☼ ❀ ❊ Cruelty-Free & Natural Deodorants |:| Review & Comparison! || The good, the bad, and the UGLY!

Hello guys! 

If you have "liked" my Facebook page, you would know that I promised a comparison/review post for these three deodorants. Sorry, it has taken me a while to post this! I hope you get something out of it! It's been a STRUGGLE to find a good cruelty-free deodorants. They all pretty much suck!

I'm going to give you a mini-review for each deodorant and then let you know which one I prefer.

***NOT sponsored! I have one link (that's the only one you need, trust me)! 

1. alba Botanica: Clear Enzyme: Deodorant Stick

Claims:

Hypo-allergenic

Preservative Free

PG Free

Aluminum Free

I like how this smells. It's really fresh and flowery (because of the lavender). I've never been a fan of gel-stick deodorants so I don't like that. It claims to be"long lasting", but unfortunately that is NOT NOT true! I've worn it day-to-day and when I've exercised and it sucks! I'm sorry to say. What's worse is that when you sweat (sorry TMI), the sweat sticks to your clothing. So the funk from your sweat might not cling to you but it will transfer onto your clothing! HUGE thumbs down. 

2. Desert Essence: Tea Tree Oil Deodorant

Claims: 

Non-GMO

"Long-Lasting"

Propylene Glycol Free

& Aluminum Free

This has an herbal-ly scent and I prefer it. Maybe because it's a bit stronger. Also, it's not a gel-deodorant! I feel like the gel-deodorants are more slippery and rub-off more easily. However, I DO NOT like it much more than the alba botanica one. It also rubs-off on my clothes and the odor sticks to them.  

In an effort to give this guy the benefit of doubt and after a lot of testing I did find it works well (a bit better) if you only plan to wear it for a few hours (less than 4). However, to keep it fresh the entire day I had to carry it with me and reapply. I just don't want to have to be self-conscious about sweating and stinking up the place, lol! I would NOT repurchase it. However, if for some reason I can't find my deodorant and have nothing else, I prefer this one to the alba one. 

3. Meow Meow Tweet: Deodorant Dream: Lavender

 Claims:

Vegan

Pure

Hand-crafted

Organic

I received this guy in my December Petit Vour Box and I'm so glad I did! The guy works just as well as your drug-store traditional deodorants (maybe even better). It will last me the entire day! If I am just going to school or working (day-to-day) or if I exercise! 

(By drug-store I mean your traditional deodorants).

However, unlike your drug-store deodorants, the MMT lets your pits sweat! LOL!  So if you don't want to sweat at all, this is not be for you. The sweat is nothing crazy! It only happened to me when I exercised, not on my day-to-day days. However, unlike the ones mentioned above this guy DOES not sweat onto my clothes and keeps the funk away! I prefer that this deodorant allows my pores to sweat. I don't have to tell you that your regular "drug-store" deodorants are not good for the skin on your armpits. 

I also like it because you really don't need a lot. The jar says to use a "pea-sized" amount. I use a about a pea-and-a-half amount, I feel like it lasts longer! The jar I got was a sample, so you can get the full size jar (2.4 oz) for $14.99. I got mine in December and it lasted me through the last week of February, so about three months. This is with me using it everyday. Again, my jar is the sample size. So while it's a bit more pricey, it totally worth it. 

I hope you enjoyed this blog post! I will be repurchasing the MMT for sure. I will also continue to try other cruelty-free deodorants. If I gather another bunch, I will be sure to review it for you guys. 

Let me know what you think and your recommendations!

Lots of Love,

Camila

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Petit Vour October Box & September Box Thoughts || Video

Hey Guys!

As you can see my camera is much better at pictures than video. 

If you want to know my thoughts on the products in my October Petit Vour Box, check out this video. The main reason for this post is to share nice close ups of the products as my camera quality isn't great. 

The name of this box was "Beauty Thriller". 

If you're interested in checking out Petit Vour click here. 

1. Flo + Theo || Body Butter Full Size $14

2. S.W. Basics || Skincare Mini (makeup remover oil ) Full Size : $14-28

3. Forafer Botanicals || Natural Eau de Perfume-Nector Full Size: $98 

3. Pacifica || Devocean Natural LipStick Full Size: $12  

Lots of Love,

Camila

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**This was not sent to me! I paid for it with my own money! : ) 

c. Booth Bath and Body Oil || Bubble Bath Time :: REVIEW

. 

Hello guys.

So, I have something to tell you. I'm a bath person. 

Meanwhile, most of the time I don't have the privilege of taking 45 minutes to soak in bubbly warm water.  I know that a lot of you like me, if you find that half an hour out of your day to soak in a bath, you want to do it right.  Though, now that I'm on Summer Vacation *yay* I have some much more time to relax and pamper myself. 

Doing it right. What does that mean to me?

Easy:

1. light candles  

2. Your Favorite Drink 

(seeing as I am under 21, I refer to a Starbucks Valencia Orange Refresher with Passion Tea rather than water. All my Starbucks obsessed readers either know what I'm talking about, or need to right away. Talk about a delish summer drink. And no I am not being paid to talk about SB. I work for them and genuinly love all the drinks. I have a couple of my favorites from the 'secret menu'! Let me know if you'd like me to share! :D )

3. A good book, or Netflix. We've all been there. Don't try to deny it.

4. A good body scrub, wash, and a good moisturizer. 

5. Sometimes, chocolate! 

I really value my bath products. I am quite picky and when I find something I like I want to share it.

I picked this c. Booth Bath & Body Oil at Rite Aid more than a month ago. I saw this and really wanted to try it. I wasn't sure about c. Booth (I've never heard of them before). However, I noticed that their parent company is Freeman Beauty. If you check on Leaping Bunny's list, you'll notice Freeman Beauty is cruelty-free. Therefore, I thought it safe to go ahead and buy it. 

According to the bottle, this is free of parabens, sulfate, mineral oil, and petrolatum. I'm not exactly an expert of the effect these ingredients have on the skin; I am sure they're not good. 

How to use:

I had never used a bath oil before and so I wasn't exactly sure what to do. The bottle says to add 3-4 cap fulls to your bath. I have a small tub and so I used 3. It works to give your skin extra moisture. Something, I really need and appreciate. My skin gets really dry!  

You can also use it directly on your skin. It's definitely oily, so I would only use it directly in the bath, that way it is easily rinsed off. 

Scent:

It's such a nice scent. It's very warm, like vanilla without being too artificial or sickly. It also has notes of amber. It does linger on the skin, but not so much that it will you nauseous.  

Overall: 

I really love this product. I got it on sale that day at Rite-Aid. I think it was like $4 bucks. It normally retails for $9.99. (According to the Ulta.com site). 

It's an 16 oz bottle and so I'm sure it will last me a while. Even for it's regular price I would re-purchase it. It makes your Bubble Bath Time a different very pleasant experience! 

Do I recommend it: YES! 

I hope you guys enjoyed this review. I decided to do it in a different more silly style of writing. I really enjoyed it! I hope it wasn't too random! Love you guys all!

Lots of Love,

Camila

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** I was not paid or sent this product to review. I bought it with my own money and my review is honest. 

Nature's Better Body || Age-Eluding :: Eye Cream REVIEW

Would you like 70% off Nature's Better Body's Age-Eluding Eye Cream? It retails for $140.00, so you would be getting it for $42.00 (if my math is correct)! 

Use the code: 

HCHIC2014

Thanks to the good people at Nature's Better body for offering it!!! 

Hey guys. So I was actually sent this cream by Nature's Better Body in March. It's taken me a while to review it because I wanted to use it for a good chunk of time in order to do the product justice and give a credible review. 

Some products like eyeshadow, mascara, lotions, even face masks are quick and easy to review because they give results right away. I find that face creams take longer to give results so that's why I waited three months.

As you will notice, this cream is specific to treat aging. If you've read my little bio (to the right of this page) you will notice I'm 19 going on 20. Whether you think I'm too young or in the perfect age to begin age-prevention treatments I realize my opinions will greatly differ from more mature women. Meanwhile, I gave my mom one of the creams (I was sent two) to try. Just keep that in mind. 

As for my mom, these are her thoughts on the cream. 

She says she did notice a difference, thought slight. She says it felt refreshing applying it at night. Her skin felt softer. Overall she liked the cream. 

If you go to Nature's Better Body site you will notice the description that goes with the cream.

Miraculously reverse the effects of aging and sun damage with our one-of-a-kind antioxidant and botanically-rich formulation.  Whether you are looking to lessen the appearance of wrinkles and deep lines, increase your skin’s elasticity, or make your skin measurably firmer, our unique eye cream provides clinically-proven results. 

I did notice remarkable change in the dark spots in my face (due to acne scars). It does not claim to deal with acne but it does calm to help with sun-damage and I would have to agree. 

Though it's just a eye cream I would have to admit I did use it all over my face. I really loved using it all over my face. It feels so good, not greasy at all rather cooling.

It's not a thick cream. It's very moisturizing nonetheless. It feels more like a serum. I loved using it right under my eyes after long nights! As most of you guys know, I'm in college and that irrevocably equals longggg all nighters. 

It does not have a strong scent, very neutral. So if you are one of those who hates herbal scents, don't fret.  It did not break me out in the least. 

Honestly, it's one of the best eye creams I've ever used. I really enjoy using it and look forward to using it at night.

Would I re-purchase?: No. Like I mentioned above, I really enjoy this cream but if you go to Nature's Better Body's site you will notice it retails for $140.00. Which, is wayyy out of my budget. 

Do I recommend it?: Yes. If you are able to purchase it give it a chance. They use organic ingredients that are much better for your skin than say an O-lay face cream. Meanwhile, their products are cruelty-free. (Check out my correspondence with them). 

 I hope this review is helpful. It's rather short seeing as I had three months to test it. I didn't want to ramble too much (like I'm doing now) and give you a concise review. 

Lots of Love,

Camila

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♥ derma e : Evenly Radiant Makeup Remover | Review

Hey guys! Today I wanted to review the derma e : Evenly Radiant Makeup Remover. I gave you a peak of my opinion of this product in my Skin Care Tool Kit post. 

However, I received a comment from the beautiful Shawna Del Real  (BTW she makes YT videos & they are soo amazing, so check her out) explaining to me a more effective method of using this product.

I took her advice & sure enough she was 100% right! 

♥ My Routine:

I prep my eye with luke warm water, just to get the makeup moving. Then I go ahead with my cotton pad and apply makeup a teaspoon amount of this product. I hold it against my eye for 10-seconds (maybe less). I gently scrub and BAM! it's gone. I repeat this with my other eye. Finally, I apply a pea sized amount to remove my foundation & face makeup. 

I'm so shocked at how this technique has changed how I feel about this product! I use less of it and it removes more of the gunk. 

I've also used it on the delicate lower lash line of my eyes and it does not irritate them at all. 

It does not cause me to break out; however I do not have sensitive skin. 

Meanwhile, they do use some of the best ingredients out there (as you can see from the picture below). For a list of the ingredients click here. 

I'm so glad I gave this product a second chance & will continue to purchase it! It is kinda on the more pricey side of the spectrum, retailing at $12.75 for 4 oz. I was lucky to pick it up (Ulta was having a sale ) for $6.00ish dollars. If you know where to find this product for a more budget-college-student-with-a-minimum-wage job-friendly price PLEASE let us (me) know. Haha. ;) 

If you have recommendations of other derma e products please let me know. 

I am currently using their Vitamin E Severely Dry Skin Creme & am liking :) 

Lots of Love,

Camila 

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*disclaimer: This product was not sent to me. I bought it with my own money. If derma e wants to sent me products to review, I'd be more than happy to accept them. I pride myself in giving an honest opinion. :) 

Too-Faced Chocolate Bar Palette | Swatches and First Impression

Hey guys! So this happened yesterday! I've been eyeing (stalking really) this palette on the TooFaced site, Ulta site, Sephora Site, and on Youtube. I really really wanted it. I went shopping in Ulta with my sister and she basically forced me to buy it, jk. She is an enabler though. 

Disclaimer: I bought this palette with my own $$$. I wanted to make that clear. Even if it was sent to me my options would be 100% mine :D 

I wanted to put this up rather quickly, so you can see if this is something you'd like in your collection.

It's not going to be a review post, seeing as I literally got it 24-hrs ago. It's more of an opportunity for you guys to see swatches and read a few of my first impressions. 

It retails for $49 at Ulta. 

There's a plastic cover when you open the palette that has each name of the shadow. The back of the box also has the names. Reading and watching a few reviews, some people where bothered by the names not being on the palette. I really could care less. It mean it would be nice, but I find it unnecessary.

I know there is a burning question in your minds right now:

Does it actually smell like chocolate?

the Answer: YES! It's a beautiful cocoa, warm chocolate feeling to sniff it.

Another critic I read while researching this palette, was the reasoning behind it smelling like chocolate; lots of people thought it unnecessary or weird. Well, if you read the box it says "Made with 100% Natural Cocoa Powder". It's kind of expected for it to naturally have a chocolatey-aroma. I think it's one of the funnest features of this palette and makes it quite unique.( yes, I know 'funnest' isn't a real word).  It's soooo FUN for me. If you hate chocolate then you'd probably avoid this palette. (But who hates chocolate?) 

This is the first half of the palette. This was taken in natural light, from a window. No flash. I used 'Marzipan' today and it's beautiful <3. I have Wet N Wild palettes and feel the pigmentation is very comparable (do if you're looking for cheaper shadows to try start there). However, there is very much less fall out (that I can tell) and the staying power is much longer. (I used an eyeshadow primer).

This is the second half. Again taken in natural light coming in from a window. No flash. This is the more colorful side of the palette. The 'Candied Violet' shade is gorgeous. It's not as pigmented as I would expect, but I haven't used it on my eye so I can't say how it will look there.

 Top Row: (L to R) 'Gilded Ganache', 'White Chocolate', 'Milk Chocolate', 'Black Forest Truffle', & 'Triple Fudge'

 Middle Row (L to R): 'Salted Caramel', 'Marzipan', 'Semi-Sweet', 'Strawberry Bon-Bon', 'Candied Violet' & 'Amaretto'

The 'Candied Violet' shade is gorgeous. It's not as pigmented as I would expect, but I haven't used it on my eye so I can't say how it will look there. On the other hand, the 'Strawberry Bon-Bon' surprised me on the smoothness of the texture and the pigmentation. 

Bottom Row (L to R): 'Hazelnut', 'Crème Brulee', 'Haute Chocolate', 'Cherry Cordial' & Champagne Truffle' 

I will do a more in-depth review later. So far I'm so in love! I think it's a beauty and you might want to grab it before they're gone!

Lots of Love,

Camila 

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The links below are affiliate links. Meaning if you purchase these items using them, I will get a percentage of that purchase. It does not cost you anything, if anything it gives me a little profit and helps me out.  

Skin Care Tool Kit | Cruelty-Free

Hey guys! I wanted to share these products because I've seen a wonderful change in my skin since I started using them! I wish I had a before and after picture. They are all cruelty-free, as far as I am aware. 

1. derma e: Evenly Radiant Makeup Remover

I'd never used a makeup remover before I started using this one. (I know, I know!) I think it's alright. It does a nice job of dissolving the makeup and removing it; however for eyeliner you have to either use more product or rub more. I heard the Sonia Shuck is a good one, any recommendations?

It retails for $8.93 on Derma E on Amazon. 

 2. Dessert Essence: Thoroughly Clean Face Wash:

I've repurchased this product dozens of times! I switched over to this brand for skin care after I discovered that Burt's Bees is not cruelty-free. (I used to use the Burt's Bees Acne Solutions Purifying gel Cleanser). Desert Essence is an amazing brand. This cleanser has tea tree oil which is a magical oil, magical! If you have dry skin, look for the 'normal skin' wash. I've used both and this one is definitely best for oily skin. It will leave your skin feeling dry so make sure to use a good face moisturizer. 

It retails for $9.29 on the desert essence website. 

3. alba botanica: natural VERY emollient sunscreen 

A week ago I was stung by a bee on my left index finger. Just my luck! I went to the doctor because it was very swollen. I turns out I had an infection, called cellulitis. I was prescribed antibiotics to fight it off. This medication makes your skin more sensitive to sunlight.  I'd purchased this sunscreen a few weeks back. I didn't really wear sunscreen regularly and so I wanted to find something that would protect my skin without making it oily; it does claim that it won't clog your pores. This sunscreen by alba is wonderful. I've noticed that the dark marks on my face have diminished. It doesn't claim to do anything of the sort, but I've certainly seen a transformations just in the softness of my skin. I am converted & wear my sunscreen everyday!

Retails for $10.99 on alba botanica's site. 

 4. Dr. Bronner's Magic "All-One" Fair Trade & Organic Coconut Oil

 Oh coconut oil! How I love thee! I could write 100s of poems about my love-affair with this product. I've used it in the past; however only for my hair. I decided to start applying a little before bed. It will leave your skin looking extremely shinny but it's wonderful!! I'm not a doctor but I am not aware about all the benefits of using coconut oil such as: hydrating for skin, killing off bacteria, etc. (To read more about it click here). I am certain introducing coconut oil to my skin care routine has been greatly responsible for my skin's change. If you've never tried coconut oil for your face & skin please do.!! Make sure you buy as pure & natural as you can! 

It's on sale right now for $9.71 on abesmarket!

Hope you got some good recommendations & will try some of these products! 

 Lots of Love,
Camila

Light Mountain NATURAL | Hair Color and Conditioner REVIEW (LOTS OF PICTURES)

Hey guys. 

A few weeks ago, I was hunting for cruelty-free hair dye companies. I had seen Light Mountain's products in Sprouts and decided to shoot them an email. I shared my correspondence here! I was delighted to learn that they are a cruelty-free company and certified by LeapingBunny! I mentioned I wanted to try their products. 

Well, a representative from Light Mountain show my post and offered to sent me a hair dye to try. So yes, this product was sent to me for free (which trust me is hugely appreciated seeing as I'm a college student on a budget); however this review is 100% my opinion! I am not being paid for this review. I am always transparent on here with you all and hope, seeing as it's almost my 1-year blogger birthday, I have earned your trust! 

About the Product: 

I got the Light Mountain Natural Hair Color and Conditioner, in Light Red. These sets retail for $6.99 on the Light Mountain website. (Which is a GREAT price for a natural/cruelty-free company). 

Their products are super unique. The dye is actually made out of henna, yes henna! It does not have ammonia or peroxide, which is horrible for your hair and the scalp. The henna clings to the hair which causes the color change. (For in-detail info on how this works, click here). However, it does not remove color from the hair, so if you're looking for something that will lighten your hair, this is not the product for you. 

First Impression:

I was skeptical. Looking at the chart (picture is below) I knew that I wouldn't see much change, in terms of color, for my un-bleached hair -which is 95% of my hair. According to the chart the henna would give a 'conditioning effect' to my hair. Conditioning effect?! This basically means that the henna 'enhances and deepens existing color'. On the website they claim: "It can help minimize split ends and acts as "hair insurance" if you spend a lot of time in the sun, surf or wind." When I think of conditioning for hair, it think of hair conditioner, leave in treatments, etc. However, I was really open minded and soo excited to test it out!

Mixing the dye:

As you can see, the henna comes in a powder form. 

I won't go into too much about how to prepare the dye, just to save you time. It's really not complicated at all. Be sure to READ the instructions! I will warn you that it's messy process, so be sure to lay newspaper or something to catch any spills. 

Here's a video of how I mixed the water and henna powder. 

Application:

It was definitely messy. In hindsight, I should have asked for someone to dye it for me. The instructions say to use petroleum jelly to protect your skin from staining. PLEASE do so! I used lotion, which prevented my skin from staining but not from irritation. Yes, there was irritation. However, I've you've ever dyed your hair, it was no way near as uncomfortable as that. Also, test a little bit of the mixture on your skin before you apply it, just to be sure you aren't allergic to it. I applied it to ALL of my hair. Including my blonde ends. 

Before and After: 

I forgot to take a picture of my hair before! Opps!  I will add some random pictures so you can see what my hair looked like before: 

As you can see, my hombre was really blonde. I had dyed my hair black a couple of years back. (I'm not sure why, since my hair is naturally really dark, lol). 

AFTER:

(Be sure to click on the pictures, if you want to look really closely at the color and texture). 

Post-Application Thoughts:
The day after I applied it I was really disappointed. My hair felt stiff and the color was flat. I had read the instructions so I knew that it would take a couple of days for the color to fully 'develop.  Also, when you wash your hair, after the application, they recommend you not use shampoo. Considering those factors, and the fact that my hair had gone two days without washing, I decided to give it time.

I'm glad I did. It's been about two weeks since I dyed it and I think the color is beautiful. It's a coppery-red color. It's a little bit more bright, than I originally wanted, but seeing as my hair was really blonde before I can see why.

As far as the conditioning effect, I really didn't notice a difference.  I will say that I don't have as many split ends as I did before I dyed my hair. However, I have been using argan oil so I can't claim it's because of the henna.


Would I Recommend it:
Yes! It was such a fun experience and, as you can see, it totally works! If you are trying to darken you're hair, I would especially recommend it. However, if you're goal is to lighten it, I would not.
Also, it's soooo much better for the environment! I felt guilt free watching it go down the drain in my shower.

I hope this wasn't too long of a post. Seeing as this product, I would imagine, is foreign for most of you I wanted to take the time to describe what it does. I hope you enjoyed this!

What do you think? Leave me feedback in the comments below. Are you going to give this a try?

Lots of Love,

Camila

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MAC

Hey guys.
I finally received a reply from a MAC representative. I'm not sure if you are aware of  it but MAC is actually owned my Estée Lauder ( read my correspondence and you will see.)  I knew what was coming. Though, I am not surprised, my passion for blogging about companies like these has grown. Read for yourself.

"Wednesday, November 7, 2012 8:49 AM

Dear Ms. Alvarez,

Thank you for your interest in M.A.C, a brand of the Estée Lauder Companies. We apologize for the delay in our response.

Providing consumers with products unsurpassed in quality and safety, while strictly adhering to legal requirements wherever we do business, is part of the deep heritage of the Estée Lauder Companies.

Our longstanding commitment to end animal testing has not changed: we do not test our products or ingredients on animals, nor do we ask others to test on our behalf, except where required by law.

We were one of the first cosmetic companies to demonstrate that cosmetic product safety can be achieved by non-animal testing methods. We are proud of the role we have played in advocating to regulators and industry participants worldwide, that cosmetic product safety can be proven by means other than animal testing. We have consistently supported the research program coordinated by the European trade association, Cosmetics Europe, for the replacement of animal tests since its inception 20 years ago. This broad program includes projects co-funded by the European Commission such as SEURAT (Safety Evaluation Ultimately Replacing Animal Testing). We are also members of the European Partnership for Alternatives to Animal Testing (EPAA), an initiative launched in 2005 by stakeholders from various industries, including the European Commission, to promote the sharing of knowledge across industries and facilitate the validation and acceptance of alternative test methods and strategies.

We are proud of our role in the great progress that has been made in eliminating animal testing around the world. Given, however, that there are still countries that require some animal testing, we have an opportunity to encourage global acceptance of scientifically validated non-animal testing methods. We are increasing our efforts and investments to make this goal a reality. Our activities toward this end include:

• Hosting industry dialogues and consortia to discuss the promotion of non-animal testing, state-of-the-art research and new breakthroughs in in vitro and other advanced testing methods, to regulators throughout the world

• Contributing funds to the Institute for In Vitro Sciences (IIVS), a US-based non-profit research and testing laboratory dedicated to the advancement of in vitro (non-animal) methods worldwide

• Developing and implementing programs in China and other markets where in vitro testing is not accepted in order to educate scientists on the scientifically validated safety record of these methods

• Continuing to support innovation at maximum speed and sharing protocols with regulators and industry participants worldwide

In addition, I appreciate the opportunity to explain that I do not have a comprehensive list of products that contain or do not contain specific ingredients. However, if you would kindly provide me with the specific names of products with which you are interested, I will be happy to have our chemist check for each of them.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

[I omitted the name, just for privacy, I don't want this person who is just trying to survive to get a bunch of haters]
Consumer Response Representative" 

   

    MAC is stating how much they have tried to end animal testing, apparently for 20 years now,by partnering with SEURAT (Safety Evaluation Ultimately Replacing Animal Testing). I have no doubt this is not true, and I applaud their efforts, but it does not change anything. Why can companies like Urban Decay, Wet N' Wild, Tarte, Sonia Kashuk, etc. deliver amazing quality products without having to resort to those inhumane means, especially when they are completely unnecessary? They chose to.

  

  Remember there are 1.3 billion people in China, that is a huge market. Companies like MAC, Revlon, and Maybelline are not stupid, they know what 1.3 billion people means for their pockets. The world would be a nicer place if these CEO types, who make millions of dollars, would considered stuffing their pockets with some humanity.

    

    I know many of you are not sure what to think when you investigate these companies and receive replies, like the one above, that are inconclusive.

   

    There are "signs" of trouble that you can look out for, when you are in contact with a company. First, if they say something a long the lines of: we don't test on animals.....unless required by law. It just means: we test on animals. Also, any company that sales in China, at specific retail outlets (its different with selling online); it just means : we test on animals.

     I'm sorry if it seems like I'm just ranting. But I have to be honest with you guys and myself about how I feel. How would it benefit anyone if i tried to be "politically correct"? 

    

    The only MAC product I own, my sister actually "borrowed" from a friend; then I "borrowed" it from her. All, I can say is that my Cruelty-Free Wet N' Wild eyeshadows give those a run for their money. They are as pigmented, and dare I say more buttery. If you are a MAC-die hard user, know that behind their "oh-la-la" look, stands a dark reality. Behind, the glitter and the red lips, is the scarlett blood of innocent creatures. Ask yourself, is the status I get from my peers by showcasing my "MAC" compact worth it? I know what my answer is.
 

-Camila A. ☼

tarte cosmetics animal testing policy

Hey guys.

I have received an email from a Tarte representative in regards to their animal testing policy. As always I will share it:

"Hello Camila,

  Thank you for contacting tarte cosmetics customer service. tarte cosmetics is not owned by a parent company. We are a cruelty free brand recognized by PETA that does not support animal testing or work with companies that do. Also, our products are not sold in China.  Please email me if you have any other questions.
Thank you!"

HOORAY!!

Finally a company that cuts the bs and gets to the point. I have watched many YouTube Beauty Gurus, that use cruelty-free makeup, talk about tarte cosmetics, so I had a good feeling about their company; however, I felt inclined to do my own research. Tarte is also in PETA's cruelty free list. (click here to access it) They are not on LeapingBunny's. It could be that they haven't gone through the process, or don't feel like they need to be certified by both companies. As of now I would feel safe about purchasing from Tarte. If you know anything, that might make me change my idea of tarte cosmetics feel free to email me at ca.alva@yahoo.com . Comment and let me know what you think.

-Camila :)

"Tell Revlon to Come Clean About Animal Testing in China" PETITION

Hey guys.

        Yesterday, I posted my correspondence with Revlon. If you read the email I received, you will note that Revlon did not directly answer my question. I was doing more research when I came across this page. It's called The PETA files. I do not have permission from them to share the info but I HIGHLY recommend you check it out. (click here).
     
       In the article they discuss Revlon's "shaddy" behavior, for lack of a better word. Revlon sales in China, and in order to sale cosmetic products in China, companies must test on animals. There is a LINK to sign a petiton, basically telling Revlon you will boycott their products if they continue to sale in China. In a few days I will have an opinon post on another aspect this website addresses. However, please take one minute and sign this petition. The more people who stand for animal's rights, the louder of a voice they will be given.
To sign the petition just click on REVLON STOP SELLING IN CHINA.


-CAMILA A. 

Sonia Kashuk

Hey guys.

I received a reply from a representative of Sonia Kashuk. As you know, in the USA Sonia Kashuk products are sold in Target, as far as I'm aware. They have eyeshadow, brushes, blush, eyeliner the works. This is what the email said:

"Hi Camila,
     Thank you for contacting us! No, all of our products are cruelty-free and we are completely against harming any animals in any way for the production of our products.

       This stance on animal cruelty applies to our cosmetic products as well as our brushes. We also ensure our manufacturers and suppliers do not test on animals as we are extremely against it! 

    Our company is very passionate about this as I'm sure you are too and we will diligently keep our policies as such. However, our products are not vegan, since we do use animal by-products in our line. That being said, all animal by products used are still cruelty free. For instance, beeswax is used in our lipstick. This is an animal by-product making the lipstick non-vegan, but obtaining beeswax does not harm the bee. Another example is our natural hair brushes. The bristles are made of animal hair, which is an animal by-product, but the hair is obtained through a simple hair cut, just like cutting human hair, leaving the animal alive and unharmed. 

     You can go to our website, www.soniakashuk.com for full ingredient listings of all products to determine which products have non-vegan ingredients and of course, all synthetic brushes are vegan. 

     As I stated prior, we do NOT test on animals, we are extremely against this and we are very passionate about anti-animal cruelty so we always rigorously maintain these policies. You should also be happy to know we are not sold in China, currently just the US, as I’m sure you are aware of their requirement of animal testing. As for the origin of palm oil/carnuaba wax, I am not sure if we even use this in production of our product but I will look into this matter further. I hope this helps and if you have any further inquires please do not hesitate to ask.

Thanks!

 {names are omitted], Inc.

www.SoniaKashuk.com"

Although, not all of Sonia Kashuk Products are vegan, I would still feel extremely comfortable purchasing from them. They do not sell in China which is a big factor of how I decide which companies I will support. Also, they do NOT test on animals, which is my main concern. Does the fact that they are not completely vegan bother me?

No. I'm a vegetarian, not a vegan. I try to look for vegan products because I don't like the way animals are treated, They are considered merchandise and made to produce, and produce, and produce without rest. Like chickens, cows, pigs that are cultivated and feed at times their own meat, cows are given corn, pigs are given all the scraps,etc. I do believe God created animals to serve as our food, not all animals. As of now I would never go back and eat meat, because what I eat is normal to me. However, I support people who purchase grass-feed beef, and antibiotic free turkey and chicken.

Also, the fact that Sonia Kashuk is one of the first companies that explains in detail how they collect the natural hairs from the animals, shows me that they do not have anything to hide. They also talk about the manner in which they gather the honey. Quite, honestly I would research still more about their exact methods for doing so, but as of now I would definitely purchase from them.


I must confess I am really delighted with this email and feel that if more companies were like this, willing to produce awesome cruelty-free products, this country would be a much better place.




-Camila A.







P.S. What do you think?