My favourite Vegan Lipsticks

Happy international lipstick day!!!

Out of all my personal makeup, lipstick is possibly my favorite. It's just such a fun product to me. It's less about "faking" or changing the way you look but more about self-expression, color and fun.
A natural lipstick can also be a nice way to hydrate lips and look more polished.
And while I found it fairly easy to find an abundance of cruelty-free & toxin-free lipsticks finding vegan ones is a whole new challenge, as most natural brands add beeswax.
Not that there is anything toxic in beeswax, but as a vegan, I try to avoid all animal ingredients when possible. So while I do allow some sustainable cruelty-free products with beeswax in my kit I like to give an extra shout out to the brands that manage without!

Here are my fave vegan lipsticks which are also non-toxic!
They are all my fave for different reasons, the list in no particular order.
 

Ere Perez just relaunched their line of Olive Oil Lipsticks and the colours, textures and pigments are spot-on! Highly recommended!
(In fact ALL their lip products are amazing so don't hesitate to try the Carrot Colour Pots or tints! All of which are vegan)

Ere Perez also has a wonderful selection of sheer lip colours, perfect for every day.
The Cacao Lip Colour! I always carry "Dash" in my handbag for a quick pop of colour.
For a sheer colour they still deliver lots of pigment and some lasting power.

The Beauty Archive! A selection of fabulous Scandinavian boutique lipsticks.
Read all about them here.

Jane Iredale Lipgloss if you are looking for a classic luxury lipgloss that is vegan and toxin free look no further than Jane Iredale.

Fra Lippo Lippie  this is the hippest, brightest, funnest (I know this doesn't exist, but it fits the product!) lipstick. Super indie and SO pigmented. Read all about it here.

Skinfood Recipe: Raw Chocolate Truffles

In an attempt to use up some pantry leftovers I whipped these delicious bliss balls up on Sunday. They didn’t last long. At all. 

As usual my recipes are sugar free and vegan. This is also oil free and gluten free.  

I promise these are super healthy and good For your skin. Packed with antioxidants and healthy fat these will keep your skin radiant and boost your mood and energy. 

What you need: 

2 cups almond meal

4 tbsp desiccated coconut, plus extra for rolling

1 tbsp maple syrup

4 tbsp cocoa

2 tsp vanilla essence

12 medjool dates, finely chopped

1 Tbsp raw fermented vegan protein powder

4 tbsp water or plant milk of choice

How to:  

Blend everything in a food processor or highspeed blender. It will get a workout.

Use clean damp hands to roll the mixture into small little balls and coat with the extra coconut shreds.  Store in airtight container in the fridge. Don’t eat all at once ;)

Energy Boosting Beauty Pancakes

Sugar free, Vegan, Plant-based

I whipped these up twice on Sunday.

Once for breakkie and another time for lunch. They were soooo good.

I know they don’t look so great and Ingas to wrestle with Faye while making them, hence the lack of pretty Insta-worthy food pics. But it’s not all about looks, right?

These taste fabulous and are really super healthy. They are high in iron and plant protein and really great for your skin.

Breastfeeding Mums will also appreciate the oat content which boosts milk supply.

What are you waiting for?

You need:

2 cups unsweetened soy milk

(or plant milk of choice)

2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

4 cups rolled oats

1-2 ripe bananas depending on size

1 teaspoon cinnamon

4 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

3 tablespoons mesquite powder

2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

1 teaspoon fermented vegan vanilla protein powder (optional)

Toppings of choice! We used banana, maple syrup, walnuts, coconut shreds and cacao nibs.

How to:

Easy peasy you just make the whole batter in your blender.

First grind the oats into oat flour in a high-speed blender. I used the dry container of my Vitamix.

Then add all other ingredients into the normal „wet“ container of your blender and mix. The dough is pretty sticky and won’t pour. Add more milk if you want the pancakes to be thinner and prettier. I liked ours quite chunky and messy.

😊

Heat up a frying pan on medium heat.

If you use a non stick pan you won’t need oil. I used my cast iron skillet which needs a tiny amount of oil. You can use coconut or sesame or any neutral tasting oil.

Cook 1-2 min on each side

Layer with toppings and enjoy!

Stress Busting Feel Good Cookies

The weather was so miserable today, we couldn’t set a foot in front of the door. 

After singing all songs and reading all books there were still a lot of hours to fill until bedtime. So we baked cookies. 

These are super duper healthy. Sugar free, vegan and packed with nutrients. They are also very quick to whip up.  

I made some for Faye (one year old) without the Chocolate and plenty for the adults with dark chocolate. I used the The Chocolate Yogi “Astral” raw vegan chocolate wig caramel crunch which was perfect!  

But they do taste nice without as well. You can add extra dates or maple syrup for sweetness if you skip the chocolate. But honestly, I highly recommend the chocolate version. Especially in Winter.  

Based on chickpeas these pack a punch on healthy plant protein and fibre. The peanut butter gives it the extra nutrients and stress-busting properties. They are so satisfying and very filling for such a healthy treat. 

Ingredients:  

1 can of organic chickpeas, washed and drained

1/2 cup of organic peanut butter (without sugar or salt added) 

1 tsp Baking Powder  

1 Handful of mejool dates

1 Bar of Astral Chocolate by the Chocolate Yogi

1/4 cup homemade cashew or hemp milk or any unsweetened store bought plant milk (rice and soy work well too) 

a little cinnamon  

a little real vanilla

How To:

Preheat the oven to 200 degrees celsius

Combine all ingredients (except dates and chocolate) in a highspeed blender until you have a smooth dough. The texture should be like hummus.  

Then add the dates. I chop them up a little beforehand. 

Line a baking tray with paper and place little dollops of dough on the tray, using a spoon or spatula. Chop up the chocolate as chunky as you want it and place on top of the cookies. 

 Bake for about 20min until golden brown. 

Enjoy straight out of the oven or let cool down and snack later!  

Trying Happy Skin - My skin on Cloud 9

Happy Skin, sounds lovely, right? Isn't that what we are all after.

My skin is happy most of the time. A good diet and overall health & happiness contribute to that. But to keep my skin happy it's important to use toxin-free, natural skincare.

An Australian brand I have been keen on trying is Happy Skincare.

They just send me their Cloud 9 Deep Cleansing Balm & Raindrops On Roses Hydrating Toner.
Both products have a great, clean ingredient list. Both contain MSM which is a form of sulphur, naturally derived from Algae which has multiple benefits to the skin, including brightening and clearing acne.

The cool part is that the Cloud 9 Cleansing Balm is not a one trick pony.
You can also use the Cloud 9 Deep Cleansing Balm as a

• Hair treatment to tame the frizz
• Cuticle treatment for sexy nails and
• Foot balm so your tootsies always look good in a pair of heels
• Barrier cream when you're out battling the elements (perfect for snow season and winter cycling)

The cleansing balm is a great makeup remover and smells fresh.
You can use it with water as a cleansing milk or as classic balm cleanser by massaging the product onto dry skin and then removing it with a damp cloth.
The packaging is no fuss and great for travel. Nothing luxurious, no glass but practical.

The Hydrating Mist is a lovely rose water-based product. Great for refreshing makeup or skin during the day but also as part of your skincare regime. Ahhhhh! So refreshing.

I really love their Dilo Oil too, which I have featured previously. It's a super healer!

Happy Skin creates lovely no-fuss products with clean ingredients.

All certified vegan, cruelty-free and with mostly organic ingredients.
My verdict: Definitely worth a try!