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Milani Prime Perfection primer; Thayers Witch Hazel toner; Busy Beauty Showerless Shave Gel |
I hope your May was full of fun, food and favorites! I have five recent beauty favorites to share that I’ve been using and loving this month. Bonus: They are all cruelty-free and affordable. Also, I am almost completely cruelty-free with my makeup! I only have one non-cruelty-free mascara, brow product and lipstick to use up before my (small) makeup collection is entirely composed of products not tested on animals. I have been working toward this goal for more than a year now, and I am excited to finally get there.
And now, May’s favorites:
Busy Beauty Showerless Shave Gel ($21.97 for two pack): This shave gel doesn’t require water, so you can shave wherever! This is especially handy when you’re in a hurry, hence the name Busy Beauty. You simply rub in the excess gel as you would a moisturizer. It’s also cruelty-free and vegan. It has eucalyptus, tea tree, clove, ginger and oat essential oils in it, and it’s also paraben- and alcohol-free. (This was sent to me by Busy Beauty to try out.)
Busy Beauty Showerless Shave Gel and Preserve Shave 5 razor. |
Thayers Witch Hazel Alcohol Free Toner Rose Petal ($10.95): I’ve tried and loved the Lavender toner, so I wanted to try the rose-scented one. I love it just as much and it’s a regular staple in my skin-care routine. I like that it’s gentle and never harsh. Also, one bottle lasts me several months.
Not Your Mother’s Way to Grow Long & Strong Shampoo (about $5): I was looking for a new shampoo after trying several cruelty-free products that had scents I didn’t enjoy. I knew after the first use that I would like this. Scent is super important to me along with cleaning my hair.
Not Your Mother’s Clean Freak Refreshing Conditioner (about $5): I like the scent of this NYM product as well. It does the job it claims to do. Also, it doesn’t weigh down my long hair.
Milani Prime Perfection Primer ($9.99): This primer is both hydrating and slightly pore minimizing, in my experience. It feels like a moisturizer in that it hydrates as you rub it in. I have compared this to the Wet ‘n Wild Coverall primer in my past; they are extremely similar, except this Milani primer has a better scent.
A miss:
Alba Botanica Hawaiian Detox Cleanser: I wanted to like this. It was an affordable Marshalls find that drew me in with the Hawaiian reference. It does the job of cleansing and it is gentle, but I simply hate the scent. It reminds me of the mildew smell of clothes left in the washer for too long. I’m using it up because I hate wasting products, but I’ll be repurchasing my trusted Pacifica face wash soon.
What products are you using and loving? Share them with me in the comments!

Marette Flora is the founder of Floradise blog and personalized gift shop. Marette is a passionate storyteller and creator. She attended the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism at Arizona State University and obtained a bachelor’s degree in journalism and mass communication.
She is passionate about creating helpful and meaningful things.