Sigma Beauty | Animal Testing Correspondence

Hey guys! I got a reply from Sigma. I wanted to share it right away because the correspondence I had with them was smooth! I didn't have to email them more than once, which is nice. 

I emailed them using the format I always use.

This was their reply:

Hello Camila,

Thank you for your email. I am happy to help you with these questions. I have provided the questions and answers below.

1. Does your company test ingredients or/and finished products on animals? NO
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
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, Sigma does not have a parent company.
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?

 Yes, extracted from the leaves of Carnauba palm. Yes the Carnauba wax is sustainable and organic.
8. Could you provide a list of all of your current vegan items available for purchase? All of our Synthetic brushes are Vegan and can be found here http://www.sigmabeauty.com/category_s/50.htm

Please let me know if you have any other questions I can help you with.

Best Regards,

I'm excited share this with you all. You can imagine I was quite happy when I received this reply. 

As for what I look for when determining cruelty-free status, Sigma Beauty meets my criteria. I look for three major factors when determining the animal testing status of a company: parent company , suppliers of raw ingredients, and if products are sold in China. To read more about why I look for these criteria, click here. 

Share your feedback! 

Lots of Love,

Camila 

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

Finals Week Fall 2013 & I got stung by a bee...

instgram name : imalwaysmused 

Hey guys.
I just thought I throw this short little post up to catch up. This week has been so hectic. I've had two finals so far and have one more "final" this Thursday. I say "final" (or type?) because all I have to do is show up and turn in a 8ish page paper! I posted on Monday or was it Tuesday (it's been a longgg week) that I haven't replied to emails or fb messages because I've been really busy. You know it's bad when you consider the amount of time showering will eat up. (Don't worry I still showered this week). Thanks for wishing me good luck! & if any of you had finals this week, keep on pushing guys!

A little about my week. It's been crazy and as luck would have it, on Wednesday my sleep deprived self was stung by a honey bee! Yes! You would think I was climbing a tree or rolling in the grass but no, where did I get stung?!? In an elevator.

I think the bee hitch-hiked in my hair. I was running my hands through it and felt that horrible burning sensation. If you've ever been stung by a bee you know what I mean. This is the second time (in my life) that I've been stung so I knew that the redness & swelling (don't forget the pain) would probably be the worst of it. There's a clinic on campus and seeing as the visits are very low cost/free I decided to go. I definitely felt silly going in, but I'm SO thankful I did. They patched me up & told me to take an over the counter painkiller for the pain & gave me an ice pack. They told me to come in if it stayed swollen.

Today, I went back in. My left index finger is the size of a sausage & it hurts a lot. Apparently I have cellulitis. Sounds scary, it's not walk in the park, but it's a treatable skin infection. I have antibiotics to fix me up. Which I'm not too trilled about. I detest taking medication. I refuse to take anything! I only time I take painmeds is for the 'time of the month'; I get horrible cramping pains.

Anyways ways. That has been my week so far. Really random & bee filled. Hope you are doing well. Also, stay away from them bees. ;)

I'm exciting to post after the madness, MADNESS of finals week is over.

Lots of Love,
Camila

Laura Geller | Animal Testing Info.

Hey guys! I contacted Laura Geller!
I know a couple of you really wanted to know what they had to say. I promised to have this up by tomorrow, or Friday! I'm not crazy busy & have a few hours to kill and decided to post it early!! :D

That reminds me!! "Like" me on facebook, thats where I let you know which companies have gotten back to me!

Anyways!! I emailed them using my newly tweaked format! It still has all the questions, I just made it more personal.

This was their reply:

Hello:
Thank you for your email.  Laura Geller Beauty, LLC and our Manufacturers do not test our products on animals.  The outside sources, however used by our Manufacturers may test raw ingredients on animals. We do not have a distributor in China.  We do not have a list readily available of all vegan products.  If you provide a specific list of products you are interested in (including shade) we can provide a more immediate answer.
If we can be of any further assistance please feel free to contact us.  Thanks again for your email and for your interest in Laura Geller Beauty.
Kind Regards,
Customer SupportLaura Geller Beauty, LLCinfo@lauragellerbeauty.com

They did not answer all of my questions. Usually, I would email them again asking for all my questions to be address, but in this case I feel it is unnecessary. They admit to being ignorant of whether their raw ingredients manufactures test on animals. This is always a BIG no-no for me!(check out my cruelty-free criteria).

I like to support companies that are ethical about everything (ingredients, production, animal testing, packaging) and are knowledgeable about their product. I can see Laura Geller is not one of those companies (this is my opinion).

Hope this answers your questions! If not, don't be shy & leave a comment. I will try to help answer your question to the best of my knowledge.

Lots of Love,
Camila

Sugarpill | Animal Testing Policy

Hey guys!
I just got a reply from a Sugarpill representative! 

I contacted them using the format I always use. *I have changed it up a bit, but the questions are the same.

This is what I received:
*I added the questions, so you don't have to open 1000x tabs.

"Hi Camila,

I apologize in advance for the short reply. I am on the road.
Below is the answers to your questions. 

*1. Does your company test ingredients or/and finished products on animals?1) No

*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?  
2) No, We visit our manufacturers regularly and have a written statement from them confirming they do not test.

*3. Do your manufacturers test ingredients or products on animals?
3) No


 *4. Are you owned or affiliated with any companies that test products or ingredients on animals?
4) No

*5. Do you have a parent company? If so who are they?  
5) 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? 
6) No

*7. Do you use palm oil/carnuaba wax in any of your products? If so, is it from an organic and sustainable source? 
7) We use Carnauba Wax, Our supplier does not state their source.

*8. Could you provide a list of all of your current vegan items available for purchase?  
8) We have a "Vegan" category tab on our site that shows all of our Vegan items, which is most of them.

Thanks,"

So there you go guys! I will be adding them to my Cruelty-Free list. Sugarpill is also on PETA's does not test list. 

Lots of Love,
Camila

Julep | Animal Testing Policy

Hey guys!
I contacted Julep a week or so ago. I'm happy with the speed of their reply. As promised I will be sharing that correspondence.

I emailed them using the format I always use. Since that time, I have changed it up a bit. I made it more personal.

This was what I received the first time I emailed them:

Hi Camila,
Thank you for your inquiry about Julep products. We absolutely DO NOT test on animals! Never have, never will! We only “test” on humans. One of the great things about Julep is we have 4 Nail Parlors and amazing customers that let us test and try products on them all the time!
Some of our products do contain animal-derived ingredients (milk, beeswax, etc). Here are some products that are completely VEGAN: Facial for Hands Glycolic Hand Scrub, Julep Essential Cuticle Oil, and any non-red nail polish.
Another great thing about our products is that they are “4 Free”. We use NO paraben, NO sulphate phthalate, NO DBP, and they are tolene and formaldehyde FREE. We like to say, we took out all of the nasty carcinogens that are found in so many other products.
If you are interested in the Ingredients of each item we invite you to check out our site. We are proud to say we list ingredients for each and every item in the item details section.
I hope this convinces you even more how Julep can be a brand you can be proud to wear. We are always interested in how new Julep customers hear about us, since we use many different outlets. If you have time just drop us a line. Also, please let us know if you have any more questions. Until next time, have a wonderful weekend!

As you can see the representative is a sweetheart! However, all the questions I originally asked weren't addressed so I emailed them back seeking details.

This is the second email I received:
*I added questions so you don't have to open 1000x tabs.

Hi Camilia,
Thank you for following up with us. I sincerely apologize for the delay. Of course, we we are happy to answer any questions you may have
[1. Does your company test ingredients or/and finished products on animals?]
  1. No we do not test on animals at all. We preview or test new items in our Salons.
[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? ]
  2. We do not have a third party that tests on animals
[3. Do your manufacturers test ingredients or products on animals?]
  3.No we have products that are not tested on animals by us or 3rd parties. We check up on the sites regularly.
[4. Are you owned or affiliated with any companies that test products or ingredients on animals?]
  4. We are a privately owned. Julep does not test on animals.
[5. Do you have a parent company? If so who are they? ]
  5. We do not have a parent company we are privately owned
[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? ]
  6. We are currently in US and Canada and are unable to ship and market outside of the US. We have no plans to expand in the near future.
[7. Do you use palm oil/carnuaba wax in any of your products? If so, is it from an organic and sustainable source? ]
  7.We invite you to view all of our ingredients for each item on our site.
[8. Could you provide a list of all of your current vegan items available for purchase?] 
  8 Our Vegan friendly items include Facial for Hands Glycolic Hand Scrub, Julep Essential Cuticle Oil, and any non-red nail polish. 

If you have any other questions we are always happy to help.
Until then, have a wonderful weekend!

 They meet my three criteria & I would feel safe purchasing from them!!! I also quite enjoyed contacting them. Sometimes, companies seem hostile in their emails.

Lots of Love,
Camila

If you have questions please feel free to ask me.

Sugarpill

I have received an email from a representative from Sugarpill. He wanted me to correct my information about their cruelty-free status. I do not have an official post about Sugarpill. He was referring to my post on MakeUp Geek.
Please click this link to see their PETA certification. I was surprised to learn that most of their products are vegan. They also have won a Libby award.

I have emailed said representative back, asking the questions I always ask.

Lots of Love,
Camila

Save your Beagle & Mousy friends from breeding for animal testing!!

I received an email with a link to this petition from BUAV or British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection. If you've never heard of them they are an animals rights organization in Britain, which -among other things-want to end all animal testing. 

This petition is to reject a proposal to from Bantin and Kingman Universal Limited (B&K) to construct a beagle and rodent breeding farm. No doubt these animal would be used for animal testing purposes. 
To read more about the situation please click on the link & also SIGN the petition.

I know I'm always hesitant to sign petitions because I wonder if my signature will make any difference. Change happens gradually & your signature is very important though it might not always seems like it. Also share this with your fb friends, your real friends, your mom and your mom's friends! Spreading the news is the first step to making a change. 

Lots of Love,
Camila

7-Day Shadow Challenge | How It was a Fail & Another look

Yes! I know, I know! My outfit is not the most fashionable, but yeah it's late & I get cold really REALLY easily!

Not sure what the 7-Day Challenge is? Click here to find out!

Hey guys!

So, I'm not sure if anyone has noticed, but my whole "7-Day Shadow Challenge" was a fail. "Camila, what do you mean?", you might be wondering? My original plan was to create a different look each day of the week. Starting with last Saturday. Well, it's been a week & Including today's post I've only uploaded four times! I will humbly admit I took on way more than I could manage. Well, what can you do? 

Meanwhile, I very much like the heart behind this idea. It made me not only us my makeup more, but it also gave me a push to be creative and daring with my looks. I'm feel very much inspired to try different things!

Though, I am ending this challenge, I will continue to post quick pictures of my most interesting eye looks! Most of you seemed to like it & it's fun.

What I used:

♥#3 all over the lid

♥#4 on the outer corner in a cat-eye shape.

♥#4 also, on the lower-outer lid.

♥#3 also, on the inner, lower lid. It's the bronzy shade you see there.

♥#2, a tiny bit on the crease

♥#1 on the inner corner!

7-Day Shadow Challenge Smokey! 'Cranberry Smoke' | Day 4

Hey guys!
I'm so proud of this look! It's a bit smokey, yet appropriate for the day & depending on where you work, for work!
It's also, in my humble opinion, so so pretty!

What I used:

♥ # 2 all over the lid

♥#3 on the inner corner, just a tiny bit for definition

♥  #4 for the outer part of eye, I packed it over my black pencil liner and using soft motions, I smoked it out. 

I tried to do a slight cat-eye shape.

& A tiny but on my outer-lower lash line.

♥ A little about # 4. It's a beautiful cranberry color! I don't know why, maybe it's because the Christmas season is creeping up on me, I'm just noticing how pretty this shade is!

I have two exams this week. One tomorrow & one on friday! Ah! Wish me luck!

Hope your week is less stressful than mine!

Lots of Love,

Camila