I’ve been feeling a little fatigued and foggy lately, like there’s a mechanical shut-down happening in my brain. I know this could be caused by various lifestyle factors including stress, a lack of sleep, the extreme pace I’ve been keeping … Continue reading
What a week! I don’t think I understood the magnitude of the famous Two Oceans Marathon until I found myself in the midst of it this year. Even though I didn’t race the 56km Ultra Marathon, running the half and … Continue reading
Just a quick post to share my excitement! Last week I popped into my local Spar to grab a carton of Almond Breeze for a carrot cake recipe I was making for my birthday. I noticed the new nolac milk from Clover and squatted down to take a picci (as us vegans do when we spot a new product – not that this one is vegan though). The store owner saw my abnormal gesture and asked if he could assist. After a brief chat about veganism, he took me on a Spar tour with pitstops at all the exciting new vegan sections he implemented. I was thrilled to see the wide range of fantastic vegan products Plattekloof Spar now has on offer – think ice creams, yoghurts, protein powders, cheeses, tofu, pizza, pasta, sauces and chocolates. I used to drive up all the way from Panorama to Sea Point Spar whenever a vegan ice cream craving hit. With the petrol price going up, I’m over the moon to have access to a vegan haven merely 3km down the road. It is fantastic to see the vegan movement blossoming in South Africa – and especially in the “Boerewors curtain” where I stay.
EVENT: Tomorrow, 26 November 2016, Plattekloof Spar is hosting an instore demo for UTOPIA cashew cream yoghurts between 11:00 and 12:00. If you are in the area, pop in for a bite and stock up on yummy goodies to fill your pantry with!
Some snapshots from my shopping expedition:
Love Leo
xx
Happy Spring Day darling veggies! The gloomy days have past, and what better way to celebrate the sunnier season than to spring clean your skin routine? This past weekend I discussed why I am cleaning out my chemical closet, and … Continue reading
Did you know…? The Environmental Working Group estimated that 4 lbs (1.8kg) of lipstick is absorbed into the body over the lifetime of the average lipstick wearer!
It is absolutely horrific to think that our skin, the largest organ that protects our body, can also absorb the ingredients and chemicals it comes into contact with. Can you think about the amount of products you use daily? Let’s look at my average beauty routine:
That’s already 22 items (and hundreds of harmful ingredients), which excludes the daily household products we use such as dishwashing liquid, wood polish, fabric softener – and the list goes on.
So you might think to yourself, so what? Well, have you ever thought about what these chemicals are doing to your organs? Imagine using hair removal cream on your legs – a product that literally BURNS body hair in order to remove it. While you are sitting back waiting for the thick layer of horribly-smelling cream to do its job, these active ingredients are absorbed through your skin, burning its way into your organs. Pretty scary, huh? And we haven’t even gotten into what these products are doing to our environment once we flush it down the drain.
It is already quite difficult for South African vegans to find decent cruelty-free products on the market, now the task deems itself even more challenging. Luckily more and more companies are recognising the issue at hand and are going back to the garden to bring consumers the freshest, safest products made from natural, pure and organic ingredients. I am personally taking on the task to discovering and reviewing these chemically-free alternatives in order to live the healthiest life possible. Keep your eyes peeled to CTVeganista as I bring you latest, safest products from various industries.
In the interim I suggest you educate yourself by starting to read the ingredients breakdown on your favourite products, and learning all you can about harmful chemicals. Also, keep up to date with the latest finding by subscribing to the Environmental Working Group’s website and following them on social media:
This article on Top Tips for safer products is a great start!
Stay fabulous, and safe dear vegans!
xx
