My Quarterly Vegan Beauty Box came! Four times a year, I paid around $40 (with free shipping) to get a makeup box that's got about 4-5 full size items. It's strictly makeup or makeup related (brushes, tools, bags) and no skin care. I prefer the no skin care due to my extremely sensitive acne prone skin. Like if they could include body or hair care in there, I would be good with that. However, I understand the reasonings for just a makeup box. Here's this months box:

I'm gonna be honest with you, I don't love this box. I'm really sad because my Spring box I was over the moon for, but this Summer one is kind of, blah.

I'll tell you what I love is the makeup bag. Not that I need another one (I only have probably close to 10 of them), but this one is right up my alley. I'm kind of obsessed with the sky, and stars and constellations, and the moon.. and I love that each constellation is an animal. It's going to be my new daily makeup bag (I'm sorry Little Mermaid, I still love you!), because I'm obsessed with the design so much. And it's huge. Plenty of space for whatever you want to carry!

I'm also excited for the Pacifica Rainbow Crystal highlighter, since I'm obviously obsessed with highlighter. I got the color Nebula, which is like a reflective violet, and that's the color I chose on my beauty quiz for this box, so I am excited about that.

The lipstick I couldn't really care less about. I haven't been all that big a fan of Au Naturale Cosmetics anyway. The color I got was Primrose. It's a warm soft pink. Probably a pretty and subtle color for work. Whether or not I'll use it, I can't say, but we'll see. We just got a lip gloss last month, I feel like they should've switched it up and not included another lip product. 

The other thing that bothered me was that there was really essentially two eye products in this box. The Emani Eye Color Trio in Tantalizing. The colors are basic, and what I typically would use. There's a shimmer white, a shimmer tan, and a shimmer bronze. They're complementary colors so you know they'll look nice together. But I got one of these in my Vegan Cut Box way back when, in a different shade, so it wasn't super exciting.

Then we also got the Manna Kadar Cosmetics Prime Time Eye and Lip Primer. I get why they included it, since they included both an eye shadow and lip stick. But I don't really use primer on my eyelids since I just use some of my Illuminare foundation and that seems to do the trick. And I've never used a lip primer a day in my life since I have no real need for it.

I guess my complaint was that this box didn't feel very diverse, whereas the Spring box did. Why not include maybe a blush? Or a nail polish? I would absolutely friggin LOVE if they included some perfume in the boxes. Like the travel size spray bottles of Saint and/or Sinner from KVD that's both vegan and cruelty free and retails for $22! It would fit perfectly!

Last box they included a bronzer/highlighter duo, lip gloss, eye lash curler, mascara, and eye shadow. That's a pretty diverse box. This one felt lackluster for me.

If it wasn't for the makeup bag and the highlighter, I would've been highly disappointed. The value is still good overall, which is total value of $102. I'm keeping my fingers crossed the Fall box is amazing, since that's my favorite season anyway. I'll be posting reviews once I use the products.

Have you received your box? What are your thoughts?

Today makes 3 wonderful years since I've been vegan! For me, celebrating your Veganniversary is like celebrating your birthday, but it's more about reflection than presents (although, I do almost always buy myself a present, simply because I like presents!) After 3 years of being a vegan, I've really learned a lot, and I've seen such a shift in the world that I truly hope by this time next year, I know some other people celebrating their veganniversary too!

In the past month alone, I've had several people approach me and ask for help on how to begin a meatless lifestyle. Apparently there's a new and powerful documentary on Netflix called What The Health that's been making waves amongst meat eaters and actually giving them the desire to change their ways! It's from the makers of Conspiracy, so while I haven't watched it (I never watch those types of documentaries, it's too hard being an empath), I know that is has to be some powerful stuff. I'm thrilled that these documentary creators have been able to take facts that us vegans have known, and create a film that puts them in the most easily absorbed terms and inspires that change in people. This shows the progression of veganism in the mainstream world.

My advice to those asking for help is this: I encourage ALL meat eaters to start with vegetarian first, to limit the shock to your body, and then gradually make your way to being vegan. It's a marathon, not a race. Try multiple kind of faux meats, they tend to help make the transition easier. Look up recipes and find vegan cook books to help inspire your meals. Try foods you've never tried before, whether it be tofu, eggplant, lentils... whatever, try them all. Your palette will adapt as you go. Eating a variety of foods will ensure you're getting the right nutrition. Supplement with vegan vitamins, I do, even though I have a healthy diet. You will slip up, and that is fine. If you're truly dedicated to the lifestyle, your heart is going to be in it, and you'll have no problem getting back on that horse. Have daily affirmations and find a mantra. Something like "This cow and my dog are exactly the same. You can't eat one and love another." Follow various vegans on Instagram, read tons of blogs (like mine!), visit sanctuaries, donate your time to help at them if you can, volunteer, and enjoy the journey. This vegan life is not one of convenience, but it is one that's rewarding. You'll have to work hard for those rewards, but eventually it does get easier, and it becomes second nature. Mentally, physically, and emotionally, going vegan and doing it right is the single best decision you'll ever make for yourself. It has been for me. 

I have been participating in a lot more activities the past year. I've been going to several new vegan places that I've seen popping up, I've been attending fund raisers, I went to a wolf sanctuary, I went to an animal sanctuary, I'm doing Yoga with Dogs tomorrow, and I've been trying really hard to be the healthiest I can be. I got a FitBit and have been walking regularly, I've cut out all caffeine, and I've been eating the best I ever have. As a vegan, you need to be the voice for the voiceless, and you certainly can't do that if you're not well. My health hasn't been great, with the discovery of Hypothyroidism that literally affects all aspects of your body and mind too, but I'm working on it. Seeing a therapist, working on my anxiety, and taking medication to help is essential to my overall well being. I can't help animals if I'm a crazy person in the nut house! 

I've really learned to use my voice over the past year, and speak up for what I believe in. Because I fear confrontation so, its easy for me to let someone say their peace and me just try to keep the peace without really saying what I believe in. Not anymore. I've heard on several occasion that being vegan is crazy, it's extreme, all vegans are extreme. Nope. People tend to confuse passion with extremeness. Having a deep rooted passion for not wanting animals to suffer for our food, clothes, entertainment, beauty products, cleaning products, and for us in general... that's not extreme. The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results, as was said by Einstein himself. It's insane for me to think that by letting people have their opinion on veganism, which is often riddled with inaccuracies, without voicing mine, which is full of facts since it's how I live my every day life, will never help to promote the positive change our society needs. I want to be more of an activist, and this is the first step in doing so.

​This past year has not been an easy one, but it's been a rewarding one. As I overcome and conquer my issues, I'm learning that I'm a lot stronger than I am. And if I'm going to fight for the rights of the animals that can't fight for themselves, I'm going to need that strength.

Cheers to another beautiful vegan and cruelty free year!

Truth be told, I find it odd that they would even offer a dressing with honey in it and mention that strict vegans avoid honey. Vegans avoid honey. If you eat honey, you're not a vegan, in my personal option. However, I'm glad they mentioned it. This isn't a vegan restaurant so the fact that they're doing this at all is pretty great, and despite the honey, I am very happy to support this.

​There's going to be raffles, so I have to remember to bring cash. They're also accepting non-cash donations as well.

I want to run out tomorrow and grab a few things to donate. Everything helps, especially when you're running a non-profit.

​This is from 10am-11pm, so go for lunch or dinner (or both, I don't judge!) and eat a delicious meal for a good cause!

July 1st is Yoga with Dogs at the Providence Animal Center, formally known as the Delco SPCA. Check the link below for some details:

You can find this shade and all the other Devocean shades at Ulta or on their website. You can use coupons at Ulta and I find they're often having a sale too, so bonus points for that. Check it out!

I originally blogged about the Honeycrisp Apple flavored one, which I have since lost somewhere in my apartment and despite my best efforts to find it, I'm fairly positive my cats have hid it in some random crevice and I'll never find it again. But, I actually went out and bought two more flavors, Birthday Cake and Vanilla Orchid.

I've been using the Birthday Cake one for some time now, and it does smell amazing, just like birthday cake! But I've been waking up with very dry lips as well as getting various pimple like bumps on my lips, and pimples around my lips. The pimple like bumps aren't pimples but look like a reaction of sorts. I slather lip balm on because I hate the feeling of dry lips. But it's clear to me that whether it's the formula, the fragrance, or something in these products, they're causing issues both for my lips and the skin directly around my lips that I didn't have before using them. I have extremely sensitive skin so you think I would've known better. Either way, I'll be heading out to buy new and more natural lip balms soon. So these are no longer a go for me, despite the fact that they smell amazing and for a short amount of time keep my lips soft and pretty.

VERDICT: 👎🏼

​UPDATE: BHA9 by Paula's Choice.

The color was pretty too. I think this was somewhere around $5-$6 dollars. At least I didn't feel like that was a waste!

I've rarely had to write a bad review about a Pacifica product and truly it hurts to write, but I can't let what happened to my husband happen to anyone else if I can avoid it.

I still remain a loyal and dedicated Pacifica fan. I told them that in the email. Things happen, and products don't always work as advertised, I just wish my husband didn't have to learn that the hard way. But, I'm happy with their response. I actually have some good Pacifica reviews coming your way, so stay tuned!