Make a Sustainable Love Connection this Valentine's Day!

There can be so much pressure around Valentine's Day for both singles and couples to spend an inordinate amount of money on...well...rubbish. Don't get me wrong, I'm a hopeless romantic and I love planning surprise treats and picking out a thoughtful gift or experience! But whether you're organising a big night out or staying in and pampering yourself - don't forget it's about the love not the stuff ;-) 

If you do want to splash out on something fun for your special person, then sustainable is the new sexy! Here are a handful of romantically ethical finds to inspire you:

Reusable Romance Trade Tokens by Leafcutter Designs - I really like that this is a gift that keeps on giving throughout the year, helping to build fun memories :) You can even top up your activity options from the other editions including 'Foodie', 'Outdoor Adventure' and 'Sexy Time'

Balls for Good by Jinta Sport -If your Valentine is a sporty guy or girl, why not treat them to a new fairtrade ball! You'll not only earn points for caring about their favourite game, your purchase will also benefit community development projects in third world countries AND sports programs for Aboriginal children in Australia

Soft Coeur Massage Bar by LUSH - I am so head over heels for massages! Share an intimate and relaxing moment with your Valentine with this chocolate and honey massage bar. You know what else is a turn on? Equal rights! So why not check out LUSH's Sign of Love campaign

Really Wild Gifts from WSPA - You'll totally be in for a bunch of bear hugs after giving this gift! Make someone's heart glow knowing that there are bears being saved from captivity and cruelty thanks to your present

Fairtrade + Organic Cotton Men's Sleepwear by Sorella & Me - Sure getting dressed up and hitting the town for a romantic night out can be awesome fun, but so can staying home in bed watching your favourite movies! If that's your plan why not make sure he's wearing something an ecofashionista can be proud of? Pssst: use the code MYLOVE at the checkout for 15% off storewide until 14/02/14

"Love one another and you will be happy. It's as simple and as difficult as that" ~Michael Leunig

Kindness by Review: Vegan Treats for Lovers of LUSH Pampering!

“There must be quite a few things that a hot bath won't cure, but I don't know many of them”

― Sylvia Plath

For as long as I can remember, a nice hot bath has been my mainstay for soothing both body and mind. I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to try three of LUSH's new 100% vegan bath time goodies. Perfect as stocking-stuffers this season or as an anytime treat for yourself!  
 

 1. Shoot For The Stars Bath Ballistic (AUD$6.75)

I wasn't expecting a simple bath product to bring to mind Vincent van Gogh's masterpiece "The Starry Night". But as the water in my bathtub swirled with shades of blues, a touch of yellow, deep purple and sparkling silver stars, I was already feeling enchanted and I hadn't even hopped in yet! 

Don't be alarmed when the water settles into a dark glittering purple - it won't stain your bathtub. I found this whimsical bath ballistic a charming mix of soothing and uplifting. Definitely a treat after a hard day's work!

2. Angel's Delight Soap (AUD$5.90)

If you're a fan of all things sugary sweet then you'll love this slice of Angel's Delight soap packed with tangerine oil, orange oil and gardenia oil. Using this was like cleaning myself with fairy floss - so watch out if you're not keen on soaps with fragrance.

One of the cool things about LUSH soaps is that they come in chunky slabs that last for ages! 

3. Sandy Santa Scrub (AUD$6.50)

Who knew that Santa's face could do such wonders for dry skin!  My skin felt amazing after using this Santa-themed combination body butter and scrub. Keep your body smooth and hydrated with this mix of coconut oil, murumuru and organic shea butters, as well as sugar and sand.

In Australia we're coming into summertime right now, so this scrub with its Brazilian orange oil is great for keeping legs beach-ready. 

You can find more LUSH vegan Christmas treats here!

#2 Eco-budget versus Eco-luxe: Make-Up

Here I go again! Last time it was summer dresses, this time I wanted to see what cruelty-free make-up products I would purchase if I was starting my collection from scratch while keeping within my 3 budget categories :

Category 1: Eco-budget (Under $100)

Vegan Cosmetic 6 Piece Brush Kit from Beaute Crue - This cruelty-free set includes: blush brush, eye Shading brush, angled eyeliner brush, concealer brush, lash and brow groomer and a hemp and cotton case in a zipper storage bag ($22.50)

Shimmer Eyeshadow - 20 Shades Pack from Eye Kandii Cosmetics in extremely vivid colours ($18.00)

Sun Kissed Bronzer by Just Pure Minerals - Hand crafted in small batches these little pots of bronzed goodness contain no synthetic dyes or fragrances and are 100% cruelty-free ($12.00)

Vitamin E Lip Smoothers by Ecco Bella - These luscious vegan lip loving treats come in 4 colours and have been designed to eliminate cracks and dryness ($17.95)

Mineral Volume Mascara in Black by Prirodna Vegan Cosmetics - This 100% vegan and cruelty-free mascara contains organic oils and needs only luke warm water to be removed ($18.90)

Category 2: Eco-Luxe (under $200)

Eco Tools by Alicia Silverstone - 5 piece make-up brush set and bag. The brushes feature bamboo handles, recycled aluminum ferrules and incredibly soft, cruelty-free taklon bristles ($59.00)

24/7 Glide-On Eyeshadow Pencils by Urban Decay - These amazing cruelty-free pencils come in a huge array of eye-catching shades with a large vegan selection ($20.00)

Composure Lollipop Pink Lip Gloss from Furless - This gorgeous vegan mineral gloss is perfect for pouty lips ($15.95)

Fruit Pigmented Tinted Moisturizers with SPF 20 by 100% Pure - I'm a big fan of having sun protection built into cosmetics and this foundation sounds delish ($32.00)

Natural Mascara by Ere Perez - This vegan mascara uses the power of aloe vera gel for a great 'wet' look ($28.95)

Halo Body Spotlight from Vapour Organic Beauty - This luxurious cruelty-free beauty product contains 70% organic ingredients and 30% natural minerals and vitamins. The ingredients have been selected to give you a luminous glow ($34.00)

Category 3: Uber-Luxe (Budget? What's a budget?)

Dramatic Eyes and Lips Set by Alexami - This amazing pack contains: 3 x mineral eyeshadow; 1 x herbal mineral mascara; 1 x vegan lip gloss; 1 x vegan eye shader; 1 x vegan angle brush; and a cotton eco pouch ($149.95)

Sparkling Pressed Powder by NARS - Brush on some of this lovely powder designed by New York makeup artist, Francois Nars and shimmer to your heart's content ($64.00)

Certified Organic Pure Primer by Inika - Made with macadamia oil, avocado, shea butter and apricot this primer sounds good enough to eat ($60.00)

Advanced Care Lip Colour by Nvey Eco - This multi-award winning lipstick contains certified organic ingredients to sooth your lips while making them look oh so kissable ($29.00)

Vegan Brush Set by Christopher Drummond Beauty - These hand-sculpted brushes are crafted from sustainable wood and are 100% vegan and cruelty-free. You also get a free bonus travel jar of Saude Pele Radiance Booster($129.00)

Mineral Corrector by SCOUT - Choc-full of shea butter, jojoba seed oil and Vitamin E this little beauty helps to make redness and dark circles disappear ($23.95)

Special Edition Gold Collection by SpaRitual - Nothing says uber-luxe like chucking a few precious metals into your cosmetics! These amazing polishes are 100% vegan and cruelty-free ($16.15)

Mineral Liquid Foundation from My Earth Natural Cosmetics - Natural botanical ingredients combine to give you a delicate sheer coverage ($53.50)

ZuZu Luxe Blush from Gabriel Cosmetics - This range comes in 6 radiant pigments ($21.50)

Glitter Pink Lemonade Lip Kit by Lip-Ink International - I have to admit I find the concept of pink lemonade lips delightful! Lip-Ink International uses natural vegan ingredients to create smear-proof cosmetics ($53.04)