Vegan Beauty Review

Organic, vegan perfume review and giveaway!

Sunny — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 19:32:15 +0000

All right peeps, I know how exciting it is to find new vegan, organic perfumes… don’t front like this isn’t juicy. I’ve come across some new scents that I think you’ll be interested in learning about from a company called A Perfume Organic. They are a Manhattan-based perfumery, offering beautiful and uniquely blended scents from the finest USDA certified organic botanicals. All of their perfumes are hand-poured locally in small batches (to maintain freshness and purity), are vegan and 100% organic. And lucky for you, you could win these perfumes! This is what you’re in for…

GREEN ($65): This perfume is a juicy herbal potion with rose, black truffle, blue and roman chamomile, ylang ylang and a spicy wood finish. It definitely smells earthy and woodsy and has a very unisex vibe to it. I love the smell of this whirlwind of beautifully blended essential oils. I also love that it’s actually green too. The peeps at A Perfume Organic are geniuses. This is a truly unique scent, unlike anything I’ve ever smelled and it has a calming, grounding property that I find comfort in.

Urban Organic ($65): This is a sweet lemon sorbet with vanilla bourbon, tangy lime, ginger, basil, vetiver and angelica root. This is a very yummy, feminine, soft blend of pretty smells. I could totally see this being my new signature scent. I love the vanilla-y, sweet, lemon sorbet elements of this perfume. I just dab a little bit of this ambrosial concotion on my pulse points and let the beautiful smells take me away. You’re going to fall in love with this one – I guarantee it!

Each perfume has a minimum of fourteen exquisitely blended notes and is made with the purest apricot kernal, avocado and jojoba oils as our carriers. These perfumes come in 12ml roll-on bottles in a recycled seed-embedded box (that you can plant it in your back yard).

A Perfume Organic and I will be giving away full-sized bottles of GREEN and Urban Organic perfumes to two very lucky VBR readers. So to be clear, one selected winner will receive the GREEN perfume and another selected winner will receive the Urban Organic Perfume. Each perfume’s retail value is $65.

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). I’d love to hear what your favorite perfume scent is. Two winners will be randomly selected and announced on March 10th. Good luck!

*UPDATE* The winners of these beautiful smelling, vegan, organic perfumes are Kelly F. and Tracy! Congrats!

*Winners were selected using random.org

For more info: A Perfume Organic

Soy Candles by Phebes review and giveaway!

Sunny — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 01:36:36 +0000

Did you know soy candles are not only more environmentally friendly than conventional, petroleum-based paraffin candles but they also last twice as long? I’ve been a huge soy candle fan for quite some time and I always have a blast discovering new brands of soy candles.

Soy Candles By Phebes has an extensive line of hand crafted soy candles and soy tarts that are made out of 100% soy wax. They are also phthalate-free, kosher and very affordable.

Each 8.5 oz. Soy Candle by Phebes is $13.05 (free shipping on orders over $25). They have over 90 scents to chooses from and each scent is unique and exquisite. If you go to their website and read the descriptions for each scent, you’re going to find yourself wanting all of them.

Here are a few really fun ones: Puppy Breath (creamy sweet florals, coconuts and vanilla), Jamaica Me Crazy (fresh, fruity, tropical), Fruit Loops (smells just like the cereal) and Butt Naked (I’ll let you look up the description on their website for yourself) *wink*

I was fortunate to sample some of these candles and let me just say, these are some of the most amazing, beautiful smelling candles on the planet. Here are some scents I had the pleasure of trying…

Vanilla Pear: It definitely smells like vanillia-y pear… or a peary vanilla. I love vanilla everything and this one definitely wooed my nostrils. It kind of smells like white chocolate and reminds me of a specific German sweet I grew up with… nostalgia.

Spa Bliss: This is one of their best sellers. It combines spearmint and eucalyptus with hints of corriander and vetiver. This candle will turn your bathroom into a sanctuary for relaxation. This would make an excellent housewarming gift.

Whiskers: At first, I thought if this candle smells anything like my furry, feline babies, this could could be strange. It turns out, this candle smells gorgeous! It’s vanilla-y with notes of pinion, patchouli and sandalwood. It has a beautiful exotic vibe. I would love to wear this scent as a perfume.

Red Currant Tart: This is one of their best selling scents and I can totally see why. It smells like wild cassis buds with hints of apple and a touch of gardenia. It’s the perfect combination of fruity and floral – It smells like Spring to me!

Two very lucky VBR readers are going to each win 3 amazing Soy Candles by Phebes. That’s a $40 value!

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). I’d love to hear what your favorite candle scent is. Two winners will be randomly selected and announced on March 2nd. Good luck!

*UPDATE* Winners of these fabulous Soy Candles by Phebes are Josh and Amanda! Congrats!

*Winners were selected using random.org

Also, check out what Mike Hipp, the owner of Soy Candles by Phebes is offering to all VBR readers: “I want to extend a special Vegan Beauty Review to your readers! Go to http://www.soycandlesbyphebes.com and place an order for three candles and I’ll give you a fourth! Simply say you heard about us on Vegan Beauty Review on the free text area of the order and also include (if you wish) a scent choice for the fourth candle. Don’t worry, if you don’t choose, I’ll choose for you based on your purchase.” What a deal!

For more info: Soy Candles by Phebes

Organic, vegan soaps from Hawaii make me feel like a tropical princess

Sunny — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 15:20:19 +0000

I’m very proud to say there is definitely no shortage of organic, vegan bars of soaps. Vegan soaps are not only the healthiest for your skin but the quality of these soaps is unlike anything else. There happen to be a lot of fabulous vegan soap companies in Hawaii but I recently discovered a new tropical gem, Maui Soap Company. They are an independently run, small business that make vegan and organic bath & body products like lotions, soaps and lip balms that are simply exquisite.

I got the chance to try their Lime Litsea Soap ($5.49) and it was a tropical delight. These soaps are made on Maui and it’s like they pack all the essence of the island in each bar of soap. I’ve been wanting to go to Hawaii for such a long time, and it’s soaps like these that make me want to book a flight out there asap. Maui Soap Company uses the purest, most natural, organic ingredients. Here are the ingredients for this particular bar of soap…

Ingredients: Saponified oils (organic olive oil, organic palm oil, and organic coconut oil), mango butter, lime essential oil, litsea essential oil, and sprulina

I also got to try their Vanilla Lip Balm ($3.99). Vanilla is one of my all time favorite scents; I think it’s because it reminds me of cake. So the thought of smearing vanilla, cake-like goodness on my smackers is always a good thing. This lip balm is soothing and it’s the perfect consistency. We all know it’s hard to find vegan lip balms. Most lip balms unfortunately contain bee vomit (which is what honey and beeswax essentially are). Seriously why can’t all lip balm manufacturers rock candelilla wax in their lip balm formulas? Anywho, I frickin’ love this lip balm. Bottom line: it smells delicious and it makes my lips feel nutritious.

Ingredients: Organic palm fruit oil, organic coconut oil, candelilla wax, organic jojoba oil, vanilla oil, Vitamin E

I highly urge you to support these small, independently run businesses that practice sustainability, promote health and the vegan lifestyle.

For more info: Maui Soap Company

Keep your eyes peeled for Forks Over Knives

Sunny — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 18:07:39 +0000

The documentary Forks Over Knives examines the profound claim that most, if not all, of the degenerative diseases that afflict us can be controlled, or even reversed, by rejecting our present menu of animal-based and processed foods.

The major storyline in the film traces the personal journeys of a pair of pioneering yet under-appreciated researchers, Dr. T. Colin Campbell and Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn.

Forks Over Knives is expected to be released summer of 2010. Be sure to get your copy!

For more info: Forks Over Knives

Emani Minerals: 100% vegan makeup

Sunny — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 00:17:12 +0000

There are a lot of makeup companies that have a few select vegan or cruelty-free items but how nice would it be to take out the guess work and label reading process when finding vegan cosmetics? Well, Emani Minerals is a completely vegan, gluten-free, paraben-free, cruelty-free makeup line and they use 100% recycled paper goods for their packaging (25% post & 75% pre-consumer) that are 100% biodegradable. Now that’s what I call green makeup! My favs…

Foundation Primer & Hydrating Serum ($28): Not only is this primer vegan, but it fills in all the lil’ wrinkles and lines in your face making it perfectly smooth and even for foundation application. This primer is so velvety and smooth. I can’t stop touching my face when I apply this serum. It’s like a magic potion for smooth skin. It also happens to be incredibly moisturizing and contains organic extracts (chamomile, mallow, cornflower, mint, peppermint, witch hazel aloe, calendula and ginkgo biloba) which help nourish your skin. Seriously, if you want to look years younger, you need to be rocking some foundation primer. I highly recommend incorpoating this into your beauty regimen.

Pressed Mineral Foundation ($30): After prepping your skin with Emani Hydrating Serum & Primer, you are all set to go for foundation. I’ve been using pressed mineral foundation for years. I’m addicted to this stuff. Your coverage can be light to heavy depending on how many layers you apply. This talc-free, pressed mineral foundation is infused with organic rosemary and grape seed extract, which helps to balance your skin’s moisture and gives you even coverage. Plus, this compact is totaly portable, so you can plop it in your purse for touch ups.

Ingredients: Mica, Titanium Dioxide, Silica, Cyclomethicone, Dimethicone, Rosemary Extract, Grapefruit Seed Extract, Iron Oxide

Vegan Foundation Brush ($24): Emani makeup brushes are soooooo incredibly soft! The foundation brush is ideal for applying loose powder foundation, pressed foundation or translucent powder. This brush is 100% vegan and free of dyes. There really is no need to be using makeup brushes made out of squirrels booty fur (or whichever animal they steal fur from). Plus, these synthetic brushes last longer and don’t harbor bacteria like conventional makeup brushes do.

Crushed Mineral Eye Dust ($10): First off, I’d like to say how crazy I am about that bright shade of blue (Dare Devil) featured in the photo. It’s mesmerizingly beautiful. All of these eyeshadows are made with 100% pure mineral pigments and are free of talc and other fillers. Emani Mineral Color Dust goes on sheer but for an intense finish, you can wet your brush and then apply. There are lots of shades to choose from. They have earthy tones, pastels, bold, fun colors – they have it all! Some of these shades work perfectly for your lips. Get crazy and try a bunch of differnt stuff. Be your own makeup artist. For longer lasting eyeshadow, feel free to prep your lids with eye cream then layer foundation on top to create a smooth base. Then apply your rockstar makeup and go out and paint the town red (or Dare Devil blue)!

Ingredients: Mica, Iron Oxide, Titanium Dioxide

For more info: Emani Minerals

Head Organics vegan hair care giveaway!

Sunny — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 01:42:04 +0000

Sine I’ve fallen in love with Head Organics, I’m excited for you to try some of their products out for yourself.

VBR and Head Organics are giving away the following full sized products to a lucky reader:

Head Organics Hair Spray ($13.50)

Head Organics Volumizing Mousse ($16.50)

Head Organics Leave In Conditioner ($13.50)

The retail value of this prize is $43.50.

All you have to do to win these fabulous Head Organics hair care products is leave a comment on this post (feel free to enter as many times as you like) and be open to joining their mailing list. A winner will be randomly selected and announced on February 23th. Good luck!

*UPDATE* Winner of these fabulous Head Organics hair care products is Jewel! Congrats!

*Winner was selected using random.org

For more info: Head Organics

Head Organics: natural, vegan hair care that works

Sunny — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 01:33:07 +0000

I have people who constantly come up to me asking for my opinion on vegan hair care products. It seems like finding the perfect vegan shampoo and conditioner can be quite an elusive feat. I definitely have found some gems and today I’d like to introduce you all to Head Organics. I’ve been using Head Organics for the past couple months now and I’ve grown quite fond of their line of hair care products. Head Organics make top quality products that are free of sulfates, parabens, artificial ingredients, fragrances, gluten and harmful chemicals – and they make your hair feel clean and fabulous! My favs:

2-in-1 Shampoo and Conditioner ($16.50): I personally use this as just a shampoo and I love it because it has makes my hair thoroughly clean (even if I have skipped a few days in between washes) and it has conditioning ingredients that nourish my hair and make it more manageable. I like to use straight up conditioner after using any brand of “shampoo & conditioner” because that’s the way I roll (if your hair was dry and crusty like mine, you’d understand). My hair can use all the nourishing love it can get. If you have strong and healthy, unprocessed hair (btw, I’m soooo jealous!), you could most likely ditch conditioner all together and save some valuable time in the shower.

Leave in Conditioning Spray ($13.50): This weightless detangler, which is infused with hydrolyzed soy protein and plant-based glycerin, helps keep fly aways at bay. And again, if you’re like me and your hair is overprocessed and slightly crispy, this is exactly what your hair is thirsting for.

Shine/Anti-Frizz Serum ($14.50): This light and non-greasy serum contains a gentle formula of green and white tea leaf, pomegranate fruit, ginger root and aloe vera. This serum gets the job done and name of this product speaks for itself. Hello shine, bye-bye frizzies. All you need to do is dab a little bit of serum in your palm and then apply from ends to roots. Then prepare yourself to see your dry hair transform into something flaunt worthy.

For more info: Head Organics

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

Vitamins for your hair? Try Giovanni Organic Haircare!

Sunny — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 15:04:40 +0000

We all know how important daily vitamins are. Well, it turns out vitamins can work wonders for your hair. I know I’m always aspiring to have commercial-worthy luscious locks but unfortunately my hair needs a lot of love. Giovanni has a new leave-in hair treatment that seals the hair shaft, evening out porosity which leaves hair manageable and soft.

VitaPro Fusion Leave-In Hair Treatment ($7.95): This lightweight but intensive hair repair treatment is perfect for people with dry, brittle and over-processed hair. It’s infused with protein-enriched botanicals which lock in moisture and add the perfect amount of shine to your do. It’s so easy to use. Just spray a little onto clean, damp hair and then comb through to distribute evenly and then style your hair as you would normally do. I recommend using this right before blow drying or flat ironing to protect my hair follicles. Not only is this product vegan and cruelty-free but it’s also conveniently available at Target and Whole Foods. Yahoooooo!

Ingredients: Aqua (purified water) with rosemary (Rosmariuns officianalis) oil, nettle (Uritaca dioca) oil, thyme (thymus vulgaris) oil, birch leaf (butela alba) oil, chamomile (anthemis nobilis flower) oil, clary (salvia sclarea), lavender (lavendula angustifolia), coltsfoot leaf (tussilago farfara), yarrow (achillea millefolium) oil, mallow (malva sylvestris), horsetail (equistetum arvense) oil, soybean protein (glycine soja), tocopherol (vitamin E), trace minerals, PVP, citric acid (corn), sodium hydrozymethylgycinate, grapefruit seed (citrus derived), fragrance with essential oils. *Certified Organic by Guaranteed Certification Services.

For more info: Giovanni

LUSH has your vegan Valentine’s Day gifts!

Sunny — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 19:59:13 +0000

If you haven’t already gone shopping for Valentine’s Day, I’m here to help you! Whether you’re looking for a romantic gift for your snuggle bunny or you’re completely anti V-Day altogether because some goon douched his way out of your heart, there are plenty of fun products from LUSH that are sure to please. LUSH has a huge selection of handmade, vegan, cruelty-free, and fun beauty products that I guarantee you’ll fall in love with. LUSH has many store fronts around the country – use their store locator to see if there’s one in your neck of the woods. If there’s not, you can shop directly from their website. Have fun! Here are some of my favorite V-Day LUSH goodies…

Love Soap, The Ex Factor Bath Bomb, Magic Mushroom

Love Soap ($3.95): This radiantly red, heart shaped, glittery soap smells just like LUSH’s best-selling Sex Bomb (jasmine, clary sage and ylang ylang), which we love! These sensual smells will definitely have love lingering in the air. This love soap looks like a giant gumi candy that I want to eat (don’t eat it!). The people at LUSH are masters at making their goodies look fun and scrumptious. I give them mad props for making bath time fun.

The Ex Factor Bath Bomb ($4.95): If you’re currently getting over a broken heart and need a form of catharsis, LUSH has you covered with this fun bath buddy. This lil’ blue ginger cookie-lookin’ man with his lil’ pink heart will slowly dissolve and eventually wash down the drain, allowing you to officially move and say goodbye to that scumbag. If you’re feeling really passionate, go ahead and rip off some off his limbs before or after he hits the water. Have fun with it! If you’ve never tried a bath bomb before, you are in for a treat. They are F-U-N! They slowly fizzle away, and this particular one will turn you bath water a beautiful deep blue shade and it’ll smell like Butterball (vanilla, ylang ylang).

Magic Mushroom Bubble Bar ($4.95): This adorable pink and white mushroom smells like strawberries and vanilla cream. This is exactly what I want to smell like 24/7; it’s the quintessential yummy-lovey V-Day scent. And after a nice sensual bubble bath with this magic mushroom, you will smell like strawberries and cream. These bubble bars are a lot of fun! As LUSH puts it “use this with your favorite fungi and you’ll soon be making magic.”

For more info: LUSH’s V-Day Gifts

LUSH brings us such goodies as the Sex Bomb

LUSH is a win for the whole family