Let me tell you something about vegan leather…

Vegan leather in other words is artificial leather. So how many clothing do you own that is animal free? Nowadays you can buy leather insoles in shoes or leather lined shoes. As disappointing and how unobvious it makes it seem leather does mean it came  from an animal. In a world where cheap leather can be bought for a lot cheaper and guilt free, we are constantly thrown into belief that anything labelled as “leather” is actually PU or “artificial leather”. But in fact, when something says its leather, it’s as real as it gets.

So why is buying leather bad? Many of these large companies have factories and manufacturers based in other countries where animal laws are entirely different, this allows companies produce their clothing for cheaper and avoid all legal “malpractice”. Animals are necessary for food but in the context of clothing and our booming age of technology and science, killing animals for their skin and fur is hardly advantageous given both the price and its consequences. (Think bunnies having their fur ripped out of them – ALIVE!). Yes, that is where mohair come from… bunnies. Now you heard it, do you still really want that overly ostentatious Alexander McQueen ballet flats or a Calf skin Chanel bag?

Despite the obvious morbidity involved in creating these clothing. We are still very unaware of the larger picture. With the common assumption that designer bags are just too affluent and beautiful looking to be tied with all these nasty and cruel intentions for animals. But infact it is 100% bad intentioned but due to their fan base of young, wealthy and unaware buyers and admirers, these multibillion dollar companies won’t stop due to their demanding and unknowing customers.

If you have a certain apatheticness towards animal being killed for their fur due to the view that we’re just the almighty beings that happened to be on top of the food chain. You are so incredibly wrong! And infact that is a very morbid and dark idea to be carrying around with you, especially when you don’t need to view it in that way.

Recently i’ve come across a budding new vegan leather trend. Meaning it’s artificial leather, and the bag I found by Karu  look very high quality but it certainly isn’t everybody’s cup of tea in terms of the style and to be quite honest, it isn’t something I would’ve chosen to buy at first glance. But I love it for its versatility. It’s waterproof, spacey, has a separate divided pocket in the centre of the bag and has several pockets. Ideal for everyday wear.

Winter skincare regimen, and tips (Part 1)

If you did not know, I am a naturopath, I try to incorporate as many organic brands as I can and I try to use as little products as possible. I have a personal belief that wearing skincare that includes nasties like “alcohol”, “fragrance”, sodium laureth sulfate” defeats the whole point of “skin care”. The staple items I use for facial skincare are moisturiser, cleanser, suncream and serum. My skin philosophy is that if I am not going outside I avoid putting anything on my skin besides water and I allow my skin’s natural oil do the moisturising, and your skin’s natural oil is the best moisturiser that caters to your skin pH and type.

I should first tell you that I have combination/oily skin before I start recommending you products, just so you can have a good idea what skincare is best suited for your skin type. During the colder months my skin is a mixture between oily and dry, it’s mostly dry when it has been exposed to windy weather. (Tip: UV rays are particularly stronger during rainy days, so apply suncream!).

No matter what the weather or how lazy I am I make sure I apply suncream at all cost when going outside! I think cancer in my family is a genetic trait so I am absolutely afraid of the sun especially living in a country where the risk of skin cancer is especially high, therefore I lather my self with suncream and reapply every few hours. I use two types of suncream and I interchange for some variation. I use the Essential-C Day Moisture Broad Spectrum 30+ and its infused with vitamin C and the second is to help prevent wrinkling and ageing, I use anti-ageing formulas because I find them to be a lot more gentle than the formulas for teenage skin, Total effects Anti-Aging Daily moisturizer SPF 15 with SolaSheer Technology.

For cleanser, i’m currently loving Skin Resurfacing cleanser by Dermalogica, the only downside is that it has alcohol ingredients disguised as words like Citronellol and Benzyl PCA. But on the contrary it does have a list of appealing and very natural ingredients such as Capric Triglycerides which is a fatty acid a factor that could restore skin’s youthfulness and plumpness and Aniba Rosaeodora, Rosewood Oil and Perlagonium Graveolens that are all plant derivatives.

 

(part 2 is coming soon…)