Dear Compassionate Consumer,
Happy May! This month, we are excited to bring attention to all of the amazing mothers out there looking for cruelty-free products for their most precious treasures, as well as for themselves. Check out our reviews and suggestions below for some great products to incorporate into your household and daily routine.
Also included in this enewsletter, we round up some of our most recently certified companies and spotlight the brand Maelle Beauty. And don’t forget to check out the exclusive promos for AB Skincare, HealthNaturally, Maelle Beauty, and TO112.
For the animals,
Caitlin McGrother
Leaping Bunny Program Administrator
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Products for the Baby I can’t believe over a year has passed since welcoming our baby into the world. Time has flown by, and the old adage ‘The days are long but the years are short,’ has never rung truer. Bath time at the end of a long day when exhaustion is at its peak can be a challenge, but here are some great cruelty-free products that have helped make things just a bit easier (and more fun)! —Kim, Program Manager
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Little Twig Berry
Pomegranate Bubble Bath
Just a pump or two of this product creates lots of foamy bubbles, perfect bath time entertainment! The smell is incredible…just like luscious berries! But, the best part is that the formula is super gentle on baby’s skin, rinsing clean, and is not at all drying. For extra aromatic enjoyment, pair this with Little Twig’s baby wash and/or baby lotion in the same scent!
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Wash with Water Sweetpea
and Me Kissable Skin Lotion
Baby skin is incredible…so new, so perfect, but SO incredibly prone to dryness. This lotion works wonders. It’s loaded with argan oil (great for moisturizing) and calendula (good for soothing). Plus, the best part…it LASTS! One application every couple of days is all my baby needs. It’s non-greasy and the scent is subtle, but absolutely lovely.
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Pleni Naturals Apple +
Broccoli Hair & Body Wash
Adorable packaging, check. Fruit and vegetable-based ingredients, check. Gentle yet effective cleanser, check. What is there not to love about Pleni Naturals body wash? It’s super sudsy and smells amazing (Hello, orange-vanilla!) and we use it from head to toe. Hair washes clean and the soap is not at all drying on baby’s delicate skin.
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Céla Skin Company Corner Although I am not a mother, I certainly understand the importance of pampering yourself, particularly when you are super busy with a baby. Céla is a personal care brand that truly feels indulgent, but in a manageable and efficient way. Céla’s “seed to skin” complex is created to calm, protect, and soothe skin from the northern climate and is a blend of six Canadian botanical extracts: blueberry, elderberry, evening primrose, juniper berry, rosemary, and lavender. As someone with dry skin all year round, Céla’s array of products have worked so well on my skin and I’m excited to share my favorites with you. —Caitlin, Administrator
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Essential Face Mist
Face mists are one of those products that seem unnecessarily, maybe a little too extra. It takes something special to make me want to add another type of product into my daily routine. Well, this face mist is definitely worthy of the title “something special.” Its light, clean, botanical scent is delightful. The combination of coconut water, aloe, snow algae, and “seed to skin” complex leaves my skin hydrated and glowing. I love using it after my daily moisturizer, both in the morning and evening, and when I want to feel refreshed.
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Crème de la Crème Light
Because of my dry skin, I am quite the connoisseur of body lotions and butters. The first time I used this moisturizer, I was immediately obsessed. I am not usually a huge fan of citrus scents, but this delicate yet multilayered fragrance had me wishing there was a body spritzer to come with it. The formula is super light but rich, and it left my skin feeling soft and smooth. Every morning when I applied it, I truly felt like I was pampering myself.
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Essential Balm
This multi-use oil is a lifesaver for those super dry areas that need extra attention. The formula changes from a solid to an oil with body heat and is incredibly moisturizing. This product saved my hands during the cold winter and through to the spring. The light scent of lavender is particularly relaxing and I love applying it right before bed to let it work its magic.
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New Companies We never tire of sharing the love for our cruelty-free companies. Our Compassionate Shopping Guide continues to grow immensely, month after month, and we love connecting with so many companies that share in the mission of cruelty-free products. Check out our list below for some of our most recent additions.
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Avalea
Skincare company created by a registered nurse and product safety scientist, and founded on green beauty principles.
Babe Glaze
Organic, vegan luxury tanning products.
Babo Botanicals
Plant-based hair, skin, and mineral sun care made for the entire family.
Beard Care Club
Beard care products and hair oils with new scents released monthly.
Carlucce
Cosmetics company with a flagship product of an all-in-one foundation with skin enhancing benefits.
Curology
Custom prescription-free skincare brand that focuses on acne treatment.
Fabula Nebulae
Family handcrafted natural products for body, baby, and bath.
Fresame Cosmetics
Makeup company launched with the flagship product of mascara that is paraben-free and vegan. |
Gaia Natural Cleaners
Safe and effective cleaning products made with plant and essential oils.
Green Envee
Organic beauty made with safe, nutrient-dense, and antioxidant-filled formulas.
Ingredients Matter
Cleaning products made with soap rather than detergents.
Muni Muni Skincare
Skincare company committed to natural ingredients, ethical processes, and impactful results.
Nuria
Plant-based skincare that donates a portion of its sales to girls’ education.
Passport Polish
Nail polish brand with a shade “for every passport stamp!"
SMAK
Vegan lipstick brand made with organic ingredients and high-quality mineral pigments.
Supernal
Skincare company with a flagship product of Cosmic Glow Oil, which is a facial oil blend fortified with Vitamin C, Omegas 3, 6, and 9. |
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COMPANY SPOTLIGHT: Maëlle BeautyThis month, we are excited to interview Kelsey Reitz, the CEO of Maëlle Beauty! This brand launched in 2018 and has already made quite a splash with its line of cruelty-free cosmetics and skincare. Read below to learn about the inspiration behind the brand, its most popular products, and the correct pronunciation of the name!
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What was the inspiration behind the creation of Maëlle Beauty?
Behind Maëlle Beauty was today's modern woman—and bringing her the beauty experience that she deserves! She expects more from her beauty products, and she defines luxury in a much different way. We focused on the luxury beauty category and decided to take the elements that we love from our favorite premium brands, while removing some of the elements that don’t reflect today’s modern beauty buyer. We bring our customers the premium elements they expect—impeccable product performance, high-quality and effective ingredients, sleek design and packaging—without some of the stigmas like price typically associated with products defined as "luxury."
What is Maëlle Beauty’s mission?
We want to bring premium skincare and cosmetics to more people! We aim to modernize luxury beauty buying by lowering the typical barriers that prevent people from buying premium products. We believe that you can have a high-quality beauty experience without unattainable prices, without unapproachable advertising, without intimidation or confusion within your beauty buying experience. Who doesn't want more for less in their beauty routine? Our prices are 50% less than comparable luxury products, we feature real women customers in our marketing, and we get firsthand feedback on our products from a community of customers that we work closely with.
What is your favorite Maëlle Beauty’s product and why?
My favorite products at the moment are our Matte Made in Heaven Liquid Lipstick and our Secret Illuminator. These products accomplish multiple things at once, and both are long-lasting and versatile. Our Secret Illuminator can be used as a highlighter, eyeshadow primer, or a blendable concealer throughout the day; our Matte Made in Heaven has a long-lasting formulation that doesn't smudge and is enriched with Vitamin E for a hydrating effect, so it doubles as a lip treatment. We've tried to create products that suit the lifestyles of our busy customers who are women on the move!
What is your most popular product?
Our most popular products are our Above & Beyond Mascara for makeup and our Skin Therapy Facial Oil for skincare. Not only are these a fantastic way to try Maëlle for the first time, but they are products that our customers constantly reorder as well. We've had a few customer requests to bathe in our Skin Therapy Facial Oil, which we consider a good sign!
Maëlle has quite an expansive product line. Do you consider one product its cornerstone or hallmark product?
We've tried to create products that are luxurious, versatile, and can take our customers from start to finish in their beauty routines. Our customers are modern women on the go who love beauty, but don't have the time for complicated, multistep routines. For this reason, our Sunkissed Bronzer is the product that really represents what we're all about. The formulation is durable and long-wearing, the product is multi-use for bronzing, contouring, highlighting, and blush, and we get consistent feedback that it's unlike any other product that our customers have in their beauty bag.
What has been the most rewarding part of creating Maëlle Beauty?
Our brand has definitely evolved over time, and we're learning every day. The most rewarding part, especially being a new brand, has been seeing the reaction of first-time customers when they try our products and realize how quality they are, especially given the price point. We see an incredible amount of customer loyalty once our customers try their first product, and we have very few customers who utilize our 30 day return policy,so we recommend trying them!
Tell us the inspiration behind the name. How do you pronounce Maëlle?
We get this question a lot, and we're glad you asked! The name is pronounced my-elle, and it's a female name that means goal-oriented and ambitious. We think that defines our brand and our customers.
Why is being Leaping Bunny certified important to Maëlle Beauty?
Our goal as a brand is to bring our customers innovation within luxurious, guilt-free beauty products. We believe that leading the way with what it means to be luxury TODAY is critical to driving our mission forward. We love being Leaping Bunny Certified and we're proud in our ethical product practices.
What is something unique about Maëlle Beauty that others may not know?
One thing that most of our customers don't know is that all of our products are made in Europe.They are EU compliant and free of over 1,300 harmful ingredients! We're also based in Chicago, which surprises most people.
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