When I made the decision to switch over to a plant-based diet, I also made the decision to make more of an effort when purchasing items for my apartment and everyday life. The struggle is real to find cute and functional winter boots that aren’t made of leather, cosmetics that aren’t tested on our furry friends, and recycled items that will give me years of usage. With the travelling that I’ve done that last couple of weeks, I’ve come to realize that I’ve got some great, go-to essentials in my everyday life. Here’s a look into my daily beauty routine:

Kitty + Lee Washcloth paired with Trader Joe’s Face Wash with Tea Tree Oil: Prior to finding this face wash (almost a week ago), the only thing I used to wash my face with was a homemade washcloth. No shameless plug, it’s the truth. Not only is it super soft, but also textured enough to exfoliate. One scrub and done 75% of the time that I shower. I’ve now started to incorporate this face wash because it leaves me squeaky clean! I’ve been showering more frequently (aka every day) now that I’ve been working out more, so I only use this product 1-2 times each week. I enjoy the herbal smell and the fact that the cruelty-free label is easy to spot on each bottle.

Back to Eden Botanicals Green Goddess Face Lotion: This lotion I randomly stumbled upon downtown and was nervous about trying because honestly, I didn’t want to spend $20+ on a product that I didn’t know would work. Luckily, Petra over at Anchor No. 5 gave me a sample to try and after my three day “trial”, I fell in love! Not only does it smell super yummy and make my skin super soft, I haven’t noticed my skin drying out like it was over the past couple of months. The first day I used it, I received multiple compliments for my natural glow. I give this product 100% credit and have already committed to the full-size container.

Meow Meow Tweet Deodorant Cream: It has been officially over a year now and I am still using this product every single day. Here was my initial review. I’m now on my third jar and am still loyally loving the tea tree scent. This deodorant cream kept me smelling fresh (well, as fresh as I can be in the woods) on every single hike to becoming a 46er and every mid-day run. Believe me, I sweat A TON on my lunch break almost every single day and I’ve never had to reply the cream in fear of having B.O.. I seriously don’t know what I’d do without this product and dream of one day meeting the two lifesavers, Jeff + Tara, in their Brooklyn studio. *No cats or birds are harmed in the making of their products- all are vegan, pure and handcrafted.

Glam Natural Black Mascara: Anyone who is a part of my daily life knows that I rarely wear makeup. The one cosmetic I do apply almost everyday is mascara. I found this brand in my first Vegan Cuts Beauty Box and was hooked on the sample size. I’ve since then upgraded to the full tube and love this paraben-free option. Important to note that it is not water-resistant.

Owlkill Studio Cosmetic Pouch: I met Adelia a couple of months ago during some collage night festivities and immediately went home to look up her growing business- and loved what I saw! Her shop aesthetic is clean but also a little out of the ordinary in my book. I quickly purchased one of her cosmetic pouches because a) it was darling and b) I just thought the recycled materials she used looked rich.  The vintage navy & white herringbone printed corduroy and re-purposed leather is super soft and the pouch holds all of my oils and creams perfectly. And just for clarification, the Owlkill River runs through her property; no owls are killed in the process of sewing these pouches.

NOW FOR THE GIVEAWAY! One lucky reader will receive the following:

• a Kitty + Lee washcloth!
• 1 full-size container of face lotion from Back to Eden Botanicals c/o Petra over at Anchor No. 5 Boutique!
• 1 full-size container of deodorant cream & a lip balm c/o Meow Meow Tweet!
• and a 50% off discount code for the cosmetic pouch of your choice c/o Adelia of Owlkill Studio!

Holy smokes! That’s a $65+ value! To enter, stop by any (or all) of the shops mentioned above, take a look around, then come back here and comment below with which item you’d love to try. In the spirit of this week’s holiday, I’ll be choosing one winner Easter Sunday.

Good luck! And let the happy dancing begin!

*All opinions are my own and I am greatly appreciative of the small business owners who generously donated items to make this giveaway happen.