the blog.
Q&A #2: Should animals be used in the military and police force?
It's time for another Q&A! Don't forget to leave your own questions in the comments below :)
It's time for another Q&A! Don't forget to leave your own questions in the comments below :)
Watch it on YouTube HERE!
QUESTIONS...
ONE Is it enough to eat properly to be vegan, or do you also have to forgo leather, wool, silk, etc.? (0:14)
TWO What are your thoughts on the “If Meat Eaters Talked Like Vegans” video? (1:44)
THREE What is your workout routine? (3:24)
FOUR What do you eat before and after your morning workout? (4:27)
FIVE Was are your thoughts on service dogs and police dogs? (5:37)
SIX How do you keep and organize recipes? (9:21)
SEVEN Favourite vegan handbag brands? (10:18)
EIGHT Tips for a college student trying to be vegan? (11:51)
LINKS TO THINGS I TALKED ABOUT...
Thoughts on leather: http://plantbasedbride.com/blog/should-you-get-rid-of-all-your-leather-now-that-youre-vegan
Thoughts on silk: http://plantbasedbride.com/blog/no-silk-please
WOG Love Yourself Program: http://wayofgray.com/
Breakfast Smoothie Bowl on Insta: https://www.instagram.com/p/BFxBwSpOgzl/?taken-by=elizabethturn
My thoughts on zoos: http://plantbasedbride.com/blog/top-ten-problems-with-zoos
My thoughts on SeaWorld: http://plantbasedbride.com/blog/seaworld
My pinterest (where I save recipes!): https://www.pinterest.com/elizabethgturn
My matt and nat wallet and purse review: http://plantbasedbride.com/blog/matt-nat-handbag-and-wallet-reveal
Matt and Nat: https://mattandnat.com/
Gunas New York: http://shrsl.com/?~clon
How to go vegan: http://plantbasedbride.com/blog/go-vegan
Tips for going dairy free: http://plantbasedbride.com/blog/go-dairy-free
Music: http://www.bensound.com/
What do you want answered in my next Q&A video? Let me know in the comments!
Until next time,
Review: Kat Von D Lock-It Tattoo Foundation (Vegan & Cruelty-Free)
Since switching over to vegan and cruelty-free makeup I have been in search of a great foundation for my wedding day. I have tried products from Cover Fx, Too Faced, and more to no avail. After having tried various Kat Von D products, I couldn't help but hope that her foundation would be up to the task. After using it for over a month I think I'm ready to give it an honest review!
Since switching over to vegan and cruelty-free makeup I have been in search of a great foundation for my wedding day. I have tried products from Cover Fx, Too Faced, and more to no avail. After having tried various Kat Von D products, I couldn't help but hope that her foundation would be up to the task. After using it for over a month I think I'm ready to give it an honest review!
What Kat Von D has to say about it:
Lock-It Foundation rocks so hard! Creamy and pigmented, it’s the only long-wear liquid formula we can count on to create a perfect canvas.
One little pump is all it takes to even out discoloration, stop shine and hide blemishes! The coverage is AMAZING, whether you apply with a brush or a sponge. And it’s so long-wear, we can go a full 24 hours without touching up or re-applying (Kat herself has put this to the test). That velvety matte finish will stay flawless through hell or high water!
Science nerds, pay attention! Formulated with 21% pigment, our powerful potion is loaded with proprietary pigments plus an exclusive blend of siliconic elastomers and siliconic esters which bind the formula, so your foundation stays fade-free and transfer- proof! Lock-It, you always have us looking and feeling like a total goddess.
The bottle features an innovative airless chamber design that prevents contamination and maintains Lock-It’s rich consistency. That means you get a fresh, precisely measured dose with every pump!
Rule the Lock-It look! Share your pretty face on Instagram with #kvdlook.
#VeganAlert!
100% Cruelty Free Forever!
Mix a dab of Lock-It Featherweight Primer into your Lock-It Foundation to completely customize your amount of coverage. Can you say #GameChanger?!
Cost: $35 US / $42 CAD
Amount: 1 oz
Is it vegan? Yes!
Is it cruelty-free? Yes!
Shade: Light 46
Ingredients:
- Optical Diffusers: Treated pigments visually minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles while increasing luminosity on the skin.
- Emollients: Impart excellent slip and playtime; ensure softness.
- Glycerin: Extremely hydrating.
- Siliconic Elastomers: Long-lasting esters with emollient properties; provide dry, semi-matte finish.
- Mattifying Powders: Texturing agent; increase powder effect and absorption properties.
- Siliconic Ester: Provides no-transfer properties.
Water, Dimethicone, Phenyl Trimethicone, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Polysilicone-11, Butylene Glycol, Isononyl Isononanoate, Silica Dimethicone Silylate, Dimer Dilinoleyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Glycerin, Isododecane, Sodium Chloride, Methicone, Glyceryl Caprylate, Calcium Carbonate, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Trihydroxystearin, Potassium Sorbate, Methylpropanediol, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Disodium Edta, Peg/Ppg-18/18 Dimethicone. May Contain (+/-):CI 77891 (Titanium Dioxide), CI 77492 (Iron Oxide), CI 77491 (Iron Oxide), CI 77499 (Iron Oxide).
What I think…
The Good
- Extremely full coverage - covers blemishes and discoloration well on its own;
- Great selection of 20 shades;
- Not drying or oil producing;
- No parabens or synthetic fragrances;
- Beautiful smooth and matte finish;
- Long lasting (all day and night. Really!);
- The pump is great for dispensing product.
The Bad
- The cost - $42 for foundation is steep;
- Starts at full coverage and can only build up from there - admittedly mixing with primer may solve this problem and I did find that mixing it with my moisturizer sheered it out a bit;
- It dries very quickly making it slightly difficult to work with (I apply as quickly as possible using my fingers). I've heard this can be solved by mixing it with a drop or two of oil (though I haven't tried it) but do find that when I have mixed with my moisturizer it takes more time to dry and therefore becomes a bit easier to apply;
- It can look slightly cakey if too much is applied over uneven skin.
The Ugly
- There is no way to close the foundation after taking it out of the initial packaging so traveling with it is messy.
Rating: 4/5
Final Verdict: I love this foundation. It isn't perfect, but it is pretty amazing! I wish the pump could be closed for travelling, as wasting a $42 foundation in my makeup bag is no fun. However, this foundation has the best finish of any vegan foundation I have yet to try! If I can find a foundation as beautiful as this one wth medium rather than full coverage (to let my freckles shine through) I'll be golden. If not, this one is the winner for me!
Would I recommend? Yes, to anyone with normal to oily skin. For those with dry skin I would avoid it due to the matte finish and heavier coverage.
Have you tried Kat Von D's Lock-It Tattoo Foundation? What are your thoughts?
Do you have another favourite vegan foundation to recommend?
Let me know in the comments!
Until next time,
Looking for more vegan and cruelty-free reviews?
Pacifica Aquarian Gaze Mascara Review
Not Vegan Enough
I’m not perfect. Shocking, I know. There are likely many who would call me ‘not vegan enough’. And I understand their perspective. But I can’t help but wonder, are we doing the vegan movement a disservice by criticizing each other and expecting perfection? By demanding more from omnivores and vegans alike? By focusing solely on the negative, on what still needs to be accomplished, rather than how far we have already come?
You may well call me not vegan enough.
But the good thing is, I don’t need your approval.
We’re on the same team, we’re routing for the animals, for our planet, for our health. We are on the side of compassion. So while we may not always see eye to eye, we are far more similar than we are different.
And that’s good enough for me.
I’m not perfect. Shocking, I know. There are likely many who would call me ‘not vegan enough’. And I understand their perspective. But I can’t help but wonder, are we doing the vegan movement a disservice by criticizing each other and expecting perfection? By demanding more from omnivores and vegans alike? By focusing solely on the negative, on what still needs to be accomplished, rather than how far we have already come?
You may well call me not vegan enough.
But the good thing is, I don’t need your approval.
We’re on the same team, we’re routing for the animals, for our planet, for our health. We are on the side of compassion. So while we may not always see eye to eye, we are far more similar than we are different.
And that’s good enough for me.
Non-Vegans to Vegans
I was surprised by many things after transitioning to veganism. Attitudes I had never noticed stood out to me, foods I had once loved held no appeal, advertising I had ignored jumped from the walls and billboards, and people I had been close to (and complete strangers) began to pick fights with me.
This is unfortunately a form of criticism many vegans face everyday. Due to insecurity, or ignorance, or any number of factors, people like to take vegans down a peg, pull them off the moral high ground. Prove a point; that even vegans aren’t perfect. Forgetting, I suppose, that no one is perfect.
They call out:
- vegans who wear leather;
- vegans who eat honey;
- vegans who are pro choice;
- vegans who kill insects;
They are all ‘bad vegans’. They are ‘not vegan enough’.
It’s as though they fervently hope that pointing out another’s flaws cancels out their own. It must be easier to live with the responsibility for the deaths of hundreds of animals each year for your plate when you consider that even the holier-than-thou vegan still wears a pair of leather shoes.
I wholeheartedly agree that it would be better if every vegan made sure to never kill an insect, even indirectly.
But is that really more important than the countless animals they save each year?
Does it negate their positive impact on the environment?
Does it reverse the benefits to their body and well-being from a healthy diet?
I often feel that I make others uncomfortable by being vegan, as though they feel threatened or judged in my presence. And while I must admit that I have definitely judged others for their choices in my life (let’s be honest here, who among us hasn’t?) it’s not as if I meet a non-vegan, immediately put them in the ‘I dislike and judge you’ bucket in my brain and criticize their every action.
I understand that simply by existing, by proving that another way is possible, I may give off an air of superiority. I can understand the instinct to retaliate, to point out my flaws to level the playing field. But I must admit, it’s tiring to argue tiny points and ignore the elephant in the room - the immeasurable suffering of countless individuals each and every day.
Perhaps a more open discussion would allow for the sharing of ides and the possibility of a better future.
Vegans to Vegetarians and the Veg Curious
Vegans are not always very nice to vegetarians. This is a fact I learned quickly as a vegetarian, and continued to observe for the 8 months it took me to go vegan. In some ways being vegetarian is even harder than being a vegan. Not only do you not fit into the status quo, but you also don’t get as much recognition for your efforts from the rest of the animal rights community as you deserve.
Of course, as vegans we know that the egg and dairy industries should not be supported. But there was a time that I didn’t know. I am so thankful that I stuck to my guns and continued on the path to veganism, rather than retaliating against the criticism and giving up.
Nowadays I get excited when I meet a vegetarian - here’s someone who is doing so much good already and with a tiny push could go all the way vegan! But many vegans only see the copious consumption of eggs and dairy, and the suffering that causes. I see their dilemma. The egg and dairy industries are horrible and result in intense pain and the death of countless animals each year (as well as contributing overwhelmingly to lifestyle diseases and environmental collapse). But consider for a moment the incredible number of vegetarians on earth and the millions of animals that are spared because of their dietary choices. They may not be doing everything in their power to make the world a better place, but they are still rebelling against the standard, taking a stand, and saving lives!
The more vegetarians in the world, the better off we are. Period.
‘You don’t really care about animals’ is something I hear directed at vegetarians far too often. Perhaps they are simply undereducated on the horror of the egg and dairy industries? I definitely did not realize how many animals died because of my egg and dairy consumption for almost a full year after I went vegetarian. Once I learned the truth, I went vegan in short order and will never go back. Perhaps suggesting a documentary to watch, or giving a book suggestion, or offering to chat over coffee would go over better than accusation and judgement? (You can even send them a link to my resources page!)
With the prevalence of the ‘I could never give up cheese’ excuse, it’s not surprising to hear the response ‘You’re so selfish - you’d rather eat cheese than save animals!’ Now, I must admit this thought has popped into my head before. It can be hard when vegetarians say - oh, you’re vegan? Good for you! I could never give up cheese. I want to shake them and say, of course you can! I was the biggest cheese addict you could ever meet for as long as I can remember right up until the day I went vegan. Twenty years of grilled cheese, bowls of parmesan, a la carte, pasta smothered in melted cheese, slices of aged cheddar as a snack, cream cheese and cheese strings and blocks of cheese always at the ready. I look back at the amount of cheese I have eaten in my life and feel slightly nauseated. I LOVED cheese. Ask my family and they’ll tell you they were incredulous when I gave it up. They were shocked, and with good reason. Cheese was my main food group. It was my number one source of calories. It was the one thing I would never refuse to eat (and I was a picky eater). But guess what? After almost two decades of daily cheese consumption, I cut it out, cold turkey. I won’t lie and say it was easy. I had cravings coming out the wazoo, but I ate daiya every time a craving hit for a month or so, and then, much to my surprise, I kind of forgot what cheese tasted like. I didn’t reach for the bag of daiya nearly so often. I smelled cheese and thought it was pleasant but didn’t salivate. My taste buds changed, and they changed rapidly. It ended up being much easier to give up cheese than I ever thought. (Check out my 10 Tips For Going Dairy-Free here!)
Vegetarians are a necessary part of this movement, and are doing a world of good. Let’s inspire them to make even more positive change rather than tearing them down, and educate them on the truth of dairy and eggs!
Vegan to Vegan
You might think that once I went vegan I was ‘in’, one of the cool kids. But unfortunately, especially in anonymity on the internet, some vegans seem to LOVE to point fingers at other vegans, explaining why they aren’t in fact actually a vegan. Seem confusing and unnecessary? That’s because it is.
Just some of the arguments I have seen flying around the internet as of late include:
- You eat palm oil, that harms orang-utans so it isn’t vegan!
- You once took a bite out of a real burger that you thought was a veggie burger. You aren’t vegan!
- You kiss your non-vegan partner. You aren’t vegan!
I could go on. What good does it do to point out each other’s flaws rather than celebrate our similarities and attempts to live compassionately? A suggestion, if asked for, is one thing. But throwing criticism and judgement this way and that simply turns people off of this lifestyle.
How excited would you be to go vegan if all you say of them was the way they tear each other down? I am so glad I didn’t witness this until after making the transition, because it may have deterred me. It’s hard enough for people to want to make a change that they see as almost impossible. If not for each other, we need to pull together for all of the non-vegans out there, and for the animals! Educate, don’t hate, should be everyone’s mantra.
Vegans to Ourselves
This one can be the biggest downfall of a new vegan. Being too hard on ourselves when we make a mistake and using that as an excuse to give up entirely is a phenomenon I have seen far too much of. It’s even hard for long-time vegans, and it’s a difficult feeling to shake.
Just some of my own destructive and self-critical thoughts include:
- I bit into something that I didn’t know had animal products in it, I’m a bad vegan.
- I can never take back all of the death and suffering I caused in my 19 years as an omnivore.
- I should be more outspoken at every opportunity in my day to day life, I should never sit quietly ignoring a comment born of ignorance when I can set the record straight and be the voice for animals, no matter how much I end up alienating myself from my peers.
While I know that these thoughts can’t change the past, and I understand that I am not perfect and never will be, I can’t say that they won’t continue to be a part of my inner dialogue.
Since going vegan I have found my true purpose. Making the world a better place for animals of all species is my number one priority, my biggest passion, and what keeps me up at night. I am constantly thinking of ways that I can make a bigger difference. Reach more people. Be a better activist. Be a better vegan. And while these thoughts can be painful, I choose to use them as an impetus to do better, to be better, to focus on what I do right rather than what I do wrong. To learn from my mistakes and failures to be a louder, more articulate voice for the voiceless. To change the world.
I don’t think that the world will ever be free from judgement or criticism, nor should it be. Change comes from recognizing the flaws in the system and seeing a better way. But directing this judgement and criticism at individuals, rather than society, industry, or certain worldviews leads to defensiveness, retaliation, and damaged pride. Let’s lift each other up. Let’s take notice when someone eats a meatless meal, or chooses to buy cotton rather than silk, or goes for agave rather than honey. Let’s celebrate even the smallest changes, while educating and sharing our bigger vision for a peaceful, compassionate world.
Let’s change the world for animals, whether it be by a tiny step or a huge leap.
What kind of criticism have you received that has stuck with you? How can we work to improve our interactions and foster community rather than spite?
Until next time,
Pacifica Aquarian Gaze Mascara Review
It's time for my second vegan and cruelty free mascara review! As you may remember, I'm doing research into animal and animal-testing free makeup for my upcoming nuptials, and finding the perfect mascara is definitely at the top of my list! If you missed the last one, for Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara, click here! I also reviewed e.l.f.'s mad for matte palette, which you can read here.
Let's get to the review of Pacifica's Aquarian Gaze Mascara!
It's time for my second vegan and cruelty free mascara review! As you may remember, I'm doing research into animal and animal-testing free makeup for my upcoming nuptials, and finding the perfect mascara is definitely at the top of my list! If you missed the last one, for Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara, click here! I also reviewed e.l.f.'s mad for matte palette, which you can read here.
Let's get to the review of Pacifica's Aquarian Gaze Mascara!
What Pacifica has to say about its Aquarian Gaze Water-Resistant Long Lash Mineral Mascara...
'Amazing lengthening brush makes your lashes insanely long and gorgeous as it separates to build volume. Our nourishing formula is infused with coconut oil, kelp extract and vitamin B to hydrate each lash as it lengthens and strengthens.'
Cost: $14 US
Vegan? Yes!
Cruelty-Free? Yes!
Formulated Without: Animal Ingredients (including carmine, beeswax, and lanolin). Animal Testing, FD&C Colors, Mineral Oil, Parabens, Phthalates, Petroleum, Propylene Glycol, SLS, Gluten, Peanut Oil, and other ingredients you don't want on your skin.
Ingredients: Water (aqua), Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax (Thickener), Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax (Thickener), Acrylates Crosspolymer, Butylene Glycol, Stearic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, Polyisobutene, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxyethylcellulose Sodium Hydroxide, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Steareth-21, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Panthenol (Vitamin B), Macrocystis Pyrifera (Kelp) Extract, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Disodium Edta, Hexylene Glycol, Iron Oxides CI 77491, 77492, CI 77499
What I have to say about it...
The Good
- Gives beautiful length;
- Contains wholesome ingredients;
- Doesn't smudge;
- Very natural-looking (especially with one coat!);
- Doesn't tend to clumping;
- Separates the lashes;
- Leaves the lashes soft;
- Lightweight and flexible brush;
- Does not come off in water;
- Applies easily and the formula is not too wet;
- Is easily removed with almond oil and aloe vera gel.
The Bad
- Doesn't volumize;
- Doesn't hold curl exceptionally well over the course of the day and won't give your lashes a nice curl if you don't use an eyelash curler before and/or after application.
RATING: 4.5/5
Final Thoughts: This mascara is absolutely wonderful! I love using it day to day for a natural look, and love not having to worry about smudging or flaking. The length it gives is beautiful, but I do wish it volumized just a tiny bit more. It gives a slightly more dramatic look with further coats, but I'm not sure it gives enough punch to be worn alone on my wedding day. Perhaps combined with individual false lashes it would do the trick!
Would I recommend? 100%! The only drawback for me is the lack of volume, so if that isn't a concern for you I'd say go for it!
Have you tried Pacifica's Aquarian Gaze Mascara? What did you think? Is there a vegan and cruelty-free product you'd like me to review? Let me know in the comments below!
Also, be sure to check out my list of cruelty-free beauty brands before you head on your next shopping trip!
Until next time,
