cruelty-free


This post contains affiliate links, meaning if you purchase through the links below, I make a small commission, at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products I personally use and love!

When I started using anti-aging products in my 20s, before a single wrinkle had appeared, I did it all wrong. I purchased products for mature skin believing that the extra-strength would be extra-effective in preventing aging but instead I burned myself with retinoids and peels and caused break out after break out with deep moisturizing creams and night masks. At around age 30, I made a switch to natural skincare and my skin started improving. Now in my late thirties, I’ve found a routine that works and although my skin isn’t perfect, I never could have believed it would look this healthy at my age.

That’s me on the left at 27 and me on the right at age 37, earlier this year!

I organized all my favorite vegan skincare products in my Amazon Store if you’d like to check out the full list but I figured I’d share a more condensed list of the current products in my daily and weekly routine here. Included are cleansers, moisturizers and products that target signs of aging like wrinkles, sagging, puffiness and redness.

All of the items listed below are cruelty-free and made with vegan ingredients. I love them all and think you will too!

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Whether you’re looking for a gift for a vegan friend or family member or are a looking to treat yourself to something cruelty-free, this is the perfect guide for you! I put together my ultimate vegan gift guide including cruelty-free beauty products, plant-based cookbooks, delicious dairy-free chocolates, chic vegan fashion, gifts that give to sanctuaries and so much more! My gift ideas are grouped into five categories:

1. Cruelty-Free Kitchen
2. Plant-Based Beauty
3. Rescue, Shelter & Sanctuary Support
4. Vegan Fashion
5. Peaceful Yogi

Keep reading and click on the links beneath each item to start some feel-good shopping!


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I love a day at the beach or sitting by a pool but can’t stand having oily hair, a sweaty face or sunburnt skin so I’m always looking for the most effective summer beauty products.  These are my favorite beach beauty essentials. Hydrating leave-in conditioner, age-defying hand cream, waterproof bronzer, my secret for an oil-free face in seconds, an ingenious underarm product and more! All vegan and cruelty-free, of course!

1. Supergoop! “Forever Young” SPF 40 Hand Cream with Sea Buckthorn
This is my favorite summer hand cream.  The subtle scent is delicious, it absorbs quickly and brightens and improves skin’s texture! The small size is perfect for throwing in your beach bag.
view on www.amazon.com

2. Mineral Fusion SPF 30 Brush-On Sun Defense
In addition to my liquid face sunscreen, I always use a brush-on powder sunscreen for touch-ups and to control shine. This power is antioxidant-infused with sea kelp and white tea!
view on www.amazon.com

3. Klorane Dry Shampoo with Oat Milk
This is my absolute favorite dry shampoo. It quickly absorbs excess oil and restores bounce after a long day at the beach. I use the tinted version but they also offer their original clear dry shampoo!
view on www.kloraneusa.com

4. Tatcha Aburatorigami Japanese Blotting Papers
These are the best blotting papers I’ve ever tried! I always carry a package in my purse during the summer. The sheets are made of 100 percent natural abaca leaf and gold flake. They’re as pretty as they are effective!
view on www.amazon.com

5. Sun Bum SPF 30 Lip Balm
This vegan lip balm is made with moisturizing cocoa butter and comes in so many yummy flavors. Flavors pictured: key lime, pink grapefruit, coconut, banana, mango & pomegranate!
view on www.amazon.com

6. Tarte Matte Waterproof Bronzer in Park Avenue Princess
If you’re protecting you’re face like me, you’ll need a bronzer to give your cheeks and forehead that perfect summer glow. This bronzer contains vitamins A, C, and E and even contains water to help your skin retain moisture!
view on www.amazon.com

7. Supergoop! SPF 50 Defense Refresh Setting Mist with Rosemary
This three-in-one mist controls oil throughout the day, sets makeup and provides UV photoaging protection. I love the fresh rosemary-mint scent!
view on www.amazon.com

8. Sun Bum 3-in-1 Leave-in Spray
This lightweight leave-in spray smells amazing. Like one Amazon reviewer put it: “this product smells like your childhood summer at the beach”! It conditions and protects with coconut oil, argan oil, sweet almond oil, sunflower seed oil and banana leaf.
view on www.amazon.com

9. Coola SPF 30 Piña Colada Sunscreen Spray
This hydrating sunscreen is made with organic ingredients like cucumber, algae extract, strawberry extract and red raspberry seed oil. It sprays on evenly and smells incredible! Want higher SPF? Try their unscented SPF 30 sport sunscreen spray!
view on www.amazon.com

10. MyChelle Cucumber Cooler Soothing Spray
Soothe, cool and hydrate your skin after a day in the sun with this cucumber and aloe spray! Made with all-natural, non-GMO ingredients.
view on www.mychelle.com

11. MyChelle Replenishing Solar Defense SPF 30 Anti-Aging Cream
This is such an amazing anti-aging sunscreen for your face.  It protects, moisturizes and reduces lines with plant-based ingredients like zinc oxide, red algae extract, kukui oil and macadamia nut oil!
view on www.mychelle.com

12. Pacifica Underarm Deodorant Wipes
This ingenious product by Pacifica wipes away underarm sweat, neutralizes odors and soothes with coconut milk and essential oils.
view on www.amazon.com


This past weekend I attended both the NYC Vegetarian Food Festival and The Seed Experience Market.  I had such a great time, met inspiring people, tried amazing vegan food, and spent way too much money!

On Saturday, my business (TLB Music) joined The Solutionary School at the NYC Vegetarian Food Festival to lead a “Compassion Rocks” music class for the children at the festival.  It was so much fun!  We sang songs about animals, love, compassion, and world peace while the kids played on drums, shakers, and bells and we even drummed together on the Djembe:
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Deborah Lippmann is the go-to manicurist of the stars and the fashion industry and her high-quality line of polishes puts all others to shame. This amazing nail polish brand is cruelty-free, entirely vegan (except for the cuticle remover), and full of the most gorgeous sheer, creamy, and sparkly shades! They are easy to apply, fast-drying, and long-lasting. And, best of all- you’ll feel extra beautiful knowing that no animals were harmed for your manicure or pedicure!  Here are my picks from her current collection.

Crème, Sheer, Glitter & Shimmer: Treatment-infused nail colors with Biotin and green tea. No Toluene, Formaldehyde Resin, Camphor, or DBP. No animal testing.

1.  Before He Cheats Crème Nail Lacquer  {view on Amazon}
2.  Between the Sheets Crème Nail Lacquer  {view on Amazon}
3.  Mermaid’s Dream Glitter Nail Lacquer  {view on Amazon}
4.  P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing) Sheer Nail Lacquer {view on Amazon}
5.  Daytripper Crème Nail Lacquer  {view on Amazon}
6.  Happy Birthday Glitter Nail Lacquer  {view on Amazon}
7.  Shape of My Heart Crème Nail Lacquer  {view on Amazon}
8.  Let’s Go Crazy Glitter Nail Lacquer  {view on Amazon}
9.  Flowers in Her Hair Crème Nail Lacquer   {view on Amazon}
10.  Build Me Up Buttercup Crème Nail Lacquer  {view on Amazon}
11.  Stop and Stare Crème Nail Lacquer  {view on Amazon}
12. Mermaid’s Kiss Glitter Nail Lacquer {view on Amazon}

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These are some of my absolute favorite vegan beauty products- perfect for sensitive skin and those who want to take a stand against animal cruelty (while looking gorgeous).  It’s easy to shop cruelty-free with amazing options like these!

1.  Coconut Watercolor Cheek Gelée by Josie Maran ($22) view on www.josiemarancosmetics.com
This 14-hour cheek gelée adds a natural-looking flush and hydrates with coconut water and argan oil.   Available in 6 flattering colors.  My shade:  poppy paradise.

2. 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil by Urban Decay ($20) view on www.urbandecay.com
This waterproof liner is a creamy, long-lasting, and available in over a dozen gorgeous colors- everything you need in a liner. My favorite is their new, pitch black “perversion”.

3.  Argan Beautiful Eyes by Josie Maran ($36)  view on www.sephora.com
This shadow is infused with argan oil and fruit and floral extracts. The result is a soft, nurturing shadow that you’ll want to wear everyday.

4.  Absolutely Flawless Concealor by Two Faced Cosmetics ($20)  view on www.amazon.com
This flexible coverage concealor does it all: it smooths, moisturizes, and de-puffs with vitamins a, e and chilean treebark plant extract while covering imperfections and masking redness.

5. Anti-Aging Eyeshadow Primer Potion by Urban Decay ($24)  view on www.urbandecay.com
This is the ultimate eye shadow primer. It keeps lids creaseless for 24 hours while smoothing the appearance of wrinkles and plumping, firming, and hyrdating your skin!

6.  bareMinerals Matte Foundation by Bare Escentuals ($27)  view on www.sephora.com
I fell in love with this mineral-based makeup almost 10 years ago. I saw the infomercial, bought a starter kit from Sephora and could not believe the light coverage the product delivered. I never went back to liquid foundation and know lots of ladies who followed suit. Their Matte version controls oil while providing the same coverage and SPF as the original- perfect for Spring and Summer!

7.  Glamour Gloss by Two Faced Cosmetics ($14)  view on www.amazon.com
This volumizing gloss comes in a variety of shades to flatter your complexion and is infused with a combination of omega 3, 6 and 9, natural vitamin e, jojoba oil, and avocado oil.

8.  Primed & Poreless Primer by Two Faced Cosmetics ($30)  view on www.amazon.com
I’ve tried so many primers and this is one of my favorites. Vitamins A & C, Mulberry Extract and a dose of Retinol smooth over pores and and hydrate, firm, and detoxify!

9.  gifted™ Amazonian Clay Smart Mascara by Tarte Cosmetics ($19) view on www.tartecosmetics.com
This “smart” mascara’s Amazonian clay lengthens, conditions, repairs, and replenishes thirsty eyelashes.

10.  Cocoa Pigmented Bronzer by 100% Pure ($28) view on www.amazon.com
Get a sexy faux glow with this natural bronzer.

 

More Cruelty-Free Recommendations:
Cruelty-Free Beauty: Vegan Cosmetics
Cruelty-Free Beauty from Head to Toe
The Best Non-Toxic, Cruelty-Free Cleaning Products
16 Must-Have Vegan Skincare Products to Brighten & Tighten Your Face

These are my favorite non-toxic, cruelty-free cleaning products by great companies like Method, Mrs. Meyers, Grab Green, and BabyGanics.  Click on links beside each item to view on Amazon.
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{Kitchen}
Grab Green Dishwashing Detergent Pods view on www.amazon.com
Mrs. Meyer’s Liquid Dish Soap in Basil view on www.amazon.com
Grab Green Degreaser Cleaner view on www.amazon.com
Seventh Generation Disinfecting Wipes view on www.amazon.com

{Toy & Highchair}
BabyGanics The Cleaner Upper Toy & Highchair Cleaner view on www.amazon.com

{Floors}
Method Squirt + Mop Wood Cleaner  view on www.amazon.com
Mrs. Meyer’s All Purpose Cleaner in Basil view on www.amazon.com

{Laundry}
Method Laundry Detergent in Fresh Air  view on www.amazon.com

{Bathroom}
Method AntiBac Toilet Cleaner  view on www.amazon.com
Mrs. Meyer’s Bathroom Cleaner  view on www.amazon.com

{All-Purpose}
Grab Green All Purpose Surface Spray in Thyme with Fig Leaf  view on www.amazon.com

{Glass}
BabyGanics The Sparkle Maker Glass & Surface Cleaner  view on www.amazon.com

{Wood}
Method Wood for Good Polish view on www.amazon.com

{Marble & Granite}
Method Daily Granite Polish view on www.amazon.com

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