Vegan Beauty Review

Vegan Beauty Review Has Moved!

2010-10-12T10:01:00.000-07:00

Please visit the new site: Vegan Beauty Review

Thank you! XOXO

Oh no! Look what Kanye's done to VBR!

2009-09-17T22:33:00.000-07:00

Knock off some years with Holistic Serums

2009-09-10T12:02:00.000-07:00

The number of "FDA approved" beautifying products on the market are burgeoning... but unfortunately so many of them are chemical-laden and animal tested. Holistic Serums has taken the business of beauty treatments into their own hands. They manufacture anti-aging serums, facial and hair serums and all sorts of 100% natural remedies that are sure to benefit your deserving body.

A few highlights:

Orchid Anti-Aging Serum ($29.99): Holistic Serums calls this their "Botox-in-a-Bottle." This serum will help restore elasticity and work against wrinkles, sagging jowls and laugh lines. This miracle serum contains orchid extract, Vitamin E oil and Macadamia Oil. A few drops go a long way - a 1oz. bottle will last 2-3 months! I use this serum before I go to bed and I can feel a difference in my skin's texture when I wake up. My skin feels conditioned and super smooth. I'm a big fan and I'm an even bigger fan of the fact that the ingredients are as pure as can be. The healing properties of Mother Nature never cease to amaze me.

Natural Hairgrow Serum ($29.99): After using these serums regularly for awhile, I can tell that they are powerful. I feel a change in my skin and scalp almost immediately after only my first application. As you know from my previous post, I've been having hair issues (which I'm happy to say they are pretty much 100% gone). My hair was falling out, brittle and dry. I was using a combination of treatments on my hair and scalp and this was one of them. This hair serum has Centella, Indian Gooseberry and Camellia Oil - which are used by Indians and Geishas, known for having exquisite, beautiful, healthy hair. In 2-3 weeks users notice new growth and general improvement in texture of hair. My intricate hair routine that I've been rockin' for the past 2 months has made a huge difference in my life. I'm usually really skeptical about wonder products, but my hair was litterally transformed. It went from fragile, dry and hard to manage to smooth and strong. My hair is as healthy as it was in my youth and I'm soooooo stoked! Many of these serums are available in sample sizes, so if you're not sure you want to commit, save yourself some money and put it to the test.

Eyelash Lengthener ($59): This serum, which contains Camellia Oil, helps give the appearance of longer and fuller eyelashes. With Latisse being all the rage right now, it's nice that there's a 100% natural option as well. I happen to be a regular user of false eyelashes because my natural eyelashes aren't very long or full. I decided to give this serum a whirl 'cause I have nothing to lose. Most users notice a difference in 1-4 weeks. I've been using this lash lengthener before I go to bed and on days that I don't have to go to work for about a week and a half. First of all, it this serum can act as a clear mascara if you want to wear it for that purpose alone. This serum also allows regular mascara to go on smoothly after application. As far as results go, I feel a subtle difference. My lashes do seem a bit fuller. I feel like I need to give it about a month to make a complete assessment but as for now, I am satisfied with what I've seen so far. I will definitely post an update after I've used this product for a full month. I have a hunch I'm going to be thrilled!

For more info: Holistic Serums

LA Times mentions VBR

2009-09-01T20:37:00.000-07:00

On August 23rd, Susan Carpenter of The Los Angeles Times wrote an article on green beauty and she was kind enough to interview me and mention Vegan Beauty Review. Yahoooo! Here is an excerpt (featuring my quotes) from the article Vegan beauty care: When going natural isn't enough

"It's easy to be girly nowadays and vegan at the same time. You can still wear nail polish and cruelty-free makeup. There are products out there that don't hurt the Earth or the animals and are better for your skin," said Sunny Subramanian, 29, a Panorama City-based model and actress who runs the Vegan Beauty Review website (www.veganbeautyreview.com).

"Our skin absorbs 60% of what we put on it, so it's just as important as the food we eat."

For the complete article click here.

Dog shampoo worked for this bitch ;)

2009-09-01T16:27:00.000-07:00

Giveaway winner!

2009-08-26T11:12:00.000-07:00

I'm so happy about the number of people who participated in this giveaway. I wish I could hook everybody up. All I can say is there will be many more giveaways to come.

The winner of the Blooming Lotus Pedi to Go Kit is...

Monica Hayes! Congrats!

Her 3 reasons for needing a pedicure:

1) I'm a busy, single mom of 3 very active kids
2) I haven't had a pedicure in over 5 years so I'm overdue
3) This year has been a very stressful one and some self pampering sounds like a real treat.

The answer to all of your sticky situations...

2009-08-18T14:36:00.000-07:00

The other day, while on my way to meet a friend, I scarffed down some take-out Mexican food in my car, and subsequently I had some seriously potent-smelling burrito fingers. Luckily, I keep a stash of Giovanni's organic, antibacterial travel towelettes in my glove compartment (I also keep a stash in my purse for emergencies). After using a Peppermint Surge towelette, my fingers were minty fresh and tingly. I even used the other side of the towelette on my arms and legs.

These essential oil-infused, cruelty-free, biodegradable towelettes (which don't contain synthetic perfumes or detergents) come in three scents : Grapefruit Splash (energizes and refreshes), Lavender Calm (soothes and relaxes) and Peppermint Surge (awakens and recharges). These towelettes are multifunctional and are individually wrapped so they travel nicely. They're great for freshening up – they work wonders for your face, hands, feet and legs. Take these babies to the gym and you won't have to worry about all those nasty germies that are lurking on every machine and on every floor mat.

To make these mini refreshers even that more oomphy, put them in the fridge for a bit before using them. Seriously, the Peppermint Surge towelettes (which are my fave) are tingly, amazing smelling and they give me energy and help clear my mind... and when they are chilled, fugetaboutit! No joke, these towelettes are some of my favorite vegan finds ever.

If you can't settle on a scent, you can order the Mixed Bag of Towelettes (20 towelettes, ~$7.50). That's what I'm rockin'.

By the way Giovanni makes amazing skin and hair care products that I highly recommend (and you can purchase them at Target)! I will write a post about all of their fabulous goodies in the near future.

For more info: Giovanni

Smooth, sexy toesie wosies? Um, yes please! Giveaway

2009-08-11T23:25:00.000-07:00

It's flip flop season – are your toesies beggin' for a makeover? Even if you aren't a flip flop aficionado, I'm sure you spend long hours on your feet and your footsies are in need of some TLC too!
Now I need to preface my post with admission to my love affair with all things minty. I'm beyond addicted to the tingly factor and I've yet to find a single minty product I haven't become enamored with. And as we all know, pedicure products almost always contain mintiness, so you can expect me to be excited... which I am!
Blooming Lotus has a line of Papaya Gingermint Pedicure products that I'm smitten with. Seriously, I gave myself a Blooming Lotus pedicure over an hour ago and my feet are still tingly fresh (not to mention divinely smooth and minty smelling).

The terrific trio of pedi must-haves:

Effervescent Pedicure Pods ($26 for 5): Bubbles! These fizzy pods are fun. I felt like a cat watching a birdie in the window. I watched the fizzy action diligently until the full pod dissolved. I let my feet soak in this pod-enhanced foot bath for a good ten minutes before moving onto the foot scrub. This was extremely relaxing. Seriously, I felt like I could do this every day for eternity.

Ingredients: Epsom salt, baking soda, citric acid, organic shea butter, papaya enzymes, essential oils and love

Bamboo Pedicure Buff ($22): This exfoliating scrub contains organic cane sugar, tumeric, papaya enzymes, bamboo, brown rice powder and gingermint essential oils. This scrub feels so relaxing and does an amazing job at getting rid of all the rough spots. I really went to town and gave myself a deluxe foot massage using this scrub and I felt like I was getting a professional pedicure. I did such an amazing job I considered giving myself a tip. ;) I couldn't help but think what a treat this would be for a loved one. You can't go wrong with the gift of pampering.

Shea Butter Pedicure Créme ($24): This quickly absorbing formula contains shea butter, coconut oil, jojoba oil, papaya oil and gingermintiness. Just use a little bit of creme and massage into your feet and voila, you're finito. You'll be enjoying the smoothness for quite some time. This creme smells like mint candy. I want to eat it!
My feet feel really special. If they could talk, I know they'd be thanking me. I just need to paint my toenails and then I'll be a rockstar.

The Pedi to Go Kit which has travel sized versions of all three of these fabulous products is $26 and comes in a cutesy take out box. These kits make awesome gifts. Ahem, and I'm giving one away!

Attention, VBR peeps: I will be giving a Pedi to Go Kit to one of my lucky readers! All you have to do is e-mail me three reasons why you are in need of a pedicure (i.e. I work long hours on my feet, I'm an athlete, I'm a busy mom, I wear heels too often, etc.)
I will announce the winner on August 26th! Send submissions to sunbundelicious@yahoo.com. Good luck!

Some other great offers you might be interested in:
Blooming Lotus is offering a free Pedi to Go Kit to the first 50 online orders of over $75.
Also, Vegan Beauty Review readers get a 20% discount at checkout when using the code: VeganBeauty

*There are a few Blooming Lotus Products that contain honey or beeswax so check the ingredients on their website before ordering. Their Papaya Gingermint Pedicure products are completely vegan.

For more info: Blooming Lotus

Sunny raves about another scrub-a-dub-dub

2009-08-04T17:05:00.000-07:00

Portland, Oregon is on my list of places to visit a.s.a.p. Why? 'Cause those Portlanders (Portlandinos? Portlandians?) sure know a lot about veganism... vegan food, vegan treats, vegan beauty products, etc. Alexandra Avery Body Botanicals (Portland-based) is just another reason why Portalnd is so awesome. Alexandra Avery Body Botanicals are all cruelty-free and are made with 100% natural ingredients. Ms. Avery herself uses herbal extracts, nut and veggie oils, antioxidant vitamins and essential oils to create fabulous skin care products to help detox and rejuvinate the skin.

A few of my faves:

Enzyme Exfoliating Mask ($14): Fruit enzymes are a great alternative to Alpha Hydroxy acids. They help get rid of your dead skin cells to help make way for a healthy, smooth complexion. This oat-rich mask did make it seem like I was spreading oatmeal all over my face, which I didn't mind, but it was a little tricky to wash off once it dried. I recommend using a washcloth and circular motions to rinse off the mask. I will say that afterward, my face felt revived, refreshed and super clean.

Ingredients: Papaya and pineapple enzymes, organic oats, essential oils of ylang ylang and orange... simple, love it!

Jungle Blossoms Body Oil ($7 for 4oz): This body oil smells beautiful. The orange essential oil is most prominent in this blend, which I love. I'm not too big on body oils but this one is quite lovely. This oil works perfectly during and after bath time and it makes for a great massage. I personally like to dab a little oil on my legs after bathing. It works better than lotion most of the time and a little goes a long way.

Ingredients: Seseme oil, safflower oil, sweet almond oil, wheat germ oil, avocado oil, Vitamin E, essential oils of orange, rose, geranium, neroli and ylang ylang

Hibiscus Salt Scrub ($10): This scrub is my favorite Alexandra Avery product. It's a mix of sea salt, Vitamin C, hibiscus flowers and essential oils of orange, geranium and ylang ylang. I used it as a hand scrub and it was a divine experience. Scrubs are one of my favorite beauty products ever. To me, hand scrubs are like little massage wonders. In less than a minute, your hands get maassaged, exfoliated and delicately scented. Follw this up with your favorite lotion and I guarantee you'll be quasi obsessed with your soft hands for quite some time. This scrub is part of Alexandra Avery's Spa Bar. Other products in the spa bar include cleansers, creams, masks and other wonderful smelling scrubs.

*Note: Not all products in the Alexandra Avery line are vegan; some contain beeswax, so just be sure to read all the ingredients before ordering from the website.

For more info: Alexandra Avery

Turn up the heat in the bedroom, vegan style!

2009-07-28T08:51:00.000-07:00

Okie doke, I know that my niche in the blogging community is primarily beauty-based, but every once in a while I feel inclined to feature products that seem to be a bit off topic. In a way, this post is related to health and skincare... or at least that's what I've been telling myself to justify this occasion. :) Anywhoo, this post is more of a highlight than a review per se. I want my fellow vegan peeps to extend their green, eco-friendly lifestyles into the bedroom. That's right, I'm talkin' 'bout sex. Also, for all of you non-vegans – who really wants to put propylene glycol, poluquaternium 15 and propylparabens on their naughty bits anyway? Those are all ingredients found in conventional lubricants. Can we say yuck?

As far as vegan lube goes, there are a handful of products to choose from. Astroglide is a company that has been making lube for quite some time. They recently came out with Astroglide Natural, which is an eco-friendly, all-natural, botanical personal lubricant that doesn't contain any glycerin, alcohol, fragrance, flavorings or hormones. I have confirmed with an associate of the company that this lube is 100% vegan. Also, it's packaging (carton and bottle) are recyclable and are printed with soy-based ink. Astroglide Natural contains Xylitol (corn cob-derived, a natural, sugar-free humectant that helps retain and absorb moisture), Aloe Vera (which soothes and moisturizes), Vitamins C & E (powerful antioxidants) and chamomile extract (which also soothes and has anti-bacterial properties). It's water-based, water soluble, latex safe, smooth and "long lasting." You can pick up this vegan lube in most major drug and chain stores. It's $9.99 for a 2.5 fl oz. bottle.
Click here for a free sample.
For more info: Astroglide Natural

Looking for vegan condoms? Well look no further than Glyde. These jimmy hats are made without milk protein (found in some latexes) and are totally vegan and aren't tested on animals. No snickering, people! These condoms are made out of latex and are lubricated with a silicone-based lube that is free of spermicides. They are available in 3 (~$4) or 12 (~$8) packs in Ultra (regular), Maxi (extra large), Special (slightly smaller), Strawberry, Blueberry, Vanilla, Wildberry, and Cola. What, no Sexual Chocolate?
For more info: Glyde Condoms

I also highly recommend that if you are going to use sex toys, buy the eco-friendly versions that don't contain PVC (polyvinyl chlorides) and get yo'self some eco-friendly, sustainable, organic cotton bed sheets.

A couple more eco-friendly tips for gettin' it on:
Turn off the lights during sexy time and shower together afterward (save gallons of water)!
And if you haven't already, go vegan. Vegans taste better. (I had to throw that in)

I'm going nuts over my natural detergent

2009-07-21T12:22:00.000-07:00

I love how cleaning products keep getting greener by the second. I've been recently acquainted with Eco Nuts, an affordable, sustainable, antimicrobial, hypoallergenic, natural, fragrance-free, reusable product which is packaged in the USA. It's mild enough for delicate fabrics and its packaging is 100% compostable.

Eco Nuts is made from the sun dried fruit of the Sapindus Mukorossi tree in Nepal via Fair Trade. The shells of these nuts contain saponin, a natural detergent, which gets sudsy in water. Since Eco Nuts doesn't leave any residue, you can actually skip the rinse cycle and save gallons of water, energy and money.

I'm sure you're skeptical - believe me, I was too. How can a satchel of dried nuts get my stinky clothes clean? Quite brilliantly.
These nuts look freaky deaky, I won't lie, but they totally work. When I washed a load using Eco Nuts, my clothes came out just as clean as with any other wash (sans the nasty chemicals, perfumes and toxins). These nuts are odorless so don't expect any fresh laundry scent. If that's something you'll be missing, I can suggest some amazing all-natural scented sprays (feel free to e-mail me).

So basically this is how it works:
You place 4-5 Eco Nuts in the reusable wash bag which is provided, Next, you put it in with your laundry and then wash your clothes as you normally would. At the end of the wash, remove the bag and set it aside to dry so that you can re-use it for your next load. You can re-use them 4-6 times until they become mushy and discolored at which point you can toss them in your compost heap.

A heads up: These nuts do a great job of preserving colors in fabrics but you might want to use some natural whitener (i.e. eco-friendly oxygen bleach) for keeping your whitey whites white.

Eco Nuts Trial size (reusable 5-7 loads) $4.50
Eco Nuts Family size (50 loads) $12 - order 3 or more and shipping is free.
For more info: Eco Nuts Organic Laundry Soap

Beat the heat with mood lifting misters

2009-07-14T13:42:00.000-07:00

Dropwise Essentials is a San Francisco-based manufacturer of cruelty-free, all-natural aromatherapy body products. They use pure essential oils, organic herbs and hydrosols to make hand-crafted, mood enhancing goodies. I want to focus on their amazing body sprays. I've been going to town with these bad boys - they are fantastic! Whether you're seeking to relax, get energized, get an attitude adjustment or simply feel divine, there's a spray to fit your mood.

Aromatherapy Mist Sprays ($12.50 each): These portable misty sprays are pretty versatile. You can use them as body splashes, facial pick-me-up spritzers or air fresheners and they are light and FAA compliant so you can take them along with you when you travel. I personally like to spray them all over my face in the am and pm. I make a point to deeply breath in the aromatherapy goodness to get my mind in line with the mood I'm trying to set. I tell ya, a lil' misty action on these hot summer nights, while sitting in front of a fan is beyond refreshing. Sometimes I like to chill these babies in the fridge for a little while for that extra boost of coolness.

Aromatherapy scents to choose from:
Divine - perfect for relaxing and pampering, excellent for balancing mature skin (featuring lavender, geranium, ylang ylang and vanilla)
Inspiration - intended to brighten up your mood and spark creativity (featuring sweet orange, tangerine, patchouli, elemi and ginger)... the patchouli is subtle so don't freak out. :)
Refresh (my favorite; I have a soft spot for minty things) - cooling and energizing, perfect for the summertime or whenever you need to recharge your battery (featuring spearmint, peppermint, lime, grapefruit and patchouli... again, subtle)
Revitalize - also cooling, refreshing, stimulating, helps clear the mind (featuring cedarwood, pine, lemon, eucalyptus)
Soothe - calming, for when you want to chill out (featuring lavender, chamomile, geranium and clary sage)
They all smell amazing and feel refreshing!

* Heads up - some of their products i.e. their lotions, creams and balms contain beeswax but their body washes, body oils and aromatic misters are 100 % vegan.
* Sale alert: 30% off all body oils until July 31st.
* Sign up for Dropwise Health & Beauty News E-zine for tips, discounts and special offers.

For more info: Dropwise Essentials

Kazam - straight from Mother Nature

2009-06-30T16:38:00.000-07:00

Kazam Natural Body Care is a family based business that manufactures natural, organic, handmade health and beauty products like lotions, soaps, natural perfumes, shampoos, conditioners, as well as products for men and babies.
Marjorie Moutari, the founder and CEO of Kazam Natural Body Care not only has a knack for making amazing beauty products but she also has a giving nature and a kind heart. She has conducted workshops and seminars to train African women to make their own beauty products which enable them to gain independence and generate income for their families. Moutari is a also a supporter of the American Cancer Society.

Products I highly recommend:

Beautiful Hair Conditioner ($14): This conditioner couldn't be more perfect for my hair type. My hair is over-processed, dry and frizzy which calls for intense conditioning. This conditioner is not only vegan and mineral oil and petroleum free, but it smells aromatherapeutically beautiful! It's packed with plant oils and extracts which moisturize and nourish the hair and scalp. I've been using this conditioner every day for a week and I've fallen in love with how manageable and smooth my hair is when I use it.

Ingredients: Water, aloe, sopropyl palmitate, cocoa and shea butters, Vitamin E, fennel, sage, yarrow, jojoba, bergamot, geranium, rosewood, ylang ylang and rich moisturizing oils.

I love essential oil perfumes - they don't contain any synthetics, petrochemicals, parabens, alcohols or chemicals.
Kazam has quite an array of essential oil perfumes to choose from: Aphrodisiac, Angelic Presence, Sweet Dreams, Prosperity, Exotic Pleasure, Sweet Romance and Lavender.

Prosperity Essential Oil Perfume ($18): As much as I wanted to try the Sweet Romance perfume, I figured I could use a lil' help in the prosperity department (seeing I'm all set with the romance *wink*). When I got this perfume in the mail, it came in a super duper cute ruffley, green organza baggie. The specific essential oils for this perfume were not listed on the bottle or on their website and I made a conscious decision not to inquire about the ingredients because a) it's probably a secret "prosperity" formula and I know that if I had come up with it, I wouldn't want to share that info and b) I wanted it to simply be a prosperity perfume for prosperity's sake. I didn't want to dissect the formula and spoil the magic. In these rough economic times I'm sure we're all seeking a little extra prosperity. I've been wearing this perfume for about a week and I love it! It smells exactly like my Tinkerbell Perfume from when I was a little girl (how did they do that?) . You know how powerful sense memory can be... It makes me feel young when I'm wearing it and it has a feminine, girlie smell to it. To top everything off, how cool is it to tell my peeps that I'm rcokin' Prosperity Perfume? It's cool. :) As far as beckoning prosperity with my perfumey potion, I believe a week is too soon to tell, so I'll have to keep you all posted.

For more info: Kazam Body Care

Kazam Natural Body Care Boutique
239 Broadway (between 9th and 10th Streets)
Bayonne, NJ 07002

Your luscious locks can help save the rainforest!

2009-06-16T13:51:00.000-07:00

Did you know that saving the rainforest can be as easy as washing your hair? Save Your World is a vegan skin & hair care company that is partnered up with Conservation International and the Government of Guyana Forestry Commission, so for every product you purchase, you help save 1 acre of rainforest for a year. Save Your World offers a variety of body care and hair care products to choose from that are handcrafted, fair trade, vegan, organic, paraben-free and packaged in recyclable containers.

Ever since back in the day, when I read in a beauty magazine that it's always good to keep switching up your hair care products (because your shampoo and conditioner can become less effective once your hair gets too used to them), that's what I've done. If you color your hair as often as I do, then you'll want to check these out:

Color-Safe Rainforest Shampoo ($12.98): This shampoo is not only safe on colored hair but it's also cruelty-free and doesn't contain parabens or Sodium Lauryl Sulfate - just organic ingredients like yerba mate (which contains over 24 vitamins and minerals and 15 amino acids). This shampoo is packed with UV protection and has an earthy scent of rainforest and wood-berry. It's a light formula that won't weigh down your hair which is especially great for peeps like me with fine hair.

Color-Safe Rainforest Conditioner ($14.98): This conditioner perfectly complements the shampoo. It's super light and it helps prevent tangles. So, it's a win-win. You help save the rainforest and in exchange you have these fabulous shampoos and conditioners that are rich in antioxidants, vitamins and minerals that smell wonderful. By the way, these hair care products are also available in Oasis Fruit scent, Regal Blossom and Pure Mist. By purchasing the shampoo and conditioner together, you'll be saving 2 acres of rainforest!

FYI, Save Your World is having a huge sale on shampoos and conditioners (excluding the color safe line) starting from $3.49-6.99 (from their original prices). That's an awesome deal!

For more info: Save Your World

This post is for the ladies...

2009-06-02T16:23:00.000-07:00

I know I often write about what goes on our bodies but it's just as (if not more) important to be just as picky about what goes inside of our bodies -- and I'm not just referring to organic, whole foods and nutrition.
All of you healthy ladies who care about your bodies, listen up!
Did you know that conventionally grown cotton is not only bleached with chlorine but it is also full of pesticides? When possible, you should only buy organic cotton clothes and undergarments - and I'm sure this isn't the first time you're hearing this. Now, I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm going to assume we're all on the same page when I say I don't want pesticides and bleach in my sacred region.

Natracare is a brand of feminine hygiene products that you need to check out. They manufacture organic cotton tampons, wipes, pads, liners, incontinence pads (sexy, no?), maternity products, toiletries and baby wipes.

Go to your local health food market and pick up some of these:

Natracare Organic All Cotton Tampons (~$4): These are very similar to o.b. tampons sans the chemicals and pesticides. Natracare tampons are 100% certified organic cotton, non-chlorine bleached, rayon-free, perfume-free, plastic-free and biodegradable. They come in regular, super and super plus absorbency (no surprise). They are awesome!

For more info: Natracare

On a related note, I wanted to promote Vulva Love Lovely. You can find her on etsy. She has a variety of products (including jewelry, plushies and vegan skin care) that truly celebrate everything female.

On my wish list:
"My Uterus is a Super Hero" plush ($20) - it's made of soft flannel and animal friendly fiberfill. This plush is truly unique and in my humble opinion, genius. Check out the cape!

Tampon Pouch ($16.99) - It's pink and purple and absolutely fabulous (not to mention functional). Again, all materials used for this pouch are 100% vegan (as stated on her etsy page). I would love to sport this baby as a purse. It's 8 1/2"x 7" so you can use it to carry lots of things. But hey, having extra tampons in a cute pouch is pretty perfect.

Homage to my affinity of mintity

2009-05-26T18:18:00.000-07:00

Cactus & Ivy makes natural spa and body products (i.e. lotions, body scrubs, body washes, lip balms, soaps), all created by hand, and they're all 100% cruelty-free and vegan. I love it when companies like Cactus & Ivy rock the leaping bunny logo. It instantly makes me a fan.
I'm sure you all know by now that I'm smitten with all things minty -- I love the smell and tingly sensation. Cactus & Ivy has got the minty thing down.

My minty picks:

Spearcalyptus Body Soap ($5): It's like spearmint and eucalyptus made sweet love and had a baby. This hearty bar of soap will definitely help you wake up in the mornings if you need that lil' extra boost. The spearmint and eucalyptus leaves not only provide a minty, refreshing, energizing aroma, but they also exfoliate while you scrub-a-dub-dub. I love to exfoliate while I'm de-griming. It gives my skin cells a chance to regenerate and leaves my skin feeling super duper soft.

Ingredients: Saponified olive oil, palm oil, coconut oil, jojoba seed oil, kukio seed oil, kaolin, spearmint leaf, eucalyptus leaf, spearmint leaf oil and eucalyptus leaf oil.

Peppermint Tree Food Balm ($12): This is Cactus & Ivy's signature balm and it's no surprise why. This balm is the epitome of mintiness. So basically, you apply this balm liberally to your feet at bedtime and then cover your feet with socks. This helps moisturize your feet while you sleep and I'm assuming it might help with foot odor as well. My research didn't entail any sniff tests in that regard. I will admit, and maybe we can keep this between you and me, that I tried using this as a deodorant under my armpits and I thoroughly enjoyed the tingly, cooling sensation. In fact, I loved it! It's a foot balm though, so don't be silly like me and please use it as it's intended. :)

Ingredients: Sweet almond oil, apricot kernel oil, candelilla wax, carnauba wax, Vitamin E, peppermint oil, tea tree oil and menthol.

...gotta love all of Cactus & Ivy's natural ingredients.

For more info: Cactus & Ivy

Adorn yourself with roses and cupcakes!

2009-05-19T16:21:00.000-07:00

I've been making jewelry since I was a wee lass and I figured I might as well blog about my crafty goodies from time to time and spread the word. My jewelry is vegan and handcrafted (with 110% love - and then some). Also, a portion of the proceeds from my jewelry goes toward a variety of local, LA-based animal rescues.
For those of you who don't already know, cupcakes are my favorite fruit. I'm beyond obsessed with anything cupcake, but most particularly the edible kind. Seeing my baking skills are sub par, I've decided to bake cupcakes in a completely different way. I bake inedible polymer clay cupcakes. They sure are pretty to look at (if I don't say so myself). I also make rose jewelry and beaded, faery-inspired pieces as well. In fact, the name of my jewelry line is Faery Inspired Jewelry.

...but today I want to focus on my cupcakes and roses.

I make tasty-looking c upcak e earrings and necklaces ($15 each plus s&h), and I can make any flavor your heart desires. Red velvet? Vanilla with chocolate chips? Strawberry with sprinkles? You got it!
These inedible cupcakes make great gifts and when you wear them, you're bound to get lots of comments. :) All of my jewelry is packaged in girlie, organza gift baggies, so they are ready to be gifted at any time (even if you're gifting them to yourself).

Everyone knows accessories make an outfit. And flaunting vegan, handmade accessories is gonna make you a cutie pie with mad style. If you're a girly girl like myself, then you're gonna love my rose collection. My feminine, hand crafted roses have been delicately made, petal by petal. You can order any color rose you'd like. I make rose earrings ($15), necklaces ($20), rings ($15), magnets and broaches ($15 each). If you order a rose pendant, it will come with a velvet cord necklace (or you can just order the pendent by itself).

Cupcake earrings giveaway!!!
All you have to do is leave a comment on my jewelry website (myspace) to be entered. I will use random.org to pick a winner. The earrings to be given away will be picked by me. I guarantee they will be cute as hell. :) Contest ends May 31st. Good luck!

For more info: Faery Inspired Jewelry
If you'd like to purchase some jewelry, please send me an e-mail. :)

I heart EO (sounds like a good band name)

2009-05-05T07:01:00.000-07:00

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

Does non-toxic sunscreen really exist?

2009-04-28T07:50:00.000-07:00

The temperature is rising... it's getting muy caliente and with global warming taking it's course, it's vital that we protect ourselves with sunscreen. Most sunscreens are chemical based and are extremely toxic. It's not only important to find a non-toxic sunscreen formula but it's important to also find one that is vegan and completely natural. Finding sunscreens that fit this criteria is almost impossible. Well, luckily I found one and it is nothing short of amazing. Caribbean Solutions has a full line of cruelty-free skin care that is free of harmful chemicals (such as parabens, synthetics, petroleum derivatives, artificial fragrances, etc.) and is 100% natural. They only use recyclable materials for packaging and their ingredients are mineral based. And even though protecting your skin is priceless, Caribbean Solutions is totally affordable.
Caribbean Solutions makes sunscreens, tanning oils, moisturizers, bath & spa products and natural dog shampoos.

My top notch recommendations:

Sol Kid Kare Biodegradable Sunscreen ($14.99):, Available in SPF 4, 8, 15 and 25. Natural SPF 25, which obviously provides the most sun protection, is the one I nabbed. These sunscreens are eco-safe/reef-friendly, have UVB/UNA protection, are paraben-free, contain botanical/mineral blends, are water resistant, light, have a smooth texture, and they don't feel greasy. They have a very pleasant, kid-friendly smell and they are perfect for those with sensitive skin.
Conventional sunscreens typically contain ingredients like Oxybenzone, Homesalate, Benzophenone 3, Octyl Salicylate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, ManthylAnthranilate, Octyl Manthozycinnamate, and Ocytl Dimethyl Paba. If you look up any of these ingredients online, you'll find they are extremely toxic and carcinogenic. Now why would anyone want to put these chemicals on themselves and on their children? (especially in the name of preventing skin cancer) It's totally ironic. Now check out Caribbean Solution's Sunscreen ingredients. They are entirely natural and organic.

Caribbean Solutions' Ingredients: Aloe Vera Leaf, Natural Titanium Dioxide, Natural Zinc Oxide, Wild Pansy Extract, Green Coffee Bean Extract, Hibiscus, Cucumber Extract, Melon Extracts, Organic Sunflower Oil, Vitamin E from corn, Organic Jojoba Oil, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter and Cetyl Alcohol

Natural Kukui Body Silk Moisturizer ($14.99): This Caribbean line of skincare wouldn't be complete without some Kukui action. Kukui oil based products are great for alleviating skin conditions such as dry skin, eczema and psoriasis. This moisturizer contains organic aloe vera, kukui pod oil, rosehip oil, shea butter, jojoba oil and other tropical ingredients with potent moisturizing properties. I love this lotion's beautiful, long-lasting floral scent. It also has a nice consistency - not too thick and not at all watery. I use this lotion all over my body and my face and it really seems to do the trick.

Whole Foods now carries Caribbean Solutions and you can also order these products directly from the company's website.

I'm channeling Oprah for my Earthworks post

2009-04-21T15:35:00.000-07:00

To all my beloved VBR readers, I've decided to go Oprah on you all. You know how she always graces the cover of her own magazine every month? Well, I've decided to get more interactive with my blog. If I'm reviewing a hot new pair of eco-friendly bamboo shorts, it's gonna be my booty in the shot. I want to steer clear of using 100% stock images so enjoy! If you would like to guest review a vegan/organic product on my site, I encourage you to do so and submit a cute photo of yourself a well.

Okie doke folks, I found some deluxe bars of soap by Earthworks that smell out-of-this-world divine. Earthworks is paraben-free, against animal testing and is all about recyclable packaging. I want to give you a heads up that not all of their products are vegan but their soaps definitely are.

My recommendations:

African Jasmine Soap and Limone Soap (both $11 each): These made-in-England soaps are triple milled with moisturizing shea butter, jojoba, coconut oils and calendula. Not only do they smell exquisite, the are beautifully packaged with eco-friendly wrappers made from the pulp of bamboo shoots and mulberry trees. I would buy a bar of soap for the wrapping alone. It's very artsy and has an indie wallpaper vibe. This photo doesn't do it justice. The floral decorations are actually 3-D and fuzzy. So, I recommend you try the Limone soap which is floral and citrusy and the African Jasmine which is highly fragrant, feminine and sophisticated. Other scents available are: Sweet Lime, Mandarine, Grapefruit, Pistachio, Almond, Rose, Japanese Flower, Frangipani, Hazelnut and Seringa Blossom.
These are definitely some high-end fancy soaps. They'd make great gifts.

For more info: Earthworks Soaps

VBR takes it to the kitchen

2009-04-14T09:50:00.000-07:00

This past weekend I had an amazing cooking lesson with my vegan gal pal and fellow blogger, Vegyogini, who happens to be a wizard in the kitchen. We picked a couple recipes from Vegan Planet, which by the way is a must-have cookbook. It's "The ultimate guide to meat-free, dairy-free and egg-free cooking that everyone will enjoy." It's a gigantor book and it's packed with all kinds of invaluable vegan tidbits, info on nutrition and scrumptious recipes. With chapters like "New World Pizza," "Dessert Heaven" and "Love at First Bite," you know you're in for an awesome meal.
I had been wanting to make Mexican food since forever so pursuing an enchilada recipe was a no-brainer. As far as dessert goes, I had a a whole bag of fresh organic limes in my fridge so I thought a key lime cheesecake was in order.

Black Bean and Sweet Potato Enchiladas
Aside from the 30 minutes it took to chop and cook the sweet potatoes, this was a relatively quick recipe to whip up. We also modified the the recipe ever so slightly. We used corn tortillas instead of flour tortillas and we used store-bought enchilada sauce from Trader Joe's instead of salsa. I'm in love with TJ's enchilada sauce. It's finger lickin' good!
The photo above does a good job of displaying the sauciness of this dish as well as showcasing our awesome tortilla rolling abilities. It was messy but it was a lot of fun. Also, it really helped having two people in the kitchen for this particular recipe. For instance, Vegyogini would heat up the tortillas in a frying pan and then I would get them covered with sauce and put filling (sweet potatoes, black beans, diced tomatoes, garlic, pepper) in them. We were rockin' a mini assembly line and I can't really imagine it any other way.
So, after that first photo was taken, we basically used the leftover filling to cover the enchiladas, we piled on more enchiladas sauce and then we put Tofutti mozzarella cheese slices all over the top. The recipe didn't call for vegan cheese so I guess you can say we modified the recipe one more time. :) I personally can't imagine enchiladas without some amount of cheese action. I also think you can kick these enchiladas up a notch with some freshly made guacamole and vegan sour cream. Even with all the modifications, these enchiladas are so healthy and fresh tasting. This recipe was enough to make 12 enchiladas, the perfect amount for 3 people (me, Vegyogini and my husband) with a decent amount of leftovers. Yay for leftovers!!!

Key Lime "Cheesecake"
I love this recipe because it doesn't call for too many ingredients. It's basically tofu, vegan cream cheese and lime juice. We had to modify this recipe as well because I mistakingly bought the wrong style of tofu. Instead of using firm Silken tofu (as the recipe called for), we used soft Silken tofu, which not only turned out to be amazing (with a little bit of starch) but I've decided I will always use soft tofu when making this in the future because it was so smooth and creamy. It was the perfect consistency in my opinion. This recipe called for ginger snap crumbs for the crust which I thought was pure genius. I know they are out there but I have yet to find vegan graham crackers, so using ginger snaps made a lot of sense to me.
Cheesecake takes a bit of time to cook and set but boy is it worth the wait! The three of us ate all but one slice (there was a total of 8 slices). Next time I make this cheesecake I'd like to add a fruit topping or glaze or maybe some ginger snap crumbs on top... not because it needs it - just for decoration.

After this cooking session, I realized that I had a lot of fun in the kitchen and I can't wait to try out new recipes.

Warming Clay Mask: The detox that rocks!

2009-04-07T08:35:00.000-07:00

I wrote a review about Be Fine Food Skin Care a little while back and because they have such an extensive line of organic, cruelty-free, vegan skin care, it was impossible to feature every product I became smitten with all in one post. Well, this time around, I've decided to focus on my favorite Be Fine Food Skin Care product which might quite possibly be one of my favorite vegan beauty products of all time.

Organic peeps, I proudly present...

Be Fine's Warming Clay Mask with Cardamom, Arnica & Pomegranate ($15.99): This is one of the most awesome products I have ever tried! I have tried a gazillion clay masks but this was my first time trying a "warming" clay mask, and it it was a trippy dippy albeit natural experience. I didn't think it would actually get warm as I applied it but it surprisingly did! It kind of felt like a science experiment where chemical reactions were happening on my face. The warming effect didn't last very long but it was quite nice and it gave me the impression that the mask was actually doing something productive versus just sitting there drying and waiting to be rinsed.
Why this mask works:
1) The kaolin clay draws out toxins and absorbs oil.
2) The arnica soothes, heals and has anti-inflammatory properties.
3) The pomegranate extract is packed with powerful antioxidants which help stabilizes free radicals.
This clay mask has a delicate, subtle, soothing, sniff-worthy smell.
Use this mask twice a week and you will begin to notice softer skin with fewer imperfections. Using clay masks in general is such a simple, relaxing treat - I encourage you all to pamper yourselves and enjoy your beautiful skin.

"Where can I get this wonderful clay mask that smells and feels amazing" you ask? Dude, one of the best things about Be Fine Food Skin Care is that their products are extremely accessible and affordable! You can find Be Fine at CVS Pharmacy, Rite Aid, Wegmans, and Kroger, just to name a few places.

For more info on this warming clay mask... click here.

Soy candles are the eco way to go

2009-03-31T18:35:00.000-07:00

I was introduced to this week's VBR feature via Twitter (gotta love Twitter, folks!). So Lorain and I were following each other on Twitter and then one day she sent me a message telling me she made soy candles. I love, Love, LOVE soy candles. I have a mini collection of scented soy candles that I whip out for special occasions. Lorain's Touch, which is based out of Huntington Beach CA, makes environmentally friendly, 100% soy wax candles that are made with essential oils. Lorain of Lorain's Touch is a spiritual woman who likes to infuse her candles with positive energy. How does she do this? All of her candles are made during the full moon and are made with specific, positive intentions... definitely not your avergae soy candle.

In case you were wondering what all the hoopla surrounding soy candles is about, it's important to note that soy candles are eco-friendly and better for the air. You should really try to avoid paraffin candles - paraffin is a petroleum product. When you light a paraffin candle, black soot is let off during the burning process which is carcinogenic. Soy candles are clean burning candles. Soy candles also burn longer so you get more for your money. We like that!

Lorain's vegan scented candles and their intentions
(available in 2oz - $3.25, 4oz - $7.75 and 8oz - $15.75 tins):

Happy - Vermont Maple Sugar
Cheerful - Bergamont & Coriander
Creativity - Blackberry Sage
Harmony - Green Tea
Compassion - Gardenia Blossoms
Strength - Lemongrass
Enlightenment - Water Blossom & Ivy
Abundance - Amber

You can e-mail Lorain via her website for a complete list of scented soy candles.

I recently used a Berry scented Lorain's Touch candle in my house and it smelled soooooooo good. It smelled like candy! It was burning for an hour and my candle still looks full. This candle seemed to scent up the room more effectively than traditional candles. I loved it! I can't wait to try her other scents out!

These candles make great gifts! Mother's Day is just around the corner. :)

For more info: Lorains's Touch

Strawberry Hedgehog continues to blow me away

2009-03-24T13:52:00.000-07:00

Tracy Perkins of Strawberry Hedgehog is one of the most creative people I know. She's like an organic magician when it comes to her earthy potions and concoctions. Her soaps, body butters, lip balms and basically everything else she creates are true masterpieces of geniosity. Can you tell I'm a fan? Not only are her products vegan, but she's vegan as well and you can read all about her vegan recipes and crafts on her blog.

Strawberry Hedgehog Products I dig:

Pure Lemon Whipped Body Créme ($12): The is a perfect springtime scent. It smells wonderfully fresh and kind of desserty. It's decadently creamy and feels amazing on the skin after a nice bath. It's scent is uplifting, refreshing and energizing. It comes in a cute 6oz. jar (you can order it in a 17oz jar as well) which Tracy encourages everyone to reuse or recycle.

Fair Trade Organic Unrefined Grapefruit Ylang-Ylang Shea Butter ($12): First off, I would like to say this is one hell of a deal. This product is thick and I can tell it is going to last me a very long time. A little bit goes a long way. Now let's talk about this ridiculously yummy scent! It's a mix of foody and moody. The grapefruit aspect makes you want to eat it up. It's scent is energizing and fresh. The Ylang-Ylang gives this body butter a sensual, romantic flair. I think this particular shea butter might make for a great massage for that special someone. Shea butter does wonders for the skin. It's packed with Vitamins A&E and has amazing healing properties so use it frequently.

For all you dudes out there, here's a manly scented soap, Smudge ($8): This soap combines cedar and white sage with undertones of of lapsang souchong tea, ginger and pepper. It's also a two toned gray bar of soap, so it's dudely in every way possible. It has a very sexy scent to it. I'm going to insist my husband start bathing with this a.s.a.p.
Tracy of Strawberry Hedgehog does a wonderful job of incorporating aromatherapy into all of her products and she labels them accordingly on their packaging. That way, if you're shopping for someone who's stuck in the doldrums, you can pick a cheery product that will put a smile on his/her face.
I also got a chance to try two of Tracy's Charity Soaps: Fresh Lemon-Rosemary (for St. Baldrick's Childhood Cancer) and Pink Grapefruit-Peppermint (Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer) - they are not only super pretty to look and inspire a cheerful mood, they help support amazing cancer research foundations (50% of all charity soap purchases go toward these organizations).

Lip Balms (Lemon-Mint Kiss, Lavender-Tangerine, Grapefruit-Rosemary) ($3): These are some of the best lip balms I have ever tried. They are sleek and creamy, smooth and nourishing, perfectly moisturizing and smell heavenly to boot. I love the slender tubes they come in. They fit perfectly in my purse or in my pocket. It's kind of hard to find amazing vegan lip balm. It's actually hard to fiind vegan lip balm, period. You will be so stoked when you give these a try. They are only $3 each so try them all!

For more info: Strawberry Hedgehog
Previous reviews on Vegan Beauty Review

Help save animals while making your lips kissable!

2009-03-17T23:56:00.000-07:00

My Lip Stuff has a gazillion fun flavors of lip balms (i.e. Dingleberry, Cilantro, Jalapeno, etc.). While their vegan flavors are a wee bit limited, all of the Charitabalms are 100% vegan and $1.50 from each $3 balm goes toward a fabulous animal-loving charity. It's a win-win, folks. I've tried many of My Lip Stuff's vegan balms are they are uber glossy, tasty (sweetened with Stevia) and they are packed with loads of moisture and shine.

Charitabalms to choose from:

Born Free USA
-Fur Free Peach
-Banana Kisses

PETA
-Naturally Vegan Lip Balm (unflavored)

Leaping Bunny
-Vegan Carrot Cake

Rabbit Rescue CA
-Cottontail Candy
-Honey Bunny
-CinnaBunny

Animal Acres
-Snickerdoodle
-LeMOOmade
-Baa Baa Blackberry
-Peppermint Piggies

For more info: My Lip Stuff Charitabalms

Link to My Lip Stuff review

Science + Nature = MD Skincare

2009-03-10T16:22:00.000-07:00

MD Skincare, formulated by Dr. Dennis Gross, has a line of skincare that is not necessarily marketed as being vegan but it totally is. Many of these products have been featured in magazines like O, Harper's Bazaar, Elle and a slew of other magazines, so I thought I'd give them a whirl. I liked everything I tried but these were my favorites:

4-In-1 Facial Treatment Normal/Oily ($35 for a box of 30 applications): This is a quick fix to freshen the face and absolutely no water is needed. These pocket sized packets cleanse, balance, treat and moisturize skin in one simple step. If you ever need to cleanse your face on the go, this product is ideal. Keep some of these packets in your purse or in your car. They are great for sleepovers, camping trips, road trips, you get the picture. Where else are you going to find a cleanser, toner, wrinkle fighter and moisturizer all one little towelette?

Correct & Perfect Spot Treatment ($28): Whether you have oily, blemish-prone skin or you occasionally get pimples from time to time, you're gonna love this stuff. Unlike conventional, chemical-laden spot treatments, this one won't over-dry your skin but it will make those nasty blemishes go bye-bye. This formula is enriched with botanicals to help to sooth your skin while it's healing. For me personally, this beats using straight up tea tree oil or which hazel, which only sometimes works.

Hydra-Pure Vitamin C Serum ($95): I know this is dorky of me to say but but Vitamin C is my favorite vitamin. I use it in some shape or form on my skin daily. It's super duper packed with antioxidants and it works wonders as far as anti-aging goes. This serum contains three forms of Vitamin C to provide maximum potency. I recommend you use this serum on your face after washing and toning before bedtime. It's important to use products like this to repair damage from aging, sun, stress and poor diet. By the way, following a vegan diet will inevitably help you have radiant, glowing, healthy, beautiful skin. :)

MD Skincare's products are awesome, effective and vegan. My only wish is that they'd rock the leaping bunny logo and flaunt the fact that they are animal free.

For more info: MD Skincare

I invite you to open Nature's Gate and indulge!

2009-03-03T10:39:00.000-08:00

Walk into any health food store and you're bound to find Nature's Gate beckoning you. They have a line of beauty care products that are all organic, natural, pH-balanced, packed with botanical remedies and are all environmentally friendly and cruelty-free. They combine natural floral and herbal extracts in all of their hair, body, sun, skin and oral care. Their products are very popular in the vegan community so I wanted to share them with you. Also, on a charitable note, Nature's Gate likes to give back by giving the gift of water. They partnered with WaterAid America to support the use of rainwater to help families and children in Asia and Africa have long term access to safe, clean water. Nature's Gate is awesome!

My picks:

Cherry Gel Natural toothpaste with Fluoride ($5.29): This yummy toothpaste takes me back to my days as a kiddo. This toothpaste is great for kids and/or those who want to steer clear of minty oral care. This toothpaste has Golden Seal, which contributes soothing benefits and Silica, which provides mild abrasive action for a clean, fresh feeling. I have developed a unique routine where I brush with this cherry gel in the mornings and Nature's Gate Creme de Mint Natural Toothpaste (which is fluoride-free and has calcium) at night. Why is that you ask? The cherry toothpaste allows me to enjoy breakfast without having any minty clash factor. Drinking orange juice in the morning after brushing my teeth has never been better. And minty fresh breath is always nice right before bed, especially for that good-night kiss. :)

Tea Tree & Blue Cypress Shampoo & Conditioner ($7.99 each): Let me start with the shampoo. It's dry skin season and your scalp is no exception. This shampoo is refreshing and soothing at the same time. Tea Tree Oil and Nettle Extract help comfort itchy, dry scalp while providing healing and anti-inflammatory benefits. The Peppermint Extract has a cooling, tingly effect that feels so good. I love peppermint everything! The conditioner is lightweight and perfectly complements the shampoo. My hair honestly feels well taken care of when I use this combo. They are ultra nourishing and make my scalp happy! These products are both paraben & sodium lauryl sulfate-free.

Lavender & Aloe Creamy Shave Gel ($6.99): First off, this shaving gel smells amazing. I'm a huge lavender fan! For those of you that are into aromatherapy, the smell of lavender can help you relax after a stressful day, help ease headaches and inflammation. This shave gel is enriched with organic lavender and marshmallow, aloe vera, witch hazel and Vitamins A, D & E.
I use this stuff to shave my legs in the shower and my legs always come out feeling so soft and smooth. I'm sure my hubby is going to fall in love with this stuff too (as long as I don't hog it all to myself).

For more info: Nature's Gate

Get that Brazilian glow at home!

2009-02-17T17:01:00.000-08:00

Christopher Drummond makes a luxurious, premium line of natural, organic, vegan cosmetics that don't contain animal byproducts, artificial preservatives or chemicals, mineral oil, titanium dioxide or bismuth oxychloride. His products are all paraben-free and will not clog pores.

With over 15 years of experience in the cosmetic industry, Drummond knows exactly what women want when it comes to their makeup. The ingredients used in each product contain soothing and healing properties, natural sunscreen and potent antioxidants.
If you have any questions or need tips regarding your beauty regimen, "Live and Direct" was set up by Drummond to provide women the opportunity to have their beauty questions answered by professional make-up artists in real time online. How cool is that?

Products I love:

Saúde Pele Radiance Booster ($85): This luxurious creamy powder is quick and simple to use and it'll give you a perfect Brazilian glow. When I use this all over your face I instantly have skin that looks sun-kissed. You can use this versatile powder under your foundation, over your foundation, add it to your moisturizer, use it as an eyeshadow base, use it to highlight your cheeks, nose and forehead, mix it with lip gloss, or dust it all over your body. It's rich in anti-oxidants and has botanical extracts including acai, soy isoflavones and boswellia serrata which gives your skin a luminous, light shimmery glow.

Final Finishing Powder ($55): This skin-balancing, ultra-fine finishing powder absorbs excess oil and helps your skin retain moisture for that flawless airbrushed looking finish. I like to carry this one in my purse for light touch ups.

Other Christopher Drummond Beauty products:
Veludo Velvet Foundation
Concealer
Lip Gloss (contains beeswax, not vegan)
Flat Top Synthetic Brush

For more info: Christopher Drummond Beauty

I'm saying Yes to Carrots, Tomatoes & Cucumbers!

2009-02-10T18:36:00.000-08:00

If you weren't big on saying "yes" to veggies as a kid, you can surely try to make up for all of those years by incorporating vitamin-packed fruits and veggies into your skincare regimen. You know when you're feeling sluggish, how a healthy bowl of fruit or salad can give you that boost that your body's been craving? Well, our skin craves all of those nutritious goodies as well. Yes To Carrots is an amazing line of food-based skincare that is vegan, cruelty-free, paraben free, organic, and affordable. That's right, I said affordable. You can find these products at your local drugstore.

*Sunny's picks:

Yes To Carrots - This line is great for people with normal to dry skin. These products are packed with the antioxidant power of beta-carotene.
*Feel the C Pampering Hand and Nail Spa: This is by far, one of the best hand scrubs I have ever tried. It's made with dead sea salt, carrot juice, carrot seed oil, fig, pomegranate, sweet potato, pumpkin juice... hungry yet? This scrub will make your hands feel soooooo incredibly smooth. And if you're like me, you will be obsessively caressing your hands all day long. Follow this up with Yes To Carrots Hand & Elbow Moisturizing Cream and you're golden.

Yes To Carrots has a line of skincare for those with oily to combination skin called Yes To Tomatoes.
*Totally Tranquil Facial Hydrating Lotion: This Facial Lotion makes my face feel fresh and soft. I have the notorious T Zone oil action goin' on so after washing my face, I always make sure my facial moisturizer isn't oily or heavy. When I use this lotion on my face (after washing and toning), my skin feels nourished but not weighed down. This lotion contains 26 Minerals from the Dead Sea, tomatoes, rosemary, red pepper (the last two ingredients are powerful anti-oxidants), and a slew of other yummy ingredients.

Yes To Cucumbers is another line of products by Yes To Carrots. These work best for those with normal to sensitive skin.
*Eye Love Cucumber Soothing Eye Gel: I love this eye gel! Love it!!! There's no more need to slice cucumbers in the name of beauty. Who has time for that anyway? I prefer using this awesome cucumber eye gel which not only contains cucumber but is also made with spirulina (*personal note* I named one of my kitty cats Spirulina), green tea, chamomile, dead sea minerals, spinach, dill, and broccoli. That's a lot of green goodness! I'm a huge fan of food ingredients in my skincare. Nutrition for your skin can only come from the most wholesome gifts from the earth. This eye gel soothes and tightens the delicate skin under your eyes, helps reduce puffiness and dark circles. This gel is incredibly refreshing, light and cool.

All of these lines are available at Walgreens, Target, Safeway, and amazon.com. For a complete list of stores, visit the Yes To Carrots website.

For more info: Yes To Carrots

5 more days to enter to win a bunch of free skincare!

2009-02-10T09:38:00.000-08:00

Free Vegan Goodies Alert!
So, the peeps at Nature's Paradise are beyond cool. They are not only offering you guys (my amazing Vegan Beauty Review readers) 15% off of your entire order when you enter Promotion Code: 7018 at check out, but they also want you to win some free Nature's Paradise goodies.
I know you're wondering, "Geeze Louise, this is awesome! How can I win some amazing vegan beauty products?"
Well... all you have to do is mention Nature's Paradise and Vegan Beauty Review in a blog post/twitter/facebook or myspace status, etc... Make sure to e-mail me a link to your post. For every time you mentions us, you'll be entered in a raffle and you can enter as many times as you like until Feb. 15th. The winner will get the complete line of body care in the scent of their choice. Good Luck. :)

For more info: Nature's Paradise

Hawaii's calling me once again...

2009-02-03T15:03:00.001-08:00

I believe this is my third time reviewing a Hawaiian skin care line and I have to say I am a fan of all of them. I haven't been to Hawaii in person yet so I like to get my fix via skincare and beauty products.

Hawaiian Skin, a division of Worldwide Skin, is a line of skincare that is certified vegan, organic, paraben free, cruelty free, and get this, it's made in America in a solar/wind powered facility. Yay for renewable energy! The times they are a changin'!

There are two Hawaiian Skin products, Spotless and Soft. They are both enriched with organic aloe, coconut oil, shea oil and Vitamin E. They are perfect for those with sensitive skin and they have the sweet fragrance of ylang ylang (which relaxes muscles, relieves stress and helps you relax) and vanilla (which relieves stress and helps ease depression). Essential oils are an essential part of relaxing and letting yourself escape to your happy place.

Hawaiian Skin products:

Spotless ($26): This body wash smells wonderful! Ylang ylang and vanilla might possibly be my favorite combination of scents. Spotless makes bathing a true "take me away" experience. It makes you "spotless" as it's name implies and the shea and aloe leave your skin feeling silky soft. The ylang ylang really stands out in this body wash. It smells romantic and moody. In fact, with this might be the perfect gift with Valentine's Day just around the corner.

Soft ($32): I really like it when my body wash and lotion go hand in hand. There's no sense is mixing scents once you pop out of the shower. I know if I want to smell like a ylang ylang vanilla princess, then I going to make sure my body wash and lotion are from a similar line of skincare or from the same set. I love, love LOVE these products. I don't like to compare products but this lotion is similar to the Aromatherapy Ylang Ylang Bath & Body Works lotion, except this one is vegan, organic, natural, cruelty-free and doesn't have any nasty chemicals, preservatives or artificial ingredients. These products help recreate the spa experience at home. I invite you all to indulge and treat yourself to an exotic experience with Spotless and Soft.

For more info: Hawaiian Skin

Kick it up a notch with fun and quirky vegan lip balm

2009-01-27T09:53:00.000-08:00

If you're in the market for handmade, sustainable, organic, vegan, kosher lip balm, lemme draw your attention to Lips by Wong.
I've never met Kaia Wong, the mastermind behind these genius tubes of lip lube, in person but after having checked out her website and her myspace page, I've decided she's one of the coolest people on the planet. She's spunky and fun, quirky and cool and she makes vegan lip balms that are as unique as she is. All of her lip balms have artsy labels and bejeweled caps. They are quite fun to look at. I'm also all about promoting and supporting grassrootsy indie businesses and so should you. It feels good and it's sort of like shopping at a boutique with such novel goodies.

Glittery lip stuffs that I highly recommend:

Bubble Gum Lip Balm ($4): This yummy lip balm is light pink, sparkly and smells exactly like bubble gum! The label features Kaia Wong blowing bubbles - it's cute! Although her website says all lip balms contain beeswax, they don't. In fact, here's the list of ingredients for the 2 lip balms I'm reviewing: organic coconut oil, organic jojoba oil, organic olive oil, organic palm kernal oil, candelilla wax, castor seed oil, carnauba wax, Vitamin E, organic/vegan/kosher flavors, stevia and a touch of glitter.
Kaia is a lip balm wizard. I'm sure she would make any of her lip treats vegan upon request.

Sangria Sparkle Lip Balm ($4): Anything with 'sparkle' in its name immediately gets my attention. It's a subtle sparkle but a sparkle all the same. I don't know why but the scent of this balm reminds me of childhood... no, I didn't drink Sangria as a tiny tot. :) It just smells so sweet. It definitely ignites my sense memory somehow. So, I have to say these lip balms have the perfect amount of moisturizing lip power. Some times vegan lip balms are a little dry and take some effort when applying but these are totally slick and glossy. They make my kissy lips that much more kissable. I am such a fan!

Kaia's lip balms come in some other delicious flavors: Gummy Bear, Chocolate and Clockwork Orange Creamsicle.
You can also stock up on fun vegan homemade soaps while you are at it. Soaps include: Mocha Muffin, Green Tea Blossom, Coffee Cake and Clarity.

For more info check out Kaia's quirky, fun website: Lips by Wong

I'm spreading Crazy Rumors... all over my lips!

2009-01-20T14:47:00.000-08:00

I had seen Crazy Rumors lip balms many times before at the mall, at Urban Outfitters, Icing, Claire's, etc., but in all honesty, I had just assumed they weren't vegan because they were so popular. Oh boy, when I found out these babies were vegan, I was beyond delighted. The fact that so many people are already in love with this vegan brand of lip balm is icing on the cake, or better yet cake a la mode.
Crazy Rumors is a company that makes gourmet, natural, cruelty-free, vegan lip balms in fun flavors that will satisfy all of your cravings whether you're a coffee fanatic or an ice cream connoisseur like myself.
It's actually kind of tricky finding vegan lip balm. Unfortunately, the majority of lip balms on the market contain beeswax. So this gem of a find is truly exciting, especially because I'm a lip balm fiend. Crazy Rumors lip balms are all natural, organic, perfectly moisturizing and they smell ridiculously yummy!
Ingredients: Jojoba oil, organic shea butter, extra virgin olive oil, candelilla wax, Vitamin E, organic natural flavors or pure essential oils, carnauba wax and natural stevia
It's the perfect mix of moisture and flavor.

The many flavors of Crazy Rumors (one day I will get around to trying every single one of them):

Brew ($4): Tea time! Oh, how I love tea! I love it hot, love it iced, love it on my lips! Orange Bergamot is one of my favorite Brew flavors. It's Earl Grey with a blend of tantalizing citrusy fruits. It's amazing how much it smells like tea! How do they do that? Other Brew flavors include Plum Apricot, Peppermint Lemongrass, Ginger Peach, Apple Spice and Spiced Chai.

Perk ($4): All of you coffee lovers should be stoked right about now. If your new year resolution was to quit caffeine, here's a way to still get your coffee fix without feeling guilty. The Amaretto Balm is definitely one of my favorites! It smells like marzipan, one of my favorite treats in the world. I apply this balm even when my lips aren't dry simply because I want to smell like a frickin' desserty almond fest. Other Perk lip latte flavors include Coffee Bean, Mocha, Hazelnut, French Vanilla and Irish Cream.

A La Mode ($4): Oh my gosh, ice cream lip balm! This is their newest line of lip treats and can I just say that this is like a dream come true! They also happen to carry one of my favorite ice cream flavors of all time, Pistachio. Y-U-M! It's guilt-free so I can use as much as I want whenever I want and still keep my lady lumps in check. Other A La Mode flavors include: Orange Creamsicle, Raspberry Sherbet, Banana Split, Almond Fudge and Mint Chocolate. I know, I'm getting hungry, too!

Candy Cane (on sale for $3 each): I don't care what time if year it is, peppermint anything and everything is always my default flavor of choice. I love its fresh smell, tingley feel and the lively energy it gives me. Available flavors: Peppermint Twist, Pear & Peppermint and Plum & Peppermint.

Gumball ($4): This line of lip balms takes me back to when I was 5 when my whole world revolved around candy and gum. Available flavors: Bubble Gum, Grape Bubble and Cherry Bubble.

For every $24 you spend, you get 1 lip balm free. You can also purchase cute lil' gift sets. It's a great way to try all the flavors!

For more info: Crazy Rumors

Win free Nature's Paradise skincare!!!

2009-01-15T22:30:00.000-08:00

Let your senses go coconutty with Nature's Paradise!

2009-01-13T13:48:00.000-08:00

I seriously had to wait until after my Master Cleanse to review Nature's Paradise. Their lotions and body mists smell exactly like food... yummy, luscious fruits that I want to devour! Nature's Paradise has a line of 100% vegan and cruelty-free, USDA organic lotions, body splashes, face products, spa products, baby products and gift packages. They have a whole section on their website dedicated to their veiw on vegan beauty products. They get mad sprops for spreading the vegan word.

Products I'm absolutely in love with:

Organic Body Lotion ($14.95): The smelly, yum-yum extracts are naturally derived from organic fruits or plants and you can tell. Nothing smells artificial at all. Everything smells pure and fresh like it's straight from the tree. Their lotions and body mists are available in 10 scents: Candy Apple, Creamy Coconut, Fresh Pineapple, Honey Melon, Lavender, Tropical Mango, Peaches and Cream, Pomegranate, Vanilla Sugar and Unscented. These lotions are thick and creamy. My favorite lotion that I can't get enough of is their Creamy Coconut. Ingredients: Water, Organic Coconut Oil, Organic Liquid Lecithin, Organic Sunflower Oil, Organic Jojoba Oil, Organic Shea Butter, Organic Arrowroot Powder, Organic Coconut Extracts, Organic Clarified Lemon Juice. No more, no less.

Organic Body Mist ($6.99): Check out how small the list of ingredients is for the Honey Melon Mist: Water, Organic Honeymelon Extract, Organic Clarified Lemon Juice. Back in the day, before I was an enlightened vegan beauty guru, I used to go nuts in Bath & Body Works 'cause everything smelled divine. Now that my senses have been re-calibrated and are now more objective, all of those old products smells so chemicaly and artificial. I now take delight in smelling like a ripe honeymelon or a fresh pomegranate. Life is good. I'm happy, my skin is happy and all the while I know I'm helping save the planet. Along with the Honeymelon Mist, I'm totally diggin' the Fresh Pineapple and Tropical Mango body mists.

Gi'ovane Italy Firming Eye Cream ($34.99): I'm always talking about how I like my eye creams thick. Well, this is the thickest eye cream I've ever tried. I LOVE IT! Ingredients: Organic Shea Butter, Organic Palm Stearin, Organic Argan oil and Organic Green Tea. This eye cream will help with puffiness, black circles, dryness and wrinkles. Let me tell you a lil' bit about the magical properties of Argan Oil. It contains more Vitamin E in the form of highly active gamma-tocopherol than any other natural oil. These antioxidants neutralize free radicals. Free radicals cause cell damage and wrinkles. Argan oil is also rich in anti-inflammatory phytosterols, anti-oxidative phenolic compounds and contains more than 35% essential fatty acids (Vitamin F). I can't help but wonder why I've never heard of Argan Oil. I want that oil in everything now!

So, the peeps at Nature's Paradise are beyond cool. They are offering you guys (my amazing Vegan Beauty Review readers) 15% off of your entire order when you enter Promotion Code: 7018 at check out. Enjoy! :)

For more info: Nature's Paradise

The world of vegan deodorant continues to grow with Florere

2009-01-06T16:15:00.000-08:00

So, I'm currently on my sixth day of The Master Cleanse so I made a conscious decision to not review any beauty products that smelled fruity or decadent (i.e. like icing or chocolate or chocolate icing). Ack, I can't even type it without salivating. So, I've decided to shed some light on a new vegan, cruelty-free, PETA and CCIC approved deodorant that I've just discovered by Florere (pronounced "flow-rare").

Florere Holistic Skincare, founded by Cynthia DeLaney Gorman, was created after her friend's mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. She wanted to create deodorant that was pure and natural. It's important to know that most conventional deodorants you will find in supermarkets contain aluminum, harsh chemicals, artificial fragrances and preservatives that wind up seeping into your skin and into your bloodstream. Who wants those nasty ingredients in their beauty products? Nobody I know.

So, on that note, try these instead:

Deodorant Stick ($9.99): This vegan deodorant contains cocoa butter, shea butter, sodium bicarbonate, cornstarch, palm tree wax, coconut oil, essential oils of lavender and clary sage, Vitamin E, benzoin and that's it! Each ingredient has a specific property and job to do. These ingredients combined, help sooth, freshen, moisturize and restore your skin. The natural, subtle scent of lavender and clary sage is quite nice. Although this stick might seem really hard at first, let it sit against your skin for 5 seconds and it will start to soften. If you're thinking $10 is a lot for a stick of deodorant, it's not. It's going to last for 4-6 months and honoring your body with natural, vegan beauty products is priceless. And FYI, this deodorant totally goes on clear which is always lovely.

Deodorant Cream ($8.50): I give Florere mad props for coming up with yet another way to smell good. This is the first I've ever heard of a deodorant cream and I have to say I'm a fan. It's the creamy version of the deodorant stick. It's easy to apply, it smells delicate and fresh and it also go on clear. The scent is totally unisex so share these goodies with yo' man. For the longest time, before I was a vegan beauty product aficionado, I use to only buy anti-perspirants. Deodorants never worked for me. Now that my pits have been detoxed over time, deodorants work just fine. Not only that, the nature of anti-perspirants is so unnatural. They are designed to block your sweat ducts, preventing sweat and toxins from leaving your body. Not cool. My arm pits are happy campers now. There is no such thing as a natural anti-persiprant. So, if you are in the habit of unintentionally or intentionally blocking your sweat ducts, leave it to the start of a new year to make a change!

*Florere also makes a Shea Butter Moisturizer and Cleansing Grains.

For more info: Florere

Top 10 Fabulous Finds of 2008

2008-12-30T08:29:00.000-08:00

It's that time of year to look back on all the amazing vegan beauty products I've discovered in 2008 and pick out a few of my favorites. It was really hard because I'm a fan of almost everything. (drum roll, booty shake, shazaaaam!) These products are listed in no particular order:

A L ittle S&M Lip Balm by My Lip Stuff ($3): The S stands for sorbet and the M for mandarin orange. (I know what your naughty mind was thinking!) Simply put it smells like cake. A sorbet-y mandarine orangey cake. It's divine and it's cheap. It smells scrumptious and it truly is my favorite lip balm to date. It's not sticky, goopy, too dry or obnoxious smelling or tasting. It's perfect. When my lips are craving moisture, I won't settle for anything else. I'll literally tear up the house looking for this particular lip balm.

Ultimate Perfection Evening Primrose Eye Beauty Cream by Exuberance ($60): I've gone through more eye creams this year than I can count. Eye creams are probably my favorite beauty product ever! I'm just as paranoid about getting wrinkles and age lines as the next gal so I worship this product. Exuberance's eye cream is thick and that's what this beauty diva likes. Sure, it's a lil' pricey but I guarantee it is worth every penny. I don't want to sound like a hokey infomercial but you can feel this cream work it's magic.

Pumpkin Spice Polish by Lamas Beauty ($24): It's a truly delectable experience. I rock this face scrub at least once a week and every time I do, I obsessively sniff this yummy concoction for a good 5-10 mins. before getting down to business. It smells like gingerbread cookies and pumpkin pie! I also like that it's a creamier scrub and less on the abrasive side. I can't imaging anyone not falling in love with this yummy scrub. Love it!

Fresh Mint Toothpaste by Auromere ($5.69): This is a delightfully pleasant tasting toothpaste sans the nasty ingredients conventional toothpastes have like fluoride, artificial sweeteners, dyes, preservatives, etc. It's Ayurvedic formula contains neem, 22 other barks and roots, plants and flowers that have cleansing and refreshing properties. I only use natural toothpastes, and this one has always been my favorite.

Geranium Lime Pit Putty by Bubble & Bee Organic Bath and Body ($8.95): This unusually malleable deodorant is made by a quirky, cute vegan company who sought to make a vegan anti-stank stick that actually works. It's made of organic arrowroot powder, organic coconut oil, organic lime essential oil, organic geranium oil and that's it! It smells awesome and again, it works, People! I'm a girly girl but I get stinky fast (when I'm workin' out, cleaning the house, etc.) so having awesome vegan deodorant in my life is definitely a priority of mine.

Candy Wrapper Purses by Save the World Designs (~$50): I love candy and I love purses so a merging of the two is pure genius! It's also the green thing to do. These candy wrapper purses are definitely conversation starters. They are trendy, cute & colorful. There's no way you can walk down the street without someone asking you about your fantastic bag. It's a great and simple way to spread the word about being environmentally conscious.

Handmade Soaps by Strawberry Hedgehog ($8): I'm a fan of Tracy Perkins and her crafty skills. She not only make soaps, but she makes beautiful jewelry and is a culinary goddess. I want to stress that her soaps are totally fabu! They are gorgeous to look at and make beautiful gifts. They come in every auromatherapeutic scent imaginable and they work wonders for the skin!

Vegan Kabuki Brush with Bag by Afterglow Mineral Cosmetics ($35): This baby lives in my purse and gets used on a daily basis. It's super duper soft and works perfectly with mineral foundation for flawless application... and it has a bag to boot! I can't tell you how happy I am to have this vegan kabuki brush. It's hard to find vegan application brushes and even harder to find really good ones so enjoy it and spread the word.

Incredible Pumpkin Peel by MyChelle ($26.69): Incredible is an understatement. It tingles so you know it's working. That tingle is induced by all the organic, antioxidant goodness found in pumpkin fruit, wine & enzymes, pineapple, ginger root, sweet orange oil and vanilla. This formula looks and smells like pumpkin puree which I love. It's Mother Nature's healing hand. Who knew such an amazing beauty secret laid within a gord.

Sex Bomb by LUSH Handmade Cosmetics ($5.95): As if the name wasn't enticing enough... It looks like a sexy ball of wonder, too! Next time you're planning a romantic night with your honey (er, agave), boyfriend, husband, boy toy, love slave, etc., make sure to throw one of these in the mix. It'll turn your bath water pink and fill it with rice paper rose petals and arouse your senses with the intoxicating scent of jasmine. Que romantico!

Here's to a beautiful (and vegan) 2009! Much love and lots of hugs! xo

Eden Organix presents Stript: It's about what you're not wearing.

2008-12-23T21:46:00.000-08:00

I recently came across a brand new line of mineral makeup by way of Eden Organix, a convenient one stop online shop for all of your organic, natural beauty essentials. They carry all of the brands we know and love like Juice Beauty, Jane Iredale, 100% Pure, you name it. So, I want to introduce you all to Stript Mineral Makeup. They have a line of cosmetics that are "stripped" of parabens, artificial oils, dyes and fragrances that are paraben-free as well as cruelty-free. If you're unfamiliar with the term paraben, I urge you to go to the Cosmetic Safety Database website and read up on its toxic, carcinogenic properties. It will truly make you appreciate companies like Stript that produce paraben-free cosmetics and skincare. Stript's line of cosmetics includes foundations, eyeshadows, blushes, eyeliners, lip pencils, concealers and applicators.

Makeup I've tried:

Natural Crushed Mineral Blush ($20): I really like the Lolita shade because it's a pretty rosy red and I love the name. All the shades they have (Divine, Lolita, Sugar & Bella) are all so neutral and natural looking that they probably work nicely for all skin tones. It's important to buy mineral makeup that is talc-free. Talcum dries out your skin and can clog pores. All of Stript's products are talc-free. Ingredients: Corn starch, bismuth, oxychloride, honeysuckle flower extract and laminaria digitata. Stript Mineral Makeup is proud to be a vegan company, so I was surprised to see "may contain titanium dioxide, iron oxides, carmine." Carmine is a colorant derived from insects. My fingers are crossed that this is some sort of cosmetic formality. I will look into this an update my post.

Mineral Eye Shadow ($18): Again, there are many natural looking shades to choose from. They are all high-intensity eyeshadows that can be applied both wet and dry. I tried the shade "Eve" which is a pretty, shimmery white eyeshadow. It perfectly highlights my eyes when I use it in the corners and outer sections of my eyelids. If you want to turn your daytime makeup into nighttime glam, add a lil' "Eve" highlights and rock some black eyeliner and mascara and you're gonna be one hot mama! My favorite thing about mineral eyeshadow is that is always stays put. Conventional eyeshadows have so many filler ingredients that they wind up fading, creasing and eventually disappearing. What a waste of money... not to mention conventional makeup is full of toxic ingredients that would make you cringe if you knew where they came from and their side effects.

Although I've only tried their blush and eyeshadow, I'm very curious about Stript's vegan makeup application brushes. They are made from vegan taklon and look fabulous. Amazing, vegan application brushes are hard to find. Actually, vegan brushes of any kind are pretty hard to come by. I give them kudos for offering us vegan ladies better alternatives.

You can purchase Stript Mineral Makeup via Eden Organix (they donate 10% of their profits to organizations that help women, kids and the environment)

Also, for more info: Stript Mineral Makup

Throw your hands in the Ayurveda!

2008-12-16T12:00:00.000-08:00

Better Botanicals has a line of cruelty-free, herbal beauty products that are based on Ayurveda which is the world's oldest practiced school of medicine, originating in India 5000 years ago. Their products are broken down for people with different skin types which is a convenient way to find all the products that are going to work best for you. Better Botanicals only use natural preservatives and boast a 24 month shelf life. That's pretty cool. I've had some vegan beauty products go funky on me which really bummed me out. Note to vegan beauty product manufacturers: If your product has a fairly limited shelf life (which is okay), please use an expiration date. Muchos gracias.

Beauty essentials I'm currently digging:

Rose Tulsi Toning Mist ($15.99): This alcohol-free toning mist is for normal to dry skin and contains rosewater, aloe and vetiver which sooth and cool the skin and tulsi which gently detoxifies and fortifies the skin. It really smells like roses. I'm usaully tempted to spray it all over my body (which I'm sure would be fine but I don't want to waste it). Just FYI, in case you weren't aware, you should always tone your skin after washing it. Wash, tone, moisturize. Viola! You're gorgeous!

Apricot Eye Care (on sale for $15.29): This vitamin A, C & B rich under-eye formula is packed with antioxidant power. If you ever stress about having dark circles or wrinkles, you need to incorporate an organic, natural under-eye cream that will help tighten and brighten your eyes so that you'll always look fresh and lively. It doesn't hurt to drink plenty of fluids and get lots of sleep, too! This Apricot Eye Cream has a really pleasant scent and I love that it's kind of thick. I really have a problem with watery and runny under-eye cream formulas. In general, I don't like watery creams and lotions, especially when I'm trying to fight wrinkles. I want them to be emollient and rich. This one does the trick and it works on all skin types.

<--- I found this awesome coupon online. You're welcome. :-) Also, Amazon.com carries Better Botanicals and their prices tend to be a little cheaper than buying direct.

For more info: Better Botanicals

Beer bottle jewelry? I'll drink to that!

2008-12-09T17:27:00.000-08:00

Christmas is 2 weeks away and I'm sure you are all scouting out fabu vegan, eco-friendly finds for gifts. Let's talk recycled jewelry. What if you could enjoy your beer, wine, vodka, and Pellegrino in a whole new, fashionable, trendy way? Well you can!
Atlanta artist Kathleen Plate is the mastermind behind Smart Glass Jewelry, and she has been steadily drawing media attention and A-list clientele like Sienna Miller and Katherine Heigl.
The price range for these glass beauties is $40-360.

For more info: Smart Glass Jewelry

'Tis the season for Belov'd Everlasting

2008-12-01T08:36:00.000-08:00

The Blisoma aromatherapy collection by Irie Star uses a range of pure essential oils that are sure to spark memories, enhance your mood and put you in that state of mind you've been longing for. Irie Star has a variety of soy candles, bath and body care products and beautiful hemp clothing. All of their products are vegan, organic and handmade. Their skincare products contain a minimum of 70% certified organic ingredients and some products contain 90% and more which is a big deal. Natural products are ideal for anyone who has sensitive skin as well as those of you who just prefer steering clear of synthetics and nasty, artificial ingredients. I'm always blown away by how many amazing vegan skincare companies that are out there but I definitely want to help push smaller businesses, like Irie Star, to help get the word out.

Products I fell in love with:

BLENDS Organic Perfume Oils ($24.95): These adorably-named perfume oils are completely natural and 80% organic and come in both winter & spring scents. Choosing a scent is fun with names like these: Sweet Nothings, Belov'd Everlasting, Twitter Painted, and Luscious Sunshine to name a few. My favorites are Belov'd Everlasting, which has a seasonal fallsy, romantic aroma (frankincense, allspice, cocoa and vanilla) and Twitter Painted, which to me smells like flowers and candy (coriander, junipaer and jasmine). This scent make me want to frolic in a field of sunflowers and do cartwheels. Miniature sample vials are just $3 so find one you like best and then get a full sized perfume.

Mandarin Kiss Lip Elixir ($5.95): This shiny, moisturizing gloss has a blend of chamomile, mandarin and HelioCarrot CO2 extract. I'm not sure what HelioCarrot CO2 is but it sounds fancy. This elixir is rich in beta-carotene and has naturally occurring anti-inflamatory ingredients. It's super glossy and smells exotic. It comes in two other flavors: Rosy Glow and Ginger Nilly. The base for these kiss-inspiring lip glosses contains organic sunflower and coconut oils, jojoba oil, soy lecithin, shea butter and hemp seed oil. I love it's deep amber color - it looks and feels earthy. It's also great to use with other lip products. Sometimes I use this as a gloss coat over a lip stain or some red lipstick.

Yoga Mat Cleanser ($8.95): This cleansing spray/harmonizing mist is a powerful combination of grapefruit seed extract and tea tree oil. These ingredients are naturally antibacterial and antifungal. It also contains eucalyptus and lavender pure essential oils which make it smell amazing. Even though it's marketed as a yoga mat cleanser I'm sure it's safe enough to use as a perfume. Shhhh... you didn't hear it from me.
I practice yoga from time to time and I always use an organic, natural antibacterial spray on my mat and yoga equipment. I ought to tell my fellow yoga mates in my class to hook themselves up because it gets pretty stinky (and I know it's not me with my fancy spray). Maybe for Christmas I will hook everyone else up with some harmonizing mist and make this world a better smelling place. :)

For more info: Irie Star

Rare2B: eco-friendly, vegan skin care

2008-11-24T13:32:00.000-08:00

Rare Natural Care, Inc. is a family-owned, holistic and eco-friendly company that has a line of fabulous 100% vegan skin care products (Rare2B) that are natural, certified organic and contain high quality ingredients from sustainable fair trade sources from the Amazon Rain Forest to the South Australian Rain Forest. Rare2B products are environmentally friendly in multiple ways. Not only are the vegan and natural (which makes them green by default), but they are packaged in recycled containers in which only plant-based inks are used and they donate 10% of their annual proceeds to socially and environmentally responsible groups.

Products you need to check out:

Toning Cleanser ($32): This face wash gently removes dirt and makeup and other gunky build-up from your skin. Key ingredients in the cleanser are grapefruit, pineapple, white horehound, peppermint, witch hazel and cedar bark. These might sound like hippie ingredients and that's because they are. I proudly embrace my neo-hippie lifestyle because Mother Nature knows what the dealio is. I know you all are on the same page because we all want products that are "natural" and "organic." I love that more and more people are becoming consciously green in all aspects of their lives: skin care, clothing, diet, transportation, etc. Rare2B skin care products are made from plants, fruits, vegetables, botanical extracts and marine-based ingredients - totally natural. Love it!

Hydrating Day Cream ($53): Yes, it's a little pricey but most quality products in life are. This cream contains brown seaweed, black currant, olive oil, marine gum, capuacu and jojoba. These ingredients tighten, moisturize and make your skin smooooooth like buttah. Living in Los Angeles, I know I'm constantly combatting the effects of pollution and smog along with damaging free radicals so I use day and night cream religiously. It truly is key for having healthy skin that glows. This Hydrating Day Cream is non-greasy and you can literally feel your face being quenched with moisture when you use it. This product is a must if you want radiant skin.

For more info: Rare2B

You are what you eat - so feed your skin, too!

2008-11-17T17:16:00.000-08:00

Be Fine Food Skin Care has a line of affordable vegan skin care products that are paraben free, allergen free and fragrance free. All of their products are made from popular fruits, grains and veggies that we all love like beets, coconuts, rice, almonds, mushrooms... you name it! For all you vegan skin care neophytes, it's important to remember that Mother Nature gave us everything we need to nourish our skin and keep it lookin' sexy and fresh. I know you know this to some extent because we've all played around with putting cucumber slices on our eyes and avocado in our hair. Trash all of your artificial, chemical-laden beauty products and start a new chapter in your life! You're gonna love it!
And if you're not jumping up and down with joy yet, here's a bit of more good news. You can buy this line of skin care at your local Rite Aid and CVS. Check out their website for store locations. Btw, their website is super cute and fun to navigate. After you read this blog, have a looksie!

Sunny's picks:

Gentle Cleanser ($15.99): Sometime I feel like a broken record when I go on and on about how crazy I am about all things minty. Maybe it's because minty stuff smells like Christmas time. I don't know what my problem is but it's very rare that I don't fall absolutely in love with minty skin care. Let this be no exception. This cleanser uses sugar (I might as well mention how much I love sugar too) to remove dead skin cells and gunkity gunk in your pores. Mint stimulates circulation as well as your senses and the oats and rice provide the TLC of vitamins F, E and A. It's quite a refreshing experience. It's products like these that make me look forward to washing my face in the morning and at night.

Pore Refining Scrub ($19.99): Coconut and Jojoba micro beads are back to rock your world. The tea tree oil in this baby adds as a natural anti-bacterial to this treatment. This scrub contains Vitamin E & A as well as fatty acids. Also, the orange extract in this coconutty concoction acts as a natural astringent. So, it kind of has a little bit of everything and it's all provided via food. I've always loved food (a little too much) and this just makes me love food even more!
So, from reading the box this scrub came in I discovered that the molecular structure of jojoba is so close to our own skin structure which make Vitamins A & E easy to absorb into your skin. I feel smart.

Rough Spot Lemon Balm ($12.99): This blam contains shea butter and avocado oil to help smooth your rough spots such as your elbows and feet (or whatever other crusty areas you might have). ;) This balm has vitamin A & E which helps increase circulation. A & E is a powerhouse of goodness and you'll find these important vitamins in most amazing vegan skincare lines. The jojoba oil in this balm is easily absorbed into your skin and helps in the production of sebum which is your skin's own lubricating serum. I also want to mention that this stuff won't not clog pores which is something I definitely care about.
For a bit of fun: This product is shaped like a lemon which is quirky and cute. There's a lemon on my bathroom counter and I'm probably the only who knows it's not edible. :)

I've actually tried most of Be Fine's line of skincare and I am in love with everything. I especially love that I can afford to buy this stuff on a regular basis and that I don't have to go far to get it.

For more info: Be Fine Food Skin Care

Something to buzz about: There is vegan deodorant that works!

2008-11-10T14:10:00.000-08:00

Bubble & Bee Organic Bath and Body puts it simply. There is "no bad stuff" in their products. Their products are all handmade, organic, cruelty-free, vegan and quite charming. You are sure to be entertained while reading the labels on their products. For instance, their shower gel has a zipper on the sticker and it says "No great significance here -- we just think zippers are cool." Cute, huh?

*I want to reiterate how important it is to avoid chemicals and preservatives in your beauty products. You can look up ingredient toxicity and which products you might be using contain which nasties at this link: Cosmetic Safety Database. Luckily companies like Bubble & Bee are completely natural, organic and safe.

Amazing stuff:

Lime Shower Gel ($11.25): Most shower gels are mostly water. Know what that means? You are getting gypped. Water is a free so why should you have to pay for it? This Lime Shower Gel doesn't contain water at all. It contains essential oils and vegetable glycerine (no sodium lauryl sulfate, no parabens, no chemicals, etc.). A little goes a long way. The lime scent is 100% natural and fresh. Who doesn't prefer natural lime extracts versus artificial, chemical knock-offs? This shower gel is great for shaving your legs, too! You can get this shower gel in these other scents too: Fresh Lavender, Fresh Orange, Lemongrass Rosemary or you can order an unscented version.

Baked Apple Spice Soap ($6.00): I like freaking out over products in a good way. This holiday soap has the perfect blend of apples, cinnamon ginger and cardamom. When I smell this bar of soap I just want to cuddle up next to a fireplace, sip hot apple cider and contemplate my Christmas Wish List (which most definitely would have this soap on it). I love everything seasonal. It makes me giddy. Bubble & Bee has a wonderful selection of soaps. I look forward to trying their Lemon Poppy, Oatmeal Spice and Vanilla Latte Organic Soaps!

Geranium Lime Pit Putty ($8.95): Time to detox your pits! All right, Ladies, go grab your deodorant from the bathroom and read the ingredient list right now. I mean it! If you find any of these following ingredients on that list you need to chuck it in the garbage asap. Ingredients to avoid like the plague: propylene glycol, aluminum, chlorohydrate, parabens, fragrance, triclosan, diazolidinyl, urea, ethylhexylglycerine, triethanolamine (TEA), tetrasodium EDTA, quaternium-15 and clycerl larate. Bubble & Bee has an organic Pit Putty that has very basic ingredients: organic arrowroot powder, organic extra virgin coconut oil, organic lemon essential oil and organic cloves essential oil. That's it! It smells divine and it's putty-like consistency is fun – but don't have too much fun 'cause it's job is to de-stankify and is not a toy. :) A lot of vegan deodorants claim to "actually" work but don't so I'm super psyched to have gotten acquainted with Pit Putty.

Quick note: you get free shipping on orders over $65 plus a free surprise!

For more info: Bubble & Bee Bath and Body

Beauty and cupcakes go hand in hand!

2008-11-03T10:44:00.000-08:00

Wild Woozle Soap Company is an indie business that not only has a fun and cutesy name but this company makes pure and natural hand-crafted soaps, scrubs, lotions and other natural beauty products that are cruelty-free and certified vegan. All of their products have fun scents to fit every mood.

Sunny must haves:

Cupcake Sugar Body Polish ($14.75): CUPCAKES!!! I've been searching the world for various cupcake beauty products. It has become a mission of mine to find them all! As you might have suspected I'm a gigantor cupcake aficionado and the thought of actually smelling like a cupcake is beyond enticing. This cupcake body scrub smells like a delicious sugary, creamy icing dream! If you're weak like me, you might want to use this product after getting an actual sugar fix (i.e. feed that belly some organic cane sugary goodness) or you might get tempted to chug the scrub. This particular scrub makes such a great gift for all of your cupcake obsessed friends. I know I'm not the only one out there. ;)

Mango Passion Spa Pedicure ($17.99): Your feet work hard every day to get you where need to go so a little footsie TLC is in order. This shea butter rich and creamy scrub with emollient seaweed extract and blend of exotic tropical fruits is going to smooth out all of the rough spots on your feet while making you want to go to the beach and sip a tropical smoothie. You feet are going to love you for all the pamperage and your olfactory department is going to be stoked.

Please support green indie businesses! Hey and check this out, you get 10% off of your first order with an online coupon from Wild Woozle's website.

For more info: Wild Woozle

Escape to Maui... anytime!

2008-10-27T11:20:00.000-07:00

I've decided I'm on a Hawaiian beauty kick right now. I've been craving tropical scents and my latest obsession is anything with coconuts and mango! Maui Tropical Soaps has the answer to all of my coconutty needs. They are a wonderful green company that supports sustainable, earth-friendly, cruelty-free, socially responsible practices while manufacturing some of the most diving natural beauty care products and they are actually made on Maui.
By purchasing Maui Tropical Soaps, you can help save children around the world. They donate 50% of their net profits to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and other organizations dedicated to ending childhood diseases. We like companies that support charities!

Sunny's Recommendations:

Coconut Mango Glycerine Soap (on sale for $6): This soap is made from 100% pure vegetable glycerine. If you want to smell like a tropical princess while you bathe well here you go. Again, I'm on a coconut mango kick, but you can order these soaps in a variety of scents like Plumeria, Passion Fruit, Rainforest Ginger and Orchid (just to name a few).

Coconut Mango Cold-pressed Spa Soap ($7.50): This soap is made with 5 tropical oils and wild-crafted shea butter. Even though this one is also coconut mango it has a slightly different scent than the glycerine version. It smells like coconut mango with a hint of creamy vanilla. These soap bars are moisture-rich and also come in a nice selection of scents like Hana Ginger, Maui Mint, Jasmine and Tuberose.

Coconut Mango Body Lotion ($14): This certified organic lotion is made with aloe vera, awapuhi, kukui, jojoba oils, shea butter and vitamins. You're gonna feel like a beach babe when you wear this uber yummy smelly lotion. It's like piña colada heaven. The scent lasts for a long time and your skin is going to love this moisture rich formula. This might sound overborad but I like to bathe using the cocnut mango soap, wash my hair with the coconut mango shampoo and then finish it off with the coconut mango lotion. I want people in the supermarket and wherever else I go to know that I smell like a tropical goddess. ;) It's a light lotion but it's packed with all the ingredients that your skin needs to stay youthful and healthy. This lotion also comes in Pineapple, Plumeria, Pikake, Tuberose, Guava Berry, Rainforest Ginger and Hana Ginger.

Coconut Mango Rejuvenating Shampoo ($24): This certified organic shampoo is made with apricot kernel oil, wheat germ oil, jojoba oil, aloe vera, clary sage and chamomile extracts. You can get the shampoo in two other scents: Hana Ginger and Plumeria. It's great to follow up your tropical shampoo experience with their Replenishing Conditioner.

For more info: Maui Tropical Soaps

Let's get tropical!

2008-10-20T16:30:00.000-07:00

Hawaiian Bath & Body is a new line of beauty products I just discovered that has green, chemical-free, yummy smelling soaps, body washes, mists, scrubs, oils, lotions and lip therapy. Their natural skin care products are handcrafted on the North Shore of Oahu and contain some of the most enticing ingredients like Waialua coffee and tangerines and Big Island guava. They also use organic ingredients like organic oatmeal, rice flour and blue cornmeal. These products are going to blow you away with their amazing scents that are completely natural and yummy. If you have a poor sniffer (a.k.a. a poor sense of smell) then I flick a tear on your behalf. These smells are too good to miss out on!

Products I highly recommend:

Lavender Kukui Oil ($16): Pure lavender essential oil is blended with kukui nut oil to create this amazing beauty product. It will not clog your pores and it's an ideal facial moisturizer and anti-aging serum. It smells very calming and feminine. Use this after you wash your face before you go to bed. The Vitamin E in this pretty smelling oil will help fight wrinkles and make your skin uber soft. Vitamin E is also a great way to help get rid of scars.

Island Secret Tropical Wash ($12.49): This is the yummiest smelling body wash in the universe. I said it. If you long to vacation in Hawaii and have never been, allow this tropical body wash to take you there. The smell of pineapples, mangoes and coconuts = olfactory bliss. You're going to smell like a tropical smoothie while you bathe and this might lead to longer shower sessions. This wash also makes a great hand soap. Hand washing is going to get pretty exciting.

Mango Papaya Soap ($5.49): I came so close to licking this bar of soap but I didn't. It smells divine. Seriously, this is the nectar of the gods in soap form. The ground papaya seeds gently exfoliate you skin while coconut, palm, soybean, olive, macadamia nut and kukui nut oils (which contain Vitamins A, E, C and essential fatty acids) moisturize, protect and sooth your skin. I just want to quickly say that all of their soaps are a-m-a-z-i-n-g so even though I chose to feature the mango papaya soap I want to make it clear that I had a very hard time singling out this one soap.

Hawaiian Bath & Body also allows you to create your very own custom soap and lip balms for your wedding, baby shower or other special occasion. This is a great idea to help spread the notion of being green at your upcoming events! Check out their website for more details.

For more info: Hawaiian Bath & Body

Juice boxes & candy wrappers never looked so fabulous!

2008-10-13T15:30:00.000-07:00

While being green and looking beautiful we have to always remember to reduce, recycle & reuse! Not only is reusing and recycling easy but it can be a stand out fashion statement!
Save the World Designs sells eco-friendly purses, belts, bags, pillows, frames, wallets and other fabulous goodies that are made from the wrappers of juice pouches, Mexican candies, cookies & crackers. These wrappers are non-biodegradable foil and plastic packaging that would otherwise go into landfills. Not only will you save our landfills when you recycle but when you sport one of these spunky candy wrapper hand bags everyone will be asking you where you got one and where they can get one of their own. You'll be a trend setter!

A few recommendations:

Woven Bamboo Handle Handbag/Purse (on sale for $54.95): No two purses are alike! It fits all of the essentials like your cell phone, wallet, makeup and everything else you might need. This multi colored masterpiece of a purse goes well with any outfit. It's sturdy and durable.

Juice Wrapper Frame ($24.95): This funky home accessory is going to give your guests something to talk about. It's quirky, it's cute and it's eco-lovely! I totally put a photo of me and my sugar booger in this frame. How perfect - an eco-friendly frame to showcase your eco-friendly peeps. This makes a great gift.

Juice Wrapper Belt ($35): This is the perfect accessory to any pair of jeans. It comes in medium and large and it not only holds up your breeches but it turns you into an instant hipster.

With Halloween right around the corner, maybe you can find a way to put all of those candy wrappers to good use and make a fabulous piece of wardrobe all your own. In the meantime, I recommend you all rock the wrapper fashion and spread the word. Save the Word Designs is offering free shipping on purses for a limited time so vamanos!

Quick note: Save the World Designs also has recycled junk mail magnets, recycled map mirrors and soda pull tab bracelets. Fun, fun, fun!

For more info: Save the World Designs

Bazura Shop is another company that makes recycled juice pouch goodies that are fair trade. They work with a women's co-op in the Philippines that set up a Livelihood Project assisted by their local village council. They collect, sanitize and sew drink containers into lovely bags of all shapes and sizes.
The reason I'm featuring two juice wrapper companies is because although they carry a few similar items, their inventories are pretty diverse. Bazura sells backpacks, duffel bags, diaper bags, cooler bags, lunch boxes, yoga mat bags, aprons, baskets, sandals, etc.

The bag I had to have:

Over Night Travel Bag ($49.95): I love this bag because it's huge, it fits a good amount of clothes and accessories, makeup, etc. It has a slip pocket, cell phone pocket, zipper closing, lined interior, adjustable cross shoulder strap and double hand straps. Be prepared to have ogglers at the airport. It's a great conversation starter. I chose the green one because I'm very into being "green" and also because it is made from recycled Sunkist juice pouches (Sunkist is so close to my name – had to have it!). This amazing bag also comes in red, fun red, blue and black.

For more info: Bazura Shop

Say hello to creamy sugar scrubs that fight PMS!

2008-10-06T09:50:00.000-07:00

Hothouse Botanicals' products are 100% vegan, cruelty-free, natural & organic, free of chemicals & preservatives and are as green as can be right down to their recyclable containers. If you're green and you love to incorporate aromatherapy in your beauty regimen, get ready to fall in love.

All of Hothouse Botanicals' products may be ordered in any of their 4 luxurious signature aromatherapy scents:
Bergamot/Ylang Ylang (spicy orange floral scent)
Bourbon Geranium (a rosy minty scent)
Lavendin/Litsea Cubeba (a lavender lemon aroma)
Vanilla/Lime (a yummy, soothing citrusy scent)

My recommendations (but honestly, I recommend everything!):

Bath Salts (on sale for $13.50): What happens when you combine Dead Sea and Bali Reef Salts with essential oils? A very happy and relaxed, ache-free body. Omg, the smell of the Bergamot/Ylang Ylang bath salts is such a sexy one. These bath salts are on sale for an amazing price. I'm going to stock up on these for Christmas presents... for myself! ;)
Body Butter (on sale for $15): These body butters contain rich emollients like shea butter, cocoa butter, coconut oil and rose hip oil. My favorite is the Lavandin/Litsea scent. It's very feminine and relaxing. It's the perfect cure for dry skin. Even if you don't have dry skin, it'll make you smell fantabulous!
Fizzy Bath (on sale for $13.50): It's sodium lauryl/laureth sulfate free! Vanilla Lime Fizzy Bath is my fave - it smells uber yummy and comforting! It inspires me to take baths multiple times a day. ;) A nice soak with this aromatherapeutic fizz fest and you'll be all set for a perfectly relaxing day. It's great for after the gym or a long hard day at work. I highly recommend you buy your loved ones bath fizzies. It would be a very thoughtful gift.
Lip Balm ($3.99): It's packed with vitamins and nutrients and moisturizing goodness like coconut oil, cocoa butter, Vitamin E and hemp seed butter. Sometimes it gets tricksy finding lip balm without beeswax, so Hothouse Botanicals is making us vegan gals very, very happy. The best part about this lip quenching balm is the flavor: chocolate lime. Ummmm, yes, please!
Sugar Scrub (on sale for $12): I gravitated to the Bourbon Geranium Whipped Sugar Scrub 'cause word on the streets is that this bad boy helps relieve stress and fight PMS, and I was like, "Yes, I'll take 10 of those." This sugar scrub is seriously unique from any other scrub I've ever used in that it's creamy. It's sugar cane crystals whipped with shea butter and essential oils. It leaves your skin so incredibly soft. It's a treat... and it's an amazing deal.

Hothouse Botanicals also has an amazing line of Soy Candles and Gift Boxes. Holiday season is just around the corner. Spoil your vegan friends with organic bath & body treats!

There's a limited time sale (25% off) on all sugar scrubs, body butters, fizzy baths and bath salts! Also, there's free shipping on all orders of $40 or more!

For more info: Hothouse Botanicals

Germies be gone!

2008-09-29T19:07:00.000-07:00

Hand sanitizers are great for when you're traveling, eating on-the-go, using port-a-loos, you name it. I've come across an amazingly luxurious, vegan, eco-friendly hand sanitizer that kills 99.9% of all germs, smells amazing and fits in your pocket.

Frais Hand Sanitizer contains an alcohol concentration of 66% pure sugarcane and it has a natural blend of essential oils that help moisturize your skin so it stays soft and smooth. Frais' sugarcane alcohol uses up to 10% less energy than typical corn alcohol so it's more environmental. And hey, I'm a fan of anything made from sugar. ;)

For a hand sanitizer, it smells absolutely remarkable. It has essential oils of ginger, tangerine, lemon myrtle, niaouli, orange, basil, grapefruit and cardamom. Compare those to ingredients in conventional supermarket hand sanitizers (isopropyl alcohol, carbomer, tocopheryl acetate, etc.) - yuck, no thank you. I'll take Frais, please!

Each purchase of Frais Hand Sanitizer supports Just A Drop, an international charity that provides clean water for the developing world. I love promoting companies that give back. It's a win-win for consumers. You're helping other people while helping yourself.

Frais comes in various sizes for all of your everyday needs:

Frais Pocket ($3.50): portable, pocket-sized (0.2 fl.oz.), great for your purse or glove compartment
Frais Everyday ($7): mid-sized (1.7 fl. oz), give one to a friend and keep one for yourself
Frais Gift ($33): 14 mini units, great for business people and travelers
Frais Spa ($29): a gigantor sized bottle, great for the home, office or gym
Frais Travel ($112): great for companies who want to share this gem of a product with their customers (i.e. at spas, bars, salons, etc.)

For more info: Frais

Did somebody say soufflé?

2008-09-22T18:47:00.000-07:00

Nurturing Beauty was founded by Sheya L. Chisenga who set out to create the most luxurious and decadent eco-friendly skincare goodies.

Nurturing Beauty offers natural creams, body butters, soufflés and soaps that are made with high quality shea and cocoa butters, avocado and apricot oils, vitamin E and other natural ingredients.

Sometimes vegan products tend to cost more than conventional supermarket skincare items (that we really, really try to avoid) but Naturing Beauty's line of skincare is actually affordable. And when you think about all of the hard work that went into individually creating and packaging each item, it's a hell of a deal!

Products that we should all stock up on:

Body Sugar Scrubs ($15): With scents like mango, lavender vanilla, pearberry... I think I'll take one of each. I love sugar so much! And as much as I'm trying to cut down on my sugar intake there are no limits when it comes to treating myself with an amazing body sugar scrub. Lavender vanilla can be the perfect addition to a relaxing nighttime bath.

Body Soufflés ($14): They can be ordered in lavender vanilla, lemondrops, pearberry and mango. These soufflés are rich and creamy and cannot be compared to lotiony moisturizers. Lotions contain water, which by the way attracts bacteria and mold which typically calls for some kind of preservative to nip that in the bud. These soufflés however do not contain added water and therefore are naturally free of preservatives and so you don't have to worry about a short shelf life.

Body Butters ($10): Body butters come in lavender vanilla, mango, pearberry, lemondrop, cupcake... wait a second, cupcake? I don't know if you all are familar with my love affair with everything cupcakes but it's huge. I love wearing cupcake perfume, cupcake lotion, I love stuffing my face with vegan cupcakes (with organic icing) and now and I can enjoy cupcake soufflé too! Life is sweet (quite literally)!

Nurturing Beauty also offers Creamy Cocoa Butter ($14), Natural Healing Balm ($14),
Hair Butter and Hair & Body Gloss ($10),
Natural Handmade Soap ($6) (lavender, super shea, orange hibiscus, lemongrass, aloe and calendula)

For more info: Nurturing Beauty

Fall in love with Exuberance all over again!

2008-09-15T16:13:00.000-07:00

ex·u·ber·ance (\ig-ˈzü-b(ə-)rən(t)s\) n.

the quality or state of being exuberant > 2 : an exuberant act or expression (effusively and almost uninhibitedly enthusiastic; lavishly abundant)

Ummm, yeah, that pretty much sums up exactly how I feel about these products!

I did a write up on Exuberance in early July and I was so completely taken with their amazing line of love-inspired beauty essentials that I had to write a second review about some new products that are currently rocking my world.

Must haves:

"She's So Lovely" Beautifying and Balancing Daily Moisturizer ($49): This lotion is for normal, sensitive or maturing skin. It's organic, it's luxurious, made with top quality ingredients and it'll keep you looking young forever. Can I just say that Exuberance is so fancy and such a treat that I feel like a movie star when I use these products. The Exuberance packaging is like fine art and each product comes with a love note. Thay are better than fortune cookies. They are fat free notes of inspirational sweetness. No joke, they always cheer me up and for this reason I save them all. They might find their way in my jeans pocket or my purse. Either way. They make my day.

"Celebrate" Pink Cranberry Soothing Gel Facial Mask: I am a fan of masks in general. They make me feel like I'm at the spa. They feel so good and refreshing! This mask is perfect for people with sensitive skin. It's very calming and deeply hydrating. I like that it's a gel and that it's not clay based. Don't get me wrong, I love clay masks but sometimes I just want a cool and relaxing mask versus a muddy and cakey one.

"Ultimate Perfection" Evening Primrose Intensive Eye Beauty Cream ($57): A little goes a long way so you only need to use a little. I like to use this day and night. If you want to diminish fine lines and wrinkles, you need to hydrate with the help of vitamins, minerals and botanicals. Mother Nature knows what's going on, so follow her cue.
Open Love Letter #56: Who's perfect? You, yes you. Because it all depends on how you define perfection, doesn't it?

Exuberance has travel kits with trial sized products which I love! You get to sample everything and you can tote them all around on your next vacation. Also, they make fabulous gifts! You can get the bath and body products sample kit which includes goodies like Peppermint & Marshmallow Cooling Foot Cream, Dark Chocolate and Mint Hand and Body Cream, Blue Chamomile Moisturizing Bath, Body and Massage Oil, and 5 other fantabulous products. The facial products sample kit includes Green Tea Daily Facial Cleanser, Rose-infused Facial Tonic, Skin Firming Gel Makeup Primer and 7 other spa-like essential treats.

For more info: Exuberance

We're all nuts over shea!

2008-09-08T17:36:00.000-07:00

Olamina is the amazing woman behind Ah Shayh All Natural Skin and Hair Care Products. She donates 20% of the proceeds from shea butter sales to the Dagomba Women's Collective and their children. The collective, located in Ghana, helps women become self sufficient by encouraging them to return to school and engage in life enriching programs.

Products that I love:

Unrefined Shea Nut Butter ($14.99): Shea nut butter is on of Africa's most sustainable natural resources. It has amazing moisturizing and healing properties. It's rich in Vitamins A, B, E and F. It helps fight wrinkles and dry skin. It is also known to treat eczema, dermatitis, insect bites, sunburns and the list goes on and on. Ah Shayh Shea Nut Butter is as pure is it gets. I love to use this on my cuticles while I'm giving myself a home-style manicure.

Spreadable Unrefined Shea Nut Butter with Jojoba ($12.99): Shea Nut Butter and Jojoba... it doesn't get any better than that. Seriously, if you suffer from dry skin or dry scalp, you need to rock the shea nut butter. It's vegan, it's straight from the earth, it's cruelty free and these products are harvested and processed by the Dagomba Women, who pride themselves in using only the highest quality shea nuts and processing standards.

Unrefined Organic Coconut Oil ($17.95): I am one of the biggest fans of coconuts. Seriously, ask anyone I know. I'm pretty much obsessed. I love eating, drinking and wearing anything coconut. So naturally I love this unrefined virgin coconut oil. I like to use this oil after a nice relaxing bath or during a photoshoot at the beach. It's soothing and nourishing and I can't stress enough how pure and natural these ingredients are.

Ah Shayh also makes Shea Nut Mango Foot Cream, Shea Coconut Hand Cream, Body Scrub, African Black Soap and Organic Golden Jojoba.

I highly encourage you all to try everything and in doing so know that you are helping support a community of beautiful, hardworking women.

For more info: Ah Shayh

Time to rock the unfur tote!

2008-09-01T23:07:00.000-07:00

Saka has come out with some amazingly soft, fashionable, Italian faux fur bags. They are ultra deluxe and are so fun to run your fingers through. They are finished with a silky indigo nylon lining and they are hip, trendy and cool as can be.

The best part, aside from being able to sport these unique furry totes is that Saka donates $10 for each bag sold to the following animal foundations: Chittenden, PETA & The Human Society of the United States. It's like icing on the cake. You can look amazing and feel amazing at the same time. Also, sporting these fabulous fur free bags help get people talking about fur in general. It's a great way to help educate people about the awesome and cruelty free alternatives to fur. And while you're at it, you can spread the word about alternatives to leather, wool, silk, and of course meat and dairy too. Being compassionate is super sexy. Sporting these bags will make you that much sexier. Buy one (or a few as gifts) today!

The Unfur Tote is $66
The Unfur Yoga Mat Bag is $58

For more info: Saka Unfur Bag

As green as it gets!

2008-08-25T21:00:00.000-07:00

Angelina Skincare is based on the principle of ahimsa - the yogic practice of non-violence and kindness. We at Vegan Beauty Review love this philosophy (obviously) and we embrace it as well as the companies that dedicate themselves to being vegan, Fair Trade and organic. Angelina Skincare products are made with 100% wind power. They also have a delivery car that runs on pure veggie oil. How cool is that? I'm very impressed by their efforts to help save the planet! Whoo-hoo!!

Angelina Skincare products are used by many aestheticians and massage therapists and can be found at several spas. You can purchase their products online, at natural food stores and boutiques across the country. Angelina Skincare carries products for the face, body, bath & shower, aromatherapy, babies, massages, you name it!

A few products I love love LOVE:

Brighten Up Creamy Face Polish ($22.95): This is an amazing exfoliant for you face. This soy based scrub does just the trick to smooth out your skin and leave it glowing. I use this polish once a week and I love that feeling of having a fresh face (after removing all of the dry, dead skin cells).

Oil Free Moisturizing Gel ($32.95): This gel is packed with Vitamin E & C and botanicals (tea tree, chamomile, lavender, St. John's Wort) that help moisturize without any oily or sticky ingredients. If you have oily or acne prone skin, this stuff is gonna be your new best friend. It's truly refreshing and light and it smells organic and earthy. Keep in mind our skin (which is the body's largest organ) is very permeable and easily absorbs what we put on it. It's important to buy beauty products that are free of chemicals, preservatives and artificial ingredients. These products are so pure and natural.

Sassy Sparkle Shea Body Milk ($24.95): It's pretty impossible for me to pass up a glittery lotion. I'm a glitter guru and I love to sparkle at all times (even while I'm sleeping). :) This shea body milk has ultra-fine iridescent sparklies. You're going to be the most radiant glitter girl this summer. You're also gonna smell beautiful because this amazing moisturizer has essential oils of grapefruit, ginger and vanilla. Y-U-M!

For more info: Angelina Skin Care

Get your summer soaps!

2008-08-18T09:30:00.000-07:00

Strawberry Hedgehog makes its second appearance on Vegan Beauty Review. What can I say? I'm a huge fan of their fabulous vegan handmade soaps and body care products.

Strawberry Hedgehog has a brand new line of summer soaps that are infused with arometherapeutic goodness. These soaps are eye candy as well. They are gorgeous and they are bound to beautify any bathroom or kitchen.

Let's check out the goods, shall we?

Cucumber soap set ($12):
Cucumber-ginger (refreshing, anchoring, strengthening): Sometimes I just grab these soaps and sniff them for a lil' pick me up. I feel they help center myself. Ah, the powers of aromatherapy. This one is very refreshing!
Cucumber-mint (refreshing, cooling, vitalizing): Mint anything is always my fave! This cooling scent makes beating the heat seem easy. It's uber fresh and great for a morning shower to help make you lively for the day ahead.

Lemongrass soap set ($12):
Lemongrass-orange (vitalizing, cleansing, refreshing): I personally like using this set for my kitchen. These scents embody that summer time feeling.
Lemongrass-grapefruit (vitalizing, cleansing, cheering): This one really has an uplifting smell and awakens the senses.

Lavender soap set ($12):
Lavender-ylang ylang (balancing, soothing, sensual): This one is great for invoking the sexy time mood. It's smells very romantic, relaxing and feminine. This is definitely a fave of mine as well.
Lavender-lime (balancing, refreshing, cheering): This one has a calming and relaxing vibe.

These soaps are reasonable priced and are currently on sale. You can buy all three sets for $34! I recommend them all. I will probably be using these summer scents all year long.

For more info: Strawberry Hedgehog

Afterglow brings you natural high fashion makeup

2008-08-11T23:37:00.000-07:00

Afterglow Cosmetics offer pure mineral makeup that is not only organic but is also highly pigmented and long wearing. Many Hollywood makeup artists have made the switch to Afterglow. I've been using mineral makeup for about 3 years now and it's hard for me to imagine anyone usuing conventional supermarket makeup anymore. Mineral makeup is not only the wave of the future, it's vegan and it's actually good for your skin.
Afterglow has a full line of makeup including foundation, blushes, bronzers, eye shadows, eye liners, mascaras, lip glosses, lipsticks AND cruelty-free, vegan professional cosmetic brushes! Yay! These types of things can be hard to find in the vegan world, so thank you Afterglow! You've made many vegan makeup gals very happy. Afterglow also has amazing starter kits that are greats for peeps who are new to mineral makeup.

Afterglow items you must check out:

Organic Glow Bronzer ($18): Everyone wants sunkissed skin. Am I right? Or I'm I absolutely right? Afterglow's bronzer comes in 3 shades (light, medium and deep). Become a natural bronzed beauty without the orangey color of traditional bronzers. These bronzers can be used on the apples of the cheeks or as a contour. I used some Afterglow bronzer for my latest photoshoot and lemme just say, it made my skin glow and look magazine ready.
Afterglow Cosmetics directly donates a generous portion of the proceeds of the purchase from every Afterglow Organic Glow Bronzer sold to help aid the fight against breast cancer.

Vegan Kabuki Brush with Bag ($35): Amazing cosmetic brushes lead to amazing makeup application. It's not rocket science. Like I mentioned earlier, vegan brushes are hard to come by and when you usually do, they suck. I said it. Afterglow has a wonderful line of brushes that are super soft and perfectly designed for applying loose minerals evenly. Your makeup is going to look flawless. What I like about the kabuki brush is that it's petit and fits perfectly in my purse and never makes a mess 'cause it comes with a cute metallic mini bag.

Organic Lip Love ($22): There are 15 fantabulous colors to choose from. I personally love Courage which is a yummy classic warm red. These lipsticks are organic and contain aloe vera and jojoba to help keep your lips moisturized and nourished.

For more info: Afterglow Mineral Cosmetics

Turn back the hands of time...

2008-08-04T07:01:00.000-07:00

Truly Ageless has a wonderful line of natural, organic skin and haircare products that are 100% cruelty free, vegan, and free of chemical preservatives and fragrances.

I love it when beauty companies offer kits that have a little bit of everything. This way you get to try everything out and you get to save some money too! Genius!

Solvit All Complete Moisturizing/Cleansing Kit ($129)
This kit has it all! It includes four full sized products and some special bonuses:

One bottle of Solvit All Nutrients Cleanser ($19.95): This cleanser cuts through the oil and has a fantabulous unisex smell. All of these products contain Truly Ageless Exclusive Herbal Extracts, along with sea kelp, vitamins C & E, carrot seed oil and fruit essence.

One bottle of Solvit All Essential Nutrients Mist ($59.95): Feed your face with this nourishing refreshing mist. This nutritious recipe is made from ibedenone (strongest in the CoQ10 family), copper peptides, DMAE, Vitamin C Ester, alpha lipoic acid, sea minerals, colloidal silvers and the list goes on. It's an anti aging powerhouse! Get ready to start seeing those early signs of aging disappear in no time!

One bottle of Solvit All Essential Nutrients Serum ($69.95): This water-free formula provides maximum moisture for your skin. It has a fresh, natural scent and contains jojoba, CoQ10, alpha/beta carotenes, ginko biloba, carrot seed oil, Vitamin E and a slew of other nutritious goodies. Isn't it ironic how many conventional moisturizers have water as one of their main ingredients? Not this one. This one packs a punch with its moisturizing goodness sans the agua.

One bottle of Solvit All Nutrients Toner ($19.95): It's recommended that you use this toner three times a week. It also works well as a non-soap cleanser for those with oily skin. What can I say... I love each and every one of these products. They keep me looking fresh and beautiful!

The kit also comes with a headband which comes in handy when you're trying to keep your hair out of your face while washing and it also comes with a nice sized Microdermabrassion Cleansing Cloth (which is a $30 value). You can feel this wash cloth degunkify your pores and keep them free of dirt and dead skin cells. I love love LOVE this cloth! It's short of having magical powers and it really complements the anti aging routine this kit has to offer. Can you tell I'm a fan? :)

I have amazing news for my Vegan Beauty Review readers! You guys get 35% off of each order without expiration: Click here

For more info: Truly Ageless

Hydrate your skin with the goodness of coconuts!

2008-07-28T18:48:00.000-07:00

I am definitely a lotion aficionado. I am pretty picky when it comes to using different types of lotions for different occasions. For example, I need something thick and emollient for winter time, something with anti-aging properties for nighttime, lotion with SPF to wear under my makeup during the day, etc.

HydraMe lotion ($19.95) is a wonderful vegan, moisturizing any-time lotion.
Hydrame uses rejuvenating coconut oil (mmmmmm, coconuts!!!) instead of glycerin, mineral oil and silicone oils. HydraMe contains oils from coconut, wheat germ, grapeseed, sweet almond, golden jojoba, hempseed, olive, safflower and rosehip seed.
HydraMe is 100% natural and doesn't contain any synthetic deodorizers or prabens and has a delicate, natural scent.

HydraMe also makes a Clean Body Wash ($14.95), HydraMen Shave Gel and Balm ($16.95) and HydraMe Tipz lip balm ($4.79)

For more info: HydraMe

Pilates time!

2008-07-21T21:01:00.000-07:00

Yoga and pilates have whipped me into shape in no time and I feel amazing. Pilates has really helped strengthen my core, make me more flexible and more aware of my muscle groups, and my posture has really improved as well. The best part is that I get to do pilates in the privacy of my own home (I don't mind if my kitties watch me).

Stott Pilates is a great place to find top notch pilates dvds and equipment. I am personally a big fan of their Secret to Weight Loss series (Volume 1) ($14.95). If you have a lil' gush in the tush or some wobbly bits you's like to say goodbye to, look no further. This particular dvd features Walking Pilates Calorie Burning Workout with over 20 minutes of low impact cardio and over 20 minutes of sculpting. Moira Merrithew is the instructor in this dvd and she is my idol. She makes losing weight an attainable goal. This dvd is perfect for people who are looking for a lower level of difficulty in their workout. All you need for this dvd workout is an exercise mat and supportive walking shoes.

Another Stott Pilates dvd that is has become a part of my daily routine is The Secret to Flat Abs ($14.95). This dvd is also taught by Moira and is a moderately paced workout suitable for beginners that covers 37 exercises. The only equipment you need for the is an exercise mat. We all want flat abs... am I right or am I right? It's bikini season and with the help of Moira and Stott Pilates, I plan on conquering the beach. Honestly, pilates has helped me strengthen my core muscles, back and torso as well as make me more flexible and alligned. Stott Pilates offers a wide range of dvds from beginner level to advanced in all categories such as Pilates Express, Pilates Matwork, Stability Ball, Toning Ball, Flex-band, Weight Loss, Walking Pilates, Pilates for Kids, etc. They have it all.

For more info: Stott Pilates

Yoga time!

2008-07-14T14:45:00.000-07:00

I've made it a mission to get super duper toned and bikini ready this summer and I've been doing yoga and pilates to help me get in shape. Yoga helps increase your flexibility, it helps keep your joints, ligaments and tendons in great shape, it massages all the organs in your body, helps you detox, it tones, burns calories and brings about awareness. So let's get started... First thing's first, you're going to need an amazing and comfortable pair of yoga pants.

Shirts of Bamboo is a clothing company that has bamboo apparel for men, women and babies. They also carry great accessories like robes, towels, socks and headbands. For those of you who have never experienced the wonders of bamboo, let me just say that bamboo is the softest, most natural, breathable, light and most renewable, sustainable fabric on the planet. Bamboo's silky softness and environmental benefits are enough to get any "green"y excited!

Accent Stitch Bamboo Yoga Pants ($48): These yoga pants have an elastic waist and a drawstring and are extremely comfortable and flattering for any shape and size. My tushy looks mega yummy when I'm sportin' these bamboo threads. These pants are available in chocolate brown (my fave) and black. They are made of 70% bamboo, 20% cotton and 10% lycra. I wear these pants religiously when I go to the gym and they are quick to absorb sweat and feel so light that it really makes working out a more enjoyable experience. These super cozy pants also double as sleepy time pants for night-night. These coupled with a bamboo tank top and forget about it. You'll be in comfort heaven.

For more info: Shirts of Bamboo

Now that you're rockin' your bamboo yoga fancy pants, you're also going to want to get yourself an ecologically sound, slip resistant, cushiony yoga mat.

Jade Harmony Yoga Mat ($40-80): This environmentally friendly yoga mat is made with open cell, natural rubber (a renewable resource tapped from rubber trees). That means there and no PVC or ozone depleting substances. Jade Harmony Mats are pretty slip resistant even they get wet with perspiration and they also provide the perfect amount of cushioning. These mats are available in the most beautiful colors, too! Colors to choose from include: Purple, Black, Sedona Red, Tibetan Orange, Slate Blue, Midnight Blue and Olive Green. These mats also come in three different thickness: 1/8" Harmony Travel (lighter, for those who would like closer contact with the ground), 3/16" Harmony Professional (most popular, perfect balance of traction and cushion) and 5/16" Harmony Fusion (extra thick for more cushion). I personally, am trying to make every aspect of my life as green as possible and I honestly feel better about myself and the planet when I use my environmtally freindly yoga mat. Now if I could just manage to find a "green" gym to go to.

For more info: Jade Yoga

Okie dokie, we're set with the goods, now let's get our yoga on!

I've been hooked on Real Bodyworks Yoga dvds. They have three levels to choose from. I am a big fan of all three.

Gentle Practice ($19.95): This one is taught by Zyrka Landwijt. This dvd has 6 gentle routines, 3 1/2 hours of practice and 23 pose lessons. If you've never done yoga before, this dvd is a great way to familiarize yourself with the basics. It's so important to do the poses correctly, so this dvd gives detailed instructions for each pose, including positioning, common mistakes, pose benefits and contraindictations.

Gentle Vinyasa Flow ($19.95): Vinyasa yoga is my fave! It's so flowy and continuous and you will definitely find yourself breakin' a little sweat. This dvd is also taught by Landwijt and is a perfect follow up to Gentle Practice. It's level of difficulty is beginner to intermediate.

Spirit of Vinyasa Flow ($19.95): This dvd is taught by Deb Dobbin and features one 39 minute sequence and two 70 minute sequences. The level of difficulty on this one is intermediate to advanced. What I love most about all 3 of these dvds is that you can choose your level of difficulty and length of each lesson, which could possible vary day to day depending on your mood and flexibility. Zyrka and Deb are amazing instructors and the soundtracks to these dvds are very relaxing and spot on. The Pose Guide is included in all 3 dvds so take advantage of doing each pose correctly to get the full benefits for your body.

For More info: Real Bodywork

Fall in love with a company that promotes love

2008-07-07T22:59:00.000-07:00

Exuberance has luxurious organic skin care products that are inspired by the power, energy and exuberance of women. This company is actively involved with charities that focus on empowering women around the world.
Every product is made with 70-98% organic ingredients and are made with natural plant extracts, bioactive botanicals and essential oils. All of their products are 100% vegan and cruelty free, which I am of course, all about!

Each Exuberance product is beautifully packaged. Like seriously, I want to save the boxes these products come in and maybe use them for scrap booking or arts and crafts. Also, these organic skin care goodies come with love notes. You heard right! Each product carries an open love letter inspired by women in all of their amazing glory. What I like most about Exuberance is their unique approach to paying homage to women everywhere.

A few must haves:

Tangerine & Sugar Maple Balancing Facial Tonic: After cleansing the skin, it's important to tone the skin. Toners are mega important for any beauty regimen. This one is balancing, anti-aging, acne fighting, eliminates dull skin and protects against environmental toxins. This toner smells heavenly and very feminine. I found myself a new favorite toner, people!

Vitamin C Super Rejuvenating Night Cream: Sleepy time is when your body heals itself from daily stress. This potent nighttime cream will help renew and repair tired skin and leave it glowing and refreshed looking. The power of Vitamin C is indisputable. We are talking super antioxidants here! Use this cream for a month and see and feel the difference in your skin. You're going to be hooked!

Peppermint & Marshmallow Cooling Foot Cream: Well, I can't stress how much I'm in love with everything peppermint. I like its tingly and refreshing factor. In fact, I'm guilty of not only using this cream on my feet but all over. For me, it's my fragrance of choice. Mmmm, I smell like a candy cane! It' the perfect remedy for dry feet. This cream is deeply moisturizing and it perfecto after a nice foot soak or foot scrub... or for an all over minty pick-me-up.

For more info: Exuberance

Lily Organics : Dew Fresh Skin Care

2008-06-30T22:22:00.000-07:00

Lily Organics has a complete line of cleansers, moisturizers, creams, mists, exfoliant masks and oils. Everything is handmade fresh every week and is grown ("seed to shelf") on Lily's own certified organic farm. Yay, we love Lily! Her line is cruelty free and has pure botanical essential oils. Lily Organics will help make you look young and beautiful. I've seen pictures of Lily herself and she is walking proof.

Products that I highly recommend:

Balancing Facial Lotion ($5.90 for 1/4 oz, $29.90 for 2 oz): Apply this natural, organic lotion day and night. This lotion balances (hence, it's name), moisturizes and relaxes normal and combination skin. If you are one to skip beauty regimens, remember that moisturizing is the most necessary and basic step for youthful and beautiful skin. This lotion can be used on your hands and body as well. Moisturizing ingredients in this lotion include almond oil, aloe vera gel, tea tree oil, rosehip seed oil, primrose oil, seaweeds, St. John's wart, yarrow, arnica, kelp and pure citrus seed extract.

Organic Moisture Mist ($5. 50 for 1 oz. and $15.90 for 3.4 oz.): Great before or after makeup to help set and add moisture. It's oh so refreshing. I've become a misting addict. I mist throughout the day for a lil' pick-me-up. The temperatures are rising so this baby comes in handy quite often. In fact, I personally keep mine in the fridge so when I get my misting action on, it's uberly chill. Feel free to bite my style. Make it trendy and spread the word. ;)

Lily, the founder of Lily Organics wrote a book entitled Beauty, Health and Happiness. It a wonderful read, especially for those who appreciate organic skin care & remedies as well as nutrition & wellness. The book is a perfect reference when it comes to herbs and essential oils and their benefits, nutrition, beauty secrets and this book has numerous recipes for beauty care products. That's right, you can learn how to make your own amazing beauty products! If you're already a natural, organic gal, such as myself, let this book remind you and excite you about all the reasons you chose to be an earthy and conscious being in the first place.

For more info: Lily Organics

Natual skin and hair care for peeps and pooches

2008-06-23T21:34:00.000-07:00

John Masters Organics sets some pretty strict guidelines for their products. For instance, all ingredients must be organic, cruelty-free, harvested in an environmentally friendly manner (wild crafted), must be as bio-degradable as possible, Fair Trade when possible, all plant oils must be cold pressed (to preserve therapeutic properties)... and the list goes on (check their website for complete guidelines). I also encourage you to read up on Mr. John Masters and his sweet canine companion, Maya, on their site as well. It's quite inspirational.

Must haves:

Citrus and Neroli Detangler ($16): This detangler is great especially if you have dry & crusty hair such as myself from over processing and sun damage. It can be overwhelming dealing with too many tangles, especially on an every day basis. With a lil' Masters' help, your beautious locks will be brushable and easy to style. This detangler also works well as a leave in conditioner. Essential oils of citrus and neroli provide an uplifting aroma. What is neroli oil you ask? Well, I had to google this myself. As an essential oil, it is used in aromatherapy and massage for its soothing effect on the nervous system... it helps relieve tension and anxiety. Sign me up, I'm sold on neroli.

Blood Orange and Vanilla Body Milk ($18.00): This lotion smells a-m-a-z-i-n-g! It has a delicate blend of milk thistle, aloe vera, essential oil of blood orange and vanilla along with safflower oil and sea algae (for moisture). This, to me, is a great summer time lotion because it's extremely light and quick absorbing.

Eucalyptus & Tea Tree Dogpoo ($20.00): Dogs need vegan, organic hair care products, too! Your pooch deserves deluxe dogpoo (and you know it's true!) This particular formula helps ward off fleas and ticks with essential oils of neem, citronella and eucalyptus and it's perfectly pH balanced for your fluffy companion's coat. This wash works up into a nice lather and rinses easily. It's a perfect alternative to conventional formulas made of harmful chemicals that are toxic and unsafe. John Masters Organics works with Animal Haven, a no kill sanctuary in New York. $1 from each sale of this product will be donated to help dogs and cats in need of good homes. Also, John Masters Organics is endorsed by PETA.

For more info: John Masters Organics

Klean Bath and Body is quite the olfactory experience!

2008-06-16T20:41:00.000-07:00

I'm a sucker for smelly yum-yums whether it's in my mouth or on my skin. I like the idea that if you use beautiful smelling soaps, moisturizers, scrubs, etc., there's no need to even use perfume.

Klean Bath and Body is vegan and cruelty free and their products are simply amazing! They offer body polishes, moisturizers, massage oils, perfumes (and you know how hard it is to find vegan perfumes!), cleansers and other green gifts. All of their products come in a myriad of decadent fragrances so you're going to have a blast picking and choosing which products you want in which scents. I'm just going to list a few of Klean's scents 'cause the list is ginormous: The Devil Made Me Do It (brownie inspired), German Chocolate Cake, Just Peachy, Roasted Nut Orange Peel, Tangy Watermelon, Vanilla-Sandalwood, Bamboo Sugarcane, Blue Hawaii (jasmine and coconut), Ginger Tea, Pink Grapefruit-Vanilla, Pink Martini, Satsuma Glow (guava, orange, lemon, jasmine, neroli, sandalwood and musk)... (check the website for a complete list) :)

My faves:

Body Polish ($11.50): I'm in love Love LOVE with the Devil Made Me Do It Body Polish! It's a fine textured brownie scented sugar scrub that leaves your skin feeling divine! It's a chocoholic's dream. You get to enjoy all of the sinful pleasure with zero guilt and at $11.50 it's a hell of a deal.

Klean Bath Syrup ($11.50): This super thick, mega foaming bath syrup is a must for any bath or shower. Yuzu is the scent I've been currently digging. A little goes a long way so don't get too bubble crazy! You can order different sized syrups (small, medium, large) and you can add a pump as well.

Klean Solid Perfumes ($10.50): Solid perfumes are the perfect lil' size to slip into your purse or in a pocket for a quick smelly pick up. The one currently residing in my hand bag is Creamy Coconut - YUM! These perfumes come in a variety of fragrances and are blended with soy wax and sweet almond oil. These make great additions to any goody/gift bag.

For more info: Klean Bath & Body

Oracle Organics is my latest obsession!

2008-06-09T23:19:00.000-07:00

Oracle Organics is 100% vegan and never tests on animals... I love it when a company takes the guess work out of vegan beauty and comes out and states that - makes life simple!
Oracle Organics products are made in small batches and are handcrafted "with love." They support social and environmental justice by using sustainable ingredients that are 100% natural, of the highest quality and that are ethically produced. They are also a Co-op America approved green business.

A few products I have fallen in love with:

Vanilla Shea Body Butter ($20.50): Holy Mole, this body butter is decadent yumminess for your skin! It smells like rich vanilla icing - so much that I have been attempted on occasion to lick it off my fingers. It's made with pure unrefined organic fair trade shea butter with organic jojoba and sweet almond oils... it's also infused with real, organic vanilla beans - YUM! It's extremely emollient and is the perfect remedy for dry skin. I personally use this stuff day and night for its yummy scent alone. Natural vanilla is heaven and it doesn't get any better than this! Other varieties of body butters include Clarify Body Butter (with citrus extracts), Pure Body Butter (pure and unscented), Renew Body Butter (with soothing lavender) and Strengthen Body Butter (with rosemary and mint extracts).

Bloom Organic Facial Mask ($17): This floral facial mask has pure organic rose petals (an astringent), hibiscus flowers, rosehips (high in antioxidants) and marshmallow root (a soothing emollient) with mild kaolinite clay. Let this amazing organic botanical concoction revive your skin by drawing out all the impurities via Mother Nature's ingredients. You can also try their Mineral Mud Organic Facial Mask (with green tea extract) and their Refine Organic Facial Mask (with white sage and green clay).

Purify Sugar Scrub ($16.00): I have a natural affinity for sugar scrubs. I also have an affinity for all minty things. This particular body scrub is infused with mint and green tea extracts. Love it!!! Shea butter and jojoba oil are also key ingredients which help nourish and moisturize your skin so it feels amazingly soft. The scent of this body polish is awakening and fresh. The Purify Sugar Scrub has become a regular addition to my morning and nighttime baths. Other varieties of the body polishes include Clarity Sugar Scrub (with citrus extracts), Ginger Lime Sugar Scrub (with macadamia nut oil) and Mineral Mud Salt Scrub (with green tea extract).

Oracle Organics also make organic soaps, body washes, massage oils and they sell bath accessories, soap dishes and other great gifts. Oracle Organics has an admirable green philosophy and their products are absolutely fabulous!!!

For more info: Oracle Organics

Jenulence: "If you can't eat it, don't use it on your skin."

2008-06-02T00:03:00.000-07:00

Jenulence has a slection of mineral makeup, skin care and bath & body care products that are all natural and free of toxins. Yippee! Take a peek...

A few beauty products I recommend:

Anti-wrinkle Shea Butter Eye Cream ($32.00): I have been using this under eye cream for the past two weeks and I'm hooked. It contains vitamin C-Ester, vitamin E and DMAE which are all powerhouse ingredients for looking young and vibrant. This eye cream also contains caffeine which helps tighten your skin while natural oils and butter heal and nourish your skin. A little cream goes a long way. I recommend you use this creamy, smooth Fountain-of-Youth-in-a-Jar both morning and night.

Antioxidant Green Tea Foaming Cleanser ($16.00): I pretty much love everything with green tea in it. It's anti-oxidizing powers constantly allure me. This is a gentle cleanser that works for all skin types. Make sure you recycle it's packaging! Not all beauty product containers are recyclable - this one definitely is, so do your part!

Alpha Lipoic Acid Antioxidant Serum ($32.00): Key ingredients in this anti wrinkle potion include organic rosehip seed oil, sea buckthorn seed and berry oils, hydrosoluble alpha lipoic acid and good ol' vitamin E. This serum is great for diminishing fine lines and small scars. Just use a few drops on cleansed skin once or twice a day and let the power of Mother Nature take its course.

For more info: Jenulence

Rae Cosmetics is for girls on the go

2008-05-26T22:31:00.000-07:00

Rae Cosmetics is going to make a lot of chicks who live in hot, humid climates very very happy! Rae is also designed for women who lead active lives and prefer makeup that is functional as well as beauty enhancing.

This no nonsense makeup, which is rich in anti-oxidants, can withstand heat and stress.

A few must haves:

Mineral Powder Compact ($39): These powders are hypoallergenic, fragrance, talc and oil free and have SPF 8 (which should be requirements for all of your foundation and base makeup). These powders are versatile and work well as foundation or finishing powder... and a little bonus - they have a natural sunscreen. They are lightweight and smooth and leave your skin looking even and flawless. You can choose from 8 shades to match your skin tone. Mineral makeup is truly where it's at. It's 2008, Ladies! There is no need to be using goopy foundation filled with chemicals and preservatives. Go natural and have fun!

Climate Control Mineral Tint ($39): This multi mineral tinted anti-oxidant lotion/foundation is also hypoallergenic, fragrance, talc and oil free as well as water resistant. Amen to that! These babies have SPF 20 to combat early signs of aging along with powerful anti-oxidants like ginko biloba, ginseng, vitamins A, C and E. If you're Sporty Spice or just simply a fan of the outdoors, this makeup is definitely for you. And if you live in a hot and humid city like Austin, you can now look beautiful without worrying about your face melting off.

Super Shimmer Dust ($16): This micro crushed golden pigment is perfect for eye lids, cheeks, shoulders, chest or back. It's subtle yet glamorous. I love using this powder underneath my brows for highlighting effects. This will give anyone a youthful and radiant glow. You have to give this golden shimmer a whirl! It works for both daytime and nighttime, whether you want to be flirty and fun or bold and dramatic.

For more info: Rae Cosmetics

Vegan makeup is where it's at!

2008-05-19T21:35:00.000-07:00

Herbs of Grace is dedicated to providing quality skin care products and cosmetics using the finest natural ingredients that are free of chemicals & preservatives and are cruelty-free & vegan! This is a great place to buy mineral foundations, eye shadows, blush, lip balm, bronzers, makeup gift sets, books, brushes and accessories. All of these products are homemade and arrive at your home as fresh as can be.

A few of my faves:

Natural Skin Foundation Powders ($18.50): These all-natural powders come in 6 shades and can be used as concealer, foundation & powder! These powders have sunscreen agents in them as well so no need to apply any additional SPF while you're wearing Herbs of Grace. Also, these powders are light and anti-inflammatory and are great for people with sensitive, damaged or acne prone skin. Herbs of Grace has an amazing Vegan Kabuki Brush ($27.30) that works divinely with these foundation powders. Vegan kabuki brushes are hard to come by so finding this one was a treat!

Natural Color Eye Shadow ($6.75): The Purple Shimmer Collection (Lavender Mist, Huckleberry & Dark Plum) is my favorito! These colors are bold, long-wearing and iridescent. I feel like a purple princess with this trio of purpley power. I use the lavender shade to highlight my lids and the darker shades as crease color and liner. These colors are also fun to mix and match. Herbs of Grace has every color eyeshadow you can imagine from pinks and purples to greens, browns and blues. They are all stunning and fun to experiment with.

Herbs of Grace has a new line of vegan lip balms with a hint of color ($3.95): These natural looking, earth tone shades include Sweet Pea, Chestnut and Berry. You can purchase non tinted lip conditioners ($3.25) as well in Peppermint and Tangerine.

For more info: Herbs of Grace

Kilynn Cosmetics make you go Mmmm...

2008-05-12T15:14:00.000-07:00

Kilynn Cosmetics are vegan, cruelty-free and are made with natural oils, butters, proteins and extracts that leave your skin feeling soft and silky smooth. This unique line features sweet smelling body creams, body washes, mineral makeup and hair products.

A couple of faves:

Kilynn's Champagne Whipped Body Cream ($15): This creamy concoction has an delicate, feminine aroma that lasts long after you apply it to your skin. This whipped body cream is made from avacado, grapeseed butter, wheat protein and banana extract.
Kilynn Whipped Body Cream is available is 3 other yummy scents: Cotton Candy (Ooooooh!) , Passionate Papaya (yum!) and Sweet Honeysuckle.

Lavender & Oatmeal Moisturizing Body Bar ($5.50): This organic soaptastical bar of wonder gently cleanses and moisturizes without drying... and it's uberly floral lavender scent gives you a calming and soothing bath time experience. This bar of soap happens to be a customer favorite and I totally get why. It smells heavenly and my skin is in love with all the soothing benefits that oatmeal has to offer. Kilynn also makes a Tea Tree Moisturizing Facial Soap (which is great for dry, sensitive skin) and an 'I Love Shea' Moisturizing Body Bar. I happen to be a shea lover myself so this bar is aptly named.

For more info: Kilynn Cosmetics

Coola: Solar powered suncare - now that's cool!

2008-05-05T18:44:00.000-07:00

Coola is an organic suncare line that uses only the best organic extracts and ingredients to create quality skin care that is hypoallergenic, PABA free and waterproof.
Beginning in 2009, Coola will be the first and only sun protection line that will be able to say they are a "solar powered sun protection line." The irony... and the awesomeness!
Coola is vegan, against animal testing and uses biodegradable packaging, recycled papers, eco-friendly printing and is made entirely in the USA. Coola also donates a portion of its profits to skin cancer research.

Coola has three types of sunscreen, and I guarantee you are going to want to try them all! On that note, you can order Coola Minis ($1.99) which are perfect for sampling, traveling and sharing with friends!

The goods:
Face 30 SPF in cucumber (my fave!) and unscented ($32)
Total Body 30 SPF in plumeria (another fave!) and unscented ($30)
Sport 45 SPF in mango and unscented ($32)

Coola's line of sun protection feels amazing on the skin, it smells oooh la la good (especially the scented versions) and it's not at all greasy or goopy. It's perfect! In all honesty, Coola is my new sunblock. Love it, love it! Coola will help you age gracefully and divinley while you embrace your environmental consumer responsibilities.

For more info: Coola

Arbonne: conscious beauty made easy

2008-04-25T11:38:00.000-07:00

Arbonne International has a simple motto: pure, safe & beneficial. There are a myriad of reasons to use Arbonne products. They are formulated without dyes or chemical fragrances, they are organic, never tested on animals, certified vegan, hypoallergenic, ph balanced and petroleum free. Arbonne is also formulated in Switzerland and made in the USA.

Arbonne carries products for women, men and babies! They have amazing skin care, anti-aging treatments, makeup, hair care, aromatherapy and products for weight loss and nutrition.

Arbonne also offers the opportunity for people to start their own Arbonne business. You can become a client, consultant "wholesale buyer" or business builder. Why not start making money selling vegan beauty products that you already love?

A few recommendations:

NutriMinC RE9 REality Moisturizing Sunscreen SPF 8 ($49.50): This moisturizing formula helps prevent wrinkles and sun damage while drastically improving skin tone. It's important to know that it's recommended that sunscreen be used every day of the year and not just when it's sunshiney outside. UV rays are always present, even when it's cloudy. This sunscreen is perfect for wearing under you makeup.

Intelligence Hand Cream ($14): This thick and rich hand treatment formula is packed with anti-aging ingredients such as liposomes, phospholipids, alpha hydroxy acids, antioxidant vitamins A, C and E. It's prefect for all skin types and is especially a must have year round.

Arbonne also has an Intelligence Herbal Foot Cream ($16) which I believe is just as important to use every day to help keep feet soft and supple. Key ingredients in this herbal blend include alpha hydroxy acids, avocado oil, rice bran oil and menthol. You can also order these babies in a travel size. I love to use this cream right after a nice, relaxing bath. My feet and tosies stay in tip top condition with this herbal concoction.

And now for my favorito...

NutriMinC REnewing Gelee Creme Hydrating Wash ($39): It's an emollient, cream-based, ph balanced gel cleanser that cleans without drying your skin. It's perfect for all skin types and your skin will feel so incredibly clean and soft after using this wash. It's the perfect foundation to having amazing, youhtful looking skin. Use this and the above mentioned sunscreen and you are guaranteed to look like a hot mama for life.

Arbonne is animal friendly and gives you amazing results. I highly recommend you give it a whirl. Jami Lathan, Arbonne Consultant, is one of the most delightful and helpful people in the Arbonne community. She can help you determine what's perfect for your skin, give you recommendations and advice and make your vegan beauty care shopping experience a memorable one.

For more info: Arbonne

Warm Earth Cosmetics: makeup & pottery never looked so good

2008-04-15T22:47:00.000-07:00

Warm Earth Cosmetics is pure and clean and natural. They never test on animals and they never use animal ingredients. They offer blushes and eyeshadows that are divine, long-wearing and rich in pigments.

One of the coolest aspects of Warm Earth Cosmetics is their unique packaging... little miniature pottery vessels with natural cork closures. Once you use up all of your mineral makeup, the pottery makes a beautiful addition to any room in your house. Their pottery is hand-thrown, hand-glazed, high-fired stoneware and porcelain. Each pottery is one of a kind and beautiful to boot. I love them all!

As far as blushes and eyeshadows go, they pretty much carry every color under the sun. Their blushes ($21) are highly concentrated and will stay put throughout the day. Many of their blushes can double up as bronzers and lighter shades can be used as foundation - these babies are certainly versatile.

Warm Earth Cosmetics has have a variety of eyeshadows ($11)... some are subtle, others are more vibrant and you can mix and match colors to come up with a shade all your own. You can add a drop of water to your eye liner brush and mix with the shadows to line the eyes - very glamorous! Each eyeshadow listed on their website give a nice description of what kind of treat your eyes on in for. I happen to gravitate toward the bold blues and pink shades that have a shimmery sheen to them. I love the sparklies!

*Note: Although Warm Earth Cosmetics' blushes and eyeshadows are vegan, their application brushes on their website are not.

For more info: Warm Earth Cosmetics

Urban Apothecary: chic, flirty and fun

2008-04-08T14:11:00.000-07:00

Urban Apothecary is 100% vegan and cruelty free. They have a lot of fun products to choose from which will add a lil' spice to your regular makeup routine.

Here are a few of my faves:

Eye Confetti ($10): Fun eyeshadow just got kicked up a notch. These shadows offer a subtle sheen and lots o' twinkle! 8 fun shades are available to choose from. They are all gorgeous!

Glitterazzi Glitter ($4): Ultra fine glittery eye candy. Sparkle and dazzle in every color of the rainbow - they offer 24 magical shades. Wearing these sparkley babies will definitely get you noticed! My personal favorites are Charm, Hoodoo, Midnight and Hocus Pocus.

Luxe Cream Liner ($20): This creamy liner dries in seconds, is smudge-proof and is uber sexy. It comes in 5 shades: Cloud 9 (fresh snow), Silver Lining (shimmering grey), Midnight Opal (shimmering navy), Onyx (jet black) and Mahogany (dark chocolate).

Mineral Matte Bronzer ($38): Cleavage season is just around the corner. Bronzers are perfect for an allover sun-kissed glow. This all natural bronzer has a gold bronze warmth combined with pink, bronze and fawn shimmer - perfecto! You're gonna be the hottest chica on the block!

For more info: Urban Apothecary

Rosie Jane Cosmetics: Compact, Simple, Natural & Beautiful

2008-04-01T14:31:00.001-07:00

Rosie Jane Cosmetics was developed by famed celebrity makeup artist Rosie Jane Johnson. Her philosophy is a simple "back to basics" approach.

There are four basic cosmetics that are available in this line and they are all simple to use: Cheek Gloss, Eye Defines, Eye Hints and Lip Dew.

Rosie Jane Cosmetics has a strong celebrity following including Cameron Diaz, Eva Longoria, Courtney Cox and Rachel Bilson.

A few Rosie Jane Cosmetics highlights:

Rosie Jane Eye Hints ($20) - tinted eye cream offered in three colors (buttercup Bronze, Rain Lilly and Hint of Lavender). I'm a purple princess so of course I gravitated to the Hint of Purple shade. It's great for combining with other eyeshadows and because it's a cream shadow, it's a perfect base for adding a little glitter on your eyelids.

Rosie Jane Eye Defines ($15) - eyeliners which can be used as both a liner and blendable shadow. It comes in three shades: Fern (deep moss green with shimmer), Beech Tree (brownish bronze with shimmer) and Grapevine (deep purple/black with shimmer). These babies glide on smoothly and are retractable so no need for pencil sharpeners. Yay!

My favorite Rosie Jane Cosmetic is the Lip Dew ($18) - super moisturizing lip gloss that contains shea butter. It comes in 3 colors: Tara Tottergrass (clear, vanilla flavored), Apple Blossom (hot pink, apple flavored) and Elderberry (bronze, berry flavored). These lip glosses smell just like candy.

For more info: Rosie Jane Cosmetics

Strawberry Hedgehog: green and glamorous beauty with homestyle charm

2008-03-24T16:31:00.001-07:00

First of all, how can one not be drawn to a company with such an innocently alluring name. Strawberry Hedgehog is a grassrootsy company with charming and delightful products. Tracy Perkins, the owner of Strawberry Hedgehog makes all of these vegan goodies by herself in her kitchen. (Wow!) I am all about promoting ambitious, successful, vegan (and female) entrapraneurs! She offers natural vegan products such as soaps, scrubs, lotions, body butters and perfumes. These products are simple, pure and essential.

A few of my faves:

Peppermint Shea Butter ($15) I love Love LOVE anything and everything peppermint, so I was sold on this one before even trying it. By far, one of the best shea butters I've ever tried. Whenever I've got this on my arms, I become preoccupied with smelling myself to the point where it's ridiculous.

Tea Tree Rosemary Face Soap ($9) Great for keeping up a clear complexion. It smells wonderful and it lasts a long time so it's a great buy.

Lemon Mint Kiss Lip Balm ($3) Tingley and smooth and feels amazing on my lips. It's kind of addictive (in a nice, delicious way).
I always keep this in my purse so it's nearby when I'm ready to moisturize my sexy lips. I love that all of these products are homemade!

Ginger Spice, Vanilla, and Damask Rose Patchouli Perfume Oil ($15) Pure essential oils blended with only alcohol and that's it. Simple, pure, natural and refreshing. These perfumes are subtle and not overwhelming like most commercial perfumes, thank Godzilla! I especially favor the vanilla perfume oil. It's smells yummy and girly.

The nice thing about Strawberry Hedgehog is that you can custom blend essential oils to create your own wonderful aromatherapy and perfume oil scents. Sounds like fun to me!

For more info: Strawberry Hedgehog

Girls, pucker up that sexy pout with the help of Skin by Monica!

2008-03-18T16:26:00.000-07:00

Skin by Monica, founded by model/actress Monica Olson, is a line of organic beauty products (and products for men and babies, too). I came across a beauty product that particularly had me ranting and raving.

I basically flipped out when I tried this new organic lip plumper from Skin by Monica. I've managed to try out 5 or 6 different vegan/organic lip plumpers in the past few months and I must say that this one by far has been the most impressive in its lip plumpin' abilities.

Skin by Monica's Peppermint Plump for Sexy Lips ($18.95) works almost immediately after putting it on. It's uber tingley and minty and gives your lips plenty of plumptitude and shine.
It's a pretty amazing deal considering most plumpers on the market are $40 and up. Also this 3.5ml tube of gloss is going to last you for quite some time. And hey, it's organic - that's reason enough to give this plumper a whirl.

You can apply the gloss to bare lips or over color for some added shine. This gloss is enriched with grapefruit seed extract (a natural preservative), macadamia nut oil, castor bean oil, menthol and camphor (tingley ingredients).

I happen to be a huge peppermint aficionado, but if minty bliss isn't quite your cup of tea (or tube of gloss), this amazing, fast-acting plumper is also available in raspberry. Yum! You can also buy lip gloss (plump-free) ($12.95) in cherry and strawberry.

Skin by Monica has so many wonderful organic products that I highly recommend you buy their Travel Kit for Women ($34.95) which has a little bit of everything and truly is perfect for when you're on the go. This kit contains Luscious Moisturizing Shampoo, Silk Moisturizing Conditioner, Nude Moisture Rich Body Lotion, Dry Antiperspirant & Deodorant, Perfection-C Vitamin C creme, O2 pH Balancing Spray and Restore MSM Facial Cleanser. This kit also makes a perfect gift.

For more info: Skin by Monica

Estrella gives us even more reasons to smile

2008-03-11T17:42:00.000-07:00

Smiles are contagious. I know I love to smile like it's goin' out of style. We all want healthy, shiny, white teeth but we also all want to have the most amazing smelling breath. I can think of a few loved ones who could care less about their breath (i.e. my three furry feliney children) -- but for most of us, it's very important, especially after eating an extra large basket of garlic bread. Word.

Estrella Natural Toothpaste ($9.99), created by Dr. David Villarreal (who specializes in bio-compatible dentistry), is not only all natural, free of harmful chemicals, harsh abrasives and sodium lauryl sulfate, it tastes frickin' amazing. Their toothpaste is concentrated and lasts a long time and has an earthy assortment of ingredients including aloe vera, green tea, yerba mate, grapefruit seed, licorice root, echinacea, golden seal, witch hazel, bamboo, peppermint, red thyme, cinnamon bark, lavender, neem and vanilla bean. Holy moly guacamole - and you're gonna wanna use this after eating a bowl of garlic-y guac, too!

Estrella also comes in an Oral Tonic Rinse ($19.99). This biodegradable product is alcohol free and contains no artficial, chemicals, flavorings, preservatives or animal ingredients. The Oral Tonic Rinse comes in a 16 oz. bottle and you only need to use half a cap full to swish and rinse with. This bottle will last you for quite some time. It's very concentrated and it's professional strength so you will feel confident when it's smoochie smoochie time with your snicker doodle.

For more info: Estrella

Go on, get your Merry on with the Hemp Masters

2008-03-04T22:08:00.000-08:00

The Merry Hempsters is an awesomely awesome company. They make earthy goodies like lip balms, salves and lotions. All of these environmentally friendly products are made with Cannabis Sativa seed oil a.k.a hemp seed oil. Also, all of their packaging is biodegradable and recycled. Yay, we like that!

A few hempalicious products I recommend:

Hemp Balm ($2.49), which is one of my favorites, comes in many tasty flavors: Mandarin-Orange, Spearmint, Peppermint, Cinnamon, Lemon-Lime and Vanilla.

If you're the worky outy kind or someone who could use a little love regarding your muscles and inflamed joints, The Merry Hempsters offer a Hot Hemp Muscle Rub ($4.69) that oughtta do the trick.

And of course, being the glitter goddess that I am, I must merrily rave about one of my obsessions... glitter lotion. It's not just any glitter lotion, it's Merry Hempsters' Lavender Orange Glitter Lotion ($2.99). Can I get an 'amen'? It's perfect! It's got omega 3, 6 and 9 fatty acids, vitamin E, rosemary extract, yummy smellingses and lots o' GLITTER! You can also buy this glitter lotion unscented... but why?

For more info: The Merry Hempsters

Make your own vegan lip balm at home and express your crafty divaness

2008-02-26T20:53:00.000-08:00

So I wanted to let you all in on a cool, crafty secret. Anyone can make vegan lip balm at home. It's simple, cheap and fun!

Okay, here's what you'll need...

Ingredients:
2 oz. hemp seed oil, avocado oil or almond oil
1 oz. virgin coconut oil
1.2 oz candelilla wax
1/4 tsp. rosemary extract
few drops of vitamin E oil
few drops of an essential oil for that perfect scent (peppermint, orange, lemon, grapefruit, rose, vanilla, etc.)

Melt the candelilla wax in a pan over low heat (but don't let it boil). Once melted add the remaining ingredients except for the essential oil. Heat through and transfer to a heat safe container with a pour spout. Add essential oil and then stir well and pour immediately into lip balm tubes. Top off the lip balm (but not with your hands). Let it cool and enjoy. This recipe makes about 5 ounces of lip balm - enough to share with all of your gal pals.

This recipe can also be found on The Ponte Vedrea Soap Shoppe page.

One more recipe for my vegan lip balm-a-holics:

*Creamy Cocoa Lip Balm*
4 oz. extra virgin olive oil
3 oz. candalilla wax
1/2 vitamin E capsule
1/2 tsp. cocoa

Follow the same directions as mentioned above and ta-da! This is a guarnteed way to ensure your lip balm is vegan, cruelty free and ready to wear! Talk about taking matters into your own hands. ;)

Make Mychelle Yourchelle

2008-02-19T17:49:00.000-08:00

Mychelle beauty products are non-toxic, free of parabens, phthalates, propylene glycol, ureas, EDTA, fragrances, particles and artificial colors. If you're like, "What are all of those crazy ingredients?" Just remember if you can't pronounce it, you probably aren't interested in putting that on your face and feeding your skin cells all that nastiness.
Mychelle products are guaranteed to make your skin feel amazing. They offer amazing, cleansers, scrubs, face masks, night creams, moisturizers, toners, serums, sun block, and lip plumping treatment. All of their goods are reasonably priced and have the most ambrosial ingredients... and of course everything smells edible!

They offer products for all skin types and if you want to try a little bit of everything, they have gift boxes and all-in-on packs. For example, if you purchase their All-in-one pack for Normal Skin you get the following goodies: 2.25 oz. Fruit Enzyme Mist, trial sized Fruit Enzyme Cleanser, Pumpkin Renew Cream, Fruit Fiesta Peel, Fruit Enzyme Scrub, Sun Shield SPF 30, The Perfect C Serum, Serious Hyaluronic Serum, mini Fabulous Eye Cream and mini Incredible Pumpkin Peel. All of this for only $17.59.

One of my favorite Mychelle masks is the Blueberry Antioxidant Mask ($19.92). With a power combo of blueberries, D-boldine, green tea, vitamin E, Totarola, grape seed extract and CoQ10, you have the antioxidant power to strengthen and rejuvenate your skin - which will help reduce fine lines and signs of aging.Another mask worth getting excited about is the Incredible Pumpkin Peel ($19.04). This stuff is great for healing acne and helping sun damaged skin. It's concentrated in vitamin A and smells deliciously pumpkiny. You'll feel a slight tingle when using this product, so you'll know it's doing it's job.

Mychelle has a wonderful Fruit Enzyme Scrub ($9.35) which is great to use on all skin types. It's designed to remove dead skin cells while gently massaging your face. It's a nice treat at the end of the day when you're ready to feel fresh and clean. It is recommended to let the scrub sit on your face for a few minutes before washing off to allow your skin to absorb the fruit enzymes.

Mychelle is currently having an "Old Packaging Blowout" sale where everything is 20% off while supplies last.

For more info: Mychelle

Waterlily Beauty Boutique: offering a great variety of organic and natural beauty products

2008-02-12T14:05:00.000-08:00

Waterlily Beauty Boutique is one of those websites you need to bookmark in your internet browser. Their organic and vegan product selection is always expanding with new and exciting beauty products.

Among the many organic brands Waterlily carries is Trillium. They make amazing body oils ($9.71) which are great for massages and after a nice soothing bath, body polish packets ($3.59 each) which smell amazing and make your skin feel silky smooth, and shea butter ($21.59) which is best to rub until smooth before applying to your body. Each one of these products comes in the following formulas: calming lavender and geranium, warming clementine clove & clearing cedar sage.

John Masters Organics, another brand Waterlily Beauty Boutique carries, is wunderbar! My favorite product in this line is the Pomegranate Facial Nourishing Oil ($22.50). This very fancy blend of essential oils is extremely hydrating and is great when added to facial moisturizers or straight up. It's also perfect for facial massages. Pomegranates are high in antioxidants and you can never go wrong with those.

Waterlily Beauty Boutique also carries Weleda (made in Germany). Their products are vegetable based and smell earthy and fresh. Their Citrus Creamy Body Wash ($13.50) smells clean and invigorating and compliments the upcoming spring feeling in the air.
Weleda also makes a Birch Cellulite Oil ($19.80) which helps improve the texture of your skin by smoothing and toning imperfections. Some ingredients in this must have concoction: jojoba oil, birch leaf extract, ruscus aculeatus root, and rosemary leaf extract. It's like bringing Mother Nature right into your bathroom. This oil also smells fresh and earthy and it has become a nightly routine post beddie bath.

Waterlily Beauty Boutique offers complimentary gift warpping and free shipping on orders of $75 or more.

For more info: Waterlily Beauty Boutique

Vegan beauty starts with a beautiful smile

2008-02-05T21:05:00.000-08:00

It's important to avoid conventional toothpastes. Why? Many of them contain fluoride, artificial sweeteners, preservatives, animal derived ingredients and are made by companies that support animal testing. Yuck and boo! Often times, these nasty chemicals and preservatives make their way down to our bellies either residually or by straight up by swallowing them. There are quite a few amazing vegan natural toothpastes that one can buy and I'm going to tell you about 3 of them which I find quite amazing.

Vita-myr: Natural Zinc-plus Herbal Mouthwash and Toothpaste ($6.96). Their natural ingredients include zinc (plaque inhibitor), folic acid (reduces inflammation) , myrrh (resin, antimicrobial astringent), clove oil (anti-bacterial), and grapefruit seed extract (antimicrobial preservative). Also their toothpaste is sodium lauryl sulfate free.
Vita-myr's mouthwash ($7.90) is just as awesome and gargley refreshing. I highly recommend!

For more info: Vita-myr

Kingfisher Natural Toothpaste hails from the U.K. Their toothpastes come in a variety of 5 flavors: fennel, mint, aloe vera/tea tree/fennel (my fave), aloe vera/tea tree/mint, and baking soda mint - all delicious! Most of these are available fluoride free. Cheers to that!
Kingfisher lists every single ingredient, it's purpose and where it's derived from in chart form on each tube of toothpaste. Their toothpastes runs about $5 each.

For more info: Kingfisher Natural Toothpaste

Auromére Herbal Toothpaste ($5.69) is imported from India and has an Ayurvedic formula which contains 24 special herbal extracts including neem and peelu, the "toothbrush trees" and other barks, roots, plants and flowers. Their formula is concentrated so a tube of toothpaste should last three times longer than the average tube. Auromere toothpaste comes in 4 varieties: licorice (my fave), fresh mint, mint-free, and non-foaming Fennel Flavor (sodium lauryl sulfate free). These toothpastes, along with the
Vita-myr and Kingfisher brands are vegan, cruelty-free, fluoride free, gluten free, chemical free, contain no artificial sweeteners or colors and taste amazingly refreshing... something I actually want in my mouth!

For more info: Auromére

Skinvac: chemical free skin care

2008-01-29T13:23:00.000-08:00

Can you imagine washing your face without any soap at all? Well, imagine it, people! Skinvac has a Daily Deep Cleansing Cloth which is soapless (i repeat, soapless) and non drying and can be used on all skin types. You simply add warm water and wipe off facial grime. Simple, simple, love it! Skinvac cloths are vegan, free of chemicals and they are affordable as can be at just $9.75 each. These cleansing bad boys are eco-friendly and may be used up to 200 times. That's cray-cray! *Note, these cloths are perfect for camping trips or any time you're on the go!

Skinvac also has a Pore Gripper Cloth that helps fight acne by gripping whiteheads to unclog pores. I know, it's nasty but someone's gotta talk about it. The reason I know the pore gripper works is because after using it, and then applying some vegan astringent (with lovely witch hazel), my face is on fire! These pore grippin' cloths may be used up to 100 times.

M'kay, Skinvac has all of their bases covered. They also have an Exfoliation Cloth which helps stimulate the production of collagen and elastin to help accelerate fresh skin cell turnover for youthful lookin' skin. Gotta get rid of those nasty ol' dull skin cells! These cloths may also be used up to 100 times.

Skinvac is chemical free, non-comedogenic, vegan, cruelty-free, hypo-allergenic, reusable, pH neutral and affordable. Skinvac also offers free shipping. They are based in the UK so that's a hella deal.

Skinvac's Daily Deep Cleansing Cloth, Pore Gripper and Exfoliation Cloth are each $9.75.

For more info: Skinvac

Dr. Hauschka helps fight world hunger while they give you a holistic makeover

2008-01-22T22:14:00.000-08:00

Dr. Hauschka Skin Care is pretty bad-ass on many levels. Aside from offering holistic skin care and makeup, they are doing their part to help end world hunger by donating a portion of their proceeds (when you buy a Dr. Hauschka trial kit) to Heifer, an international program which is set up to help end world hunger.
*Although I acknowledge Heifer's efforts, I do believe their fundages could feed even more hungry people by educating and teaching the ways of a vegan diet in third world countries. My two cents.

Okay ladies, ready to get excited? Dr. Hauschka has mascara ($23.50) in the most amazing fabu colors (aside from their various shades of black and brown): royal blue, golden green and aubergine (purpley goodness). Not only is their volume mascara cruelty free (amen!) but they are also smudge resistant and contain neem leaf extract which helps strengthen your lashes.

If you're a liquid liner kind of girl like I am, watch out! They have a smooth vegan eye liner ($16.95) which also contains neem and is perfect for those with sensitive skin. It strengthens and conditions and lasts throughout the day. I have a soft spot for this particular product. This vegan eyeliner was one of the first vegan beauty products I had ever tried back in the day ('twas a gift from my sugar booger).

Also, on the makeup side of things, their liquid concealer ($21.95) is the shiznit and contains all-natural mineral ingredients and therapeutic botanicals to sooth redness and irritation.

Dr. Hauschka has a very dope, user friendly website which is easy to navigate. They offer a wide variety of skin care and body care and you can shop by skin concern, season, lifestyle, mood or ingredient. Check for ingredients when reading product descriptions. Some contain honey and beeswax (which I realize some vegans use and some don't). Dr. Hauschka is like fine dining for makeup. It's a lil' on the pricey side but well worth it... so get your boyfriend to surprise you with some holistic goodies for your birthday.

For more info: Dr. Hauschka

LUSH brings us such goodies as the Sex Bomb

2008-01-15T12:07:00.000-08:00

LUSH Handmade Cosmetics is such an amazing company which caters to the girliness in all of us that begs to be ravished by arousal overdose. Every single LUSH product, many of which contain mood enhancing essential oils, is unbelievably yummy-smelling to the point where you either want to eat it or call in sick from work so you can spend the whole day sniffin' your LUSHified skin. Not only are their shampoos, soaps and fizzy bath bombs delectably smelly but they are quite the eye candy. Many of their soaps, bubble bars and bath bombs have glitter, rice rose petals, berries, fruit peels, you name it!

Not only is LUSH lushishly lushful but the company has charitable good will. For instance, they have a "Charity Pot" Hand & Body Cream in which every penny of it's retail price ($19.95) goes to a charitable fund to support the environment, human and animals rights. This cream smells out-of-this world amazing (ylang ylang, tagettes, gardenia) and it's so rich and creamy.

Have to say a few words about my personal fave: the Sex Bomb ($5.85). It's one of their top sellers (shocker... not!) and here's why: the blissful smell of jasmine, clary sage, and ylang ylang... go on and get your sexy on! When the sex bomb dissolves you'll have a bath tub full of rice paper rose petals. Que romantico!

Another bath bomb that will rock your world is their Avobath Bomb ($5.65). That's avo as is avocado. Two wonderful reasons why I love it: it's moisturizing and it smells refreshing... and it's green (for us green goddesses who love our planet).

Other Lush products I recommend:

Big Shampoo ($20.95) - Contains sea salt to counteract the effects of soft water which will lead to volumous, big hair

Veganese Conditioner ($8.45) - Lemon scented, heavy on shine, for all hair types.

Wiccy Magic Muscle Massage Bar ($8.95) - Layered with aduki beans (go on, say out loud), it smells spicy and yum yum and it's a trippy lookin' bar. I just feel cool using one. It has tingly powers and it's awesome.

For more info: LUSH Handmade Cosmetics

Skinny Bitchin' it up for 2008!

2008-01-07T21:58:00.000-08:00

Authors Rory Freedman and Kim Barnouin are two beautiful skinny bitches who wrote a book called Skinny Bitch. It's written with such in-your-face crass, and to-the-pointedness that you know these skinny bitches are keepin' it real. With chapters like "Sugar is the Devil," "Pooping," and "Don't Be a Pussy," you know you're in for an estrogen laden, tough love wake up call. This book will not only make you laugh and cry (seriously, if chapter "You Are What You Eat" doesn't make you break down and hate the current state of humanity, then I don't know... definitely have a box of tissues near by), it will make you feel elated and hopeful that change is in the air (as well as in yo' belly and out the derriere).
Being a vegan of 8 years, I appreciate that this book touches upon all aspects of a vegan lifestyle. It delves into nutrition, the myths about meat and dairy being good for you, it exposes the cruelty behind the meat and dairy industries and its deadly impact on the environment and it also sheds light on how fun and easy a vegan lifestyle really is.
Rory and Kim are my idols for reaching as many people as they did in such a mainstream world. Skinny Bitch is a New York Times Bestseller. Yahoo!
This book will change your life... and make you one foin ass skinny bitch.

Skinny Bitch was such a smashing success that they came out with a follow up cook book: Skinny Bitch in the Kitch. Again, Rory and Kim show the world how easy it is to make and eat vegan food. This cook book covers it all from "Bitchin' Breakfasts," "Hearty-Ass Sandwiches" to "Skinny Bitch Staple Meals" and "Happy Endings." This book is guaranteed to make you chuckle more than a few times. It's silly really and hella fun.
So the next time someone comes up to you and asks you, "Isn't it so hard being vegan? What do you eat?"
You can now refer to Skinny Bitch in the Kitch and make your inquisitive peeps some "Ham" and Cheese Puff Pockets, Crabby Cakes with Remoulade Sauce, Creamy Cole Slaw, Fettuccini Alfredo (you heard right!) and Hot Fudge Brownie Sundaes (just to name a few). Yum!

Skinny Bitch: $13.95
Skinny Bitch in the Kitch: $14.95
For more info: Skinny Bitch and Skinny Bitch in the Kitch

Jane Iredale: 24k gold is no longer just in your jewelry box

2008-01-01T13:16:00.001-08:00

Jane Iredale Mineral Cosmetics offer natural makeup in a variety of colors and shades . We all know that our skin absorbs a large percentage of what we put on it. Minerals versus chemicals - it's an obvious choice. Mineral makeup is the future... it is also the present.

Ready to get excited about something new? Jane Iredale offers 24 karat gold dust - yes, that's real gold in your makeup. You can feel like a fairy princess or the queen of Egypt on a daily basis with your gilded complexion.
Jane Iredale's 24k Gold Dust comes in a variety of colors: gold, silver, bronze, pink, lilac, champagne and green. My personal favorite is the gold simply because if I'm gonna flaunt the 24k, I'm gonna flaunt it in all of it's golden glory.
The gold dust is versatile and can be used along with your makeup, you can brush on your cheeks for a subtle glow, you can mix it with some moisturizer and use it on your shoulders and decolletté, or you can add it to some gel and work it throughout your hair.

You can purchase these precious metal, glitzy, glam powders individually or you can go crazy and buy the Gold Mine Kit featured on Jane Iredale's website which contains six sparkly colors to mix and match. More sparkles, more fun!

For more information: Jane Iredale Mineral Cosmetics

Saffron Rouge, a one stop shop for organic skincare

2007-12-18T10:23:00.001-08:00

Choosing organic is a must in today's world. More than ever are products saturated with unneccesary chemically infused crap. Saffron Rouge is a company that sells everything from organic face care, body and hair care to products for men and babies. They take the guess work out of organic shopping. They feature products from around the world that are top quality, organic goods. It is for this reason that I feature them on Vegan Beauty Review.

Some products on their website to get excited about (I've tried them all and fell in love!):

Primavera's Wildrose and Evening Primrose Oil Capsules (made in Germany): If you want amazing youthful looking skin, look no further. These capsules are moisture-packed with essential fatty acids from organic seed oils that fight the signs of aging while incorporating aromatherapy. They dramatically increase skin's elasticity and soften your skin to help prevent premature wrinkles. Wild Rose works for all skin stypes and Evening Primrose is perfect for those with dry skin. $40 for 30 capsules.

Calming Body Wash by Suzanne aux Bains (made in France): This is a delicate body wash perfect for sensitive skin. It contains mallow flower extract, apricot kernel oil, linden blossom extract, and lavender essential oils. It smells as delicate as it feels. $18.50 for 6.8 fl. oz.

Aloe Vera Cellulite Gel (made in Germany): Now I know this has all of the ladies' attention. We ladies are very conscious about the dreaded 'C' word. None of us want it and we all want to fight it. Well, why not fight it the natural, organic way? This firming body gel helps stimulate natural regeneration of the skin with young ivy, boxholly, rosemary, tigergrass, green tea and essential oils. All of these fancy ingredients activate the microcirculation and metabolism of the outer skin layers. I've been using this gel for a few days now, and maybe it's psychological but I really do feel like I see a difference in my skin's texture. It's worth a try. $65 for 3.4 fl. oz.

NVEY ECO Organic Powder Blush (made in Australia): I am a big fan of NVEY ECO Organic Makeup in general but their blush is truly quite amazing! This high quality, long-lasting blush has a jojoba oil base, vitamin C, E & A (antioxidants), carrot oil, chamomile and it is of course all organic. Yahoo! It goes on the skin so softly and smoothly and it comes in a cute little compacty container with a mirror. Theses blushes come in eight beautiful earthy shades.

A noteworthy feature of Saffron Rouge is you can order free samples (anything from fragrances, bath oils, body washes to toothpastes, face cleaners and eye care!) with your purchases.
Also, all of their products are guaranteed so have a blast trying a variety of amazing organic beauty products from around the world!

For more info: Saffron Rouge