Huge news you guys–new legislation was introduced last week to END ANIMAL TESTING FOR COSMETICS IN THE US!!!
I can’t put enough exclamation marks at the end of that sentence.
Read the story at VegNews, then hop right over to Cruelty Free International to see how you can encourage your state representative to support this crucial bill. Together, we help the US join other countries in ending the needless and inhumane animal testing that still takes place every day. Do it for the bunnies!!
Who doesn’t love free food? No one, that’s who. And here’s your chance to try Chipotle’s new sofritas (if you haven’t already) and get rewarded for it. On Monday, January 26th, order any item with sofritas, and you’ll get a free burrito (or taco, salad, or bowl), redeemable between January 27th and February 28th.
Still unsure if you want to try sofritas? Read the guest blog review I did for That Was Vegan? here, and then just give it a shot! You might discover your new favorite item…and if not, hell, at least you’ll get to go back and get something you do like for free! Either way, you’ll be supporting Chipotle’s awesome vegan option. Bring on Sofritas Monday!
When I started writing this post, all I could think about was how I wished it was 2005 instead of 2015 because then I could title it “DIY in ‘05” and it would totally rhyme. But still, if you say “one-five” instead of “fifteen” then the rhyme still works. These are the kinds of things that keep me awake at night. Aaanywaaay….
Obviously, this is all about how I want to try and make my own cleaning and beauty products this year. Long story short, after 10 years of living in the same apartment Robert and I lucked into renting a condo. It’s bigger than our old place and in a nicer area of town, but with the upgrade in the quality of living conditions, we also got an upgrade in the rent. So I’m trying to be more frugal and want to try the DIY route that seems popular these days. I’ve seen loads of ideas and recipes for making homemade laundry detergent, all-purpose cleansers, body scrubs, shampoo, spider repellant (something I’m VERY interested in, now that we have a garage with lots of boxes in it) and so forth. People swear that they save a ton of money by making their own stuff and that’s definitely something I can get on board with!
I decided to start with something very basic, something idiot-proof that even I couldn’t mess up, so I decided to make a sugar body scrub. Winter in Colorado equals very, very dry skin, especially with the extreme cold temperatures we’ve had lately. So sugar scrubs are a great way to slough dead, dry skin, and are especially effective when combined with an oil to moisturize. There are only about a million and one recipes for DIY scrubs, but I found one that called for just sugar and coconut oil. I said it was basic, didn’t I? Besides, that’s pretty much all the ingredients I had at the time. So I combined 1 cup of plain white sugar with ¼ cup coconut oil. I mixed everything together with my hands, which provided just enough warmth to gently melt the coconut oil and blend with the sugar. I tried it that night in the shower and it was just perfect. Gently exfoliating and moisturizing without being greasy. But like I said, it was very basic. No smell, no color (which is why I won’t bother with a picture. Imagine a Tupperware container with white sugar in it. There’s my scrub). A few drops of an essential oil would certainly elevate to something more indulgent.
But it was cheap! A 2lb. bag of sugar costs about 90 cents and the coconut oil was about $9.00 for a 32oz jar. If I’m doing the math correctly (and there’s a good chance I’m not!) that works out to about 60 cents for the batch of scrub, which makes enough to last 1 ½-2 weeks, if used every other day or so. Not too shabby when you consider store-bought scrubs can cost $5-10 or more. And given that sugar and coconut oil are staples of cooking and both have long shelf-lives, there’s little chance they will go to waste.
So, my initial foray into the world of DIY was a success! I didn’t spend any money since I used what was already on hand and it was effective. Now I want to hear from you. Has anyone else tried DIY products? Was is actually cheaper and did it work? I’d love to hear any and all experiences!
About six months ago, I made a bold decision and cut my longer than shoulder-length hair into a pixie cut. I made the change after half a summer of sweltering at night with hair stuck to my face and having no energy to do anything with it other than throw it up into a ponytail every day. I needed a change. I’ve gone from long to short hair before, but this was the most drastic change ever and one that would require actual styling.
Unfortunately, before leaving the salon I bought the hair cream the stylist suggested without doing any research and ended up buying a non-cruelty-free brand. It’s a decision I regretted, but given that the product cost $20, I wasn’t going to throw it out. I did begin looking for a replacement for when I did run out, and I instantly turned to LUSH to see what options they had. Enter Dirty Hair Cream, my new favorite LUSH product. I asked for a sample to try and haven’t looked back since.
First of all, don’t be fooled by the fact that it’s found in the Men’s section of the store. It isn’t just for men, and frankly it has the best scent of just about any LUSH product I’ve tried. It’s not overly masculine, though it does contain sandalwood, pine, and oak moss oils. It’s a little tough to describe, but I can only say it smells fresh. The scent lasts all day, which I love because I’ll occasionally get a random whiff and it will just make me happy.
Okay, it smells great, but how well does it work? Amazing, that how it works. It’s surprisingly light for a cream, so it doesn’t weigh down fine locks or make hair greasy. It creates a lot of texture and you can use as little or as much as you need for the type of hold you want. I use about a jellybean size amount for a medium-hold—not cardboard stiff, but able to stay in place for 10+ hours. I do keep the sample jar in my purse so I can do touch-ups when needed! The staff member at LUSH who gave me the sample said she uses it just to swipe down flyaway hairs and runs a little through her ponytail to add texture, so it’s very versatile.
Another great benefit of Dirty is the coconut oil that conditions your hair and scalp. In fact, I usually only wash my hair every other day now since Dirty keeps it smelling fresh and looking soft.
A 3.5oz jar costs $15.95, which I think is incredibly reasonable, especially since it’s vegan! And depending on how much you use, it will last a long time. If you live near a LUSH and are looking to change up your styling routine, hit them up for a sample and try it for yourself. You might just find your new styling BFF.
Remember when I reviewed Earth Balance’s white cheddar puffs and popcorn? I was pretty astounded at how well they replicated the taste of their non-vegan counterparts and was convinced that they were the pinnacle in taste of vegan snack food. But Earth Balance has done it again and while I’m never fond of hyperbole, I will say they have created THE greatest vegan snack food ever! Oh and there’s a couple of other pretty good ones reviewed here, too.
So, just what is the greatest vegan snack? Sour Cream and Onion Kettle chips. Okay, I am being totally biased as sc&o chips are my all-time favorite snack/junk food indulgence. I have loved them for as long as I can remember. I never even used to like sour cream, except as a flavoring on a chip. In high school I went to lunch at Subway at least twice a week and the best part of the meal was opening up that green and white bag of happiness and popping the first tangy chip in my mouth. Even now as I journey closer to a 100% vegan diet, there are a few things I have a very hard time letting go of, and sc&o chips are one of those things. But I can finally cross those off my list thanks to EB. Their take on my lifetime fave is spot-on perfect. They have the perfect balance of tanginess and sweetness that make sc&o chips so great, plus they’re kettle-style so they have an extra crunch that just rounds everything out. Every time I eat one my mouth does a happy dance. They are also healthier than their non-vegan versions, so that makes them practically guilt-free snacking! Of course, healthier is a relative term since we’re talking about potato chips but who cares! I have a vegan alternative to one of my favorite foods!
Earth Balance has also come out with a Cheddar flavor kettle chip and while I would never choose them over the sour cream and onion ones, they do taste pretty fantastic. I was worried that they would taste just like EB’s white cheddar puffs but the cheese flavors in each are quite different. While the white cheddar is sharp and strong, the regular cheddar is creamier and more subtle. The best thing is that the chips aren’t overly salty and that really lets the cheese flavor shine through.
The third snack EB has released is Cheddar Flavored Squares—vegan cheese-its, essentially. I was actually a little disappointed by these—to me, they lack cheddar flavor. It really surprises me too, considering how well the cheese comes through in the chips. They don’t taste bad but I just think they need more cheese flavor. Don’t get me wrong—I’ll eat these any given day over the non-vegan version. Robert on the other hand, prefers these to regular Cheese-Its, and he loves Cheese-Its about as much as I love sour cream and onion chips. So there are both sides of the coin for you.
I have seen the Cheddar Squares at Whole Foods, but neither flavor of the chips yet. I actually had to order mine from Food Fight Grocery. They had been sold out for a while, but I checked today and both flavors were in stock. If you are as desperate to try the chips as I was, FFG will probably be your best bet to get them. I highly recommend you do, at least once as they are completely worth it. Happy snacking!
I like to work out during my lunch break at work. It’s a great way to give myself a boost of energy when I’m lagging halfway through the day and it frees up time after work since I don’t have to go to the gym. I can get in a pretty good sweat doing a tabata workout, but therein lays the problem-the sweat. I never get to the point of being drenched but it would definitely be obvious to others if I didn’t have the decency to reapply deodorant. I also use Pacifica’s Purify Coconut Water Cleansing Wipes to help wipe the sweat glow away 🙂
Way back when I first started this blog I reviewed Pacifica’s perfume. They have greatly expanded their product line to include makeup, facial cleansers, moisturizers, BB creams, and these wipes. Combining gently cleansing coconut water with exfoliating papaya and soothing aloe vera, these wipes are great for removing excess oil while leaving skin soft and hydrated. Each 8 by 5 inch cloth is perfectly moistened and made without harsh chemicals so they work for any skin type. They aren’t the best at removing make-up though, especially water-proof make-up so you’ll want to stick with a stronger cleanser for that. The coconut scent is refreshing without being overpowering and will make you feel like you’re walking on the beach.
What I really love about the wipes is the packaging. I’ve used a lot of wipes in this kind of packaging and without fail every pack suffered from not closing tightly enough to prevent the wipes from drying out. Pacifica’s packaging snaps shut completely, keeping the cloths moist for weeks. 30 wipes come in a pack and cost $5.99, which is a great bargain especially since there’s no worry about the cloths drying out. The package fits easily in a purse, making them travel-friendly. 100% vegan and biodegradable, these wipes are a must-have, whether you use them for regular cleansing or just to freshen up while on the go.
*I was provided with free products to try, but the opinions are 100% my own*
A while back I was contacted by Sara, a consultant for Arbonne International wanting to know if I would like to try their vegan nutritional shakes. For those of you who have not heard of Arbonne (like me, until Sara came along :) ), they offer high-quality skin care, cosmetics, and nutritional supplements that are all botanically-based, cruelty-free, and vegan. Being a big fan of Vega I was definitely willing to try a different product to compare to Vega. If you haven’t read my review of Vega One or just need a refresher on my thoughts, hop over here, and then keep reading.
Arbonne’s shakes come in chocolate and vanilla, both of which I got to try. The serving size is 42 grams, just slightly larger than Vega’s 38.6 grams so I used the same 8 ounces of liquid to mix it with. The first thing I noticed about the Arbonne shakes was how quickly and completely they dissolved. I had no issues with clumps, something I can’t say for Vega. As for taste and texture, Arbonne wins by a country mile. I never despised Vega’s taste although I couldn’t discern much difference between the flavors (I’ve tried the Vanilla Chai and Berry) and I could still tell I was drinking a protein shake. Arbonne doesn’t suffer from the chalky or gritty feel that many shakes have. The vanilla was subtly sweet and didn’t taste artificial. Hands down, the chocolate was my favorite. It was creamy and indulgent and loaded with chocolate flavor. It’s amazing that with a whopping 20 grams of protein per serving (5 more than Vega) that these shakes are so smooth and flavorful.
Speaking of nutritional value, protein is about the only category that Arbonne wins at compared to Vega. Here are links to each product’s nutritional chart.
Arbonne: http://www.arbonnemarketing.com/PK/dl/pk/2069_us_eng.pdf
Vega: http://myvega.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/VegaOne_LargeTub_Berry_CDN_V13_FINAL-P1.jpg
That’s not to say that it lacks in anything but Vega can brag that their shakes provide 50% recommended intake of vitamins and minerals, as well as greens, antioxidants, and probiotics. Which is all well and good but as I stated in my Vega review, it’s so very important to make sure you get the majority of your nutrition from whole, plant-based meals. That being said if you’re looking for a shake that provides long-lasting fullness as a meal replacement, Arbonne comes out on top. I drank it for breakfast each time and went nearly 3 hours before feeling any signs of hunger.
Arbonne also wins in the cost category. A large tub of Vega which contains 20-24 servings (depending on the flavor) will run you about $66. Arbonne is the same price, but with 30 servings per container. Still pricey, but if you’re thinking about throwing down serious money for a protein shake, those extra servings could be a deal-breaker.
And not to throw salt in the wound, but Vega has endured a few recalls last year. In November, Health Canada asked Vega to recall about 108 lot numbers of their shakes due to the product being contaminated with an antibiotic that can cause several severe health conditions. Vega initially refused the recall but under the weight of public protest they complied about a week later. Back in June they recalled 15 lot numbers of their protein bars due to trace amounts of milk found in them. This resulted in changing the labeling to read: “May contain dairy”. You can read the FDA press releases for each recall here:
Vega One Nutritional Shake Recall
Vega One Sport Protein Bar Recall
There doesn’t seem to be as much furor about the bars containing milk as there was for the antibiotic contamination but I’m certainly disappointed by both occurrences. For one, the bars can’t really be considered vegan anymore. Strict vegans and those with dairy allergies definitely have to avoid them. As for the antibiotic contamination I don’t understand why they would resist a recall, even a voluntary one. I know that the actual chances of someone having a reaction were slim but why even take the risk? I’m sure Vega had their reasons but I don’t know if it was worth alienating some consumers.
If you’ve been wanting to try vegan protein shakes for the first time or just looking to change up your routine, consider giving Arbonne a shot. You can’t buy Arbonne in stores so if you’re interested, contact Sara at: sara_kuz@hotmail.com or check out her website at http://www.liveyourdreamlife.myarbonne.ca. She is very knowledgeable about all the products she sells and will answer any questions you may have in a timely manner.
Hey gang! I’m helping Barb with a guest post while she’s hanging out with elephants in SE Asia. Hop on over there today to see my post, than make sure you come back here Friday for my first review of the year!
Facial cleansers are one product I rarely splurge on. Sure, I will spend a little more for a really good mask or exfoliator, but as for a cleanser made for everyday use my requirements are only these: cheap and effective. And those are the two things I love most about Avalon Organics Refreshing Vitamin C Renewal Gel Cleanser.
Starting with the effectiveness, AO’s RVCRGC (you don’t need me to keep spelling it out, do you? 🙂 ) is fortified with (duh) Vitamin C, an ingredient known for its antioxidant properties. Vitamin C also naturally brightens the skin, making it perfect for morning use. Lemon bioflavonoids and white tea extracts help soothe skin, fight the signs of aging, and remove toxins and impurities. The gel lathers up fabulously and only a very small amount is needed. It washes off completely without leaving skin feeling dry or stretched out and is great for any skin type. The bright, citrusy scent works wonders for waking me up, no matter how groggy I feel. It’s like being kissed by an orange (my apologies to Seal for ripping off his song 🙂 )
The value of the cleanser just can’t be beat. At only $12.50 for 8.5 ounces (often on sale for even less at Whole Foods) and even with every day use one bottle will last me for months. Not two or three months, but more like five or six months. No lie.
I emailed AO to verify that this particular product is vegan. The label says 100% vegetarian ingredients but I couldn’t identify any that wouldn’t be vegan. The reply I received assured me that it is in fact vegan. I also inquired if AO would consider labeling that specifies their products as either vegan or vegetarian. I was told that my inquiry would “be forwarded to the leadership team”. I hope they seriously consider updating the labeling. It certainly would make shopping much easier for vegan-conscious consumers. Why not promote your product as vegan instead of using potentially ambigious phrases like ‘100% vegetarian’. It’s not like you’d lose customers. I mean, who in their right mind would purposely refuse to buy something just because it’s vegan?
Okay, off the soapbox! I simply love this cleanser and have been using it for over a year and I don’t see that changing any time soon. Cheap and effective might not sound like the best endorsement for a product but in this case it really is high praise.
Avalon Organics products can be purchased on their website AvalonOrganics.com, natural foods stores, and many chain stores like Target and Walmart.
Urban Decay is a cruelty-free company with a huge line of cosmetics. From eye shadows to primers, lip gloss to foundation, UD offers something for everyone. Additionally, many of their products are vegan and are easily identified as such with a purple paw print on their website and store displays. Today I will review their eye shadow. Unfortunately they don’t have an all-vegan eye shadow palate, so I will only be reviewing the four vegan shades from the Ammo palate.
For starters, UD’s eye shadows are perfectly balanced between being light and creamy without being flaky or heavy. They glide on very smooth and blend well, making it easy to customize your look and can be applied wet or dry. Finishes range from matte, to luminous, to shimmery and colors range from muted nudes to bold purples and blues. Of their 75 available shades, 32 are vegan so there are plenty of options available.
The four vegan shades in the Ammo palate are Smog, Mildew, Maui Wowie, and Shattered.
From left to right: Shattered, Maui Wowie, Mildew, Smog
Smog is a deep coppery shade; Mildew is a mossy green with flashes of gold; Maui Wowie is a metallic golden beige with silver glitter; and Shattered is a turquoise hue with flashes of gold. Of these, Mildew is my favorite. I have green eyes so this shade really compliments them and brings out the gold flecks. It’s a nice shade of green without being too dark. Smog and Maui Wowie are shimmery, neutral shades that look great on their own but also make a good base to layer on other colors. Shattered is bold, gorgeous and perfect for a night out. I always get compliments on how pretty the shadows are, especially when I combine colors. I really like using Smog on the entire lid and adding Shattered as a liner right along the upper lash line. It adds just the right amount of color that’s appropriate for work but still gives a sense of fun.
These shadows have decent staying power, lasting about 5-6 hours before showing signs of creasing. I have yet to find an eye shadow that doesn’t crease so I think that’s pretty good. The colors also stay very strong so reapplying isn’t really necessary, unless like me you forget you’re wearing shadow and keep rubbing your eyes 🙂 I did notice that the shades that contain glitter are looser and I would often end up with some of the shadow falling onto the top of my cheeks during application. With the neutral colors, it actually added a pretty little shimmer to my skin, but with Shattered I had to wash it off since it gave my skin a bluish color. I hold a piece of toilet paper against my skin under the eye while applying to prevent this from happening.
The only other real downside is the price: at $18 a pop, it’s hard to stock up on a lot of colors without running up a crazy bill. That’s part of the reason I sacrificed a bit of my morals when I bought a palate that didn’t have all vegan shades. I got 10 shades for $38; I could only have gotten 2 individual shades for that price. Of course the amounts in the palates are smaller so if there is a color you really love and would use a lot it certainly makes sense to pay for a full-size portion. The good news is that UD is always adding new shades and works on converting non-vegan products to vegan so I imagine we will eventually see a vegan palate. Overall if you are looking for a quality, vegan eye shadow I highly recommend UD. UD is available online and in specialty beauty stores like Ulta and Sephora.
The Cruelty-Free Review 
