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Showing posts with label cruelty-free. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cruelty-free. Show all posts


"Compassion for animals is intimately connected with goodness of character; and it may be confidently asserted that he who is cruel to animals cannot be a good man." - Schopenhauer 

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"If you don't like seeing pictures of violence towards animals being posted, you need to help stop the violence, not the pictures." - Johnny Depp

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Ages back I was requested to do this post by a reader on ask.fm, so whoever that was - thank-you for the great idea! Here I have compiled a list of my 10 favourite cruelty-free (of course) budget beauty products ranging from skincare to make-up bits and pieces. Enjoy!




I've had this blusher for years and somehow still haven't hit pan. Talk about value for money! It's a universally wearable colour as it's such a beautiful, natural shade. It's perfectly pigmented and I'd recommend to all!





This has to be the only face wash that I've used that I can tell has properly cleaned my face. Because the muslin cloth that comes with the cleanser is white, and because the cleanser is white too, you can really see all the crap come off your face. It's disgusting but sooo satisfying at the same time. Not to mention it's super gentle on your skin, which is always a bonus. I've mentioned it previously in my 'How To: Care For Your Skin' post that you can have a little read of here.





This stuff comes in super handy. If I'm feeling lazy (which is very often) I can use this to clean my face, and not feel guilty about it. It gives your face a great deep clean, getting out any traces of dirt from the day. Not to mention, it's a great make-up remover! My only problem is that I have to be careful taking my eye make-up off with it, as it's not quite as sensitive as it should be.





I started using this foundation when I was about 15 and I loved it, but at the time I didn't know how to properly apply foundation and concealer, and therefore the coverage wasn't great. Now that I know how to get the most out of a product, I can use the HMF to it's full potential, And despite it not being full coverage like I would usually opt for, it's great when applied on top of Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer.





This is probably my favourite nail polish of all time. And I've literally had hundreds of different polishes, but this one tops them all. It gives you a shiny, pigmented finish that can even trick the professionals themselves into thinking you've had a gel manicure. Forget going to the beauticians - just nip to Boots!





If you have trouble applying eyeliner, you need this. This liner has helped me create the perfect eye look on so many occasions, at one point causing a shop assistant at Miss Selfridge to compliment me and ask where my eyeliner was from. Safe to say she was pretty shocked when I said Collection, I think she was expecting me to say MAC or something! Because it's a felt tip, the nip is fairly stiff (stop it) and therefore makes for easier application. It's now a staple in my make-up bag as it doesn't flake or dry out quickly like many others I've tried.





These lipsticks are amazing. They're pigmented, creamy and long-lasting. What else could you want in a lipstick?! The packaging is sleek and classic too, which is always a huge bonus. The only issue is that once you get one, you're gonna wanna get them all...



excuse the chipped nail polish... *cringe*


Everyone and their dog seems to rave on about this stuff, but it really is fab. There are many people out there that dismiss 'cheap' make-up because they believe it's not going to be good. Yet brands like Collection are there to prove them wrong. If you're looking for a medium-to-full coverage liquid concealer, give this one a try. My only main concern is the small colour range, especially for those like me who have pale yet neutral/warm skin.





I've loved their lip balm since around 2010 when I first purchased their limited edition Christmas Spiced Vanilla. Quickly after, I purchased the Cranberry Joy flavour in the range and then the next year, added Candied Ginger to my collection. Sadly, they no longer do them exact lip balms anymore. Two Christmases ago, I went into the Body Shop to see if they had any, but they were replaced by these domed lip balms that were no where near as good, they weren't even creamy like the old ones! I think TBS must've gotten a few requests to bring the old lip balms back as last Christmas they donned a similar formula, and I obviously had to snag one. This time, in the Glazed Apple flavour. Sadly but obviously, these only come around at Christmastime. Therefore, you can either wait or you can get their good-but-not-as-good Lip Butters. I have a bunch of these and I do love them, but they're just not quite the same.





If you're a regular reader of my blog, you'll be sick and tired of me raving on about this powder. For the price, it's bloody fab. Yeah the coverage is non-existent but it sets my makeup perfectly. And for just under £2, it's worth a try. I guess that's why I felt it was worth the coveted No.1 place!



What are your favourite budget beauty buys?
~requested~

"We must fight against the spirit of unconscious cruelty with which we treat the animals. Animals suffer as much as we do. True humanity does not allow us to impose such sufferings on them. It is our duty to make the whole world recognise it. Until we extend our circle of compassion to all living things, humanity will not find peace." - Albert Schweitzer 
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Before I went on my holiday to Cyprus, my Mum and I went on several trips to Marks & Spencer's because one, it's one of our favourite shops, and two, we needed to get more stuff for our hols. Yes, we did need more. I find that Marks & Spencer's is extremely underrated with people my age, as it's dismissed for being a shop for 'the oldies'. I couldn't disagree more! Limited Edition (previously Limited Collection) is one of my favourite places to get my clothes from as they're great quality, reasonably priced, and on-trend. What more could you want?! Not to mention the Food department is amazing...


Normal M&S


M&S Collection Cat's Eye Sunglasses in Black - £15
When I saw these I just had to have them. They had them in a tortoiseshell finish as well, but I ended up going for the plain black as they're soooo Kourtney Kardashian. And if you know me, you'll know how much I love her.



M&S Collection Supersoft Ankle Socks 3 Pair Pack - £4
Yeah I know that socks aren't exactly exciting but I felt the need to tell you about them. I desperately needed some black socks for work (where I'm on my feet all day), so when I saw these super soft ones, I knew they'd do the job just fine.



Shoes (sadly can't find link)
Ahhhh, I love these shoes. At first I was unsure because of the height, but they've definitely grown on me. I surprisingly don't have many pairs of shoes and I wanted some that were classy but could be used for different occasions. These are pretty comfy and suuuuper elegant, something I could see the Duchess of Cambridge wearing, who happens to be one of my style icons.



M&S Active Santoni Seamfree Cropped Leggings in Pink Mix - £17.50
I just had to be a sheep didn't I?! I'd been wanting some yoga pants for ages as I'm forcing myself into starting jogging. I am yet to actually go, as my friend who I'm meant to be doing it with keeps making excuses. Shame on you, Shannon! Anyways, I love the fit and they're ridiculously comfy. I can see my wardrobe filling up with these soon enough... So tumblr.



Floral Collection Lavender Anti-Perspirant Deodorant - £2
There's not much to say about deodorant except that I'm on my third M&S one now (I think) and it does it's job, and is cheap at the same time!


M&S Outlet


M&S Collection Animal Print Round Frame Sunglasses - £9.50 (I think they were £6 in the Outlet)
As you can see, I have a thing for sunglasses at the moment. I got these from the Outlet a week or so after getting the Kourtney-esque sunnies, and loved them. Like I said, I wanted the tortoiseshell versions too, so when I saw these, I fell in love. These are currently my fave sunglasses as they're super wearable and so on-trend at the moment.



Limited Edition Flirt Plunge Push-Up Bikini Top - £4.99 
Limited Edition Flirt Side Tie Bikini Bottoms - £4.50
This is such a gorgeous bikini, I love it! I wore this several times on holiday in Cyprus and it's very supportive and comfortable, not to mention it gave me a good boost, if you know what I mean...*wink wink*.



Bouclé Jacket (can't find link)
Taking inspiration from the Duchess herself yet again, I opted for this classic jacket. I love the shape of it, it balances out my body perfectly. My Gran even commented on it, saying that it was 'very Chanel'. I have to agree, as it has that classic look of a Chanel piece, minus the £3,000 price tag. J'adore.



What have you bought recently?
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It wasn't until a few weeks ago when I was on holiday that I'd noticed that although my blog was a cruelty-free blog, I'd never written posts regarding companies and their animal testing policies. This is why I'm going to start writing up the e-mail responses I've been given by these companies, to help you know which ones are cruelty-free and which ones aren't. If anyone has any requests on companies that they'd like to know are cruelty-free or not, you can pop on over to my ask.fm account where I'd be happy to e-mail that company for you.

If you haven't noticed, there is a new addition to my navigation bar up above. The Cruelty-Free section of my blog is where you'll find all things to do with these e-mail responses. I'm also going to compile my very own Do and Don't Test lists from the responses I've received from these companies, to aid you in shopping the animal-friendly way.


the Katy Perry lashes are definitely my favourite lashes of all time - and not just 'cause they're hers!

First up is Eylure. I've always been a big fan of their eyelashes, and it wasn't until about a year ago that I realised that they could be tested on animals. I was pretty oblivious, to say the least. I scoured the internet, and nowhere could I find anything regarding their animal testing policy. I sent Eylure the usual questions (Do you test any of your products/ingredients on animals? Also, do you sell in China?' on the 17th August 2013, and Original Additions (creators of Eylure) responded two days later:


'Hello There,

Thank you very much for your e-mail.

Our products are not tested on animals. I am afraid we do not currently have a distributor in China.

I hope this information is useful to you.'


I'm pretty happy with the response. They got back to me quickly and answered all of my questions, and I'm so chuffed that they're cruelty-free! Now I can add them to my Don't Test list.


Eylure's website - http://www.eylure.com/

Original Additions website - http://www.originaladditions.co.uk/


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Unless you've been living under a rock these past couple of years you'll have heard about Illamasqua. Whether it be from people within the industry, spotting their gorgeous stores (their Victoria Quarter flagship for me) or from my twitter, as I tweet about the company pretty much every day. I. Love. Them. The company represents art, individuality, AND they're cruelty-free. I can't rave about them enough. So, when I got a 15% off voucher in an e-mail from them, to celebrate my 'Birthnight' I just couldn't resist. I already get 10% off online as a loyal customer (yes, they do loyalty discounts!!!) so it was the perfect opportunity to grab the products I'd had my eyes on.




After around 2 hours and various talks with myself about how 'although I want this' and 'although I want that' I didn't actually need them. Sad face. So I ended up only getting the things I really did need, plus a Sealing Gel. Don't judge me. As well as the Sealing Gel (£7 - with discounts £5.35) I bagged The Ultimate Skin Trinity set (£50 - with discounts £42.50), which included a Skin Base Foundation (usually £27), Skin Base Lift (usually £16) and a Hydra Veil (usually £27). I'd been wanting a Hydra Veil and Skin Base Foundation for aaaages, but was put off by the SBF as according to the online foundation shade comparison chart, they didn't have a matching shade for my usual 133. After tweeting about my sadness, Illamasqua swiftly replied, informing me that I did have a match in 06. I thought that I might as well get the Skin Trinity as, like I said, I'd been wanting the HV and SBF for ages. The Skin Trinity also includes Skin Base Lift which is basically a concealer. Sadly, they didn't have my shade so I opted for White Light, as I thought I'd be better of with a white concealer (I'm pretty pale) as opposed to one that was waaay too dark for my skin.


Skin Base Foundation in shade SB06 - £27 (RRP)
Hydra Veil - £27 (RRP)
Skin Base Lift in White Light - £16 (RRP)
Sealing Gel - £7 (RRP)

What are your favouite Illamasqua products?
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Liebster is the German word for dearest, sweetheart, beloved person, darling etc and so when I was nominated for the Liebster Award by the beautiful Caitlin, I was a little confused. I thought there would be an online poll or something where people voted for their favourite bloggers. I was wrong. Basically, the Liebster Award gives the opportunity to the lesser-known bloggers to mix with other bloggers, strengthening their connections which have the possibility to form into friendships. It's quite sweet, really.

Last week, whilst I was on holiday Sophie also nominated me, so instead of doing another post I thought I'd just add her questions onto this one. Thankyou Sophie for the nomination!

The rules are as follows:
1. You must link the post back to the person who nominated you.
2. You must answer all 11 questions that have been chosen by the person who nominated you.
3. You have to pick 11 people to nominate - but they must have under 200 followers.
4. You can't nominate the person who nominated you.
5. You must tell the nominees they have been nominated.


These are the questions that Caitlin gave me - and my answers:

1. What's your favourite drugstore foundation?
- That'll have to be No7's Beautifully Matte Foundation that I did a review on here. It's been a fave of mine for years.

2. What are you goals for your blog in 2014? 
- I'm really hoping that it takes off this year. I've been doing it for around 14 months now and I keep seeing all these beginner bloggers have thousands of loyal followers mere months after they've started. I know I shouldn't compare to others but sometimes I can't help but feel like I'm failing and that I should quit whilst I'm ahead. Especially seen as that's what so many people keep telling me to do, seen as writing a blog will never put food on my plate. Ah well, I'll just have to keep everything crossed! 

3. Name a lipstick you couldn't live without
- Oooh, this is a toughie 'cause I'm a huuuge lipstick junkie. My faves would have to be Illamasqua's Ignite, Bourjois' Rouge Edition in 11 Fraise Remix or Barry M's 162... I love so many but it's so hard to pick haha!

4. Where would you like to see yourself in 5 years time?
- I hope I'm still blogging and have a YouTube channel by then, maybe even have moved out and got a job in the beauty/fashion industry! 

5. Have you got any beauty resolutions for this year?
- Yes! I'm gonna try and get my skin into the best condition possible (more than I have been these past 6 or so years!) because although I adore makeup, I don't enjoy having to wake up early to put it on. It's less enjoyable spending at least an hour on my makeup when I'm tired! Also, I wanna start contouring properly, white foundation n'all!

6. A skincare product that's an essential
- Montagne Jeunesse (I can't pronounce it to save my life, I also had to google the spelling *hangs head in beauty blogger shame*) face masks - they smell amazing, do wonders for my skin AND they're cruelty-free and vegetarian. I love 'em I do!

7. What's your favourite healthy food?
- I'm slightly addicted to falafels and houmous at the moment (ooh hark at me being a good veggie for once!).

8. Who's your current favourite blogger and why?
- This will have to go to Zoe Sugg, a.k.a. Zoella. I pretty much idolise her and she's the one that gave me the inspiration to start blogging.

9. How many posts do you aim to post a week?
- Usually I go for two - a Manicure Monday and then a general post on Friday. I'm pretty rubbish though and sometimes don't post at all, or when I do I post late *tut-tut*.

10. What are your thoughts on Maybelline Baby Lips, yay or nay?
- NAY. Maybelline test on animals and therefore I refuse to purchase any of their products.

11. What products are you hoping to try this year?
- Urban Decay Naked3, Illamasqua's Skin Base Foundation...and probably many more cult products that my mind has just decided to erase.



And these are the questions Sophie asked me...

1. Where would you love to travel to?
- California probably, I've never been to America ya'see.

2. What's your favourite High Street shop?
- Oooh this is hard... Jack Wills, Zara and H&M are my faves, but I can't pick one 'cause I love them all for different reasons haha!

3. What are your favourite skincare item/s?
- Answered this in Caitlin's questions (No6).

4. When did you start blogging?
- Monday 3rd December 2012. Check out my first ever post here.

5. Favourite singer/songwriter?
- LORDE ALLLLLL THE WAAAAY!

6. What are your hopes for 2014?
- That I've passed my driving test, got my Mini and earning a proper wage!

7. Are you a student? If so what are you studying?
- No, I'm not a student.

8. What would be your dream job?
- Honestly? Doing this...blogging, YouTubing (if that's a word?) because ever since I was little, I never knew what I wanted to be when I grew up (apart from being a princess...the dream still lives on!) and now that I've 'grown up' this is what I'm passionate about, what I think about every day and what I'm excited to do - even when I'm watching TV I've got my laptop on my knee and writing out new posts!

9. Do you have any hobbies?
- Blogging, collecting beauty products, talking to my cats...I'm a very boring person haha.

10. Do you have a blog you read everyday without fault?
- ...does my own count? Haha! I don't have a blog that I read everyday to be honest because I know that once I start reading, I won't stop.

11. If money was no object, what would you like to buy? Only one!
- Can I be really sensible and say a mansion? That way I could rent it out and make a bunch of money from it, and then when I'm ready to move out I've already got my house sorted! God I sound like I'm in my 40s or something...

Now, I was meant to nominate other bloggers but after being unable to find any that hadn't been previously nominated, I sent out a tweet to which no-one replied to. Sigh. Oh well, I really enjoyed doing this little post so once again I'd like to give a huge thankyou to Caitlin & Sophie for nominating me.

Have you been nominated for a Liebster Award?
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Ok, so I've been a vegetarian for around 7 years now. A lot of people ask me why, and my usual response is 'I've never really liked meat' but I guess it's more than that. I've always been a huge animal lover and I became a vegetarian after I found out that animals were killed for meat (I thought they died naturally - how naive) and I can easily say I'll never go back. Because of my passion for animals and their welfare, I began researching animal rights and came across the PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) website. For some of you that may not know, PETA is an animal rights charity based in America, and they basically fight for animal rights and reveal the raw truth about what really happens to animals behind closed doors. On their homepage there was a link to their 'Companies that test' and 'Companies that don't test' lists, and as I was an intrigued 11-year-old I decided to check them out. I didn't know up until then what went on in laboratories. I didn't know what animals went through just so someone could have a tube of mascara. It's fair to say I was in complete shock. I went on several of their other posts about animal testing and actually saw what happened to the monkeys and the kittens. I recall just sitting there and crying for hours, I just couldn't understand how anyone could ever do that to a defenceless animal! Luckily, as I was only young I'd only ever used mum's Marks & Spencer's make-up which was - and still is - cruelty free. I decided from then on that whatever make-up I purchased would NOT be tested on animals, and I trusted in PETA's 'Companies that don't test' list for guidance. Sorry for the long intro, but here it is, my top 10 cruelty-free make-up brands!


10. Natural Collection - Cheap & Great Quality
One of my favourite face powders is the NC Pressed Powder. It helps keep shine at bay, it's perfect for my porcelain skin and most importantly it's a mere (drum roll) £1.99. Yes, you read it right. I'm pretty in love with the powders, they aren't super pigmented, which you kinda expect from something so cheap,  but I don't use powders for coverage, I use them just to set my foundation and prevent oil attacking it, and it does it for me.


9. Lee Stafford - Soft & Shiny results
I have a fairly big collection of Lee Stafford products, one of my favourites being his Hair Growth range. All his products are encased in the famous pink packaging which makes it a stylish addition to your dressing table, a bonus on his already great quality products. Even though it's a high-quality brand, it's affordable. If it's slightly out of your price range, Boots often do a 3 for 2 offer on the Lee Stafford range, making it that much more appealing. If you're like me and fall for products just by sniffing them, you'll fall in love with these products, guaranteed.


8. Liz Earle Skincare - Natural & Really Works
I've got really bad scarring from having acne and I've tried all the skincare sets that are meant to help me, like Clinique's Anti Blemish range and Manuka Doctor's apiclear. But none of it really worked... I mean they might've made a slight improvement but not enough for me to notice. I tried Liz Earle's Hot Cloth Cleanser set a few months back and i've really loved it. I'm not sure if it's this or the weather or me not wearing makeup so much but my skin has vastly improved. My scarring has reduced dramatically and I can see a major difference in my skin. I was so sceptical about it seen as the Clinique and Manuka Doctor ranges didn't work for me, so I'm really hoping that these results are down to Liz Earle. One thing I have noticed is that my skin seems 'happier' because of the set. As in, my face doesn't get oily as quick after I've washed it, the toner doesn't make my skin feel tight like the others did and the moisturiser leaves my skin reeeally soft. Fingers crossed that by this time next year my scarring has completely gone, go on Liz, work your magic!!


7. ghd - Elite & Professional
When it comes to styling, ghd is THE company. It's world-renowned status has made it notorious for it's array of straighteners and more recently, hair products and the ghd air. I own the air myself, alongside the Pink Orchid styler and several products including the Final Fix Hairspray (I wrote a review for it here), the Heat Protect Spray and the Straight & Smooth Spray. The quality of ghd's products are phenomenal, there's a reason why they are so famous! ghd can be pricey, but boy is it worth it.


6. Soap & Glory - Vintage & Kooky
I am a huuuge Soap & Glory fan. When it's Christmastime and Boots do their 3 for 2's I can't help myself but buy almost all of their sets. I know, I know I don't need it all but when it's on offer and the packaging is that cute and it all smells so gooood I just can't help myself. I am not sorry. Some of my favourite S&G products include their Arch De Triumph eyebrow pencil, Kick Ass Concealer and Sugar Crush body wash (you just need to smell it)!


5. Bourjois - Colourful & Pigmented *NO LONGER CRUELTY FREE*
Bourjois are famous for their eyeshadows (which I happen to be selling here and here) and blushers, but one thing I love about Bourjois are their Rouge Edition Lipsticks (will be doing a review on these at some point probably). My current tally is at 5 and counting with my favourite being Fraise Remix which is a beautiful bright pink, perfect for going out but tame enough for a work environment. Another Bourjois product I love is their Healthy Mix Concealer, which I use as a 'base' concealer underneath my foundation if I need super full coverage. I'm determined to collect all their Little Round Pot eyeshadows, I only have 8 at the moment but they are so luxuriously pigmented and affordable that I just can't help myself!


4. No.7 - Sleek & Flawless
I have a major love for No7's Beautifully Matte foundation, which I wrote a review of here. Not only is their match-made service revolutionary, their range of foundations, concealers and powders is wide enough for any skin tone or type. Besides my fave foundation, I also adore their felt-tip liner, it makes lining your upper lashes so much easier due to the nib being fairly stiff so you don't end up with black all over. Plus, their brush cleanser is a must-have!


3. Real Techniques - Vegan & Affordable
These brushes are sososo soft, and they're made using synthetic hairs! Sam Chapman is the lady behind these phenominal brushes that promise to give you a flawless finish without spending an arm and a leg! I'm obsessed with them, I only have 8 in my collection at the moment but I intend on buying them all, they've changed the way my makeup looks completely. I didn't realise before but it wasn't until I made my first purchase on their Stippling Brush that it was so easy to create an airbrushed look, before I settled with blotchy - not good.


2. Barry M - Cheap & Cheerful
I've only used Barry M's lip paints, lip crayons and nail paints but they are some of the best i've ever come across, especially the Paints. As you may have seen in a previous post on the Barry M Gelly Nail Paints i'm a little in love. The Gellys are my ultimate fave when it comes to the polishes but I also have the textured paint in Kingsland Road, the special Christmas gold edition paint, the sequin paint in Pink and the neon paint in Fuschia (amazing colour)! I'm adament to collect all the Lip Paints, they're so creamy and long-lasting, and for £4.49 you can't really go wrong, plus the green one that changes colour to the alkaline level on your lips is so freaking cool, and I managed to nab it after months of searching!


1. Urban Decay - Luxury & Ridiculously Pigmented
And finally, at number one it has to be the exquisite Urban Decay. The pigmentation of Urban Decay's eyeshadows are astounding, although they are quite pricey they're definitely worth it - I use mine for occasions, not daily use as I'm quite worried about hitting pan! Despite this, I find that no other eyeshadow can even compare to that of UD's. I currently have the Naked, Naked2, BYOP Rock, BYOP Melt, Glinda and Theodora palettes, and I still feel like I need more! I use their b6 Vitamin-Infused Complexion Spray and their De-Slick Setting Spray daily, it makes such an impact on the longevity of my makeup, thus saving more makeup in the long run. I'm also a big fan of their Super Saturated Lip Crayons, SuperCurl Curling Mascara, all their brushes, and their powders. Not only are their products commendable, but so is their attitude to animal welfare. Urban Decay is recognised as being one of the biggest cruelty-free brands, with a wide vegan range. When they were considering expanding to China, I was furious. I sent emails begging them to not lose their morals just so their makeup could be sold in a big country. Luckily, UD listened to the thousands of us and decided not to sell in China, thus keeping them cruelty-free. YAY YAY URBAN DECAY!


p.s. i'm sorry the post is a day late - Celebrity Big Brother finished last night and I couldn't miss it for the world (shut up that is not sad, Charlotte & Mario needed me okay)


What's your favourite cruelty-free brand?!
♥