Saturday 7 November 2015

An Interview With Vicky Of Ethical Elephant


Today I am so excited to introduce one of my favourite cruelty-free bloggers, Vicky of Ethical Elephant (formerly Elephant In The Room). Vicky's site is so inspiring, and it really is an excellent resource for learning about cruelty-free. I could pick so many of her posts to share with you but a few to begin with are Your "Cruelty-Free" Brand Is Lying To You, The Cruelty-Free Dilemma and What Makes A Product Cruelty-Free?

Vicky also covers topics such as ethical fashion and beauty reviews as well as publishing cruelty-free statements from brands along with lists of their vegan products, which can be really helpful whether you're a seasoned cruelty-free shopper or just starting out.

Ethical Elephant Cruelty-Free Blogger Against Animal Testing

Hi! Tell us a bit about yourself and your blog.

My name is Vicky and I’m from Vancouver, Canada with a desire to do good work for the greater good. My blog is called Ethical Elephant and it's a place to celebrate a cruelty-free and vegan lifestyle that is ethical yet practical for kind compassionistas wanting to inspire change in this world!

When did you start blogging and what inspired you to start your own?

I started advocating for animal welfare as early as 2013 and attended a handful of events, festivals, and even setting up a table at Whole Foods to hand out leaflets and educate the public. It was a fun experience but it took a lot of time, resources, and money to set up at these events and to stand around hoping to inspire passersby to make kind choices. I decided to try and spread the cruelty-free lifestyle message online, where it’s virtually free (to some level) and quickly discovered the online platform was a more efficient use of my time and energy. It wasn’t until April 2015 where I revamped my website and started to explore the idea of creating online content and getting the cruelty-free message in front of those that were already interested in the lifestyle. 

What are your favourite cruelty-free products?

Great question! =) An answer that’s always changing for me so I’m going to let you in on my favourite cruelty-free brands that do not disappoint:
Sukin, Pür Minerals, Mineral Fusion, 100% Pure, Pacifica
..but if I had to choose ONE product I can’t seem to live without right now.. it’s gotta be 100% Pure’s Maracuja Mascara, it makes my lashes look super long and full without any nasty or harmful ingredients! 

What advice would you give to someone who wants to buy cruelty-free?

Do it now! Do it today!! I think a lot of people are resistant to take the leap because they don’t feel like they have enough information or they’re nervous to try something new so they just go back to buying products from the same ol' brands they’re used to. 
It’s a growing process to switch over to cruelty-free products so don’t feel like you need to have it all figured out. Start small or start with just one product but it’s important that you just START! Know that you’re going to make mistakes along the way and that’s OK. Strive for progress, not perfection and the animals will thank you! =) 

What’s your favourite part of blogging?

Love this question! I love the creativity that goes behind each post. There is just so many ways we can tell the same story over and over again “Animal testing is unnecessary, outdated, inhumane and finding cruelty-free products is fun and super easy!” but the part of blogging that I’ve enjoyed the most is re-telling the same story but in my own voice and approaching it differently with the ultimate goal to inspire change in others. Whether that is wording something differently, creating an infographic, or designing a compelling image that speaks for itself —the options are limitless! That’s the true beauty in using a blog as a platform to advocate for animals… there’s really no ‘one way fits all’ approach! 


Thank you so so so incredibly much Gemima for asking such wonderful and fun questions! It’s been a blast and honour to share my story with you and your fabulous readers =)

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Thank you Vicky for such a fantastic interview! Make sure to also check out my interviews with Ana of Aniqa DreamsSarah of The V Nice LifeEmily of The Bell JarMorag of mo'adore and Kelly of The Vegan Taff for their thoughts on blogging and buying cruelty-free. You can read the whole series so far here.

Tuesday 3 November 2015

October Cruelty-Free & Vegan Favourites

October Cruelty-Free & Vegan Favourites

Wow, October went quickly! I hope you've all been loving the autumn leaves and scenery as much as I have. Here's what I've been up to lately...

At the start of the month my boyfriend and I took a trip to Bristol Comic and Zine Fair to sell his mini comics and it was such a fantastic creative atmosphere. We both left with lots of ideas for new projects to keep us busy. 

Recently two new vegetarian and vegan eateries have opened in Cardiff which is so exciting. Anna Loka is an all vegan cafe and Atma is a vegetarian cafe with a yoga studio too. Shamefully I'm yet to visit either but let me know if you'd like me to post about them when I do check them out.

One of my favourite hobbies is reading, and lately I've started doing some very short book reviews on my Instagram. Take a peek if you like fantasy, science fiction, dystopian or horror, as that's what I love to read.

Also this month the lovely Natalie of The Tofu Diaries interviewed me about my cruelty-free story, favourite brands and my process for finding out if a company is really cruelty-free. Read the interview here.

November is set to be a busy month as I'm currently looking for a new place to live, trying to minimise all my things and I'll be taking a trip to London to go to the Lush Prize Awards. In case you missed it, you can read my post all about the judging here. I don't think I could be any more excited about an event!

October Cruelty-Free & Vegan Favourites

The Favourites

Choc Shot

A few weeks ago I was lucky enough to win three Choc Shots from the Vegan Lifestyle Association! It's free to join their site and you get access to lots of cruelty-free discounts and vegan competitions. This chocolate syrup is delicious in an almond milk hot chocolate and I love to dip it with apple slices for a sweet autumnal snack.

Superdrug Cherry & Macadamia Body Butter

This sweet smelling moisturiser is a life saver for my dry skin as well as feeling absolutely luxurious. So thick and lovely, I adore the rich cherry scent and it's one of the few beauty products I buy again and again.

Crazy Rumors Mint Chocolate Lip Balm

After running out of this tasty lip balm I had to go pick up another one. It's all natural and easily keep my lips hydrated. I'm also very keen to try the HibisKiss tinted lip balms and pretty much all the other fun flavours.

Bettes Beauty Serum

I love to use this serum at night as it feels so nourishing. After using it I wake up with lovely soft and hydrated skin. The scent is a wonderful autumnal mix of pumpkin and herbs, just right for this time of year.

Superdrug Hand Cream 2 In 1

I really like this hand cream as it's budget friendly, never greasy and absorbs quickly. I find I only need to apply this twice a day and it leaves my hands soft and smooth even through the colder months. 

Coconut Curry

I had a go at making Minimalist Baker's recipe for vegan coconut curry and it turned out to be absolutely divine. Very rich, creamy and filling. I was amazed at how easy it was to make such a delicious meal and it's easily the best vegan cooking I've achieved so far. Highly recommended!

Aniqa Dreams

Ana is a brilliant blogger and youtuber who shares tips on ethical fashion, eating vegan and buying cruelty-free. You can read our interview here where we chatted about Ana's favourite brands and her advice for finding animal friendly beauty. A few of my favourite videos are her Cruelty-Free Beauty Hacks & Tips and Easy Vegan Breakfast Ideas.


More from the month of October...

Posts to check out

Vicky's excellent guide Is It Cruelty-Free? 5 Ways To Know If Cosmetics Are Tested On Animals

Sarah hosted her very first Vegan Essex Social and it looks like such a fab event.

Bianca of The Friendly Fig's Cruelty-Free Nails: Buffy The Vampire Slayer edition.

Steph's Current Favourite Autumn Make-up made me swoon over that berry lip.

Gemma's thoughts after her first 6 months as a vegan.


Some recent Instagrams



Products I'm lusting after
e.l.f. Studio Need It Nude Eyeshadow PaletteLush Rose Jam Shower GelAutograph Matt Velvet Lipstick in Plum



What have you been loving this month?

Gemima
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