The Unlikeliest Products
Amazing Products We Never Knew We Needed But Now Can’t Live Without
We all have times where we have high expectations for certain products, only to be let down when we finally use them. But every once in awhile, there are products that we try without any expectations and are simply blown away. This section is all about the products that we never knew we needed, but once we tried, knew we could no longer live without.
Room sprays are a nice thing to have, but once I tried one from A to Z Candles, I noticed I was grabbing it pretty often. So many scents equal so many purposes...so I picked up a few more! Seasonal scents like "Apple Cider Donut" can cozy up a room in no time. I even put a few spritzes of it in the bin when I packed away my fall decorations! "Beach Bum" is my favorite for summer. For me, it doubles as a body spray and a car freshener. I love having versatile scents that serve multiple purposes, but, even more, I love that these sprays smell so natural and authentic. They replicate a variety of scents without having them smell artificial—not so easy to find, especially cruelty-free, vegan ones! -Maria
Since toners are typically astringent, they usually dry out my already dry skin. Therefore, I use toners on an extremely infrequent basis which means essentially never. But, the toner from Fleur and Bee totally changed the game for me. Formulated without alcohol, witch hazel, or other acidic ingredients, this toner has two simple ingredients: distilled water and rose flower oil. Needless to say, I am hooked. I use this toner every morning after cleansing my skin. It actually helps to infuse moisture and leaves my skin feeling smooth, supple, and refreshed. It also makes me feel a little fancy. -Caitlin
A few years back, when I first tried ILIA's Multi-Stick, what I thought was going to be my travel go-to, turned out to be my daily go-to. A couple of times using this as a blush, and I was hooked! It's not only a creamy alternative to a blush, but no more powder dust on anything—clothes, counter, inside the makeup bag, etc. I had no problem bidding adieu to the brushes, either. One step, no mess, no tools needed. And if you're really looking to keep things simple, a few dabs can wake up your lips for a refresh in seconds. The Multi-Stick is an excellent getting-ready staple. "At Last" is my favorite shade. -Maria
Laundry is my least favorite chore so the last thing I want to do is add more steps or products to my routine. But, this lemony-fresh Oxygen Whitener from Molly’s Suds actually makes my weekly chore more pleasurable. Who knew?! I actually love seeing this product work its magic on whites that need a little refresh or clothes with pesky stains, just be a little presoak before tossing in the washing machine. It is actually astonishing watching this four-ingredient product go to work. And, since it can be doubled as a laundry booster, I also add a scoop with every load! -Caitlin
Leaping Bunny Podcast Interviews
Kim Paschen, Leaping Bunny's Program Manager, was a guest on two podcasts recently, in which she talks all about the Leaping Bunny Program, answers questions about China, and shares some entertaining anecdotes. Click on the links below to listen in.
Pet coach and pet consultant, Janel Young started this podcast to help pet parents take care of their pets in all ways, including providing optimal health and wellness care. In this podcast, we discuss how important the Leaping Bunny Program is when shopping cruelty-free and how it relates to pets.
Clean skincare founder of her namesake brand, Indie Lee sits down with Kim to discuss all aspects of the Leaping Bunny Program in her super conversational podcast. We delve into the nitty gritty, including past successes and future challenges of our certification program.
New Companies
Summer is here and we are loving our new influx of recently certified brands. From sunless tanners, to plastic-free laundry detergent sheets, to the house brand of a popular online retailer that focuses on healthy living, we have something for everyone! Check out some of our most recently certified companies below and be sure to click on their links to learn more.
Sunless tanning products that are formulated to tan, tone, and nourish your skin without harsh chemicals or animal products.
Earth Breeze
Laundry detergent sheets in plastic-free packaging.
Eastward Pilgrim
Personal care products that are inspired by the all-natural approaches to beauty and hygiene of the world’s oldest cultures.
Fika Beauty
Handcrafted products to help you create a luxurious self-care experience from the comfort of your own home.
Gaia.Love
Small batch skincare formulated with herbs and oils from around the world to nourish and nurture our bodies.
Groomed Essentials
Products carefully formulated to give every man a simple, healthy, and effective solution to traditional grooming.
Hand in Hand Soap
Soap and personal care brand that donates a bar of soap and one month of clean water for every product sold, with over 9.9 million bars of soap donated in 2020.
Small batch, handcrafted bath and body products.
House of Dear
Hair care products formulated with healing ingredients.
Inner Glow Co
Handcrafted skin, body, and home wellness formulated with healing crystals and botanicals.
Jouvique Natural Beauty
Plant-based cosmetics and skincare brand made with sustainable ingredients.
Moxxie Essential Care
Handcrafted pure, creamy, long-lasting plant-based bar soaps.
Thrive Market
Online retailer with its own brand of products dedicated to healthy living.
Unpaste
Zero waste toothpaste tabs, available in both fluoride and fluoride-free formulas.
VIKE
Makeup “melt” brand created by beauty blogger twins, Alina and Inessa Vike.
WEBA Natural Products
Handcrafted vegan multi-purpose skincare and haircare products for the whole family.
Company Spotlight: Megababe
This month, we are excited to interview Katie Sturino, founder of Megababe, a brand that offers cute, convenient products for solutions to real issues. Read our interview below to learn more about the inspiration behind Megababe, its branding (such fun product names!), and their most popular products.
What was the inspiration behind the creation of Megababe?
It all started with thigh chafe! My thighs rub and the perfect solution for me didn’t exist. I was sick of wearing bike shorts under skirts and using men’s chafe sticks with weird branding and ingredients. I wanted a chafe solution that was clean, effective and cute enough to pull out of my handbag. It was clear the beauty industry wasn’t going to solve this for me, so I took it on myself and that’s how Thigh Rescue and Megababe were born!
What is Megababe’s mission?
To help all women feel more comfy and confident!
Can you tell us a bit about your branding? It is so fun and colorful!
Issues like chafe, odor, and sweat have a negative stigma, which makes no sense because they are common things we literally all deal with! Our goal is to normalize these things, and one way we do that is with branding that feels fun, cute, and shelfie-worthy.
What efforts do you take to be a sustainable company?
Recyclable packaging and responsibly sourced ingredients are so important to us!
What is your favorite Megababe product and why?
Hands down, our Thigh Rescue Anti-Friction Stick! It's a 2020 Allure Best of Beauty winner & there's truly nothing else like it. The balm-like formula creates an instant glide to protect against chafe! It’s packed with great ingredients and has a nice light, citrus-y natural scent. I don’t leave home without it in the summer.
What is Megababe’s most popular product?
In the summer, it’s definitely Thigh Rescue. The rest of the year, our underarm products, like Rosy Pits Daily Deodorant, The Smoothie Deo and Space Bar Detoxifying Charcoal Underarm Bar, are really popular. Everything is aluminum-free, and made to mix and match for the perfect clean underarm routine!
What has been the most rewarding part of creating Megababe?
ALL OF IT! I started this company out of my parents’ garage four years ago not sure if it would even resonate, and here we are. We have the best customers, and hearing personal stories from women on how our products have changed their lives is so incredibly rewarding.
Are all of Megababe’s products vegan?
Yes! I’m a big animal rights advocate and dog lover, and it’s important to me to create only vegan products.
Why is being Leaping Bunny certified important to Megababe?
It's a huge honor to be Leaping Bunny certified because it’s a certification I look for myself when I’m shopping. It’s so amazing to be able to communicate our values and the cruelty-free integrity of our products with a single icon.
What is something unique about Megababe that others may not know?
Because we retail at places like Target, Ulta, Anthropologie, our brand looks much bigger than it is! In reality we are a super small, dedicated team making it all happen.