Greetings dear readers! I hope you’re all enjoying the archived posts – It’s taking me a while to get them up but on the bright side I’ve also had a chance to revisit my old content and even make minor improvements to some of the recipes.
But enough about food already. When I relaunched the blog one of my goals was for it to become more of a lifestyle guide and resource – of course food will probably always be the focus, but I’d like to offer my musings on different aspects of being vegan wherever possible, so this is exactly that.
Vegan beauty products, unlike vegan food, are not quite as easy to get a hold of here in Bahrain (I can’t speak for the rest of the Gulf or the Arab world but I’m willing to bet it’s around the same). They are available – you just need to dig a little harder to find them, as well as do some research on which mainstream brands are already vegan (you’d be surprised!). So without further ado I give you, my top 5 vegan beauty product picks of the moment!
1. Green Bar Rose Plant Water
Not only does this stuff smell incredible it also works wonders. I’ve been using it daily for about 5 months now and I’m in love with how soothing and cleansing it is to my skin without being abrasive like most commercial chemical toners. Rose water is traditionally used in Middle Eastern culture as an anti-inflammatory, so it’s also great for sensitive skin. I adore that it’s 100% natural and additive free, plus have I mentioned that Green Bar is a completely local brand and concept? Points all around in my book.
The rose plant water is available to buy here on their website, and the good news is they ship regionally and internationally too.
2. Sante Organic Compact Powder
I generally don’t wear a lot of make-up, but my essentials are three-fold: bronzer, mascara and tinted lip balm. This one is a bit of a cheat because while it’s actually a compact powder, I buy a couple of shades darker and use it as a bronzer, and it works great. First I have to say I love that it’s matte – far too many bronzer powders come with an unnecessary glittery sheen that makes them impractical for everyday use. Second it’s completely organic, vegan and filled with all natural botanical ingredients including chamomile and organic jojoba. It doesn’t make my skin break out and is perfect for applying in layers too so you can gauge how much coverage you need.
I buy mine at the Organic Foods and Cafe in Seef Mall, but you can also order it online here (oh and another bonus? It doesn’t break the bank like my Guerlain bronzer used to).
3. OrganicCare Beauty Balm
Another local Bahrain-based brand that I’m immensely proud of is OrganicCare. Entirely homemade and handcrafted by a truly dedicated and knowledgeable entrepreneur, all their products are organic, and natural with wholesome ingredients that are safe and toxin-free. Now on to the Beauty Balm – is perhaps the best face product I’ve ever used, hands down. The balm is highly nourishing and gentle, and while it’s intended as a make-up remover I actually use it as my daily moisturizer, morning and night.
A special blend of skin loving cold pressed organic oils and butter that feeds your skin. Use it with our 100% organic cotton and hemp cloth to remove oils, dirt and makeup. The results can be seen right after one use, with incredibly radiant, glowing skin with a smoother, more refined texture. The difference can be seen instantly and just keeps on improving with use. OrganiCare’s Beauty Balm can be used as a moisturizer, for face, lips, cuticles, dry patches on body or heels.
What I love about it is how light it feels on my skin (even though it’s oil-based), it never makes me break out. It also smells so citrusy and fresh, gives me a great glow in the morning and has made my skin incredibly soft. Not to be missed if you live in Bahrain I highly recommend you get in touch via the Facebook page here. For international readers, stay tuned – I’m sure she’ll be branching out soon.
4. Barry M Blink Precision Eyeliner
Another one of my make-up must haves (although not a daily essential) is a solid eyeliner pen, because let’s face it; aint nobody got time for actual liquid liner. While I used to live for Rimmel and Maybelline’s eyeliner pens, I’m beyond happy to have found a vegan alternative. Yes that’s right, all Barry M’s products are 100% vegan and cruelty free! They also have a great line of nail polishes and a full range of make-up, so it’s definitely a great go-to. You can find them at Boots stores here in Bahrain, and virtually everywhere in the UK as well.
5. Bath and BodyWorks Fine Fragrance Mist
Because it’s almost virtually impossible to find perfume that’s vegan (barring Stella McCartney – which I may have to try out sometime soon) I pretty much stopped wearing perfume. Instead I opt for body sprays from Bath and Body Works which I much prefer as they’re so light yet still fragrant, floral and sweet. My scent of choice varies but my favourite has to be the Japanese Cherry Blossom. I also love that they have smaller bottles for travel or when you’re on the go. Now as for the brand, this is a bit of a tricky one – not all BBW products are vegan as some do contain animal ingredients (including lactose and gelatin) but they are definitely 100% cruelty free and do not test on animals, so as long as you read the ingredients on what you buy, you should be fine.
Available at Bath and BodyWorks stores (obviously) – my favourite one to frequent is the one in City Centre Mall, downstairs next to Carrefour and Lakeland.
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So there you have it – a sneak peak into some of my favourite vegan beauty products! It’s worth mentioning that I’m still in the process of totally veganizing my make-up bag, so I do use a combination of vegan and non-vegan products, but I’m slowly transitioning and finding accessible products like these is a great help.
What are some of your tried and tested vegan beauty/make-up/hair products? I’d love to know!
Milady says
I’ve been looking for a vegan eyeliner pen for the longest while! good heads up. I’ll have a look at that. thanks Nada! I’m impressed so much stuff is locally produced there. that’s so heartening!
Joy says
Wow, really like the sound of the rosewater and beautybalms! Would love to try them out, maybe I’ll buy them <3
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