Vegan Beauty Review» vegan personal items

Remove Unwanted Hair the Vegan Way!

Sunny — Mon, 23 May 2011 02:56:58 +0000

For anyone who enjoys smooth, hair-free skin, but wants to avoid animal by-products, chemicals or methods that might have a negative impact on the environment, there are still several hair removal options to choose from. One of the best temporary forms of hair removal, sugaring, is completely vegan. Sugaring is also of the most environmentally friendly hair removal methods: it is all natural and can be completely organic as well!

The mixture that is needed to make the concoction can easily be made at home with only three ingredients: sugar (granulated), lemon and water. The exact recipe is often a result of trial and error but about two cups of sugar and one quarter each of water and lemon juice is a good place to start.

While sugaring and waxing can be perceived as two very similar hair removal methods, waxing is not recommended as a vegan or even a natural or organic option, as wax can contain artificial substances, toxins, chemicals, by-products, irritants or perfumes. Wax can easily irritate the skin and it also tends to stick to the skin and can even leave skin red and irritated. Overall, sugaring is much gentler than waxing.

Because of its simple and natural components, sugaring does not stick to the skin but only to the hair, which makes a difference is the amount of pain. Another important difference is that sugaring is water soluble while wax is bound to leave a sticky mess. Those who are interested in exploring sugaring as their choice of hair removal, but don’t want to make the mixture themselves can purchase already made sugaring paste. There are several companies that provide ready to use, vegan sugaring mixtures that are organic and natural, containing only a few extra ingredients like chamomile or tea tree oil.

Other vegan hair removal options include threading, where a tiny lasso of thread is tied around each individual hair and is slowly pulled out, and some more aggressive methods, like laser hair removal and electrolysis, both costing a pretty penny, but can permanently halt growth overtime. So if you’re looking to save money and have a little bit of time to master the technique, then stick with sugaring! You won’t be disappointed!

Maria Bastet is a hair removal enthusiast who blogs on all types of hair removal methods. You can find more of her articles located at HairRemoval.org.

Choosing a Vegan Sunscreen

Sunny — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 21:36:50 +0000

Natural sunscreens have become increasingly popular in recent years, creating a much bigger selection for vegans. Dermatologists often recommend broad-spectrum (UVA/UVB) protection of at least SPF 30 for daily wear, though SPF 15 is usually fine for those who aren’t outside for more than 20 minutes on a typical day. Read on for products that are cruelty-free and can help save your skin from the sun.

Everyday Sunscreen

Daily sunscreen formulas are usually in liquid or powder form. Liquid can often be more moisturizing, while powders are very versatile and have no distinctive fragrance. Recommended products include:

La Vanila The Healthy Sun Screen SPF 40 – A moisturizing sunscreen with broad spectrum coverage. Can also double as a primer for foundation.
Alba Botanica Pure Lavendar Sunblock SPF 45 – A more traditional liquid sunscreen, this broad-spectrum formula smells of lavender and is affordable.
Jane Iredale Powder Me SPF 30 – Recommended by the skin cancer foundation, this powdered sunscreen is available in translucent and tanned.
bareMinerals SPF 30 Natural Sunscreen - Provides broad spectrum coverage in powdered form. Available in lightly tinted powders for light, medium, and dark skin tones.

Makeup with Sunscreen

If you’d rather have a separate sunscreen for your face, consider a foundation or tinted moisturizer with SPF. Just don’t forget to cover exposed skin such as you ears, neck, and hands with a regular sunscreen. Try these cosmetics with SPF:

Gabriel Moisturizing Liquid Foundation SPF 18 – A fantastic liquid foundation that comes in a variety of colors. This line is particularly good for those with very fair, cool skin tones.
Jane Iredale Liquid Minerals Foundation – Another good liquid foundation that contains broad spectrum SPF 20. It comes in a pump that breaks apart beads as it is dispensed, blend well for a natural look.
Physician’s Formula Organic Wear Tinted Moisturizer – An affordable, sheer foundation with SPF 15. Generally works best for dry to normal skin types.
Jane Iredale Amazing Base or Pure Pressed Base Foundation – Two powder foundations with SPF 20. The amazing base has heavier coverage than the pressed base.

Guest post by make-up artist Kaylin Johnson of Kaylin’s Kit.

Free Organic, Vegan Lube?

Sunny — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 23:32:13 +0000

Hells yeah! Nothing is sexier than being vegan, right? And if you’re gonna be doin’ the deed, you bettah be doin’ it vegan-style! ← What does that mean?

Ditch those nasty, toxic, animal-derived ingredient sexy time products for some organic, vegan ones!

I recently reviewed Blossom Organics’ intimate care products (100% vegan), and they are beyond fab! Wanna try them, too? For free even?

Here’s what you gotta do:

Email, Facebook or Tweet Blossom Organics one (or several) toxic ingredients that you are eliminating from your intimate care by recycling the questionable product.
In return, they will send you a FREE Blossom Organics Natural Moisturizing Lubricant to replace it (while supplies last)! Make sure to inclue your name, address, phone, email, etc.

Feel free to share this with your friends!

Top 10 Vegan Beauty Products at Trader Joe’s

Sunny — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 23:33:26 +0000

I ♥ ♥ ♥ Trader Joe’s! I do most of my grocery shopping there, and I do most of my beauty product shopping there as well. Their selection of vegan and cruelty-free beauty products keeps growing, and their prices are unbeatable. My faves…

TJ’s Tea Tree Tingle Shampoo ($3.79) & Conditioner ($3.99): I ain’t gonna lie—this is some crazy good shit. These products are nice and thick (especially the conditioner), they have an amazing tingly factor, and they work well for people with dry scalps (which is almost everyone this time of year).
TJ’s Honey Mango Shave Cream ($3.49): Don’t worry, there’s no actual honey in there. My hubby’s pretty picky when it comes to shaving cream (whereas I just used plain ol’ soap to shave my hairy-ass legs), and this is by far his fave (and believe me, I have forced him to try a ton of vegan brands for me). It smells good, it gets the job done, and it leaves his skin kissably smooth.
TJ’s All Natural Peppermint Toothpaste ($1.99): They also carry Tom’s Toothpaste ($3.99), but it’ll cost you an arm and a leg, and maybe a tooth. TJ’s brand is not only cheaper, but it’s delish and refreshing.
TJ’s Tea Tree Oil Face Wash ($5.49): My hubby and I love using this face wash. It might seem a bit pricey but a little bit goes a long way (it’s super concentrated). Oh, and it works wonders on oily and/or acne-prone skin!
TJ’s Facial Cleansing Pads ($3.99): I use these astringent/toning facial pads after I cleanse my skin (great for getting all those last stubborn bits of makeup off). These pads have tea tree oil and in them and they are really strong (so be sure to keep them away from your eyes and maybe nose holes, too—they’re zingy). Whenever I use these, I always marvel over all the nastiness/residual gunky facial dirt that these babies swipe up (seriously, these pads will turn brown). They are highly effective.
Bisous Provence Lavender Triple Milled Soap ($3.29): These soap bars are divine. They smell like heaven, and they’re infused with nourishing shea butter and actual lavender flowers. These soaps are made in France… so you can feel all fancy pantsy (Francey-y style) when you bathe with these. They make great gifts, too!
TJ’s Lavender Salt Scrub ($6.49): I guess I’m on a lavender kick. Why spend $30 on a salt scrub at a beauty shop when you can spend less than $7 on an exquisite, relaxing, aromatherapeutic lavender scrub at TJ’s. This scrub will last you for quite some time, especially if you’re like me and you like to use it exclusively on your hands (this is by far, my favorite, simple at-home spa treatment—the perfect way to de-stress).
Dr. Bronner’s Peppermint Castile Soap ($8.99): I don’t know how many posts I’ve written about Dr. B’s Magical Soaps (quite a few)… I love this product like a vegan loves cupcakes (guilty of that, too). The is the large bottle of castile soap, and it’s concentrated so you’ll want to dilute it. This will last you forever. It’s such an amazing deal and it’s truly a remarkable product (so versatile, pure and pepperminty).
Nature’s Gate Organic Lemongrass Liquid hand Soap ($4.29): I’ve tried all of the hand soaps at TJ’s, and this is my fave. It’s thick, so one pump (even half a pump) is gonna get your hands cleaner than clean. It also has a subltle, delicate and sophisticated clean scent. I can’t stand it when hand soaps are obnoxiously perfumey or too watery. This one is ab fab!
TJ’s Vitamin E Oil ($3.99): I use Vitamin E oil almost every single day! It’s fights wrinkles, prevents scars, treats sunburns, and it’s a great moisturizer (what doesn’t it do?). It’s always good to have Vitamin E oil on hand.

In addition to beauty products, TJ’s also has a slew of fabulous vegan and cruelty-free cleaning products (laundry detergent, dish soap, window cleaner, etc.) and personal care items (toothbrushes, deodorants, hand sanitizers, *cough* tampons, etc.)

… and TONS of vegan food! Find your local TJ’s here!

What’s your favorite TJ’s beauty product?

Vegan Deodorant Breakdown #2

Sunny — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 00:04:55 +0000

This is a special guest post by Lauren. She left a kick-ass, comprehensive vegan deodorant review (seriously, she’s tried them all) in the comments section of this post, and it was so awesome that I had to share with everyone. Enjoy

Tom’s: This one worked for a while, but after a few weeks of use, my underarm skin started to peel off. This also happened to my guy friend after using it for a while–a different scent too, so it must just be the formula.
Nature’s Gate: It Smells great going on, but doesn’t work as a deodorant for me…
…same goes for Alba—smells good, but doesn’t work.
Jason: Same deal as the NG and Alba.
Dessert Essence Tea Tree Deodorant: It works at keeping me smelling good, but makes my underarms break out… ugh!
I have also tried Burt’s Bee’s Deodorant Spray, and it smelled nice, very herby and natural, but really super burned my pits after shaving. A guy friend of mine uses it and it doesn’t irritate his skin, but he has to apply it at least twice a day to keep from stinking.
In Love with Body Care: This one burned going on and irritated my skin. It was also the type that you have to heat, or breathe on to get it soft enough to glide on. It does prevent odor though.
Weleda Rose Spray Deodorant: This got really good reviews but gave me the worst rash ever. It smelled lovely, just so amazing. My nose loved it, my underarms hated it. It is also pretty pricey. Luckily, I showed the people at Whole Foods my rash and they refunded me immediately.
LaVanila Lavender-Vanilla Deodorant: I am LOVING it. It was seriously worth the money. No breakouts, no irritation, it works, and it’s white! Hooray!

I just want something that a.) works as a deodorant b.) doesn’t make my skin irritated—especially after shaving c.) doesn’t clog my pores, and of course, d) is vegan and natural. Haha, sounds like I’m asking for a lot!

Let’s Talk About Sex

Sunny — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 03:12:58 +0000

Safe sex to be exact. And even more specifically, non-toxic safe sex.

Your coochie zone is the last place you wanna be putting chemicals, and if you’re in the habit of using conventional lubes and intimate care products, it’s time to stop.

Here are some evil toxic ingredients that you’ll find in most typical lubes: BHTm BNPD Disodium EDTA, Butylene Glycor, Carbomer 981, Imidazolidinyl Urea (aka animal pee-pee!), PEGs, Propylene, Propylparaben… I could go on and on, but I’m already freakin’ myself out!

My favorite part of reviewing lubes and intimate care goodies is that I get to … well, research and test these products out extensively. It’s a tough life, being a beauty blogger, but someone’s gotta do it (no pun intended).

Moving on… let’s talk about organic, healthy, natural lubes. I recently tried a line of natural, vegan intimate care products by Blossom Organics. All of their products (which are formulated by women for women) are Sunny & VBR-approved i.e. no parabens, petrochemicals, silicones, alcohol, hormones, pesticides, artificial dyes, flavors or colorings.

The goods…

Natural Moisturizing Lubricant ($10.99): This water-based lube is fantastic. A+ Seriously, it’s consistency (which is smooth and light—not goopy or thick) is indistinguishable from conventional lubes but sans the nasty ingredients.

If you wanna kick it up a notch, you ought to try their Warm Sensation Moisturizing Lubricant ($11.99): This lube is also water-based and adds a nice cooling/warm (aka tingly) touch during sexy time. Wanna kick things up a couple more notches? Have your sugary sweet stud muffin blow on your skin after it’s applied; you’ll be in tingle heaven. Fancy stuff, I tell ya. A++

Warm Sensation Oil ($15.99): I was hoping this was going to be tingly like the Warm Sensation Lube but it wasn’t. It’s has a very pretty (cinnamon-y, floral, herb-y) scent, and it makes my skin feel amazing. This would be great for all-over body massages.

Pure Pleasure Arousal Gel ($16.99): With a name like that, it’s hard to not want to try this one! If you’re a fan of tingleys (can’t image who isn’t), this a is must. It’s not sticky, it’s light and it smells nice. Just follow the directions and enjoy!

And I can’t stress how simple and natural these ingredients are:

Arousal Gel Ingredients: Organic aloe barbadensis leaf extract, glycerin, hydroxyethylcellulose, sorbitol, arginine, niacin (vitamin B3), organic plant oils of rosa canina (rose hip) & oenothera biennis (evening primrose), ethylhexylglycerin, organic mentha piperita (peppermint) essential oil, organic extracts of paeonia albiflora (peony) root & passiflora incarnata flower.

Now, I know you’re probably like: “Need these NOW , where can I get them?” Blossom Organics products are now available through www.goodvibes.com (and in Good Vibrations stores) and will soon be available through Pharmaca Integrative Pharmacies and other intimate boutiques and web retailers—stay tuned.

Crystal Deodorants: The Purest De-Stankifiers

Sunny — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 04:19:32 +0000

So, I’m somewhat of a stinky beast. Unfortunately I’m not one of those ladies who just “glisten,” especially on a scorching hot day or after a workout. I used to be a religious user of antiperspirants… that is, until I learned how evil they were. They literally prevent you from sweating (which is your body’s natural way of cooling itself off) by blocking your sweat glands with aluminum-based chemicals—not healthy whatsoever!

I recently dedicated an entire week to only using crystal deodorants (by the brand Naturally Fresh Crystal Deodorants) to see what the results would be (workouts included). I was a little skeptical, but I knew that since I hadn’t used antiperspirants or conventional deodorants for quite some time, my pits were pretty detoxed and perfect candidates. Well, guess what? Not only did I last the full week, but I’m officially a convert! This stuff works—you just have to have faith.

It’s so easy to use. You just moisten the crystal and rub it on areas you wish to deodorize. The salt molecules provide a barrier of protection against odor-causing bacteria. It’s not rocket science; it’s just awesomeness times 12.

Naturally Fresh Deodorant Crystals rock because…

They come in stick, roll-on and spray versions (the sprays are my faves)
You can opt for a fancy scent: Ocean Breeze, Lavender, Papaya Fusion and Honeydew Melon (I’m currently diggin’ the Lavender)
They come in travel sizes
They don’t leave any white residue on your clothes
The crystal sticks practically last forever (saving you lots o’ cha-ching; they’re only $3.99-5.99 each!)
They are perfect for people with sensitive skin
They are cruelty-free and vegan
They are not sticky, goopy or toxic-smelling
And they work!

You can find Naturally Fresh Crystal Deodorants at Save Mart, Vitamin Shoppe, Whole Foods Markets, Vitamin Cottage, Raley’s, Henry’s, Smith Drug, various health food retailers, Target.com, Alice.com, and Amazon.com.

What’s your favorite vegan deodorant?

Twist-N-Roll Tweezers will change your life!

Sunny — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 22:34:50 +0000

I’m a big fan of tweezing. It’s gotten to the point where it’s actually relaxing for me. It’s me time. Does anybody feel me on this? Sometimes, when I’m not in the mood to pluck each hair one at a time, I use my Twist-N-Roll tweezers. I am so excited about this simple beauty product that I had to share this with y’all.

This tool is similar to threading hair removal (the ancient eastern method using a string), and you can easily do it at home. You get to cover more surface area at once, making all those peach fuzzies go bye-bye in a matter of seconds—and it’s so incredibly easy (and fun) to use.

This simple tweezing tool works by using a line of coils that you bend in an upside “U” shape and place against your face. As you twist the handles outward, it grabs and pulls hair out. It’s so simple, yet so genius!

To get the best results, you should open your pores with moist heat (I use a warm washcloth for a few minutes) and then dry your face… otherwise it can be a lil’ ouchy and leave your skin pink.

How nice is it that you can skip the shaving, the waxing, the nasty chemicals, and save a bunch of money while you’re at it? You can use it on your upper lip, cheeks, forehead, chin, neck… anywhere! And since you’re removing hair form the roots, you’ll see much longer lasting results.

This tool works on any hair type including peach fuzz and coarse hair.

This wonderful tweezing tool sells for $12.99, but I found that you can buy one of these on Amazon.com for $9.99 with free shipping.

For more info: Lindo’s Twist-N-Roll Tweezers

Bikini Kitty: Vegan Shave Kit Giveaway

Sunny — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 01:05:12 +0000

So many amazing vegan goodies hail from Portland, OR. One very awesome, groom conscious, green beauty find from the City of Roses is Bikini Kitty. They make spa quality, paraben-free, non-toxic, cruelty-free, organic, vegan, gentle and effective shaving and waxing care kits – no more ingrown hairs and irritating rashes. Purrrrr to that!

Enter to win Bikini Kitty’s Clean-Up Kit (usually $39, on sale for $30 as a Valentine’s Day promo, but could be yours for free if you win) includes a 30 day supply of the following: Bikini Kitty’s Everyday Magic Spray (removes dead skin that clogs pores, smells like ripe lemons and oranges), Bikini Kitty’s No-Bump Body Brush (exfoliates), Bikini Kitty’s Smooth Shave Gel (softens hair, smells like fresh lavender), Bikini Kitty’s No-Nick Razor Oil, some sample single blade razors and complete instructions on how to use this full system.

One lucky VBR reader is going to win this Bikini Kitty Clean Up Kit. All you have to do to enter to win is leave a comment on this post (feel free to enter as many times as you like). A winner will be randomly selected and announced on February 16th. Good luck!

*UPDATE* Winner of the Bikini Kitty Shave Kit is Evie! Congrats!

*Winner was selected using random.org

All of these goodies are presented in super cute packaging with thorough instructions and useful quick tips and interesting facts about shaving. A couple things I learned: 1) Never use bar soaps to shave unless you want really dry, thirsty legs and 2) Single blade razors prevent ingrown hairs while multiple blade razors are key culprits for those nasty bumps.

I’ve been using the Bikini Kitty Clean Up kit for over a week now and I have to say it’s pretty remarkable. This stuff is amazing and works wonders on all of my sensitive areas (i.e. arm pits and my sacred region). I’ve also been using these products on my legs too, and my skin couldn’t be happier! My skin is so soft and smooth and free of any bumps or red spots. I also want to point out that the essential oils in these products smell awesome. I’m a big fan all around. Honestly, these products make shaving sessions something to look forward to (and that’s saying a lot).

Bikini Kitty also has a Waxy Care Kit ($24.95) which contains their Everyday Magic Spray and No-Bump Body Brush.

For more info: Bikini Kitty

The men’s version: Dirty Dog

Turn up the heat in the bedroom, vegan style!

Sunny — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 15:51:00 +0000

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)