Plastic free deo from Pure Beginnings ^

Your complete vegan pregnancy by Dr. Reed Mangels

Plant-based specs from Praia Eyewear

World Vegan Day 2021

The Vegan Diet

Viridian Pregnancy Complex

Hazelnut Cacao Spread from Herbivore

Bamboo toothbrush from The Kindbrush

What I think about the new YAGA & FOSCHINI collaboration

The lifecycle of glass

Forest Roll On Deodorant from Pure Beginnings

vegan honey from sunnybo-hunny

BACK 2 NATURE
sunscreen

FACE & BODY MINERAL SUN SHIELD FROM BACK 2 NATURE

by Sharné
written by Sharné

I’ve been looking for sunscreen in reusable packaging and was so happy when The Re-store sent me the Back 2 Nature Face & Body Mineral Sun Shield to try! #gifted

BACK 2 NATURE

back 2 nature

Back 2 Nature is a local company that cares about creating products that are better for you and the environment! All their products are vegan and made with natural ingredients (mostly organic). B2N products are certified Cruelty Free by Beauty Without Cruelty as well as The South African Vegan Society.

B2N has various collections in their range: face care, hair care, skincare, and sun care. I’m so excited to use this mineral sun shield this holiday. It’s waterproof and doesn’t make you feel sticky. I’m also currently using the Back 2 Nature Face Wash (have a look here). 

the ingredients and the packaging

The Back 2 Nature mineral sun shield is packaged in a reusable aluminium bottle with a plastic pump and the plant-based ingredients are reef safe, vegan, and mostly organic. 

Ingredient list:

Zinc oxide (25%), *cocos nucifera (coconut) oil, *butyrospermum parkii (shea butter), helianthus annus (sunflower) seed wax, * prunus amygdalus dulcis (sweet almond) oil, **coco-caprylate/caprate, **polyglyceryl-3 polyricinoleate, **isostearic acid, **polyglyceryl-3 diisostearate, ascorbyl palmitate, tocopherol (vitamin E), *cedrus atlantica (cedar wood) bark oil.

* organic | **plant derived – eco cert & cosmos approved

where to buy?

The B2N mineral sun shield is available online from The Re-Store. Use my code GREEN10 for 10% off. The Re-Store is an online zero-waste store that sells a variety of products that will help you on your low waste journey.

Have you used any of Back 2 Nature’s products? Have you tried the sun shield? Let me know in the comments below. If you’d like to see more of the body & beauty products I have found, have a look here. Alternatively, if you’d like to see what home & garden products I have found have a look here.  New products posted regularly.

let’s get social!

Be sure to follow Back 2 Nature on Instagram and Facebook to see what they are up to! And follow me on Facebook and Instagram to stay up to date with my posts! If you end up trying this product, after reading about it for the first time here, please tag me and let me know what you think. Remember to hashtag it  #thegreenveganchick

© the green vegan chick. All images & content are copyright protected. Please follow my Sharing Policy if you would like to use or share any part of this post.

BACK 2 NATURE
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vegan goods market
markets & festivals

Vegan Goods Market in Constantia

by Sharné
written by Sharné

The Vegan Goods Market will only be held at The Source in Constantia for a few more times before moving to a new spot. I wanted to do a farewell post because of all the locations that the VGM has been held at so far, this one is by far my favourite! I just love being able to sit on the grass surrounded by trees and fellow vegans! It’s become my happy place and I’ll sure miss it but I look forward to seeing where the VGM will move to next!

vegan goods market

Vegan Goods Market

The Vegan Goods Market is a must-attend for anyone that is interested in seeing what the vegan lifestyle is all about! The VGM is always packed with small businesses selling all sorts of amazing vegan goods: food, sweets, desserts, fresh produce, freshly baked bread, home products, body products, and more. I tend to avoid the plastic packaged items and gravitate towards the packaging-free and paper & glass packaged items.

Whenever I plan to go to the market, I take along a reusable knife, fork, spoon, straw, some food containers, a coffee cup, a bottle, some shopping bags, and also produce bags as I have often bought packaging-free fresh fruit, veg, and bread. I also often buy something to eat and drink there, which I ask them to put in my reusable container and cup/mug. I then find a spot on the grass with my husband and we enjoy our meal.

The reason I take more than one food container is so that if I wanted to buy some more food items to take home, I can do that without packaging. Most of the time though I buy some sort of delicious vegan baked good to take home, and most of the time it gets eaten the same day. I always end up carting two or three reusable shopping bags full of vegan goodies to the car and love being able to buy a wide variety of things from small businesses that most often make the items themselves. 

If you have not been to the Vegan Goods Market in Constantia yet then I highly recommend you go before they move locations.

When & Where?

The next market is Sunday the 13th of December at 11 Townsend Avenue, Constantia. Entry is free, and you can enter the market from Kendal Road where you drive through the gate and park on the field. The market is pet friendly and before you go please don’t forget to take your reusables with you! 

If you have been to the VGM Market, please tell me all about it in a comment below. To see what other markets and festivals I have been to, have a look here. And click here, and here to see some delicious vegan treats I have found at the VGM. Alternatively, browse my blog to see other vegan items I have found. I have created various categories like body & beauty, food & drink, home & garden & more.

Let’s get social!

Be sure to follow the Vegan Goods Market on Facebook & Instagram to know when the next market will be. And follow me on Facebook and Instagram to stay up to date with my posts! If you end up trying one of these products, after reading about it for the first times here, please tag me and let me know what you think. Remember to hashtag it  #thegreenveganchick

© the green vegan chick. All images & content are copyright protected. Please follow my Sharing Policy if you would like to use or share any part of this post.

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oh oat
milk

Oh Oat milk

by Sharné
written by Sharné

Oh Oat milk is a locally-made oat milk, that is packaged in glass and made with only 5 ingredients! It looks good and tastes good too!

oh oat milk

oh oat

Oh Oat is produced in small batches in Woodstock. They don’t just say they care about sustainability and animals, they prove they do by making a 100% vegan product, packaging it in glass, and being pioneers for the circular economy in South Africa. How? They charge a bottle deposit on all sales and encourages their customers to return their bottles for reuse. 

the ingredients and the packaging

Oh Oat Milk is made with oats (18%), water, calcium carbonate, salt, and sunflower oil. The milk must be kept refrigerated and consumed within a few days of opening. The milk is packaged in 750ml reused wine bottles that were heading to the recycling bin! The caps are made from recyclable aluminum, and the branding is printed on paper which is wrapped around the bottle and tied with a rubber band which you can reuse.

where to buy?

I bought some Oh Oat online on Granadilla Eats, but they have quite a few stockists, so have a look here.

Have you tried Oh Oat milk? I’d love to hear from you in a comment below. If you’d like to see more vegan milk I have found have a look here. Alternatively, if you would like to see more of the food & drinks products I have found, have a look here. New products posted regularly.

let’s get social!

Be sure to Oh Oat on Facebook and Instagram and follow me on Facebook and Instagram to stay up to date with my posts! If you end up trying this product, after reading about it for the first times here, please tag me and let me know what you think. Remember to hashtag it  #thegreenveganchick

© the green vegan chick. All images & content are copyright protected. Please follow my Sharing Policy if you would like to use or share any part of this post.

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mare & itis
COVID

Hand Sanitiser by Mare & Itis

by Sharné
written by Sharné

I’ve been looking for a hand sanitiser that is packaged in a glass bottle and I recently found this one from Mare & Itis, so I just had to share it with you.

mare & itis

mare & itis

Mare & Itis is a Durban-based small business started by Anele, who is passionate about essential oils and natural products and started making her own products after not being able to find suitable natural products whilst on her travels abroad. All the Mare & Itis products are natural and non-toxic and vegan. Mare & Itis also sell a natural insect repellant, as well as various oil products and an Eco-Lux gift box.

the ingredients and the packaging

The Mari & Itis 50ml hand sanitiser smells amazing and is made with Aqua, Denatured Alcohol, Lemongrass Essential Oil, Sweet Orange Essential Oil, Tea Tree Essential Oil, Vitamin E Oil, Dehydroacetic Acid, Benzyl Alcohol.  It is packaged in a reusable amber glass bottle, which I love!

where to buy?

This Hand Sanitiser is available from The Re-Store, an online zero-waste store which is where I bought it from. You can also buy it from the Mare & Itis online shop and from Faithful to Nature, Yuppiechef & LMDA

What sanitizer do you use? Let me know in the comments below. If you’d like to see more of the first aid products I have found have a look here. Alternatively, if you’d like to see what other body & beauty products I have found, have a look here.  New products posted regularly.

let’s get social!

Be sure to follow Mare & Itis on Facebook and Instagram, and if you are not following me yet, be sure to follow me on Facebook and Instagram to stay up to date with my posts! If you end up trying this product, after reading about it for the first times here, please tag me and let me know what you think. Remember to hashtag it  #thegreenveganchick

© the green vegan chick. All images & content are copyright protected. Please follow my Sharing Policy if you would like to use or share any part of this post.

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ballo
accessories

Owl sunglasses from Ballo

by Sharné
written by Sharné

I’ve been on the lookout for a locally made, eco friendly pair of sunglasses and found the perfect pair from Ballo.

ballo

ballo

Ballo is a Cape Town-based carbon neutral company that specialise in hand-making products that are made with up-cycled and recycled materials. Besides their amazing sunglasses, they also sell slow fashion, homeware, masks, and more. Ballo is passionate about treading lightly (environmental footprint), so they plant a tree with GreenPop every time they sell a pair of handmade sunglasses. And they are on a zero-waste mission so they make things from their off-cuts, and most of their machines are preloved.

owl

I chose the owl frame made with imbuia wood and brown polarized lenses. My sunglasses were handmade in Woodstock by Tendy and came packaged in a hard cardboard case, with a soft fabric case. The temples are fitted with spring hinges which make the lenses really comfortable and easy to put on. The Ballo sunglasses come with a 12-month warranty against manufacturing faults. All Ballo sunglasses can be fitted with prescription lenses by an optometrist, so I’m considering getting a second pair so I can wear one with my contact lenses and another when I’m wearing my glasses. 

where to buy?

I bought my pair on the Ballo website but you can also buy a pair from the Ballo kiosk B2 (in front of Hurley & Nike) at the V&A Waterfront, and the Ballo Workshop (54 New Market Street, Foreshore)

What do you think, do you love these as much as I do?  I’d love to hear from you in a comment below. If you’d like to see more accessories  I have found, have a look here. Alternatively, if you’d like to see more of the green vegan fashion products I have found, have a look here. New products posted regularly.

let’s get social!

Be sure to follow Ballo on Facebook and Instagram, and follow me on Facebook and Instagram to stay up to date with my posts! If you end up buying one of these products, after reading about it for the first times here, please tag me and let me know what you think. Remember to hashtag it  #thegreenveganchick

© the green vegan chick. All images & content are copyright protected. Please follow my Sharing Policy if you would like to use or share any part of this post.

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ballo
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Konjac Sponge
reusables

vegan konjac sponge from saponera

by Sharné
written by Sharné

A vegan konjac sponge from Saponera is a perfect addition to my zero waste bathroom skincare routine. 

Konjac Sponge

saponera

Saponera is a local Cape Town-based brand that is passionate about creating natural plant-based products that are free from harmful chemicals and animal products and is greywater safe. I’m currently using their body wash, hand wash and sanitizer (see post here) which I love.

the ingredients and the packaging

A konjac sponge is a plant-based exfoliating sponge made from the Konjac (Amorphophallus Konjac) Root Fibre. Most sponges are made from plastic and when used, release micro-plastics that end up contaminating our water. The great thing about using a plant-based konjac sponge is that it is 100% natural, 100% plastic-free and 100% biodegradable. Saponera gifted me this sponge as part of a gift set, inside a hemp bag together with a hand wash. 

how to use:

When you first get your sponge you will notice it is very hard. But once you soak it in water and squish out the water it turns into a softer sponge that you can use to wash your face and body. It’s important to rinse out the sponge when you are done and to hang it so it can air dry. Saponera have added a string through the sponge, to help you do that.

where to buy?

You can buy a konjac sponge directly from the Saponera online shop. 

Have you used a konjac sponge before? Let me know in the comments below. If you’d like to see more of the body & beauty products I have found, have a look here. Alternatively if you’d like to see what home & garden products I have found have a look here.  New products posted regularly.

let’s get social!

Be sure to follow Saponera on Instagram to see what they are up to! And follow me on Facebook and Instagram to stay up to date with my posts! If you end up trying this product, after reading about it for the first time here, please tag me and let me know what you think. Remember to hashtag it  #thegreenveganchick

© the green vegan chick. All images & content are copyright protected. Please follow my Sharing Policy if you would like to use or share any part of this post.

  • Konjac Sponge
  • Konjac Sponge
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vegan macarons
sweets

vegan macarons from the nibbling rhino

by Sharné
written by Sharné

A few years ago, after I had gone vegan, macarons started trending. Thanks to The Nibbling Rhino, I recently had my first macarons! Vegan macarons that come in all sorts of colours and flavours.

vegan macarons

the nibbling rhino

The Nibbling Rhino is a Cape Town-based gluten-free bakery based in Woodstock that is not 100% vegan but is mostly vegan. Stephanie started The Nibbiling Rhino in 2020 so that she could provide people with allergies and intolerances with affordable but delicious treats. Stephanie makes cakes, cupcakes, cookies, macarons, truffles, fudge, and more. She also does custom orders, so I’ll be sure to keep that in mind the next time I have an event that needs some delicious treats.

the ingredients & the packaging

Stephanie makes 10 flavours of gluten-free vegan macarons and so far I have tried 5. There was a matcha one I ate before taking photos. 😝 The outer cookie part is made with Aquafaba, sugar, almond flour, and vegan-friendly colouring. The filling is either a vegan buttercream or ganache. The vegan macarons are soft and sweet, so if you love sweets these are a must try! I bought thems packaging-free by taking a reusable glass food container to the VGM and asking The Nibbling Rhino to put them straight into my container.

where to buy?

I bought these at the Vegan Goods Market, but you can also buy them online on The Nibbling Rhino website. They deliver to Cape Town and surrounds and also offer free pickup options from 2 Ravenscraig Road, The Iron Works Building, Woodstock. If you want to pick up, please select “local pickup” on the checkout page.

Have you tried vegan macarons? I’d love to hear from you in a comment below. If you’d like to see more vegan sweets I have found, have a look here. If you’d like to see other food & drink products I have found have a look here.  New products posted regularly.

Let’s get Social!

Follow The Nibbling Rhino on Facebook and Instagram. And if you don’t follow me yet, be sure to follow me on Facebook and Instagram to stay up to date with my posts! If you end up trying this product, after reading about it for the first time here, please tag me and let me know what you think. Remember to hashtag it  #thegreenveganchick

© the green vegan chick. All images & content are copyright protected. Please follow my Sharing Policy if you would like to use or share any part of this post.

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rusks

vegan buttermilk rusks from Lovett’s

by Sharné
written by Sharné

I didn’t think I’d ever be able to have buttermilk rusks but thanks to Lovett’s I can!

about lovett’s

Lovett’s is a small Cape Town-based vegan bakery that creates gluten-free and sugar-free vegan goods, from muffins to cakes to rusks. Recently they have teamed up with Romeo & Vero’s and now also sell a range of frozen vegan pies. And they cater too!

the ingredients and the packaging

Their vegan buttermilk rusks are delicious and made with flour, sugar, salt, chia seeds, oat milk, and vegetable fat (not palm oil – I checked) There was two packaging options, one in plastic and one in reusable glass. I opted for the latter. 

where to buy?

You can buy the vegan buttermilk rusks from the Lovett’s stall at the Vegan Goods Market, or you can order via Instagram, WhatsApp (071 605 1042) or email (mrslovettsbakery@gmail.com).

Have you tried these vegan buttermilk rusks? I’d love to hear from you in a comment below. If you’d like to see more vegan rusks I have found, have a look here. If you’d like to see other food products I have found have a look here.  New products posted regularly.

let’s get social!

Follow me on Facebook and Instagram to stay up to date with my posts! If you end up trying this product, after reading about it for the first time here, please tag me and let me know what you think. Remember to hashtag it  #thegreenveganchick

© the green vegan chick. All images & content are copyright protected. Please follow my Sharing Policy if you would like to use or share any part of this post.

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golden goddess
skincare

golden goddess shimmering body oil by WILD ^

by Sharné
written by Sharné

Wild just released a new range of shimmering body oils and sent me a Golden Goddess bottle to try out! #gifted

golden goddess

I’ve personally never tried shimmering bronzers so this was a first for me. I was pleasantly surprised by how lovely the golden goddess shimmering body oil felt on my skin. And the gold shimmer is just beautiful!

As a teenager, I made a promise to myself to not get too much sun exposure, so I could protect my skin from aging prematurely. This was because my mom had a friend at the time, that was her age, but looked 10 years older because she spent a lot of time in the sun and in sun-beds. It made such an impression on me, that stopped sunbathing as a teenager, and since am serious about sunblock. Not getting a lot of sun, means my once tanned skin (as a teenager) is now very pale.

This shimmering body oil is great because I get to create a sun-kissed look from a bottle, using natural ingredients.

about wild

Wild is a small Cape Town business, that make sustainable products. Last year I asked them if they had any vegan products, and they said they didn’t yet, but was looking into it. Fast forward a year, and they just launched their first vegan body products, namely their Golden Goddess bronzing shimmer body oils: Intense Gold & Intense Bronze. I just love it when non-vegan brands work on creating vegan products.

The ingredients & the packaging

The Intense Gold Shimmer contains cold-pressed avocado & jojoba oil, organic cananga odorata (ylang ylang), organic non-phototoxic citrus bergamia (bergamot) & crushed mica mineral which give it the gold shimmer. The oils dry fast so you definitely don’t feel sticky and the more you use the more the shimmer. I prefer a slight shimmer.

The Golden Goddess products are packaged in beautiful reusable glass bottles with a metal lid. The shimmer settles over time, so I just give the glass bottle a shake before use. This product would make an amazing gift, to your bestie or yourself.

Where to buy?

You can buy the Golden Goddess Shimmering Body oils directly from Wild or you can buy it from Heal Cafe.

Do you use body bronzers? Let me know in the comments below. If you’d like to see more of the body & beauty products I have found, have a look here. If you’d like to see what home & garden products I have found have a look here.  New products posted regularly.

golden goddess

Let’s get social!

Be sure to follow Wild on Instagram to see what they are up to! And follow me on Facebook and Instagram to stay up to date with my posts! If you end up trying this product, after reading about it for the first time here, please tag me and let me know what you think. Remember to hashtag it  #thegreenveganchick

© the green vegan chick. All images & content are copyright protected. Please follow my Sharing Policy if you would like to use or share any part of this post.

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victoria's pantry
zero waste shops

Victoria’s Pantry – Hermanus

by Sharné
written by Sharné

There’s a zero-waste store, called Victoria’s Pantry in Hermanus, that you have to check out if you are ever in the area!

  • victoria's pantry

About Victoria’s Pantry

Victoria’s Pantry was started a little over a year ago by 23-year-old Victoria Young-Pugh.  Victoria sells a variety of local produce supplied by local farmers, including microgreens and strawberry plants.  The shop is also fully stocked with pantry essentials such as spices, herbs, dried fruits, loose-leaf teas, coffee, dried beans, etc. Victoria’s Pantry also sells a variety locally made, plastic-free, home and beauty products. And if you are looking for on the go reusables such as reusable bottles, straws, fruit and veg bags, shopping bags, then Victoria’s Pantry has you covered.

The greatest threat to our planet is the belief that someone else will save it.

Robert Swan

My Zero Waste Journey

My green vegan journey had led me to zero waste living, which is really better defined as low impact living.  For me it’s a natural step as being vegan and being green goes hand in hand in so many ways. Low impact living means changing to new habits which will have less negative impact on the environment. Many of our everyday habits cause harm to the environment which then causes harm to the animals and even people living in that environment.

Shops like Victoria’s Pantry make it easier to reduce our waste. Whether you have wanted to go zero waste or go vegan but haven’t manage to make the change, I suggest you start small! After all, one small change will lead to another, and another… Before you know it, there will be millions of us making small changes every day, which will lead to less animal cruelty and less environmental damage!

We don’t need a handful of people doing zero waste perfectly. We need millions of people doing it imperfectly.

Anne Marie Bonneau aka The Zero Waste Chef

Where is Victoria’s Pantry?

Victoria’s Pantry is located at 14 Hope Street in Hermanus, 120km outside of the Cape Town CBD.  The new location is in collaboration with Tulip Coffee and Maillard Co.  The zero-waste shop is also an eco-brick drop off point, so if you live in the area, or are on vacation in or around Hermanus at some point, keep it in mind.

Let’s get Social!

Follow me on Facebook and Instagram to stay up to date with my posts! If you’d like to see other zero waste shops I have found, have a look here. Alternatively, If you are looking for some vegan recipe inspiration, have a look here. 

If you end up visiting this zero waste shop, after reading about it for the first time here, please tag me and let me know what you think. Remember to hashtag it  #thegreenveganchick

  • victoria's pantry
  • victoria's pantry
  • victoria's pantry
  • victoria's pantry
  • victoria's pantry
  • victoria's pantry
  • victoria's pantry

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