Green Science Alliance develops safer vegan nail polish

Green Science Alliance has made a plant-based and biomass-derived gel nail polish, formulated without common nail polish ingredients like TPO, HEMA and TMPTA. Current plant and biomass components range from 22% to 25%. 

While several TPO- and HEMA-free gel nail products are already on the market, the company said that gel nail products that are free of both TPO and HEMA while also being plant-based or bio-derived are extremely rare. 

Green Science Alliance explained that: 

- TPO stands for diphenyl (2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl) phosphine oxide, which is a photopolymerisation initiator necessary for curing gel nails with an LED/UV light. While TPO is not subject to cosmetic ingredient restrictions in Japan, its marketing in Europe has been banned due to concerns over its link to reproductive toxicity based on animal testing.

- HEMA, short for 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate, is a primary resin ingredient in gel nail polishes that cure under LED/UV lights. However, skin contact with uncured HEMA can easily cause irritation and allergic reactions, potentially leading to symptoms such as itching, redness, and blisters.

- TMPTA stands for trimethylolpropane triacrylate, which is also a main resin component of gel nails that cures under LED/UV lights. While TMPTA is not subject to cosmetic ingredient restrictions in Japan, it has been reclassified as a category 2 carcinogen under Europe's revised CLP Regulation. Furthermore, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifies it as a Group 2B substance, suggesting potential carcinogenicity. 

Gel nails that are free of TPO and HEMA can reduce the risk of developing allergies, making them relatively safe to use even for individuals with sensitive skin or those who do their own nails. 

Developers Dr Hirotoshi Umemoto and Dr Ryohei Mori from Green Science Alliance aim to further increase the biomass content of the new nail polish in future. Dr Mori is CEO of the company. 

 

Source: Green Science Alliance. Plant bio-based biodegradable fake nails designed with plant bio-based TPO, HEMA-free gel nail polish.

 
According to Green Science Alliance, plastics and resins made from plants have lower CO2 emissions than petroleum-based plastics.

Green Science Alliance have dedicated themselves to the R&D of leading-edge environmental and energy technologies, driving progress toward decarbonisation, carbon neutrality, and the realisation of a sustainable society. With the goal of replacing all petroleum-based materials and products with plant- and biomass-derived alternatives, they have been developing materials derived from non-petroleum, plant and biomass sources. 

These include biodegradeable resins, biodegradeable plastics, coating materials, paints, glue, plasticiser, lubricant, and 3D-printed products such as furniture, nanocellulose, as well as biochar.

Details

Get the nail polish at https://www.nano-sakura-shop.com/

Take up a vegetarian omakase course at Sushi University

Source: Tabimori. Daikon sprouts, treated with the same kobujime (昆布締め) technique used for seafood sushi, develop a richer umami profile. In kobujime, the sushi topping is marinated with kelp before serving.

Tokyo-based Tabimori's Sushi University tour has a new vegetarian omakase option. According to the internationally-focused travel company, Japan has seen a surge in international tourism in recent years, but vegetarian and vegan visitors may face limited opportunities to enjoy Japanese sushi.

"Some participants completely avoid fish, while others simply dislike raw seafood. With our growing experience in accommodating such needs, we believe the time is right to offer an authentic, plant-based sushi omakase experience—one that stays true to the spirit of Japanese culinary artistry and hospitality," the company stated.

Historically, Edomae sushi chefs used techniques such as salting, simmering, steaming, marinating, and aging to enhance umami and preserve seafood before refrigeration. Today, these same techniques are applied to vegetables: salting reduces bitterness, gentle heating enhances natural sweetness, marinating in kombu adds depth, and fermentation develops complex flavours. In this way, vegetarian and vegan omakase become more than a fish substitute—they are a refined, nuanced expression of plant-based ingredients, the company pointed out

As part of the Sushi University experience, Tabimori will explain the philosophy behind Japanese culinary traditions, such as the traditional concepts of "five tastes" (五味 or gomi), "five colours" (五色 or goshiki), and "five techniques" (五法 or goho)—the core elements of washoku (和食, Japanese cuisine). 

- Five tastes: sweet, sour, bitter, salty, umami 

- Five colours: white, yellow, red, green, black

- Five techniques: raw, simmered, grilled, fried, steamed

These ideas, developed to balance taste, presentation, and sensory experience, form the heart of Japanese culinary philosophy, Tabimori said. The principles reflect Japan's long-held wisdom—taste harmony, visual beauty, and nutritional balance. 

Sushi University offers an omakase sushi course for vegetarians and vegans (¥16,000) and five other courses for general travellers (¥19,000–¥69,000), all of which include meals and interpreting services. The omakase sushi course for vegetarians and vegans includes hotel pickup services as well as an interpreter. 

Vegetarian and vegan guests will enjoy sushi crafted from the finest seasonal ingredients selected by skilled sushi chefs. Guests can watch the chefs work up close at the counter, and request a custom menu on the spot. 

Explore

Book a sushi course online at https://sushiuniversity.jp/

New vegan dishes at The Kind Bowl, Singapore

Source: The Kind Bowl. Sun Rice will appear on
the menu in the future.

Vegan Vietnamese restaurant The Kind Bowl has shared a new menu that includes vegan dishes made with newly-introduced ingredients. 

Using minced meat by Meat Zero, a Thai plant-based alternative meat provider, and Plant Egg from Taiwan, The Kind Bowl has created Sun Rice – a light main course of white rice topped with minced meat stir-fried with basil and fiery chillies, a touch of optional onion and garlic, and a plant egg. The Kind Bowl also uses OmniMeat in its creations.

“It’s been five years of learning, growing, and finding new ways to share kindness,” said Joey Chen, Co-founder and Owner of The Kind Bowl.

“Our community has been with us through every chapter. Each bowl we serve is our way of saying thank you for believing in our mission, and for keeping this journey alive.”

The new dishes will be rolled out over the next 12 months.

Details

The Kind Bowl
71 Killiney Road
Singapore 239527 (flagship)
+65 9711 7572

Monday to Thursday: 11.30 am - 3 pm and 5.30 pm - 10 pm
Friday to Sunday and public holidays: 11.30 am - 10 pm
Reservations may be made at www.quandoo.sg/place/the-kind-bowl-killiney-97883/menu

Northpoint City
North Wing #B1-46
Singapore 769098
Daily: 11 am to 9.30 pm

Walk-ins only

Hashtags: #thekindbowlsg, #thekindbowl, #thekindpeople, #toprestaurantsingapore, #topdishsingapore, #vegan, #veganvietnamese, #vietnamesefood

Korean indie beauty brand d'Alba reaches new heights globally

Image source: d'Alba. Global sales trends from 2023 to 2024. Sales in Japan grew 3.3x and ASEAN sales grew 4.2x.

Vegan beauty brand d'Alba has seen 210% growth year-on-year in overseas sales, to the tune of approximately US$100 M in 2024. The brand's international market revenue now accounts for 45% of its total revenue.

Its global growth came from its flagship product, the White Truffle First Spray Serum, alongside Waterful Sunscreen and Double cream.

D'Alba had been generating most of its sales from the Korean market until 2023. The First Spray Serum initially gained traction in Korea as a "flight attendant mist", with notable references in major beauty channels locally.

An industry expert commented, "While many K-beauty brands' revenue rely on specific markets such as China, US, or Japan, d'Alba's evenly distributed growth across Europe, Japan, North America, and ASEAN is a rarity. This positions them uniquely in the competitive landscape."

Looking ahead, the brand is optimistic about the continued expansion. It stated: "These global markets are still at the early stage. We're receiving many enquiries from large retail platforms worldwide. Our focus on channel expansion and the new products such as beauty devices will drive further growth."

KVD Vegan Beauty celebrates 10 years of Tattoo Liner

Source: KVD Vegan Beauty. Coby the Cat.

KVD Vegan Beauty is featuring a feline Instagram celebrity as a global campaign face for its CAT EYES FOR ALL campaign, launching this March in honour of Tattoo Liner's 10th birthday. @CobytheCat, famous for his natural "winged eyeliner" memes, is one of five new models for the brand.

The campaign showcases KVD Vegan Beauty's waterproof, smudge-resistant, and ultra-precise liquid eyeliner, Tattoo Liner, available in both Trooper Black and Mad Max Brown along with volumising Go Big or Go Home mascara.

In addition to Coby the Cat, the brand debuts a unique mix of models including KVD Vegan Beauty International Makeup Artist Fanny Maurer (@fannymaurer), from Paris, France. Fanny was the key makeup artist on the campaign as well as a model. Fanny is the second "behind-the-brand" face in a KVD Vegan Beauty campaign, holding true to the brand's new strategy for 2020 of featuring "one of their own."

Source: KVD Vegan Beauty. Four of the five new models in the campaign. Maurer is front and centre.

Other models include Chloé Nguyen and Carmen Lee Solomons, (both wearing Tattoo Liner in Mad Max brown) as well as a senior model in Trooper Black, proving that age is certainly just a number. Together, the diverse, beautiful, bad-ass models prove that Tattoo Liner is unstoppable on all ages, eye shapes and ethnicities.

"We couldn't be more excited to kick of spring 2020 with a campaign celebrating our brand's first vegan product and our #1 SKU – Tattoo Liner, a globally award-winning liquid eyeliner - which turns 10 this year. Our product is for everyone and it has survived the toughest challenges– even car crashes!

"Over the course of the next four months of this campaign, we have many more surprises. We will be announcing a partnership with a celebrity makeup artist (known for creating one of the most famous cat eyes on the planet), a cause-marketing and limited-edition product, many new faces and advocates, social stunts, and new, cool ways to get your hands on free Tattoo Liner samples.

"This campaign is one of my all-time favorites and really represents who and what KVD Vegan Beauty in 2020 is all about. We love beauty-positive rebels, our furry friends, and believe in Cat Eyes for All!" said Kelly Coller, KVD Vegan Beauty VP of Global Marketing and PR.

KVD Vegan Beauty is a global high-performance, vegan and cruelty-free beauty brand with four high-pigment, long-wear, cruelty-free red lipsticks. Tattoo Liner was created in 2010. Today, the company offers more than 250 innovative products in every category, and is distributed in 36 countries around the world exclusively at Sephora and at www.kvdveganbeauty.com.

Details:

Join the brand's Instagram channel @KVDVeganBeauty every Tuesday for #tattoolinertuesday as they celebrate #cateyesforall with new liner looks, surprises, giveaways and more.

Explore:

Watch the associated video

Hashtag: #cateyesforall

Vegan OmniMeat Retail Pack unveiled in Singapore

Source: Green Monday. The OmniMeat Retail Pack.

Green Monday, a Hong Kong-based social venture that aims to tackle climate change through promoting a healthier, more sustainable plant-based lifestyle, has launched the OmniMeat Retail Pack in Singapore.

"The name of OmniMeat means it's omni-purpose in application. In terms of texture, it is succulent, tender and juicy and can be seasoned in many ways.

"It perfectly caters to Eastern flavors and culinary cultures. The versatility of OmniMeat is a dream to both vegetarians and meat-lovers as they can freely and creatively incorporate it into infinite healthier and more environmental friendly recipes," said David Yeung, Founder of OmniMeat and Green Monday.

According to a recent study conducted by the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*Star) and Deloitte earlier this year, red meats contribute about 40% of greenhouse gas emissions.

Details:

The vegan, protein-rich OmniMeat Retail Pack is now available at FairPrice, ShengSiong, HAO mart, Prime, Yes Natural, Four Seasons Organic & Speciality and Redmart.com.

Customers can purchase the OmniMeat Retail Pack at a promotional price of S$6.75 till 31 January 2020 (original price: S$7.55). Upon purchase of two packs of OmniMeat, customers will receive a free OmniMeat Recipe Booklet; they also get a cooler bag if they buy two more packs of OmniMeat. Free gifts are available on a first come, first-served basis (while supplies last). The gift mechanism is not applicable on any purchase from Redmart.com.

Delcie's offers halal, vegan, sugar-free, gluten-free mooncakes

Delcie's Desserts and Cakes has opened orders for mooncakes in 2017.

Delcie's makes halal-certified vegetarian, vegan, sugarfree and low-sugar mooncakes, as well as gluten-free sugarfree mooncakes which can be reserved on a first-come, first-served basis with full prepayment.

Source: Delcie's website. The spiral flaky sugar-free mooncakes are a best-seller, and contain sugar-free pandan paste.

A new flavour is available this year, a white lotus with salted mung bean mooncake that has no cane sugar.

All mooncakes contain wheat and gluten except for the gluten-free mooncakes. All mooncakes contain peanuts and nut sources, but nut-free mooncakes are also available on a limited basis.

Interested?

View the full list of mooncakes

A box of four mooncakes costs S$108. Early bird discounts end 20 August. Collection is from 20 August to 24 September

Call +65 6282 2951 Tuesdays to Sundays from 11am to 7.30pm to check if nut-free mooncakes are available. These can be picked up in-store at 34 Whampoa West #01-83, Singapore 330034, next to Boon Keng MRT exit B at S$29 each

Email order at delciesdesserts.com to pre-order. Include your personal particulars and preferred date of collection

Everyday Minerals rolls out mineral colour correctors

Source: Everyday Minerals website.

Everyday Minerals has introduced what it says are its best mineral color correctors yet. These totally natural colour correctors include jojoba esters as a key ingredient, which allow the correctors to mask imperfections without looking cakey.


The new Jojoba Color Correctors come in four shades for different results. The Brighten Color Corrector is a pink shade that has light-diffusing pigments to brighten dark under-eye circles instantly. The flesh-toned Cover Color Corrector can be applied after foundation to camouflage.

The other two Correctors are best used before foundation. The Mint Color Corrector neutralises redness, ruddy complexions, broken capillaries, and blemishes, while the yellow-tinted Sunlight Color Corrector is meant to help with dark spots, scarring and redness for fair to medium skin tones.

Each Color Corrector costs US$9 for 1.7g. Samplers are available as a kit for US$14.

Everyday Minerals is based in the US. All of its products are handmade and 100% vegan, sustainable, and cruelty free.

Cruelty-free brand Everyday Minerals introduces new eyeshadow range

Everyday Minerals (EM) is committed to finding the purest form of naturally sourced ingredients, and today sells all-natural, completely vegan, cruelty-free products that are handmade in Texas, with eco-friendly, recyclable packaging.

Source: Everyday Minerals blog.

Vegan makeup is makeup that does not use ingredients derived from animals, and which is not tested on animals. Examples of ingredients which come from animals would include lanolin or collagen. Many cosmetics companies now have vegan products or whole vegan lines, or like EM, may be completely vegan. 

EM recently launched a new line of eight neutral shades for the eyes called the “Oh, So Pretty” Collection! According to the EM blog, the palette ranges from white to browns, as well as soft blue and yellow hues, and are designed to mix and match easily.

The eyeshadows are named after inspiring traits. A white, "almost peachy" colour is called She's Charismatic; a denim grayish blue is called She's Complete, while She's Freedom is a bronze medium brown.

There is a sale on (EM ships internationally), with the US$14 eyeshadows going for US$12, and the US$10 eyeshadows going for US$6.50. To see the She’s Powerful, She’s Desire, and She’s Creative eyeshadows from the Oh, So Pretty collection on a model, visit the blog post here.

For more vegan cosmetic products, visit PETA's suggestions of a dozen vegan makeup products under US$10, here, and Onegreenplanet's list of cruelty-free makeup brands here.