March IPSY: Hello Spring

It's already April and I haven't even reviewed my March Ipsy Glam Bag yet.  I'm so backlogged with reviews.  I have about six, maybe seven more posts I want to write before the end of April, but I digress.

After seeing the "sneak peak" of my bag for March, I think I was probably the most excited I've been since starting this "service". However, when the bag came in the mail, my excitement completely disappeared.

The bag itself was very adorable. The products on the inside a lot less so. 

Peach and Turquoise, very Springtime!  

Let's start with the two products I will never use: The Nail Buffer from Margaret Dabbs and the Pixi by Petra Beauty Blush Duo in Rose Gold.

The nail buffer I will never use, EVER. I have a horrible, disgusting habit of biting my nails. I know it's a bad habit, but most times I can't help myself. When I signed up for Ipsy, I took a test of products I wasn't interested in sampling. Nail products were the only things I was unwilling to try.  Don't get me wrong, I tried the buffer and I worked great. My nail was super shiny. I just know this isn't something I'll use, ever. The company I've never heard of. The nail salon is located in the UK. The price of the buffer is 7 pounds or $9.96, almost the price of the bag, which makes my heart hurt. The salon looks very classy

 I can't find if the products are free of animal testing. I do know that everything is made in the UK and they ship all over. If they ship to China, they may test on animals. Margaret Dabbs

The next product that I will NEVER use, and not because I don't want to, is the Pixi by Petra.  This was one of the products that I was very excited to try, but it came to me completely shattered. I think this was a full sized sample too.

I emailed the customer service and they were quick to respond and send a new blush duo, but that one came to me completely shattered too, from dust to dust, literally.  It was nice of them to send me a new blush, kudos to Ipsy, but it was trashed.  The color was Rose Gold and looked really pretty. It was a sheer pink blush and white gold highlight. The texture (broken powder) seemed velvety enough?

The new one sent to me was worse

If I could have used it, I would have, I'm obsessed with highlighting right now (blushing too). I may have even liked it more than the Gwen Stefani Urban Decay blush set.  The blush duos retail for $18.00. Ugh, I'm so sad about this, because I'm obsessed with highlighting right now! They don't test on animals and they use natural ingredients.  Pixi Beauty


In March, I also got the NYX Liquid Suede Cream Lipstick in the color Kitten Heels. I love the name, it's very sexy. The NYX site says it's a bright red.  I was hoping to get Pink Lust (Hot Pink), so I was a little disappointed in the red. Apparently, they sent out a few different colors. It's a pretty color and I'll use it.  It's more on the warm red side for my skin tone. I love NYX products. I know the NYX line is cruelty free and I love their matte lipsticks. This is a liquid matte lipstick and therefore is a bit drying. This was a FULL SIZED SAMPLE, which was very cool.  Make sure to use a lip liner with this color. 

I do have an issue with the flat doe foot applicator. I don't like it. I feel like product gets all over the place. The NYX site claims that this is a long lasting, velvety soft, waterproof, liquid lipstick. I just took a drink of my water and there was product on my water bottle. Kiss test: quite a bit came off there too! It does transfer quite a bit actually. You can buy these on the NYX site for $7. They vary in price at the drugstores. NYX Cosmetics

UPDATE: The lipstick had a lot of transfer, even a few hours after I put it on. It will stain your lips, but it's not entirely "long lasting" 

In my bag, I got a Aphrodite Skin Care eye cream.  These products are made in Greece. They claim to use all natural ingredients. I used the eye cream quite often and it wasn't spectacular, it didn't wow me by any means. It was a nice sized sample and I'll continue to use it.  I have other eye creams I like better though. I will say, this was the perfect size to take with me to Florida.

I don't know it these products are cruelty free. They have an online catalog, but I don't see pricing or how to purchase/order.  Aphrodite Skin Care. 

The last thing I got in my bag was an eyeshadow by Vera Mona, in Clover. On the website, Clover comes in an eight shadow palette for $32.99. I don't see the shadows sold individually. To be honest, I haven't used this color yet. I will try it, though. It seems to be more of a peachy color and peach really isn't my style. Some of the other colors in the palette I liked better, for example, Hibiscus and Hydrangea. But that's just looking online at the colors. I got a pretty large sample of product and I'm always happy about that!

I can't find whether or not these products are cruelty free. I looked throughout the site and I couldn't find much information about the company except it's from Temecula with a 626 number. Isn't 626 Hacienda Heights? Vera Mona

 Overall, I wasn't too impressed with my bag. There were some hits, some serious misses and some that sort of fell in between. 

Always remember "Spring is natures way of saying, "Let's party!" Robin Williams

Cruelty Free Makeup and More

This post is dedicated to my daddy, who we lost on 2/7/2014.  He loved all creatures (even bugs!) and was the best man who ever walked the earth!  

I love animals. I love makeup. I don't like, when animals are being tested on, and I don't like companies that test on animals. This year I am making the goal of going cruelty free. I've already been looking into products and brands that do not test on animals, household and beauty. My research has led me to quite a few revelations, some good, some bad.

First off, the bad........ I've already nixed M.A.C.. I hate their customer service and guess what?  They test on animals! They used to be cruelty free and their slogan used to be "tested on models, not on animals". They no longer are cruelty free.  M.A.C. sells their products in China, and in China, the government makes it mandatory to test all products on the poor helpless bunnies in their testing facilities. These poor babies are waiting in cages, in fear, and what happens you ask?.  Makeup companies spray/put horrible things in their eyes and God only knows what else is being done.  I can not stand behind brands that torment defenseless little animals.

My love, Mia

I still have a few M.A.C. products that I have to finish this year, some lipsticks and other things. I spent money on these products and am not going to let them go to waste.  I'm disappointed because I do like their eyeshadow primer in Painterly (and I'm almost out) and I like their M.A.C. Fix Plus. But, until they stop selling in China, I will not contribute $$$$ to their animal testing.

Another bad... drugstore bad. Maybelline and Revlon. I have some products that I bought and I still need to finish, but once I'm done, that's it. My money will not go to these companies anymore. It's a shame because I love the Maybelline Color Sensation lipstick, mascara and eyeliner.  Time to use new lines of products. NYX matte lipstick is an amazing alternative to the Maybelline Color Sensation lipstick.

My love, Samwise Gamgee

Ok, now sorta bad/sorta good?.... Urban Decay, NYX, BareMinerals and NARS. Four brands that I love a lot! While these four lines don't test on animals and from my understanding, are not sold in China, their parent companies L'Oreal and Shiseido do. Again I have a couple of L'Oreal products that I have to finish this year. One beauty blogger says to buy from the lines that do not test on animals, that way the parent companies can see that they do not have to sell their products in China and can still make money.  I will continue to buy, Urban Decay, BareMinerals and NARS, but I'm a bit conflicted with this decision.  Am I being a hypocrite? I want to show my support for the lines which are cruelty free and that our voices are heard.

As I was in Ulta today, the sales lady, Erin, and I were talking about this very subject.  She said that L'Oreal is moving in the direction of being completely, 100% cruelty free.  I'm sending out positive thoughts that they do travel down this route.

Who would test on this sweet face?

The good.....There are some amazing, reasonably priced, drugstore brands that are cruelty free. For example E.L.F., Makeup Academy, Wet n' Wild and Physicians Formula are all cruelty free. Wet n' Wild is made in China, but not sold there. All I see are red flags with this one! Physicians Formula is organic too.

The good....High end.  My favorite high end brand that does not test on animals AT ALL is Too Faced. I think their products are made with cocoa powder and they smell delicious.  I don't own any of their eyeshadow palettes because I'm working on my Gwen Stefani, Urban Decay Eyeshadow Palette.  Their melted lipsticks are PHENOMENAL!!

There is a brand of make up that is a local company, right here is Los Angeles, actually I think they are headquartered in Oxnard, California. It's called ColourPop.  Not only is the brand reasonably priced and is local, they are also cruelty free! The lipsticks and eyeshadows are, I think like, $5 a piece.  As far as I know this brand can only be bought online, which is not my favorite way of purchasing makeup. I am definitely going to check this company out! I love supporting local businesses. Please don't ever sell out.

Speaking of selling out..... The Body Shop. What a disappointment you are. You too were bought out by L'Oreal.  I worked for The Body Shop when Anita was still alive.  She must be turning over in her grave right now, thinking only bad thoughts. I have no words.  To even be associated with a company that tests on animals...L'Oreal (they seem to own a lot!).

This isn't just about makeup.  I am now ONLY going to buy cruelty free household cleaning products and body/hair products as well. You can find a bunch at Target. I heard their own brand (is it Up-Up?) is also cruelty free.

Did you say 'Cookie?"

I will not check on the PETA website.  If you don't know already, I am NOT a fan of PETA.  They kill "euthanize" many of their shelter animals. My dog Mia wrote a disapproving  letter to PETA a few years ago, explaining that she loves her life as a domesticated doggy.  If you'd like to read her letter, here's the link to that post:
http://jonellemariefariaedrosolano.blogspot.com/2010/08/applying-for-job-at-peta.html

No one can tell me that rubbing a lipstick on a rats face can determine if a lipstick is safe for human use.  We're not rats. What works for one person may not work for another.  I'm severely allergic to Penicillin. They tested that on animals for years.  It makes me sick to my stomach thinking about the agony that these poor animals must go through, and it's NOT for our benefit......

For a complete list of cruelty brands, beauty and household, check out these links below. There are SO many brands to choose from, so make good choices!!

Sources and links:

Cruelty-Free Kitty
http://www.crueltyfreekitty.com/start-here/

Logical Harmony---but they list Lime Crime as being cruelty free and I've heard it isn't. So be careful and research
http://www.logicalharmony.net/#axzz3zPB8I1bF

BlogHer
http://www.blogher.com/how-shop-cruelty-free-target

Leaping Bunny
https://www.crueltyfreeinternational.org/LeapingBunny

I have a great quote, but I can't read who said it, and I want to clarify, it wasn't me, "Compassion for animals is intimately connected with the goodness of character; and it may be confidently asserted that he who is cruel to animals cannot be a good man" 

Sam and Mia say, "Don't test on animals!

Shop cruelty free!"