Wednesday, March 26, 2014

My Cruelty-Free Journey || Learn From My Mistakes



When I decided to go cruelty-free, almost two years ago, I went into it very independently. Meaning, I blew-off any online source for help (i.e. LeapingBunny, PETA) and blogs (i.e. Veggie Beauty, Logical Harmony...). Sounds crazy right? 

The reason for my madness was lack of knowledge. I'd only heard of VeggieBeauty's blog, LB, and PETA. I never thought of googling Is ____ a cruelty-free company?

Also, I didn't think many people were eager to go CF, and thought almost nobody had my same conviction. Though, I think this need for me to go at it alone, was good because I learned so much and it allowed me to shape my criteria for CF companies, it made life a whole-lot more difficult!

 There was no way I would be able to email every company and receive a reply within a year's time. I soon discovered that I needed help!!!

The moral of my telling you this (sorry for the tangent) is to let you know that it's OK to seek help! Meaning use your resources! However, don't rely on only one resource. Also, make up your mind about which brands you feel comfortable supporting. 

For example, from the beginning I decided I did not want to support CF companies that are owned by non-cruelty free parent companies. Though I do not regret this decision, seeing as I was just diving in to the CF world, it made it much more difficult! Which was discouraging! 

Today, I do not live in a 100% cruelty-free house hold. The biggest reason is that I cannot financially keep up that lifestyle. Also, because I live with my parents who do not have my same view points. I really, just try my best to support CF companies on terms that are reasonable to my lifestyle. 

I encourage you to do the same. Just supporting a few CF companies and educating your friends and family is already taking a giant step in the right direction. 


Lots of Love,
Camila







Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Nature's Better Body || Animal Testing Inquiry



Hey guys! I received an email, a month or so ago from a representative of Nature's Better Body. They wanted to send me samples of one of their products to review.

However, I had never heard of their company before. Therefore, I inquired about their animal testing policy, using the format I use to contact all companies.


I would like to work with Nature's Better Body, but first I would need you to answer questions (provided below). Once, I determine if Nature's Better Body meets the criteria I look for determining a company's cruelty-free status, then we can discuss my reviewing your product. Thanks for thinking of me.

1. Does your company test ingredients or/and finished products on animals? 
2. Do you test ingredients or products on animals through a 3rd party? If your answer is no, how do you ensure that your manufacturers do not test?  
3. Do your manufacturers test ingredients or products on animals? 
4. Are you owned or affiliated with any companies that test products or ingredients on animals? 
5. Do you have a parent company? If so who are they?  
6. Do you/your parent company currently or have plans to market and sell your products in the Chinese market, which requires animal testing by law to sell in that country? 
7. Do you use palm oil/carnuaba wax in any of your products? If so, is it from an organic and sustainable source?  
8. Could you provide a list of all of your current vegan items available for purchase?
I received a reply, a couple of days later.

1. Does your company test ingredients or/and finished products on animals? We never test on animals 
2. Do you test ingredients or products on animals through a 3rd party? If your answer is no, how do you ensure that your manufacturers do not test? No, all of our products are designed and made in Los Angeles in our own facility.  We test our products with our family and friends exclusively. 
3. Do your manufacturers test ingredients or products on animals? No 
4. Are you owned or affiliated with any companies that test products or ingredients on animals? No 
5. Do you have a parent company? If so who are they? No 
6. Do you/your parent company currently or have plans to market and sell your products in the Chinese market, which requires animal testing by law to sell in that country? No 
7. Do you use palm oil/carnuaba wax in any of your products? If so, is it from an organic and sustainable source? We do not use either of these ingredients in our products. 
8. Could you provide a list of all of your current vegan items available for purchase? Our eye cream is currently our only product, we will be releasing more soon. 
As you can tell, they meet the criteria I look for when determining a company's CF status.

I rarely get emails from companies seeking to send me products to review. Which doesn't bother me (sure it'd be nice) because I started this blog to share information and meet people who had similar interests, not to get 'stuff' out of it. I'm excited to be working with Nature's Better Body!

Leave me any feedback you'd like!

Lots of Love,
Camila




Sunday, March 23, 2014

Snatch-It-Up Sunday : Wet N' Wild's || Walking on Eggshells




Hey guys! I'm sure you've you been part of the beauty-community on YouTube you've heard the buzz about this trio. I'm of course talking about Wet N' Wild's Walking on Eggshells. It retails for $2.99.

I've had this one, as you can tell, for a while. I've always loved the shades, not only do they work great together but they are also super pigmented and smooth.

I love using the pinkie-shade all over the lid. I then use a bit of the bronzy-brown on my crease. Finally, I will use the lighter-pearly color in the inner lid. It's great for making you look wide awake! It's such a basic eyeshadow look, a classic. It won't go out of style and it complements whatever you might be wearing. This is the trio I would recommend to anyone who is just starting to wear makeup.

I've been loving it in particular this week, because I found myself waking up super late! I mean I barely had time brush my teeth let alone do my makeup! (Sorry if that's TMI). This made me look (at least on the outside) wide-awake and put together.

If you've passed this one up at the drug-store be sure to pick it up next time! I'm sure you won't regret it.

Lots of Love,
Camila






Monday, March 17, 2014

Humane Cosmetics Act || USA to ban animal testing? MUST READ



Hey guys.

I got an email on March 6, from a PETA representative. I haven't been able to share it because I've been really busy with school. I'm sure you guys, by now, must of read or heard of the law that had been proposed to make animal testing required in the USA.

Well, this is what I received in the email:


March 6, 2014 Re: Congress Member Jim Moran's Humane Cosmetics Act PETA applauds Rep. Jim Moran (D-VA) for introducing the Humane Cosmetics Act, which would ban tests on animals for cosmetics and phase out the sales of animal-tested products. Poisoning an animal for a human product makes about as much sense as using a map of Paris to find your way around New York. Animal tests are scientifically baseless and ethically wrong, and consumers have made it clear that they should be illegal, too. Since September, more than 72,000 people have contacted their congressional representatives through PETA's online action alert and urged them to ban these cruel tests. We urge Congress to pay attention and pass this bill. For information on the more than 1,300 companies that have banned tests on animals, please see PETA's online Beauty Without Bunnies cruelty-free database.
 From what I have researched, this act hasn't passed, yet! Imagine if animal testing became illegal? WOW!!!!! This would make not only all those beautiful creatures free, help our planet, but make it so much more easy to shop. (Which, of course is the least of the advantages of this law. But still just picture it!)

I urge you to contact your the Congressman that represents you! The HumaneSociety, allows you to use a template to contact your representative to urge them to support this act. You can call, send emails, or even tweet them.

 If you are like me, and didn't know who represents you can find them -using your zip code- on House.gov (the site for the US House of Representatives).

I know that with all our voices this act won't be a dream for long but rather became a reality.

Lots of Love,

Camila


Sunday, March 16, 2014

Snatch-It-Up Saturday || Tree Hut's Shea Sugar Body Scrub in 'Coconut Lime' YUMM!

I wanted to start a new weekly thing on my blog. I wasn't sure what, but I knew I wanted something fast and straight-forward.

I thought Id be an awesome idea (if I do say so myself) to let you know of something I've been really loving that you NEED to get a hold of. It doesn't have to be beauty-related at all. It could be anything. (I'm sure most of it will be beauty-related, though).





The Tree-Hut Shea Sugar Body Scrub. Can we please have a minute of silence, for the amazing-ness of this product!

Scent: 
The scent was the first thing to "sucker" me into buying this guy. It is not overly coconut-y, the lime really balances the scent. It's yummy! It made me crave summer so bad! (Mind you I got this in the beginning of January -which was still chilly even in California. ) It lingers on your skin! It's not a scent that is overwhelming, it's more like your get whiffs of it throughout the day.

If you really can't get past anything remotely close to the smell of Coconut, they do have other "flavors". (It does smell delicious, but it's not edible so try not to snack on it). They have Brazilian Nut, Mango, etc (those are the ones I can remember off-the-top of my head.)

Application:
It is rather thick which makes it easy to apply, as it does not run between your fingers. The sugar is just rough enough to exfoliate the skin of your body. However, do not use it on your face! It would be too rough for that skin.

I used this especially for my legs, and they have NEVER felt smoother! It's been a month since I've run-out and I can definitely tell the difference. If you are someone, like moi, that gets in-grown hairs on your legs easily after shaving, please give this a go! I also used it on my arms (I used it everywhere) and ughhh it's just soooo good! I really think it's worth your time.

Price:
It retails at Ulta (I'm sure at other places) for $7.49. Which I think is a great bargain, it's a wonderful product and you get a 18 oz tub of it.

I hope you enjoyed this post. I'm excited to do another one next Sunday! Hopefully I'll get it up a little bit earlier!


Lots of Love, 
Camila








Tuesday, March 11, 2014

NYX Above and Beyond Full Coverage Concealer | Review


Hey guys. So I picked this guy up sometime in January. Needless to say, I've had a good amount of time to play with it and decided I wanted to share my thoughts. It's the NYX Full Coverage Concealer in Beige. It retails for $4.99 at Ulta. (Which is where I bought mine.)

NYX has an awesome color selection. So I'm sure you'd be able to find a shade that will work with your complexion.

Packaging: 
I like the packaging, it's compact and slick. It's quite small and easy to fit into small corners. It's be great for traveling! No complaints there.

Texture:
Very creamy, easy to blend. Does not feel greasy on the skin. Once, it's blended it becomes significantly drier.

Coverage:
I think you can definitely get a good medium coverage with the concealer. It covers redness well, and the color is almost my same skin-tone. However, I noticed that when I tried to use it as a full-coverage concealer it became quite cake-y looking. If you notice in the packaging it claims to be 'crease -free'? Humm, not sure about that one....

Also, it magnified the pores around my cheeks and nose, which is not cute. Note: I did not use a primer with it. So I don't know how it would wear with a primer. I don't use face-primer.
I noticed it creasing, quite significantly, around my eyes. Even, after I set it with powder.

Did it break you out?: 
Yes! Unfortunately. I would usually just try to work with a product that I didn't love, but in this case I hardly see myself using this one. Maybe, on my legs (I do bruise like crazy). I don't feel too bad, it was $4.99. So yes, beware. Especially if you're one who has sensitive skin, when it comes acne.

Overall:
I will not be purchasing this one again. I will however, try more of NYX face stuff.

*I bought this product with my own money. I am not being paid to review it. However, if NYX wanted to send me a few of their stuff to review, I wouldn't mind. ;) 

I hope this was helpful. Do you own this product? Do you disagree with me, yes or no? I would love to read any feedback you have! What is your fav. CF concealer?

Lots of Love, 
Camila 






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