It seems like i’m slowly replacing most hair/shower/skin products with products from Lush so i figured i’d update you guys on my favorites in each category.

BIG shampoo

On first inspection it looks like a pot of goopy salt but i was so impressed with the lather it gets and you don’t need to use much at all. My hair was literally squeeky clean.

I have a lot of very fine hair and this really gave me a lot of body even with my hair straight but didn’t strip the shine at all.

Happy Happy Joy Joy conditioner

This conditioner is a little power-house and is especially good for over-processed hair, leaving it feeling healthy and smelling delicious.

Combine these two products for a healthy way to put shine and body back into your hair.

Between people in my real life asking and questions on here i thought i’d make a post with some tips about how to make the transition to veggie/vegan a little easier.

• Education. This will be your best friend in terms of motivation. Knowing exactly what the effects that a diet heavy in meat and dairy cause on not only the animals themselves but you and the environment is so important. You will be shocked. Some great documentaries are Forks Over Knives and Vegucated.
• Preparation. To make the transition as easy as possible preparation is key. If you’re going out to eat, look up the menu or call the restaurant in advance to see if they are able to cater to your diet. Don’t be afraid to custom order things and be picky! Also make sure you go grocery shopping regularly and ensure you have a good collection of vegan pantry items, this way you’ll be less likely to go buy crappy foods and revert back to old habits.
• Find a vegan buddy. We all know working out is easier when you have someone doing it with you so apply the same tactic to your diet. Perhaps your boyfriend or girlfriend will do it with you or a friend or family member. If you have someone in a similar situation to talk to when you’re finding it hard/lacking inspiration, it might turn out that they have the exact answer you need!
• Have a back up plan. I always have snacks with me for times when people might be going out to eat somewhere that doesn’t have good options for me. Never go hungry!
• Increase your culinary repertoire! Learn some new recipes that are easy and delicious. This way you have a good basic arsenal and won’t get bored easily. 
• Try new things! If you do get bored of your diet… get out there and buy something you’ve never used before. For example buy some lentils and try out a few different lentil recipes… buy some sweet potatoes and experiment with those.
• Remind yourself of the good you’re doing. I find watching health documentaries when i work out gives me so much more motivation to keep eating and living right. It makes me feel like i have the edge on a lot of people! You’re helping yourself, the animals and the environment.

I’m sure some of you other vegans/veggies out there have more to add… what helps you?

Yay! #ecoemi box! Haven’t had a chance to explore it all properly yet. #beauty #vegan #health

After a week of eating crap this is so good! #health #food #vegan #keweenawcoop

Miss Alyssasrose messaged me to tell me about the new vegan Pravana line- NEVO.

I’m definitely gonna check out some of the products, she said the mask is great and i’ve been looking at the Hydra Pearls you can use on skin or hair!

I’ve used Pravana products before and loved them so i have high hopes for the NEVO products!

Got these in my #consciousbox this month and they’re amazing!! #vegan #health #food

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If, like me, you’re trying to make more earth-friendly, animal-friendly choices: take a look at some of these awesome vegan shoes i’ve found for you.

Generally the cheaper stores have fun, vegan options that are so reasonably priced that you won’t care if they look worn out after 10 wears.

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Bit of a weird combo but hey… I eats what I likes. Mung bean fettuccine with vegan pesto, nutmeg mashed sweet potatoes and the zucchini curlies I posted before. #health #food #vegan

Zucchini “pasta” salad. Used my magic spiralizing noodle machine (I’m guessing it has a name) to make noodles out of 2 small zucchini then steamed it for a few minutes until tender and put it aside. Chopped up cherry tomatoes, kalamata olives, basil and garlic then mixed all the ingredients together in a bowl with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Seriously delicious. #health #food #vegan

For more tips and recipes to simplify embracing a vegan lifestyle, check out PCRM’s vegan kickstart!

ROSANNA’S FAVORITE RECIPES

Rosanna’s Superfit Smoothie

My favorite breakfast is a green smoothie (any combination of spinach, celery, fresh fruit, and a banana), which provides me with more energy than a cup of coffee.

Makes 2 to 3 servings

3 cups spinach or kale

3/4 cups sliced pears or green apple

1 1/2 cups green grapes

1 banana

Juice of 1 lemon

3 to 4 celery stalks

3/4 cup ice

3/4 cup water

Add all ingredients in a blender or food processer. Blend for two to three minutes and enjoy!

Quinoa and Carrot Salad

This light, spicy-sweet salad with tease your taste buds. Try adding any leftover beets, broccoli, or other vegetables you have on hand.

Makes 4 servings

1 cup quinoa

1 1/2 pounds carrots, thinly sliced

Juice of 1 1/2 lemons

1 1/2 teaspoons agave nectar

1 garlic clove, minced

3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground cumin

3 pinches cayenne pepper

Kosher or sea salt to taste

Freshly ground black pepper to taste

1/2 cup golden raisins

Rinse quinoa in a fine sieve under running water for about 1 minute. Bring 2 cups water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Pour in the quinoa and return to a boil. Lower heat, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, bring 2 quarts water to a boil in a large saucepan. Drop in the carrots and cook for 2 minutes. Drain and set aside.

In a large bowl, whisk the lemon juice, agave nectar, garlic, cinnamon, cumin, cayenne, salt, and black pepper. Add the quinoa, carrots, and raisins. Toss. Refrigerate for 1 hour. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

Rosanna’s tips.

1. Educate yourself about nutrition. Learn about the impact your food choices have on your overall health. A diet rich in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and legumes can greatly improve your health and reduce the risk of major lifestyle-related diseases, including heart disease and cancer. Buy a new plant-based cookbook or sign up for a cooking course.

2. Get rid of dairy products. I feel so much healthier on a plant-based, vegan diet. The amount of vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients in plant-based foods gives me an extra edge as an athlete. It also helps propel me through long days in the science lab, between biochemistry exams and long photo shoots.

3. Be kind. Think about the impact your food choices have on animals, your long-term health, and the environment. Also, be kind to yourself; reward yourself for your personal health goals. Splurge on a snorkeling trip or nice dinner with your family.

You might’ve seen me mention Lush’s makeup line a couple of times now so i figured it was time for an actual review.

Initially i thought the colors in the Emotional Brilliance line were all multi-use but it seems like they’ve categorized them better now and its actually very simple and comprehensive.

Foundation-wise there aren’t that many shades (i’m guessing this will change with time) but thats what mixing is for, right? Unless you have a particularly dark skin tone i’m pretty sure you could find your color or mix a combination of two. Lush staff are always really helpful so stop in to a store if you’re unsure about it all.

Their bases and foundations are all very simple. There are a couple of primers, a powder and then five color supplements.

The supplements can be used alone as concealer and foundation or can be mixed with any of lush’s moisturizers for a more sheer/tinted moisturizer effect (great for summer).

I used the color “light yellow” in this look. Patted it under my eyes and down the centre of my face then buffed it out with a Real Techniques brush. I then went back in and touched up any areas that needed extra coverage. 

The consistency is almost like a whipped foundation, very easy to work with and goes on without streaking. I liked using Real Techniques brushes to apply it, the expert face brush or buffing brush work wonderfully but you could also use fingers or a damp makeup sponge.

For a product so natural and gentle, it is so pigmented and build-able! Lush really break the mould with products that are natural, cruelty free and actually WORK.

It had great staying power, felt great and stayed looking good.

I’ve also tried their lip color in “glamorous”.

Such a pretty color and can be used on lips or cheeks. Similar to their foundation you can use it alone or mix it with a little lip balm for a more sheer application like i did below.

Not mixed with lip balm its quite similar to MAC’s saint germain lip stick- such a beautiful pink.

Didn’t last incredibly long but i’m not averse to reapplying when the packaging is so stinkin’ cute!

They also make the cutest little mascara ever full of delightful ingredients that will actually nourish your lashes.

Being a die-hard waterproof fan, i can’t say i’ll use this every day but if you need a mascara for sensitive eyes or just a good all-rounder: this is it! Goes on well, easy to build up layers and comes in a handy little bottle. My only complaints are that a) its not waterproof and b) the mascara wand could be a little longer just to make application a little easier.

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Over all i’m really impressed with the line so far. Vegan, natural and effective! I’d like to try some of their other eye products and the primers/highlighters so i’ll update this as i try more and repost it :)