Company: Tofurky 
Product: Smoky Maple Tempeh Bacon 
Verdict: 2/5

For the longest time I’ve been craving a BLT. I’m talking, pile on the mayo, add a bunch of crunchy lettuce, and topped off with a thousand pieces of crispy soy bacon, BLT! The problem is, I haven’t been able to find any vegetarian bacon products near me. That is until the hopeful day (or so I thought at the time) my local health food store brought in Smoky Maple Tempeh Bacon! 

For $4.00 you get a decent amount of bacon strips, I’d say around 12 pieces altogether (however, they are quite small, approximately the length of your pointer finger). The directions say to fry the bacon strips in 2 tablespoons of cooking oil. So I did. I followed the directions to a T, cooking them until crispy. One thing that was bugging me while cooking them was that some of the strips were falling apart- they were quite thin, so flipping them became a chore. 

But, because my stomach was grumbling and my craving for soy bacon was getting stronger, I carried on. I placed 3 pieces of the bacon on my sandwich.

The first bite wasn’t any more than decent. Just OK- nothing special, but it slightly curbed my craving. However, bite number two definitely gave me the true taste. I can honestly say, that these bacon strips were not meant for me. They were gritty, and un-like real bacon, dry. To me, they actually tasted like the grit at the bottom of the real, extra greasy, bacon pan. NOT what I was going for. And to top it all off, after eating my sandwich out of pure hunger anyways, I began to feel nauseous. I literally could not stand the smell, which by the way did NOT smell like delicious smoky maple, but more like 4-day old grease and grit. 

All in all, not impressed at all. The reason it did receive a 2/5 was the fact it was at least vegetarian. However, I think it needs to take an extra step or two to receive the “delicious” label! 

The Verdict 

Pros

• Vegetarian/Vegan

Cons

• Tasted like grit
• Super dry
• Crumbly 
• It did not taste like bacon- thus leaving me feeling nauseated and with an ever-growing craving for a BLT

As a request from my Tofu post, check out this delectable recipe on how to make delicous baked tofu!

www.AllRecipes.com

Happy cooking :) 

Company: Simplers Botanical Company
Product: Rose Therapeutic Hydrosol, and Perfume/Essential Oils 
Verdict: 5/5

If you haven’t noticed by now, I’m a girly-girl at heart. Makeup, hair, frilly drinks, you name it, I love it if it has a touch of femininity. Now when it comes to girly scents- oh baby. Perfumes, candles, room sprays- I get all giddy just thinking about it. Fortunately for me, dreams do come true. Simplers Botanical Company is like a fairy-tale land for me. They source genuine organic ingredients from artisan distillers all over the world to offer 100% pure products for earthy-girlies (and boy-ies..) just like you and me!

They offer a range of sensual therapeutic hydrosols, to help help sooth emotional stress away with a variety of scents to fit your skin (and nose!) Rose, one of my favorite scents, is a perfect match for irritated, itchy red skin. Its natural healing properties helps calm and relax angry skin with its natural moisturizing properties. I apply the Rose Therapeutic Hydrosol whenever my skin is feeling extra dry, and after it soaks in the skin on my face feels instantly renewed and refreshed! This will definitely come in handy during the cold and winter months for those who have already dry skin! 

Simplers also offers beautifully scented perfume oils in four different flavors- Jasmine, Neroli, Rose, and Vanilla. You can apply these delicate perfumes directly to your skin, and bask in the soothing, relaxing, and calming properties each individual one has to give you. The Jasmine scent has definitely become my favorite go-to perfume. It has such a light, elegant floral scent that is enough to make me swoon! 

They also carry a huge variety of essential oils- which is something that completely tickles my fancy. Essential oils are so versatile and are great add-on for a luxurious at home spa night. Add a few drops of calming lavender into your bubbly-bath, light a few candles, lay back and relax, and let your troubles soak away while the relaxing aroma of lavender takes over your mind. 

Lavender isn’t your forte’? How about Chamomile? Peppermint? Orange? Simplers is sure to have something for everyone, check out their website here and get lost in the possibilities of scents you can experiences and the organic and natural therapeutic promises you can expose your skin and your body too! 

The Lowdown;

Pros

• Natural, Organic, therapeutic alternatives for a healthier mind and body! 
• A wide variety of beautiful scents, whether you want a bit of relaxation or a pick me up! 
• The hydrosols are perfect for all skin-types, and are a perfect alternative to thick lotions 
• Cruelty free!

Cons

• I truly don’t have a single complaint. Simplers is a wonderful way to help your mind and body relax, or wake-up!
  
  www.simplers.com 

Company: Lip-Ink
Products: Semi-permanent Lip Color
Verdict: 4/5

Don’t let it come as too much of a surprise when I tell you sometimes I like to get a little dolled-up. Hair, makeup, the whole she-bang! One thing that I’ve never been able to get into the groove of is lipstick. All I can ever picture is me, attempting to drink oh-so femininely, and there goes my all of my lipstick, rubbing all over my lips and my glass like a sticky mess. It does not seem to paint the picture of elegancy to me! 

I have, in fact, also been clever enough to check out some lip-stains in stores, but as I’m sure a lot of you cruelty free shoppers know, picking are few and far between. Thats where Lip-Ink comes in- a vegan and organic innovative lip-stain company made to keep women confident in their lip-color. 

Proudly represented as the worlds first multi-patented 3-step process to waterproof, smearless and ultra-durable lip wear! They offer a wide range of beautifully pigmented colors, from Red to Maplewood,  picking the color you want to try first is going to be a tough feat. I tried out Blush (#16) a beautiful beigey-pink color. Once you’ve ooh’d and ahh’d over each and every color, and you’re sure that you’re set on your decision, check out the directions on the back of the box. The first step tells you to wipe the tip of your brush on a paper towel before first application. THIS IS IMPORTANT. If you’re stubborn like me, and you don’t follow the directions properly you will be in for a fun (or not so fun) surprise. 

Next, use the OFF towelette that comes with your Lip-Ink color and gently wipe it across your lips to clean the surface for an even application. Then, hydrate and protect your lips from sun-damage using the Shine Moisturizer that is also included in the box. Now last, but not least, shake the Lip-Ink bottle and apply evenly upon your lips. One of my favorite parts of Lip-Ink is the tingling! It gives off such a cool, refreshing feel, which is a fun bonus opposed to boring old regular lipstick. I found that the color applied super well and really even over-top of the Shine Moisturizer, which is such a change from attempting to even out a color of a regular, dry lip-stain!

Now, feel free to marvel over the beautiful color that your lips, and delight over the refreshing tingling that is probably making you giggle a little bit. The color looks natural and clean, and it wasn’t to ‘in your face’ like some cream-based lipsticks can be. Well that is of course IF you listen to the directions like a good little girl. Because I enjoy trial and error (which is a nice way to say I’m stubborn and I know it) I did not wipe the tip of the applicator before applying it for my first use. Thus, my lips turned a beautiful dark purple. 

Moral of the story? Listen to the directions and go check out Lip-Ink’s website! There’s a color for everyone! 

The Lowdown; 

Pros

• Simple and easy to use
• A huge variety of beautifully pigmented colors- which is great for those lip-savvy ladies!
• Long-lasting, smear/waterproof 
• Organic, VEGAN

Cons

• My only con would be the fact that you have to store it standing up-right. I’m a grab-and-go type of gal who likes to throw everything in my purse and leave. However, because the formula is so long-lasting I don’t really see it arising any serious conflict in the near future! 

www.LipInk.com

Company: Solay Wellness
Products: Gentle Face Scrub, Detoxifying Mud Mask, and Organic Face Lotion 
Verdict: 5/5!

Do you ever look longingly at those commercials made for those beautiful, expensive spas (what an understatement..) where a beautiful lady is getting a facial, with creams that look as smooth as butter and exfoliators that seem like they were made fresh just for her? Yeah, me too. However, lucky for us beautiful ladies who just can’t afford their own signature exfoliator, there is a luxurious solution waiting to be discovered. 

Solay Wellness. A beautiful company made for beautiful women just like you! Their affordable spa-experience products are vegan, natural and handcrafted in small batches to help give you the healthy, happy skin you deserve. Because of their wide range of products, you’re able to come up with the perfect formula of a relaxing, at-home spa day.

One of my favorite ways to relax in a tub full of bubbles starts off with the Gentle Face Scrub. Mixed with the most luxurious ingredients of small organic jojoba beads, calcium bentonite clay, and a moisture enriched organic base, gives this luxury a beautifully rich, earthy scent. I massage this gentle blend in a small circular motion to already cleansed, warm skin (to help open up your pores). After about 3 or so minutes of gentle scrubbing I wash it off with a few splashes of warm water. My skin instantly feels refreshed and revitalized, like I have a whole new set of skin on!

Next, I grab my Detoxifying Mud Mask- a product that is enough to make me swoon. It has a deep, natural scent that instantly puts me into relaxation mode. I gently rub this creamy mask all over my face and mask, not missing a single spot. The texture is so creamy and smooth, I  swear I could just keep applying, re-applying, applying, re-applying… you get the picture. I like to leave this on for about 10-15 minutes- if I could I would live with it on, but that would just be silly (and a little unsanitary). 

After rinsing thoroughly I’m quick to grab the Organic Face Lotion. You thought those lotions on the commercials looked creamy? This is utterly divine. It smells fresh and feels even fresher. I gently massage this buttery delight (theoretical vegan butter of course) all over my face. I specifically love this lotion because of its light feel- it doesn’t make your skin appear or feel like grease (and I don’t mean the good John Travolta variety)

All in all, Solay Wellness is a company of virtue. Their products are high quality, and their values of natural, vegan organic, and handmade assets are a huge bonus! I really recommend checking out their website, and taking a snoop through their other luxurious products! 

The Lowdown; 

Pros

• Luxurious, spa-like products, without the sky-high price 
• Organic and natural 
• Handmade
• Vegan
• Not tested on animals 

Cons

• If you were to experience these products, I think you could agree that cons are nearly impossible! 

www.SolayWellness.com 

Company: Morrocco Method Int’l
Product: Sapphire Volumizer Mist Conditoner
Verdict: 4/5

If you’re a thin haired-gal (or guy!) you will know the hardships and struggles of finding products that give your hair the volume it lacks without weighing it down. I have unfortunately tried countless products that promised to give my hair ‘extreme volume’ or a ‘weightless lift’. Well, such as life, their promises were broken. My bathroom soon became home of products that just couldn’t serve my hair the purpose it needed.

However, when I tried Morrocco Method (a 100% vegan company!!) my precious locks were opened to a whole new world of volume. The Sapphire Volumizer Mist is a 100% natural, moisturizing formula perfect for the days where your hair is looking extra limp and needs to be quickly revived to life. All you have to do is simply spritz it on to wet or dry hair, and style it as usual- Easy peasy! It leaves your hair smelling clean and fresh, while adding that extra little kick of volume to your tresses! I specifically loved this product for lazy days at the beach, where my hair would get repeatedly flattened by both the suns rays and the waters waves (no rhyme intended…) it helped revitalize it by adding moisture and kept the frizzies down in just a few quick sprays! 

Morrocco Method is a 100% Vegan, Raw, Gluten Free hair care company designed to make you and your hair happy! (What more can you ask for?)  Check out Morrocco Method and all of their other wonderful products on their website here! I also suggest trying out their natural Sea Essence Shampoo for a little extra morning pick-me-up! 

The Lowdown; 

Pros

• The Volumizer Mist helps add a kick of volume while adding moisture and keeping your hair frizzies at bay
• It didn’t weigh my hair down or make it feel greasy
• It’s a quick way to add volume without a sticky mess on your hands
• The scent makes your hair smell like it was freshly washed
• 100% Vegan
• Raw
• Gluten Free
• Cruelty free- not tested on animals!! 

Cons

• I’m happy to say I’m con-free! :)

www.morroccomethod.com