Ask Kaylin: Vegan Makeup Overhaul

So you want to switch over to vegan beauty products? Yay! But where do you start? Few department stores carry vegan products, and all-vegan lines such as Gabriel might be a little out of your price range. Read on to find out how to revamp your beauty bag, vegan-style.

Hailey:
I'm a new vegan and want to switch over my makeup as well. Any recommendations?

Ask Kaylin: Raw Beauty Products

Hurraw! offers a selection of raw lip balms.

You may have heard of raw vegan diets, but have you heard of raw vegan beauty products? Just what makes a product "raw"? And where can you find it? Read on and find out.

Rachael:
I recently started a raw vegan diet. Do you know of any places that sell raw beauty items?

Kaylin:
Yes, there are some companies that sell raw beauty products. However, this is a bit of a niche market, so you will find more options for skin care items than for cosmetics.

For those who are unfamiliar with the term, raw veganism is typically defined as a diet that excludes all animal products, but also food cooked above 48-40 °C (104-118 °F) (depending on the source). Some raw vegans eat limited cooked items as well, but aim for around 80% or more raw foods. This diet seems to stem from a belief that consuming raw or "living" food preserves the natural nutrients and enzymes, which some believe are altered or destroyed during the cooking process. However, there are some who argue against the diet as well.

The Body Deli also offers
products made with raw
ingredients.

So what does this mean for beauty products? Typically, this means the ingredients are described as "raw". For example, Hurraw! uses ingredients such as raw coconut oil. "Raw" can be difficult to define, and many companies don't cater to vegans, let alone raw vegans. It may be nearly impossible to replace your makeup bag with "raw" products, but I have found a few companies that do offer products for this niche market:

• Hurraw! lip balm - Affordable lip balms in regular and tinted varieties. Made with many raw ingredients. Click here for reviews.
• The Body Deli - Offers fresh, raw, and organic skin care items at premium prices. Click here for reviews.
• Raw Gaia - A company in the U.K. that offers raw skin care products. Click here for a review.
• Raw Elements - Offers raw sunscreens. Click here for a review.
• The Detox Market - Offers a few "raw" items within their store. Note that not all items are raw.

These companies offer raw products, but are not vegan, usually due to the use of beeswax:

• RMS Beauty - One of the few raw companies that offers cosmetics. Click here for a review of their (vegan) coconut cream.
• Live Live and Organic - An online retailer which carries raw products from a variety of brands.

If you're looking for something simpler, consider using a multi-tasking beauty product such as raw coconut oil (for body lotion, moisturizer, and eye makeup remover).

To find out more raw foods, these two books offer a hybrid approach (consuming limited cooked foods):

• The Beauty Detox Solution by Kimberly Snyder
• Thrive Foods by Brendan Brazier

Disclosure notice: This review contains affiliate links. No additional compensation was accepted and the opinions are my own. Please verify any claims with the manufacturer, especially if you have any allergies or concerns.

Did you enjoy this post? If so, why not sign up for our email list and get posts by email? Or if that's not your style, stay in the loop with an occasional newsletter instead.

Review: Hurraw! Balm Lip Balm and Tinted Lip Balm

When I first set out to test vegan lip balms, I thought they would all be pretty similar. Whether they come in a jar or a tube, lip balms seem to have few distinguishing qualities. I was delighted to discover that all these years I had been wrong; there was one lip balm that was different than the rest: Hurraw!

Pros:

• Buttery texture
• Comes in a variety of fun flavors
• Hip, stylish packaging
• Oval tube
• Simple, organic and raw ingredients
• Vegan and gluten-free

Article: Vegan Eats in Portland, OR

Burgerville's Anasazi Burger has a vegan patty.

While I grew up in the Portland area, I didn't have the same interest in vegan food while I lived there. On my recent trip back to my home town, I made tasty food options a priority. Portland is a very veggie-friendly city, and I really enjoyed sampling some of the great foods there.

Restaurants:

• Sweet Pea Baking Company - An amazing vegan bakery with fantastic lunch options. Located in the "vegan mini mall." Click here for my review. 
• Laughing Planet Cafe - A casual dining spot with multiple locations in the Portland area. Great for a variety of diners, from omnivores to vegans. Click here for my review. 
• Cafe Yumm - A veggie friendly fast-casual restaurant with a variety of Asian-inspired bowls, sandwiches, and more. Click here for my review. 
• Native Foods - All vegan fast casual restaurant. Entrees include options such as bowls and salads, and include several meat substitutes. Click here for my review of the San Diego (Encinitas) location.
• Veggie Grill - All vegan fast food restaurant with a variety of dishes, with an emphasis on comfort food. Uses many meat substitutes.
• Portobella PDX - Vegan Italian food. Need I say more? Just check the hours ahead of time; this is a dinner-only restaurant that is closed on Sundays.
• Prasad - Vegan restaurant with breakfast, soups, smoothies and more. Emphasis on healthy options with several raw choices.
• Blossoming Lotus - An all vegan sit-down restaurant that serves world fusion cuisine. Many healthy options, both cooked and raw. I have mentioned them before in my Raw Fudge Recipe post.
• Burgerville - If you're on the go, this ubiquitous chain offers two vegan (veggie) patties. See their website for allergen/ingredient information.

Grocery Stores:

Cinnamon roll from Sweet Pea Baking Co.

• New Seasons Market - Local grocery chain with a selection very similar to Whole Foods Market. A great place to pick up foods for a picnic, especially if taking a day trip to the coast!
• Whole Foods Market - Higher-end health food store found all over the U.S. and internationally. 
• Trader Joe's - This store has an incredibly loyal fan base for its quirky marketing and low prices on healthy foods. If you don't have one near you, check one out.
• Uwajimaya - A great Asian supermarket, especially for Japanese foods. Also includes a fun gift section and a small branch of the famous Kinokuniya bookstore.

Other Places of Interest:

Stock up on vegan products
at Food Fight!

• Food Fight! Grocery - An all-vegan grocery store packed into a space about the size of a mini-mart. Offers a wide variety of vegan specialty items, including some fake meats I've never seen before. Also be sure to check out their health and beauty shelf for vegan lip balms from brands such as Hurraw! How fun it is to shop in a store where you don't have to read all the labels?
• Herbivore Clothing Co. - Cruelty-free fashion shop in the vegan mini mall. Specializes in fun tees and vegan items such as non-leather belts, wallets and purses.
• Voodoo Doughnut - Quirky doughnuts, including a small selection of vegan options. Content warning; some of the donuts are NSFW.
• Back to Eden Bakery - An all-vegan bakery with patries, lunch offerings, ice cream, and more.

Do you have any other favorite places in Portland? If so, let me know in the comments!

Disclosure notice: A portion of the establishments above were visited by the reviewer, who paid for any food or merchandise acquired. No compensation was accepted and the opinions are my own. Please verify any claims with the businesses, especially if you have any allergies or concerns.

Did you enjoy this post? If so, why not sign up for our email list and get posts by email? Or if that's not your style, stay in the loop with an occasional newsletter instead.

Article: Splurge vs. Save on Natural Cosmetics

Image: Tax Credits via Flickr

On more than one occassion, I've heard oohs and ahhs when I open my makeup kit. The sight of all those colors, packaged in lovely palettes and bottles, reminds many clients of a makeup counter. "You have everything!" some exclaim. While I am prepared for almost any situation, my makeup kit has a very carefully-selected assortment of items.

Most of my cosmetics have a shelf life of 6 months to 2 years, so I have to be smart about which I splurge on and which I save on. Whether you're a pro or just looking to do your own makeup, read on for some of my recommended splurge vs. save tips, which I learned from careful budgeting as an eco-friendly makeup artist.

Review: Hurraw! Balm Night Treatment Balm

Winter may be over, but chapped lips are a concern for me year-round in the dry Texas climate. I slather on a nice coat of lip balm before bed but I often find that it's not enough. That is, until I started using Hurraw! Moon Balm. Formulated to give you a little extra boost, this awesome vegan lip balm is perfect for providing moisture throughout the night.


Pros:

• Suitable for raw vegans
• Very hydrating
• Lasts a long time
• Lovely vanilla/chamomile scent
• Ingredients are raw/wildcrafted and mostly organic
• Affordable
• Handy flat tube

Article: Simple Tips for Great Winter Skin

Photo: c@rljones via Flickr

As the weather cools down, the air inside can get very dry. Keep your skin in top form with some Simple Tips for Great Winter Skin.

Click here to read the full article on Endless Beauty!

Pick of the season: Hurraw Balm's Moon Balm. It's a great new products just in time for winter.