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‘vegan cosmetics’ Category

  1. Good Things Body Lotion Review

    April 18, 2012 by peasoupeats

     I’m always on the lookout for really great vegan beauty products. Having a weakness for lotions and potions can be tricky when trying to lead a cruelty free existence although thankfully it is becoming easier with amazing brands, like Good Things, becoming more mainstream.

    I remember when this brand first emerged a few years back. It was relegated to the bottom shelf with L’Oreal and the likes taking centre shelf stage – big brands, big bucks, big influence. Now though, it can be found near enough alongside the big bods depending on where you shop. Sainsbury’s had the range on the top shelf and Boots had it in a prime spot next to Jergens.

    Gradually, it would seem, we are learning about the nasties (namely parabens) hidden in our creams, gels, powders and and are no longer happy to slather ourselves in chemicals that have been linked to the big C.

    Away from such serious topics, when it comes to body lotion I am, as most girls are, more than a little particular about what I like. I take into consideration the following things…

    Consistency. I like a reasonably thick cream.

    Smell. I loathe anything heavily perfumed and having  sensitive skin I generally avoid creams with a fragrance.

    Ingredients. As natural as humanly and indeed humanely possible. That means without parabens please and definitely not tested on animals – ya get me!

    In this instance, Good Things scored highly on every count. The consistency was perfect and melted into my skin without any greasy residue. I felt perfectly moisturized for the entire day. I would also add it was particularly soothing and cooling – perfect for taking on a summer holiday.

    The smell was heavenly. Made from fruit extracts and avocado oil, it is delicate but delicious. Total yummers – me likey mucho.

    Best of all, the ingredients list have several notably absent culprits that are on my ‘I don’ fink so’ list – parabens, sodium laureth sulphate, mineral oils and animal ingredients. Get in!

    Yup, all in all, this is a goodun and I will continue to champion this lovely, not so little anymore, brand. Good things, you get a double thumbs up from me. Keep up the good work my fabulous beauty friends. Keeping it real yo, keeping it real.

     

     

    Category Vegan, vegan cosmetics | Tags: | No Comments

  2. all dressed up and nowhere to go

    March 30, 2012 by peasoupeats

    It would seem my food blog is slowly morphing into a lifestyle blog. I hope this doesn’t bother too many of you. I can imagine any male readers I have will be less than impressed with yet another outfit post and for this I can only apologise. Sorry? Recipe tomorrow to make up for it?

    I can’t deny I’m enjoying my blogging life more now than I ever have because I don’t feel so restricted. Don’t get me wrong, food is my passion but I have so many other loves in my life it seems a shame not to share.

    One other significant obsession of mine is vintage clothing. I’ve always shopped this way, much to my Mothers horror-I’m not so sure she appreciated me spending my pocket money on second hand goodies from Oxfam but it’s just a lifestyle I was always drawn to. Lord knows where this thrifting bug came from but it has stayed with me right through adulthood and is slowly determining my professional life. What weird karmic action is going down there?

    This little number (a wicked pink and orange 1960s psychedelic mini dress) was not actually my own find but rather my Sisters – it would seem this thrifting bug is contagious! She was parting ways with it a few years back and luckily I found it before it made its journey to the charity shop – close call! I’ve even been photographed for a magazine wearing it when I took part in a ‘come dine with me’ style feature a while back.

    I donned it again for a very special birthday party we were supposed to attend on Sunday. A certain legend, namely the incomparable Des O’Connor, was turning 80. The man is eighty!

    After making an effort (which is more than can be said for some of the attendees, ahem) we were hugely disppointed to not actually get in-too many ‘priorities’ apparently. Ugh. And so we found ourselves all dressed up with nowhere to go.

    Off we trundled then to the O2 arena to catch a film only to have the worst cinematic experience EVER! Not only was the film not up to much (The Devil Inside-we were late for everything else) but the audience were so phenomenally bad mannered they ruined the entire film from beginning to end. Based on this one truly awful experience I will never return to this cinema again. The place itself was also so totally mind blowingly soulless, we couldn’t even bring ourselves to stay for a drink. You failed to impress O2 arena and with us it’s one strike and you’re out. Harsh but necessary – there’s just too many cool places to hang out in London, we can’t be wasting time on below par establishments.

    Ah well, at least I got to wear a pretty dress.

    dress – vintage  tights – topshop  shoes – peacocks  coral lippy – barry m

    Oh yes! Another piece of exciting news (for me anyway) is that I’ve signed up to etsy and opened my own little vintage store – cool, eh? Do stop by for a browse! It may be a little barren at the moment but I have items lined up to photograph and upload etc. so the shop will be an ever evolving thing. Do let me know if you like the look of any of the items, I’d love any feedback x

    My etsy shop

    Category outfits, personal, vegan cosmetics, Vegan Fashion | Tags: | 8 Comments

  3. What I’m loving. Eating. Wearing.

    March 10, 2012 by peasoupeats

    So it would seem one post a week it all I can muster whilst I’m interning. Hmmm. Still though, I hope I can content you with a rundown of what I’ve been currently cooking, eating, drinking, wearing and generally loving over the past few weeks.

    I wholeheartedly intend to post a recipe tomorrow though just so you don’t forget this is in fact a food blog. When I say recipe, of course, what I really mean is a dish that requires no more than a few steps – so, yet again, an ‘assembling’ jobbo. Likewise, just about all I can muster when I either a. get up in the morning, b. come home in the evening or c. can be bothered to make at the weekend whilst I am recovering from my working week.

    On the plus side, I’m pleased to say my stamina levels are on the up and up, as I slowly acclimatize to my new 9-5 routine (or 10-6, as the case may be).

    Dinner has generally been a rushed affair although no less tasty than usual and as I grapple with adjusting my already existing recipe repertoire to fit in with my new lifestyle I am finding new ways of cooking and eating on the hop. Sushi rice seasoning is a great way of injecting a bit of flavour and zing to my stirfries and where I would normally allow my tomato sauce to simmer for hours, I’ve found a bit more herb, balsamic and muscovado sugar action goes a long way to bringing out flavour in a short space of time.

    To further save us time and energy, we have succombed to having our fruit and veg delivered. After much research we settled on The Organic Delivery Company who provide us with an enormous box of seasonal produce on a weekly basis – all of it so wonderful we could never go back to Supermarket stock again. Quite honestly, it is the best 40quid (we opted for the largest box) we part with and even though we always ate a substantial amount of fruit and veg, our intake has probably now doubled. They also deliver cupboard essentials like pulses, canned tomatoes and tofu – a good range of it too. Fantastic.

    Clothing wise, I’m still a thrifter at heart and therefore most of what I wear is vintage, second hand etc, which I usually pair with basic essentials from places like Zara, Gap, H&M although I aim to be a bit more selective in the future where I get my newbies from, as I really loathe partaking in fast fashion although I can’t deny it is my one of my biggest downfalls.

    We’ve totally curtailed our spending since February and I have to say we are doing pretty darn well on the frugal front with less and less being spent on non-essentials. However, in my world cupcakes and coffee are still regarded as essentials….

    Friday saw the end of my internship with The Daily Express although I wasn’t too sad as I have a feeling I’ll be back at some point for another little stint with the fashion team. I can’t thank everyone enough for the magnificent opportunity to work there, it’s been an invaluable stepping stone in my endeavour to make this styling/writing lark an actual career. I was so chuffed with my goodie bag too, full of super pretty things -including several eco-conscious items from ecotools and weleda. They know me too well.

    I might as well end with my enduring love for Marmite. If you don’t know how I feel about the stuff already, then read this and you’ll be in no doubt about how greatly my regard is for this sticky, salty glorious goo that I spread on toast, dollop in sauces and, at times, eat straight from the jar.

     

    Category Cocktails, personal, Vegan, vegan cosmetics, Vegan Fashion | Tags: | No Comments

  4. Young & Pure Eye Make-up Remover

    December 13, 2011 by peasoupeats

    Cruelty free cosmetics.

    Should there be any other kind?

    I mean, really? Why are we still testing mascaras, lipsticks, lotions and potions on bunnies and beagles? Yeah, you read right. Beagles! Or so I heard today but you know what? I totally believe it! Because, what’s the difference between a rabbit or a dog or a hamster or a rat?

    I don’t know any girl that wants to use cosmetics that come with a history of pain, misery and cruelty and you don’t have to be vegan to feel this way. I should know because I’ve done the research – if you call research asking a load of people on a casual conversational basis, and yet the consensus is unanimous. My (non-vegan) girlfriends, family, friends, random people I meet(ahem), all say the same thing – they’d rather buy and use cruelty free products. Fact.

    It certainly doesn’t hurt that we’ve got a wealth of choice now and it’s growing everyday. Hurrah, hurray, callooh, callay!

    So, you see, this isn’t a rant, nor is it a ‘vegan’ post. This is a common sense post.

    Maybe this Christmas, before you purchase that special gift for your Aunt, Grandmother, Sister or Dad, think about the cruelty credentials of that product. It only takes a minute. A second even. And if you’re not sure which companies to avoid then check it here.

    While we’re at, why not avoid toxins too. I mean, why not? Parabens. Synthetic fragrance. That kinda thing. Our skin is one big organ so why douse it in nasties?

    I’ve been checking out my options recently and came across this wonderful Young and Pure brand at my local healthstore and whilst it’s intended for ‘young skin’ (and by young, I don’t think they mean 30!) it works beautifully for the delicate skin around my eyes. Not only that but it ever so gently removed every scrap of eye make-up without much effort. No dryness. No tightness. Perfect.

    I highly recommend.

    Goodnight x

     

    Category Vegan, vegan cosmetics | Tags: | No Comments