What's in My Spooky Purse

Hello lovelies! Confession: I am obsessed with posts showing what is in people's purses/fridges/etc. It is so much fun to get a peek at what people use everyday and seeing how they live day-to-day. And I don't mean just celebrities, I mean like regular people like you and I, especially if they have a spooky or vegan (or both!) aesthetic. Plus, this is a wonderful way to discover new products, bond over similar items and styles, and just get more of an insight into someone else's habits and style!

Ever since my ghoulfriend-in-crime Miranda from Spooky Little Halloween shared what was in her purse, I've been wanting to share what's in mine! I figured now that we are going into spring it would be the perfect time to clean out my purse and share what's been lurking within. I've decided to omit any necessities like my phone, wallet, keys, etc. because everyone has those. Though I do love mine so I've include a photo of them at the end!

Check out what is lurking in my spooky purse below:

The Fourth Annual Spook Show Halloween Festival

Last month I attended the Halloween Club's 4th Annual Spook Show in La Mirada, California. It was my second year attending the event (you can check out pics and my report from last year here!), which is a fantastic outdoor market selling all kinds of Halloween and horror-inspired wares! The event brings together a wide array of vendors who sell anything from Halloween props and decor, to makeup, to taxidermy, to clothing and costumes, and much, much more! Pretty much anything you can think of, including art, jewelry, hair accessories, purses, knick-knacks, furniture, masks - all with a spooky twist of course! Plus there were also local haunts representing there, too, along with various Halloween entertainment vendors. The event is like a slice of Halloween heaven in springtime!

Beauty Review: Mystical House Organic Skin Care

I am always thrilled to find new vegan options for skin care. It is always great to see more companies who believe in offering cruelty-free and compassionate products, and while there are a lot of larger companies doing this, I still love supporting the smaller, independent companies who offer vegan products. Companies like Mystical House, who specializes in handmade, organic, and good-for-you skin care!

Beauty Review: Vegan Cuts July Beauty Box

When Vegan Cuts announced their new monthly subscription box for beauty products, I immediately signed up! I just couldn't pass up a box of vegan beauty products for under $20 a month. I received their very first box recently and was pleased with the summer beauty products it contained.

Vegan Cuts July 2013 Beauty Box

Here is a breakdown of what the July 2013 beauty box contained: 

• Essence of Vali's "Sleep" essential oil - "Contains soothing essences of Lavender Flowers, Cedar Wood, Marjoram Leaves & Ylang/Ylang Petals to calm you into a peaceful sleep and comfort you during times of stress." This oil smells AMAZING and will help me ease into a peaceful slumber at bedtime.
• NYL Skincare's Organic Rosewater Face Wash - This face wash works as both astringent and moisturizer on all skin types. It is only made of three ingredients - rosewater, vegetable glycerine, and Castile soap. I tried it and it is quite refreshing and has a light rose smell.
• Acure Organics' Argan Oil - I love argan oil, which can be used on hair or skin for its exceptional moisturizing and restorative properties.
• LVX Nail Lacquer in "Deco" - This coral-colored lacquer is from LVX's summer 2013 collection. I'm not fond of the color, but I have heard great things about LVX's nail lacquers! 
• Glamnatural's Mascara - I can't wait to try this chemical-free mascara, which claims to lengthen, thicken and separate lashes without clumping or smudging!
• Suntegrity's Tinted Moisturizer - This tinted moisturizer boasts a 5-in-1 formula that treats, hydrates, protects, primes and covers your skin! I'll be trying it this weekend on a trip to the desert.
• Lippy Girl Extra Virgin Lip Gloss - I already love this stuff! It smells like fresh-squeezed oranges and provides a glossy finish to lips (with no stickiness!). 
• Namaste Jemma Pouch - This high-quality bag is the perfect size to stash some lip glosses in when I'm on-the-go. Bonus: I like the hot pink color!

Overall, I liked what I received in my very first Vegan Cuts Beauty Box! I can't wait to try/use more of these vegan, cruelty-free products. 

If you are interested in Vegan Cuts' monthly subscription beauty box (they also have an awesome snack box - check out my review of my first one here), you can sign up at www.vegancuts.com!

Product Review: North Coast Organics Deodorant and Lip Balm

Confession time: I tend to sweat a lot. My body gets hot really easy (which is often since I live in SoCal and it is pretty much always warm here), plus whenever I get nervous or anxious (again, often), I sweat. So finding a decent vegan deodorant that works well is super-important to me since I'm such a sweaty broad.

In the past, I've used Herban Cowboy’s and Nature de France’s Le Stick deodorants and have had moderate success with those. I've unfortunately found that those and most natural deodorants just don’t offer the same protection as my pre-vegan, chemical-laden deodorant, which isn't just filled with nasty, bad-for-you ingredients, but most likely also contains animal bi-products and is cruelly tested on animals. It goes without saying that I would rather use a slightly less effective vegan deodorant than a bad-for-you and a bad-for-the-animals deodorant.

Though Herban Cowboy and Nature de France’s deodorants were the best vegan “stick” products I’d found, I've always been on the search for other deodorants that work more effectively and eradicate all smelly odors.

Luckily, North Coast Organics was gracious enough to send me their deodorants to put to my sweat test! This independently-owned company also makes lip balms, which they also sent me. All of their products are vegan, handmade and organic. Their ingredients are pure, natural and do not contain any icky chemicals. You can even pronounce them all!

The first thing that struck me about the products was the edgy packaging…I am a sucker for skulls, so I was immediately drawn to the “Death by Lavender” deodorant, especially since it proclaimed it was an “elite assassin of odor”!  It has a strong lavender smell, which I love! After being in contact with my skin a few moments, the deodorant melted just a bit and went on smoothly. I really, really loved the lavender smell, which lasted all day! It did a great job at keeping me smelling fresh and feeling clean!

The next deodorant I tried was the Revolver deodorant, scented with cedar wood, cypress and clary sage. I suppose this is the more “manly-smelling” deodorant they make, but I love manly-smelling deodorant! In fact, I usually prefer it over flowery, feminine deodorants (this explains why I love using Herban Cowboy’s deodorant so much!). This deodorant’s scent was more subtle than Death by Lavender but just as pleasant! I felt this deodorant was a bit stronger than Death by Lavender and worked better to totally eradicate odor (though both contain basically the same ingredients, so maybe this was all in my mind!).

I really liked both deodorants, but while they worked well they didn’t completely get rid of all odor. Believe me, they did an admiral job, and I will definitely continue using them, but I still noticed a bit of stinkiness when working out hard or when I sweated a lot in hot environments (like that one March weekend where it was like 85 degrees…ick!). For every day wear, though, these worked really well.

As an added bonus, I also got some lip balms to review. The two kinds made by North Coast Organics are WMD and LSQ. WMD was my favorite, with essential oils of cinnamon, ginger and tea tree. It went on smoothly and really gave my lips some much-needed moisture! I keep it by my bed now and put it on every morning and night! The LSQ was a bit rougher and didn't go on as smooth, but I did enjoy the scent of peppermint, spearmint and tea tree from its essential oils!

North Coast Organics makes solid vegan, organic and natural products. I love the homemade aesthetic of the products, the clever packaging and the fact that they are all-natural and vegan, but I really love that they WORK! I found that though the deodorants may not eradicate 100% of odors on especially warm days or during tough workouts, they still do a pretty amazing job 90% of the time, which is more than I can say for most all-natural deodorants!

North Coast Organics products can be found in select stores or ordered from their website!

Urban Decay, You are Dead to Me (Time for New Vegan Makeup)

Since the disappointing announcement was made last week that cruel animal-testing conglomerate L’Oreal has acquired Urban Decay, a lot of vegans have been outraged and have been scrambling to find other vegan-friendly makeup to use instead of UD. I am one of those vegans. Urban Decay has been vegan-friendly for years, but with the announcement earlier this year that they would sell in China (and therefore be required to test on animals per Chinese law) as well as their diminishing vegan options (WTF did you have to add lanolin to your mascara and eyeshadow primer?!) had already cast a lot of doubt into compassionate consumers. Though they quickly reversed their decision to sell in China after MUCH public outrage, the deal with L’Oreal is said and done, marking an end of an era for many ex-UD supporters.

Even though UD pledges to remain cruelty-free, they will still be owned by a corporation that tests on animals, uses animal ingredients and profits from it, which means I will no longer support or buy Urban Decay products. I love Urban Decay’s vegan products, but even so I can no longer support them since that means I would be supporting L’Oreal. So suck it, UD, I won’t be buying anything from you ever again.

Which means I will need to find replacements for some of beauty staples…

Some of my go-to products from Urban Decay included their Perversion and Zero 24/7 black eyeliner pencils and mascara, but it looks like I will need a replacement for those. I am eager to try some independent vegan cosmetic companies and plan to purchase some different vegan makeup products from Etsy and around the web…reports will follow!

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For now, I will use Lush’s liquid eyeliner in “Independent” (black) and Ecco Bella’s mascara. I don’t use too many eyeshadows, but the ones I do have from Urban Decay will last me a long, long time. I will continue use ones I have previously purchased from UD until they are all used up (this could literally take years).

As for foundation, I already use Lush’s and Ecco Bella’s products, so no need to find a replacement for those. Woo hoo! Same goes for blush, which comes from E.L.F., though I might search for a few eco-friendly vegan brands online too. I’m interested in checking out Pumpkin and Poppy on Etsy, which I’ve heard a lot of good things about, as well as The All Natural Face online.

Will you stop supporting Urban Decay since they have been bought out by L’Oreal? Why or why not?

Have recommendations for vegan makeup? Let’s hear them in the comments below!

My Vegan Beauty Routine - Evening

In my last post I talked about my morning vegan beauty routine, but I wanted to devote a separate post to my nighttime vegan beauty routine since it involves a whole different set of vegan products. In the evenings, my routine is all about winding down rather than my "get-up-and-go-go-go" morning routine. My evening beauty routine means relaxation and indulgence! And we all know how much I love relaxation!

Like my previous post mentioned, to the best of my knowledge the products discussed below are vegan. However, I do make mistakes! Also, companies sometimes change their ingredients or ingredients may differ from country to country, so just be safe and double-check an item is 100% vegan before purchasing.

And now, onto my vegan beauty routine for evenings! Links will lead you to where you can get more information on or purchase each specific product.

After work or at the end of each night I remove my makeup with Yes to Carrots Makeup Remover and wash my face with Yes to Tomatoes Clear Skin Deep Pore Scrub. If it is especially late or I'm just feeling lazy I'll use Yes to Blueberries Age Refresh Towelettes. If I'm hopping in the shower, I'll just use some Trader Joe's Tea Tree Oil Soap on my face in the shower.

I shower at night (I just never have enough time in the morning) and I love using any of Lush's yummy-smelling shower gels. Personal favorites include Grass, Tramp and Olive Branch. I loved their Ghost shower gel, but it looks like they discontinued it. Boo. I also use Jason Satin Body Wash in Tea Tree that smells so refreshing and relaxing! Mister Spooky uses that body wash, too, along with the Trader Joe's Tea Tree Oil Soap mentioned above.

For shaving, I use a Preserve razor that is made from recycled yogurt cups and uses vegan razors (unfortunately, the lubricating strips on regular razors contain animal products and aren't vegan...I've been vegan for years and only recently learned of this!) and Alba Shave Foam in Mango Vanilla. 

My go-to shampoo and conditioner combo is Pureology's Hydrate (SEE NOTE ON PUREOLOGY BELOW), but I also like using Giovanni Smooth as Silk shampoo and conditioner or Aubrey Organics Honeysuckle Rose shampoo and conditioner. I did try going the natural route and using no shampoo (check out my no-shampoo challenge post), but unfortunately my hair didn't agree with the whole process so I went back to using vegan shampoos. (UPDATE: I have since learned that L'Oreal owns Pureology. Since L'Oreal  does animal testing, I will no longer buy Pureology products.)

I don't shower every day, so sometimes I'll sprinkle a bit of Lush's No-Drought dry shampoo into my hair at night if it is looking a bit greasy. It soaks up any stray grease spots and leaves my hair smelling clean again!

I moisturize my body with Booda Butter or Kiss My Face Peaches and Creme Ultra Moisturizer. If I need a little extra pampering, I use Lush's massage bars. I love their Friends with Benefits bar since it smells like chocolate with a hint of marigolds (reminds me of Dia de Los Muertos)!

For my hair, I hardly ever use any styling products, but sometimes when it is feeling extra frizzy or dry I will comb Lush's R&B product through it while it is still damp from showering. The R&B smells amazing (think buckets of jasmine) and really helps with moisturizing my coarse and frizzy hair.

Since my hair is so unruly, I have to straighten it after showering. I spritz it with Pureology Colour Stylist Fortifying Heat Spray Protective Primer (per note above, I will no longer use Pureology products) for heat protection prior to blow-drying and straightening. Whenever possible, I let my hair air-dry, but usually I am short on time so I have to blow-dry. Once my hair is dry, I then run a straightening iron through it. My go-to iron that I've been using for years is the Hai Classic Convertible Ceramic Flat Iron.

Before bed I brush my teeth with Trader Joe's Peppermint Toothpaste and floss with Eco-Dent's vegan floss. My final step before bed is applying moisturizer. Around my eyes I use Derma-E's eye cream and on my face I use Derma-E's age-defying moisturizing complex.

Ahhhhhh...then all pampered and relaxed I hop into bed and start the cycle over the next morning!

What is your nightly routine like? What are your favorite vegan beauty products?

My Vegan Beauty Routine - Morning

Hiya fiends! I've gotten several requests to share my beauty routine and what vegan products I use for skin, hair and body so I thought I would devote a few posts to the subject. For this first post I'll be sharing my morning routine with you. I'm a get-up-and-go kinda gal, so it usually only takes me about 20 minutes to get ready in the AM...I think my routine is pretty simple. Below you'll find my daily morning routine and all the vegan beauty products I generally use.

A word of caution: Though all the products listed below are vegan (to the best of my knowledge), you should always double-check that a product is vegan before buying. Companies change their ingredients frequently and products in other countries may contain different ingredients, so don't just take my word for it that something is vegan - always verify it yourself prior to purchasing! 

And now, onto my favorite vegan beauty products that I use on a daily basis! Links will lead you where you can purchase each product. 

My day starts with a thorough brushing with Trader Joe's Peppermint Toothpaste. I've also tried Lush's Toothy Tabs and use them from time to time. They are little tablets that you break apart in your mouth to turn into sudsy toothpaste. They have some really cool flavors (rose-flavored, anyone?), but I prefer the traditional Dirty Toothy Tabs that taste like spearmint.

Next, my face gets a good scrubbing from Lush's Coalface, which absorbs excess oil and exfoliates, while rosewood and sandalwood oils reduce redness. For toner, I use Humphreys Witch Hazel Astringent, which gets rid of any extra grime on my face (and is great for waking me up)!

For a day-time moisturizer, I use Murad Oil-Control Mattifier SPF 15 (SEE UPDATE ON THIS PRODUCT BELOW). This stuff is absolutely amazing and it is the only product I've found that helps control my oily skin all day long! Not only does it do an excellent job of controlling oil, but it also helps clear impurities, reduce breakouts and protects skin with SPF 15. The price is a bit much (I usually pay around $30 for it), but it lasts me about 4 months and the positive impact it makes on my skin makes it sooooo worth the price tag! (UPDATE: Ack! I just found out that this stuff IS NOT vegan...it contains chitosan, which is made from the exoskeleton of crustaceans such as crabs and shrimp.)

As for makeup, it's pretty simple and not over the top most days. For my eyes I use Urban Decay 24/7 Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner in Perversion and Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Perversion (SEE UPDATE ON URBAN DECAY BELOW) and Ecco Bella Black Mascara. UD's Perversion is the blackest carbon black that I've ever had the pleasure of wearing and its thick, inky black is perfect for goths and goths-at-heart! I also love Ecco Bella's mascara...it goes on so smoothly and thickly. I am also obsessed with Urban Decay's colorful palette of vegan eyeshadows (not all their shadows are vegan, but look for the "Marley Approved" paw print that signifies that a product is vegan on their site!) and own a ton of them. For work, I like to wear a shimmery nude, like Half Baked, but for weekends or going out I love more dramatic shades like the vibrant Graffiti! (UPDATE: Urban Decay has been acquired by L'Oreal, one of the biggest animal testing companies. Though UD claims they will stay cruelty-free, they will still be owned by a parent company that commits atrocious animal testing. Therefore, I will no longer purchase or condone the use of Urban Decay Cosmetics.)

For foundation I use Ecco Bella Liquid Foundation in Ivory Porcelain. In the past I've used Lush's Color Supplement in Light Pink as well. I like both and they both provide ample coverage, but I give Ecco Bella the edge as their squeeze bottle is easier to use than the glass pot Lush's foundation comes in. To finish everything off I set my makeup with Make Up For Ever HD Microfinish Powder (SEE UPDATE ON THIS PRODUCT BELOW). This powder gives my skin a soft, velvety feel and works wonders with the Murad moisturizer to control oil. Again, it is a bit pricey (around $30), but it really gives my skin a flawless finish that lasts me 12+ hours. Plus, a pot of it generally lasts me several months, so for me it is definitely worth the price! (UPDATE: MakeUpForever now sells in China, which requires animal testing and therefore means they are no longer a cruelty-free company in my eyes. I will no longer be purchasing their products.)

I don't use much on my lips, just a bit of lip balm for shine. I love Crazy Rumors' (especially their "Perk" line, but pretty much all of their flavors are dynamite!) and Booda Butter's lip balms. My lips definitely couldn't live without them!

For deodorant I generally use Nature de France's Le Stick Deodorant in Green Gardenia. It leaves me feeling fresh all day long! Whenever I need an extra boost of protection I use Herban Cowboy Deodorant in Dusk. I know this is geared toward dudes, but I just love the smell of it! Both of these deodorants are natural, free of aluminum and contain little or no harsh chemicals.

Before heading out the door I spritz myself with some vegan perfume or essential oils. I use Lush's Tuca Tuca (violet and vanilla), Lust (jasmine) or Auric Blends Essential Oils in Moonlight (soft oriental) or Aphrodesia (rose and sandlewood). I also love Pacifica's perfumes (which I reviewed here!).

Stay tuned for next time, when I talk about my evening beauty routine!

What is your morning routine like? What kind of vegan beauty products do you use?

Beauty Review: Booda Butter

Over the holidays, my sister introduced me to Booda Butter, which is a vegan and organic body butter and lip balm handmade in Colorado. Since then, I've had a chance to use their products and all I can say is my sister is the best, because I LOVE this stuff!! It has pure, unadulterated ingredients (seriously, when was the last time you saw a lotion with only five all-natural ingredients?!) plus a yummy chocolate scent. And it's cruelty-free and vegan!! Yippee!

I seriously use this stuff all the time. The body butter is especially perfect after a shower or a bath and really locks the moisture into my skin! It is never greasy or heavy and just melts into my skin. I also love that it gives my skin a supple glow that lasts all day long!

The lip balm makes my lips feel healthy and moisturized, and, unlike other brands, I don't have to reapply it every 5 minutes to keep that moisturized feeling going. The Booda Butter lip balm keeps my lips moisturized for hours! Plus, it also has a yummy (but not overpowering) taste/smell!

Both the butter and lip balm are made with only five natural, vegan and organic ingredients. The body butter is made from Shea Butter, Cocoa Butter, Coconut Oil, Jojoba Oil and Olive Oil while the lip balm is made from Coconut Oil, Jojoba Oil, Olive Oil, Sweet Almond Oil and Candelilla Wax. That's it!

I just adore this stuff and can't think of any negatives about it (except that it isn't sold on every street corner)! I love that it is handmade with care, that the company cares about the environment and uses only natural, cruelty-free and vegan ingredients, the subtle but delightful cocoa butter scent and its amazing moisturizing properties.

I also think the price is fair, especially taking into account the high-quality ingredients and that it is made by hand. I love supporting companies that support the environment and clean living, so I have no problem paying a bit more for better quality products.

Booda Butter comes highly recommended from yours truly and you can order both the lip balm and body butter on Amazon!

For more info, visit Booda Butter's website!