Top three indie vegan perfumers

By Giselle Wedemire

Thanks to my beautiful mom and my effortlessly glamourous great-aunt, I developed a deep and abiding love for perfume at a very young age. As a wee preteen, I worshipped at the altar of body sprays, and in college I upgraded to finer eau de toilettes from Dolce & Gabbana, Viktor & Rolf, and Chloe.

When I became vegan nearly five years ago and focused on making the switch to green beauty products, I was sure that I’d have to settle for natural perfumes that I predicted could only smell like essential oils and patchouli. (No shade: I’d be the first to admit that I’m kind of a hippie at heart – mixed in with some Joan from Mad Men glam and a dash of Zoey Deschanel-esque whimsy. But just because I’m a hippie doesn’t mean I have to smell like one.)

Now, when it comes to vegan perfumes, it seems like everyone and their mom knows about – and reaches for – Pacifica. I feel that. After all, their Tibetan Mountain Temple fragrance makes me feel like I’m a badass yoga teacher.

But I’d like to invite you all to embrace your inner hipsters by broadening your fragrance horizons and supporting indie perfumers who put their heart and soul – along with more traditional fragrance notes, obvi – into each scent they create.

If you’re the type to go against the grain, here are three amazing indie perfumers that’ll leave you smelling glamourous, edgy, and sophisticated any time of the year. 

My vegan perfume collection as it currently stands.
Not pictured: the millions of sample vials I have from indie perfumers.

Southern Comforts: Perfumes for vegans who don't want to smell like hippies

By Giselle Wedemire

As you may know, I've got a huge soft spot for perfume, and am constantly looking for fantastic vegan, cruelty-free perfumes to replace my chemical-soup favourites from my pre-green beauty days. I'm still working my way through my old, not-so-vegan favourites (because it'd be wasteful to just throw them away), but for the most part, I've been using this as an opportunity to broaden my horizons and scope out some solid vegan- and eco-friendly options.

Included in my collection right now are some tried and true favourites from Pacifica and Tulip, but I recently fell down the rabbit hole that is Etsy's vegan perfume marketplace. I found Southern Comforts' quirky shop by complete accident one day, and within a day, I was following them on Instagram. Within a week, I had taken the plunge and ordered their 5 Pretty Perfume Samples deal, which allows you to hand-pick any five 2 ml samples you'd like to test out. (I also tacked on two more sample vials because I am terrible at making decisions, and couldn't limit my sampling to just five scents.)

Since I'm a slut for spicy, complex perfumes that have a light touch of creaminess in their dry-down, I often gravitate towards incense- or amber-filled concoctions that have tinges of vanilla in the background, and it seemed like Southern Comforts had quite a few fragrances that ticked all of my perfume criteria boxes. So, after an excruciating amount of time spent narrowing down the scents I wanted to test-drive, I placed my order and waited with bated breath.

Within two weeks, my order had arrived on my doorstep, and with mounting excitement, I poured the package's contents out onto the kitchen table and stood in awe when I really should have been making dinner. But who can focus on cooking when they've got such a cute (and exciting!) package in their hands?

Not me!

Winners is the best for us Picky Bitchez, and here's why

By Giselle Wedemire

I have a long and storied obsession with Winners (and Marhsalls, and TJ Maxx, if I’m in the US). If I’m having a rough day, or if I’ve got a bit of walking money burning a hole in my pockets, I almost always seek out the fluorescent lit aisles of my neighbourhood Winners in hopes of scoring a deal. Even if I don’t buy anything on a given trip, there’s just something about those stores and the requisite digging and scavenging for a deal that calms me.

This obsession predates my veganism by a number of years, but my commitment to a meat- and cruelty-free life has only bolstered my love for Winners stores everywhere. And for good reason, too: with their well-stocked, vegan-friendly options in their beauty, food, clothing, and accessories sections, stores like Winners et. al. are veritable vegan havens, if you know how to shop with a keen eye.

Photo via Wikipedia

Here are some things to keep an eye out for during your next trip to Winners:

Cruelty-free curls that are smooth like BuhTah

By Giselle Wedemire

About two years ago, I made the decision to go au naturale with my hair. It took a few stops and starts -- and a whole lot of soul-searching and self-acceptance -- to completely kick my flat iron habit to the curb and embrace my naturally curly hair.

But I can now say with complete confidence that I regret nothing and I am 100 per cent in love with the curls I once fought so hard to hide from the world.

On my natural hair journey, I've learned that my curl pattern is 3b, which means I have defined ringlets that are prone to frizz if left to dry without any product in them. It also means that if humidity gets anywhere near my hair, it turns into a fantastic ball of fluff. So, naturally, anti-humectants are my best friends because they help to block humidity's brutal effects from ratcheting up my hair. 

I've been looking high and low for a great all-natural, vegan, and cruelty-free miracle product that'll allow my hair to dry faster, and transform it into well-defined, healthy-looking, frizz-free spirals. After all this time, I think I've finally found that product.

BuhTah All Natural Shea Mix is a miracle-working product created by an independent startup company based in Georgia, USA. Made of all-natural shea butter, and jojoba, coconut, castor, and avocado oils, Buhtah is a sealant rather than a moisturizer -- which means it'll keep any and all frizz at bay. In short, it's a curly girl's dream come true.

How cute is that packaging, though? Love it!

Homemade beauty remedies for the lazy vegan

By Giselle Wedemire

The new Neal's Yard Remedies store in Southcentre Mall will be opening its doors today. It's a very exciting time for both the NYR team and Calgary's NYR fan base, and to celebrate this new store, the good folks at NYR are running a contest for shoppers to win prizes.

While we discussed the rules for the contest here yesterday, it's worth repeating: starting today, NYR will post a weekly remedy on their Instagram and followers are encouraged to share their own favourite at-home remedies (and the hashtag #MyNYR) to the company's Instagram for a chance to win an exclusive prize.

I thought I’d throw my hat in the ring for this prize because I love all things free, and also because I love spreading the gospel of homemade beauty products. So, without further ado, here are my favourite at-home remedies:

Disregard the terrible lighting in this picture and focus instead on these everyday
pantry items that make some of the best (and easiest) DIY beauty products.

Tea-infused hand creams are your dry hands' BFFs this season

By Giselle Wedemire

My hands are almost reptilian in nature: unnaturally cold, sometimes scaly (depending on the outside temperature), and impressively dry. This only gets worse as temperatures drop and the cool fall air starts demanding that I dig my mittens out of storage. 

I have no idea why my hands are that way since the rest of my body doesn't resemble a dinosaur's hide at all, but such is my lot in life. The best I can do is moisturize them as often as I can to curb the problem before my hands go all Jurassic Park on me.

On June 13, Bare English & Co. announced on their Facebook page that their brand new hand cream had just hit their online store. I am a huge Bare English & Co. convert ever since I reviewed their lip balms last winter, so I immediately got in touch with them to see how and where I could get my (dry) hands on this new product.

Each Green Tea Infused Hand Cream retails for $8.99 on their website, and they are currently available in three scents: lavender, vanilla coconut, and juicy peach. While you might guess from the name that it contains green tea (which acts as an antioxidant), the ingredient list also boasts a slew of fantastic moisturizers like oat protein, aloe juice, coconut oil, almond oil, and shea butter. 

Bare English & Co.'s Lavender Green Tea Infused Hand Cream. The only thing better than the hand cream itself is the packaging. I love that the cruelty-free bunny is right on the front of the tube!

Summery haircare to get you through gloomy winter days

By Giselle Wedemire

It's the end of February, and this winter is really starting to grind my gears. Lately it's been gloomy and chilly and exceedingly lame. I mean, just look at how terrible it looks outside:

Photo via Flickr

Just kidding! It's actually nowhere that bad here in Calgary. But still, I am so over winter right now, and summer just can't seem to come soon enough this year. Even though I'm really not the biggest fan of the heat, this drab winter has really got me itching for summer -- or at least for spring. All I really want is to be able to walk without having to watch my every step for potential death traps ice patches or worry that my just-washed hair will freeze and snap off during my walk to work.

What can I say? I'm a simple kind of gal (sometimes).

One thing that's been helping me out with this seasonal wanderlust of mine is the fantastically tropical scent of what's soon to be my new favourite haircare duo: Live Clean's Coconut Milk moisturizing shampoo and conditioner.* 

With its creamy, dreamy coconut scent, it feels like my shower is right across the way from a white sand-filled, resort-like beach -- the kind you'd expect to receive impeccable service and even better pina coladas.

As far as aromatherapy goes, this duo helps me dream a little dream that warmer days on their way. And as far as formulation goes, this collection is fortified with -- you guessed it -- coconut milk, plus other nourishing ingredients like Vitamins C, E, Provitamin B5 (all plant-sourced), rice protein and (curiously) "milk protein".

Reading that last part on the bottles' labels originally had me pouting so hard that I looked like I was duck facing for some unknown photo. Fearing the Vegan Police from Scott Pilgrim Vs. the World would be in hot pursuit of me if I even entertained the idea of using something that had traces of dairy in it, I immediately touched base with my contact at Live Clean and shot him this email:

The Live Clean rep got back to me the next morning with this short but effective (and, frankly, endearing) response: "Hi Giselle. Coconut milk!  Cows milk – yuuch!"

With my anxieties soothed, I set to work and tried out the newest addition to Live Clean's haircare roster.

Here's what I thought

LC Coconut Milk moisturizing shampoo
Thick in consistency and creamy, opaque white in colour, this shampoo is definitely different than any other Live Clean shampoo I've ever tried. But it's different in a lovely and luxurious way. It lathers beautifully and makes it feel like you're using a much more expensive product -- almost as if you're lavishing in a seaside salon or some other mythical setting I just made up.

True to its claims, this shampoo is cleansing without over-cleansing, and it leaves my hair feeling supple yet clean each time I use it.

LC Coconut Milk moisturizing conditioner
Like the coordinating shampoo, this conditioner** is on the thicker side, and as far as texture and consistency goes, it reminds me of Live Clean's Age Resist conditioner. It provides a good amount of slip and it seems to hydrate my slightly thirsty late-winter mane very well. 

But beware! A little of this conditioner goes a looooong way. I suggest using about half your regular-sized dollop of conditioner when trying this product on for size, and if that isn't enough for you, then add a bit (little by little) if you need more moisture.


I first tried this haircare duo out on February 13 in anticipation of rocking a super sexy Victoria's Secret model-inspired blow-out on Valentine's Day. It worked beautifully and my overall look was straight up Kardashian-like. Though this collection is deeply moisturizing, it never felt heavy on my straightened hair, nor did it make my hair greasy quickly, which I think is a hard balance to strike sometimes especially when dealing with a blow-out. 

A week later, I used the shampoo and conditioner once more to return to my natural curls and I was surprised that curls were so well-defined and almost Tracee Ellis Ross-like in how rad they looked.

All in all, I am a fan of this haircare duo and its heavenly scent, and I'm really hoping it sticks around for a long time. Because lord knows we all need a little help remembering what summer smells like while we're slogging our way through interminable winters.

You can find Live Clean Coconut Milk moisturizing shampoo and conditioner at Walmart, Shoppers Drug Mart, Loblaws, Jean Coutu, and Lawtons stores across Canada.

Have you tried Live Clean's Coconut Milk moisturizing shampoo and conditioner? Do you have any amazing products that help you forget that it's still winter outside? Let us know by commenting below, or by tweeting us at @PickyBitchez


*Live Clean Coconut Milk Shampoo and Conditioner were sent to me to review
**This product contains beeswax, which may conflict with some vegans' ethics. Depending on your views as it pertains to beeswax, this product may not be a good fit for you

Natural perfumes to unleash your inner goddess

By Giselle Wedemire

You're never fully dressed until you've applied perfume. That's the advice my mom gave me when I was around 10 years old -- right before I was given my very own (and very classy) bottle of Cinderella perfume for my birthday. 

Since then, fragrance has played a big role in my daily beauty routine, and I never miss an opportunity to give myself a quick spritz -- even when I'm at home with the flu. For me, a splash of my favourite scent instantly classes up any outfit I may throw together, even if I'm rocking a lazy day ensemble of sweatpants and a tank top. 

The problem with many perfumes and colognes is that they're synthetic in the worst possible way: they often contain harmful ingredients like parabens and phthalates, which have been linked to hormone disruption and carcinogenic side effects, respectively.

Years ago, I made the switch to all-natural products for all but one aspect of my beauty regimen. I've simply found it too hard to let go of my favourite perfumes (I'm looking at you, Flowerbomb!), but this year I've vowed to kick the synthetic scent habit and stock my dresser with natural perfumes from companies like Grasse Roots Perfumery.

Based in Stratford, Ontario, Grasse Roots Perfumery is a vegetarian (and mostly vegan) perfumery that crafts luxurious perfume blends with pure natural essences and botanicals. Often times, these blends are even made with certified organic essences whenever possible.

I contacted Grasse Roots in an effort to broaden my natural perfume horizons, and they generously sent me samples of each of their pure perfumes to test out. Each one was lovely in its own way, awakening old memories in me with every fragrant application, and I found that natural perfumes don't last as long on the skin as their unnatural cousins. However, there's something to be said for knowing -- and being able to pronounce -- a perfume's ingredients. It's very liberating.

Photo courtesy of Grasse Roots Perfumery

A clarifying shampoo that's perfect for us hairspray addicts

By Giselle Wedemire

January is all about new beginnings and clean slates, and lately I've been taking that to the literal extreme with my haircare routine. One day not too long ago I came home to find a lovely package sticking out of my mailbox.* The return address indicated that the package was from Live Clean -- one of my absolute favourite vegan personal care brands -- and I was immediately as giddy as a schoolgirl. 

I ran inside and ripped open the package to find a single bottle of Live Clean Apple Cider Clarifying shampoo which, I learned, is a deep cleansing shampoo packed with Bragg's Organic Apple Cider Vinegar, making it ideal for daily use on oily/greasy hair and perfect for weekly purges of product buildup. 

Once I read that last bit, I accepted the challenge that 350 mL bottle of shampoo had set before me: I was going to test this bad boy out after getting my hair as filthy as possible.

Day 6: For the DIY fan

By Giselle Wedemire

Few things beat the feeling you get when you make something with your own two hands. For fans of DIY, that feeling is probably pretty common, though no less rewarding, than it is for the rest of us. However, if you're shopping for a DIY fan (or a lover of organic, handmade skincare products), look no further than our pick for Day 6 of our 12 Days of Christmas (Shopping).

Neal's Yard Remedy, the English purveyor of luxurious, organic skincare and cosmetics, has found a home in Calgary, which is one of only two Canadian retail outlets for the upscale British brand. Established in 1981 and known for its potent and scrumptious blends of organic essential oil, Neal's Yard Remedy (NYR) products are jam-packed with natural ingredients to help soothe and pamper you from head to toe.

• 'Create Your Own' event ($30)

Photo via NealsYardRemedies.ca

Get mistletoe-ready with Bare English & Co. lip balms

By Giselle Wedemire 

A good lip balm is hard to come by and I am very picky about the consistency, durability, and (most importantly) the scents/flavours of the lip balms I wear. It probably stems from my memories of junior high when I was really into The Body Shop's satsuma flavoured Born Lippy lip gloss, which I wore so much of every single day of ninth grade that the scent of it made me feel physically ill within three months of buying it.

Since that day, I have (naturally) stuck exclusively to mint-scented or fragrance-free balms to avoid the bout of nausea I associate with wearing tasty lip balm flavours. All that has changed, however, with my latest discovery: Bare English & Co. lip balms,* which comes in tempting scents like pomegranate berry, vanilla coconut, chai tea latte, mint chocolate, and pink grapefruit.

It's fair to say that I'm a little obsessed with Bare English & Co. They are just too awesome -- they are a small Canadian company based in Toronto that specializes in organic, vegan, GMO-free, and gluten-free lip balms. Each lip balm is infused with organic tea (from green tea to white tea, and rooibos to peppermint tea), which, according to their site, "supports the immune system, fights free radical damage and promotes cell rejuvenation."

They're also packed with amazing natural moisturizers like jojoba oil, cocoa butter, coconut oil, vitamin E, and olive oil, making them a great way to stave off the dreaded chapped lips that come with cold winter winds. Not bad for one little tube of lip balm, right?

The verdict
I absolutely love these lip balms (especially the vanilla coconut flavour!), and happily give it five stars and the Picky Bitchez seal of approval! Not only do these bad boys apply smoothly and moisturize fantastically, they also have great staying power (which is great news if you find yourself under the mistletoe a few times this holiday season).

You can find Bare English & Co.'s rad lip balms in many Shoppers Drug Mart, London Drugs, and Rexall stores across Canada.

Have you tried any of these lip balms? Let us know what you think of them by commenting on this post or by tweeting us at @PickyBitchez.

*Bare English & Co. products were sent to me to review

Baby your skin with Live Clean (baby) Calming Bedtime products

By Giselle Wedemire

In my opinion, babies are like beards: they're pretty cool, but I don't ever want to have one of my own. However, babies have kind of cornered the market on smelling good and having super soft skin, which are both pretty cool things that I wouldn't mind having for myself.

So, when I received (baby) Calming Bedtime,* Live Clean's latest line of baby bath products, I jumped at the chance to baby my skin. Packed with skin-soothing safflower and coconut oils and relaxing essential oils like vanilla, lavender, chamomile, and jasmine, the bubble bath and lotion in Live Clean (baby)'s Calming Bedtime collection sound like a recipe for stress relief for anyone, young or old. 

After a full day at work and an invigorating evening of living room yoga, I set myself up for a more grown-up version of a baby's nighttime bubble bath. Armed with a glass of vegan wine, a great book to read during my relaxing soak, and a tub teeming with bubbles, I got down to business and tested out how effective these products can be on an adult who sets her own bedtime, thankyouverymuch. 

Here's what I think of Live Clean (baby)'s Calming Bedtime collection:

Three girls, three hair oils

By Giselle Wedemire

Though it kind of took its sweet time getting here, summer is finally in full swing here in Calgary. And while the summer sun is great for adding a golden glow to our otherwise pale post-Canadian-winter complexions, it can also wreak havoc on our hair. That's where hair oils come in to save the day.

In general, hair oils help to restore moisture that may otherwise have been lost by a host of everyday occurrences like shampooing, brushing and combing, heat styling, and other environmental factors like dry weather and pollution.

Live Clean's three hair oils (seen below) work to replenish hair and transform it from the inside out while instantly providing smoother results.

Live Clean's hair oils from left to right: Exotic Vitality Monoi Oil Leave-in Treatment, Age Resist Miracle Nutrition Oil, and Exotic Silk Keratin Oil Leave-in Treatment

Live Clean Age Resist: eco-friendly products provide irresistibly soft hair

By Giselle Wedemire

Considering that our skin absorbs about 60 per cent of the products we apply to it, it makes sense that I'm a bit picky about having natural, vegan beauty products at all times. My fascination for vegan haircare and skincare is not quite an addiction yet, but it's safe to say that I'm always on the lookout for new vegan products to add to my collection.

One of my favourite vegan brands of all time is Live Clean (LC), an environmentally-friendly Canadian brand that originally began as a haircare company in 2007. Since that time, the company has expanded exponentially and now offers lip balms, skincare, and bodycare for babies, kids, and adults.

Many Live Clean products are vegan and gluten-free, and all products are completely vegetarian, making them a great bet for any Picky Bitches out there. Plus, they're pretty affordable and easy to find in many Superstore, Shoppers Drug Mart, and Walmart locations across Canada, which means you can look and feel fabulous while on a budget. It really is a win-win situation.

Speaking of win-win situations, I had a chance to try out LC's latest haircare line Age Resist and it was amazing!* Here's the lowdown on this new product range.

LC's latest haircare collection, Age Resist, was formulated to address, treat, and prevent the symptoms of aging hair. These symptoms include: 
-a change in hair's texture
-dullness/lack of shine or vitality
-dry, fragile strands
-breakage
-thinning hair