Great Vegan Beauty & Lifestyle Finds To Celebrate World Vegan Day!
It’s World Vegan Day, so what better way to mark the occasion than by highlighting some fantastic vegan products you’ll want to use today and every day thereafter? Today on CBS Austin’s “We Are Austin” I shared some vegan beauty and lifestyle picks you’ll want to scoop up right this minute.
Check out the segment by clicking here and keep on reading for more on the items seen on the show!
DR. DENNIS GROSS ALPHA BETA EXTRA STRENGTH DAILY PEELS
Beauty trends may chance with the seasons, but great skin is always in vogue, which is why the Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Extra Strength Daily Peel ($88 for 30-ct. box at Sephora and Sephora.com) has held its spot as #1 at-home peel for over 20 years. The iconic peel has earned countless accolades and has amassed legions of celebrity fans including Kim Kardashian, Constance Wu, and Lily Aldridge.
The at-home peel involves two pre-dosed, ready-to-use treatment pads, which are correspondingly labeled Step 1 and Step 2.
The Step 1 peel pad is packed with 7 alpha and beta hydroxyl acids — glycolic, lactic, mandelic, malic, citric, benzoic and salicylic acids — that lift away dead skin cells, immediately boosting radiance while also refining pores, clearing blemishes, and improving skin texture. It also includes witch hazel, which helps to reduce excess oil and reduce inflammation; camellia extract to soothe and lightly hydrate skin; and chamomile, which has skin-calming benefits.
The Step 2 peel pad neutralizes acid activity while infusing skin with powerful antioxidants and anti-aging actives that help to reduce fine lines and wrinkles, stimulate collagen production, and lead to a firmer and more lifted complexion. Ingredients include antioxidant-rich green tea extract and resveratrol, as well as retinol, an anti-aging powerhouse, and ascorbic acid, a stable form of vitamin C that helps to brighten the complexion and stimulate collagen production. The Copper PCA, Zinc PCA, and Sodium PCA in the formula, meanwhile, all help to regulate sebum production, warding off oiliness without drying out skin thanks to their humectant properties.
You’ll want to use the Alpha Beta Extra Strength Daily Peel on clean, dry skin. After massaging the Step 1 peel onto your skin, you’ll want to wait 2 minutes and then reach for the Step 2 pad, again massaging the cloth over your face. After the treatment is complete, you can apply your serum and moisturizer of choice. The entire at-home peel will take less than 5 minutes but will transform your complexion.
BELOVED BY LOVE BEAUTY AND PLANET PUMPKIN & TONKA AND TOASTED PECAN & MAPLE COLLECTIONS
When we think of autumn, we picture falling leaves in beautiful shades of golden yellow, coppery orange, and fiery paprika red, as well as cozy sweaters and fuzzy socks, trips to pumpkin patches and apple orchards, and weekends spent curled up with a warm beverage and an inviting book. But there are also scents that we associate with the season, and they all have this inviting, familiar, homey, nostalgic quality to them that makes us feel comforted and relaxed.
BELOVED by Love Beauty and Planet has perfectly captured the aromas we associate with autumn with its latest collections: Pumpkin & Tonka and Toasted Pecan & Maple (my personal fave!). BELOVED by Love Beauty and Planet offers clean, vegan, PETA certified cruelty-free products that transform bath time into a small act of love for the body, mind and planet. To that end, all BELOVED products are made with at least 92% naturally derived ingredients, contain no parabens or sulfates, and are packaged in recyclable bottles, tubes and jars.
If your go-to beverage this season is a pumpkin spice latte, you’ll swoon over the BELOVED by Love Beauty & Planet Pumpkin & Tonka collection, which features an assortment of products formulated with natural pumpkin seed extract and ethically sourced tonka to create an inviting scent that marries the creamy, sweet richness of pumpkin with the warmth of vanilla and the spicy kick of clove.
The BELOVED by Love Beauty and Planet Toasted Pecan & Maple collection combines the buttery, nutty aroma of toasted pecans with the sweetness of maple, creating a scent that will have you dreaming of pecan pie. Formulated with natural maple and ethically sourced cinnamon bark, these products comfort and delight both your skin and your senses/
Each collection includes an effervescent bath bomb that turns tub time into an indulgent treat, a 3-wick scented candle made with a soy wax blend, a hand lotion with skin-nourishing sunflower and avocado oils, and a foaming hand wash that gently cleanses your hands without drying out skin. The collections are available exclusively at Target and Target.com, with prices ranging from $4.99 for a bath bomb to $14.99 for a scented candle.
THE BEACHWAVER CO. CHARCOAL SHAMPOO BAR & INNER STRENGTH AVOCADO OIL PROTEIN MASK
When you think of the Beachwaver, you’re probably picturing the amazing, award-winning, TikTok-approved, rotating curling iron invented by celebrity hairstylist Sarah Potempa to help consumers everywhere achieve perfect waves and curls with ease. Since creating the Beachwaver Rotating Curling Iron, Potempa (along with her sisters Emily and Erin) has continued building The Beachwaver Co., expanding its offerings to include more innovative hair styling tools as well as clean and effective hair care and hair styling products.
The female-founded and woman-owned brand is committed to responsible haircare and hence all of its carefully crafted formulas include no harmful toxins: no formaldehyde, petrolatum, sulfates, parabens, benzophenone, or phthalates. Moreover, all their formulas are vegan and cruelty-free, and their packaging is recyclable.
The brand’s commitment to sustainability is evident when you check out the Charcoal Shampoo Bar ($18 at Beachwaver.com), a zero-waste product that helps us reduce our carbon footprint by focusing only on biodegradable ingredients and doing away with excessive packaging (like plastic tubes and caps). The water-free, ultra-concentrated formula features charcoal, which acts like a natural magnet to draw out dirt and impurities, cleansing strands while clarifying and exfoliating the scalp. Moreover, it contains organic shea butter and coconut oil to hydrate, condition and soften the hair and scalp.
And when it’s time to give your hair some major TLC, reach for the Inner Strength Avocado Oil Protein Mask, ($28 at Beachwaver.com). This luxurious hair mask is formulated with avocado oil, a great source of hair-strengthening biotin and nourishing fatty acids. It also contains gingko biloba extract, panthenol, and silk amino acids to boost shine, detangle strands, calm frizz and smooth split ends. Not only does this treatment revive dull and dry strands, but it smells irresistible! Featuring the aroma of Australian sandalwood, Hawaiian coconut and Tahitian vanilla, it will evoke dreams of your next island getaway.
DESIGNME GLOSS.ME HAIR SERUM
If you tuned into the 2022 Emmy Awards (or checked your social media feeds for photos of all the red carpet looks), chances are you noticed that bobs were having a major moment —Euphoria‘s Maude Apatow sported a chin-length bob with delicate S-waves and The Bear‘s Ayo Edebiri showcased a voluminous, wavy cut, while Insecure’s Issa Rae and The White Lotus actress Alexandra Daddario opted for sleek, shoulder-brushing, pin-straight bobs that felt ultra-modern and glamorous. Daddario’s look was arguable the most striking of all thanks to its sleek, high-shine finish, which celebrity hairstylist Marty Harper achieved by applying the DESIGNME GLOSS.ME hair serum ($30 at DESIGNMEhair.com) to the actress’s hair.
Like all products from cult Canadian brand DESIGNME, the GLOSS.ME serum is 100% cruelty-free, vegan, gluten-free, and paraben- and sulfate-free. The lightweight oil can be applied to damp or dry strands, and is suitable for all hair types. The formula contains cannabis sativa seed oil, otherwise known as hemp seed oil, which is rich in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids that help to stimulate hair growth and which helps to hydrate strands and fend off frizz. Other ingredients include argan oil, which is known to hydrate and soften strands, improve hair brilliance, and reduce hair breakage; moringa oil, a great source of oleic acid which, in turn, helps to seal in moisture and make strands more manageable and pliable; and rice bran oil, which improves hair elasticity and protects hair color from fading. This combination of nutrient-rich plant oils effectively hydrates strands and eliminates frizz while giving hair a lustrous, glassy sheen that’s simply irresistible.
VEGAMOUR GRO HAIR SERUM
When we hear about hair loss, the conversation is typically centered around men and their struggles with receding hairlines, hair thinning along the crown, and patchy spots along the head. And yet hair loss isn’t a strictly male issue. In fact, as many as 80% of women experience hair loss at some point in their lives, with causes ranging from hormonal changes during and post-pregnancy to menopause, stress, dietary deficiencies, chemical treatments (perms, dye jobs, etc), medications and supplements, and more. It’s time to topple this societal taboo and openly discuss female hair loss. After all, information is power!
Now, you’re probably familiar with some of the treatments available to tackle hair loss and hair thinning — including supplements and topical serums and creams. Many of these traditional treatments employ chemicals with potentially harmful side effects — among them monoxidil, which can cause rapid weight gain, bloating, swelling of feet or lower legs, and other unsavory physical phenomena.
Luckily, you don’t have to choose between thick, strong, lustrous hair and your overall health and wellbeing. There are some amazing, toxin-free treatments that help to significantly reduce hair loss and hair thinning, delivering visible and measurable results — all while steering clear of potentially harmful ingredients. Among the brands leading the way is VEGAMOUR, a clean, vegan, clinically-proven, hair wellness brand that treats hair loss and hair thinning. Its hero product, the VEGAMOUR GRO Hair Serum, ($28 at Vegamour.com), is so popular that one unit is sold every 22 seconds.
This beloved serum uses a combination of vegan phyto-actives that increase hair density and reduce signs of hair thinning, resulting in thicker, fuller-looking hair. These active ingredients include: curcumin, a polyphenol derived from turmeric that features anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties; red clover, which is rife with isoflavones that exhibit antioxidant, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties; and mung bean, which contains hair-strengthening minerals like zinc, selenium, silica, and iron. In clinical studies, the formula was shown to increase hair density by up to 52% and reduce signs of shedding by up to 76% over a 4-month span — and the customer reviews speak for themselves!
Visit Vegamour.com and use the code AUSTIN20 at checkout for 20% off the VEGAMOUR GRO range.
MILK + HONEY ART OF THE BATH GIFT SET
Daily stress can take a toll on your mind and body, so finding time for relaxation is key to overall wellness. For many, nothing offers the type of blissful decompression that a spa day can provide. And when it comes to a luxurious spa experience, milk + honey knows how to deliver! The first milk + honey spa opened in Austin back in 2006, when founder Alyssa Beyer sought to create an exceptional spa experience that involved using products with hyperclean, plant-based, toxin-free ingredients and offering customers access to a serene space built using green construction materials like VOC-free paints, stains and glues. Since then, milk + honey has grown to include multiple locations in Austin, Houston, Fort Worth, Chicago, and Los Angeles. Services include everything from relaxing massages to detox steam treatments, signature facials, a variety of HydraFacial treatments, lash and brow tints, pedicures and manicures, and more. They also offer Medspa treatment like microneedling and dermaplaning. Their newest location at The Loren features a design-forward, serene environment for luxurious pampering where guests can feel unhurried and totally relaxed.
In addition to in-spa services, milk + honey offers a line of hyperclean bath, body, home, and skincare products to help you relax, refresh and recharge from the comfort of home. To elevate your next soak in the tub, check out the milk + honey Art of the Bath set, a complete assortment of therapeutic and vegan bath essentials infused with pure essential oils designed to calm both the skin and mind.
To create an environment conducive to relaxation, the set includes a votive candle and a Palo Santo Bundle. A wild tree native to Central and South America, Palo Santo (which translates to “Holy Wood”) has long been used by indigenous healers in the Amazon. In many ceremonial rituals, bundles of short, cut-down sticks are burned to remove negative energy and to purify people, places and objects. By lighting this bundle, then, you can create the ideal ambiance to facilitate healing and promote calm. Moreover, Palo Santo features a lovely, sweet but woody scent that’s reminiscent of pine, lemon and mint.
Next, to prepare your skin to be cleansed, you can grab the milk + honey Body Brush in the set and begin dry brushing. You can start at your feet or lower legs and, pressing the firm bristles against dry skin, gently brush upwards. You can repeat the process on your arms and chest, remembering to brush upwards towards the heart. When focusing on the stomach, you can use smaller circular movements. This practice will help to exfoliate skin, loosening and removing any dead skin cells, plus it will help to detoxify and firm skin by stimulating circulation and promoting lymphatic drainage. Once you’ve dry brushed your whole body, you’ll be ready to enjoy your lovely bath!
To facilitate a blissful soak, the set includes the Milk Bath No.5, which features coconut milk to nourish and soften skin and which is infused with vanilla oil and lemon peel oil to create an elevated sensory experience.
Whether bathing or showering, you can smooth rough knees, elbows and heels by buffing away dead and dull skin cells with the Body Polish No. 5, a sugar and sea salt scrub infused with skin-softening coconut oil, radiance-boosting lemon peel oil, skin-calming vanilla oil, and moisturizing shea butter and jojoba oil.
Lastly, there’s the Bath & Body Oil No. 8, which contains lavender and eucalyptus oils to relieve stress and promote focus and calm. You can add a few drops of the oil to your bath water and enjoy the aromatherapy benefits or you can apply it to damp skin post-bath to calm and hydrate skin.
Pick up the set for $95 at MilkandHoney.com and use the code WEAREAUSTIN for 20% off all milk + honey products!
ZOLLI CANDY
Most of us recall at least one instance in our childhood when we were admonished for eating a sugary lollipop, chocolate, or caramel on the sly and warned about candy leading to cavities and rotting teeth. It seemed so unfair! How can something as delicious as candy be bad for you? Why must it hurt our teeth? Most of us simply accepted the fact that yummy candy and great oral health cannot coexist. But not Alina Morse, the 17-year-old founder of Zolli Candy, a line of vegan, sugar-free, gluten-free, dairy-free and non-GMO candy. When she was just 7 years old, Alina went to the bank with her dad, where an employee offered her a lollipop. She politely declined, heeding her parents’ warnings about candy and tooth decay. But she left asking her dad, “Why can’t we make a lollipop that’s actually good for your teeth?” And hence began her quest to create tooth-friendly treats, a vision that came to life in 2014 when Zollipops hit shelves.
So what makes Zolli good for your teeth? Well, after eating, our mouths can become very acidic and, in that environment, cavity-causing bacteria can grow and develop. That’s why we’re often told to brush our teeth after a meal: so as to remove any potentially harmful microbes that could lead to cavities, plaque, and weakened enamel. Zolli Candy features features natural sweeteners like xylitol and erythritol that help to reduce the acidity in our mouths, restoring a neutral pH, thereby protecting our smiles. It’s the perfect after-you-eat treat! And here’s another sweet detail: 10% of Zolli sales are allotted to the brand’s Million Smiles Initiative, which helps to fight childhood tooth decay through educational initiatives. By supporting Zolli, then, you’ll also be helping to protect kids’ smiles all over the US.
Zolli Candy has grown to include an array of sugar-free candy options — from Zollipops to Zolli Drops, Zaffi Taffy, Zolli Gummeez, and Zolli Caramelz — and currently reigns as the #1 sugar-free candy brand on Amazon. Celebrity fans include former First Lady Michelle Obama, who loves the Zolli Drops, and Oprah Winfrey, who is a Zaffi Taffy fan.
You can check out all these tooth-friendly and delicious candy offerings on Amazon as well as at retailers like H-E-B, Whole Foods Market, Walmart, CVS and more. Visit Zollipops.com for more info on the brand and its Million Smiles Initiative
