Vegan Beauty Review» vegan books

VBR Book Review: ‘Vegan Desserts’

Sunny — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 17:28:41 +0000

I recently received a review copy of Vegan Desserts: Sumptuous Sweets for Every Season by Hannah Kaminsky—and oh-em-gee, I think this book might be my favorite vegan cookbook ev-ah!

First, lemme preface this review by saying that I have zero (maybe even negative zero… wait, that’s still zero) cooking skills and finesse when it comes to making vegan sweets from scratch. For some reason, people are under the assumption that I like to bake cupcakes—but they are butt-wrong—I just like to eat them. So… when I got this book, I recruited the help of my gal pal Shannon (baking goddess and co-owner of Cinnaholic) to help me test one of these recipes out. We decided to give the Strawberry-Kiwi Pie a whirl (but we subbed blackberries for kiwis). I have to admit, without trying to sound like a self-inflated bad-ass, this pie was the BEST. PIE. EVER. Seriously, every slice was pie-gasm heaven. Nuff said.

Pie ain’t yo thang? How about Persimmon Blondies, Black Velvet cupcakes, Roasted Apricot Ice Cream, Coffee Poppy Seed Cake, Mexican Chocolate Crème Caramel, Mojito Sugar Cookies or Golden Saffron Pound Cake? Mhm. *drool drool*

So bottom line: You need this book. Not only are the recipes insane, but the foodie pics are redonk! You also need to try that frickin’ pie recipe… will change your life!

What’s your favorite homemade vegan dessert?

‘The Vegan Girl’s Guide to Life’ – Get It!

Sunny — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 23:13:00 +0000

I ♥ Melisser! She’s not only one of the most kick-ass chiquitas in the vegan blogosphere (check out The Urban Housewife), but she also has a fantabulous, comprehensive guide to vegan living—The Vegan Girl’s Guide to Life. Melisser’s book covers all the basics of veganism in a fun, colorful way featuring DIY craft projects (e.g. knitted cupcake potholders and recycled gift bows), cruelty-free beauty tips, travel advice, recipes (e.g. Sloppy Joes, Chipotle Hominy Stew and Broccoli Miso Chowder), and lots of other cool stuff.

Seriously, this book is packed with lots of pretty pics and loads of vegan goodness—including Q&As, tips and spotlights on some of the most respected vegan chefs, business owners and bloggers in the world (like Isa Chandra Moskowitz, Hannah Kaminsky, Celine Steen, Julie Hasson, Kittee Berns, Kelly Peloza, etc.).

Fun-fun!

Beauty Recipes Galore!

Sunny — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 00:53:56 +0000

As you can see, I’ve been on a DIY beauty products kick. If you’re like me and you’re sick of high-priced, chemical-laden cosmetics & skin care, and you prefer the DIY satisfaction of concocting your own naturally fresh beauty potions, homemade beauty recipes are the way to go! Sometimes the beauty products I make at home are so the shit, that I feel like charging myself (and hence, paying myself—perhaps in cupcakes) for my awesomeness.

I recently discovered The Holistic Beauty Book on Amazon.com while doing a search for DIY beauty books, and I had to get my hands on a copy.

The recipes in the book are for the most part vegan (there are a few vegetarian ingredients peppered here and there) and are all-natural and eco-friendly. One thing I did notice is that a few of the ingredients are hard to come by (like Irish moss, raw linseeds and dried southernwood), especially if you’re a newb like I am when it comes to DIYing it up. Don’t worry, though, there are some simple beauty recipes for us novices as well (like the Essential Fatty Avo Mask and Oaty Goodness Cleanser).

This book is a fabulous resource for over 100 recipes including ones for lip balms, face creams, body butters, massage bars, bath melts, scrubs, cleansers, baby care products, moisturizers, facial toners, masks and packs, and more.

Do you have a fave beauty recipe or recipe book? Please, do share!

Book Review: ‘No More Dirty Looks’

Sunny — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 18:38:36 +0000

Our skin absorbs 60% of everything with put on it—it’s scary to think about how many products (many of which contain toxic carcinogens) we use on a daily basis. Take a second to count the products you use just while you’re bathing (shampoo, conditioner, soap, shaving cream, shower gel, hair mask, etc.). I use 6-7! Combine that number with all your cosmetics (damn, that’s like 20 right there) and skin care products you use throughout the day (face wash, toner, moisturizer, eye cream (<— morning and night), sunblock, body lotion, hand lotion, lip balm, perfume, etc.) and you may be well past the 100 mark. That’s a lot of toxic shit… unless you consciously choose to buy clean cosmetics.

I just finished reading No More Dirty Looks by Siobhan O’Connor and Alexandra Spunt, and it totally reiterated the importance of keeping beauty products as pure as possible. This book is Skinny Bitch-esque, in that these ladies keep shit real. It’s a little less crass, but it definitely drives the point home. By the end of the book, I felt like these ladies were my girlfriends sharing girl talk.

What I like most about this book is that the authors expose the most dangerous ingredients used in conventional cosmetics (and explain why they are not regulated). This takes the guess work out of understanding cosmetics labels. Take this book into your bathroom and use it as a reference to pinpoint all the nasties in you beautifully packaged and well-marketed beauty products. You will freak!

On the flip side, O’Connor and Spunt talk about talk about their favorite natural hair and skin care products, many of which have been reviewed on VBR.

This book also includes cheap and simple homemade recipes for beauty products, which I’m all about! I learned how to make shampoo, mascara and perfume!

For more info, check out this book’s Facebook page!

Book review: The Kind Diet by Alicia Silverstone

Sunny — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 06:19:41 +0000

The Kind Diet is a wonderful how-to guide for a vegan lifestyle. It makes going vegan easy and fun. The Kind Diet (retail: $29.99) is available at the Vegan Beauty Review Store (under books) for $17.54 (with free shipping).

Lily Organics : Dew Fresh Vegan, Organic Skin Care

Sunny — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 05:22:00 +0000

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

Skinny Bitchin’ it up for 2008!

Sunny — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 05:58:00 +0000

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