Summertime...and the Cruelty-Free Living Is Easy

As we head into the end of June, one thing is certain: Summer is officially here!

My husband and I recently relocated from Brooklyn, New York, to Erie, Colorado, just outside of Boulder. While there’s a lot of things to explore and adjust to, one of the biggest things for me is being a heck of a lot closer to the sun! Having lived close to sea level my entire life, I was pretty stunned at how quickly I turned from white to red out here.

But whether you’re at a high altitude or splashing in the sea, you need protection from the elements. Read on for my top picks for staying cruelty-free while having fun in the sun!

Best Sunscreen: Alba Botanica Very Emollient Sunscreen

There are more and more cruelty-free sunscreens popping up on the market, but my favorite -- and the brand I see most often at different stores -- is Alba Botanica. Whether you want a spray or a tube, Alba Botanica has an option -- and a scent -- to match any need. They offer a range of SPFs and make a lotion gentle enough for baby’s skin. My go-to is the fragrance free spray (linked to above), which stands up to a sweaty all-day hike and never clogs my pores. Prices vary between sizes and types, but the aforementioned spray retails for about $16, though I’ve had no trouble finding it on sale for $10 and under.

Best Facial Sunscreen: Kiss My Face Face Factor SPF 50

Kiss My Face also makes a great body sunscreen, but I particularly love them for their face-specific lotion. As I’ve mentioned in previous posts, I have really sensitive skin. Growing up, I always had to be careful about putting any sunscreen on my face, lest it feel like it was on fire the entire day. This stuff is super lightweight and non-greasy, but surprisingly effective and sweat-resistant. A 2 oz. tube retails for around $14, but I’ve gotten it for as little as $9 or $10.

Best Swimmer’s Shampoo: Aubrey Organics Almond Apricot Swimmer’s Shampoo

Maybe you’re more of pool than an ocean person. As a blonde who swam competitively in high school, I know chlorine can wreck your hair (and turn it an interesting shade of green). When I looked at getting back into lap swimming, I knew I was going to need a swimmer’s shampoo, but I was worried there wasn’t a cruelty-free option on the market. Alas, there is. Not only is it gentle and effective, but it smells delicious. My only complaint is that the formula is a little runny, so you have to be careful when pouring into your hand. This is my first bottle, though, so fingers crossed it’s normally a little more viscous. Do a quick Google search to find your best price  -- a 16 oz. bottle will run you about $10 or $11.

Best Insect Repellent: All Terrain Herbal Armor

Forgot your Off! and all those other DEET-loaded brands: This is the best bug repellent I’ve ever used. We first picked this up for a trip to Costa Rica -- we knew we were going to be doing a lot of hiking in the rain forest and wanted to be prepared. I’ll admit, I was a little skeptical about the all-natural approach -- I grew up in a time when those chemical-saturated repellents were pretty much the only effective thing on the market, but trust. This stuff stands up to mosquito season in any tropical paradise -- including your backyard. A 4 oz. bottle retails for $9.99. Additional sizes and varieties available.

Best Bug Bite Relief: All Terrain Bite & Sting Soother Spray

Perhaps less surprising after you see how well the repellent works, is the sting soother. There’s always that one sucker that gets through, or, as is more likely with me, bug repellent isn’t all that effective unless you actually put it on. So, for those times when a bug has an unstoppable thirst for human flesh -- or you just got lazy -- this stuff will take the bite right out of that welt. A 2 oz. bottle retails for $7.99.

What's your favorite  cruelty-free summer product? Let me know in the comments!

Don’t Flake Out! Pacifica Body Butters for Winter’s Dry Skin

I know, I know, it’s only October -- let’s not start talking about winter yet! But with chillier temperatures fast approaching, we’re all about to spend a lot more time inside with the heat cranking -- and consequently drying out our skin.

[Source: PacificaBeauty.com]

Lucky for us, Leaping Bunny-certified Pacifica makes 14 scents of body butter, many of which sound like they can transport you to someplace tropical whenever the winter weather starts getting you down (Malibu Lemon Blossom, anyone?).

In a recent wandering through a Harmon’s in Chelsea, I picked up the Tahitian Gardenia scent. I’ve been using it for about a week, and almost instantly, my skin felt softer. I like that this particular body butter is rich and thick, but doesn’t leave your skin feeling greasy. I’m almost always in a rush on a weekday morning, so I like my body lotions to soak in quick.

How does it smell? Delicious. As a former Bath and Body Works addict, I’m always on the lookout for fresh new scents. I’m not too crazy about perfume, but I feel a scented body lotion can go a long way in getting the job done. I’ve been receiving tons of compliments whenever I wear the Tahitian Gardenia, so I think it’s safe to say this one is a hit. Hoping to give French Lilac and Waikiki Pikake a whirl next.

Pacifica’s Body Butter comes in two sizes, 8 oz tubes for $15 (all scents), and mini 2.5 oz tubes for $6 (5 scents).

ALL Pacifica products -- including these Body Butters -- are free of gluten, parabens and are 100% vegan.

Pacifica is a common find at brick and mortar stores like Target and Whole Foods, but you can also order directly from their website. Be sure to poke around -- they offer everything from home goods (like soy candles) to 7-free nail polish.

Cruelty-Free Bag of Tricks: Six Beauty Samples from Whole Foods

I was pretty stoked to find this bag of goodies while on a recent food shopping trip at Whole Foods. It’s rare that I can find a whole bag of samples that are cruelty-free, so it seemed a no-brainer to pick up this 7-piece “Hello Beauty” promotion for $18 (and retailing at $60).

First up, Giovanni 2chic Blackberry & Coconut Milk Ultra-Repair Shampoo. According to the product sheet that came with the bag, this shampoo’s “botanical compounds pamper damaged, overprocessed hair.” I’ve been using Giovanni products for a while now (a different formula of shampoo and conditioner, as well as a volumizing mousse) and was pretty pleased with this shampoo, although my hair is normal and healthy. I washed my hair with this a couple times in the past week, and each time it left my hair feeling clean but very moisturized – so much so that I decided to forgo conditioner. If you’re looking for a product that can treat damaged or dry hair, this could be the formula for you. I’ve been very pleased with the Giovanni brand in general, and happily, Giovanni is Leaping Bunny-certified.

Next, Derma E Microdermabrasion Scrub, which is described as “salon-quality skin treatment with Dead Sea salt and volcanic sand.” I’ve used this twice in the last week, and I really love it. A small dollop is more than enough for my face and neck, and it left my skin feeling remarkably smooth and even. I’d be willing to shell out the bucks to buy a regular size tub when the sample runs out. It reminds me a lot of a similar product Mary Kay made that I had tried out many years ago, except cruelty-free and with a lot less chemicals. Derma E does not appear to be certified by Leaping Bunny; however, according to their website, “Derma E does not test, and has never tested on animals, and Derma E skincare formulas do not contain animal by-products of any kind. As such, the entire Dderma E line of products is vegan and cruelty-free. You will find a cruelty-free symbol on all of our boxes and labels.”

A full-size tube of Trilogy Vital Moisturising Cream was also included, and is described as a “versatile moisturizer with rosehip seed oil, marula oil and orange flower.” The formula gives this lotion an herbaceous scent, which is light and not overwhelming. It’s also a richer, thicker cream than the Alba Botanica Sea Moss moisturizer I swear by, so you’ll use less lotion to get the job done. My biggest complaint is that it doesn’t have any kind of SPF – something that I desperately need, especially since I’ve switched my powder foundation to something without sun protection. While Trilogy is not Leaping Bunny-certified, they are a Choose Cruelty Free accredited company.

Also included were two makeup samples: A Pacifica Eye Shadow Duo (in Unicorn and Moonbeam) and a tube of Gabriel Mascara – the latter of which I’ve been meaning to try for some time. I thought the eyeshadow colors looked better on my skin than anticipated – the Moonbeam appearing more golden than white as I had expected. The Gabriel Mascara was the real treat for me, however, and has replaced the Milani Grandissimo Lashes that I’ve been using for the last month. Though I prefer a bushier brush for volume, the Gabriel brush seems designed more for length and I can see more eyelash than I thought I had. The formula also doesn’t appear to flake, which is awesome. Gabriel is a Leaping Bunny-certified company (and 100% vegan and gluten-free). Pacifica, while not a Leaping Bunny-certified company, does claim to be 100% vegan, cruelty-free and gluten-free as well, and I’ve found no evidence contradicting the claim.

The only product I’ve yet to try is the Acure Cell Stimulating Facial Mask, which claims to “purify, moisturize and renew with French green clay, sea buckthorn oil and Moroccan argan stem cells.” According to the Leaping Bunny-certified company’s website, Acure Orgnaics is “a family owned and operated company founded on sustainable principles to provide the highest quality fair trade, natural and certified organic personal care products. Our products are created with great care and are a reflection of our values. Each of our products is free from animal testing, parabens, sulfates, phthalates, synthetic fragrances, harmful preservatives and artificial colors.” I’ve definitely got a date with this and some cucumber slices in the near future.

All in all, $18 was not a bad deal for 6 products plus an organic cotton makeup pouch made by RIJIGreen, “a company committed to ending human trafficking.” Below, I’ve linked out to each company’s website so you can explore their range of cruelty-free products, along with the retail price for the full size product reviewed above. As always, do a little searching to see if you can find a coupon or sale at your favorite retailer.

Giovanni 2chic Blackberry & Coconut Milk Ultra-Repair Shampoo ➤ 8.5 oz. tube, $8.99

derma e Microdermabrasion Scrub ➤ 2 oz container, $32.50

Trilogy Vital Moisturising Cream ➤ 1.69 oz. tube, $44.00

Pacifica Eye Shadow Duo ➤$20 for an eye makeup trio, including mascara, eye pencil, and eyeshadow duo

Gabriel Mascara ➤ $15.20

Acure Cell Stimulating Facial Mask ➤ 1.75 oz. tube, $15.99

RIJIGreen Beauty Bag ➤ $9.99-$11.99

Soapy, Happy People: JASON Body Wash Review

I don’t know about you, but a good smell means a good start to my day -- meaning that the soap in my morning shower is some important aromatherapy. I’ve tried several brands of body wash in the last couple of years, and the JASON brand is by far my favorite. The 30 oz. bottle comes in 10 different scents – plus unscented and gluten free options. At home, we’ve tried out Purifying Tea Tree, Invigorating Rosewater and Moisturizing Herbs, which we agree is our favorite. It’s a little spicy and has a pretty gender-neutral smell -- I loved the Rosewater but Husband found it a little too perfume-y. If we had room for more than one scent in our little Brooklyn apartment shower, we’d definitely make use of it.

Because it doesn’t use any harsh chemicals or detergents, this body wash leaves skin feeling soft without drying it out -- or leaving a residue. One pump is more than enough to get a good lather -- for me at least. Husband is a taller, hairier man, so he needs a little extra. One bottle easily lasts us six months and retails for around $14 on the JASON website. Our current supply was bought in the fall for a buy one, get one deal at Whole Foods, but you can also buy it online at Soap.com and Amazon.

Added bonus: JASON body wash is completely biodegradable, so Mother Earth will thank you.