Cucumber Wasabi Hand Wash ($12): Whaaaa? Did that say wasabi? Hells yeah. It turns out, wasabi has mad antiseptic properties and has a high concentration of potassium, calcium, Vitamin C and phytochemicals. That, combined with cucumber’s cooling properties = a non-drying, mild cleanser that is bound to make your bathroom guests feel special. I love the scent of anything cucumber. It smells so fresh and clean – it clears my head. I’m a huge fan of this hand wash. If you’re nuts over wasabi, you might want to try their Lemongrass Wasabi hand wash as well. I’ve yet to try it but I’m sure it’s equally fabu.

Bamboo Lemongrass Body Creme ($22): This super emollient and rich body cream is non-greasy and quickly absorbs into the skin. It perfectly complements Lather’s Bamboo Lemongrass Foaming Body Scrub (which we’re giving away on VBR – don’t forget to enter for your chance to win it). It contains bamboo extract, aloe vera, vegetable glycerin, shea butter, jojoba and sweet almond oils, Vitamins A. C & E and precious essential oils. This body creme is the perfect remedy for thirsty skin. This will leave your skin ultra soft and delicate smelling.

Swiss Apple Wrinkle Remedy ($62): You’ve heard an apple a day keeps the doctor away but did you know it can keep the plastic surgeon away too? This unique wrinkle remedy is formulated with stem cells from the rare Swiss apple Uttwiler Spatlauber which is rich in phyto-nutrients, proteins and long-living cells. This formula incorporates niacinamide which stimulates microcirculaion and ups the production of ceramides (basically the glue that holds cells together). This combined with hyaluronic acid and phospholipids (which replenish the moisture barrier and plump fine lines) will help knock off some years so you can stay 21 forever. Although wrinkle treatments aren’t magical, you will notice your skin’s tone and texture improving and those fine lines will get a little finer. Every bit helps.

For more info: Lather

It’s fragrance-free, paraben-free, cruelty-free, vegan, hypoallergenic and can be used on your face, hands and your entire body.

Leave a comment on this post to be entered to win a free bottle of Skin MD Shielding Lotion ($18 value). A winner will be randomly selected and announced on Nov. 24.  Good luck!

*UPDATE* Winner of the Skin MD Shielding Lotion Giveaway is Monica!  Congrats!

Winner was chosen using random.org

For more info: Skin MD Shielding Lotion

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

My Weleda pick:

Weleda’s Wild Rose Facial Care Kit ($14.99): Not only does this kit make a great gift but it’s also a great way to sample everything before going all out and buying full sized products. And check out that price! I love how vegan beauty products are becoming more accessible and more affordable.
This kit contains:
Wild Rose Cleansing Lotion – creamy and removes dirt and makeup without drying or irritating the skin
Wild Rose Toner – refreshing, nourishing & smells amazing
Wild Rose Moisture Cream – light, easily absorbed & helps naturally repair skin
Wild Rose Night Cream – deeply nourishing & improves skin’s elasticity

So, Wild Rose is not only a fabulous smelling line of facial care products but it also works wonders on those with prematurely aging skin. Your skin takes its toll with sun exposure, pollutants, chemicals and diet, so it’s really important to fight those early signs of aging before they get out of control. Wild Rose Skin Care is designed to regenerate your skin and restore its health and vitality. Rosehip seed oil promotes skin renewal and has exceptionally high amounts of antioxidants and essential fatty acids that reduce the signs of aging. Let’s all look young and vivacious (naturally) for as long as possible.

And if all of this anti-aging talk isn’t enough to get you to try Weleda out, here’s a coupon that I scoped out just for you guys.
Basically, if you just sign up for Weleda’s free e-mail subscription/newsletter, you’ll be able to redeem this coupon.
You’re welcome.

For more info: Weleda

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

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

Granted I’m a young lassie, I intend to fight premature signs of aging as best I can. Juice Beauty makes this an easy task with their line of age-defying products. Their antioxidant technology combines alpha lipoic acid, coenzyme Q10, DMAE, peptides, fat soluble Vitamin C and essential fatty acids. Juice Beauty’s organic ingredients are packed with potent antioxidants and polyphenols, essential vitamins, phytonutrients and hydroxy acids. Let’s face it, fighting those nasty wrinkles before they get out of control is not only way cheaper than a face lift but it’s healthier and a truly organic way to stay looking young and beautiful.

Products (vegan) I recommend:
Cleansing Milk: creamy, moisturizing facial cleanser, great for removing make-up, smells amazing
Hydrating Mist: Refreshing toner, smells like fresh roses, helps balance skin’s moisture.
Antioxidant Serum: I use this before bed, especially around my eyes. It’s packed with all the age-defying goodies mentioned previously.
Lip Plumper: Smells so fruity and yummy, has a refreshing slight tingle, very moisturizing.

Juice Beauty products are 95% organic, paraben free and toxin-free. Their products are 100% vegetarian and the following products are completely vegan:
Cleansing Milk ($22)
Cleansing Gel ($22)
Hydrating Mist ($22)
Antioxidant Serum ($45)
Blemish Clearing Serum ($29)
Soothing Serum ($36)
Smoothing Eye Concentrate ($29)
Green Apple Nutrient Eye Cream ($35)
Lip Plumper ($14)

For more info: Juice Beauty

My faves: The rich and emollient (yet non-greasy) Cypress Hand Cream ($20) which is made of avocado kernel oil, shea butter and allantoin (from comfrey root). It smells amazing and is works wonders on dry hands – perfect for this time of year!

Another one of my favorite products is the Chamomile & Lavender Hydrating Face Gel ($40). My skin gets especially dry this time of year and I’m so used to shellacing my face with layers of moisturizer before going to bed and still feeling dry. This amazing face gel truly is soothing and allows the pores on my face to feel quenched. Needless to say, the ingredients in this face gel smell calming and beautiful, pure and healthy. This gel is also perfect for sunburned skin… so it’s great year round!

I’m also quite addicted to their Carrot-a-Day Nutritious Face & Eye Gel ($48). I know carrots are the bomb. I’m already sold on anything carrots. This wonderful eye gel and face serum is perfect for fighting wrinkles and can be used alone or under face or eye cream. I like to layer all of these earthy facial tonics and recreate a day at the spa.

Earthwise Beauty has a wide variety of beauty products for hair, feet, oral care, babies, face, body, hands lips, eyes, etc.

Average cost of products is $20-40.

For more info, visit their website: Earthwise Beauty