It’s hard to believe that’s it’s almost June. It seems like just yesterday that I had the heat on the house, and I was cuddled up with blankets and a mug of warm herbal tea. Oh wait, it was yesterday. The weather has been wacky here, so it’s difficult to tell that time has passed, but since a new Vegan Cuts Vegan Beauty Box has arrived, I know that another month has come and gone.

If you’re a regular Chic Vegan reader, you have probably heard of the Vegan Cuts Beauty Box, but if you’re new here, you might know about it yet. That’s why I’m here! The Beauty Box is a subscription service that delivers sample (and sometimes full-sized) cruelty-free cosmetics and skin care products to your door every month. It’s a great way to find new brands and sample products without spending a lot of money. It’s also pretty perfect for newbie vegans who are just learning about cruelty-free brands.

I wait for the Vegan Beauty Box eagerly each month. It’s like a year round birthday present, because you never know what will be inside.

The May Vegan Cuts Vegan Beauty Box Contained:

Salis Skincare Blackhead Removal Mask – Unlike other masks, this isn’t meant to be used on the entire face. It’s a spot treatment just for blackheads. You mix up the mask by adding a little water and then apply it to the affected area. Leave it on overnight for a few nights in a row, and then take a break for a week before using it again. It’s made with redmond clay, organic baking soda, and organic msm. 

Nubain African Black Soap – Black soap always reminds me of Annie Hall, and using it always makes me feel slightly exotic when I use it. Black soap has been used in Africa for centuries to minimize the appearance of skin blemishes and other skin ailments. This facial cleansing bar is formulated with sheal butter, oats, aloe, and cocoa pod ash in order to deep clean and detoxify the skin.

Lauren Brook Cosmetics Eye Shadow – This natural eye shadow is made with plant extracts, such as orange wax, broccoli seed oil, and jojoba oil. It goes on smoothly and lasts all day. I received Sweet Pea, which is pretty dusty pink color that’s perfect for summer.

Pair’D Beauty Dry Shampoo –  This dry shampoo isn’t actually dry. It’s actually a liquid that you spray onto your hair. You then dry your hair with a blow dryer on low, and style as usual. I’m saving this for my summer vacation.

Little Moon Essentials Clear Mind Mist – This spray contains rosemary, grapefruit, and eucalyptus oils in order to help energize and create mental alertness. It can be sprayed on clothing, on a tissue, or just in the air in a room. I’ve been using it in my home office, and I’ve definitely felt more productive.

Luxie Foundation Brush – A lot of cosmetic brushes are made with animal hair, but fortunately, Luxie makes theirs with synthetic bristles. This brush can be used with cream or liquid foundation and it gives you a polished, streak-free finish.

The Vegan Beauty Box is available as a monthly subscription, which means that once you sign up, a new box of products gets delivered to your door every month. If you like the samples in your box, you can order their full-sized counterpart from the Vegan Cuts Marketplace.

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Glamour Dolls Makeup is an entirely cruelty free line of products with vegan options that perfect for any babe on a budget. I recently received an adorable kit of items, and have been trying them out for a few weeks. Overall I think this is a great company to check out if you’re interested in bunny-friendly products without breaking your bank! Plus, all of their products have really cute and funny names.  I made a look using as many of the Glamour Doll products as I could, and I’m happy with the result!

Fakecation Bronzer ($4.99)

Holy moly, this is the largest bronzer I’ve ever seen! Their site describes it as XXL, and that could not be more true.

The shade is matte, which makes it extremely versatile! While I love shimmery bronzers, matte is a staple that no girl (or guy) should be without. This bronzer has great pigmentation, without being too dark. I can see this shade working for a variety of skin tones, since I found you can easily build it up and make it darker if you want. The texture can be a bit powdery, but I didn’t find it hard to blend.

Eyeshadow in Backstage ($3.99)

This eyeshadow is a gorgeous antiqued gold that could easily fit into a lot of makeup collections. Try applying with a damp brush for more of a foiled look on the lid, or just on its own for a subtle, bronzy gold shimmer. As with the bronzer, I found this product to be a little bit powdery, but not difficult to blend.

Lip Cream/Lipstick in Boxed Wine and Fetish ($2.99/each)

These are labeled as both Lipstick and Lip Cream on the Glamour Dolls website, so I’m not sure exactly which one to use¯\_(ツ)_/¯ But seriously, how tongue-in-cheek are these shade names? I love a beauty brand with a sense of humor!

These lipsticks glide on pretty easily, and have good pigmentation. They are a semi-matte finish, so if you’re like me and the liquid-to-matte trend has your lips constantly cracked and dry, this will be a nice break. My only complaint is that the smell is bit too sweet for me, like vanilla frosting. (I know there are people who love this type of scent, though.)

Gloss Snob in Topless and Mood Ring ($1.99/each) 

Who else was obsessed with mood rings when you were younger? While I’m not a huge gloss fan in general, these are nice. They have good pigmentation for a gloss and aren’t too sticky. These have the same sweet scent, too, so keep that in mind if you’re like me and don’t love overly sweet smells.

Kitty Kisses Tinted Lip Balm in Glamour Puss and Best Furrriends ($2.99/each) 

Yay for tinted lip balms with SPF 15! I often forget to wear SPF on my lips (bad, I know), so this is a great product if you’re looking for a minimal swipe of color or to layer underneath lipstick.

Out of everything from Glamour Dolls that I’ve tried, I found myself reaching for the Fakecation Bronzer the most. The glosses are great for layering on top of the lipsticks, and adding some extra color and shine. The Kitty Kisses lip balm is great for layering underneath anything else you’ve got on your lips for the SPF protection and added moisture.

Have you tried Glamour Dolls? Share your thoughts in the comments!

Disclaimer: These products were provided for my consideration, but all opinions are my own.

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Contouring may seem scary if you’re pale, but there’s no need to be. Personally I’ve found I prefer warmer contour colors in cream formulas, but experiment and find what’s right for you! Here are some of my tips and products for achieving a natural-looking contour with pale skin.

Brushes
To apply my contour colors I really enjoy the e.l.f. Contouring Brush. Since it’s dense you can pick up a lot of powder and apply it with precision. It makes really easy work of applying underneath your cheekbones and along your jawline. Once my contour is applied, I like to blend out with the e.l.f. Ultimate Blending Brush.

Application
You can play around with where you place your contour and highlight colors, but this guide from Australis Cosmetics is my favorite for beginners. Start by applying less product, and build it up as you go. Remember, it’s always easier to add pigment than to remove it.

Over time I’ve found a variety of vegan contouring products that work with my pale skin. Here are some of my favorites:

e.l.f. Contour Palette ($6)
The e.l.f. Contour Palette is a simple and inexpensive way to start contouring. The pigmentation on these powders isn’t stellar, but that way you can build up coverage on pale skin!

Australis AC On Tour Kit ($12.13USD)
I’ve been really impressed with the AC On Tour Kit. Its got a great range of shades that are easy to blend. Australis is an Aussie brand, so it may not be the most realistic to get here in the States. But, if you have the opportunity to try it, I highly recommend!

Au Naturale Organic Creme Bronzer Stick ($32)
Au Naturale bronzer stick. While this is another bronzer, I like it for a natural contour. Since it has some shimmer I prefer to use it when I want to look dewy. This bronzer is packed with skin-healthy ingredients like coconut and jojoba oils.

OCC Trick Creme Color in Trick ($23)
Another great cream formula that blends out amazingly. Plus this stuff can be used almost anywhere you want – eyes, lips, face, have fun!

Too Faced Milk Chocolate Soleil Bronzer ($30)

Yes, this is a bronzer and not necessarily a contouring powder. However, it’s a beautiful matte light brown that smells like chocolate (YUM) and is easy for days when you don’t want to do a full on contour. Without a doubt, this color will leave any pale-skinned person with the most natural contour!

Worth Mentioning: Makeup Geek Contour Powders ($10)
While I don’t own any of these powders, I’ve seen people rave about them since they’re release. They have a HUGE range of shades that can work with anyone from porcelain to deep skin, with either warm or cool undertones. Logical Harmony had a wonderful try-on video that showed swatches and she demo’ed how they blend out.

Contouring can work for anyone – whether you have pale or deep skin. All it takes is practice and the right products. If you have any contouring recommendations, I’d love to hear them in the comments!

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I’m pleased to see more cosmetic companies reaching the marketplace with non toxic ingredients that are not harmful to you, not to mention harmful to our furry friends, through animal testing. As consumers, it’s important to be aware and demand cruelty free, safe products. It’s entirely possible to look our best, use fun and creative products to express our personal style and not harm ourselves, animals or the environment!  Am I right??

Here is a great new brand that does just that.  Johnny Concert have launched a line of eyeshadows in a wide array of vibrant colors!  Here are just a few of the line called “Amplified“. They profess, “Our cosmetics are freshly crafted with skin soothing, antioxidant rich, certified organic ingredients such as green tea, aloe vera, coconut oil, jojoba oil and shea butter.”  A complete list of ingredients are available on their website: http://johnnyconcertglamour.com/ingredients/

They were kind enough to send me several of their colors. They have photo swatches of each color on a cool skin tone and a warm skin tone, so you can see what suits you. They are all beautiful and easy to use.

The photos on their website show a glam, avant gard look. This is achievable with a good eyeshadow base or primer (I like the one by NYX) and using a sponge applicator or even your fingertip, to intensify the colors.

But, you can also achieve a more subtle look using a makeup brush and no base/primer.  Here’s my take on a look for daytime or if you just prefer a more neutral style.

Their website also promises a line of products for lips and face, coming soon.  I look forward to finding out what they have in store for conscious, compassionate makeup junkies, like us!

BONUS!  Johnny Concert is offering a 25% discount to all of our fabulous, Chic Vegan readers!  Use code: CHICVEGAN at checkout. Enjoy!

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The Bamboo Tapioca Cleanser is a versatile, customizable face cleanser. It’s is a fine, white powder made from bamboo stem, tapioca powder and chickpea powder to absorb oil; white clay, to unclog pores; and coconut amino acids that act as a mild, foaming cleanser. Bamboo powder is an ingredient in the ancient Ayurvedic practice of “Ubtan”, which is like microdermabrasion.   The science and history of its effectiveness, is long standing.

The fun and interesting part, is that the product can be mixed with various other things, to enhance the effect you’re looking for. For example, it comes with a vial of Moringa oil, which Kaia claims has 6x the vitamin C of oranges. This can be effective for exfoliating and brightening your skin. Other things Kaia recommends you mix with the powder are: ginger tea, almond oil, sea buckthorn oil, avocado oil, rosewater, green tea, coconut oil and rosehip oil. Depending on your skin type, the oils can enhance moisture and things like tea and rosewater can brighten and tighten. They also recommend mixing it with plain yogurt as a facial mask. But dairy yogurt isn’t vegan, so we would never do that, right? Perhaps a similar effect can be had with coconut or almond milk yogurt.   Of course, never use a product, even one that’s “all natural”, that could aggravate an allergy. If you’re not sure, always ask your doctor first and send them a list of the ingredients.

I tried it first, as an eye makeup remover, by mixing it with the Moringa Oil and wiping with a cotton ball. Success! Then, all by itself, just shaking a bit into the palm of my hand and mixing it with warm water.   It cleansed my skin quite nicely. I have oily skin and usually wear makeup, so it’s important to me that a cleanser can take care of both of those jobs, thoroughly. The powder is very fine, so it was not too rough on my skin and left my face feeling clean and soft, not dry or tight.   I like that an all natural, vegan product can do the job with no hassle. In addition, it paired well with the rest of my beauty routine.

Some feel that dealing with a powder would be messy and inconvenient. But it comes in a small container with a “dial and lock” sifter, to prevent spillage. I found it to be as easy to use as any other liquid or cream cleaner.   Another bonus of using a powder, is that you can travel with it and not worry about the 3 oz. liquid maximum, on airplanes.

The price point of $38.00 for 1.5 oz of the powder and .125 oz of the oil, might be considered on the moderate to high side. But, a little goes a long way and it lasts a while. You can also just purchase the refill at $30. I believe it’s always better to put natural products on your skin. Don’t forget, what your skin absorbs goes right into your bloodstream. Paying a little more for a cleanser and a lot less at the doctor for taking better care of your health, is a good payoff, in my opinion. Kaia Bamboo Tapioca Cleanser can be a valuable addition to your beauty routine. I do recommend you give it a try!

Bonus! Here’s a video on how easy it is to use: http://kaianaturals.com/video-channel-2/

The post Product Review: Kaia Naturals Bamboo Tapioca Cleanser appeared first on Chic Vegan.

Galian handbags have been around for 25 years. You have probably seen the self-proclaimed “affordable luxury” designs at retailers like Aldo and Steve Madden. You can also order online at www.galianonline.com

Their company rep tells me that this is a vegan friendly line and the website describes the materials as “vegan leather”. I get pretty excited when a mainstream brand actually uses the word “vegan”!   They have a wide variety of styles and colors. Most of them also come with a smaller, internal pouch that can be used as a wallet, makeup bag or even a crossbody style on its own. Cool bonus!

Most styles are under $100, making it worthy to pick something fun! With trendy details like the all important bow, so popular this season, you will get a lot of use out of these bags now and likely all year.

Here are just a few photos of the styles they sent to me, but I notice, their web options change. In any case whether you prefer a tote or a satchel, fringe or a shoulder chain, a neutral, camo, tribal print or something brightly colored, there is something for every handbag aficionado, at Galian.

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One of the functions of this smooth, glide on lip gloss is plumping. According to a product rep, in order for that to happen, they use “menthyl, spearmint oil, and wintergreen, along with peptides and sea algae” which does give your lips a cool tingly feeling. I was unprepared for this sensation so the first time I used the lip gloss, I was immediately turned off. After that, now knowing what to expect, I found that it wasn’t nearly as surprising at the first try. They also use “capsaicin to slightly heat up the lips for maximum plumpness.” While I didn’t notice a huge difference, I found that my lips looked fuller and more shapely but not in a ridiculous, overdone cartoon way. Still, be prepared for some tingling but once you get past that, it’s a beautiful lip gloss!

EnvyDerm’s Lip Volumizing and Conditioning Plumper is vegan and cruelty-free, and is available on EnvyDerm’s website.

The post Product Review: EnvyDerm’s Lip Plumping Lip Gloss appeared first on Chic Vegan.

With Summer just around the corner, it’s almost time to start hitting the beach. But not all of us have the luxury of living on the coast. The good news is that we can all look like beach babes with the right skin and hair regimen, in less than 15 minutes. Here are a few cruelty-free tips to get you sunkissed in no time:

Preparation

The first step to getting your best glow is exfoliation. Something like Clickr Daily Dermabrasion Wash is great for this, because it’s light enough to use daily, but does a fantastic job of eliminating dead skin and also fights acne. After you wash, use a light mask or peel to smooth out texture and color. Caudalie VINOPERFECT Radiance Revealing Mask is one that can be used up to 3 times per week, and does an amazing job of minimizing pores and smoothing skin. This step can take up to 10 minutes, so skip it if you’re in a hurry.

Skincare

The most important piece of your summer beauty regimen is choosing the right self tanner. Most are not cruelty-free and many will turn you orange if overdone. I love Caudalie Teint Devine because it’s a gradual self-tanner, and of course, vegan. My trick is to apply it twice a day until I achieve the desired color, and then reapply once every other day moving forward. The bottle is small, but a little goes a long way. I have to tell you, the scent is a little bit overwhelming, but it disappears in a few seconds. Once you’ve applied your self-tanner, wait about 5 minutes to make sure it’s completely absorbed, then move on to moisture. For this look, I prefer Josie Maran Bronzing Argan Oil. At this point, you might be wondering how many layers of bronze you can possibly handle. The great thing about this oil is that it’s not actually a bronzer. It just warms up your complexion and brings out the right tones. It can also be used on your nails, hair, and skin with the same effect.  Once you’ve applied your moisture, it’s time to move on to makeup.

Makeup

I use the term makeup very lightly when it comes to this look. One of the great things about a summer beach glow is that it really doesn’t require any makeup at all. However, a little bit of concealer, highlighter, and lip gloss can serve as excellent finishing touches. Find a soft concealer, like Urban Decay 24/7 Concealer Pencil and brush it on the end of your fingertip. Use sparingly, because this is all you’ll be using for your entire face. Lightly tap over your undereye area if you have dark circles, the inside of your upper eyelid along your nose, and above and around your mouth. Continue tapping until all of the concealer is blended. This part should be done immediately after moisture for optimal blending. Next, take the highlighter of your choice, and apply a tiny dot on the very top of your cheekbones, on the outer corner of your eyes. Finally, take a sheer pink or purple toned lip gloss, and smudge it on the top and bottom of your lips, going slightly outside of your natural lip line.

Voila. You are glowing.

Hair

If you want to go one step further, it’s easy to achieve a beach blown hairstyle with your hairdryer and a few cruelty free styling products. For best results, begin the process when hair is still very damp. Before blow drying, separate hair into sections and apply Pureology Pure Volume Thickening Mist. Blow dry in sections, using a round brush and drying from underneath, starting at the roots. When each section is about 80% dry, move on to the next. When you’re done, lean forward slightly and point your hairdryer directly up at your hair, about 3 inches away from your head. For even more control, scrunch with Pureology Silk Bodifier Mousse when your hair is completely dry.

Got tips on how you achieve your personal glow? We’d love to hear them.

Tech geek by day and vegan fashionista by night, this Bay Area native and 20-year vegetarian made the commitment in 2009 to eliminate all animal-derived materials from her wardrobe, but couldn’t find high-fashion animal friendly designers. Realizing there were probably many others in the same predicament, Ciara set out on a mission to prove that one could be ethical, fashionable, and fabulous at the same time and founded the vegan fashion blog Animalfriendly.me. Through her research, she discovered not only dozens of amazing animal friendly designers and retailers, but also the horrors of factory farming, and decided to take it a step further, becoming vegan in Summer 2009. Ciara currently lives in San Francisco with her three kitties, continues to write for Animal Friendly Shopping, and designs software for a high-tech corporation.

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