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Lifestyle

Lifestyle is a regular feature of Viva!LIFE – Viva!’s quarterly colourful supporters’ magazine.

Viva!life issue 50 Summer 2012

Viva's self-professed 'Veganorak' Kat Himmel takes the strain out of cruelty-free product spotting!

Nowt Vague About Vegg

With the introduction of The Vegg, it would appear that all remaining vegan waters have now been charted. This innovative powder mimics egg yolk almost too realistically. When I whizzed it up for dipping some toast soldiers, the resulting aroma slapped me square in the face with not-altogether-pleasant reminiscences. However, that sensation soon subsided as the mixture was heated and began to thicken. With a bit of pepper, the concoction made a delightful Elevenses. In fact, I’ve not experimented much beyond that. There’s plenty left in the 4.2g packet for further investigation. I recommend having a look at The Vegetarian Recipe Club blog for more inspiration. Helen really put it through its paces. The Vegg is available in the UK from online retailer, Cream Supplies for £4.45.

All Hail Kale

As far as I’m concerned, kale chips are the answer to any entreaties I might have uttered toward the skies regarding the desire – the need! – for healthier snacks. inSpiral raw, dehydrated kale chips may not sound worthy of such esteem; but once you wrap your talk trap round them, you will be convinced. They’re crisp, full of flavour and (yes, I’m afraid) actually beneficial to your body. I don’t think that I need to give you the nutritional breakdown to convince you of the goodness of this deep green gem. Available from Cream Supplies at £2.99 for a 35g tub, you can choose from three flavours: Cheesie Purple Corn (my best friend), Baobab & Onion or Wasabi Wheatgrass. Everyone who tried them has confirmed their addictive properties. Join us..

Doggedly Bullish on Ethics

Whether it’s merited or not, I always feel that the male population is given the short shrift when it comes to grooming products. There’s only so much of the Lynx Effect™ to go round and…well, it’s not exactly high-quality, is it? Bulldog is on the scene and is making major inroads to redress this disparity. Not only did their products create genuine excitement amongst the Viva! menfolk, but they tick many boxes: they’re vegan, made in the UK, packaged in recycled materials, BUAV approved and they don’t contain stuff you’d rather avoid.

Tony – formerly a pound shop bargain beauty – has declared his loyalty to Bulldog’s Original Shave Gel (£3.99 for 175ml), comparing its ‘effortless glide to Torville and Dean’. Ashley was similarly swayed by the Original Face Wash (£5.19) and the Original Moisturiser (£6.99), proclaiming the green tea scent refreshing. Liam lauded the face scrub (£5.79 for 100ml) and Justin rejoiced over not only the accessibility of Bulldog products but also their inclusion of refreshing essential oils.

It’s time to give your regime a complete overhaul – and a bit of loving muscle. Buy British Bulldog at Waitrose, Sainsbury’s and Superdrug, as well as online from Bulldog Natural Skin Care.

Amy is Your Friend

Since the late 1980s, Amy’s has been a fixture on the natural foods scene in the United States. They’ve recently burst onto our shores – and into major retailers such as Asda, Holland & Barrett and Sainsbury’s - to bring us their unique range of ready meals. Now, of course, we don’t suggest that anyone subsist entirely upon heat and eat repasts, but you could certainly do worse than an Amy’s Bean & Rice Burrito, Teriyaki Bowl or Rice Mac & Cheeze.

There’s a range of soups, as well – many of which have been awarded the esteemed Juliet Gellatley Seal of Approval for Flavour and Kid Pleasing. The Rice Mac & Cheeze also raised pleased smiles from Karen and Jane for its perfectly seasoned meltiness. The prices are reasonably modest, too, as most come in at under £3. See the entire range at Amy's Kitchen where you can also find a store locator.

Barefaced Brilliance

Writing this column is such an excellent opportunity to indulge and excuse my fickle nature. When it comes to skin care, I am forever searching for the perfect combination of efficacy and thrift. Well, I may be nearing the end of my quest, thanks to Laidbare Naturaceuticals.

Digging deeply into my very own pockets enabled me to try a few of their lovely, vegan products – although, the entire range is actually vegan. I spent no more than £12 on any one product, either; so the blow of disappointment would be somewhat tempered, whatever the outcome.

Always swayed by the promises on bottles of serum, my first purchase was From Dusk Till Dawn (£9.99 for 30ml). An oil-based Vitamin C treatment absolutely resplendent with good things such as blackcurrant, evening primrose and carrot seed, this is nonetheless easily absorbed on its own or over a moisturiser. A moisturiser? Yes, and Guess My Age (£7.99 for 50ml) is the one I’d recommend. Rich in Vitamins A, B and C as well as potassium, it contains something called Active Prodejine, which, apparently, is an anti-aging powerhouse. My skin does seem firmer and softer since I began using this two weeks ago and, as a bonus, my skin took to it straight away. There was no awkward adjustment period, nor any greasy protestations.

Pack Your Bags (£7.99 for 30ml) has stopped the descent of my insomnia-ravaged eyelids and decreased the unsightly pillowing that inevitably follows sleepless nights. Forget the price. It’s better than creams that cost three times as much, yet still manages to squeeze in buckwheat wax, shea butter and eyebright.

The icing on the cake, as it were, in my love affair with Laidbare, is Butter Me Up (£11.99 for a ginormous 250g tub). This unctuous wonder is an indescribably delicious concoction of jasmine, bergamot, rosehip, avocado and cocoa butter. Your limbs will welcome its soothing, healing qualities and your brain will sigh with contentment. In fact, there’s no need to bother with fragrance when you use this luscious substance. Simple grooming at its luxurious best is the result. I cannot recommend these products highly enough, whatever your sex.

Available from touchmyface.co.uk.

Where’ve You Bean All My Life?

I was fortunate enough to attend the overwhelmingly immense Vitality Show with Viva! in March at Earl’s Court and I was absolutely gobsmacked by all the vegan products showcased there. Sadly, the word count of this column prohibits inclusion of all of them, but Easy Bean meals were so impressive that I need to emote about them. Although only two of their pots – French Cuisinees and Indian Sambar - are vegan, the recipes are decidedly superior to most others of the ready meal ilk.

There’s real effort here to elevate the humble bean to the lofty status it deserves and the results are truly tasty. Crunchy chestnuts played perfectly with the Provencal herbs in the French Cuisinees and tamarind sets apart the Indian Sambar from any competitors. Find them at Waitrose and independent health food shops at £3.49 per 320g pot.

Lifestyle is a regular feature of Viva!LIFE – Viva!’s tri-annual colourful supporters’ magazine.