Feb
07

EU Confirms Ban on Animal Testing

EU Confirms Ban on Animal Testing

It’s an exciting time for animal lovers out there. The EU has officially confirmed that a ban on animal tested cosmetics and ingredients will soon go into effect!! This ban goes into effect  on March 11, 2013. From that date forward, all cosmetics sold in the EU cannot be tested on animals or contain ingredients that have been tested on animals. This covers both high end and drugtstore cosmetics.

There are many great articles about this issue that you can read online. I suggest reading and learning as much as you can. Each one features different organizations that were involved in this process and it’s truly amazing to see how much hard work and support went into making this ban happen. There are articles from the Huffington Post, E Magazine, PCRM, PR Newswire, NY Daily News, Naoki and many many others.

After 20 years of support from small animal rights organizations, this proposed ban has finally gone into effect. This is a groundbreaking step for anyone involved in the animal rights movement, or simply anyone who doesn’t want to harm animals to have their favorite lipstick. It shows that using your voice really does have results in the end. Hopefully other worldwide markets will soon follow in the steps of the EU and ban animal testing as well.

Feb
02

How To Make Brussels Sprouts Chips

How To Make Brussels Sprouts Chips

One of my favorite things about winter are brussels sprouts. I grew up loving vegetables that most kids hate – which included these babies. As a kid my favorite way to have them was steamed with rice vinegar. Now that I’ve gotten older and am able to do more in the kitchen, I’ve been loving trying new ways to have them. One of my favorite new ways is making Brussels Sprouts Chips. They are perfect for days when I’m craving a salty and crispy comfort food without feeling guilty.

How To Make Brussels Sprouts Chips

What’s great about brussels sprouts chips is that you make them from the outermost leaves. When prepping your brussels sprouts for other dishes (I like mine roasted now), you can peel these off. Not only does this make your other dish better by leaving you the sweeter insides, but the thicker outer leaves are perfect for these chips. Make sure that you wash them well and dry them completely.

Here’s what you will need to make your own brussels sprouts chips:

  • Leaves from brussels sprouts
  • A quick drizzle of olive oil
  • A pinch of sea salt
  • A pinch of pepper

How To Make Brussels Sprouts Chips

Preheat your oven to 375. In a bowl, mix together the brussels sprouts leaves, olive oil, salt and pepper. Mix them well so that each leaf is evenly coated. Place them on a baking sheet and bake for 10-15 minutes. Flip them halfway and bake for another 10-15. It all depends on how crispy you want them. Feel free to adjust the temperature and baking time as needed.

Jan
31

The Best Books to Help You Go Vegan

The Best Books to Help You Go Vegan

No matter if you’re just going vegan or have been vegan for a while, it’s always nice to have some helpful resources on hand. I’ve found a few books to be particularly helpful for my vegan diet and lifestyle.

1. Skinny Bitch by Rory Freedman and Kim Barnouin – This was one of the first books I ever read that promoted a vegan diet and lifestyle. I have always loved it’s up front approach and the straight forward manner in which the authors present you with things. Most of the information within comes from sources such as the FDA and USDA that non-vegans have a hard time arguing with. It’s a quick read and really makes you think.

2. Main Street Vegan: Everything You Need to Know to Eat Healthfully and Live Compassionately in the Real World by Victoria Moran – I was recently a guest on Main Street Vegan Radio, which was in incredible honor. This book covers all aspects of a vegan lifestyle and is especially perfect for those transitioning into a vegan lifestyle.

3. Crazy Sexy Diet: Eat Your Veggies, Ignite Your Spark, and Live Like You Mean It! by Kris Carr – This book is great if you are interested in adapting a plant based vegan diet, or if you want to clean up your vegan diet. Carr’s story of living with cancer is truly amazing. It really makes you think about how everything you put into your body effects your health and your life.

4. La Dolce Vegan!: Vegan Livin’ Made Easy by Sarah Kramer – This book is great for those living a vegan lifestyle. It’s informative, practical and unique. Kramer brings a refreshing voice to the table as she’s not afraid to express herself and share her thoughts. I was very surprised and excited when she referenced a post from Logical Harmony on the GoVegan.net blog. She also runs a vegan boutique, so her Twitter and Instagram feeds continue to keep you up to date on the latest and greatest vegan offerings out there.

5. Vegan’s Daily Companion: 365 Days of Inspiration for Cooking, Eating, and Living Compassionately by Colleen Patrick-Goudreau – Having written several cookbooks, it was great to add this book to my collection. It offers daily tips, thoughts and inspirations for living your vegan lifestyle. For those new to a vegan diet and lifestyle, it would be the perfect addition to The 30-Day Vegan Challenge.

What have been some of your favorite resources for starting your vegan lifestyle and staying inspired?

Editor’s note: This post contains sponsored content in the form of links to a third-party website.

Jan
29

Which Drugstore Brands are Cruelty Free?

Which Drugstore Brands are Cruelty Free?

For many that use cruelty free and vegan cosmetics, it can be hard to find drugstore options. You may want them because you are traveling and need something that’s easily accesible or because you’re on a budget. Walking into the drugstore looking for cruelty free and vegan items can be an incredibly frustrating task. It seems like more drugstore brands test on animals than are cruelty free. Don’t get discouraged! There are still several brands out there that provide you with cruelty free and vegan options!

Bonnie Bell – Remember the days of Pink Lemonade scented lip balm? This childhood favorite remains a cruelty free brand. They have a few vegan options, but always make sure that you are reading the ingredients list as some of their items contain lanolin and beeswax.

Burt’s Bees – A cult favorite of cruelty free cosmetics junkies and begans, Burt’s Bees offers a wide range of products. Everything from lip balm to shampoo to baby powder. While few of their products are vegan, it seemed best to include them in this list for those just looking for cruelty free options. It should be noted that while Burt’s Bees remains cruelty free, their parent company is not.

ELF (Eyes Lips Face) – This is one of my favorite brands. Not only are they extremely affordable, but all of their products are cruelty free and vegan. They offer everything from pressed powder to gel eye liner to makeup primer.

Kiss My Face – This cruelty free skin care line expanded into lip balms, tinted lip balms and now lip glosses. While they are not vegan friendly (they currently all contain beeswax) they are a great option for cruelty free shoppers!

Milani – Known for offering bright and bold shades with lots of pigment, this cruelty free line is for people who aren’t afraid of color. They have several vegan options, but packaging often doesn’t include ingredient lists so be sure to check online before you buy.

Orly – This line of nail polish is completely cruelty free and vegan. They make everything from a variety of base and top coats to the latest trendy nail shades.

Physician’s Formula – This is another brand that makes nearly everything you could possibly want. They have an amazing range of bronzers and face powders that few drugstore brands can compete with. This brand also now offers the only cruelty free BB Cream available at a drugstore! They are cruelty free and have many vegan options.

Wet’n'Wild – Many associate Wet’n'Wild with their teen years. Their products are incredibly affordable (starting at 99 cents!) and they offer a decent range of items. Recently, this brand has started offering more trendy colors and higher quality items. All of their products are cruelty free, and many are also vegan.

Even though you may skip over many of the mainstream drugstore brands, there’s no reason to feel like you are missing out on anything. L’Oreal, CoverGirl, Revlon, Maybelline, Almay, and Rimmell all test on animals. However, with more and more brands stepping up to offer quality items and a larger range of items, my guess is that you won’t miss these brands at all!

What are your favorite cruelty free and vegan drugstore brands? Which drugstore beauty products do you love?