Vegan Lifestyle Guide for Beginners

Well, you've kicked meat and dairy products to the curb, cleaned out your pantry and have joined all the vegan Facebook groups? Fantastic. But there are also non-vegan materials lurking in your home. How do you transition the rest of your life and house to veganism?

1. Never throw anything away just because it's made from animals. Just because that wallet that you bought three years ago is leather, doesn’t mean you need to trash it. Unnecessary disposal of goods just creates trash, which is terrible for the environment and animals. So, let's not do that.

2. As you run out of items, replace them with vegan, cruelty-free options. Preferably items that are low or zero waste. This shop was designed to be your go to for all your vegan lifestyle needs, from skin care to cleaning products. 

3. Sustainable clothes can be pricey, so shop the thrift stores for staples and add 100 percent organic cotton or Hemp items as you're able. 

4. When shopping for gifts, opt for more sustainable, vegan and cruelty-free items to spread the love to your friends. 

5. Be careful of what you purchase. Avoid purchases that aren't explicitly marked vegan and cruelty-free for skin care and toiletries. If they can't earn the label, they probably aren't products that meet your values.

6. This part requires the most research since household goods don't always list their ingredients, but try to avoid purchasing decor and home goods without figuring out what they are made of and what dye they use. Dyes and shellac are usually derived from animals. Home decor can also have hidden feather, leather and glue components. When in doubt, ask.

Lastly, give yourself some grace. If you buy a product and find out it's not vegan, don't berate yourself. You're swimming upstream in a society that is not supportive of a vegan lifestyle. Just do the best you can.