40 Vegan And Vegetarian Friendly Brands To Try In 2018

In 2018, Veganism has become the most ‘Googled Trend’, with more people becoming vegans as opposed to vegetarians, quoting a need for a ‘healthier lifestyle’, a ‘love of animals‘ or ‘environmental concerns as a cause that prompted them to give up meat entirely. Whilst others have a ‘flexatarian’ approach to ‘eating a vegan or vegetarian diet’ there are others who are full time pescatarians, vegetarians and vegans. However despite being a vegetarian and cruelty free blogger myself, I have no concerns with others who choose to eat meat, because at the end of the day we are all entitled to freedom of choice and who am I to judge that? What we have to bear in mind is while many people would love to have a roster of vegan and vegetarian friendly brands that they can turn to for meals, clothing and skincare, for some a vegan or vegetarian friendly diet can be hard for them to maintain, especially if you do have health issues. For example as a vegetarian who does have a lot of vegan food, I have often been asked why I don’t just become a ‘full time vegan’ and the thing is I have tried. However I have a number of health issues and when I tried to cut out non vegan products, not only did I become more fatigued but I was also suffering from very low mood swings and stomach pain. So naturally what I am trying to say is that we should never judge other people’s dietary choices as you can still be an environmentalist without being a vegan or vegetarian, you can still be an animal lover and eat meat and most of all you can still be healthy whatever diet you choose to call your own.

But why 40 Vegan and Vegetarian Friendly Brands I hear you ask? Well I have been very vocal about my transition into a cruelty free journey and have had many readers message me asking about brands that I would recommend across the scope of skincare, make up, food and more. And while there are resources out there like PETA and Leaping Bunny which offers an insight into skincare and makeup brands that are animal friendly, when it comes to food and drink, there seems to be very little information on what brands are suitable for vegan and vegetarian friendly diets. From Vegan Friendly drink brands like Bailey’s to skincare that will prevent and protect against mosquito bites like Incognito, here are 40 vegan and vegetarian brands that you must try in 2018.

Vegan And Vegetarian Friendly Drink Brands 

Bailey’s

Bailey’s might not be the obvious choice for a ‘vegan friendly brand’ considering its main ingredients consist of delicious heavy cream and condensed milk . However Bailey’s has just launched a – you guessed it- Vegan Friendly Bailey’s Almande, which is made from sweet almond oil, almond essence, cane sugar, purified water and a small amount of real vanilla. And when Twitter found out that their beloved Bailey’s was launching a vegan friendly whisky based drink, they quite literally lost their minds. And they weren’t the only ones; upon the first taste I practically salivated at the taste, confounded by how creamy and smooth the Bailey’s tasted, which was quite stupendous given that it was both Dairy and Gluten Free. Available at Ocado and Waitrose, it is my hope that ‘Vegan Bailey’s’ will be stocked in more supermarkets as even my friend who is neither vegan or vegetarian enjoyed the taste of the Bailey’s which we paired with flaky and juicy apple turnovers.

While  pricier than the original non vegan whisky liqueur, at £20 for a 70 CL bottle (the original is priced at £12.45), even though I am not vegan myself, I can honestly say that the Bailey’s Alamande tastes better than the original. The almond milk offers a smooth taste, juxtaposed with the arching notes of whisky, but the overall effect is an elegant drink that is swimming in sophistication and flavour .

Best For Those Who Like Whisky

Little Miracles

Little Miracles are a beautiful blend of organic tea and super fruit juice. With carefully selected panax ginseng in its purest form and açaí, it is the perfect pick-me-up morning, noon and afternoon. While there are ‘green tea’ and white tea based drinks that I can’t have due to not being able to have caffeine, there are non-caffeine friendly tea drinks which are available like Elderberry infused with rooibos tea extract, elderberry juice and ginger. Naturally caffeine free and sweetened with cane sugar and agave, elderberry has been used as a medicinal aid for respiratory health, while ginger is ideal for those who are prone to or afflicted with nausea like myself. At only 70 calories the Elderberry is Little Miracles lowest calorie blend but for those of you who are not allergic to caffeine, other delicious flavours include Cherry, Peach, Orange, Baobab and Pomegranate all flavoured with white or black tea. The cold tea is a bit of a culture shock at first, after all I am accustomed to ‘drinking hot tea’ but nevertheless the more you drink, the more that you fall in love with the Little Miracles Brand.

The tea is light and refreshing, making it ideal for ‘summer picnics’ in the park, while the sweetness is offset by the tea extract, creating a much needed balance between sweet and floral, which is reminiscent of the changing seasons.

Best For Those Who Like ‘Cold Or Iced’ Tea

ST Peter’s Brewery

When it comes to ‘alcohol’, there are many of us who have to limit our alcohol consumption, cannot have alcohol for health reasons or in some religions, are prohibited from drinking alcohol. So naturally, for some people sticking to soft drinks seems like the obvious choice. However for those who do like the taste of alcohol but are unable to have it or like alcohol and want to try something new, then vegan and vegetarian friendly brands like ST Peter’s Brewery offer non alcoholic Kraft beers, lagers and ales which has the taste of ‘real alcohol’ with 0% alcoholic content. Brewed exclusively using organically grown malted barley and hops, the non alcoholic ale is crisp and clean to the taste, with distinct zingy citrus and biscuit flavours, offset by a smooth hop bitterness.

Available in ‘Organic’ Ale, Gold Beer and Original Ale, all of the ST Peter’s Brewery range has sharp citrus notes, which is complemented by the hops, ideal for those who prefer bitter as opposed to fruity or floral drinks like cocktails.

Best For Those Who Like The Taste Of Alcohol But Can’t Drink

Food

Quorn

While Quorn is infamous in the Vegetarian world for providing world class veggie classics like paella, Tikka Masala, Quorn chicken nuggets and more, Quorn has now developed a fully fledged vegan friendly range including products like Vegan Fishless Fingers and Vegan Cumberland Sausages, to ensure that vegans are just as well catered for as vegetarians. In fact Quorn have made it their mission to ensure that 2018 is the year where they bring out as much innovative products that are catered to Vegans as possible spanning, frozen, chilled and snack foods that even Non Vegans can try.

Quorn’s Vegan Friendly mission began in September with three delicious vegan products which entailed ‘Vegan Burgers’ , Five Grain Fillets and Quorn Vegan BBQ strips, which are available in most large Asda’s and Tescos, while in January the Quorn deli range expanded to include vegan chicken slices and vegan smoky ham slices. And for those who are vegetarian, there are three new innovative products that are launching from the 10th of April, which include Thai Aromatic Bites with flavours of chilli, ginger and lemongrass, Sweet and Smoky Strips which make for a brilliant addition to any fajita, stir fry, pasta or salad recipe and Quorn Buttermilk Bites which are high in protein and low in saturated fats. I am pretty excited to see what else Quorn will bring to the table for their vegan range but for those of you who are vegetarian and eat Quorn, what is the best product that you have tried so far? And what would you like to see them add to the vegan and vegetarian range next?

Grenade Carb Killa

Speaking of thinking outside the box, Grenade is a vegetarian friendly ‘protein based’ brand who makes everything from white chocolate chip cookie protein spread to ‘Killa Coffee’ all designed to be consumed as part of a healthy and balanced diet to aid sports performance. With a multitude of awards under its belt including ‘International Brand Of The Year 2015’ , Grenade is sold in 100 countries with a huge following ranging from professional athletes, fitness enthusiasts and military personnel worldwide. But their range of coffee, protein spreads and shakes are not just aimed at athletes, but anyone who likes to train or wants to gain more muscle mass and needs a little help along the way. While most protein based foods are quite powdery and in plain terms hard to swallow, the Carb Killa spread was absolutely delicious on toast, crumpets and even by itself being cheekily scooped outside of the jar without hesitancy.

Best For Those Who Like To Eat Chocolate And Workout

Indie Bay Snacks

After an empty drawer ensued a legion of hungry kids, a need to create snacks that were not covered in grease, became the paramount focus of Indie Bay Snacks creation. Unlike normal pretzels which are high in calories and low in nutritional content, Indie Bay Snacks stands against ‘mindless snacking’ to bring you round bites of deliciousness that are swimming with flavour. And furthermore, alongside delicious flavours like sunflower and pretzel seeds, Indie Bay is also committed to ‘giving back to the community’  focusing on educating children about healthy food. Which is why Indie Bay Snacks actually donates with every bag that they sell, which has been a predominant ethos that they have implemented since day one. Available in three delicious flavours- Spelt Pretzel Bites With Rock Salt, Sunflower Pretzel Bites With Super Seeds And Quinoa Pretzel Bites With Cracked Pepper, the biggest issue you will have is choosing which delicious flavour to try first!

Best For Those Who Like Pretzels

Light Bites

Available at Superdrug, Light Bites are wonderful popped chips that are gluten free and high in protein, with two delicious ‘bars’ under its belt as well. While the brand is not exclusively vegan, there are vegan friendly products available like Roasted Shallot And Cider Vinegar Popped Chips, although all the products in the range are veggie friendly. From a delicious superfood seed bar with  quinoa, honey and pumpkin seeds  to a rather tasty sweet and smoky chipotle popped chip, made from soya and chickpeas, the concept of ‘virtuous snacking’ has never been so flavorful. And as all the Light Bites range is under 100 calories , there is no reason to miss out with snacks that taste just as good as the high calorie versions. Now hows that for a treat I hear you ask?

Best For Those Who Like Virtuous Snacking With Plenty Of Flavor

Karma Bites

Speaking of treats, when it comes to Karma Bites, it blows regular popcorn out of the water! Made from popped lotus seeds that are lovingly extracted from the revered lotus flower, these seeds are valued for their nutritional and healing properties in both Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine. While the lotus flower has been traditionally used in medicinal and skincare properties, the popped lotus seeds are also delicious as snacks as Karma bites will demonstrate. 100% natural, full of essential minerals and nutrients, with far-reaching healing properties, Karma Bites was built on the ethos that ‘Goodness Goes a Long Way’. In other words if you ‘eat mindfully’ you feel well and consequently do great deeds as a result of good karma too. Available in delicious flavours like ‘Himalayan Pink Salt’, Wasabi, Peri Peri and Caramel, the question is which flavour would you choose? Here’s a little hint, the caramel flavour knocks it out of the ball park for me, although for a delicious vegan friendly option try the Himalayan Pink Salt or Wasabi lotus delights. Trust me, you won’t regret it.

Best For Those Who Like Popcorn But Want To Try Something New

Abakus Foods 

Described as ‘healthy snacks for busy people’ it can be all too easy to skip out on breakfast, as you frantically run to work, after running late as per usual. However as Breakfast is the most important meal , which sets the pace for the rest of your day, its important that we eat mindful foods that can aid us into having a productive and satisfying time at work. Which is where Abakus Foods steps in; with snacks like delicious Jujube crunchy crisps made from red dates to Hickory Nuts, who says that you need to have something elaborate to kickstart your day. Whether you chow down red dates with some muesli or munch on them absentmindedly on the train, Abakus Foods has provided a great range of simple yet delicious snacks that are great for breakfast toppers or as a snack in between meals.

Best For Those Who Want To Add Interest To Their Breakfasts

Ugo Thrive

As winners of the Innovation Award and Company of the Year in the Hertfordshire Business Awards for 2017 and Gold Free From Food Award for 2017, award winning fresh pasta and noodle company Ugo Thrive is one to watch in 2018. Not only is Ugo a Vegan and Vegetarian friendly brand, but they have a range of fantastic gluten free options too. Passionate in its mission to help you optimize your nutritional well-being, Ugo Thrive has delicious fresh pasta options like chickpea fusilli and gluten free penne, while the new pumpkin and sage gluten free raviolini is the ‘first Vegan Gluten Free filled fresh pasta of its kind and it is delicious to boot. Quick and easy to make Ugo Thrive has shown that even if you are gluten free or vegan, when it comes to ‘quick’ yet fresh and nutritional meals, their fresh pasta will be the perfect dinner for you. My personal favourite? The chickpea fusilli , which not only offers a delicious nutty flavour but is also ideal for vegans, those who have a wheat intolerance and is packed full of protein and fibre.

Best For Those Who Have Gluten Intolerances

Nutree Life

When it comes to ‘protein brands’ it seems a given that protein shakes and bars are part of the deal. But not at Nutree Life, an all plant based protein vegan and vegetarian friendly brand who counts Peri Peri protein burgers and fruit cocktail protein snack bites as part of its impressive roster of innovative products for active vegans. And Nutree Life doesn’t just deliver on products either; each product is bursting with flavour, whether that be their flavoured plant based burger mix or flapjacks, without needing to compromise your vegan diet to work out. And even if you re not vegan like myself and are a vegetarian or meat eater, you can still enjoy nutritionally balanced food that is rich in protein to help you get the most out of your workout.

Best For Vegans Who Need All Natural Protein

DragonFly Foods 

Using Tofu as its core superfood ingredient, Dragonfly Foods is suitable for vegetarians, vegans and coeliac sufferers, with no gluten, dairy, GMO, artificial preservatives and colouring used in any of their 100% organic tofu based products. With a diverse range of products including a Thai Green Tofu Curry and Smoked Organic Tofu, Dragonfly is proving that there really is more to tofu than meets the eye. Whether you want to try ‘original soysages’ made from tofu or fancy a hearty tofu bubble and squeak tattie, its time that Dragonfly Foods was given the recognition that it deserves. Having been founded in 1984, it is clear that Dragonfly Foods has come a long way since its humble beginnings and rightly so too.

Best For Tofu Lovers

Goodfellas

While Goodfella’s is not neccessariily known as either a vegan or vegetarian friendly brand, 2018 became the year that they stopped the clocks. Because guess what? Goodfella’s have become the first ever mainstream brand to now deliver Vegan frozen pizza, which was released earlier this month. While vegans have been able to deliver vegan pizza, when it comes to expenses, a takeaway can add up to a lot of money each month. Which is why the launch of a mainstream vegan pizza while not only save bucks but it will also ensure that being vegan does not mean that you have to miss out. And its delicious; officially approved by the Vegan Society this wonderful vegan stonebaked vegan pizza with falafel, red peppers, spinach, white onion, spicy harissa sauce, and houmus drizzle is ticking my boxes for all the right reasons.

Best For Vegans Who Love Pizza

V Bites

When I discovered V Bites, it was like discovering manna. The range of inventive vegan ‘mock meat’ products like spicy vegan pepperoni slices and vegan marjoram sausages, blew me away and I was so impressed at how many vegan friendly products they had, that I have an entire post dedicated to V Bites coming very soon. Built on the premise that being Vegan shouldn’t have to mean missing out on your favourite foods, V Bites has been the pioneer of plant based foods since 1993. In short V Bites was born out of a need to deliver all of the taste and texture of meat, fish and dairy products, but without the harmful dietary, environmental, welfare and sustainability drawbacks of pastoral agriculture and fishing. With 103 products, that has won 80+ International Awards , sold in 24+ countries, when it comes to amazing Vegan food, V Bites has definitely got you covered. For those who like fish but are vegans and vegetarians, the fishless steaks are guaranteed to tickle your fancy, while the meat lovers will love the spicy meatless pepperoni slices, delicious on their own or as part of a tasty sarnie. And for those who are cheese fiends like myself, the ‘Cheezly’ Dairy Free Pepperjack is in one word… divine.

Best For Vegans Who Want A Variety Of Choice

Traidcraft

The UK’s largest fair trade online shop, this vegan and vegetarian friendly brand advocates the importance of organic farming, sustainability and transparency to the life of growers and artisans around the world. With an emphasis on social change, through every purchase that you make at Traidcraft, you can feel good knowing that your money is helping changing peoples lives through fair trade by saving vanishing traditional skills from extinction. Furthermore alongside its fair trade ethos, the products themselves are rather delicious. From the vegan friendly Mexican Quinoa which is delicious as a snack or as a meal, to the decadent double chocolate cookies that are brimming with flavour, you are definitely spoiled for choice at Traidcraft.

Best For Anyone Who Supports Fair Trade Products

Vorrei

While Vorrei does offer meat products, it also has a section especially dedicated to vegetarians and vegans, noting a rise in a plant based diet as a need to offer products that cater to anyone regardless of their dietary requirements. With delicious vegan friendly Italian classics like spicy Italian pasta sauce that tastes as fresh as the day it was made to lemon sea salt, Vorrei has demonstrated that even vegans don’t have to miss out on delicious and authentic Italian Cuisine. Furthermore Vorrei also supports the ‘Slow Food Movement’ an initiative which was started in Italy and many other Mediterranean countries like Portugal to help counter the rise of a fast food culture and promote a better way to eat. Its such an important ethos to celebrate the importance of food that is free from preservatives, especially in a culture that is ingrained in ‘fast living’ so its time that we too embraced the slow food movement.

Best For Those Who Love Authentic Italian Cuisine

Pasta Garofalo

Available at Ocado and on Amazon, Pasta Garofalo is the world’s oldest mainstream pasta brand having been first produced in 1789 and widely lauded as the ‘premium high quality’ pasta brand to buy in 2018. But asides from its certifications of excellence, Pasta Garofalo also offers the most extensive and diverse range of pasta that I have seen to date with everything from the commonly known penne rigate to tri colour fusilli which is delicious eaten with fresh pasta sauce and cheese. And for those who really do like to try something new, the new delicious Garofalo Gluten Free Fusilli Pasta with Legumes & Cereals is ideal for those who are following a vegan or vegetarian diet like myself. And Garofalo even has delicious pasta options for kids like the ‘organic moon and stars shaped pasta’ that makes eating pasta fun at any age. While most of the Garofao range is vegan friendly, please do check the packaging as their are a few options that are vegetarian friendly only.

Best For Those Who Want High Quality And Diverse Pasta Choices

The Veda Soul Company

The Veda Soul Company might have an 100% Vegan, 100% Organic, free of refined sugar chocolate range, but ‘going without’ does not make them compromise on taste.  Founded by a husband and wife team, their delicious range of chocolate vegan treats is beautifully presented in a treasure chest, which when opened presents two perfumed tins of your choice, nestled in straw. In my case I had a tin of ‘Love’ made from an exquisite blend of  Rose & Cardamom and Peace which was perfumed with Lavender & GojiBerry. The chocolate bites themselves are not bitter as some vegan chocolate can be, while the tins and treasure chest gift box are ideal for storing jewellery or presenting gifts to your Squirrel Friends.

Best For Those Who Like Chocolate Without The Nasties

Squirrel Sisters

Available in four mouthwatering flavours (Cacao Orange, Raspberry Ripple, Coconut Cashew and Cacao Brownie), Squirrel Sisters AKA the ‘Tyrell Clan’ founded Squirrel Sisters as an initiative to encourage health, wellbeing and both physical and mental nourishment. They had found that because we lead such busy lifestyles, we are prone to mindless snacking on snacks that A. had no nutritional value and B. could be detrimental to our wellbeing, with many snack foods having a negative impact on our mental health and state of mind. But at Squirrel Sisters HQ, they have shown that you can still have fun with your eating choices while maintaining a healthy lifestyle. While all the bars are delicious, my personal favourite is the Cacao Orange which is not only gluten and dairy free but also has a natural tangy orange flavour.

Best For Those Who Like To Snack On The Go

Ombar

Available to buy from The Ethical Superstore and Amazon, Ombar is organic raw chocolate with a twist. While its original raw cacao buttons  is best suited to those who ‘like dark chocolate’ for those who are accustomed to milk chocolate I would heartily recommend their delicious Ombar coconut 60% or Ombar Blueberry and Acai which is smooth, creamy and is sure as hell dreamy. But why OMBAR I hear you ask? Not only is Ombar vegan and made in the UK but they are also ethical  ensuring that they source their main ingredients directly from farmers’ cooperatives so that everyone from farmers to exporters, are compensated fairly for their dedication and effort. Furthermore alongside being sustainable and vegan , the benefits of raw chocolate are unparalleled as it can not only boost your mood and improve your blood flow but it can also help to avoid or prevent against anaemia

Best For Those Who Like Dark Chocolate

Mr Lee’s Noodles

Mr Lee’s Noodles were once a meat only noodle brand with flavours like Hong Kong Street Beef and Thai Chi hicken among its roster of products, but as of March 2018, they have added two vegan friendly noodle pots too. Enter Dragon Fire Vegetables, Hot & sour rice noodles with red miso, bamboo shoots, mushroom & tamari soy sauce in one corner and Zen Garden Vegetables made from a harmonious miso rice noodle blend  with asparagus,
green beans, spinach & ginger. Both noodle pots have been designed with vegans in mind, to show that high quality noodles shouldn’t just be limited to one dietary type. After all these are noodles with a difference with high quality vegetables and fresh sauce for tantalizing yet rich in nutritional flavour? Now hows that for a noodle dish? Take that Pot Noodle!

Best For Those Who Like Pot Noodles

Dental Hygiene

Swish 2 Go

When it comes to cruelty free and vegan skincare, there is an increasing variety of options available such as body oils, lotions and moisturizers. But the probability of ‘dental hygiene brands’ that are both vegan and vegetarian brands is often difficult to come across with many larger brands like Colgate, often claiming that they are cruelty free but in actual fact as they are shipped in China, are required by law to ‘test on animals’ as part of their ‘testing protocol’. Which is why finding ‘Swish 2 Go’ was such a rare delight and surprise; available to use ‘on the go’ as part of your dental routine, all you do is pop open your sachets, swill the powder mixture in your mouth and swallow for breath that will have the men falling at your feet. And by that I mean them swooping in for a cheeky snog because your breath smells ‘minty fine’. With no artificial ingredients, additives or E Numbers used in their ingredients, Swish 2 Go is a cruelty free mouthwash that is far more effective than mints and gum put together!

Best For Those Seeking Cruelty Free Dental Hygiene On The Go

Skincare

Atlantis Skincare

Since going cruelty free last June, I have been searching high and low for high quality skincare products that were not only specifically tailored to my skin but also had a reasonable price point and would give me as much bargain for my buck as possible.During my transition from non-vegan to vegan, cruelty free products I discovered that while ‘drugstore brands’ are more tailored to my budget, sometimes it is worth paying a little more to guarantee that you are not wasting money on products that are not ‘going to generate results’. Which is where Atlantis Skincare comes in; not only does their skincare range carry carefully selected skincare lines that are pharmaceutical grade and recommended by dermatologists, plastic surgeons and skin care specialists but they also create ‘consultations’ for a range of skincare requirements include ‘spider veins’, ‘sun damage’ and ‘heavy set wrinkles’.

Best For High End Luxury Skincare

Hempz

As seen in OK Magazine, Hempz is a 100% Vegan, Cruelty Free and Paraben Free pure natural ‘Hemp Seed Oil’ whose diverse range of body washes, scrubs and moisturizers has proved to be a hit with both celebrities and the cult fans that use them. But here is where Hempz really excels; while many vegan skincare brands use more natural or remedial ‘scents’ like ‘peppermint’ or ‘lemon’ , Hempz draws inspiration from more ‘tropical scents’ like pineapple and honeydew melon, which immediately transports you to a tranquil desert island, sipping mojitos under swaying palm trees. My personal favourite? The Pineapple and Honeydew Melon of course, a tropical delight that makes bathtime all the more fun. And who doesn’t love smelling like a bowl of fruit salad?

Best For Vegan Scented Bodywashes

Urban Veda

Vegan Friendly and Cruelty Free, Urban Veda’s natural skincare range has won them a host of impressive accolades including Beauty Shortlist Awards 2018 Winner and Editors Choice and the Family Awards 2018 Bronze Award for the Best Travel Product For Parents. Beloved by ‘Queen Toff’ of the jungle , she described how as someone who had been struggling with her skin and complexion, she needed products that could ‘clarify her skin’ without any of the nasties that you find in chemical laden skincare that is prevalent in mainstream brands. And its not just Toff who lauds the Urban Veda range but regular old me who as many readers will know loves not just the cruelty free aspect of the brand but am also a fan of its commitment to protect the environment too. After all Urban Veda packaging is recyclable, and their bottles are made out of post-consumer recycled plastic, which is much kinder to nature, thus bearing the coveted ‘Forest Sustainability’ certification to demonstrate their desire to protect the environment.

Best For Skincare That Protects The Environment

Incognito Skin

Registered as Vegan Society Approved, Incognito Skin does just as it says on the bottle ‘ it test on humans not animals’ as many mainstream mosquito repellents do. With a range of cruelty free products like mosquito repellent and moisturizer that is designed to be used as part of your ‘essential travel kit’, the products are also grown in nitrate-free fertilizer soil, while no  pesticides are used in cultivating the organic citronella or eucalyptus, as these plants naturally repel arthropods. Furthermore alongside their commitment to non toxic skincare according  to ‘Ethical Website’ The Big Green Smile, 10% of Incognito’s profit is given to local communities who they encourage to live in harmony with the planet.

Best For Non Toxic Mosquito Repellent

Himalaya Herbals

Established in 1930, Himalaya Herbals is a range of 100% natural and safe products with rare herbs collected from the foothills of the Himalayas. Each product is inspired by Ayurvedic principles, defining perfect health as defined as “a balance between body, mind, spirit, and social wellbeing”. The concept of creating a harmonious balance between the mind and spirit is something that is immediately noticeable throughout its diverse range of skincare, ranging from an all natural ‘Baby care range’ which includes products like baby lotion and powder, to oral care like all natural whitening toothpaste and hair products like a conditioning masque. Himalaya Herbals doesn’t just offer products to suit all the family, but to demonstrate the power of Ayurvedic herbs, it also has a glossary explaining the benefits of herbs used like Bacopa Monnieri which is a plant containing the well known prescriptive drug Brahmi. Brahmi  is astringent, bitter and cooling, and used in Ayurveda for the treatment of asthma, hoarseness, and epilepsy.

Best For Families

Tzone

Award Winning New skincare brand T Zone, is the name on everybody’s lips, having won two awards within the first four months of launching on the market, including the T-Zone Charcoal & Bamboo Nose Pore Strips which won Highly Commended for Best New Skin Care Treatment. Alongside its award winning products, T Zone is not only vegan and cruelty free but it also focuses on activated charcoal and bamboo extract as its two core ingredients which are known for helping to control an oily t-zone , which leaves the skin purified and oil free, used for its absorption qualities in medicines and skincare. I personally recommend the charcoal and bamboo nose strips which not only  help to remove excess dirt and oil from pores, but also draws out impurities meaning clearer, unclogged skin.

Best For Oily Skin

Earth Friendly Baby

Granted I don’t have a child, but I do have sensitive skin, which means that products that are laden with chemicals (even when they claim to be ‘gentle’) will leave my skin feeling irritated and sore, So I have to be very careful as to what I use on my skin and even on my scal. Which is where award winning ‘earth Friendly Baby’ comes in a natural, organic and cruelty free range of products that are specifically formulated for babies and those with sensitive skin, with the coveted ‘eco cert’ , vegetarian society and vegan society approved certifications to demonstrate its commitment to cruelty free beauty and skincare for babies and those with sensitive skin. And if you are looking for a real crowd pleaser, I recommend the calming lavender shampoo and bodywash, which is guaranteed to leave you feeling relaxed, something which as an adult seems to be an impossible feat to manage.

Best For Natural And Organic Baby Products

Angela Langford

What Happens When You Mix Cooking And Skincare? Well you get Angela Langford, a self-named brand created by 2014 Masterchef Finalist, whose passion for the kitchen has translated into an incredibly innovative skincare range. Not only is Angela Langford committed to boycotting animal testing , but Angela also personally tailors products to suit your skin type. For example as I have oily but sensitive skin I was assigned a sample of ‘Scrub Up’,  a clearing and brightening facial exfoliator with papaya, bilberry and lemon. Not only is this natural scrub sprinkled with jojoba grains to help remove dead skin  but it also help to renew healthy new skin cells too. And while it is not part of the ‘sensitive range’ the scrub -unlike most scrubs I have tried- does not irritate my skin, which gives them bonus points from me. So whether you have oily, sensitive or dry skin, there is a cruelty free product for you.

Best For Scented Scrubs

Naturaline Swiss Cosmetics

Vegan Friendly, this natural plant based skincare and wellness cosmetics brand is powered by nature, using ingredients from renewable sources. With 50% of the vegetable ingredients  from certified organic cultivation and a pledge to use environmentally friendly process technology in manufacturing, Naturaline Swiss Cosmetics is just as committed to protecting our beloved furry friends just as they are adamant that skincare should not have to destroy the environment in the process.  While they offer a range of products such as shampoos, hand and foot care and anti aging creams for the face, it is their lip balms which please me the most. Small and compact enough to keep with you on  the go, this lip balm is free from any added nasties tapping into the revolutionairy power of plants, while all of their naturaline skin care products bear the prestigious and rigorously demanding Ecocert^® Natural Cosmetics Quality Label.

Best For Lip Balm 

Hair Products

It Really Works

Vegan and cruelty free, this start up Hair growth vitamin brand is not only dedicated to providing you with thick, luscious and healthy hair, but they are also passionate about ensuring that their vitamins are vegan friendly, noting the rise of veganism as a chance to make themselves stand out from the rest of the hair growth vitamin market. Based in London ‘It Really Works’ is so confident in their claim that your hair will become more thicker and healthier with their vitamins, that they offer a 90 day guarantee, so that if by any chance you are not satisfied with your purchase you are given your money back, the first of its kind to offer financial satisfaction.

Best For Hair Growth

Tints Of Nature

While there are many cruelty free hair care brands out there, what makes tints Of Nature stand out from the crowd is its non ammonia, organic, cruelty free and vegan range of hair dyes- both permanent and semi permanent , which is created for the purpose of creating all natural hair colour products. With a multitude of awards under its belt including Hair Awards 2012 and Best Buy 2011, it’s little wonder why I have found Tints Of Nature to be such a fantastic hair care brand. My favourite product has to be the ‘Sulfate Free shampoo’ which was the  first shampoo I had found that was sulfate free and actually made my hair feel and look healthier as a result. Chemicals are something that we should avoid when washing our scalps, as they do  strip our hair of vital nutrients needed to fuel healthy hair production.

Best For Organic Hair Colour

Natural World

As someone who has naturally frizzy curly hair, finding products that are able to taste my wild beast of a mane seems like an impossible feat. Which is where Natural World Comes in, an award winning haircare brand based in Soho, London whose range of vegetarian and vegan  friendly  products (with the exception of the Brazilian Keratin range) is committed to removing animal derivatives from their hair products, eventually switching to an all plant based range of hair products. With the ability to take a bespoke quiz to determine which hair products from natural world you should be using, I found that I should be using the ‘Chia seed range’ which is specifically formulated to add volume and shine to limp and lacklustre hair.

Best For Frizzy Hair

Make Up

Avril Organic

After being introduced to Organic and Natural French Brand Avril , I fell in love instantly, especially with their range of moisturizing and highly pigmented lipsticks. While there are the nudes and neutral lipsticks that are ideal for day to day wear, the more vibrant shades like ‘Cerise Burlat’ or ‘Framboise’ (as shown below) are wickedly decadent lipsticks that will transform you into a fierce queen at night. Certified organic, not only is their makeup and skincare range pigmented and long lasting but of course is also cruelty free and vegan. And if that wasn’t good enough, Avril also ensures that it is committed to being environmentally friendly , removing all unnecessary packaging in order to use less plastic. oh and the cherry on top? A high quality range of ‘affordable cosmetics’ without ridicolous price tags that many organic brands have, with most products ranging from 4£ only.

Best For High Quality Budget Lipsticks

Vegan Subscription Boxes

Unboxed Vegan

Ideal for transitioning vegans, vegetarians with an interest in vegan food like myself of simpey someone who would like to try Vegan food, Unboxed Vegan is a fantastic subscription box that in my eyes has fantastic value for money. While the Vegan Necessities box’ is priced at £40 , there is always 11 full sized products + 2 goodies, which are all vegan friendly, with a range of vegan cheeses, dairy alternatives, vegan meat substitutes and so much more. For those of you who follow me on Instagram, you might have seen me speak about Unboxed Vegan on my Instagram stories as I was so impressed by their vegan sweet chili cheese which tasted like heaven and their soya milk alternative, which definitely made me consider switching to plant based milks, as it tasted very good. As I have sensitivity to certain foods, I find that sometimes, dairy alternative s like ‘vegan cream cheese’ or plant based milk is lighter and kinder to my stomach than cows milk- as much as I like the taste which can often give me cramps .

Best For Introducing You To Vegan Food Brands

Vegan Tuck Shop

As someone who does like to snack, the concept of a ‘vegan snack box’ is perfect for helping me through stressful deadlines, or when I need something to eat between meals. With a range of boxes starting from £3.50, when it comes to a vegan snack box, the £16.50 ‘Ultimate Box’ is definitely the right choice to make, featuring sweet and savory treats to tickle your fancy. I love that Vegan Tuck Box introduced me to fantastic snack brands like Peakz and Boost Ball in lemon and coconut drizzle and am looking forward to trying more tuck boxes soon. And if you are still unsure, be check out their previous tuck boxes for an idea of the kind of treats that you will be receiving each month!

Best For Vegan Snacks

Intimate Health

TOTM

Pioneers of the period powerful movement, Time Of The Month is committed to educating our society on the angers of using non-organic intimate health products, especially in regards to mainstream tampons which are often filled with nasty chemicals that can increase the risk of Toxic Death Syndrome, cancer and other illnesses, which we must avoid against. Moreover their range of cruelty, free , vegan and organic liners, tampons,and pads are not only animal friendly bu they are also biodegradable as well, meaning that TOTM aim to reduce their impact on the environment with nature friendly fabrics like cotton. And alongside incredible intimate health products that are kinder to sensitive vaginas, TOTM are committed to supporting period powerful charities like Endometriosis UK as they believe that talking about our periods should no be something we should be ashamed of , nor should anyone have to suffer alone.

Best For Organic Intimate Health Products

Jewellery 

Now it might sound strange including a ‘jewellery brand’ in a guide that is promoting vegetarian and vegan friendly brands, but as someone who is cruelty free you will be surprised to hear that many jewellery brands use animal materials like leather, suede and exotic animal skins which naturally is not suitable for me and my lifestyle. Which is why I would like to introduce you to Astra , a cruelty free jewllery brand which borders on intricate minimalism. Featuring stunning earrings, necklaces, bangles and rings, each jewellery piece is modeled on a different poetic theme. For example one of the collections named ‘Freedom’ is based on the intrinsic value that what is ‘written in the stars’ will spell out your destiny, so in the case of freedom it is showing that we are all entitled to living our lives without being governed by someone else. So naturally choosing a ‘bird flying’ as your jewellery emblem will connote that you are free to fly on your own path. So apart from being a beautiful range of jewellery it is the spiritual meaning behind the brand that speaks volumes.

So in my case the ‘dolphin’ represents intelligence, playfulness and above all a connection to nature, whereas a symbol like a birdcage might represent someone who is trying to escape their current destiny and enter a  new realm. So as you can see all the pieces are open to interpretation but luckily one thing that is certain is that all the pieces are cruelty free.

Have You Tried Any Of These Vegan Or Vegetarian Friendly Brands? Which Brand Is Your Favourite?

*PR Samples

Please note that categories like makeup and intimate health have fewer products as these are categories that either I will be exploring in more detail in another post or are categories I have already highlighted previously.