Posts belonging to Category 'Vegan'

The 4 Best Vegan Vitamin C Serums For Seriously Glowing Skin.

With warm weather well on the way, there’s no better time to include a vitamin C serum (vegan, of course!) into your daily skincare routine.

The benefits of doing so are great and varied, my skin has personally never been glowier since I’ve been trialling my top picks below, but don’t just take my word for it – the OFFICIAL (read: scientifically proven) benefits list include the following…

♥ Antioxidant-rich, so can prevent free radical damage to the skin
♥ Supports collagen & elastin production / preservation
♥ Brightens and evens out skin tone

Over the past 6-12 months I have been trialling A Whole Lotta Serums and below you’ll find my absolute favourite, top 4 that stood out above the rest – come along on a glowy journey with me allow me to share my findings – your skin will thank you.

Synergie Skin Effica C Essential Vitamin C Serum – $125

This has become my go-to during Spring – the product is creamy & thick enough to spread easily across your entire face + neck + decolletage (the package says use 1 pump, but I prefer 2 to get full coverage of these 3 areas).

It’s an absolute treat to apply, and really FEELS like it’s working. It doesn’t have the tingle of the previous product, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t pack a punch. Effica-C has been carefully designed to have moderate to high potency, but a ‘low irritation profile’ – in simple terms, the product does its brightening thing while being ultra gentle on the skin. Perfect for those new to the Vitamin C game, but who are wanting a product that feels good, works, and is backed up by loads of science.

Recommended for all skin types. Add to cart immediately.

Mukti Vitamin Booster Vital C Elixir – $116.95

If natural, organic and absolutely DELICIOUS smelling skincare is what you’re looking for in life, then Mukti has you sorted for the rest of your days. The first time I used the Mukti Vitamin Booster Vital C Elixir I was instantly obsessed with the scent. I swear to you that this serum smells -exactly- like Sherbies. Yep, I’m talking about the little orange and blue sherbet candy that was definitely the cause of more than a few sugar highs when I was younger.

This delish scent makes applying the milky white drops an absolute delight, although it might have you craving something sweet. When I’m feeling like my skin needs something more natural, or I’m not wanting anything too intense – this candy-scented elixir is my go-to, plus, it’s certified organic, nut free, gluten free, vegan and cruelty free (always) and packaged in biophotonic glass to help the product last as long as possible.

Efani Speisialtóir Vitamin C & E Serum – $99.95

The tingly sensation experienced with Efani’s vitamin C serum lets you know that they’ve spared nothing in terms of including super active ingredients, it’s 20% pure vitamin C, and you can feel it get to work straight away. The tingling only lasts around 5-10 seconds and leaves a slightly dry feeling on my face due to the potent active ingredients, so I’d recommend applying your favourite moisturiser a few minutes after application.

For a slightly more gentle & multi-tasking application during the day – add it to your favourite SPF moisturiser and then apply – this ended up being my favourite way to use this product.

How I use it: I add 2-3 drops to Mecca’s To Save Face SPF 30+ and gently rub into my face, neck and decolletage. I can hand on heart say that when using this regularly – along with hot yoga & green smoothies, of course – my skin has a glow to it that it otherwise wouldn’t. I very often find myself rummaging in my skincare box for the little amber vial so I can get my face tingle on. Highly recommended!

Peggy Sue AM Vitamin Serum – $68

If you’re looking for a super lightweight & spreadable vitamin C serum, which I often am, then the Peggy Sue AM Vitamin Serum could just be your new bestie. I found this light & hydrating enough to use morning or night, and a much more gentle option than the more science-backed serums. No tingles here, but what you will get is a fresh glow and dewy skin which will make you feel a million bucks. There’s also added vitamin A & B for good measure, too.

Cleanse, apply the silky serum, follow with SPF in the morning (or just leave as is if applying in the evening), apply your fave vegan tinted moisturiser or foundation, a touch of blush and you’re good to glow for the rest of the day.

In conclusion…

Currently I prefer to take a ‘skin cycling’ approach to my vitamin C serums, to ensure my skin gets a bit of a break from the more active serums, and also gets to enjoy the benefits of all four products.

I’ll start my week with the Synergie Skin Effica C, followed the next day by the Mukti Vital C Elixir which is a little gentler, then give my skin one day off in between, followed up by the Efani Speisialtóir the next day & then the Peggy Sue AM Vitamin Serum the day after that. Weekends depend on what I feel my skin needs most that day – more moisture, something gentle, or something more active. I find this works a treat for my skin, and I hope this article has been helpful!

If you have any vitamin C related questions, or have any questions about any of these products – feel free to come and hang out with me on Instagram and send me a DM!

Be well,

Netty

xoxo

* All products provided for consideration, all opinions are my own.

Besos: 7 Vegan, Natural + Cruelty Free Lip Products to Perfect Your Pout in 2022.

Lipsticks are something that we haven’t been able to get much wear out of for the past 2 years, so as we get back into the swing of things, I thought it was about time to share a rundown of the best of the best (in our not-so-humble opinion!) vegan lipsticks in 2022. (If you’re still having to wear a mask out – don’t worry – I’ve put these lippies to the test under masks and throughout eating a cheeky spag bol down at the local restaurant to ensure you don’t miss out on the fun!)

Step 1 for any good lip care routine. Its preparation, thanks to one of our all time faves, Luk Beautifood.

Include this routine 1-2 times a week, preferably at night. First up, the Supergreens Lip Scrub. Now this broccoli seed, camellia, chlorophyll, grape seed oil, seaweed extract GOODNESS, smells and TASTES so good. I love that Luk Beautifood actually says you can just lick the product straight off – I think that just shows just how mindful and natural the products are.

Apart from tasting delish, this scrub smooths fine lines and restores the lips’ natural colour and shape. And as any good exfoliator, the scrub helps to get rid of those pesky dead skin cells to make for soft, smooth lips.

Next in our routine is the Golden Glow Lip Polish – and I kid you not, I actually didn’t realise this was the name but now I understand (go peep at our reel on our Insta). This polish is made from chamomile, coconut sugar (YUM), ginkgo biloba sugar, manuka honey and soap wort (which apparently softens skin and delicately cleanses lips… nice one!). So, why the need for coconut sugar? Well it helps to get rid of those dead skin cells.

Everything else works together to smooth and soothe lips to achieve that perfect pout! And lastly, there’s the Sweet Dreams Lip Mask. Made of all things dreamy such as, apricot oil, Kakadu plum, kaolin, hyaluronic acid (I’m sensing a few smiles here) and volcanic ash! This lip mask not only feels amazing – but it gets to work whilst you’re sleeping… WIN! You’ll wake up in the morning to your 6am alarm with nourished and ready to line those lips.

♥ Ere Perez Coco Crayon in Heart

The Lip Liner / Crayon

A brand we all love, it’s Ere Perez. Ere Perez really does tick all the boxes for us. Plastic free, ultra hydrating – thanks to that all important coconut oil – as well as, baobab seed oil, vitamins A,B & C AND omega 3,6,9 fatty acids.

Looking for a red for winter but a little lighter than deep red? It’s the shade Heart (pictured above) for us. If you’re looking for a berry colour – which is perfect for winter… then the shade Rebel is for you!

♥ Luk Beautifood Lipstick Crayon in Caramel Kiss

Next up… Luk Beautifood are back on our radar again. Vegan. Plant based. Cruelty free and synthetic free conditioning colour means these lip crayons are a winner. My personal favourite is the shade Caramel Kiss! I would describe it as a mix of nude and pink – but leaning more towards pink. Lychee Sorbet is also quite incredible – I would explain this shade as the perfect nude. Honey Peach is also a winner – again nude, but as the name suggests it has a slight undertone of peach!

♥ Anastasia Beverly Hills Matte + Satin Lipstick in Tease

The Classic Lippy

Anastasia of Beverly Hills definitely won our hearts with her brow products, but could she do it again with her lipsticks? In my opinion, yes (otherwise I guess we wouldn’t really be talking about her would we?).

Seriously, if you’re to try any product from this post it has to be these lippies. The formulation is creamy and literally heaven. They smell AMAZING and they are SOOO easy to apply. Also Anastasia has absolutely nailed the packaging. Okay, now if you’re only gonna choose one to try – may it please be the shade ‘Tease’. I don’t usually like nude lippies because I feel the pink undertone looks nicer, however I’ve clearly just been trying the wrong brands because this nude is amazing. I literally texted Annette as soon as i put it on and told her she had to try it. Please – do yourself and your lips a favour and get THIS NUDE. But also, if you’re wanting to step outside your comfort zone this winter, Rum Punch is a beautiful deep purple, and Toffee is a deep beige-brown shade that you can’t go wrong with. Take a peep at all the options here.

I also absolutely adore the Satin Hydration Moisture Lipstick from Cozmetic Lab. It smells and feels sooooo goood… probably thanks to the amazing ingredients packed into it. Including hyaluronic acid, jojoba oil and shea butter. To have hyaluronic acid in a lipstick is pretty genius because it reduces fine lines, and it also retains moisture – hello plump lips! Jojoba oil contains vitamin’s A, D, E as well as fatty acids to smooth and heal dry lips – perfect for the cold winter months. Shea Butter works to provide a barrier to protect the lips from the outside pollutants – winner.

The gloss.

Boohoo Beauty have nailed it with their Hydrating Lipgloss. There will never be a gloss that glosses like this gloss. Okay, I’ll stop, but if you’re wanting to turn your matte lipstick to dewy, then this gloss is the product you need. Packaging is chic & LOOK HOW CUTE IT IS, easy to apply and the gloss doesn’t feel sticky… It somewhat feels creamy… cheap as chips. Gold star for you Boohoo!

The trusted lip balm.

The 100% natural Lip Nourish by Luk Beautifood is my new fav lip balm. It really does nourish the lips, thanks to vitamin E, cacao butter and avocado oil! If you’re looking for the perfect nude, go the Nude Sugar. If you’re wanting some deeper colours for winter I’d opt for Cranberry Citrus and Cherry Plum. Even the names are mouthwatering.

The aftercare routine.

This is pretty simple so there’s no excuse. It’s also a pretty important step because in winter our lips can get dry and crack, and yes although all the above options are going to protect your lips during the day, we still need something to protect them at night! Ciate London Fruit Burst Lip Oil has been my go to for the past month and I am obsessed with it – the Lychee & Acai being faves! Key ingredients include mango & lime, mango seed butter (for nourishing), jojoba & avocado oil (antioxidants to naturally moisturise and plump the lips) and vitamin E (to help hydrate and plump the lips thanks to the essential fatty acids).

So that was a lot of info but also a lot of options (filled with some non-negotiables). I hope you have fun this winter trying out new lippies, especially for those of us that have been in a mask wearing world.

With love,

Olivia

xoxo

How a Cult Skincare Company Transitioned to Being a Fully Vegan Brand.

Medik8 is a brand I’ve known about for some time now, having first come across them at Mi:skn Clinic, where their products are used post-Omnilux (you can read more about my experience with that here!). Having always been a high-end, cosmeceutical brand since inception, I assumed that Medik8 being 100% vegan was probably out of the question, however they have always been cruelty free which is hugely important to me.

Recently, Medik8 made the transition to becoming fully vegan – and I wanted to dig in and find out more behind the decision & what exactly was involved, so we spoke to Director of Research at Medik8, Daniel Isaacs. Read on to discover more about the brand’s fascinating journey!

Can you share a little bit about how Medik8 started and the story behind the decision to create the business?

Medik8 was born out of a passion to deliver the benefits of serious skincare science without needing to compromise on the demand for ethics, transparency, sustainability and beautiful textures and fragrances found in natural brands. Elliot Isaac’s mission (founder of Medik8) was, and still is, to demystify the anti-ageing skincare industry with his trademark CSA Philosophy of ‘vitamin C plus sunscreen by day, and vitamin A by night’. This simplicity plus the end of choosing between results or experience is the secret to Medik8’s success.

What was behind your decision to transition to a 100% vegan skincare company?

Over the last 5 years, veganism has become a growing movement. This lifestyle extends way beyond just a diet. It involves what cosmetics you use, what household products you buy or the clothes you wear, to name but a few. In the UK alone, the number of vegans has quadrupled over the last four years. The reasons why are clear; according to The Vegan Society if the world went vegan, it could save 8 million human lives by 2050, reduce greenhouse gas emissions by two thirds, and avoid climate damages of $1.5 trillion.[1]

With consumers becoming increasingly conscious of whether a product has been derived from an animal byproduct or not, vegan beauty products make it simple and provide a guilt-free moment of indulgence. You can also rest assured that Medik8 do not test on animals nor ask others to test for us. This includes finished products and products within development or production, as well as ingredients used within our products. We are animal lovers and look forward to the day when animal testing is banned worldwide forever.

Vegan beauty is a no-brainer. Better for the planet, 100% cruelty free and often of higher quality, vegan products are exceptionally easy to swap to and you don’t lose any efficacy with the product.

Were you driven by your customers / social media to make the change?

We have always had a huge Vegan following and always listen to our fans, but ultimately this is something close to our hearts and at Medik8 we wanted to take full responsibility for our actions. We understand that having a beauty regime filled with vegan skincare is beneficial for the planet and your skin.

What is the process involved for Medik8 in transitioning to being a fully vegan brand?

We conducted a full audit of all our products in 2018 and discovered that only 5 of our products were not vegan. This was due to some legacy formulas containing ingredients like yoghurt. We then set ourselves the goal of making every single Medik8 product completely vegan by the end of 2019, which we have achieved.

Our Ultimate Recovery Intense is a rich, restorative cream for dry, compromised and post-treatment skin. It used to contain silk serica (derived from the silkworm), which we replaced for allantoin. Allantoin is a natural component in comfrey root, which helps to support natural wound healing, speeding up skin renewal and softening the skin.

Advanced Night Restore is a deeply hydrating cream that works while you sleep, featuring an intelligent moisturisation complex of ceramide, fatty acids and (non-vegan) cholesterol. We now use a combination of synthetic cholesterol and a plant-derived form of cholesterol called phytosterol. Phytosterol gives structure to the plant’s cell membrane the same way cholesterol does for our skin. They both function similarly in enhancing the skin’s natural lipid barrier to lock in hydration.

Balance Moisturiser uses a high-performance blend of prebiotics and probiotics to rebalance the skin’s natural microbiome, promoting a healthy-looking, radiant complexion. While the probiotics were previously based on fermented milk-derived lactobacillus, they are now obtained from the fermentation of plant-based lactobacillus extracts – 100% vegan!

We also removed beeswax from our White Balance Overnight Repair and replacing it with vegan emulsifiers, plus removing non-vegan yoghurt extract from our Surface Radiance Cleanse.

What would you say to other businesses considering making the switch?

As a brand we have a responsibility to our planet and our customers, we believe everyone should be taking the steps to better themselves and be transparent with their consumers.

Thanks to Daniel for taking part in this interview with us! If you’d like to find out more about Medik8, hop on over to their website, Facebook or Instagram.