It is frustrating when you go vegan because you often find yourself endlessly label reading in shops given that most stores don’t have a designated vegan section. Or you spend hours trawling online for round ups that contain what you are looking for.
The Vegan Kind Lifestyle Box
This applies to edible products and beauty products, so in theory- a subscription box makes life so much easier. You know that everything in the box is going to be vegan and cruelty free, so you don’t have to waste you time reading the small print and can get on with more important things.
Another great thing about the vegan subscription boxes is that you get a chance to try things you wouldn’t normally. So, if you stick to one shop for your vegan items like say Superdrug or Holland and Barret- this gives you the opportunity to sample other products that may only be online or buried in the bowels of other places you don’t frequent.
I have had the opportunity to try a lot of vegan products through work so I thought I had come across most of the existing and up and coming vegan brands on the market right now.
Having never tried a subscription box before, I was thrilled to be asked by www.The Vegan Kind.com to sample their beauty and snack boxes. And even I was surprised to find items in the boxes I had never heard of or seen before.
Below is what was in each and I share my thoughts after sampling each of them.
April Lifestyle Box:
Candy Kittens Sour Watermelon Gourmet Sweets 138g (RRP £2.99)
I am admittedly not a huge fan of watermelon or watermelon flavoured anything- but- I can safely say, I would buy these again. I loved the packaging, the watermelon flavour was very subtle, and the candies were slightly tangy which I love in a jelly style sweet. I’m not going to lie- I ate the whole bag in one go and will definitely be buying again.
Zero Waste Club Re-Useable Bamboo Straw (RRP £2.50)
I am currently using up a packet of plastic straws I bought for a party a few years ago so this was very welcome. It is dishwasher safe, so you can reuse it over and over again or wash it by hand and it will last you for a lifetime. Ideal for if you drink a lot of fizzy drinks to protect your teeth from damage and you can pop it back in the box if you are going away to keep it clean.
Ape Snacks Thai Chilli Coconut Puffs 25g (RRP £0.80)
These are perfect for if you like the flavours of Thai meals- the chilli against the creaminess of the coconut complement one another perfectly and are a healthier alternative to crisps to have with your lunchtime sandwich at only 144 calories per bag.
Blackfriars Bakery Ginger Choc Chip Flapjack 110g (RRP £0.75)
I am not generally a fan of ginger either, but the flavours were so subtle that I enjoyed this snack. Great for on the go and as it contains oats- it keeps you feeling fuller for longer.
Almighty Foods Cashew Caramello Mini Jar (RRP £2.00)
If you need a quick sweet fix pick me up in the afternoon that’s rich in protein- this is ideal on its own with a spoon. At least, that’s how I ate it- but you can spread it, use it for drizzling, blending or dipping. In hindsight, it would have tasted amazing on dairy free vanilla ice cream but it didn’t last that long!
Snact Apple And Cinnamon Kick Banana Bar 35g (RRP £1.39)
Ideal for a quick breakfast or snack to pick you up and you can feel good about eating this because it was made from food that would probably have been binned. Yes- each bar saves one banana from being wasted. With only 9 ingredients per bar- you don’t even have to feel guilty about putting unnecessary ingredients into your body either.
Indie Bay Sunflower Superseed Pretzel Bites 26g (RRP £1.20)
These are not only a great source of fibre but also protein too with the added extra of the seeds. Don’t worry if you are not a huge fan of pretzels- as these are much smaller and have the flavours of the seeds coating each ball- so they don’t have the classic taste of a pretzel. Another great product to pop in your bag in readiness for the afternoon slump or if you don’t have time to stop for a bite to eat.
All in all, The Vegan Kind snack box made me try things I would never have picked for myself and even though they are not flavours I would ordinarily choose- I still enjoyed them. I would call that a win because it encouraged me to be more adventurous with my palate and I was pleasantly surprised by the outcome.
April Beauty Box:
bilou Gentle Cream Foam Cotton Candy (RRP £3.99)
I love this product because I have a real issue with moisturiser feeling too heavy and greasy on my skin- which means I try to avoid it all costs. This absorbs into your skin super-fast and leaves no residue so great for people who want soft skin in a hurry. If you tend to apply your lotion before you get dressed this won’t come off on your clothes- it will just make you smell delicious. Yes- most importantly it smells good enough to eat!
Medusa’s Makeup Sugar Daddy Lipstick (RRP £12.00)
I never use lipstick- I’m more of a lip balm kind of girl- but I was surprised to find that this particular shade matched my lip colour perfectly and didn’t feel heavy on my lips- in fact it was very moisturising and may well have converted me to the dark side!
Superdrug Official B. Pure Micellar Water 100ml (RRP £1.89)
I shop in Superdrug all the time for vegan products as their own brand products are clearly marked as vegan and cruelty free. Despite buying many things from the B range, I have never used the Micellar Water before. It has a very neutral smell if you like your products not to leave much of a scent on your skin. I was impressed by its performance as I use a very stubborn lip and cheek stain which came off very easily with this product. It also tackled my mascara with ease.
Botanicals Charcoal Superfood Mattifying Face Mask 30ml (RRP £14.90)
I am pregnant at the moment and suffering pretty badly with dry skin on my face, so a face mask was just what I needed to feed the skin that is struggling to maintain the softness it once did. Just a thin layer is required and a 5-10 minute wait before washing off. It has a very neutral smell and albeit not the nicest of colours but does the job and can be used 2-3 times per week. It is easy to remove once it's ready to come off and left my skin feeling in the best condition it has for a while!
Bellapierre Mineral Shimmer Glow Roll On (RRP £14.99)
This can be applied to the eyes, body or face to give you a glow that is ready for the summer months. The roll-on application makes it easy to apply to wherever you want, and it quickly blends with the skin to give a subtle shimmer for the most natural look.
Again, The Vegan Kind Beauty Box has stretched my boundaries and made me try products that I wouldn’t normally have picked off the shelf.
Each box contains the products as well as a recipe to try out each month which supports vegan chefs around the UK. For every box you buy- 10p is donated to a featured charity too so your money is being well spent.
I was a sceptic at first, but subscription boxes give a range of vegan brands a chance at the limelight. It is a convenient way to try out new edible and beauty products as it comes right to your door, so you don’t have to comb the shops for vegan fare.
Each box has a list detailing each product, so you know where to find it again if you wish to re-buy it, which includes social media information if you want to follow the company’s news and activities.
After sampling these boxes, there are a few items I will actively seek out again and the other variations in the range.
Thank you The Vegan Kind for letting me sample the service.
Tagged in Vegan superdrug Cruelty Free