2018 Holiday Gift Guide

This year's gift guide round up features some of my favorite cruelty free products, as well as some great products that I've had fun reviewing for you guys these past few months. I know you'll love these products as much as I have, and I hope your gift recipients will too.

I'm so excited to get into the spirit of giving this holiday season, starting with these awesome goodies.

For the Self Care Aware

Cloud 9 & Meltdown

I have been loving these products from Blume. Self care has become increasingly important to me since I began my journey in the full time workforce, and during 'that time of the month' I'm even more appreciative of these products.

Cloud 9 is an essential oil roll on, the scent has helped me calm down both headaches and cramps-- helping me to get through my work day in peace. Meltdown is a true skincare game changer for me, I've always used tea tree oil on spots however Meltdown seems to help my dry out larger hormonal pimples much faster. This blend also helps soothe irritation, so I will use it on my t-zone after masking.

Blume is cruelty free, sustainable, was created by female entrepreneurs, and also donates a portion of their proceeds to Days for Girls. I know I'll be keeping these products in my arsenal for years. Blume is a great brand to introduce your gal pals to this holiday season.

For the Zen

In Focus Guide Books

I have been learning more about essential oils and meditation ever since I got into yoga last year. These books are a great place to start and include a wealth of information including history, uses, and a breakdown of each essential oil or meditation practice.

My First Time Using a Bath Bomb?!

I have a confession to make; I, Patti, cruelty free Blogger of almost 3 years have never used a bath bomb. I don't think this realization is as shocking as it is a bit ridiculous. Over the years it's kind of crazy to me that I have never tried a bath bomb. My last apartment had a standing shower, so when I moved to our new place I was elated to finally have a working tub to soak in. Since I moved in I've tried a few bath soaks, but last night I tried out my first bath bomb.

Ethical Wardrobe Staples

Three years ago I started blogging about cruelty free alternatives to the beauty and skincare items I use in my daily life, since then my lifestyle has evolved quite a bit. I try to consider cruelty free alternatives in most aspects of my life, and now I think it may be time to shift my focus to ethical fashion as well.

This fall there have been 2 trends that I have been absolutely loving, animal print and leather*! I paired both trends together for today's look.

Today I opted for the 'Maria' a classic biker style jacket with an asymmetrical zip and silver studs. The Maria Jacket can be found at James & Co, an Australian ethical clothing brand specializing in conscience clothing.

James & Co is PETA approved, and only offers ethical vegan leather options.

Cruelty Free & Spooky| Cruelty Free Halloween Picks

As the fall weather rolls in I'm thinking more and more about everyone's favorite time of year-- Halloween! This month I was kindly gifted some spooky samples to review for you guys, and I'm really excited to share my thoughts.

via GIPHY People always ask me if it was hard narrowing down my beauty and skincare purchase to strictly cruelty free products. With a number of brands jumping on the cf bandwagon I never really felt limited in my choices. There are always tons of amazing brands to try, and I don't think I've even scratched the surface of what's out there. Then the huge k-beauty trend emerged and I felt a bit left out-- I was having trouble finding information on a lot of trending brands so I kind of just gave up on the trend.

Lucky for me JJ Young reached out about their charcoal line, and I was happy to find that they are cruelty free. JJ Young is my first review of a Korean beauty line, and I'm excited to share my findings with you!

After spending a lovely Sunday apple picking and eating apple cider donuts with my boyfriend I decided to test out the line.

First I tried the black cleansing stick. I used a micellar water to remove my makeup first, rinsed my face with warm water, and then rubbed the cleansing stick in circular motions in each area of my face. The cleanser lathered nicely and did not leave my skin feeling stripped. I think this would be a great cleanser to travel with or to throw in a gym bag. After rinsing the cleanser off with warm water, I followed' with a rosewater toner and facial oil. I think this would be great for a multitude of skin types.