Vegan Beauty Review: I heart EO (sounds like a good band name)

A lil' about me...

My name is Sunny Subramanian and I've been vegan since 2000. I owe it all to my furry felines at home: Towane, Spirulina, Kaduki and Conan. The reason I'm vegan is because I love animals and would never want to contribute to the pain and suffering of any living being. I'm a member of the LA based animal rights group The Vegan Vixens.
I'm trying to help break the stereotype that all vegans are stinky, hairy earth babies. I want the world to know that you can be vegan and still be uber girlie and relish new and exciting beauty products that are vegan, cruelty-free and free of nasty chemicals and preservatives.
If you would like to have your vegan product reviewed on www.veganbeautyreview.com, please e-mail me at sunbundelicious@yahoo.com

A few good reasons to go vegan:

• You'll save lives
• You'll live a lot longer
• You'll have more energy
• You'll reduce your risk of cancer
• You'll reduce your risk of heart disease
• You'll have lower blood pressure and cholesterol
• You'll get better nutrition
• You'll lower your chances of getting food poisoning
• You won't be ingesting growth hormones and antibiotics
• You'll get sick less often
• You'll fit into your old jeans
• You'll give your body a spring cleaning
• You'll have healthier skin
• You'll make a strong political statement
• You'll reduce waste and air pollution
• You'll earn good karma points
• You'll save money
• You'll help save the planet

Famous Animal Friendly Quotes

"Animals are my friends... and I don't eat my friends."

~George Bernard Shaw

"You put a baby in a crib with an apple and a rabbit. If it eats the rabbit and plays with the apple, I'll buy you a new car."

~Harvey Diamond

"We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals."

~Immanuel Kant

"I am in favor of animal rights as well as human rights. That is the way of a whole human being."

~Abraham Lincoln

"To become vegetarian is to step into the stream which leads to nirvana."

~Buddha

"To consider yourself an environmentalist and still eat meat is like saying you're a philanthropist who doesn't give to charity"

~Howard Lyman

Recipe for Vegan Lip Balm

Lip balm is surprisingly easy to make using the easiest/quickest/laziest way possible that involves all common household tools.

What you'll need:

-lip balm base or waxes+oils+extras

-essential or flavor oil(s)

-pipettes (one for each flavor)

-microwave or double-boiler

-glass measuring cup with pouring spout

-spoons or spatulas

-lip balm tube holder

-lip balm tubes, jars, pots, lids, bottle caps, etc.---any container that you would like to use for your lip balm

-shrink bands for sealing containers

-newspaper or craft paper to cover your counters

-towels for cleaning up

The Fastest Way

Step 1: Preparation

(a) Buy your supplies.

(b) Set up all the supplies you'll need on a counter top covered in newsprint or craft paper. You'll be glad you did this because lip balm can be hard to clean up if you make a mess. It's recommended to work in the kitchen as close to the microwave as possible, since you'll be using it a lot, if you're following this method. Be sure you have all your supplies ready, including the containers you'll be pouring into. Once the mixture is melted, you'll need to work quickly, but steadily, so the mixture doesn't harden before it has been poured.

(c) Put on your favorite apron/lab coat, if you feel so inclined.

Step 2: Scooping

Scoop out your base into a glass measuring cup that has a spout.

Step 3: Melting

Melt the base in the microwave. Take out every 30-45 seconds and stir, so that the base is heated evenly.

Step 4: Flavoring

After the base has melted completely and has cooled very slightly, use a pipette to drop in the appropriate amount of flavor or essential oils. Use a different pipette for each flavor/scent that you use, so as not to cross-contaminate. 2-4% is a good rule-of-thumb for flavor. Essential oils need less, about 0.3-1.5%. The oils you choose may recommend different proportions, so check before you get started. Stir just until mixed.

It is important that you add your flavor/essential oil after you melt the base. If you add the flavor before you melt the base, it will lose its potentcy in the heating process.

Step 5: Pouring

Using the very same measuring cup that you melted the base in, pour your mixed and melted concoction into your tubes or jars or what have you. That's why the spout is so handy. If you're using tubes, fill only to the top of the inside screw. Once the mixture has cooled, finish filling the tube. Pour almost all the way to the top, for that professional and rounded look. This process avoids the risk of cracking that can occur when filling the tube in one go. If you're using jars or lids, just pour all the way to the top in one pour.

Don't be discouraged if you make a mess when you first start pouring. After a few tries, you'll be a pro. It's all in the wrist.

Step 6: Labeling

Make some sweet labels.

Below are some examples of recycled containers for lip balm.

Step 7: Sell your lovely lip balm or give it to all your friends!

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

I heart EO (sounds like a good band name)

It never ceases to amaze me how many organic, natural, eco-friendly beauty products are on the market. Vegan bath and body lines are ubiquitous! EO is amongst the many amazing brands that fit the bill. EO is a small, family owned and operated business located in Marin County, CA. They are cruelty-free, paraben and synthetic free, and they are all about using sustainable, organic ingredients and recycled packaging. EO takes pride in using herbs, essential oils and organic natural ingredients in their goodies. They have a complete line of affordable bath & body products including soaps, lotions, perfumes, shaving creams and hand sanitizers.

My favorite EO products:

Time Out Coconut and Vanilla Bubble Bath ($10.79): There's nothing more relaxing than a hot bath full of bubbles. This deliciously fragrant bubble bath has EO's special Coconut Oil Cleansing Complex which one of the gentlest, richly foaming formulas sans the nasty sodium lauryl sulfates, which are found in most conventional bubble baths. Time Out's key ingredients are vanilla extract, tangerine and coconut extract - a spectacular combo, effective for brightening your mood and relieving stress. Never underestimate the power of aromatherapy and essential oils. They can turn a poopy day into a magical one.
EO has a special promotion this month: 15% off bubble baths. Go to town and try all of their scents: Hinoki & Ginger, Rose & Chamomile, Rose Geranium & Citrus, French Lavender, Juniper & Lemon, Ylang Ylang & Cedarwood, Nighty Nite and Be Well.

Nighty Nite Bath Salts ($3.99): Having trouble sleeping? Nighty Nite bath salts will help you drift off into slumberland with ease. This all-natural bath salt medley contains Himalayan pink salt (formed over 250 million years ago, packed with 84 rich elements and minerals), California sun dried sea salt (rich in calcium, potassium and magnesium), pure organic blue chamomile and lavender, both of which soothe your body and calm your mind. These bath salts have amazing detoxification properties and they help stimulate circulation as well. All of this for $4 - I'll take it!

Chocolate & Mint Body Lotion ($8.99): I saved the best for last! This lotion smells like a frickin' cookie. In fact, if you're on a diet, you might want to go with the French Lavender or Jasmine scent. I personally like smelling like dessert as often as I can. This quick absorbing, yummy smelling lotion contains: Cocoa Absolute, which is loaded with antioxidants and flavonoids that restore and renew skin, peppermint essential oil which revitalizes and supports health, oat betaglucan which moisturizes and soothes irritated skin, rice proteins which help fight wrinkles, Vitamins E & A which improve skin's elasticity with potent antioxidants, mango seed butter and organic jojoba oil that help moisturize and protect the skin and organic calendula, chamomile and white tea which tie everything together with extra nourishment.

For more info: EO