Vegan Skincare Products

One of the first products I purchased in my move to hand crafted products was a bar of Turkish Mocha cold processed soap from DaisyCakes on Etsy.

I love it! Her soaps are made with olive, coconut, and soy oils, leaving my skin soft and moisturized. The scent is rich in the shower, but light on the skin. It sudses well (though I wouldn't call it a lather), and the ridges on either side make each shower feel like a mini-massage (at least until they wear down). I've already ordered more for gifts.

I'm rather particular about my lip balms. Usually, the most effective ones are sticky, and goopy. The less effective ones I don't even know what's in them! And they're not usually very tasty either.

So I was extremely pleased when I received my first shipment of vegan lip balm from DaisyCakesSoap. I'd ordered one tube of CranGrape and one of Coffee and Kahlua. (Turkish Mocha soap, Coffee and Kahlua lip balm... are we sensing a theme here?).

I was in a fruity sort of mood, so I tried the CranGrape first. The second I popped the lid off that tube, the scent just about knocked me off my feet! I swiped a bit on, not realizing how well it spread, and had very slippy lips at first.

It goes on so smooth and light. You can barely feel it on your lips, but you know it's there by the lovely, light taste, and by how soft and smooth your lips feel.

I actually had a co-worker (male) step into my office and promptly ask me what perfume I was wearing. I was a bit stumped by that at first. I asked him if it smelled like grapes, and he said yes. I told him it was my lip balm, which seemed to confuse him, and he walked away.

When I kissed my husband, he wanted to know what I was eating because it tasted good, and when I sip from my water bottle, the next sip always tastes like CranGrape juice! I love this flavor so much, that I ordered a second tube in less than a week, because I was afraid she'd sell out and not make more!

The Coffee and Kahlua flavor/scent is just as strong, and is very good. However, you just can't beat the sweetness of fruit. I ordered a second tube of that as well (but hubby prefers the CranGrape).

The U.S. government is trying to pass legislation that would put most small cosmetic and personal care businesses out of business. By requiring hefty registration fees (up to $12,000), and reams of paperwork for every change to each product (even if it's changing the base oil in a product from coconut to soy), the majority of small and home based businesses will be forced to close.

For more information, visit the Indie Business Blog, watch the video, and read the info. If you're for small and indie businesses, please sign the petition.

The contest has ended, and according to Random.Org, SLPowell of From Cribs To Car Keys has won the draw!
What She's Won:

1 Daisycakessoap lip balm in any flavor currently available in her shop at the time of the drawing.

1 Daisycakessoap cold processed or glycerine soap in any scent currently available in her shop at the time of the drawing.

Did you enter and not win? Or see the contest too late to enter? Not to worry- DaisyCakesSoap has plenty of wonderful products to go around, and her prices are almost as good as her crangrape lip balm!

All proceeds from this lens (my portion, that is) goes to support the Grameen Foundation- a charity that helps people in third world countries, parts of the USA, and other countries to start their own businesses using micro loans. When the loans are paid back, the money is used for more micro loans, creating a nearly self sufficient charity. Now if only more charities could do that!