June 23, 2011

Desert Essence Coconut Shampoo and Conditioner

Are you trying to grow your hair longer? Do the ends of your hair feel dry? Do you want your hair to feel soft and silky? Then try 'Desert Essence Coconut Shampoo & Conditioner'!!

I've been trying to grow my hair longer, but the ends continued to feel dry. Which made it hard for me to let my hair grow - until I started using these products. This makes my hair feel so great!

I've been alternating between 'Desert Essence's Coconut Shampoo & Conditioner' and 'Desert Essence's Fragrance Free Shampoo Conditioner' ~ which I also love! Since using these products, my hair feels softer and silkier.

I love the coconut fragrance! I continue to smell it long after my shower. I even smell it when I use the 'Fragrance Free Shampoo and Condition'.

I love the fact that these products are vegan ~ some shampoo and conditioners contain silk! The ingredients are WONDERFUL! No Parabens, No Sodium Lauryl/Laureth Sulfates.

I 100% recommend this shampoo and conditioner! I love it!

My Rating: 5 stars

Shampoo Ingredients:


Water (Aqua), Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract*, Arctium Lappa (Burdock) Root Extract*, Achillea Millefolium (Yarrow) Extract*, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Leaf Extract*, Foeniculum Vulgare (Fennel) Seed Extract*, Sambucus Nigra (Black Elderberry) Flower Extract*, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract*, Sodium Coco-Sulfate (Coconut Derived), Decyl Glucoside (Coconut and Corn Derived), Propanediol (Corn Derived), Coco-Glucoside (Coconut Derived), Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter*, Coco Nucifera (Coconut) Oil*, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil*, Cannabis Sativa (Hemp) Seed Oil*, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil*, Dehydroacetic Acid, Glycerin, Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides (Coconut Derived), Sodium Chloride, Potassium Sorbate (Fruit Derived), Lauryl Glucoside (Plant Derived), Benzyl Alcohol, Citric Acid, Stearyl Citrate (Vegetable Derived), Fragrance (Parfum) * Certified Organic


Conditioner Ingredients:

Water (Aqua), Olea Europaea (Olive) Leaf Extract*, Urtica Dioica (Nettle) Leaf Extract*, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract*, Cetearyl Alcohol (Coconut Derived), Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Coco Nucifera (Coconut) Oil*, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter*, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil*, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil*, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil*, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride (Coconut Derived), Dehydroacetic Acid, Cetrimonium Chloride, Benzyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Potassium Sorbate (Fruit Derived), Citric Acid, Fragrance (Parfum) * Certified Organic

You can find the shampoo here and the conditioner here

Blogaholic Designs”=
June 18, 2011

Desert Essence Tea Tree Oil Mouthwash

Find this at www.desertessence.com

Desert Essence Tea Tree Oil Mouthwash is a really good mouthwash in my opinion. The minty flavor isn't that potent, but I like how this doesn't burn or sting my mouth. I got the 16oz refill bottle because it was cheaper than getting the regular 8oz size.

I think this works great with Desert Essence toothpaste - right now I'm using the mint flavor but I plan to try ginger and wintergreen soon. My teeth seem whiter now that I've been using both products, which is a definite plus! I'm also glad that both the toothpaste and mouthwash are Xylitol free! Even though I still have some things that contain Xylitol (like vegan gum) I'm glad that I can minimize the amount I use by not using toothpaste/mouthwash that contains it.

Desert Essence is one of my favorite brands. I love their toothpaste, mouthwash, shampoo, conditioner, etc. I also love how most of their products are vegan - including this mouthwash!

I give this -  4 stars


The reason this isn't 5 stars is because the mouthwash's aftertaste is somewhat bland. Other than that, though, I love it!

Ingredients:


Water (Aqua), Glycerin (Vegetable Derived), Polysorbate 80, Eco-Harvest® Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Mentha Viridis (Spearmint) Leaf Oil, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Extract, Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), Calcium Ascorbate, Citric Acid.


  • NO Alcohol
  • NO Animal Testing
  • NO Artificial Fragrances/Dyes
  • YES Vegetarian
  • YES Vegan
  • YES Recyclable

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May 28, 2011

Vegan Homemade Dog Treats!

Recipe from: My Sweet Vegan by Hannah Kaminsky - Page 84


I made this recently for my dogs and they loved them (at least I think they did because they devoured them so quickly). 


I made a double batch and put the batter in a mini muffin pan, so that they would be a good size for dogs of all sizes and last a couple of days. These treats were quick and easy to make, vegan, and homemade!


The ingredients are so healthy that even humans can eat these treats!


Note: Vegan Soapbox is giving away a copy of this cookbook.
May 18, 2011

Free Vegan Cookbook Contest

The following website is giving away a free copy of 'My Sweet Vegan' by Hannah Kaminsky. Contest ends soon.

www.vegansoapbox.com/win-a-cookbook/
May 13, 2011

Desert Essence Natural Tea Tree Oil Toothpaste With Baking Soda



★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

This is a great toothpaste! The ingredients are wonderful and it really works. I love that this toothpaste doesn't contain xylitol - many other toothpastes do, but I prefer ones without it . It cleans my teeth really well and leaves my mouth feeling fresh. I have the mint flavor, but Desert Essence also sells Wintergreen, Fennel & Ginger. This toothpaste isn't very minty and, even though I like it, I would have preferred it to be more minty. I love the new design - the flip cap is really nice! The toothpaste is also 100% vegan!


Ingredients (from LuckyVitamin.com)


Calcium Carbonate, Glycerin (Vegetable Derived), Water (Aqua), Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Distillate, Sodium Coco-Sulfate, Carrageenan (Plant Derived), Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Oil, Sodium Bicarbonate, Eco-Harvest Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Oil, Sea Salt. 100% Vegan.

No

  • Animal Derived Ingredients
  • Animal Testing
  • Parabens
  • Sweeteners
  • Harsh Abrasives
  • Artificial Fragrances or Dyes
  • Petroleum Compounds: Mineral Oil, Petrolatum or Paraffin
  • SLS
  • PEGS, PPG, MEA, DEA or TEA
  • Glycols
  • Phthalates
Yes
  • Vegetarian/Vegan
  • Recyclable
  • Gluten Free
  • Biodegradable
  • Renewable Sources
  • Cruelty Free




May 10, 2011

Dr. Tung's Stainless Steel Tongue Cleaner

 

I really like this tongue cleaner, it's by far the best that I have tried. It's really good at getting the tongue clean of unwanted matter. I think the quality of this is great and will last for years. The rubber-like handles are really nice as well. This is a great tongue cleaner.
May 7, 2011

Happy Mother's Day

This is the cake I made for my mom for Mother's Day this year. I think it turned out good, considering I'm a novice in decorating cakes. 

 

For the cake, I used the 'Chocolate Cake' recipe (page 72) from 'The Joy Of Vegan Baking'. 
I frosted the cake with 'Chocolate Fudgey Frosting' (page 259) from 'La Dolce Vegan!' & used 'Butter Cream Frosting' (page 261) from ' La Dolce Vegan!' for in-between the layers and for decorating. 


I like how it tastes - sweet, but not too sweet.  I think it's especially delicious with a glass of Silk Soymilk. 


Happy Mother's Day Everyone!!!
May 2, 2011

Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream....Update

Recipe from - The Vegan Scoop


This is my absolute favorite ice cream! I have made double & triple batches. As I've said before, I find that this ice cream tastes way better if you minimize the peppermint extract to 1/2 tablespoon (otherwise it is way too minty). The picture on the left is from when I added chocolate chips that I chopped in a food processor. It turned out great, but it's really hard to tell which way I like this ice cream better (with whole chocolate chips or with chopped chocolate chips). This way there are chocolate pieces in every bite, but with whole chips it's a lot more refreshing and smooth. Either way, I really love this ice cream...it's delicious!!!
April 16, 2011

What's in McDonald's Oatmeal

This link shows the calories, sugar, fat, etc., in McDonald's Oatmeal.

http://www.mnn.com/food/healthy-eating/stories/infographic-mcdonalds-rocks-the-oat

Nearly Half of Meat ‘Widely contaminated’ with Staph, Study Finds

I originally heard about this on the 'News in Focus' program and decided to share the link to this study. I would think that this would make people think about what they are eating before they eat it. Another reason I am glad that I am a vegan.

http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/united-states/staph-in-meat-nearly-half-of-meat-widely-contaminated-54743.html
March 16, 2011

Minestrone Soup



This soup is really delicious. One of my favorites. I love everything in the soup except for the spinach (I don't mind a little spinach, but hate when there are clumps of spinach). 
February 16, 2011

Chocolate Cupcake with Chocolate Buttercream Frosting

                                                      
The recipe for this cupcake can be found in the book, 'Vegan Cupcakes Take Over The World' by Isa Chandra Moskowitz & Terry Hope Romero, on page 37 ('Your Basic Chocolate Cupcake') & page 144 ('Chocolate Buttercream Frosting'). 


It was quick & easy to make. The cupcake batter took me under 20 minutes to make. This tastes really good, not too sweet & very moist. They were also fun to decorate.


Five stars because of its taste, easy instructions, and quickness. Yum!



February 3, 2011

Baked Mac & Cheeze Recipe Review

Recipe from "Vegan Yum Yum" by Lauren Ulm

★ ★ ★ ★


Made this for dinner

I've been making this recipe for about half a year and still love it. Even though the recipe calls for it, I don't bake the Mac & Cheeze. I think this is by far the best & I mean BEST mac & cheese recipe. It tastes different than the traditional mac and cheese - more flavorful (which I find so delicious!). Another thing I love is that the recipe calls for nutritional yeast flakes, so there is Vitamin B2, Vitamin B6 and Vitamin B12 in the food. The sauce is very easy to make & takes under 10 minutes. This recipe tastes great with broccoli on the side.


February 1, 2011

Homestyle Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe Reviews



★ ★ ★ ★

Fresh from the oven.


I LOVE these cookies!!!! They don't have that much sugar, yet they taste so good (with or without a glass of soymilk). The recipe only makes