Vegan Lip Balm Reviews

I am a self-professed lip balm junky. 

Strangely enough, I have found a lot of people who complain about the lack of vegan lip balms on the market. Truth be told, there's actually a lot on the market, the problem is finding them near you. Ordering online tends to be essential for something like this unless you live in a town that happens to have a vegan store, health food store with good selection or a Whole Foods near you (but even WF's isn't a guarantee since my friend that's in Vegas couldn't find any there until just recently).

I wanted to do a review of all the different ones I have used to give you my honest opinion and maybe give you an idea of where you can buy some for yourself. No beeswax, testing on animals or animal ingredients whatsoever in this blog post. 

Disclaimer: I can't guarantee all of these are still on the market. :) 

Alright, let's get started:

Hurraw!: Hurraw tends to be one of the most well known vegan balms on the market and for good reason. They have a huge selection flavours, scents and protections, including SPF. Their balms smell delicious and feel great on the lips-- non-oily and long-lasting. They also happen to be raw and organic. If you grew up on lip smackers, you won't be disappointed as a vegan with great companies like this around. They also can be ordered right from their website and they ship worldwide too!

Concord Soap Company: This is actually an indie company that I found through Etsy. It was my very first vegan lip balm I used after I first transitioned to veganism and still one of my favourites. They come in a variety of scents and flavours. With great fruity and unique scents. The consistency is smooth and non-oily which is super moisturizing. You can buy their products right from their website or their Etsy shop. They also offer vegan soaps, creams and more.

Merry Hempsters: Merry Hempsters has an extensive organic balm line, including a full vegan lip balm and healing salves. They have 7 vegan lip balm varieties in wonderful scents. They work great, are not oily and go on smooth. You can order right from their website for an affordable price but they are also sold on places like Vitacost.

Ladybug Jane:  Another organic lip balm that leaves smooth lips but what sets Ladybug Jane apart is the AMAZING flavours. Not only do they smell incredible, they TASTE good too! She has a huge selection of flavours that can be ordered from the website.

Out of Africa: Of all the vegan lip balms I have used, I have to say this one is my least favourite. They smell pretty good and the flavours sound appealing but I have never had a lip balm so grainy in my life. It leaves grainy pieces all over my lips. So unfortunately, I give this one thumbs down. If for some reason you still feel like trying them after my poor recommendation, they are available on their website as well as iHerb.com.

Epic Blend: Epic Blend is a Canadian company that offers 2 flavours of vegan lip balm. They smell and work fantastic! It is actually another one of my most favourite lip balms I have used. Soft, smooth and moisturizing for the lips. You can order directly from their website.

Hugo Naturals: Hugo offers 3 varieties in lovely fruit scents. They are mild smelling and go on smooth. I did find them a little oilier than other lip balms I have used but I still enjoyed them and used the product until finished. Hugo Naturals also makes lots of vegan body products, perfumes and more. Everything can be ordered from their website.

All Natural Face:  I am a huge fan of the All Natural Face and have used many of her products, so it was natural for me to try the lip balm. All her products are vegan and very natural. The lip balm felt great on the lips, I just wasn't overly fond of the flavour, chocolate mint, in which I chose. Other than that, it was smooth on the lips and felt great. You can order her extremely affordable products on her website.

The Fanciful Fox: I received a single lip balm from the Fanciful Fox from a Vegan Cuts box months back. I got it in peanut butter flavour which sounded awesome at the time but I didn't actually care for it. It was extremely mild. The balm itself was okay but not my most favourite I have ever used. She has 9 varieties on her website and offers them for sale there, as well as the Vegan Cuts website.

LUSH: I received LUSH's None of your Beeswax lip balm as a gift. I was extremely excited to try it but was let down severely. The balm is extremely sticky and not hydrating whatsoever. I declare a fail on LUSH's part.

Meow Meow Tweet: Another indie company that came through my Vegan Cuts box. She has 5 varieties of lip balm available, I received the cocoa. I wasn't fond of the extremely natural smell and also found the lip balm chunky and not moisturizing. You can order directly from her website or the Vegan Cuts website.

EcoLips: My dear friend Shannon sent me the lemon-lime vegan lipbalm from EcoLips and guess what? It rocks my world! Moisturizing and smooth and it smells lovely too. They have 3 different flavours of vegan balm you can try and ones with SPF as well.

Crazy Rumours: I will have a full review of the products I have tried soon but until then, I love them! Super moisturizing, they smell amazing and they have so much to choose from.

Surya Basil: I have tried all the flavours and love all but the cinnamon (I have cinnamon sensitivity). They smell great and work really well on dry, chapped lips.

Alaffia: My friend sent me 2 varieties of Alaffia's lip balms, right now I am using the Coconut Pineapple at work and it smells and works amazing, which says a lot because this dry weather kills my skin. It's super moisturizing and feels fantastic on the lips! 

Bare Bones Skincare: No nasty ingredients in this brand. Made by a girl in her kitchen, all vegan and cruelty free. Bare Bones offers a few varieties of lip balms that will get your lips kissable. I have personally tried the Spiced balm and it's lovely, smooth and smells great!    

David's Tea: I was thrilled to see David's Tea carrying vegan lip balm in lots of variety of tea infused scents. Their balm is smooth and leaves your lips feeling lovely. 

Vesper Beauty: I was given this lip balm from my friend from Iowa. I love the lemon scent and it feels great on my lips. I do find like I have to apply quite a bit but it works great otherwise.

 

Bare English & Co.: Received as a gift. The peach scent I recieved is so nice and the lip balm is smooth and moisturizing. Definitely recommend! 

Booda Butter: A gift from a friend. It has a nice smooth consistency but I do find I have to reapply often as it is more of an oily balm. It does moisturizer decently though and totally does the trick!

 

The Body Shop: I recently was visiting my mother in Moncton and I really needed some vegan lipbalm. I hadn't been in The Body Shop for many years, so I went in to see if they carried any. It turns out that everything in The Body Shop is now vegan (except old stock they haven't sold yet). I picked up this lovely tinted lip balm but they also have non-tinted options as well. I love the colour and it feels so nice on the lips! I also love the Shea lip butter! 

  Get moisturizing peaches!🍑

Vegan Products Featured on Dragons Den (Seasons 9-14)

So Netflix added the Canadian version of Dragon's Den to their library and I quickly got addicted. I had seen episodes here and there in the past as my dad watched it and always found it entertaining but I really got into it when I could binge my life away.

I enjoy seeing all the cool inventions and businesses the people of Canada have. There's so many incredible entrepreneurs and I was blown away by how many vegan or vegan-friendly companies entered the den, many of which got deals from the Dragons too. Since I am the self-titled queen of lists, I thought I'd make a list of all the companies from seasons 9 through 14 that offer plant-based and cruelty-free goodies.

 

 
1. YamChops- Toronto based vegan butcher shop was featured and they wowed the Dragon's with their plant meats and won a deal with Jim (owner of Boston Pizza) but they decided not to execute the deal. If you're in Toronto visit their business there but they also sell their vegan chicken at fast food franchise WokBox.
   
2. Nona Vegan Foods- Creator of cheesy vegan sauces. The Dragon's didn't bite on this deal but Nona is still growing strong regardless. You can find Nona at natural food retailers nationwide.
3. Newton's No Gluten- Family run business that creates bread and dessert mixes without the 7 common allergens. No gluten, peanuts, soy, eggs, dairy or tree nuts. Their mixes are also vegan-friendly. Newton's didn't make a deal with the Dragon's but can be found in many stores across Ontario.
4. Happy Pop's- All natural popsicles that are naturally dairy-free and vegan. Happy Pop's landed a deal with the Dragons so I'm sure we will be seeing them nationwide soon! Currently in stores across Ontario.
5. Grace & Stella Co.- Pamper yourself with the cruelty-free and vegan skin and hair care products from Grace & Stella. A Vancouver based beauty company landed a deal with the Dragons. You can order their products through their website.
6. Smart Sweets- Wanna enjoy some sweet treats without all that artificial or added sugar? Smart Sweets  has you covered and are sweetened with natural Stevia. They also have a high fibre content, have no added artificial colours and free of common allergens.  The entire product line is NOT fully vegan but 3 of the 5 are which is pretty impressive. Smart Sweets got a deal with the Dragons and can be found at many local retailers include Bulk Barn.
7. Oat-Deal- A company from Saskatchewan using the power of oats to enhance smoothies, hot or cold drinks to add extra protein, probiotics and nutrients. They made a successful deal with the Dragons. You can order their products online with free shipping Canada.
8. Bad Monkey Popcorn- Quebec popcorn company landed a deal with the Dragons but apparently after the show they decided to go with another investor. They make vegan popcorn in varieties such as dill, ketchup, nacho cheese and caramel. You can find their products at big retailers such as Winners. Note: Their website states all their products are vegan but I found one at Winners that wasn't. Not sure what that is about but read labels. 
9. The Green Moustache- Whistler based vegan organic juice bar and eatery faced the Dragons and won a deal with vegetarian Dragon Manjit. If you're in the Whistler area check out their restaurant.
10. Nomz- Vegan energy ball company didn't land a deal with the Dragons but you can still order their gluten-free balls on their website with free shipping on all orders. They also have a vegan ice cream on the market too.
11. Fatso Peanut Butter- If you are looking for healthy all natural peanut butter, check out Fatso. They stole the show and got a deal from the Dragons. Their products are vegan, gluten-free and keto and comes in cocoa and salted caramel flavours, yum! You can find their products at many health food stores across the country including many here in the HRM.
12. Welo- Creators of probiotic bars and drinks snatched a deal from the Dragons. Their products are vegan, gluten-free and come in a variety of tasty flavours, and of course they are good for your tummy. You can find their products at many retailers including Loblaws and Sobeys stores.
13. Pur Gum- I've been a huge fan of Pur for many years! They make awesome aspartame and sugar-free, vegan gums and mints. They made a deal with Dragons Jim and Arlene. You can find Pur all over the place including big retailers and grocery stores.
14. BioSecrets- This 100% Argan oil beauty company scored a deal in the den with this pure cruelty-free, vegan oil. Perfect for hair, body and face.You can order straight from the website.
15. Nova Scotia Fisherman- A couple of entrepreneurs from my neck of the woods who create skincare infused with sea kelp. Their products are cruelty-free but NOT all vegan, as they do use beeswax. However, their lotions and (most of) their soaps are vegan-friendly. They didn't make a deal with the Dragons but here in Nova Scotia you can find their products all over. You're able to order from their website as well.
16. Tutti Gourmet- This gluten-free company got a deal with Dragon Arlene but from what I read online it didn't work out. Even so, you can find their products in retailers such as Winners and healthfood shops. Their biscotti is NOT vegan but their crackers and bites are.
17. Naked Coconuts- Vancouver based company sells a line of coconut products, such as oil, energy balls and sauces. They are all vegan, gluten and soy free. They didn't get a deal with the Dragons but you can order their products online and find them in select retailers.
18. Holy Crap- High fibre, gluten-free, vegan and organic healthy cereal. They visited the Den twice, not impressing the judges the first time around but they ended up being a huge success, so when they came back to the Dragons, they were ready to invest! You can find Holy Crap at many mainstream stores or order from their website.
19. It's Not Bacon (Everyday Superfoods)- Vegan coconut bacon company faced the Dragons and won a deal with Michele. It comes in 5 flavours and can be found at health food and grocery stores across the country.
20. SunCoat- Vegan, cruelty-free water-based nail polish and non-toxic makeup brand took on the Dragons and made a deal with Michael. You can order their products on their website or find them in health food stores and select retailers.
21. Fiasco Gelato- Although their gelato is not vegan-friendly, they offer a line of sorbetto's that are! They made a deal with Jim and you can find their products at most mainstream grocery stores across the country including Sobeys.
22. Walton Wood Farm- Cruelty-free beauty company that offers bath soaks, lotions, body and hair care and more. They offer many vegan products but some do contain beeswax so read your labels. They made a deal with the Dragons and you can order their products from their website or search to find a retailer near you.
23. Grind Bar- Organic, vegan, gluten-free CBD infused energy bar company didn't get a deal from the Dragons. You can find their bars through online retailers.
24. Truly Turmeric-So definitely not vegan specific but I really liked the sound of this product. Turmeric paste, mixed with coconut oil, salt and lime juice. Turmeric is known for its health benefits including as an anti-inflammatory. They landed a deal with the Dragons and you can order their products online or find them at health food stores locally.
25. Lotus Liners- I've been using reusable pads for years and although they can seem intimidating at first, they are so much better for you, the environment and your pocket book. They also make periods a lot more comfortable. Lotus Liners got a deal with the Dragons and you can buy online or find it at select retailers.
26. Wilder Harrier- Dog food company trying to take on the sustainability issues with conventional dog food. The company's main focus is cricket based foods for dogs but they also have a vegan dog biscuit made with seaweed. They snatched up a deal with the Dragons and can be ordered on their website or found at select pet stores across Canada.
27. The Very Good Butchers- Vegan butchery shop hailing from Victoria faced the Dragons and won with their animal-free meats. The Dragons were extremely impressed with their vegan fare. They ship from their website and are carried in retailers in BC and Alberta.
28. ReMIXed- A new healthy and vegan snack made with wholesome ingredients such as beans, dark chocolate and apple. They got a deal with the Dragons and it can be purchased on their website and retailers in Montreal and Toronto.
29. Almondia- A new almond milk that is more sustainable as the almonds come from Spain and contains more almonds than your regular almond milk. The Dragons passed on this deal and so far I think their milks are only in Ontario but hopefully they will expand nationwide in the future.
30. Loop Juice- Juice company creating raw cold pressed juices but what makes Loop different is they get imperfect produce that may otherwise be wasted and turn it into delicious beverages. Naturally vegan. They got a deal in Den and you should be able to find their juice is your local supermarket, including Sobeys.
31. My Ramen- Vegan ramen that comes in 3 flavours, salt, soy sauce or miso. No MSG and a much healthier alternative to traditional ramen. The Dragons didn't go for it but you can order on their website.
32. Tuesdays In Love- Water permeable nail polish, cosmetics and skincare that is Halal, vegan, cruelty-free and organic. They got a deal with the Dragons and you can order from their online store.
33. Evive- A new way to have your morning smoothie. Evive creates smoothie cubes that you simply pop in a jar, let thaw and then shake for a healthy and easy preparation. They come in multiple flavour combinations and they also offer ones with vegan protein powders. They landed a deal with the Dragons and you can buy their products on their website or in Quebec retailers. I am sure they will become nationwide soon. 
34. Eve's Crackers- If you're looking for a healthier cracker to snack on, Eve's offers a gluten-free, keto and vegan alternative. They landed a deal with Arlene but later backed out.
35. Cheekbone Beauty- I was super impressed by this cosmetic brand which is Indigenous owned and helps Indigenous youth feel heard through education programs. They are also a cruelty-free and completely vegan company, as well as offering environmentally products, such as their less waste lipsticks. They turned down a deal with the Dragon's but I see a bright future for Cheekbone.
36. Unscented Company- If you are scent-sensitive and have a hard time finding good products, Unscented Company is an awesome option for you. Their products are 100% vegan and cruelty-free. They offer everything from laundry soap, hair care, lotion and dish tabs. After appearing on the Den, they got a deal with Canadian Tire!
37. Good Food for Good- Looking to decrease your sugar-intake? Good Food for Good makes ketchup, BBQ sauces and cooking sauces with no added sugar. They are also vegan, keto and paleo, organic and gluten-free. Also every time you buy a bottle they donate a meal through local food banks. They also landed a deal with the Dragons!
38. Unbelts- Ethically made, vegan belts and also very stylish and claimed to be very comfortable.
39. Norden- If you are looking for ethical, sustainable and vegan outerwear, Norden has stylish coats for the winter and fall. They use plastic bottles that they turn into fabric!
40. Nomad Nutrition- Are you a camper or hiker? This fully vegan dehydrated meal company is truly something I'm happy to see in this market since it's not easy to find these types of meals for vegans.
41. Happy Gut- Fermented products are all the rage these days. Happy Gut offers water kefir grains kits that you can do from home.

I can't wait to see what new seasons of Dragons Den will offer. I am certain we will see even more vegan companies in the future.

OSEA Skincare Review

Have you been looking for good quality skincare products that are also cruelty-free and vegan? Look no further because OSEA has got you covered. In 2002, OSEA ( Ocean, Sun, Earth, and Atmosphere) signed the Compact for Global Production of Safe Health and Beauty Products. Being an industry leader, the first to sign, they lead the path that over 1000 companies followed to also phase out the use of toxic chemicals in all beauty products.

OSEA products are and have always been free of:

• Animal By-Products • Genetically Modified Ingredients • Gluten • Nanomaterials • Parabens • PEG Compounds

• Petrochemicals • Petroleum • Phthalates • Sulfates • Synthetic Color • Synthetic Fragrance

100% NATURAL DERIVED INGREDIENTS: Aqua, *Macrocystis Extract, Decyl Glucoside (Vegetable Foaming Agent), Sodium Lauroyl Oat Amino Acids, *Fucus Vesiculosus Extract, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Cocoglucoside & Coconut Alcohol, Sorbitan Olivate, *Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, *Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil, Essential Oils of: Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf (Tea Tree) Oil and Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf (Rosemary) Oil and Salvia Officinalis (Sage) Oil and Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil and Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Oil and Cupressus Sempervirens (Cypress) Oil, Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Vaccinium Mytillus (Bilbery) Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Fruit Extract, Citrus Medica Limonium (Lemon) Fruit Extract, Acer Saccharinium (Sugar Maple) Extract, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate (Natural Smectite Clay), Xanthan Gum, Potassium Sorbate, Lonicera Caprifolium (Honeysuckle) Flower Extract (and) Lonicera Japonica (Honeysuckle) Flower Extract (and) Aqua *CERTIFIED ORGANIC INGREDIENT

I am simply thrilled to have been given the opportunity to review OSEA's products. They have been a company I have been eyeing for quite sometime since I have high respect for a company that stays true to their ethics and leave toxic chemicals, as well as animals out of their products and of course do so without testing on animals.

OSEA has given me the opportunity to try 3 of their products and I am excited to share my thoughts with you. 

Ocean Cleansing Mudd: I have this strange love with clays, mudds and basically any sort of product that contains ingredients from the earth. Being someone who has struggled with acne for years, these mudds, clays, etc. from mother earth have helped my skin tremendously. The Ocean Cleansing Mudd was an instant hit with me right from the first application. It gives your skin a little bit of a tingle and cooling sensation leaving me feeling refreshed and clean. It has a lovely minty scent that I just love. You don't need to use a lot either, a couple small pumps and a little water goes a long way. Massage your skin in a circular motion and voila, clean and ready to go! Perfect for daily use with acne/oily prone skin. I always notice an instant glow to my skin after application.

100% NATURALLY DERIVED INGREDIENTS: AQUA, ALGAE EXTRACT*, COCO CAPRYLATE/CAPRATE (Vegetable Glycerides), MACADAMIA TERNIFOLIA (Macadamia) SEED OIL*, SORBITAN OLIVATE (Emulsifier from Olive Oil), CETEARYL GLUCOSIDE (Corn & Coconut Glucolipid), BUTYROSPERMUM (Shea Butter)​ PARKII​*​, SIMMONDSIA CHINENSIS SEED (Jojoba) OIL*, PERSEA GRATISSIMA (Avocado) OIL*, TOCOPHEROL (Vitamin E), CALENDULA EXTRACT, L-LYSINE LAUROYL METHIONINE (Amino Acid from Plants), XANTHAN GUM, LAMINARIA ALGAE EXTRACT, ​​GINKGO BIL​OBA​ ​LEAF EXTRACT, ​​CHAMOMILLA RECUTITA FLOWER EXTRACT*, LAVANDULA ANGUSTIFOLIA (Lavender) OIL*, PELARGONIUM (Geranium) GRAVEOLENS, MAGNESIUM ALUMINUM SILICATE (Natural Smectite Clay), CITRUS GRANDIS (Grapefruit) PEEL OIL*, POTASSIUM SORBATE, GLYCINE *CERTIFIED ORGANIC INGREDIENT

Atmosphere Protection Cream: I haven't been a huge fan of moisturizers for awhile now. Most leave my skin heavy and almost filmy, which tends to make way for excess oil which leads to breakouts. But, this cream, is AMAZING! It's super light and breathable and has not caused me any extra oil. I still don't use it daily but every couple of days is perfect for me. Perfect for dryer skin types. Can also be blended with your foundation for added protection. It leaves my skin smooth and healthy.

100% Natural Derived Ingredients: *Macadamia Ternifolia (Macadamia) Seed Oil, *Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Seed Oil, *Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia (Bergamot) Fruit Oil, Thuja Occidentalis (Cedar Leaf) Oil, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil, *Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens (Geranium) Flower Oil, *Citrus Medica Limonum (Lemon) Peel Oil, Salvia Sclarea (Clary) Oil, *Anthemis Nobilis (Chamomile) Flower, Aniba Rosaeodora (Rosewood) Wood Oil, Elettaria Cardamomum (Cardamom Seed), Tocopherol (Vitamin E) *Certified Organic Ingredient

Essential Hydrating Oil: This is the only item I haven't used that much. I have times where my skin is dry but lately it has been more oily so haven't needed to use this very much. This is perfect for dry, aging or sun damaged skin. Easy application with a roll on applicator, which is fantastic and perfect for travel or keeping in your purse for quick touch-ups. I will be keeping this close for those dry days. 

I really love that they included a guide for different skin types to let you know how often products should be used.

OSEA's products are top quality. You can really feel the difference on your skin. This is what high quality products should be. No chemicals, no preservatives, only healthy rich natural ingredients. All vegan and cruelty-free.

Thank you OSEA for sharing these with me. 

Receive FREE SHIPPING on orders over 50 dollars HERE.

Overall Beauty Review-- Vegan and Cruelty-free Eyeshadow

      
A couple of weeks ago I was contacted by the lovely Kim of Overall Beauty. She asked if I'd be interested in trying her vegan, natural and cruelty-free eyeshadows. Of course, I jumped right in with both feet. If you know me, you know I not only love new products to try but also love reviewing them for my wonderful audience.

Kim let me pick out 6 different shades I wanted to try. They arrived extremely quickly, even though I am up in the frosty wintry land of Nova Scotia.

I opened my parcel to find bright and colourful eyeshadows packaged just perfectly. In a sweet little pouch I received not only the 6 sample colours I wanted but a bonus full size shade of her most popular product, champagne.

I love that the sample shades were even in little pots. Many other companies send them in plastic bags. This is much nicer. I even love the labels. 

The shadows are very much the colours you see in photographs. True to the image. I had a tough time choosing the colours I wanted but settled on these six: Make it Rain, Flamingo Strut, Star Powdered, Bronze Turquoise, Gray Sapphire and Ginger Bear. As well as being vegan and cruelty-free, Overall Beauty does not use talc or bismuth oxychloride, cosmetic dyes, ferric ferrocyanide or carmine in their makeup. That's right, bright purple and pink eyeshadows that are VEGAN! That's not always easy to find.

I have a love for all things shimmery, especially when it comes to eyeshadow, so I stuck to mostly those that sparkle. Since I am far from a makeup artist, I like that the shimmery ones are easier to apply and I think they highlight my eyes nicer. Overall Beauty's are some of the prettiest shimmers I have used. The colours go on easily, without any clumping. I love every colour I received and actually have a hard time deciding which I want to use for the day because I love them all so much.

Overall Beauty offers quality products at fair prices. You can purchase from her website or Etsy shop. She also offers a nail polish line, skin care and other makeup products. If you are looking for vegan and cruelty-free cosmetics, look no further, Overall Beauty has what you need!

A big thank you to Kim of Overall Beauty for giving me this opportunity.

                               Also check out my video opening Overall Beauty's package.

A Review of Samana Naturals w/ Discount Code

Samana Naturals is a cruelty-free and vegan skincare/cosmetic company based out of Toronto, Canada. They strive to be a truly environmentally-friendly company, creating products that not only benefit your body but are fully biodegradable and using plastic that is also recyclable. To learn more about the ethics of Samana, click here. 

Samana offered to send me 2 products free of charge so that I could review them for you. I received their rosewood geranium daily light vegan lotion and the mocha face scrub.

Rosewood Geranium Daily Light Vegan Lotion: Like the name suggests, this is a light lotion. It leaves your skin smooth and moisturized without leaving a residue. The only down side for me was I wasn't overly fond of the scent. I am not a fan of floral type scents because of my allergies but I didn't have an issue with an allergic reaction, it was more of a personal preference. Scent aside, this lotion works great and really helped my dry winter skin.

Mocha Face Scrub: This product is one in a million. I have used several scrubs that I love but this one hits it out of the ballpark. The smells is incredible and it leaves your skin like silk or smooth as a babies bottom, whatever you'd prefer. ;) High-end ingredients such as shea butter, sunflower oil  and ground coffee is what makes this product so effective. Your skin will love you for this one. See below for a tutorial video from me using the scrub.

 

Samana also offers vegan lip balms, soaps and other lotions as well. All their products can be purchased from their website. Thanks so much to Samana Naturals for this opportunity to share my thoughts with my followers. 

Also take advantage of a chance to save 10% with the code TAKETEN

                                                          Mocha Face Scrub Tutorial

Vegan Cuts Beauty Box-- August 2014

 This was my first ever Vegan Cuts beauty box. This box was curated by My Beauty Bunny and included items from Pacifica, Zabana Essentials, Emani, Enfusia and Balanced Guru. Let's see what I think of the items:

 

Pacifica  Alight Multi-Mineral BB Cream: This was my first time using a BB cream but I constantly hear about them in commercials and magazines. Truth be told, I wasn't even sure what it was and honestly, I still don't haha! That being said, I love this stuff! It matches your skin tone perfectly and is not heavy and gives you a nice colour and glow, as well as moisturizing the skin. This could easily become a new must have in my makeup bag. 

  

Zabana Essenstials: French Green clay facial cleansing bar. I automatically liked the idea of this. Clay is so good for the skin and this seemed like a convenient way to add some to your daily routine. I have been using my bar for a few days now and really enjoy the way it feels on the skin. It has a nice light scent which I love but my skin has unfortunately started to breakout again. I have uber sensitive skin and I fight with acne daily. I can't say I'd repurchase this as I don't think it's agreeing with my skin but recommend it to people that don't suffer from acne like I. It's really affordable to order on their website!

 Enfusia: All-natural spa bath salts and soaks. I love baths and I love bath salts because they are fantastic for sore muscles after a long day. These ones from Enfusia smelt divine and left my skin feeling great and my muscles refreshed. This is definitely a product I would buy again.

 Emani: Mineral Hybrid Cream for brighter eyes in Speechless. When I first opened this I wasn't sure what it was even for but I absolutely loved the colours. It's breathtaking. I figured out it was for your eyes and have used it everyday since. It is so gorgeous and you honestly don't need to do anything else to your eyes but use this. I am lazy when it comes to make up, so this is perfect for me. This is also my favourite item from the box. I love love love it! 

Balanced Guru: Energy mist in Intuition. Basically this is sort of like a perfume or air freshener but it tells you to inhale it when sprayed in the air or spray it onto a scarf and inhale it. Really neat concept but this scent is a little strong for me. I am scent sensitive so inhaling it was a bit too much but I am going to use it as a air freshener instead.

Thanks Vegan Cuts!

Watch my unboxing video

 Shopping Cruelty-Free in Canada

Obviously, this can differ very much depending on location. The west is different than the east and north from south. If you live in a small town it can also be a lot more difficult than if you live in a large city. Thankfully with the internet now places like well.ca, vitacost.com and iHerb.com no matter where you are, you can get bunny friendly products.

Sobeys, Lawtons and Shoppers are not listed on here simply because the selection is very inconsistent. Some Sobeys have a fairly large natural foods department, others do not. Lawtons have also been very hit and miss. Some of the Lawtons I have been to carry a lot of cruelty-free cosmetics, others do not. Shoppers has seemed to slowly get rid of everything cruelty-free, where they once thrived in that area. It's very sad to see since I used to really love Shoppers, however you can still find a few brands such as Live Clean and Yes To, as well as a few cosmetic brands. 

I thought I'd make a list of some of the best places I have found for cruelty-free shopping.

1. Health Food Stores: This is a pretty obvious hint but checking local health food stores is your best bet in most places. Even in small towns or cities, most places have at least one natural store. When you get into very small towns, that can be another story but if you can find one, go in! They normally carry a wide variety of supplements and vitamins and most also have at least a small section of cruelty free beauty, including shampoo, lotions, hair colour and more. Some stores also offer some natural foods, usually a lot of which are vegan-friendly.

2. Atlantic Superstore-- I say Atlantic because I have lived out west and truly found Real Canadian Superstore to be a joke. They carry very little in the way of natural products. Some have a small organic section with a few specialty vegan-friendly products but it's very limited. Obviously this may not be the case at every Western store but from my experience this is what I have seen. Where as the Atlantic versions all have a large natural food department, carrying not only cereals, snacks, vegan-meats and cheese but also having a large cruelty-free area with baby supplies, hair care, body care and cleaning supplies. They also normally carry Wet N' Wild and Live Clean products.

3. Winners-- Winners is one of my favourite stores to shop at now, not only because they have cool household products but they also carry awesome selections of cruelty-free beauty products and even vegan food items. They carry some unique brands I never see elsewhere, Moom, DermOrganic, Sibu and E.L.F. just to name a few.

4. Canadian Tire-- Depending on the size of the store, Canadian Tire normally has a great selection of cruelty-free cleaning supplies from companies like Method, Nature Clean and Earth Friendly Products.

5. Whole Foods-- There are only a handful of Whole Foods locations in Canada but if you happen to be in the area of one, it's an amazing store not only for vegan food but for cruelty-free beauty. In fact, I believe they even have a policy about only bringing in non-tested products (mind you some of the brands don't meet my standards).

6. LUSH cosmetics-- Again, this is not a place that happens to be everywhere, in every small corner of Canada but they do have a large amount of locations and are always expanding. LUSH makes awesome bath products, hair care, make-up and skincare, all of which are completely cruelty-free. Also almost all their products are also vegan and all vegetarian. If you don't have a LUSH locally, you can even order from the website.

7. Walmart-- Walmart tends to be a hit and miss when it comes to cruelty-free. Some have lots, some little, some none. But it is always worth checking. They do carry Hard Candy which is a cruelty-free cosmetic company. I've also been informed that they have started carrying E.L.F. Most stores also carry at least soy or almond milk and some locations also carry Yves and tofu products.

8. Bulk Barn--  Bulk Barn is mostly known for it's bulk foods but they also carry a small amount of cruelty-free cleaning supplies and beauty. I also wanted to include them on the list because they have a good selection of vegan food items as well, everything from soy milk powder to cookies, rice syrup, cereals, energy bars, Daiya's boxed products and much more.

9. Dollarama--  Note: Stock changes frequently, items may not always be available. I know, this one really is a shocker but Dollarama carries a few cruelty-free cosmetic brands such as E.L.F. and Wet n Wild. I've also recently found a brand called Delon which is based out of Montreal that is completely cruelty-free and the company has mostly vegan products as well, just look out for beeswax. They also carry almond and soy milk.

10. Bed, Bath & Beyond-- Believe it or not, one of the only cleaning supplies brand they carry happens to be a cruelty-free one, Method.

11. Marshalls-- Honestly, it's pretty much identical to Winners but that also means more cruelty-free products. They sell lots of cruelty-free cosmetics, hair care, skin care, etc. And also have a good selection of vegan snacks as well.

12. Sally's Beauty Supply-- If you are looking for hair dye, Sally's is the place to go. They carry Manic Panic, Arctic Fox, as well as, Ion which is cruelty free and mostly vegan (I believe all the hair dyes are vegan but some other products have keratin and silk.)

13. Saje Wellness--Essential oils, body care and more. Cruelty-free and mostly vegan, some products contain beeswax.

14. Sephora-- Check out Logical Harmony's Blog for a full list of cruelty-free brands.

15. The Body Shop-- Finally they have been acquired by someone other than animal testing giants L'Oreal. In 2017 they sold to Brazillian company Natura, who are completely cruelty-free, therefore The Body Shop is now in good standings again. They have a large selection of body care, some of which has honey so read labels.