a cruelty-free face.

In my last post, I went on and on about how I had recently made the switch to cruelty-free products (and how you should, too!). I said how I felt it had been a relatively easy switch - just one that had involved a little research and product testing. For science, of course. ;) This post won't be a long and drawn out mess of words, this time it will be pretty products and the reasons I love them. 

I simply want you to know that you can still rummage through Sephora (or your local CVS) and find all sorts of cruelty-free products. YOU DON'T HAVE TO BUY ALL YOUR PRETTY THINGS FROM EARTH FARE...although I wouldn't judge you if you did. They have pretty flowers and delicious smelling treats. 

*I do feel the need to point out that my use of the term "cruelty-free" might not be the same as yours. I recognize that some of the brands I use (like Nars, for example) do not test but are owned by a parent company that still does. In my opinion, by directing my money towards the brands that do not test, it will send a message from the bottom to the top and will allow companies to see that there is actually demand for cruelty-free products.*

THE SKIN

My favorite foundation routine currently involves two products - Tarte's Amazonian Clay foundation and the Flower About Face foundation. Personally, I enjoy blending the two to create the ideal mix for me but both are nice on their own. Tarte is quite matte and gives a full coverage while the Flower tends to be slightly more dewy and gives a light to medium coverage. Either way, I find that a beauty blender-esque applicator works best to ensure a flawless finish. 

THE BRONZE GLOW

Yeah, I'm a sucker. I gave in and dropped the big bucks for the Hourglass Ambient Lighting palette...and I love it. It is a lovely little thing to have on the go as it is so very versatile. Setting powder? Check. Highligher? Check. And a bronzer to boot? You bet. However, I probably wouldn't repurchase it as I think there are other options out there that are much more affordable (Physician's Formula powders, anyone?) I will say, though, that this little puppy is a dream when taking pictures.

I also lightly contour because I'm quite pale and also need something to create the suggestion of cheekbones. Round faces unite. Tarte's Park Avenue Princess works well and has been going strong for ages. I just really love Tarte, okay?

THEM BROWS

Anastasia Beverly Hills can do no wrong. Whether it is the Brow Wiz or the Brow Powder Duo (mine is in Dark Brown), I want it on my face. More specifically I want it on my brows. Lately I have been opting for the powder simply because it is a little softer but I do go back and forth. 

...You should have known my love of e.l.f could only be concealed for so long. Regardless of what I do to my brows, I always use the Treat and Tame to brush the brows into place. I love that it is slightly pigmented so it gives a little color depth to the brows and holds them in place preeetttty well for a $1 product. No complaints. 

TIME FOR EYES

It probably won't come as a shock to you that eyes are my favorite part of any face look. Regardless of what my face happens to be sporting for the day, most likely it is all based on a relatively smokey winged out (often bronzey) eye. The Nars And God Created the Woman palette is one of my favorites for achieving the look. I will go ahead and say it isn't filled with the most blend-able shadows but holy cow will it last. Work slowly and carefully and you'll be left with a smoldering smize. ;) 

Kat Von D's Tattoo Liner is my new favorite liquid liner, having replaced my long beloved Stila one. I have never used an applicator that is so precise and lovely and I'm sure it all comes down to the fact that the nib is not felt tipped but a tiny little brush that will hug your lash line so well and is practically goof-proof.  

Just one more Tarte product, okay? New to my life is the Tarte Lights, Camera Lashes mascara. After having traded in my Benefit They're Real Mascara (unfortunately not cruelty-free) I was so surprised at this product. I suppose I had gotten used to the crazy formula of the Benefit and was in awe at the fact that you could take your time building up the product on the Tarte. It is the least clumpy, most build-able mascara that I have used in a long time. Mascara is such a personal thing but my lashes definitely love this stuff. 

AND THE BLUSH

I'll go ahead and admit publicly that I have a love/hate relationship with blush. I either apply too much and look like a creepy little doll or I don't apply enough and look washed out. Because of that, I'm genuinely not too fussy about this step. Today I used my e.l.f blush in Twinkle Pink, which genuinely gives a relatively natural-esque color to your face with just a liiiitle twinkle to suggest perhaps it was intentional. 

(Not pictured in a close up but used and loved: ColourPop's lippie stick in "Frida" and the NYX Dewy Finish Setting spray.)


And that concludes today's makeup. *Shew*

I hope this has been helpful. Or interesting. Or coherent, at the very least. Regardless, thank you for checking this post out and I hope your day is filled with love and magic.

xo


Currently listening to: "Song for Zula" by Phosphorescent

making the switch.

If you met middle school Andrea, you might laugh. You might like her - it is indeed quite possible - but it is even more likely that you would laugh. She was just a little silly.

In middle school, I was so confident in my beliefs and I was not afraid to hold back from leaping about into a diatribe when the moment called for one (or even if it didn't call for one...). Regardless of what the topic was, I was sure to have some deep seeded emotional connection that was terribly relevant to everyone's lives and it NEEDED TO BE HEARD. Quite popular was the topic of animal treatment, or mistreatment, rather. As an on again/off again vegetarian since the age of 8 (what hasn't changed?), I was sure to have a rant conveniently waiting in my pocket. This won't be a post to remind you that Babe has feelings, I promise. Bacon tastes good, I understand. This will be a post will be dedicated to another animal rights issue, though. It is one that probably involves the eye lashes that are fluttering on the eyes with which you are reading this now. It is about MAKEUP, oh my goodness. It is about makeup and all things related to making you feel like a gussied up lady (or gentleman) and the ability to use compassion and knowledge when making selections that will make you feel gussied up on the inside, too. ;)

I made the switch to Cruelty-Free products in, oh, September or October of this past year and so far, I'm still going strong (and plan to continue going on the same way). It has been a learning curve and a little product testing has been necessary but no longer feel like I'm living without. I make sure to google companies before purchasing and honestly, it is quite nice for my brain to help me pick out products and not just my eyeballs reacting to pretty packaging. The reason I feel the need to post this is because from here on out, this blog (when in reference to beauty and yada yada) will be based on this mindset and view point. I'm not quite as bold and forthright as I was when I was fourteen, but this is an issue that I feel deserves to be recognized.

I am now going to refer to a Facebook post I typed up in November of this past year:

"...I've been talking a lot lately about making the switch to cruelty-free cosmetics, and it seems like the biggest reason most people haven't made the switch is simply not knowing which companies test and which companies do not. Although there are a few brands that are willing to say they will NEVER test their products on animals (e.l.f, Coastal Scents, Tarte), a lot of companies seem to live within a gray area-maybe they do not test, but the companies they get their ingredients from do. Perhaps they do not believe in animal testing but allow their products to be tested simply so they can sell to China (Rimmel London). Perhaps they do not test but the belong to a parent company that does (Burt's Bees/Toms). All of these are factors that confuse the consumer and eventually become the reason people are apathetic to the cause. I can honestly say I was one of them...and on the third issue-the parent company issue-I'm still a little confused about how I should be spending my money. Personally, I feel that directing your money to a cruelty-free brand will show its parent company how valuable going cruelty-free can actually be and will eventually end up doing good...but I digress.

Regardless of where you fall on the issue, I do believe it is something we should all be aware of. Cosmetic testing is so unnecessary and only exists anymore to expand a company's demographic into the Chinese market (that requires testing). You don't have to be a vegetarian/vegan (or even remotely sympathetic their cause) to understand that cosmetic testing is a wasteful venture and is nothing but unnecessary cruelty.

We are all on our own paths and so I cannot ask anyone to make a switch they are not yet comfortable with, especially when it has taken myself so long to do so, but I can ask that you get informed and use your dollar to speak for you. I can honestly say that the past few months have shown me that there isn't a single cosmetic out there that I desire (and boy do I desire all of them) that doesn't have a cruelty-free dupe to replace it. It isn't hard, it just requires a little research, and continuous research as companies continue to wiggle in and out of that gray area..."

Did that sound too ranty? I hope not. Basically what I'm saying in one sentence is: 
"I am choosing to use compassion in my beauty selection and I hope you will choose to do so, as well".

If you are thinking of making the switch (or are perhaps just curious - and that is OKAY!), I will attach a few helpful websites. I'm going to be doing a blog post in the next few days allll about my favorite Cruelty Free products, so look out for that! 

http://www.leapingbunny.org/indexcus.php

http://www.gocrueltyfree.org/shopper

http://www.crueltyfreeinternational.org/

xo

Currently listening to: Sylvan Esso's "Coffee"