I recently got hooked on two of their anti-aging goodies, and [...]]]> If you’re vegan and as obsessed with wrinkle creams as I am, then you’re probably already acquainted with derma e. All of their beauty products are free of parabens, phthalates, sodium lauryl sulfates, petroleum, mineral oil, artificial colors, and are all vegan, cruelty-free and gluten-free.

I recently got hooked on two of their anti-aging goodies, and I had to share!

Hyaluronic and Pycnogenol Eye Crème, $19.50: Oo, what are these fancy ingredients, you ask? Pycnogenol is a super active anitioxidant (from French maritime pine), and is 50 times (!!!) more powerful than vitamin E and 20 times more effective than vitamin C when it comes to fighting free radicals. Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring substance that helps tone, firm and hydrate skin. This under-eye hydratin’ formula absorbs quickly and has a nice thick-ish consistency that I find essential for eye creams (seriously, watery eye creams make NO sense!).

Pycnogenol Crème, Fragrance Free, $29.95 (← btw, I love that these wrinkle fightin’ creams are pretty affordable!): Pycnogenol (our new favorite magical ingredient) + Vitamins C, E and A = yes, please! This fabu combination of antioxidants helps reduce inflammation, diminish fine lines, and improve elasticity. It has a nice, creamy, emollient texture and it’s perfect for pre-beddies pampering. I use this nightly along with the eye cream, and even though I don’t have a whole bunch of wrinkles to watch progressively diminish, I’m taking comfort in knowing that I’m doing everything I can to keep them at bay.

If you’d like to try some of derma e’s most popular products, you should order their free sampler!

What are some of your favorite vegan anti-aging beauty products?

Jojoba oil is the answer to all of your beauty prayers—trust me! It’s cheap, it’s easy to use, it readily available (I like to buy mine at Trader Joe’s), and it will transform your skin, hair and [...]]]> Jo Jo Jo! It’s time to talk about one of my favorite versatile beauty oils of all time—jojoba oil!

Jojoba oil is the answer to all of your beauty prayers—trust me! It’s cheap, it’s easy to use, it readily available (I like to buy mine at Trader Joe’s), and it will transform your skin, hair and nails for the better! Check out all of these fab ways to use it!

• Body Oil: You can use it as a massage oil (I like to add a few drops of lavender) or as all-over your body moisturizer after a nice, relaxing bath or shower. It absorbs quickly and leaves your skin feeling silky smooth.
• Facial Moisturizer: Jojoba oil helps to balance skin’s sebum, so it moisturizes dry skins and chills out the oil production in oily skin—so you can rest-assured using this on your face will not cause zits! Apply a few drops of jojoba oil directly to your face or mix it in with your favorite moisturizer for some extra hydrating umph.
• Makeup Remover: Soak a cotton ball and gently rub it over your face to remove all of your makeup… best makeup remover ever (leaves your skin all conditioned n’ shiat, too!)
• Lip Conditioner: I like adding a dab of jojoba oil to my lips after a much needed sugary lip scrub treatment… makes my smackers extra smoochable!
• Nail Conditioner: Rubbing jojoba oil on your nails and cuticles on a semi-regular basis will help make your cracked, ridgedy nails look their bestest.
• Leave-In Hair Treatment:. If you have dry or damaged hair (like I do), rub a few drops of jojoba in the palm of your hands and work it through your hair (especially hit up the extra dry, frizzy, straw-y bits)… your hair will ♥ you (and vice versa).
• Key Ingredient for the Perfect Body Scrub: Seriously. Mix granulated sugar with jojoba oil and add a few drops of your favorite essential oil(s), mix, and enjoy! You’re welcome!

Do you love jojoba as much as I do? Holla at your girl in the comments! xx

Then I thought back [...]]]> I was recently sent a sample of Maya Essentials’ Rose and Olive Deep Facial Cleanser, and I have to be honest, the “olive oil” ingredient freaked me out a bit. I was like, “Is this going to be super slick and greasy, impossible to wash off and cause me to break out?”

Then I thought back on a time when i was beyond obsessed with DHC’s Deep Cleansing [Olive] Oil… it was the greatest thing ever! After I couldn’t verify whether it was vegan or not, I stopped using it… but lemme tell you, it was überly moisturizing, ant-aging, it washed off super easily (and yes, olive oil was the main ingredient), it didn’t leave any funky, slimy residue, and it made my skin feel exquisite! There have been many times when I’ve reminisced and craved that magical, wonderful formula of skincare bliss…  only to be bummed out with the inevitable womp-womp—until NOW!!

Maya Essentials not only came out with a vegan, cruelty-free version of this a-maaaaahzing cleanser, but it’s also organic, completely natural (and infused with a beautiful blend of rose, lavender and lemon), handmade in NY, and it comes in recyclable packaging. Score!

For your chance to win your very own Maya Essentials’ Rose and Olive Facial Cleanser ($23.50 value), leave a comment below and tell me which cruelty-free facial cleanser you currently use. For multiple entries, simply “like” Vegan Beauty Review on Facebook and/or follow VBR on Twitter (and leave a comment below for each letting me know you did so). A winner will be randomly selected and notified on April 11. Good luck!

Their Vanilla-Orange Hair Cleanser has got to be one of my all-time fave shampoos. Not only is it chemical free, but it smells like orangesicle [...]]]> I’m a pretty gigantor CREO fan. Their products are all free of skanky shiz (i.e. sulfate-free, silicone-free, paraben-free, cruelty-free), and they don’t contain foam boosters like TEA, DEA, MEA or oxides.

Their Vanilla-Orange Hair Cleanser has got to be one of my all-time fave shampoos. Not only is it chemical free, but it smells like orangesicle and actually gets down and dirty with my hair without being abrasive or over-drying.

Now that fall is in full swing and winter’s on its way, keeping our skin extra moisturized is key! CREO has a new line of body oils that are überly moisturzing, quick-absorbing, awesome-smelling and don’t clog pores! I got hooked on their ♥ Citrus Mint ♥ body oil—I’ve been using it religiously after every bath. My skin is lovin’ it! It’s luxurious and contains key cold-pressed oils (high in omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids, Vitamins A, E and C, and lots of phytonutrients and antioxidants) for soft, supple skin: apricot kernel, Moroccan argan, rose hip seed, borage and kukui nut.

CREO body oil is $41 (SO worth it… and it’s a huge bottle, so it’ll last you a long time), and it’s also available in yummy-smelling Grapefruit Ginger and Vanilla Orange.

Don’t let your skin get the winter blues. Dry, flaky skin is so NOT sexy, so prevent it before it starts.

Get 25% off your entire CREO order by entering coupon code “VBR2011″ when checking out.

Although I don’t have any tattoos at the moment (but I’m determined to get one before the year’s end), I became smitten with Stay [...]]]> All right tatted beauties, y’all are going to love this giveaway from Stay True Organics! Heck, even if you’re not sporting any ink (yet), you’ll be able to enjoy these products, too!

Although I don’t have any tattoos at the moment (but I’m determined to get one before the year’s end), I became smitten with Stay True Organics’ fabulous skin care products.

Colorfast Healing & Conditioning Balm and Fresh Ink Healing Wash

The creamy, gentle Fresh Ink Healing Wash ($9) contains tamanu oil (which is a time-honored wound healer), potent anti-microbial herbs like neem and rosemary and calming comfrey root and the petals of several anti-inflammatory, organic flowers. I’ve been using this as a face wash at night and it totally leaves my skin mosturized and soft. The beautiful lavender scent is so relaxing and is perfect right before beddies. When it is time to finally get some ink, there is no doubt in my mind that I’m going to use these products to help my skin heal.

I also tried the Colorfast Healing & Conditioning Balm ($22), which is meant to heal tattoos faster while maintaining their clarity and color (it revitalizes old tattoos, too!). This balm calms sensitive skin, moisturizes, reduces inflammation, relieves itching, reduces the risk of infection, and minimizes scabbing. It contains Jojoba Oil; Candelilla Wax; Pumpkin Seed Oil; Apricot; Kernel Oil; Rosehip Seed Oil; Red Raspberry Seed Oil; Shea Butter; flowers; herbs and essential oils, making this balm extremely versatile. I’ve been using it on my elbows and knees, my hands, my lips… it glides on so smoothly and makes me skin feel divine. This is an excellent skin hydrator that will smooth and protect dry, chapped, or sensitive skin and can be used safely from head to toe on a daily basis. It has a delicate chamomile scent which is absolutely lovely. I wish I there was a scratch-n-sniff screen option so I could share these beautiful scents with you.

For your chance to win the Stay True Organics Fresh Ink Healing Wash and Colorfast Healing & Conditioning Balm set, simply leave a comment with your dream tattoo. A winner will be randomly selected and announced on July 9th. Good luck!!!

One of my favorite skincare products of all time is the Jason Ester-C collection. I have been using it for a couple of years now and have never been disappointed by each new product I have tried. It leaves my skin feeling clean, anti-oxidated, and smooth. Each [...]]]> Special guest post by Julieanna Hever, M.S., R.D., C.P.T.

One of my favorite skincare products of all time is the Jason Ester-C collection. I have been using it for a couple of years now and have never been disappointed by each new product I have tried. It leaves my skin feeling clean, anti-oxidated, and smooth. Each product smells deliciously like citrus which, upon each inhalation, impresses the antioxidant effect that is naturally omnipresent in citrus fruits. It is as though my skin is absorbing its daily required dose of vitamins just by its application.

The Super-C Cleanser is light and has a perfect consistency that goes on nicely and washes off easily and clean. Follow that up with the rich, silky Hyper-C Serum a couple times a week for a boost in anti-aging efforts and I feel glowing and radiant. On the other nights, I use the Ester-C Crème which is so rich and creamy without any greasy after-feel. Every night I apply the Ultra-C Eye Lift for a nice, gentle eye lift.

Besides being luxurious and incredibly generous to my skin, I adore the fact that JASON is a vegan and eco-friendly skin care line. Now I can feel confident that what I am using to stay young and vibrant is also supporting the welfare of animals and maintaining the Earth as we know and love it.