Grapeseed Oil and Crazy Rumors

Photo from crazyrumors.com

A few weeks ago, I wrote about some winter dry skin solutions that have really helped me out this year.  I was looking for a non-waxy vegan lip balm that lasted.  Well, I found one!

I tried a Crazy Rumors lip balm in the past and didn't love it.  They have a line of flavors inspired by coffee, but I think the flavor I picked out just didn't work out for me.  I know they're vegan and use organic ingredients, so when I recently saw a display in a store I opened up some of the testers to smell some of their new flavors.  French Vanilla won me over, so I bought it.  I'm not sure if Crazy Rumors reworked their formula, but I really love this lip balm now!  I've been using it every day with great results.  My lips haven't been chapped since I added it to the Lush lip scrub in the morning, organic cocoa butter/coconut oil at night routine.

I also figured another great dry skin solution that has totally been a life saver.  I find that my favorite lotions that I use all year need to be amped up in the winter.  After the shower, I've been slathering on a bit of organic grapeseed oil before I layer on my lotion.  It makes all the difference!  I feel like the lotion traps the goodness of the grapeseed oil right next to my skin.  

What are some of your favorite vegan lotions and lip balms?

P.S.  I've written about the cute vegan shoe selection at Lulu's before, Statements in Fashion is hosting a Lulu's $25 gift card giveaway until Wednesday, January 19th.  You might want to check it out!

Cheap, Vegan, and Eco-Friendly Solutions to Dry Skin

Between the windy, cold air outside and the dry heat inside, my skin and lips have been parched.  Here's what I've tried and loved:

I slather a stick of cocoa butter on my lips and all over my face before I go out for a run.  It gets super windy at the beach and boardwalk, and this helps seal in some much needed moisture.  I prefer this to Vaseline, much more eco-friendly.

A jojoba and cocoa butter mixture-I scoop out about 1/2 teaspoon and let it melt in my hands.  Then I rub it into my face and lips as a mask.  It eventually gets absorbed and leaves my skin soft and happy.  I don't recommend doing this right before you go to sleep unless you only use a little bit.  You could wake up with greasy hair if you use too much and don't let it sink in first.

Straight up organic coconut oil-Let it melt a little on your finger, put it on your lips.  Delicious, eco-friendly, and super moisturizing. I also do this with vitamin E after I use this amazing lip scrub from Lush. 

The other thing that I've been doing is eating more healthy fats.  I've been making some baked goods with organic coconut oil, eating avocados, and I've been taking more omega 3 supplements.  This all seems to make a difference!

I'm still looking for a good, long lasting vegan lip balm though.  Maybe I can mix my own with cocoa butter, vitamin E, and coconut oil.  I just need to find a little jar I can re-purpose so I can carry it around with me.

Cooking Set and Lotion Giveaway

I've written about Skin MD Natural before, I love this lightweight lotion for its lasting effects and vegan ingredients.  They get bonus points for using 100% solar power to produce their lotion.  Just in time for the cold weather, the folks at Skin MD Natural are offering 20% off their products until November 30th with the discount code FALL10 during check out.

Even better, they're sponsoring a $400 Fall Into Cooking Giveaway. This includes a year's supply of Skin MD Natural and all of this:

• Oval Casserole Dish size 14" x 8" x 5.25" with 3L Capacity
• Oval Casserole Dish size 16.5" x 10" x 6.25" with 4L Capacity
• Round Casserole Dish size 11" x 8.5" x 5.5" with 2.6L Capacity
• Set of Four Ramekins size 4" x 4" x 2"
• Roasting Pan with Floating Rack size 17" x 13" x 3.5" holds up to 25lbs
• Kitchen Composter

There are a couple of ways you can enter the giveaway.  You can sign up for their newsletter with your name and e-mail address.  You can also follow Skin MD Natural on facebook or twitter, subscribe to their blog, post a link to the giveaway on twitter or facebook, or blog about it if you have your own blog.

I hope one of us wins!  That would be awesome!  You have until November 20th to enter.

A Vegan Solution to Parched Winter Skin

Oh my, it has been a while since I last posted. I won't go into boring details, but my excuses relate to my computer's hard drive crashing, losing many files and photos, moving into a new house, and general busy-ness with work and life outside of writing this blog. I've been meaning to update it, but this intention inevitably gets back-burnered. It was an e-mail from Skin MD Natural and the resulting free sample that got me here today.

Arriving just in time as winter kicked into high gear, this lotion is definitely worthy of some praise. Skin MD Natural is a vegan skin lotion that can be used on your face, hands, feet, and body. It's white, scentless, and absorbs into the skin almost instantly leaving it feeling quenched and soft, especially nice in the dry heat that characterizes the indoors of just about everywhere in New Jersey in winter. I imagine this stuff would be equally excellent while sitting in an airplane, and I'll definitely be taking some with me the next time I fly.

I'm used to vanilla or ginger scented lotions that sort of sit on my skin for a little while before getting absorbed, so this was quite different for me. There is no feeling of greasiness after putting Skin MD Natural on, in fact I just put some on my hands right now and I'm sitting here typing on my brand new laptop. I wouldn't do that with my old standby hand lotion because there'd be greasy fingerprints all over my keyboard! Amazingly, this stuff lasts too. If I put my hands in soapy water to wash a coffee cup or wash my hands, the moisturized feeling does not get stripped away. Apparently, this is because Skin MD Natural is a "shielding lotion", letting moisture in and sealing out irritants. You can read a much more detailed explanation of what a shielding lotion does here.

Another thing worth noting is that it can truly be used on your face and body. I'm usually dubious of multi-purpose claims, thinking that if it's thick enough for my hands it's going to make my face totally break out. This is not the case at all with Skin MD Natural. With it's first two ingredients water and aloe, it's easy to see why. This lotion also includes vitamin E, arnica, comfrey, chamomile, and yarrow. I like the way this company includes not only a list of ingredients on their website, but also an explanation of their source and purpose in their products. Definitely worth checking out. Not sure where to get it? It's sold in pharmacies. Find a store near you here.

Check back soon for more vegan travel stories from Australia, Miami, and Austin. I'm back!!!

Eco-Friendly and Vegan Beauty Products

I'm a sucker for splurging on lotions and hair care products, but it's not always easy for me to find vegan options. I know they can be pricey ($38), but I really like the travel set from Jonathan Product. It's got all the hair care products you could ever need already in a little airline-approved travel bag. And, of course, it says 100% vegan on each little bottle. I love that!

Juice Beauty is made with 95% organic ingredients and is 100% vegetarian, which sounds like it would be 100% vegan, but some of their products contain animal derived ingredients (beeswax). One totally vegan product that I've been using lately is Juice Beauty Cleansing Milk, which has red raspberry and white grape juice in it. It smells like yummy creamy raspberries, it cleans so well, and it leaves my skin feeling so soft.

Astara prodcuts are made with "natural, raw botanicals, potent anti-oxidant plant extracts, nourishing vitamins, energizing flower essences and uplifting essential aromatic oils", according to the Astara website. I like their Daily Refining Scrub, it's an excellent facial exfoliant, with lots of scrubby bits that make your face feel squeaky clean.

Fresh products are pricey but so worth it. This sugar face polish, made with "no animal by-products", is so indulgent. It smells like brown sugar and strawberries (which are two of its main ingredients), and it's a mask and an exfoliant. The brown sugar just melts into your skin while your rubbing it on your face, and when you take it off your skin is smooth and dewy. And the smell is heavenly!

These vegan exfoliants have the added bonus of being natural, which is better for the environment. Click here to read about what's happening to synthetic plastic beads found in other exfoliants (gross!).

Vegan SPF and Green Sun Safety

(Top photo taken at Sapphire Beach, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, bottom photo taken at Trunk Bay, St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands)

It's not easy picking the right sunscreen, whether you spend every day at the beach, or just a week here and there on vacation. Spending a lot of time in the sun can be really bad for your skin. On the one hand, you need some sun exposure so that your body can produce vitamin D, on the other, UV rays are known carcinogens. In addition to the scary possibility of skin cancer, too much sun can make your skin age faster than it should. I'm super picky about my sun protection since skin cancer runs in my family, and I've done almost ridiculous levels of research on choosing the best sun protection.

Needless to say, I love the beach, and I spend a lot of time in the sun. It's not always easy to find a high SPF (SPF 50 or more) vegan sunscreen, especially one that has mostly natural ingredients, little or no petrochemical-derived ingredients, and is considered safe by the Environmental Working Group (see the Cosmetic Safety Database). Generally, I look for physical UVA and UVB blockers that sit on the skin rather than getting absorbed into it. The two big ones are zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. Most zinc oxide and titanium dioxide particles are micronized, so they sit on the skin but allow the lotion to sort of "disappear". If they weren't micronized, you'd likely end up with a white film all over you.

Nature's Gate Aquablock SPF 50 is 100% vegan, and the best sunscreen I've tried. You can generally find it at Whole Foods or natural food stores. It goes on white since its active ingredients include zinc oxide, but once you rub it in, it's clear. While it's water resistant, it's always best to reapply any sunscreen after swimming/snorkeling/surfing/whatever. Reapply often. Even if you don't get that wet, and you're just chillin' on the sand. That's really the key to effective sunscreen use.

While I love Aquablock, I've read really good things about Mexitan 100% biodegradable, all natural (and vegan) sunscreens, and they make an SPF 50 version. It's more expensive than Aquablock, and not as readily available, but it has a lot more attractive qualities in that it's all natural, 100% petrochemical free, and has a better rating on the Cosmetic Safety Database. Mexitan uses zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, and unlike Nature's Gate and many other "natural" sunscreens, Mexitan does not include oxybenzone. Oxybenzone, also known as benzophenone-3, is a chemical sun screen that can get absorbed by the skin and has been known to mimic estrogen. I haven't actually tried Mexitan, so I can't personally recommend it (yet).

California Baby products also got high ratings for safety from the Cosmetic Safety Database, are all natural, and most of their products are vegan (their diaper rash cream contains lanolin and sunblock sticks contain beeswax). I've tried their bubble bath and love it, but I've never tried their sunscreens, so I can't vouch for them (yet!).

In addition to the SPF 50 Aquablock, I love Peter Thomas Roth Instant Mineral SPF 30, which is labelled animal cruelty free. I can't speak for all of the Peter Thomas Roth products, but I can say that this mineral-based powder rocks it! It has really simple ingredients. Basically, it contains titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, mica, silica, corn starch, vitamins A, C, and E (antioxidants), and willow bark extract to help with inflammation. It just adds extra sun protection to my face, and it makes it feel less lotion-y at the beach. You can also try Eminence Organics Sun Defense SPF 30 powder, which has the added benefit of being organic, but it's way more expensive. Jane Iredale Powder Me SPF 30 is also similiar but a bit more expensive than the Peter Thomas Roth product.

If I'm going to be swimming, surfing, or snorkeling for a good amount of time (which is almost always the case), I also put on a high SPF rashguard. It's like a T-shirt for the water. Just another assurance that you won't burn your shoulders or back. Patagonia makes some good ones that are made out of recycled polyester. Of course, there's cheaper ones at places like swell.com or your favorite surf shop.

Back on the beach, I always wear sunglasses and a baseball hat (less squinting and more sun protection for the face). Also, don't forget your lips! Lavera is an organic, vegan cosmetics and skincare line from Germany that makes an SPF 15 lip balm. Arbonne makes an SPF 30 lip balm and is vegan as well.

If you're going to be traveling and want to bring your vegan sunscreens with you, you can put them into little travel sized containers like these from Bed, Bath, and Beyond. Even better, use The Urban Vegan's idea and reuse your old airline approved bottles.

Enjoy the summer sun and stay safe!

(Photo taken at the Jersey Shore!)

Vegan Certified Bath and Shower Stuff

Fresh Body Market makes "fun products with serious benefits by using real fruits and vegetables, rather than commonly used extracts, synthetics or artificial preservatives", according to their website. They're all vegan certified! I first picked up their Foaming Milk Bath at a store, because I thought it looked like a milk container and I wanted to see if it had milk in it. I was so pleasantly suprised to see that it was vegan with yummy smelling coconut milk! So, I immediately bought the bubble bath and their Vanilla Granola Body Buff and Body Cream made with almond butter, organic oatmeal, ground almonds, and powdered nut shells. Although some may think that it's weird to use products that smell like food, I'm totally OK with it. In fact, I almost prefer products that have edible ingredients in them, because I think they're safer to use (hey, if you can eat it, it must be OK to slather all over your skin!). Some of these products are not only are packaged to look edible (they also make a cleanser and moisurizer that look like little soy yogurt containers), they smell like they're fresh from the kitchen and work really well. The bubble bath is super bubble-y and really soft, and the scrub and body cream are as mouthwatering as they are effective. You can get their products at their website or through the PETA mall, although I wouldn't recommend actually eating them!

Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps

I love Dr. Bronner's soaps! They leave my skin feeling really soft, they're super effective, and they're made from vegan and organic ingredients like coconut, hemp, jojoba, and olive oils. Even the packaging is made from 100% post-consumer waste! I usually find Dr. Bronner's products at health food stores, and they last forever since they're really concentrated. I've tried peppermint, almond, and unscented/baby/mild. They also make tea tree, lavender, citrus, eucalytpus, and rose scented, all made with essential oils. If that's not enough, they're also fair trade! I just used my almond Dr. Bronner's soap to take out a stain from a shirt, and it worked beautifully.

Organic Skincare Good Enough to Eat

Eminence Organic Skin Care products are fantastic! They are totally vegan, organic, and eco-friendly. This Hungarian-based company's ingredients are "hand-mixed with pure waters drawn from a thermal hot spring lake containing minerals and trace elements found nowhere else on earth". Wow. Sounds expensive, doesn't it? Well, truth be told, it definitely is something I probably wouldn't have purchased were it not for a gift certificate to a spa that sold these products. That said, the Eight Greens Phyto Masque and Pear and Poppy Seed Microderm Polisher are simply amazing. They are even packaged in recycled material. You can buy $1 or $2 samples at BuyNaturalSkincare.com.

Avalon Organics Facial Cleansing "Milk"

I LOVE this product! Not only is it vegan, it uses organic essential oils. It leaves my face feeling clean and balanced, not too oily and not too dry. I also use the Lavender Renewal Facial Serum and the Lavender Ultimate Moisture Cream. This product doesn't contain any petroleum by-products, which is safer for you and eco-friendly. Petroleum products (like gasoline and fuel oil) are non-renewable, which means that once we use them up, we can't regenerate them (at least, not for millions of years). Some petroleum by-products have also been linked to cancer, so it's best to avoid them.