“Love is when the other person’s happiness is more important than your own.”

— H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

In my very humble opinion, that is the truthest of truths when it comes to partnership and guess what? Today is a very special day. Two years ago today, my true love and I were married. Yep, pretty exciting huh? A lot has changed since then, and Todd and I are happier and healthier than ever before.

Happy Anniversary to the light in my life, the cheer in my heart, and the aura of love that keeps my soul afire with an immense depth of blissfulness.

Thank you for celebrating with us. And now, a special review!

A particularly large overhaul I made since implementing a cruelty-free life was adopting new, vegan beauty products. Indeed, as I could no longer in good conscious ingest the body parts of dead animals, no longer could I put animal products on my face either. Eww, right? Yes, and deeply saddening. Animal testing is now proving utterly unwarranted, especially with the emergence of new technologies and is absolutely horrific when you really read up on it. It's wholly monstrous and the brutality is not just committed against mice and primates, but rabbits are a huge part of testing and even beagles too!

Did you see this article the New York Times released just today on how China Ends Animal Testing Rule for Some Cosmetics. Awesome! It's a start for China, right?

I admit, I knew animal testing was implemented in the products I was using, but I looked the other way. It's so prevalent and besides, I had my favorites and I didn't want to seek out cruelty-free brands and alternatives to what I had come to use regularly. Can you imagine in inconvenience!? Oh the humanity!! Um...wrong. I finally opened my eyes to the world of animal testing and was truly heart-broken. It didn't take long to cast aside those brands and take joy in knowing the products I now use don't contain any animal bits and are not tested, most viciously, on my furry friends either. They're so many great alternatives out there that no one needs to buy cruel cosmetics!

Produce On Parade - DeVita Cosmetics Review

One of the great products I stumbled up is DeVita and I've been using their BB cream and blush for several months now. DeVita is a vegan cosmeceutical skin care company that is a certified woman-owned business, by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), which is pretty cool. I take assurance in knowing that the products I use are actually developed and produced by women themselves.

Their products are all-natural, 100% paraben-free, and PETA Certified. I think it's completely fantastic that you can go on their site and read about each ingredient that they put in their products. What other beauty companies are doing that? None I know of. They even have a page on their policy against animal testing. In addition that, DeVita actually states what it means to have 100% vegan products. I seriously cannot find enough good things to say about DeVita. They also use renewed and recycled/recyclable packaging.

I initially discovered them because I had a BB cream that I, unfortunately, discerned was not cruelty-free. As I researched more, I came to uncover that most of my cosmetics were not cruelty-free and were actually filled with poisons and toxic preservatives to boot! Lovely. Ignorance really is bliss! I clearly needed a new cream and after much scrutinizing, all I could find was rave reviews on DeVita!

I looove their Moisture Tints Multi-Benefit Beauty Balm (BB Cream). It has SPF 15 which is great to help keep my skin safe from the sun. It's paraben-free, 100% vegan, and there's no controversial ingredients.

I chose the Light tint and admittedly when I first squeezed a smidgen onto my fingers I thought it might not be a good match for my skin coloring. However, after I smoothed it over my face and allowed it to sit a minute the coverage and color was just perfect. As with all BB creams, they're certainly different from a foundation. This one leaves me with a dewy complexion, but not too wet looking like my previous BB cream. It's also a bit lighter feeling and more natural looking, which I really favor.

This is my ultimate, everyday all-in-one moisturizer/sunscreen/foundation that leaves my skin looking radiant and flawless! I will absolutely continue to purchase it.

I've had my NARS Orgasm blush for a long time now. So long, it even broken apart inside and I had to repair it. It's the stuff of legends, that NARS blush, which is why I bought it. Yet NARS, unfortunately, is no longer cruelty-free. I was pretty sure I wouldn't find a blush that I liked as much, but I had come to terms with that.

Incredibly, I was so wrong. This Absolutely Blushed Mineral Blush is such a better fit for me and I like how it's not as shimmery (high-school, anyone?) as the Orgasm. It's not a completely matte blush though, as it has the just-right amount of sheen. I was a bit unsure of the loose form it came in, as I've always only had the pressed blush. Although it may take a little more effort to apply (maybe if you have steady hands it's easier), it's completely worth it. This is such a natural-looking blush, I just adore it. My color is Pink Opal and it matches my naturally flushed cheeks wonderfully.

I could not believe how shockingly difficult it was to find a natural, cruelty-free blush that didn't contain titanium dioxide, which can be harmful when inhaled...like in a blush powder. Yikes! That's how I found DeVita's blush.

DeVita cosmetics might be a little more costly than your average drugstore beauty products. However, even someone as frugal as myself takes no issue with this due to the knowledge of their products being paraben-free, 100% vegan, cruelty-free, all-natural, and contain controversy-free ingredients. Not to mention they are some of the best cosmetics I've ever used!

So, if you're looking for new vegan products or just in need of some replacement, all-natural, vegan, and eco-friendly cosmetics that are of incredibly quality, I've done the work for you. I'll definitely be buying from DeVita in the future. In fact, I plan to buy their mascara!

Please hit me up with any questions you may have. Also, share your favorite vegan beauty products with me!

If you'd like to educate yourself or your friends/family on animal testing, you can learn more about it here.