Although I have my funny valentine (A), I also have many galentines. The women who bring as much love and support as a partner and whom I cherish dearly.
“They” say to write about what you know. With that in mind, my Valentine’s Day guide is comprised of ideas for the ladies. Fittingly, these companies are all owned/partially owned by women.
Everything listed I have used myself (and in some cases, bought as gifts) guilt-free, as the companies below all find ways to give back and are based out of the US. So for all your galentines (and/or yourself– you’re worth it!), here are my suggestions:
K-Deer leggings— Kristine Deer is a friend of a friend, and although we’ve never met, I’m a huge fan of her and her NJ-based company. Her leggings are out of this world comfortable, do not budge one bit– for real– and come in the most amazingly fun patterns. Her signature stripe patterns, which recently were copied by Athleta (who has since removed them from their site and stores), are named after women she admires to give back and bring awareness to specific charities tied to said women. As if that wasn’t reason enough to support this small business, the class and grace with which the company weathered the situation was inspiring. I am not sure I would have kept my head cool in that situation, but K.Deer did. Join her mailing list or follow along on social media to find out about promotions and new pattern releases. I promise you will not regret buying a pair of these!
Colour Pop lippies— Thanks to Courtney Kerr, I was made aware of this extremely affordable LA-based company last summer. I cannot get enough of their lippies and recently bought a blush as well. I used to be a Nars lip pencil devotee, but now I get can the same pigmentation and long lasting wear for a fraction of the price… which just means I buy more 🙂 For real though, you won’t believe the quality you’re getting for the price point. You’re also supporting a US company who doesn’t test on animals so it’s a win-win. Plus, proceeds from their Puppy Love shadow go towards rescuing animals. Join their mailing list for $5 off your first order and enjoy free shipping on orders $30+.
May Designs planners— I don’t remember how I was first made aware of May Designs, but I am on my 4th eco-friendly planner so it’s safe to say it’s been awhile. I prefer to keep it old school and write down my plans. Completely customizable, small yet durable enough to survive my purse, these cheery books come with all sorts of options for inside as well– calendar, meal planner, wedding planner, baby diary etc. I now have several friends and my mum hooked on these. Follow them on social media or join their mailing list (20% off your first order) for fairly regular promotions. There’s even one going on now through 2/1!
True Moringa lavender facial oil— I was given the opportunity to test out a sample (size pictured– full size is 1oz) of True Moringa’s products and I picked the lavender facial oil. I’m a fan! I love using oil in the winter and I’m a sucker for anything lavender so it seemed like a no-brainer. If you’re scared, don’t be. As long as you’re using pure oils, it will not make you break out and can actually prevent your skin from becoming too oily. The Boston-based company is ethical and sustainable, working directly with 700 farmers in Ghana to better their lives, so you can feel confident that the top quality (paraben free, sulfate free, vegan) product you’re receiving is also doing a lot of good for a lot of people. Their affordable product line also includes hair care and body care. Give them a follow!
What’s on your Galentine’s Day list? Let me know about other companies I should check out!
Love love love your picks! Definitely not as affordable as colourpop (few things are!), but I adore the ultra-comfy line of tees and pretty underthings created by the women behind Negative! Not only are their products AHmazing, but they’re super nice and have awesome customer interaction- handwritten notes and secret sales galore!
xo, Ingrid