We're capable of great things...

The more I look at mankind, the more my faith in us goes away.

Sometimes I forget that we're not all bad.
This video reminded me.





I still keep #taiji dolphins in mind    

Hey Giovanni !



It's been a while since I wanted to try Giovanni's products.

 

I had heard very positive comments about it by Tashina from Logical Harmony.

She only uses vegan products (that are also cruelty-free of course!).

 

 

The product

 

So I bought the shampoo + conditioner 2chic from the ultrasleek line.

Suitable for all hair types.

Vegan product and of course cruelty-free.

 

Each tube cost me $ 9.99 at Loblaws, but it is also available at Tau.

I'm pretty sure it will not be long before we also see it in drugstores.

 

It's 250 ml size (same as John Frieda)

 

The shampoo foams a lot and smells divine.

Smells like vanilla or maybe like a cake!

 

The conditioner is very creamy and gets easily into the hair.

These products are pleasant to use.

 

And what to say about the results ? Silky and shiny hair for the whole day !

 

 

My verdict

 

I must say I thought I had found THE shampoo when I bought the Mistik one.

But now, I don't know anymore ! I stay still very attached to it.

 

I've never been very loyal to shampoos ... I need variety !

 

Seriously, it is good to vary shampoos (confirmed by my hairdresser)

So I'll definitely buy Giovanni again (not to forget my Mistik)

 

Giovanni is officially in charge of my hair for the days when I want my hair to be particularly impeccable! (such as a day where I have an important meeting!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Leaping bunny approved

 

 

 

 

 

Natracare - No bunnies blood!

I have never been so looking forward to my periods!
Well, not that much.

Maybe you don't know about this, but Always and StayFree are on PETA's DO test list...

That's why I'm also suspicious of other brands.



So when I saw that Natracare is available in Quebec + approved by PETA, do I need to say I was happy ?

The brand is also Vegetarian Society approved.

 

 

The product

I found Natracare at Loblaws.
I got it at 3.99$. I think the regular price is 5.99$

 

 

 

 

 

100% bio cotton - biodegradable - without chlore - no plastic - no chemicals

Natracare shows off all its patches on the packaging!

Nordic Ecolabel
Soil Association - Organic Standard
Lohas
Ethical Award
Vegetarian Society

Really ethical, unlike most brands.

It's good for you, the environment and animals.

 

My verdict

Natracare have nothing to envy to other brands.
It does the job, the quality is the same.

I don't see why I would buy a brand that tests on animals when a product as good as this one is available and is more ethical in terms of the environment and its respect for life.

Hey Green Beaver !! Knock Knock Knoc?? Is there anyone ???

I'm done. I'm fed up. I'm putting Green Beaver on my wall of shame!

I'm fed up of these brands that think they just can ignore their client's email.
As if the money they earn wouldn't come from our pockets!!

There are so many brands that don't answer when I ask them about their animal testing policy.

I work for the Internet department of a huge insurance company.
I do answer customer's emails in their name 5 days a week.
(I have other tasks, don't worry about my mental health!)

I know that sometimes customers ask quite difficult questions. I don't always know what to say right away to them.

BUT YOU KNOW WHAT ? I do answer each email.


That doesn't seem to be important to do the same at Green Beaver...

I wrote them twice in the last few months.
I would have asked ''grass'' a question, i would have been more likely to get an answer.

I'm not asking Green Beaver to tell me what's the meaning of life or if they're capable to confirm the existence of Nessie!

NO! I'm asking simple questions.


Are the ingredients in their products, their formulas or their finished products tested on animals?
Either by themselves or by third parties authorized to do so?

Does Green Beaver ensures that their suppliers do not test on animals either themselves or by authorized third parties (ingredients, formulas, finished products)

Do they sell their products in a country where animal tests are required?
(such as China)




Hey! clerck@greenbeaver.com , if you don't understand the questions, tell me!
I can explain !!!!



While waiting (let's be honest, I'm not waiting anymore), I'm not buying any Green Beaver product.

There's a good chance there's no animal testing.
However, this brand doesn't show on PETA or Leaping Bunny's lists
(I haven't find one single trustworthy organisation that has that brand on their good list yet)

As for their customer service ?? Let's not say anything.
I don't think we'll see them win a JD Power soon.


P.S. :  Saying on your website ''NOT tested on animals'' doesn't mean anything !
What is not tested on animals ? The final product only ?


P.P.S. : There are so many other brands that don't answer...

Aux Vivres - What a great place!

As part of my quest to have a cruelty-free lifestyle, I also make an effort when it comes to food.

 

I plan to visit vegetarian  / vegan  Montreal restaurants.

 

I wanted to go eat at Aux Vivres for a while now.

I finally went yesterday with two non-vegetarian friends.

 

The restaurant was crowded, even if we went around 2 or 3 pm.

 

 

Despite this, we did not wait long before getting a table.

About 3 minutes.

 

    

We started with ''l'assiette froide''

For 2 to 3 people.

From left to right, you may see :

tofu cream - vegelox - hummus - olive tapenade - veggie paté

It was served with mini pitas.

 

 

 

We finished everything pretty quickly. There was no leftovers at all.

I suspected my friend Christian to want to lick the plate!  ;-)

 

    

 

 We then received our main dishes.

Bol Dragon - Sirocco Wrap - Gyro

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

My friend Christian chose the ''Bol Dragon''.

(shredded beet, carrot, daïkon, lettuce, sprouts, red cabbage, dulse, toasted sesame seeds,

dragon sauce and grilled tofu)

 



 

 

It was served with a sauce that seemed to be peanuts flavored.

My friend emptied his plate and was very satisfied.

I tasted it and liked it a lot.

 

 

 

My other friend Paolo chose the Sirocco sandwich.

This is what made him the less afraid. Eggplant and olives reminded him of Italian cuisine,

(grilled eggplant, hummus, roasted red peppers, lettuce and olive tapenade)

 

 

 

The serving is HUGE!!

I suggest you share this plate with someone else.

Paolo liked it, and Christian finished the plate for him :)

 

 

 

 

And I chose the Gyro

(souvlaki-style seitan, tzatziki, tomato, lettuce)

 

I absolutely loved it.

My friends knew nothing about seitan, so I gave them some bites.

They were surprised by it and both told me it was good.

Paolo came with his 4 year old son with us and the little boy loved it.

He kept on asking for seitan.

 

My Gyro was generous enough for me to be able to give away many bites and have enough for me!

The tzatziki sauce was so good!

It is definitively a meal to get again!

 

    

After our meal, we went to the Aux Vivres grocery section.

There are some dishes ready to go, vegan mayonnaise, sauces, cakes and desserts.

 

 

If I lived nearby, I would always buy some stuff for home.

And I'd eat there often.

 

 

I had a very good experience with that restaurant :)



Naturally fresh deodorant crystal

Ok, I know it ain't super glamorous to talk about deodorant, but it's not super glamorous to go without either !

I bought the Naturally fresh deodorant crystal which I found at Tau.

I chose the roll-on version which cost me $ 3.99 but there is also the 120 g stick that costs, if I remember correctly, $ 6.99.
This may sound expensive, but let's not forget that most of deodorants are available in 48 to 70g sticks.

Coming back to Naturally Fresh, it is a vegan and cruelty-free product.
PETA approved.

There is no aluminum (metal bad for us!)
And fits sensitive skins.

The product is available in many fragrances including Ocean breeze, Lavender, Tropical breeze, Papaya fusion + there's the fragrance free one.





Also, you can see the pink ribbon on the bottle.


It's their way to show they care about making products free of toxins.


Naturally Fresh campaigns to make sure we are realizing that detecting the problem sooner is the best way women have to fight breast cancer.




This is all well and good, but is it doing its job?

The first day, around dinner time, it seemed to let go of its protection.

I work at a computer all day, I do not do incredible physical exercises , I should not want to hide under my desk after a few hours.

The next day, I decided to apply a greater amount of product and I have had no problems.

It is as effective as any other product you may find in a drugstore.


It is I, I suppose, who must have misapplied it the first day.

After all, I get up at 5 in the morning.
I probably was still sleeping.

At the end of the day, I would say that this product ain't expensive, is vegan, is cruelty-free and does what we expect it to do.
(plus supports a good cause)



I have no negative comments about it besides saying the picture on the packaging is not very interesting...
For those who can't see it on the picture, it is a couple putting deodorant...

Matt & Nat

Vegan bags

At Matt & Nat, no leather! Only vegan products.

It doesn't stop them from making bags that look like it.

In addition, they use environmentally friendly and recycled materials as much as they can.
For instance, they use recycled plastic bottles for the linings of their bags.

Their creations have already found takers among people such as Nathalie Portman, Olivia Wilde, Charlize Theron, Eva Mendes et Emily Deschanel to name only a few.

What bag do I choose now?




From left to right : Cara (125$) - Alter (145$) - Jack (175$)




Top : Trip (68$) - Bottom : Dl (60$)

Wall of Shame - You might not suspect these brands!

 

Do you see a brand you would not expect here ?

All the brands underneath does animal testing

New stuff from ecotools and physician's formula

Here are two new products that should arrive soon in store, if it is not already the case.



EcoTools, known for its makeup brushes made with synthetic bristles will provide us with fake lashes pretty soon!

They offer 5 different kits already visible online.
They are advertised to $ 5.99

The kits include fake eye lashes made with the same soft bristles we find in their makeup brushes, a tool and a free of chemicals glide-on glue.

Physician's Formula launches trios of nail polishes!

They pre chose for you some color.

For an amount of 13.99$,

you'll may choose between 8 different trios.

 

It is made without :

DBP, Camphor, Toluene,

Formaldehyde, Parabens,

Gluten, Sulfates,

Synthetic Fragrances,

Petrochemicals, Pthalates,

GMOs, Triclosan.

SW 6738, better known as Vegan !

When there's a paint color called Vegan!!

Seen on Instagram!

Kiss My Face

I bought a Kiss My Face product at Loblaws few days ago.

I must say that initially I was not sure whether it was a makeup remover or facial cleanser.

On the packaging, it says ''facewash''.
But it is translated to French as ''démaquillant'' which means ''makeup remover''.

Since it is an American brand, I decided to rely on the description in English.


As a cleaner, it's okay.

It smells good, foams well and cleans.
In addition it is vegan and not tested on animals.

One thing however:
It's indicated (in both languages) that it's exfoliating.

But I must object!

No exfoliating beads or pellets at all!
I have not felt  my skin exfoliated at all.  :-(

It disappoints me greatly.
I'm used to be satisfied by Kiss My Face.

But hey, it happens to the best ...

Have you already tried this cleanser / makeup remover / exfoliator ?


I am curious to know what you think about it.