Favorite 5: August 2015

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Another month come and gone! I’m not amused that the last “summer month” is over… Here are the my favorite five cruelty-free products I’ve been liking lately, in no particular order:

1. Urban Decay Revolution High-Color Lipgloss in Bittersweet

I received a sample of this in my May ipsy bag (read my review here) and loved it so much I got the full-size. This gloss is a beautiful purple that isn’t too out there. It isn’t sticky at all either, sits nicely on the lips and is really pigmented. The dough foot applicator is pointed making precise application easier. There is a slight makeup smell to it (no vanilla or cookies here), but it doesn’t linger. I definitely would like another one of these, perhaps in a neutral color.

2. Whish Shave Cream in Blueberry

I received this sample in my April Birchbox (read my review here). If found this shaving cream to be moisturizing. It doesn’t foam or lather up, it is like a lotion. It is free of parabens, sulfates, phthalates, DEA, petrochemicals, etc. It contains shea butter and coconut oil, along with other moisturizing ingredients. The full-size of this item (5 oz.) is $20—very expensive for a shaving cream. I may add it to my Christmas list. I really liked it, but can’t justify spending that much on shaving cream.

3. e.l.f. Flawless Concealer Brush

e.l.f. makes some great brushes and most range in price from $1-$6. This is a fluffy concealer brush that works really well to blend concealer around the eyes, especially the space between your eyes and nose. It cleans off really easily (I use baby shampoo) which is a big plus in a brush that you use to apply cream products. I would recommend this brush (and most other e.l.f. brushes)—you can find e.l.f. at Target and  some CVS are starting to carry e.l.f. I’ve even found e.l.f. at The Christmas Tree Shop.

4. the Balm Nude Dude Volume 2 Mini Nude Eyeshadow in Flirty

I received this eyeshadow sample in my April 2015 ipsy bag (read my review here). What would I do without subscription boxes! This is a mid-tone purple with a hint of taupe and gold duo chrome. It is absolutely gorgeous. I’ve been using this on the outer V of my eyes because it goes really well with the Maybelline Color Tattoo in Hydrangea Hype that I’m trying to use up as part of my Finish 5 By Fall Challenge (read about my challenge here). The two purples play well off each other and my green eyes. I’m yet to be disappointed by a the Balm product.

5. Skin Perfecting Blush in SPB1 Rose Gold (Limited Edition)

I received this in my July Starlooks subscription box (read my review here). I’ve been using this as an eyeshadow crease color instead of a blush. It goes really nice when I have Hydrangea Hype on my lid and Flirty on my outer crease. This rose gold color goes really well with the purples.  I originally thought this was peachy-bronze, but it is definitely more of a rose gold.

Swatches (left to right): Urban Decay's Bittersweet, the Balm's Flirty and Starlooks's Rose Gold

What products have you been loving lately? Let me know!


Disclaimer: All products are purchased by me or my lovely husband unless otherwise noted in the post. All opinions are 100% honest and my own. I do not provide positive reviews for payment. Products that work for me may not necessarily work for you. This post is not sponsored.

Referral Links:

ipsy: https://www.ipsy.com/r/ts6i8

Starlooks: https://subscriptions.starlooks.com/?refer=REF5869 / Subscriptions.Starlooks.com

POPSUGAR:  http://popsu.gr/uXzQ  Save $5 off your first box with the code REFER5

Ebates: http://www.ebates.com/rf.do?referrerid=hbpGf26lDsl%2F2zOsOOaIRw%3D%3D&eeid=26471

Ibotta: https://ibotta.com/r/bthara

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First Impressions: August 2015 LooksBook by Starlooks Subscription Box

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This is a monthly beauty subscription box that costs $12. You receive three “Perfect Size” Starlooks products and three gift cards. “Perfect Size” makeup is about ¾ the size of the full-size product, and is meant to be more transportable and easier to use up than a full-size product. You can also choose what goodies you receive ahead of time online, something that most subscription boxes do not offer. Starlooks is a company that carries cruelty-free, professional-level makeup. Full disclosure: Starlooks was kind enough to send me this box free of charge to review, so a big thank you to them! With that said, I will still give my honest opinion of the products I received.

The products arrive in a Starlooks box. The box and top will be good for storing makeup, like Birchbox boxes. The makeup products were contained within a mesh satchel and the gift cards came in an envelope. This month’s theme is “Resort Edition.”

I’ve used each of the makeup products once (I just got the box in the mail) and wanted to give you my first impressions on them.

1. Starlooks Gimme More Volumizing Mascara (1.13 oz., perfect size)

I’m not seeing this mascara on the website, which is a little weird. When I made my picks it was listed as a new product, so it might not have hit the website yet. It has a natural bristle brush that is cone-shaped. The formula of this is on the wetter side and I think it will be better once it dries out a bit. It curled and lengthened my lashes, but didn’t thicken them. It held the curl all day long and didn’t flake. As far as mascaras go, it was relatively easy to wash off.

Value: $7 (based on other perfect size mascara)

2. Starlooks Long Wear Eyeshadow in ES2 Gold Coast (1.6g, perfect size)

This is a beautiful bronze color with gold shimmer that I think will go great with most eye colors and skin tones. If you like the look of foiled (i.e., shiny) eyeshadows but they scare you a little, this would be a good type of shadow for you to try. This is also a new product that I don’t see on the website yet. It wore well throughout the day, even without an eye primer. This color is multidimensional and would be good for a one eyeshadow look (which is how I wore it today). I packed it onto my lid and blended it out to my crease; I also lined my lower lash line with it.

Value: $9 (?)

3. Starlooks Slanted Liner Brush (#824, full-size)

This is a synthetic angled liner brush. This could be used to apply eye liner or to fill in your brows with powder or gel/pomade. I used this to apply the Starlooks Gold Coast eyeshadow I received to my lower lash line and it worked well.

Value: $18

                          

And here are the gift cards I received:

1. $20 Gift Card to Starlooks Pro, not including celebrity lines (the card had $10 printed but a “2” was written over the 1 making it a $20 card I guess. Little weird…)

2. $20 Gift Card to Starlooks, includes celebrity lines

That’s $40 towards makeup from Starlooks—so I’ve got $80 in gift cards to Starlooks between this and last month. A haul is in order!

3. $25 (I think) Gift Card to Nomad Tribe.

Nomad Tribe works with local artisans around the world to make unique clothing and accessories. Each item has a trim that was made especially for that piece. I will definitely find some things I like here. If you join their mailing list you get 50% off your first purchase!

Total Makeup Value: $34

Total Gift Card Value: $65

_____________________

Total Box Value: $99

This subscription box is definitely well worth the $12. I’m a little concerned that I couldn’t find two of the products online though, hopefully they will be there soon. What are your thoughts on the Starlooks Subscription Box? Let me know! If you’re interested in signing up for the Starlooks Subscription Box you can go through my referral link or hop onto Subscriptions.Starlooks.com.

Disclaimer: Starlooks sent me this Custom Starlooks Subscription Box free for review. However, all opinions are 100% honest and my own. I do not provide positive reviews for payment or free products. Products that work for me may not necessarily work for you.  This post is not sponsored.

Referral Links:

Starlooks: https://subscriptions.starlooks.com/?refer=REF5869 / Subscriptions.Starlooks.com

ipsy: https://www.ipsy.com/r/ts6i8

POPSUGAR:  http://popsu.gr/uXzQ  Save $5 off your first box with the code REFER5

Ebates: http://www.ebates.com/rf.do?referrerid=hbpGf26lDsl%2F2zOsOOaIRw%3D%3D&eeid=26471

Ibotta: https://ibotta.com/r/bthara

Birchbox: https://www.birchbox.com/invite/dqphm

Boxycharm: https://www.boxycharm.com/rewardsref/index/refer/id/41854/

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Cruelty-Free Cosmetic Brands

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In this post, I’ll list some of the more prominent companies that are and are not cruelty-free. I got my information from two main sources: Leaping Bunny’s cruelty-free database and PETA’scruelty-free database. For those of you who missed my post on switching to cruelty-free cosmetics, you can read it here, the post includes the differences between Leaping Bunny and PETA cruelty-free criteria.

I’ll mark if the brand is cruelty-free based on Leaping Bunny standards (LB) and/or PETA’s standards (PETA). Brands marked with an * denote brands whose parent company is not cruelty-free; I do my best to mark these brands. This list is by no means exhaustive, and if there is a brand not mentioned, I recommend searching for the brand in one of the databases. Keep in mind that just because a brand isn’t certified by Leaping Bunny or PETA that doesn’t necessarily mean that they are not cruelty-free. I suggest checking the brand’s website or emailing their customer service. Also, a quick Google search of “Is THIS BRAND cruelty-free?” usually yields results. Let’s get into it, shall we?

Brands That Test On Animals (According to PETA)

Almay

Aveeno

Benefit

Bobbi Brown

Caudalie

ChapStick

Clean & Clear

Clinique

CoverGirl

Dove

Estee Lauder

Kiehl's

L'Oreal

Lancome

L'Occitane

MAC

Maybelline

Olay

Organix

Origins

Pantene

Revlon

Secret

Shiseido

St. Ives

Stila

Tresemme

Vaseline

The good news is that there are a lot of well known brands that are cruelty-free!

  

Cruelty-Free Brands 

Acure (LB, PETA) Alba Botanica (LB, PETA) Anastasia Beverly Hills (PETA) Ardell (PETA) BareMinerals* (PETA) Bellapierre (LB) BH Cosmetics (LB) Bite Beauty* (LB, PETA) Burt's Bees* (LB, PETA) CAILYN Cosmetics (LB) Cover Fx (PETA) Dr. Bronner's (LB, PETA) Dr. Dennis Gross (PETA) e.l.f. (PETA) EcoTools (PETA) Flower (PETA) Formula X (PETA) Hourglass (PETA) IT Cosmetics (PETA) Jack Black (PETA) Jordana (LB & PETA) Josie Maran (PETA) Kat Von D (PETA) Lavanila (PETA) Marc Jacobs (PETA) Milani (LB, PETA) Murad (PETA) NYX* (PETA) OFRA Cosmetics (LB, PETA) Ole Henriksen (PETA) Pacifica (PETA) Physicans Formula (PETA) Smashbox* (PETA) Supergoop! (PETA) Tarte* (PETA) TATCHA (PETA) The Body Shop*  (LB, PETA) Tom's of Maine* (LB, PETA) Too Faced (PETA) Urban Decay* (LB, PETA) Wet'n'Wild* (PETA)

Observations

I was surprised at the number of brands that market themselves as all-natural/more of the peace, love and happiness type of brand that are not cruelty-free (I’m looking at you, Origins—you broke my heart). I’m also happily surprised at the options still left in terms of buying cruelty-free. The majority of my lip products and skin care are not cruelty-free so that is disappointing. It is going to be hard to replace a lot of my Holy Grail items (why, Origins, why??). And as with most things, you usually get what you pay for so a large number of drugstore brands are not cruelty-free, however there are some solid choices such as e.l.f. and NYX that are cruelty-free but won’t break the bank.

I’m going to be gradually working toward having only cruelty-free cosmetics and home care products (ideally, Leaping Bunny approved since their criteria are more stringent). It will be a gradual change because this can be an overwhelming process. I think I might work on switching over one or two items at a time. I’ll also try my best to make anything new I buy cruelty-free. I’ll keep you updated on my progress!

What are your thoughts on going cruelty-free? Let me know in the comments.

Sources:

http://features.peta.org/cruelty-free-company-search/index.aspx

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

https://www.crueltyfreeinternational.org/LeapingBunny

http://www.peta.org/living/beauty/companies-that-still-test-on-animals/ & two PDFs from this webpage: Companies That Don’t Test on Animals PDF Format and Companies That Do Test on Animals PDF Format

Disclaimer: All products are purchased by me or my lovely husband unless otherwise noted in the post. All opinions are 100% honest and my own. I do not provide positive reviews for payment. Products that work for me may not necessarily work for you. This post is not sponsored.

Referral Links:

Starlooks: https://subscriptions.starlooks.com/?refer=REF5869

ipsy: https://www.ipsy.com/r/ts6i8

POPSUGAR:  http://popsu.gr/uXzQ  Save $5 off your first box with the code REFER5

Ebates: http://www.ebates.com/rf.do?referrerid=hbpGf26lDsl%2F2zOsOOaIRw%3D%3D&eeid=26471

Ibotta: https://ibotta.com/r/bthara

Birchbox: https://www.birchbox.com/invite/dqphm

Boxycharm: https://www.boxycharm.com/rewardsref/index/refer/id/41854/

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Couponing 101: TJ Maxx

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Sometimes you can coupon without even couponing!

TJ Maxx/Marshall’s is a good place to score beauty deals, especially on higher end products. TJ Maxx carries perfume, makeup, skin care, body care and makeup brushes, although brands vary (just like brands always vary at stores like these). I’ve seen brands from e.l.f. (drugstore) to Ole Henriksen (high end) at TJ Maxx. Also, oftentimes TJ Maxx is connected to Home Goods where you can score cheap makeup organizers, cups to hold brushes and bowls to display things.

Here’s what I got the last time I was at TJ Maxx:

Tangle Tamer: 50% off

Batiste Dry Shampoo: 25% off, drugstore

Macadamia Volumizing Dry Shampoo: 48% off, high end

Philosophy Daiquiri Passion Fruit 3 in 1 Shampoo, Shower Gel & Bubble Bath: 25% off, high end

Method Hand Soap: 50% off, drugstore

Japonesque Powder Brush: 50% off

Let me know what you’ve found at TJ Maxx/Marshall’s!

Disclaimer: All products are purchased by me or my lovely husband unless otherwise noted in the post. All opinions are 100% honest and my own. I do not provide positive reviews for payment. Products that work for me may not necessarily work for you. This post is not sponsored.

Referral Links:

Starlooks: https://subscriptions.starlooks.com/?refer=REF5869 / Subscriptions.Starlooks.com

ipsy: https://www.ipsy.com/r/ts6i8

POPSUGAR:  http://popsu.gr/uXzQ  Save $5 off your first box with the code REFER5

Ebates: http://www.ebates.com/rf.do?referrerid=hbpGf26lDsl%2F2zOsOOaIRw%3D%3D&eeid=26471

Ibotta: https://ibotta.com/r/bthara

Birchbox: https://www.birchbox.com/invite/dqphm

Boxycharm: https://www.boxycharm.com/rewardsref/index/refer/id/41854/

                    at checkout enter the following code: M3d2Q1dTT21MR1RTNWJ0KzhRWUo0Z0lWWWtoRnVrZmk0NGNOVWY0MVBHRT0=

Favorite 5: Beauty YouTubers

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Below are my five favorite beauty YouTubers (in no particular order). Check them out!

1. essiebutton. Estée Lalonde is a London-based (originally from Canada) YouTuber. She seems very down to Earth and her skin tone is similar to mine so what she uses usually works for me (see my Bronzer& Highlighter Routine). She has gotten more high-end lately, and the drugstore brands in London are different than the U.S., but I still enjoy her. She has recently started a book club too!

2. Tati. Holy video production! Tati really knows her stuff. She posts five days a week too. She really puts products to the test, has great makeup/skincare tips and has a nice mix of high end and drugstore products. She has an app too.

3. jambeauty89. Jessica posts really, really thorough reviews. Her videos tend to be long, but I like that. She also seems really honest which is nice. Like essiebutton, her skin tone is similar to mine so her recommendations often work for me.

4. missglamorazzi. Ingrid Nilsen is a very popular YouTuber. She is actually the first beauty YouTuber I watched. Her videos are very high quality. Her channel is more of a lifestyle channel now, not just makeup. She has great everyday makeup tutorials.

5. HollieEatsLipstick. Hollie has great, quick reviews and easy to follow makeup tutorials. She features a good mix of drugstore and high end products.

Honorable Mentions: ShadesOfKassie (great lip swatch videos); jen luv’s reviews (weekly “What’s Up in Makeup” video on Sundays, subscription box unboxings); eleventhgorgeous (funny, but many find them annoying, focus is on drugstore makeup).

Other Popular YouTubers: Jaclyn Hill, Zoella, KathleenLights, emilynoel83, MakeupByAlli, RachhLoves, itsjudytime, and many, many more!

Let me know who your favorite YouTubers are!

Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are honest and my own.

Referral Links:

ipsy: https://www.ipsy.com/r/ts6i8

Birchbox: https://www.birchbox.com/invite/dqphm

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Ibotta:

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Beauty Battle: BeautyBlender vs. Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge

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Beauty sponges are all the rage right now in the beauty world. What is a beauty sponge, you ask? A beauty sponge is a tool you use to apply foundation, concealer and, in some cases, even powder. To use a beauty sponge you first run it under water to dampen it. Dampening the sponge prevents it from absorbing all of the product. Beauty sponges help foundation, etc. go on smoother and give you a lot of control over blending products. You supposedly use less product with a sponge as well, but this has not been my experience (I like really full coverage though).

In the High-End Corner, weighing in at 2oz (?) and $20, from the great store of Sephora, the original beauty “don’t make smoothies” blender! 

The Gucci of beauty sponges is the beautyblender. It is an exaggerated egg shape—like an egg, but the top is much wider than the bottom. You use the wider side to apply foundation and the pointed bottom to blend concealer or spot conceal. It sits nicely in the container it comes in, just rest it on the cup to dry. It is $20 at Sephora. Yes, $20 for a sponge. I was very skeptical about this for a very long time. No matter how many YouTubers/bloggers said it worked wonders for their foundation application, I couldn’t bring myself to spend $20 on a sponge. Fast forward many months and I couldn’t hold out any longer. I had to see what this was about. I am so glad that I got the beautyblender!! I used to use either my fingers or a flat foundation paddle brush to apply my foundation. The beautyblender cut the time it takes me to apply my foundation in more than half and the foundation goes on smoother and less cakey. Since I like full coverage foundation, it can look heavy at times but the beautyblender pretty much eliminates that. Since the sponge is slightly damp it gives you time to work with “drier” formulas (e.g., Revlon ColorStay) and really blend your concealer into your foundation.

The Challenger, in the Drugstore Corner, weighing in at 3oz. (?) and $6, from Ulta, The Real Techniques Miracle “The Whip” Complexion Sponge!

I had heard that the only beauty sponge that comes close to the beautyblender is the Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge. Naturally, I  wanted to see how the two compare. The Real Techniques is about $6 at Ulta and, better yet, Ulta runs regular sales on Real Techniques too (e.g., buy one, get one 50% off). The shape is different from the beautyblender. It is sort of egg-shaped, but one side of the egg is cut off so there is a flat edge. The concept here is that you can use the rounded edge to apply the majority of your makeup (like the beautyblender), the pointed end to blend your eye concealer (like the beautyblender), but the flat side can get around your nose and under your eyes (the beautyblender is missing this feature). The Miracle Complexion Sponge also cuts my foundation application time down substantially and applies products mush smoother, leaves a nice finish and works well with “drier” foundation formulas. 

And The Winner Is…

The Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge! The two sponges perform very similarly, but the flat side really puts the Real Techniques sponge ahead of the beautyblender for me. And it’s less than 1/3 of the price to boot. If you want Gucci performance at a drugstore price, I would highly recommend the Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge.

Have you tried a beauty sponge before? Are you intrigued? Let me know your thoughts!

Disclaimer: These items were purchased with my own money or by my lovely husband and all opinions are 100% honest and my own. I do not provide positive reviews for payment. Products that work for me may not necessarily work for you.

Referral Links:

ipsy: https://www.ipsy.com/r/ts6i8l

Birchbox: https://www.birchbox.com/invite/dqphm

Ebates: http://www.ebates.com/rf.do?referrerid=hbpGf26lDsl%2F2zOsOOaIRw%3D%3D&eeid=26471

Boxycharm: https://www.boxycharm.com/rewardsref/index/refer/id/41854/

                    at checkout enter the following code: M3d2Q1dTT21MR1RTNWJ0KzhRWUo0Z0lWWWtoRnVrZmk0NGNOVWY0MVBHRT0=