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Adopting a vegan diet was easy for [...]]]> The following guest post on vegan awesomeness is by Christy Hall. She’s not only vegan, compassionate and stylish, but she’s also in the running for peta2′s Cutest Vegetarian Alive contest. So show her some ♥ and vote! Oh, and add her on Facebook, too!

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Adopting a vegan diet was easy for me. It was nothing to start using vegan alternatives to reduce the suffering of animals in my food choices. Finding alternatives to my beauty products was another story. I’m pretty sure the first few months of veganizing my beauty products I was looking a HOT MESS.  (VBR helped a lot, thanks Sunny you saved me!  )

I think I have finally found vegan and cruelty-free alternatives to all of my necessities (and there are a lot) that work just as good if not better than the mess I used before. Here are a few of my favorite things:

Hair:

I recently went from a boring-ass brown drab color to bright-ass red. I’M TOTALLY IN LOVE WITH IT. The initial pre-lightening process was done in a salon (if your hair is dark this is probably a good idea) that used Paul Mitchell color.

To maintain it at home I use Manic Panic in red.

And I also bought salon quality shampoo and conditioner that my salon carries. I confirmed the products were vegan and cruelty-free by emailing the company and asking. (It’s that easy people!!) The shampoo is called Alterna and I use the Hemp line. The Hemp line and the Bamboo line are both vegan. I love love love this ish!! It smells like candy and keeps my hair from fading as fast as it would with most other shampoos.

Face:

THIS was by far the hardest battle to win. My skin is all kinds of crazy and I tried vegan product after vegan product and nothing was working as good as the nasty prescription shizz I used to use. Then I found… wait for it… Acne.org products. Okay okay, I’ll admit… these are not the most natural products, but if yo’ skin is like mine, natural just won’t cut it. These are the only vegan acne products I found that contain benzoyl peroxide, which is the number one tool for fighting acne. There are different products to choose from and specific instructions on how to use them. (Which I don’t always follow >:3) They are relatively cheap and are all vegan and cruelty-free.

When my skin is freaking out, even with those amazing acne.org products, I need a good foundation to cover it up! Everyday Minerals is AH-MAZING. I use the Fair Intensive Base, but they have this cool thing where you can try like five different kinds of bases to find the perfect one for you for only like $5.

I also love love love Monave Minerals. They have a liquid version that I’m stoked to try. I just sent in for some cheap samples the other day. I highly recommend asking for samples of different company’s foundations. It is very hard to find a good one and this is the best way. I also emailed this company and they confirmed that all their makeup (except some of their lip balms) is vegan. So dive in, sexy vegan bitches!

Eyes:

Let’s talk about vegan mascara for a second. This was something else that was hard to come across. But I have two words for you: Manic Panic. Enough said. Best mascara EVA, vegan or not. TRY IT.

I think that is enough awesomeness for one post. I’m sure if Sunny will let me, I’ll be back with other goodies!

…um, yeah, I’m sure we can arrange that.  xx ~Sunny

They have a new fall cosmetics line called Creature of the Night, which is perfect for creating a fun, Halloweeny, gothy, to-die-for look.

The Goods: Supernatural Pressed Powder ($9) Dramatic Eye Kit - Melodrama ($12) Eye Wear Crème Eyeshadow & Liner ($8) Eye [...]]]> Oh, how I ♥ Manic Panic. All of their colorfully creative and edgy beauty products are 100% vegan and cruelty-free (and affordable!).

They have a new fall cosmetics line called Creature of the Night, which is perfect for creating a fun, Halloweeny, gothy, to-die-for look.

The Goods:
Supernatural Pressed Powder ($9)
Dramatic Eye Kit - Melodrama ($12)
Eye Wear Crème Eyeshadow & Liner ($8)
Eye Wear Gloss Mascara ($8)
Vampire Kiss Lipstick ($8)

ManicPanic Collection Fans: You can win a ManicPanic Creature of the Night cosmetics Collection package of a glossy mascara, crème eyeshadow, dramatic lip kit, and a nail lacquer by entering this sweepstakes by October 25th.

Also, get a FREE Supernatural Creme Foundation ($9 value) with any $30 purchase! Just in time to get that ethereal glow complete your Halloween persona, or for everyday flawless base coverage. Enter # mph10 at checkout.

Also, be sure to “Like” Manic Panic on Facebook.

When I first made the switch to vegan cosmetics, mascara was my biggest challenge.  Even the “natural” products seemed to all contain beeswax, at the very least.  After a little research, and some good ol’ trial and error, I found three mascaras I felt good about.  Since [...]]]> Special guest post by Keri of I Eat Trees

When I first made the switch to vegan cosmetics, mascara was my biggest challenge.  Even the “natural” products seemed to all contain beeswax, at the very least.  After a little research, and some good ol’ trial and error, I found three mascaras I felt good about.  Since vegan cosmetic brands can be a bit more difficult to find, having a few products in my repertoire lets me be more open to availability and saves me the panic when my favorite beauty stop is out of my usual.  No, mascara probably isn’t vital to my survival, but what can I say?  It makes me happy and it’s right up there with pants as far as things I’d prefer not to leave the house without.  And we all know the search for the perfect mascara doesn’t end when you go vegan.

The first vegan mascara I purchased was Zuzu Luxe The Mascara, which had the aforementioned issue of being dried out and old.  It took me receiving another tube as a gift to appreciate the product.  Zuzu Luxe’s mascara is a thicker formulation than most I have tried, but goes on evenly creating natural looking matte black lashes.  The product doesn’t have a strong scent, but smells clean and slightly herbal.  The brush is stiff and dense with uniform length bristles for smooth application that dries quickly.  This mascara is a good go-to for those who want a more natural and less dramatic lash.  The product doesn’t build to dramatic so well, and can flake if too much is applied.  I found Zuzu Luxe The Mascara for $18 at Whole Foods, but have also seen it available many places online.

Zuzu Luxe Mascara, $18

Next, I came across Lavera Volume Mascara at Target.  I was excited to find such a widely available retailer to have a vegan beauty brand and grabbed up the mascara in black.  This product contains organic jojoba and rose and the formula is very smooth to the point of seeming “soft”.  Lavera’s Volume Mascara creates long glossy lashes that to the touch, almost feel naked.  The brush is small and plush, making it easy to get into corners and completely coat the lash.  This mascara is great for anyone who wants natural beauty with a little extra length.  Despite the name, the smoothness makes the product a little difficult to build, therefore creating a more subtle drama.  This mascara might not be for you if you have oily lids or are on your way to the gym because it tends to smear if provoked.  I picked up Lavera Volume Mascara at Target for $16 and I’ve seen it on sale quite often.

Lavera Volume Mascara, $16

My most recent favorite has to be Beauty Without Cruelty Full Volume in black.  This mascara actually provides on the volume and hasn’t flaked or smeared on me yet.  It is very buildable and works well with layering over or under another product for a big night out.  The finish isn’t as glossy as Lavera or as matte as Zuzu Luxe, but somewhere happily in between.  While the scent of this one is slightly more synthetic, it’s not at all noticeable unless you make a habit of sniffing your mascara for reviews, as I do.  BWC’s Full Volume has a big, plush applicator brush to thicken, lengthen, and coat evenly.  The larger brush can be more difficult to get each little lash in the corners, but if you’re having an especially important lash day, going in with a smaller tool is always an option.  I purchased Beauty Without Cruelty Full Volume Mascara at a local natural market for $13, but this is another one fairly easy to find online.

Beauty Without Cruelty Full Volume, $13

One tip with vegan mascaras, at least in my largely nonvegan community, check dates and if need be, ask questions.  It isn’t worth wasting $15-$20 on a product that has been sitting on the shelf for nearly a year getting dried out and stinky!  I haven’t had a clumping problem with any of my favorites, and since I currently have a tube of all three, switch between them depending on my mood.  If for some strange reason I was forced to pick only one, I would hold on to my Beauty Without Cruelty Full Volume for it’s length, volume, and buildability.  I’m grateful to have come across a few great vegan cosmetics because after all, there’s nothing beautiful about cruelty.

What are some of your favorite vegan mascaras?

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