What's in The Vegan Kind Box? May 2018

It's National Vegetarian Week!! So what better time to take a rummage through this month's The Vegan Kind Box? Here's a peep at everything inside TVK55...
 

Following on from my last post, I'm sticking with a veggie theme - not least because it happens to be National Vegetarian Week in the UK this week. I've been sitting on my hands on this one ever since I received my The Vegan Kind May box because I don't want to be that person doling out spoilers and ruining it for other subscribers. So I've been patient. But I'm done being patient....

It seems like forever since I reviewed a TVK box! I haven't yet been able to bring myself to explain my absence fully here, but I'm sure it'll come with time. The important thing is, I'm back now, so I'm raring to go on this month's box. 

For those of you who might be new to TVK subscription box, or have had your curiosity peaked with all the veggie chat going on this week, The Vegan Kind were the first in the UK to offer a 100% Vegan lifestyle subscription box. Each month, TVK subscribers receive a yummy parcel of vegan treats, food items, and other household products or toiletries through their door. What could be better, right? They even branched out into doing cruelty free beauty boxes! 

It really is a fantastic way to introduce yourself to new vegan products each month, and a great way to ease yourself into a more plant-based way of living.

So, what's in the Box?!

Herby GEOSticks

Crispy, herby little multigrain sticks made from rice, lentils and quinoa. These were the first item to fall prey to my office munchies (I tend to stash the contents of each box in my desk drawer each month) and contain some gorgeous Fairtrade ingredients from Japan and Peru.

Belvas Flaked Belgian Chocolate Truffles

Oh, my goodness! Very decadent, flakey-soft truffles made using 73% Peruvian cocoa. You'd never in a million years assume these were plant-based - they're so morish and indulgent!

BetterYou Daily Vitamin B12 Oral Spray

"Where do you get your B12?"... RIGHT HERE! 

I've always favoured oral and sublingual B12 supplements and I'm looking forward to trying this one. It has the added bonus of chromium and green tea extract to keep you awake and alert. Just 4 sprays per day delivers 48,000% of your RDA(!!) and with a pleasant apricot flavour. 

I Love Snacks Californian Smoked Almonds

Are you a nutter like me? If you're partial to a tasty hit of healthy fats, these will be right up your alley. And if portion control is an issue then the handy little mini-packs mean you can't get too carried away. These are great for a quick afternoon pick me up. 

YumEarth Organic Fruit Snacks

SWEETS!! I love a good veggie jelly sweet and these are particularly tasty. They are flavoured using natural, organic fruit juices with no syrups or artificial colours/flavours. The icing on the cake is that they're also packing a hit of Vitamin C! 

Montezuma's Dark Chocolate Chilli Mini-Bar

There is no bad kind of mini-bar, and this little slab of pure joy packs quite a punch! You might have noticed Montezuma's creations in supermarkets, and this chilli variety was one of their original 5 products and inspired by a traditional Mexican recipe.

Turmerlicious Choco Latte

I'm really looking forward to trying this! I've heard amazing things about 'golden milk' turmeric lattes. This one is blended with coconut milk, ginger, cinnamon, black pepper and... well... turmeric (obvs). All you need to do is add hot water!

My Thoughts... 

To be honest, I've yet to receive a TVK box I didn't like! This one, however, is particularly wonderful! I love everything in it! As always, it's super value for money, containing 7 good-sized products worth over £23. It's a great combo of sweet, savoury and functional too. I think if I had to pick a favourite product of the bunch, it would have to be the Belvas truffles. They are spectacular, and really didn't last long. I could have done with another box! 

As always, there was a delicious recipe card included with the products for a yummy green veggie curry. 10p from each TVK55 box sold was also donated to Well Small Animal Rescue, which is a small cat rescue charity based in Lincolnshire. 

To subscribe to The Vegan  Kind, head over to thevegankind.com, pick your box, pick your subscription, and you're all set! The Lifestyle Box Subscription (which is what I have) starts from just £8 per month. Or, if you're a cruelty-free beauty lover, you might also love their bi-monthly Beauty Box.

The Vegan Kind also operates an online vegan supermarket - probably the biggest in the UK - where they offer a HUGE range of cruelty-free, plant based products for home delivery anywhere in the UK! 

What Veggie/Vegan Treats have you been enjoying for National Vegetarian Week?

First Impressions - The Body Shop Fast-Absorbing Body Yogurts

What's new in Vegan Beauty? Everything you need to know about The Body Shop's Fast-Absorbing Body Yogurts

On 1st May, 2018, The Body Shop launched its much-anticipated new range of vegan body moisturisers. Being a recent recruit to The Body Shop at Home* team (and a vegan), I've been looking forward to the release of The Body Shop's Body Yogurts since I first heard about it in the new year, and didn't hesitate to snap some up for my kit (and my bathroom shelf) immediately. 

About: The Body Shop Fast-Absorbing Body Yogurt

- Lightweight, non-sticky, non-greasy texture

- Can be used on wet or dry skin

- Absorbs in 15 seconds

- 100% Vegan

- with hyaluronic acid, which acts like a sponge to seal moisture into the skin

- 48hr hydration

- Made with Community Trade Almond Milk

- Leaves no residue on the skin

Who is going to love it?

This product has already received so much buzz in the media! As well as being The Body Shop's first 100% vegan body moisturiser, this new range will be fantastic for busy mums, holiday-goers, active people, gym bunnies... basically anyone who wants unbeatable moisturisation without a heavy, cloying texture. This product is absorbed into the skin in 15 SECONDS, making it ideal for anyone in a hurry. You can apply it straight from the shower and dress IMMEDIATELY - it even passes the skinny jeans test with no yanking or stickiness!

So, is it any good?

Short answer... HELL YES! 

Long answer... As a vegan, this product makes me extremely happy. While The Body Shop does have a couple of vegan options in their iconic Body Butter range (Fuji Green Tea and British Rose, in case you were wondering), it's amazing to finally be able to have a wider choice in fragrances. 

Regarding the formula, it absolutely does what it says on the tub. This product is a lovely, light formula, that applies quickly and easily onto the skin, and sinks in in a flash. I recently returned from my first holiday in 9 years (more on that in another post), and am very keen to preserve my Gran Canaria glow, so have been using these daily in the morning. I've been really impressed with it overall. Any of you who know me from old, you'll know that I'm usually reluctant to buy into hype, and prefer to wait for results before I rave about something, but it's well deserved in this case. 

I'll definitely be continuing to use these daily. I've found I like to use them in the morning when I'm half asleep and in a hurry, then following with Green Tea Body Butter or a Spa cream in the evening.

If I had to pick a favourite, surprisingly, I'd choose Almond Milk. While the Mango Yogurt smells just like my favourite fruit smoothie (I call it summer in a tub), there's something very comforting about the Almond Milk. which is also suitable for sensitive skin types. It's like Baby Lotion for grown-ups. 

Also available in: Coconut, Strawberry, Moringa, and British Rose.

RRP £8.50 for 6.98oz

I wish Instagram had smell-o-vision right now! This #Mango Body Yogurt smells just like a fruit smoothie 💚 . #thebodyshop #thebodyshopathome #tbsah #bodyyogurt #vegan #veganbeauty #skincare #bodycare #new #hydration #smoothie #donoteat

A post shared by TBSAH by Lisa Clare (@tbsah_bylisa) on May 2, 2018 at 10:06am PDT

*DISCLAIMER!

As I mentioned up top, I joined The Body Shop at Home in December - as an extra hobby-job to earn a bit of extra gin money, but also because I've been so excited about The Body Shop's new collaboration with Natura and I want to support a business with great ethics that is moving in a more vegan direction. While I now work with the Body Shop, I am very strict about only offering praise for a product when it is deserved. If it's not worth your time or money, I will always say so. I don't love it because I sell it, I sell it because I love it!

I don't expect any of my readers to purchase products from me - I mainly want to spread the word about amazing, cruelty-free and VEGAN products - but if you'd like to keep up to date with new products and news from The Body Shop, or get advice from a plant-based consultant, any UK readers are welcome to join my Facebook Group. I'd be happy to have you, and I'm running some really exciting competitions in May!

What are your favourite cruelty-free body care products? I'd love to hear your recommendations!

The Vegan Kind TVK24 Unboxing

Another month, another dose of The Vegan Kind*! I really do look forward to this little box of loveliness every month. I'm running out of ways to express my love for TVK in these posts, so I'll just hop straight to it. The October TVK box marks the company's second birthday and includes the usual selection of plant-based snacks, cruelty-free toiletries and chocolatey goodness. Here's what in the box...

 Yushoi SnaPea Rice Sticks - Lightly Salted

Interesting fact: This company was founded 65 years ago to address post-war malnutrition in Hiroshima, Japan, and has recently made its way to the UK. These crispy little beauties are made with rice and fresh green peas with a little added salt. They remind me so much of the old-school Chipsticks we all used to get in our lunch boxes as kids, but these are so much lighter and have a really fresh flavour. Massive thumbs up from me.

Fitbites Baobab Bounce Superfood Balls

Okay, I wasn't too keen on the last FitBites product I received in one of these boxes. The cacao variety was just too bitter for me, even though I am a fan of bitter chocolate in general. However, these Baobab Bounce ones were really tasty. I love baobab in smoothies and juices, and it's a great source of calcium. These little bites are perfect as a pick-me-up or workout snack and use wholesome, plant-based ingredients. 

Almighty Foods Mindful Mylk Chocolate Bar

This is actually one of the best-tasting chocolate bars I've tried since being vegan. It's so creamy! What's most impressive, however, is that Almighty Foods products are completely raw. The creaminess in this bar comes from cashew nuts and coconut combined with Balinese cacao. The sweetness comes from vanilla and palm sugar.  Only complaint? Not nearly big enough. 

 Organii Strawberry Shower Gel 

There were several varieties of the Organii shower gel included with this month's box, including Aloe & Bamboo, Argan and Liquorice, but I got the Strawberry. I've been a long-time fan of The Body Shop strawberry shower gel so this was going to be a definite hit with me (see this post for more on my shower gel addiction). This version is eco-certified and made from 100% natural ingredients from sustainable suppliers. Aside from that, the packaging is super-cute and it smells gorgeous. All-round win for me.

LazyDay Foods Millionaire's Crispie Squares

I'm quite familiar with LazyDay Foods products. They're a regular feature in supermarket free-from aisles here in the UK and I feel no shame in admitting my unhealthy addiction to their rocky road and chocolate tiffin. I've never come across these before though. They're a little drier than I would prefer and I don't think I'd choose them over either of the aforementioned but I still munched my way through the whole pack in less than a day, so I'd say that's pretty good going. 

The TVK featured charity for the month of October is Austin's Hamster Haven, who will receive 10p from each box sold. AHH are based in Doncaster and focus their efforts on rescuing unwanted and abused hamsters and other small critters. TVK feature a different charity or campaign each month, as nominated and chosen by their Facebook followers.

For more info on TVK's boxes (which also include a quarterly beauty box subscription), visit them over at www.thevegankind.com

Their lifestyle subscription box costs £10 per month (plus P&P) and is a great way to introduce more wholesome, cruelty-free products and quirky brands into your life. 

Coffee Break! Vegan Life Magazine October 2015

Now that I'm all settled back in back in Derbyshire, I've finally managed to perfect my new daily routine. Freelancing has taken a little getting used to in terms of schedule and it's easy for me to get carried away at the computer and lose all concept of time, with nobody there to tell me when I should probably take a break. When I worked regular jobs I loved sneaking off into the back for 15mins with a magazine and a cuppa, so I'm now making extra effort to incorporate this into my freelance day as well. One of my favourite reads since becoming vegan has been Vegan Life Magazine* and I've recently been getting to grips with their digital subscription.

Vegan Life Magazine is a relatively new publication (I believe this issue marks their first birthday) addressing all things vegan. From hero products and ingredients, to inspirational vegan stories, to animal rights news and discussions, they've basically got all the bases covered. And the recipes... sooooo many recipes! In fact, they recently beat out stiff competition to win the VegFest London Award for 'Best Vegan Service', which was 100% deserved.  I'd been reading the print copy previously, although I found it quite hard to come by in my area, so the digital option is a great solution for me. 

I'd just assumed that a digital magazine would be the same as the print version, just displayed on a screen, but Vegan Life have made it so wonderfully interactive. Scrolling through galleries, swiping for recipes and other interactive features make for an interesting reader experience. 

 The highlights of the October 2015 issue, for me, were Oliver Haslam's tips for anxious vegans on their way to university (could have done with those myself a couple of years back), the bumper harvest of Autumnal drink suggestions and butternut squash recipes that sent my, already brimming, new-season excitement into overdrive and an interesting debate on the effectiveness of protest in bringing about change for animals. This issue did a great job in stimulating both brain and stomach. So much so that my coffee break ended up extending into my lunch hour (but that's totally okay, I had plenty of choc chip Hobnobs and I'm not on the clock now that I'm my own boss).

You can access the digital subscription to Vegan Life by downloading the app. You can also search for local stockists via their website if you prefer the print version. From my Apple Newsstand, I can also download back issues. This is going to do wonders for my productivity... or not. 

For more info on Vegan Life and their subscription packages, visit
veganlifemag.co.uk

Did you enjoy this month's Vegan Life? Do you prefer your magazines in digital form? Where's your favourite place to get vegan news?

Soigne Botanique Liqueur De Chocolat Collection

Brace yourselves, folks... Love nail polish? Love chocolate? Love rich, Autumnal colours? I've got a collection for you today that ticks all of those boxes! I've mentioned Soigne Botanique in the past, over on my vegan blog, but I thought it was high time they made their TLC debut. Soigne (pronounced Swahn-yay) are a gorgeous cruelty-free, vegan and eco-friendly nail polish brand, producing quality, pigmented polishes using plant-based ingredients and no carcinogenic chemical nasties.

The Soigne 'Liqueur De Chocolat collection is made up of shades inspired by, and named after, chocolate and liqueurs (errrr... SOLD!). The polishes are 100% cruelty-free and formulated using 85% plant-based ingredients, including wood pulp, cotton, potato, corn and manioc.

Left to Right: Vin Rouge, Absinthe, Parfait D'amour, Whisky, Champagne

All of these shades are absolutely perfect for the new Autumn/Winter season. Soigne really know how to team their collections and there isn't a single shade in this one that I don't wear. I'm absolutely in love with Absinthe; it's quite unlike any other shade in my collection. Vin Rouge is reminiscent of Nails Inc Victoria and Champagne is the prettiest, cool gold shade. Parfait D'Amour, strangely, appears much more blue in these photographs but, in reality, it's a deep purple. The polishes are very smooth to apply and highly pigmented. The swatches above consist of two coats with no top coat. They're glossy on their own but, when teamed with a coat of Seche Vite, they last over a week on me without chipping. 

Soigne Botanique polishes have that wonderful, luxurious quality to them throughout. The packaging is chic and the gift boxes housing the collections are beautifully presented. This one came wrapped in a gorgeous gold bow. It was almost a shame to unbox it! I don't really have anything bad to say at all about the polishes. If I had to pick a grumble, I did notice some staining on my nails after wearing Absinthe, despite using a base coat. 

Definitely one for your Christmas list (okay, I finally said the C-word). If chocolate liqueurs aren't your thing, Soigne have a a full shade range including creamy neutrals, pastels and brights, all with that same Parisienne feel to them. 

Browse the full range at
www.soignenails.com

Prices for boxed collections start at £38 and individual polishes are priced at £11 for 10ml

mycoco Nourishing Body Tonic

It's not too often that I get an email about a product that is exactly what I'm looking for. I've recently been getting rough, dry patches of skin on my arms and legs (oh the joys of keratosis pilaris) and, although my beloved Superdrug Vitamin E Body Butter does a decent job at keeping it at bay, I've been on the lookout for other, more intensive, products to tackle the issue. MyCoco Nourishing Body Tonic* is a new product (to me). It is vegan, cruelty-free and coconut oil-based with all natural ingredients. When MyCoco offered to send me a bottle to try, I jumped at the chance!

About MyCoco

Mycoco are a brand who specialise in making natural skincare products using the finest coconut and tropical fruit/nut oils. Each bottle is blended by hand, using sustainably sourced ingredients from around the world. The product is formulated to hydrate, nourish and to target and treat many skin conditions such as stretch marks, itchy skin, psoriasis and eczema. Plus, because these are all gentle, naturally occurring ingredients this product is ideal for sensitive skin types. MyCoco Nourishing Body Tonic contains a rich source of fatty acids, vitamins and antioxidants.

• 100% vegan

• 100% natural

• Never tested on animals

• No chemicals

• No artificial fragrances

• No animal or synthetic ingredients

My Thoughts...

Having used the product a few times now, I can officially give it the thumbs up. It is easy to spread out, absorbs nicely and smells absolutely gorgeous! Literally, summer in a bottle. The product is solid in the bottle, but a quick dunk in some warm water melts it down to a liquid consistency.

The only issue I had with the application of this product is that the design of the bottle means the products is dispensed super quickly and I did have a couple of little spills. As the bottle itself is relatively small this did feel unnecessarily wasteful. It could do with some kind of stopper to control how much product is dispensed. This product also isn't cheap; It is currently priced at £23 for 100ml, but I'm usually willing to pay a little extra for a quality, handmade product.

Results...

This product left my skin feeling lovely and smooth. The hydrating effects lasted well between applications (depending on what bath/shower products I use, I don't always follow with a body moisturiser as I don't always feel like my skin needs it). With regard to the keratosis pilaris, I did see an improvement in the appearance of my skin in those areas after a good exfoliation, followed up with this product. I love love love the fact that it is clearly stated as a 100% cruelty-free and vegan product and I didn't have to Google for hours or beg their PR for that information. Although I haven't tried it in this way yet, the product can also be used on the face and hair. I'd imagine it will be an amazing all-in-one product to take away on holiday.

For more information on MyCoco Body Tonic and to purchase, head over to
www.mycoco.life

How do you tackle stubborn skin issues? Are natural products a regular fixture in your skincare routine? 

DIY Gel Nails With SensatioNail

For someone who adores nail polish as much as I do, it's pretty strange that I've never actually looked into gel manicures before now. Don't get me wrong, I'm totally sold on the idea and I can see how gel nail polishes might solve all manner of mani-related issues; chipping, smudges, drying time etc etc... I've just never had the spare cash to go out and invest in a fancy Shellac mani at a salon. Recently, I was asked if I'd like to give an at-home gel polish system by SensatioNail* a try and, while I'm definitely no professional when it comes to applying nail polish, I was intrigued to see if an at-home system could rival a costly trip to the manicurist.

SensatioNail is a high gloss, damage-proof polish that claims no lifting, chipping or cracking for up to two weeks, offering results that, previously, were only available with salon services. Their starter kit is designed to last for years and save money and contains enough for 10 complete manicures.

What's In The Kit?

• Gel Cleanser - Cleans the nail prior to application and removes the tacky moisture layer once the manicure is complete. 
• Gel Primer - Prepares the nail for polish.
• Gel Base/Top Coat
• Colour Gel Polish - The shade I got in my kit was Scarlet Red (although, ironically, this is the only shade I have that I haven't tried yet)
• Lint-free Wipes  - Self-explanatory really...
• Pro 3060 LED Lamp - Quickly hardens the gel polish and seals in colour. A mains adapter is also included. 
• Double Sided Nail Buffer
• Manicure Stick

 Application

As a total noob to gel polishes I was a bit terrified of this, but it was actually pretty quick and simple. The steps for application were very clearly laid out. I'm not the tidiest of nail painters but I quickly got used to the polish. After cleaning and priming the nail, apply a single layer of the base/top coat and cure under the LED lamp for 30 seconds. The lamp is on a timer so no need to count, it bleeps after 30 seconds and then times out after a minute. Once the base coat is cured, two layers of the gel colour polish are applied, with 60 seconds of curing after each. To finish off, apply a final layer of base/top coat and clean off the tacky moisture layer with the cleansing solution. I found the whole process fuss-free and it was completely hard and dry by the end. 

 Results

I'd just like to stress again that I'm no pro when it comes to applying my nail polish, but I get by. It took me a couple of attempts to refine my application technique but, once applied and cured, the finished result is glossy, shiny and extremely durable. I did find, with the paler shades, that a third coat of the colour polish was required for it to be truly opaque, but the colours I was given are lovely. I love a pale pastel/neutral for summer. I wore Taupe Tulips to my graduation ceremony and got lots of compliments. I must get my hands on more colours! 

The Verdict? 

I like! As promised, the polish didn't budge for over a week (See above - I never quite managed to test it for the full two weeks because I like to switch up my colours more often than that). It's pretty easy to remove by soaking in an acetone nail polish remover for a few minutes, then lifted off with the manicure stick. I'll admit to peeling it off once or twice, although this was purely a result of me being clumsy with application and it lifting a little at the sides, but I wouldn't recommend it. I'll do as I'm told in future. I'm not sure I'd wear gel polish constantly as I feel like I need to let my nails breathe in between.

The starter kit I've been testing retails for £60. That translates as £6 per manicure, plus you've got your own LED lamp to keep forever. For me, that's a much better option than forking out £20 plus for each mani at a salon, making it a great budget option. As I've never indulged in salon gel nails, or other brands of gel polish, I can't truly comment on how SensatioNail compares but, compared to regular nail polish, there was no smudging, chipping or ferret-related accidents (seriously, the lil furballs seem to sense when I'm painting my nails and jump in to sabotage me). The biggest plus for me is the reduced drying time. The only time I ever feel truly helpless is when I have wet nails. 

For more info about Sensationail and browse their gorgeous range of shades, visit
www.sensationail.co.uk 

Are you a fan of gel nails? Do you prefer DIY or do you leave it to the professionals?
 

Unboxing The Vegan Kind TVK21

Another month, another glorious The Vegan Kind* box! As I said last month, I usually post these reviews over on my vegan-only blog, but I'm crushing so hard on this blog at the moment and I thought I'd bring the cruelty-free treats to you for a second month in a row. After all, you don't have to be vegan to scoff all these yummy treats. Their July box was another hit (seriously, these guys have yet to get it wrong and, in my experience, it's rare for a subscription box service to be this consistent). Here's what's in it...

Ananda Foods Chocolate Marshmallow Lolly

I love Ananda foods. I was a hardcore Wagon Wheel addict as a kid and their vegan version is my guilty pleasure. Ananda make the best marshmallows and this one is made with organic madagascan vanilla and encased in dark Belgian chocolate. The sprinkles are a cute touch, although I only took half a second to appreciate their beauty before I devoured it. As a Derbyshire girl, I love that Ananda are a Derbyshire-based company. I will eat their sweets in solidarity for many years to come. 

 Harper's Bizarre 'Washing Line' Soya Candle

You'll probably see Harper's Candles appear again very soon on this blog because I happen to hoard them. After their 'Jingle Bells' candle appeared in the December TVK box I've been ordering regularly from them so I was delighted to see them included again for summer. I go bonkers for 'clean laundry' fragrances and this one is spot on. These candles are handmade, eco-friendly and from sustainably sourced materials. 

 Ten Acre Crisps - The Day Sweet & Sour Became Friends

You might have noticed that the packet in this photo is... well... empty. They didn't last a second after being taken out of the box. Despite being a total crisp-fiend I must admit I've never tried a sweet and sour flavour before. Sweet chilli, maybe, but never sweet and sour so this was a new one on me. Ten Acre crisps are fantastic quality and are free from gluten, MSG and dairy. Their cheese and onion flavour is the only one I've found that don't contain milk powder so, for that, I will love them forever. 

Clearspring Snack Organic Roasted Seeds with Goji Berries

I'm gonna have to get creative with these because, in all honesty, I'm not a huge fan of seeds on their own. I tend to prefer them in baking or sprinkled on breakfast. I do, however, make a point of trying everything so I will definitely give these a whirl. Clearspring have some great products. I love their pureed fruit pouches. 

Maple - Pure Maple Water

This is a first for me. I'd never heard of maple water until I opened this box. Is it a thing? Anyway, I'm not entirely sold on this. It just tastes like regular water that's been slightly sweetened and maple syrup was never my sweetener of choice. That said, it's not bad... just nothing special in my opinion. I much prefer coconut water. I do, however, love that TVK give you the opportunity to try products that you've never come across before. Keeps things interesting. I'm always discovering new foods now that I'm vegan. It's a never-ending journey haha. 

So, that was this month's round-up. I never have any disappointments with The Vegan Kind. They always manage to combine old favourites, new discoveries and different flavours that I would never have thought of in a million years. Roll on August! As always, 10p from every TVK box sold this month has been donated to a featured charity and July's choice is Wing and a Prayer, who rehome rescued battery hens in Scotland. 

To subscribe to The Vegan Kind check out their website at
www.thevegankind.com

You can also follow them via Twitter, Facebook and Instagram

What are your favourite cruelty-free snacks? Do you love TVK? What did you think of this month's box?

Unboxing The Vegan Kind TVK20

Recently, I've taken to posting my The Vegan Kind* reviews on my other blog, Bananas For Breakfast, which is solely dedicated to all things vegan. However, I thought it was about time I offered my readers here a fresh dose of TVK deliciousness. For anyone unfamiliar with TVK, they were the first to offer a 100% vegan and cruelty-free lifestyle subscription box in the UK and, in my opinion, are still the best. They also offer a quarterly Beauty Box packed full of bunny-friendly toiletries and beauty finds. June marks their 20th lifestyle box: Here's what's in it...

The first thing to jump out at me when I opened this box was the glorious Coconut Choc Shot liquid chocolate and I was so delighted that I may have cradled it in my arms for a moment. The first TVK box I ever had contained the original Choc Shot and I've been a fan ever since. Despite my rocky love/hate relationship with coconut, I'm happy to report that this stuff is like a liquid Bounty bar. I'll be using this in milkshakes and ice cream sundaes galore over the summer! 

I already love Roots Vegetable Crisps so I was pleased to see them included in this month's box. They are a combo of carrot, parsnip and beetroot with a pinch of sea salt. The Pip & Nut Almond Butter is a completely new product to me and I look forward to trying it out. I'm not a big user of nut butters so I'll have to get my thinking cap on as to how I'm going to use it. I can imagine it would be fantastic for smoothies or baking.

Because the brownie deserved a photo all of its own

This box really hit the mark with its sweet offerings. This Elements For Life Yummy Scrummy Brownie was seriously special. It's a gloriously decadent product, yet contains wholesome ingredients such as goji berries, coconut and lashings of raw cacao. It's practically a superfood salad! Guilt? What guilt? 

I'm not much of a fan of bar soaps, to be honest (or peppermint). I much prefer a liquid with a pump top, but I will definitely use this Friendly Peppermint and Poppy Seed Soap with essential oils. I love that it's SLS, paraben and palm oil free and there's always room in my heart for any handmade, cruelty-free product. I think it's really important to support natural, handmade companies and increase the demand for ethical, sustainable products. TVK do a fantastic job of introducing more and more people to these options.

All in all, this box is another resounding hit for The Vegan Kind. They pull it out of the bag every time with their product selections and I've never had a disappointing box from them (which I can't always say about other beauty/lifestyle boxes I've subscribed to in the past). The highlights of TVK20, for me, have to be the sweet offerings. The featured charity for June is Rabbit Run-Away Orphanage, who will receive 10p from every box sold.

The TVK lifestyle box is £10 per month (plus P&P) 

For more information on The Vegan Kind and to subscribe to any of their boxes, check them out at
www.thevegankind.com

You can also connect with TVK via Facebook, Twitter and Instagram 

MUA Cosmetics Spring Break Palette

The irony is not lost on me that I'm writing a blog post about Spring/Summer makeup shades whilst huddled under a blanket listening to the wind howl outside my window but I've been desperate for ages to share this pretty Spring eyeshadow palette by MUA Cosmetics* with you. I've had it for a little while but wanted to wait until I was done with all the stress of my final year of Uni so that I could give it my full attention. So, without further ado, here's my thoughts on the MUA Spring Break Palette....

MUA have delivered us safely away from Winter with this shimmering mix of neutrals, pinks and soft greens. Normally I would be a little wary of an all-shimmer palette (shimmer just isn't my bag for day-to-day wear) but these shades are all extremely wearable. My go-to palette at the moment is MUA's Matte Palette. I absolutely swear by it. However, when the sun finally decides to put it's hat on and keep it on I'm definitely going to incorporate more of these colours. 

As regular readers might have gathered, I'm a sucker for neutral shades so this palette was always going to be a winner for me. In some ways it's not dissimilar from MUA classics such as the Heaven & Earth palette, but the additional pink hues, pastels and purples definitely justify having both. Surprisingly though, it is the golds, pinks and shimmering khakis in this palette that have got me the most excited. Looks like I'm going to be easing out of my comfort zone. I'm definitely going to make the effort to try the pastel green shades in the palette. 

My top 3 shades from the palette are Amber (a shimmering gold/bronze), Posy (a slightly deeper dusky pink with a hint of shimmer) and Gold Khaki (exactly how it sounds). The texture and finish of these shades is exactly what I've come to expect from MUA over the years; soft and easily blended. For a budget palette it really is a pleasure to use. 

Image Credit - MUA Cosmetics

Thought I'd include this new-season 'Barely There' lipstick by MUA for a good measure, although it really was a bit of a disaster on me. I think you'd have to be pretty porcelain-skinned for this to be flattering. It's a shame though as it's so beautiful in the tube. It also contains beeswax, making it a no-no for me, as a vegan. At £1 though, it may be well worth a try for others, especially paler ladies. 

I will probably attempt an eye look post featuring this palette over the Summer, once I'm a bit more tan and can pull off a little extra shimmer. Now that I'm getting myself organised and planning more posts in advance I hope to do a full range of Summer beauty posts over the coming weeks. 

The Spring Break palette retails for £4. 

MUA products are available in Superdrug stores or online at

muastore.co.uk

What are your go-to shades for Spring? 

Yankee Christmas 2014: My Top Picks

Some animals hibernate during the winter... I hoard Yankee Candles. There's nothing better to me, when it's cold outside, than snuggling under a blanket with a good book and something sweet in my wax burner. Winter scents have always been my favourite. I love anything woody, spicy and comforting. I'm also a sucker for food-themed scents. 

Normally, come November, I'll hunt out a selection of wax tarts that tickle my fancy, try them all out and then decide which scents are worthy of a larger jar purchase. This year, Yankee Direct* have saved me the hassle of choosing and provided me with a gorgeous selection of this year's seasonal scents.

Christmas Garland: Pine and Cranberry

Silver Birch: Dry, spicy and woody

Bay Leaf Wreath: Bay leaves, orange and cedarwood

Candy Cane Lane: Peppermint, sweet cookies and vanilla icing

Icicles: Winter forest with pine and cinnamon

Angel's Wings: Spun sugar, flower petals and smooth vanilla

This was a really well thought out selection. They've included a bit of everything. Candy Cane Lane is brilliantly fresh and sweet, Silver Birch is everything I expect from a woody fragrance and Bay Leaf Wreath carries wonderfully through the house. I wasn't as convinced by Icicles (perhaps a bit 'soapy' for me) and Christmas Garland (I used to clean pubs so pine is usually a no-no for me hehe) but I didn't find any of them unpleasant. Angel's Wings is definitely this year's winner. It's fresh, floral and sweet all rolled into one and I MUST get the biggest jar I can find of it IMMEDIATELY! Other favourites from last winter include Snow In Love, Christmas Eve and Snowflake Cookie, all of which are still available this year. 

Yankee Direct are a discount stockist of all your favourite scents and have some great offers throughout the year, as well as at Christmas. Their wax tart bundles are amazing value and they're always super quick to ship so there's plenty of time left to order before Christmas. Yankee products make fantastic gifts! 

More info at www.yankeedirect.com

You can also find them on Twitter and Facebook

The Vegan Kind #TVK10 Unboxing

Not one, but TWO offerings from The Vegan Kind this month!! Last week I brought you the contents of their debut beauty box and now I'm back with an unboxing of their August #TVK10 box. Regular readers will know that I love getting my TVK boxes every month. They've been a real treat and introduced me to a whole world of new, cruelty free products and treats. 

For those not in the know, The Vegan Kind were the first to offer a 100% vegan monthly subscription box service in the UK and they're now onto their 10th box! It's been a pleasure to watch their business grow with more and more vegan (and non vegan) subscribers every month. It really is a great way to introduce more cruelty-free, eco friendly and wholesome products into your life and discover just how delicious vegan treats can be. This month's box, for me, is one huge snack attack! Here's the run down of what's in the box...

I'm munching on my bag of Sweet & Salty Propercorn as I type. I've had a bit of an addiction to this for a long time so was delighted to find my favourite snack when I opened the box. This box is all about the snacks. There are also strawberry flavour Freedom Mallows, which I have been keen to try for quite a while, a Pulsin Vanilla Choc Chip protein bar (remember how much I loved the Pulsin Brownie I got in my first ever TVK box) and some super-healthy Nothing But Mange Tout and Red Pepper snacks. Literally, all they are is dehydrated veggies so it's actually one of your 5-a-day! 

The two non-food items in the box have got me very excited indeed. I have so much trouble sourcing cruelty free laundry detergents so I'm over the moon with the Living Naturally soapnut laundry tabs. These are a world first product and are organic, hypoallergenic and completely biodegradable. Yay for the planet!! And how cute is this "Fuelled by Compassion" wristband from TeenVGN? They even matched the colour perfectly with my blog theme hehe. TeenVGN are an amazing vegan youth organisation aimed at helping compassionate young people connect with each other and inspire others. 

*****

This month's TVK featured charity is Nut House Hen Rescue who, since opening their coop in 2011, have rescued almost 5000 ex battery hens. TVK are a wonderful, compassionate company who also have great fun on social media so make sure you connect with them on Facebook and Twitter. 

For more info and to subscribe to The Vegan Kind, visit
www.thevegankind.com