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Island Source

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Vegansus 

Christmas specials are on the TV, carols and festive hits are playing in every shop, Christmas lights are illuminating the High Street - it's the most festive time of the year! For some of us it's time to dread that last-minute panic before we finally brave the shops to buy Christmas gifts, while others are more organised and already admiring their perfectly wrapped gifts and well-stocked cupboards and fridges. Whether it's all going to plan or you're hoping it'll all come together at the last moment, there's still time for you to buy the perfect Secret Santa gift.&nbsp; But, what do you buy for your vegan Secret Santa? Worry not festive friends, V-Land UK have got you covered. Your colleagues will think you are the most thoughtful colleague in the office with these vegan secret Santa ideas that can be found on the High Street. <h2>Whittard Instant Tea</h2><a href="https://instagram.com/whittardofchelsea1886?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Whittard</a> powdered instant tea in festive <a href="https://www.whittard.co.uk/instant-tea/mulled-wine-flavour-instant-tea-342881.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Mulled Wine</a> flavour comes in a beautiful tin and is the perfect Secret Santa gift at £9. Browse their website for <a href="https://www.whittard.co.uk/search?q=Instant+tea&amp;lang=en_GB" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">more instant tea flavours</a> for more secret Santa gifts under £10. <h2>Marks &amp; Spencer's Sparkle</h2>Bound to be a hit this year, <a href="https://www.marksandspencer.com/marks-and-sparkle-wine-based-drink-with-22-carat-gold-leaf-case-of-6/p/wnp60590193" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">this vegan-friendly sparkling wine</a> sparkles all the more with the addition of edible 22ct gold leaf. <a href="https://www.instagram.com/marksandspencerfoodpr/?hl=en" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Marks &amp; Spencer</a> describe it as “crisp and citrusy with notes of pear and melon”. If you're looking for an alcohol-free Secret Santa gift, you can also find £10 and £5.50 chocolate boxes from Marks &amp; Spencer's Plant Kitchen range or a £5 bag of vegan fudge. <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/v-land/image/upload/v1669733737/Image_1_29_pic_2_edit_1_1936cd5ec2.jpg" alt="AT: Bottle of Marks &amp; Spencer’s ‘Sparkle’ - vegan sparkling wine"><a href="https://www.marksandspencer.com/marks-and-sparkle-wine-based-drink-with-22-carat-gold-leaf-case-of-6/p/wnp60590193" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72); background-color: transparent;">Marks &amp; Spencer</a> <h2>Boots</h2><a href="https://instagram.com/joeandseph?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72); background-color: transparent;">Joe &amp; Seph's</a> <a href="https://www.boots.com/joe-and-sephs-gourmet-popcorn-vegan-gourmet-popcorn-selection-box-128g-10283239" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72); background-color: transparent;">Gourmet Vegan Popcorn Selection Box</a> is available in Boots for £7.50. A box includes four flavours; Vegan Salted Caramel, Vegan Toffee Apple &amp; Cinnamon, Vegan Coconut &amp; Cacao and rich Vegan Dark Chocolate. These are perfect small vegan Secret Santa gifts under £10 and also a great stocking filler to prepare for a festive film night. <h2>Neal's Yard&nbsp;</h2><a href="https://www.instagram.com/nealsyardremedies/?hl=en" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72); background-color: transparent;">Neal's Yard</a> <a href="https://www.nealsyardremedies.com/products/dreamy-nights-sleep-duo" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72); background-color: transparent;">Dreamy Nights Sleep Duo</a> includes their <a href="https://us.nealsyardremedies.com/products/goodnight-pillow-mist-1-52-fl-oz" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Goodnight Pillow Mist</a> and <a href="https://us.nealsyardremedies.com/products/remedies-to-roll-relaxation-0-30fl-oz" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Relaxation Remedies To Roll</a>. Made with relaxing, sustainability sourced French lavender from the unspoilt foothills of the French Alps, this miniature gift set promises to aid blissful sleep right on budget for £10. <h2>Lush Butterbear</h2>If you're looking for secret Santa gifts under £5, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/lush/?hl=en" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Lush's</a> <a href="https://www.lush.com/uk/en/p/butterbear-bath-bomb" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Butterbear bath bomb</a> is a perfect small gift if the recipient likes a long soak in the bath. We chose the Butterbear as it's sulphate-free, enriched with ylang-ylang oil and softening Fair Trade organic cocoa butter with no nasties for just £3. <a href="http://www.instagram.com/lush" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Lush</a> have plenty of vegan products, one of our favourites being their <a href="https://www.lush.com/uk/en/p/dont-look-at-me-fresh-face-mask" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Don't Look At Me</a> skin brightening face mask, a vibrant, lemon scented, bright blue face mask, the gift of self care for your vegan secret Santa. It’s also worth checking out <a href="http://www.instagram.com/thebodyshop" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">The Body Shop</a> and <a href="http://www.instagram.com/hollandandbarrett" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Holland &amp; Barrett</a>, or, if personalised gifts are your thing, <a href="http://www.instagram.com/etsyuk" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Etsy</a> is a great place for eco-friendly, vegan gift ideas too.&nbsp; For the ultimate eco-friendly Christmas gift, why not check out your local charity stores for a one-of-a-kind find at an unbeatable price. Our personal fave option! Or, for more vegan secret Santa gifts you might want to check out <a href="https://www.v-landuk.com/article/7-organic-vegan-brands-worth-checking-out" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">7 organic vegan brands</a> and <a href="https://www.v-landuk.com/article/vegan-and-cruelty-free-makeup-for-your-travel-bag" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">vegan and cruelty free makeup for your travel bag</a>.

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Impress your office with these vegan secret santa gifts under £10 

The season is almost upon us. Before we know it, we'll be Christmas shopping, decorating the tree and eagerly awaiting the moment that we'll open the next door of our vegan advent calendars. With so many to choose from including chocolate, alcohol, tea and beauty products, how to choose the best vegan advent calendar? V-Land UK have made this handy list to help you decide, no matter your budget. <h2>Kakoa</h2>The "<a href="https://kakoa.co.uk/collections/christmas/products/iconic-vegan-advent-calendar?variant=42009695420592" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Iconic Vegan Chocolate Advent Calendar</a>" from <a href="https://instagram.com/kakoa.choc?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Kakoa</a> includes 24 days of their award-winning chocolates crafted by their master chocolatiers. The luxury flavours include Espresso Martini, Dazzling Strawberry and Champagne, Sicilian Orange and Fiery Ginger for £24.99. Also, if you're in the market for some fun stocking fillers, look no further! Kakoa also sell boxes of <a href="https://kakoa.co.uk/collections/christmas/products/vegan-chocolate-truffle-sprouts-8-chocolate-box?variant=42009972900016" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Vegan Chocolate Truffle Sprouts</a> for £9.99. <h2>Fever Tree Gin and Sparkling Wines at John Lewis</h2><a href="https://instagram.com/fevertreemixers?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72); background-color: transparent;">Fever Tree Mixers</a> have paired 12 gin and tonics from classic to fruity to floral for you to enjoy while you count down the days until Christmas in this <a href="https://www.johnlewis.com/fever-tree-ultimate-gin-tonic-advent-calendar/p6164110" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">vegan advent calendar</a> - available for £60 from John Lewis. You can also find this vegan-friendly <a href="https://www.johnlewis.com/fizz-advent-calendar/p6201679" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Fizz Advent Calendar</a>, containing a selection of sparkling prosecco, wine and Champagne for £140. <h2>Hotel Chocolat</h2>If you're looking for a traditional chocolate advent calendar, the <a href="https://www.instagram.com/hotelchocolat/?hl=en" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Hotel Chocolat</a> silky smooth 45% Nutmilk vegan chocolate is available in this festive <a href="https://www.hotelchocolat.com/uk/nutmilk-chocolate-advent-calendar.html?gclid=CjwKCAjw8JKbBhBYEiwAs3sxNxN8wrO8t6EJLlKbRO806nCHbcpEUtApzttnSKHQ3FoLfvszyuiLCBoCLwQQAvD_BwE" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">vegan advent calendar</a> containing traditional Christmas tree, snowman, Father Christmas and reindeer shapes. Pick one up for just £13. <h2>Whittard</h2>Tea for two? If you enjoy a hot cup of tea on these cold winter days, <a href="https://instagram.com/whittardofchelsea1886?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Whittard</a> have got you covered! Get cosy and enjoy their <a href="https://www.whittard.co.uk/all/the-tea-advent-calendar-for-two-354746.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Tea &amp; Infusion Advent Calendar</a>. Open the beautifully designed doors to reveal 24 boxes, each drawer of December holds 4 individually wrapped teabags including Elderflower &amp; Apple, Organic Roobios and Darjeeling for £70. <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/v-land/image/upload/v1668372423/Image_1_3_3f9df5888e.png" alt="Whittard’s tea and infusion vegan advent calendar"><a href="https://www.whittard.co.uk/all/the-tea-advent-calendar-for-two-354746.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Whittard</a> <h2>Not On the Highstreet’s Luxury 24 Day Advent Calendar for Gardeners</h2>The perfect holiday season gift for green-fingered friends, <a href="https://instagram.com/notonthehighstreet?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Not On The Highstreet's</a> <a href="https://www.notonthehighstreet.com/borderinabox/product/24-day-advent-calendar-for-gardeners" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Advent Calendar for Gardeners</a> is the perfect vegan-friendly advent calendar, it comes with seeds, plant markers, recipe cards and a notebook for £49.99 <h2>Nomo</h2><a href="https://instagram.com/nomochocolate?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Nomo</a> stands for 'No Missing Out', and nobody will need to miss out on their vegan chocolate fix this year with their <a href="https://nomochoc.com/products/advent-calendar" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">vegan advent calendars</a> widely available at supermarkets such as Tesco and Sainsbury's starting at £4. <h2>Holland and Barrett’s 25 Days of Conscious Beauty Advent Calendar</h2>The best vegan advent calendar for beauty fans, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/hollandandbarrett/?hl=en" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Holland and Barrett's</a> <a href="https://www.hollandandbarrett.com/shop/product/25-days-of-conscious-beauty-advent-calendar-6100269194" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">25 Days of Conscious Beauty advent calendar</a> containing 25 premium beauty products worth over £180 is available for just £55. The calendar even includes 14 full-sized products - by Christmas day you'll be pampered and ready. <h2>Fetcha</h2><a href="https://instagram.com/fetchachocolates?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Fetcha</a> chocolates are vegan, free from palm oil and wrapped in plastic-free, fully recyclable packaging. The whole range is delicious from <a href="https://fetchachocolates.com/collections/all" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">decorative chocolates and lollies</a> to flavoured caramels and chocolate ganache. Their three vegan advent calendars include a <a href="https://fetchachocolates.com/collections/seasonal/products/advent-calendar" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">solid chocolate advent calendar</a>, a <a href="https://fetchachocolates.com/collections/seasonal/products/luxury-advent-calendar" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">luxury vegan advent calendar</a> and an <a href="https://fetchachocolates.com/collections/seasonal/products/luxury-alcohol-infused-advent-calendar" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">alcohol-infused advent calendar</a>, helping you to find the best vegan advent calendar for your budget. Now that we've got you feeling festive and craving chocolate, why not check out <a href="https://www.v-landuk.com/article/5-vegan-chocolate-bar-brands-to-add-to-your-shopping-list" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">5 vegan chocolate bar brands to add to your shopping list</a>? If you're shopping for stocking fillers for a beauty lover you could find inspiration by reading <a href="https://www.v-landuk.com/article/vegan-and-cruelty-free-makeup-for-your-travel-bag" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">vegan and cruelty free makeup for your travel bag</a>.

 Kakoa’s iconic vegan advent calendar with their luxurious chocolates in front of it

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Countdown to Christmas: 8 luxurious vegan advent calendars

Your body is a temple. Ever heard of that one? Whether it’s food and drink or hair and beauty products, it’s good to know what we’re putting in our bodies, how it affects us and remain aware of our overall health. So, without further ado, to celebrate the start of National Organic Month here are seven organic vegan brands worth checking out. <h2><a href="https://www.evolvebeauty.co.uk/collections/vegan-certified" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Evolve Beauty</a></h2><a href="https://www.instagram.com/evolvebeautyuk/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Evolve Beauty</a> is an organic vegan skincare line that offers products from face masks, to serums, eye creams, exfoliators, deodorants, lip balms, oils, SPF, moisturisers, and more. They also cater to hyperpigmentation, anti-ageing, dry, oily, and sensitive skin, and even pregnancy. If you aren’t sure of a product, why not have a free online consultation with one of their skincare professionals?&nbsp; <h2>Dr. Bronner’s</h2><a href="https://www.instagram.com/drbronnersuk/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Dr. Bronner’s</a> makes organic vegan multi-purpose soap which can be used as a shampoo, a body wash, dish soap, a little drop added to your toothpaste and can even be used for laundry or pets. The soap must be diluted beforehand, therefore it lasts a very long time. Dr Bronner’s doesn’t just do soap, they do an array of organic vegan products, with ninety nine percent of their products being organic and vegan.&nbsp; <h2>Booja-Booja</h2><a href="https://www.instagram.com/boojabooja/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Booja-Booja</a> specialises in making luxury organic vegan chocolates and ice cream, with a marvellous range of flavours such as Honeycomb Caramel, Deeply Chocolate, Chocolate Salted Caramel and Chocolate Orange. Their ice-cream exceeds expectations being silky, smooth and delicious: it’s made with cashew nuts and sweetened coconut or agave syrup.&nbsp;They also offer yummy multi-award-winning chocolate truffles. <h2>Green Origins</h2><a href="https://instagram.com/green.origins?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Green Origins</a> sell high-quality organic vegan products which are minimally processed and “As Pure As Nature Intended”. They are multi Great Taste award-winning - we can see why - and they are allergen-free. Their organic hemp seeds are the best we have tried. Why not start the day right and have a bowl of oats topped with their hemp seeds, chia seeds and perhaps some cacao nibs. <h2>Hippeas</h2><a href="https://instagram.com/hippeas_snacks?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Hippeas</a> believe that “tastes good” and “do good” should go hand in hand and their tasty chickpea snacks definitely do so, with a variety of flavours to choose from and various charities being supported by them. As they say, “Give peas a chance”. <h2><a href="https://www.mozzarisella.co.uk/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Mozzarisella</a></h2><a href="https://www.instagram.com/mozzarisella/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Mozzarisella</a> creates the most delicious organic vegan mozzarella. It’s fantastic as a spread or wonderful for melting into a pasta dish for a creamy taste or texture. Mozzarisella also has a range of different products, that includes sliced ‘cheese’ and ready-made meals. Perfect for us lazy vegans. <h2><a href="https://www.piktfresh.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">Piktfresh</a></h2>If you’re looking for natural organic vegan produce check out <a href="https://www.instagram.com/piktfresh/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">PiktFresh</a>. They offer a great selection of local seasonal fruit and vegetables and some tropical favourites such as pineapple, watermelon and mangoes too. There are different box types, ready-made boxes, gift boxes, employee boxes, baby weaning boxes and build-your-own boxes too. Looking for more healthy vegan alternatives? Check out <a href="https://www.v-landuk.com/article/healthy-or-unhealthy-meat-free-alternatives-explained" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(75, 172, 72);">healthy or unhealthy, meat free alternatives explained</a>.

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7 organic vegan brands worth checking out

Here in the UK dreaming of summer gets us through the cold, rainy months. Despite this, many of us don't prepare to look after our skin. With over 35% (up to 50%!) of Brits getting sunburn each year, this is your reminder to pick up some vegan suncream. Be sure to apply a thick layer and remember each part of you that will be exposed to the sun before you soak up those rays! Here's our list of our favourite highstreet cruelty free suncreams. <h2>Superdrug</h2>All of <a href="https://instagram.com/superdrug?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(102, 185, 102);">Superdrug's</a> own brand cosmetics are labelled suitable for vegans and cruelty free. They are a great choice for an easy to find and affordable suncream and aftersun lotion, available in SPF 15, 20, 30 and 50 with options for babies and children. Find <a href="https://www.superdrug.com/b/Solait" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(102, 185, 102);">Superdrug Solait</a> vegan suncream in stores and on their <a href="https://www.superdrug.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(102, 185, 102);">website</a>, with travel sized products starting at just £2.50. <h2>Holland &amp; Barrett&nbsp;</h2><a href="https://instagram.com/hollandandbarrett?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(102, 185, 102); background-color: transparent;">Holland &amp; Barrett's</a> own brand <a href="https://www.hollandandbarrett.com/shop/product/holland-barrett-mineral-sunscreen-spf-50-150ml-60060350?skuid=060350" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(102, 185, 102);">suncream</a> available in SPF <a href="https://www.hollandandbarrett.com/shop/product/holland-barrett-mineral-sunscreen-spf-15-150ml-60060348" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(102, 185, 102);">15</a>, <a href="https://www.hollandandbarrett.com/shop/product/holland-barrett-mineral-sunscreen-spf-30-150ml-60060349" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(102, 185, 102);">30</a> and <a href="https://www.hollandandbarrett.com/shop/product/holland-barrett-mineral-sunscreen-spf-50-150ml-60060350?skuid=060350" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(102, 185, 102);">50</a> is another easy highstreet buy. Formulated with "natural filters, antioxidants and oils" it is made to protect and nourish skin for £9.99. Reviews mention that the lotion is quite thick and very white in colour, but provides great coverage for those with sensitive skin. Their suncream and <a href="https://www.hollandandbarrett.com/shop/product/holland-barrett-nature-s-block-after-sun-lotion-60033585" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(102, 185, 102);">aftersun</a> lotion is available in stores and on their <a href="https://www.hollandandbarrett.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(102, 185, 102);">website</a>. <h2>Marks &amp; Spencer</h2><a href="https://instagram.com/marksandspencer?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(102, 185, 102); background-color: transparent;">Marks &amp; Spencer’s</a> <a href="https://www.marksandspencer.com/moisture-protect-mist-spf30-150ml/p/hbp22352158" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(102, 185, 102); background-color: transparent;">Moisture Protect Mist</a> is labelled suitable for vegans. For £10 their SPF 30 is available in stores and on their <a href="https://www.marksandspencer.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(102, 185, 102);">website</a> and the <a href="https://www.marksandspencer.com/c/mobile-apps" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(102, 185, 102);">M&amp;S app</a>. <h2>The Body Shop</h2><a href="https://instagram.com/thebodyshop?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(102, 185, 102); background-color: transparent;">The Body Shop</a> <a href="https://www.thebodyshop.com/en-gb/face/serums-essences/skin-defence-multi-protection-lotion-spf-50-pa/p/p001071" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(102, 185, 102); background-color: transparent;">Skin Defence</a> multi-protection facial moisturiser with SPF 50 is the perfect protection for your face when the sun is out and year-round. It also provides 24 hour moisture and protection against pollution. It's lightweight formula is easy to wear and doesn't leave white marks. Pick up a 40ml bottle for £18 or a 60ml bottle for £22 in stores or on the <a href="https://www.thebodyshop.com/en-gb/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(102, 185, 102);">Body Shop website</a>. <h2>Childs Farm</h2><a href="https://instagram.com/childsfarm?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(102, 185, 102); background-color: transparent;">Childs Farm</a> are a fantastic brand for baby and child friendly cosmetics. Their vegan and cruelty free suncream range includes kids SPF 50 in a <a href="https://www.boots.com/childs-farm-50-spf-sun-cream-125m-10245148" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(102, 185, 102);">cream</a>, <a href="https://www.boots.com/childs-farm-50-spf-sun-spray-125ml-10245149" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(102, 185, 102);">spray</a> and <a href="https://www.boots.com/childs-farm-50-spf-roll-on-lotion-70ml-10245150" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(102, 185, 102);">roll on</a> suncream. <a href="https://www.childsfarm.com/collections/childs-farm?utm_source=childfarm&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_campaign=igbio" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(102, 185, 102);">Childs Farm</a> suncream and aftersun are available at <a href="https://www.boots.com/brands/brands-c/childs-farm-" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(102, 185, 102);">Boots</a> from £9.99.

A yellow bottle of Cien sunscreen on a beach with a pair of swimming goggles

Sunscreen

The best cruelty free vegan suncream

The 90s are now officially classed as vintage. We couldn’t believe it either! Clothing over twenty years old is considered to be officially vintage. Think&nbsp;<a href="https://instagram.com/seinfeldtv?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(102, 185, 102); background-color: transparent;">Seinfeld</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://m.facebook.com/friends.tv/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(102, 185, 102); background-color: transparent;">Friends</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://instagram.com/sbtbnow?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(102, 185, 102);">Saved By the Bell</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Fresh_Prince_of_Bel-Air" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(102, 185, 102); background-color: transparent;">The Fresh Prince of Bel Air</a>, to some of us it feels like only yesterday that these shows launched the careers of some of our favourite style icons, but now those old 90s fashion pieces you’ve had in storage all these years might just be worth something! Vintage shops and thrift stores have been popular places to pick up a quirky outfit and a good bargain for decades. In recent years platforms such as&nbsp;<a href="https://www.depop.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(102, 185, 102); background-color: transparent;">Depop</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.vinted.co.uk/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(102, 185, 102);">Vinted</a>&nbsp;have exploded onto the scene and redefined thrift shopping. Where once we would spend our weekends pawing through rails to find the perfect ethical vintage clothing pieces, now we can find them with a quick search, usually at even cheaper prices. Depop and Vinted are online marketplaces where users can sell their used and / or vintage clothing online, accessories and more. Depop is incredibly popular, founded in 2011 they now have over thirty million registered users, four million active users making $70 million in revenue in 2020. Vintage and second hand clothing is big business, but is it better for our planet? When we look at how clothing is produced, and how harmful fast fashion is to the environment, it’s clear that the trend of buying and swapping vintage and second-hand clothing online and in stores is the more ethical option. It prevents what we call ‘throwaway fashion’ where people purchase cheap items to wear a small number of times and then they end up in landfill. Buying second hand and reworked clothing is a great way to recycle old garments. Fast fashion accounts for 10% of all carbon emissions in the world, let that sink in.&nbsp;10% of all carbon emissions come from cheaply making and transporting approximately one hundred and fifty billion clothing items every year. Since 2000, the fast fashion industry has doubled the number of garments they’re producing. Not only increasing carbon emissions but increasing textile waste and wasting water, one cotton t-shirt requires 2,700 liters of water to make – it would take the average person over two years to drink that much water! Dying and treating fabrics also releases chemicals into waterways which causes public health hazards. Imagine for a moment the shocking conditions that somebody must be working in, not just due to exposure to these chemicals but long working hours, low pay and often exploitative child labour and forced labour that make a £10 Primark top or a £20 ASOS dress possible. Many of us who are privileged enough to enjoy browsing online for clothing we love, are already shopping with a conscience by choosing to spend that bit more on independent slow fashion brands or buying vintage clothing store and second hand ethical vintage style clothing pieces. <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/v-land/image/upload/v1661803337/Image_1_99_73e74af0b2.png" alt="Man with long hair, sunglasses and hat with a multicolour print shirt in front of a wall with graffiti"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/redandblueumbrella/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(102, 185, 102);">Red &amp; Blue Umbrella</a> Quality vintage and slow fashion pieces are undeniably more expensive than thrifting, but with good reason. Vintage pieces offer our favourite brands and designers at a much lower price than a piece would be new, but you’re still investing in a high-quality piece which is much more durable than less expensive fast fashion pieces, you may also come across very rare and unusual pieces that you can’t find elsewhere. Vintage clothing was made to last so is usually more durable. Slow fashion brands make in small batches, paying staff a fair wage and sourcing materials ethically which inevitably adds to the price, but reduces impact on the environment and improves working conditions. With second hand shopping, you never know where the perfect bargain may be found, from online marketplaces such as&nbsp;<a href="https://en-gb.facebook.com/login/?next=%2Fmarketplace%2F" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(102, 185, 102); background-color: transparent;">Facebook Marketplace</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ebay.co.uk/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(102, 185, 102); background-color: transparent;">Ebay</a>, to scouring your local car boot sale or charity shop, eco-friendly shopping options are now widely available and a quality vintage piece may be hiding where you least expect to find one. For those that struggle with the idea of wearing second-hand clothing, a new wave of eco-conscious retailers are becoming available, which is showing promise that in modern day society businesses care about how their products are made, and the long lasting effects fashion can have on the planet. Vegan apparel brand&nbsp;<a href="https://www.v-landuk.com/article/ochi-eyes-on-fashion-and-the-ocean" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(102, 185, 102); background-color: transparent;">Ochi</a>, make clothes from 100% organic and recycled material and remove 1kg of plastic from the ocean per purchase on their website via&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/cleanhub.io/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(102, 185, 102); background-color: transparent;">Cleanhub</a>, and many brands are using&nbsp;<a href="https://v-land.co.uk/5-plant-leather-alternatives-for-vegans-environmentalists/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(102, 185, 102); background-color: transparent;">plant-leather alternatives</a>&nbsp;which are less harmful to the planet. Whilst the above gives hope for the future of fashion, re-using what is already available will always be the most eco-friendly fashion trend, that thankfully, is becoming more mainstream by the day. Wearing ethical vintage clothing is the perfect way to put together a unique outfit, blending different decades and styles to create a look that is truly one of a kind, proving that fashion doesn’t need to cost the earth.

Woman in red shirt smiling and looking down, she is standing in front of  a blue graffiti wall

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Fashion doesn’t need to cost the Earth: Ethical vintage clothing


<a href="https://instagram.com/artofzeroliving?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Art of Zero Living</a> first opened their doors one year ago today. Founded by plastic-waste-conscious owners Justas Kanapeckas and Vita Viskackaite, the store aims to make sustainable, plastic-free living, more accessible within Greenwich and surrounding areas. We recently gave Art of Zero Living a visit to learn a little more about their store, and the importance of living a sustainable lifestyle.&nbsp; The store is family-owned and operated, offering customers an impressive range of over 400 sustainable products which are free of plastic packaging. Their top priority is to help eliminate unnecessary plastic waste, reduce carbon footprints, and support the green industrial revolution. The inspiration to open the store came to Justas and Vita after living in Greenwich for 9 years, having recently transitioned to a <a href="https://artofzeroliving.uk/zero-waste" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">zero-waste lifestyle</a> themselves, they realised how inaccessible sustainable and plastic-free products were in their area.&nbsp; Now, thanks to Justas and Vita, that is no longer the case. <a href="https://artofzeroliving.uk/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Art of Zero Living</a> has set a precedent for what will hopefully, in time, become the new normal, as many Greenwich locals are thrilled and appreciative to have a sustainable store within walking distance. Being passionate about a plastic-free future, the V-Land team support this whole-heartedly, and hope to see more stores adopt the Art of Zero Living stores ethos. When we visited the <a href="https://instagram.com/greenwichmarket?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Greenwich Market </a>based store, customers were happily singing their praises: “We are so happy to finally have a zero waste store in Greenwich.” “The owner’s are lovely and really helpful!” “They have a wide variety of stock, especially the grains and nuts – I recommend the beluga lentils, such a unique flavour and great in a cauliflower curry. We found everything we needed for our regular shop here.” “The owner’s will try to stock anything you cannot find too which is great.” Art of Zero living practices a closed-loop economy, which is an economic business model in which no waste is generated and things are always repaired, reused, or recycled. The store also purchases products in bulk to minimise their carbon footprint. For items such as washing up liquid, they empty the container and return to their supplier to refill with more product when they require it rather than disposing and repeatedly buying new ones. This practice is applied throughout the store where possible to align with their zero-waste ethos. They ensure that all of the products in store are organic, sustainable, and do not use unnecessary plastic packaging. One of our favourite features of the store is their water dispenser which is open for public use, encouraging people to avoid using single use plastic bottles. The dispenser also keeps track of how many plastic bottles it has saved too. <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/v-land/image/upload/v1661802537/Image_1_89_1137ea29c4.png" alt="Food dispensers">V-Land UK You can find a whole range of products at Art of Zero Living, including organic and sustainable dry goods, peanut butter ground in store to order, fresh oat milk, and even sustainable, eco-friendly gifts. Here are some brands that stood out to us in the store: <a href="https://instagram.com/therawchocolatecompany?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Raw Chocolate Company</a>, who sell hand-crafted, award-winning chocolates, which are vegan and organic. The chocolate is produced with minimally processed cacao, which lends a deliciously rich and natural flavour. They source ingredients ethically and prioritise making a positive impact on the world and environment.&nbsp; <a href="https://instagram.com/zalmon_ltd?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Zalmon</a>, a vegan alternative to smoked salmon. Zalmon goes perfectly on bagels, stirred into salads, and is ideal for a savoury bake or pasta dish. Created by coffee shop owners Sazzy and Fran in 2017, it quickly became a top selling product, so they decided to make Zalmon available for you to enjoy at home.&nbsp; <a href="https://instagram.com/kleensoaps?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Kleen</a>, handmade vegan soap on a rope. They only use high-quality, natural ingredients with packaging that is recycled and recyclable. Kleen soaps are made in small batches and cured for a minimum of 6 weeks, for a hard and long-lasting bar with a beautifully creamy lather.&nbsp;Art of Zero Living is well worth visiting to stock up on your shopping list must-haves if passing through the Greenwich area. In a time where plastic pollution is a serious threat both to our environment and our beloved wildlife, we hope to see more food stores and supermarkets taking accountability for their produce and offering sustainable options to customers. The store opening times are listed below, be sure to check them out! Opening hours:Monday – ClosedTuesday – 10am – 5pmWednesday – 8:30am – 5pmThursday – 10am – 7pmFriday – 10am – 5pmSaturday – 10am – 6pmSunday – 10am – 5pm If you would like to find out more we encourage you to visit their <a href="https://artofzeroliving.uk/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">website</a> and/or <a href="https://www.instagram.com/artofzeroliving/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Instagram</a>.

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Art of Zero Living celebrates 1 year anniversary

Making more eco-conscious choices in our everyday lives is just another step towards leaving a positive impact on the world around us. It’s not all about diet, we can also make more sustainable choices with the lifestyle products and materials we use too. And that’s exactly what <a href="https://jungley.co/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(102, 185, 102);">Jungley’s</a> goal is; to create sustainable vegan accessories that give back to the planet, made in harmony with nature.&nbsp; We were really excited to be gifted 2 products from their teak leaf range, including the A5 Refillable Leaf Leather Journal and Make Up Bag. What we love at first glance is that every product is totally unique in pattern and texture, as the leaves used in their leaf leather have fallen naturally. There is also a gorgeous range of colours to choose from, all of which use natural dyes.&nbsp; A recent trip to Scotland was the perfect time to try out Jungley's Leaf Leather Make Up Bag. The medium size was perfect for fitting my everyday makeup and brushes (with room to spare!) whilst its slim design allowed it to fit perfectly neatly in my suitcase. What's great is that leaf leather has all the same benefits as traditional hide leather, meaning they’re wipe clean, waterproof and durable, so this product is particularly great for travelling.&nbsp; If like me, you’re a bit of a stationery obsessive, then you’ll know how important it is to find notebooks that not only look fabulous, but feel a little bit luxurious too. Jungley’s Leaf Leather Journal delivers on that and more - not only are their materials sustainable, they’re also made to last forever. We absolutely love that they offer versatile refills that easily slip into the leaf leather cover, so you can mix and match between ruled, dotted, plain and square notebooks to match your needs of the day! As an illustrator, I love to find sketchbooks that have a smooth paper texture, are lightweight and work really well with the materials I use. Jungley also offers a range of products such as bags, wallets, coasters and lunch boxes made from all kinds of sustainable materials including recycled truck tyres, bamboo and lotus leaves. And as if they weren’t doing enough already, for every item bought from Jungley, they’ll even plant a tree. So, whilst you’re enjoying their beautiful products, you’re also giving back to the planet and at the same time helping to rebuild the planet’s rainforests.&nbsp; If you’re looking for more sustainable alternatives for your everyday accessories, or even as a gift for someone special, check out Jungley’s range of eco-friendly and vegan products!