powder that I have found that keeps my makeup in place and gives me a nice, matte finish.

 Thank the good lord for Hard Candy Glamoflauge foundation. It is the only drugstore foundation I have found that matches my skintone. I have mentioned before that I struggle with finding the perfect foundation to match my skin but this one in the shade Fair does the trick. It is full coverage and looks amazing on my skin.

 I don't love this blush and if I had a choice I would use my Kat Von D blush forever, but they don't make it any more. The Physician's Formula blush in the shade Natural is a really soft pink so it's good when I wear a really dramatic eye look. However, I have to really dig my brush in to get any product so on a day when I want a more blushed look it just doesn't cut it.

 I am no expert as contouring or using bronzer or anything like that, but I got a free sample of the Mineral Fusion bronzer in Sparkle and it is fantastic! I like a bronzer that is not super orange and this is definitely more of a brown shade.

 I've been using this Wet n Wild highlight for a long time now and I just haven't found one that is better. I have the shade Precious Petals 321B (I believe) and it is a pinky gold color.

 Along with learning how to contour I bought this e.l.f contour brush. It is really dense so I have to be careful how I use it or else it will pull up all of the product that is underneath. So, I usually dab on the bronzer with this and then blend it with a Real Techniques contour brush that is a little more fluffy.

 I used to use the Real Techniques sponge for applying foundation but I decided to try the ecotools one and have been liking it a lot. I don't notice a huge difference between the two, but it seems like the Real Techniques sponge would pick up the product more instead of blending it in.

This is my go-to setting spray. I absolutely love the Milani Make It Last spray when I need a matte finish makeup look that will last all day long. It sets all of my powders down and really perfects the look. 

There you have it! I've got some new products I'm going to be trying soon and if y'all have any suggestions for cruelty-free products I should try leave me a comment! ~Em 

Big Things Are Happening!

So Many New Things!

Well friends, I haven't written a post since my last reading wrap-up but that's because I've been heckin' busy and have been making quite a few big changes in my life! I only have 8 days until I graduate from college and I thought it was certainly due time for me to update you all.

As of right now, I have decided that I no longer want to attend grad school for Marriage and Family Therapy. After a few discussions with my mentor, I realized that it may not be the best fit for my personality and at this point in my life it does not appeal to my interests as much as it once did. So, with my interests that prevail and have lasted throughout my life, I have decided to pursue a Masters degree in Library Sciences after I graduate!

I am currently applying to Texas Woman's University for their online program in Library Sciences and I am so excited! I have applied for a few different jobs and am kind of limbo right now as to what exactly I will be doing post-graduation. Ideally, I will be working in a library while I work toward getting my library degree so I can be getting some experience.

Yesterday was a big day for almost-graduation type things. I bought a dress for graduation, I picked up my cap, gown, and honors cord (because I will be graduating Magna Cum Laude!), and at the Academic Awards banquet I received the Outstanding Senior award from the Sociology department, the Sigma Alpha Iota Collegiate Honor Award, and the Sigma Alpha Iota Scholastic Award. I was overwhelmed with a mixture of feelings during all of these events.

I have been blessed with a great college experience these last three years. My experience has been far from traditional, with graduating a year early, going to a private, Christian university, and so on. I have met friends that have made epic impressions on my life, I have made lasting memories, and I have taken awesome classes that have taught me so much about the topics I am interested in. I am thankful for having been able to be a part of the band, to serve as an OSF member, to tutor with Peake Partnership, and be a member and officer in SAI.

Today was my last day of class, Finals start on Monday, and as of next Saturday, May 12th, I will be a college graduate. It's going to be a huge change and a big step into the big girl world, but I am excited for this new adventure.

The plans for after graduation that I am sure of are 1) I'm going to be reading as much as I possibly can and 2) my family and I are going to Disney World! I am ecstatic for this trip and can't wait to get back to the happiest place on Earth in just 42 days.

P.S. I didn't do a reading wrap-up for April because I only read 2.5 books and they were all for school I think so I didn't feel like it was really worth a whole blog post.

Stay tuned for pictures after graduation and a "year-in-pictures" post! ~Em