Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Too Faced's Vegan List!

My Too Faced rep was in my store today and informed me that Too Faced has a vegan list readily available.  After emailing the company, I noticed the complete list was in the FAQ.  D'oh.

I'm going to copy and paste the list below, putting my favorite items in bold.  I'm really depressed to find that Shadow Insurance is not on this list, as I had thought, for whatever reason, that it WAS a vegan formula.  Does anyone know if it changed, or if I somehow totally missed it from the get go?


Here is a complete list of our Vegan-friendly products (no animal bi-products): Amazing Face SPF 15 Powder Foundation (all), Absolutely Flawless Concealer (all), Beauty Balm (all), Borderline Anti-Feathering Lip Pencil, Brightening Blush (Mochi Mi Amore), Brow-ney Pencils (all), Sun Bunny, Chocolate Soleil (all), Galaxy Glam (all), Duo Eye Shadows (Ooh & Aah, Fantasy Island, Skinny Dip, Lucky Charms, Shamrock Chic, Rich Bitch), Exotic Colors (Nice Stems!, Cop a Teal, Firefly, Frilly Lily, Petals to the Metal, Midnight Mist, Poison Orchid, Enchanted Garden, Night Nymph, Violet Femme), Foiled Liners (Bronze Bombshell, Black Beauty), Full Bloom Creme (Prim & Poppy, Tea Rose), Full Bloom Powder (Sweet Pink, Coca Rose), Glamour Dust (Blue Angel), Leopard Love (Candy Leopard, Peach Leopard), Lip Injection, Lip Injection Super Size, Lip Injection Extreme, Lip Insurance, Liquif-Eye, Liquid Lava Eyeliner - Lava Matte, Long-Stemmed Lashes, Matte Eye Collection, Metal Eyed Eyeliners (Blackout, Hand Cuffs, Twilight, Get Lucky, Plum Crazy, Brown Sugar, Dirt Bag, Shotgun), Mirror Mirror (all), Peach Leopard, Perfect Eyes Eyeliner (all), Perfect Lips, Primed & Poreless (all), Royal Oil, Eye Shadow Single (Label Whore, Blonde Ambition, Neptune), Starry Eyed Eyeliner (all), Tanning Bed in a Tube, Wrinkle Injection, Shadow Brushes, Kabuki Brush, Flatbuki, Powder Pouf, Bronze-Buki, Teddy Bear Hair Brush Set, Petite Pouf.

Monday, March 26, 2012

Fellowship of the Vegetable: Vegan Interrogated: Beth Br00tality

Fellowship of the Vegetable: Vegan Interrogated: Beth Br00tality: My name is Beth Br00tality . I live in Cincinnati, OH, I'm 24 years old, and I'm vegan and straight edge. I live with my boyfriend, his two...

Come check out this interview I did with Kylie!!  She's such a sweet heart and I was happy to do it!!

Friday, March 23, 2012

Top Five Eyeliners!

I wear a lot of eyeliner.  j0hn wears even MORE eyeliner than I do, so I asked him to give his opinions on this post.  These are in no particular order.

1.  Urban Decay 24/7 Glide On Eyeliner in Perversion - $19
http://www.urbandecay.com/perversion-eye-pencil

These really are some of the best eyeliners out there.  They're less than $20, they have insane staying power, and they come in a huge range of colors (many of which are vegan, and clearly labeled as such).  They glide on easily, too, which is a huge selling point for me, especially because I like to wear them on my waterline.

2.  Sephora Waterproof Eye Kohl in Keep Black - $9
http://sephora.com/waterproofeyekohl

This is my favorite affordable eyeliner pencil.  I'd used a few drug store pencils, but this one is great.  The main reason I will be switching to using Perversion when my current pencil runs out is that no one seems to know if this pencil is vegan or not.  It's definitely not tested on animals, but I have no idea if there are any animal products in it so it's time to move on to a new liner.  j0hn also uses this liner.

3.  NARS Larger Than Life Long Wear Eyeliner in Via Veneto (Black) - $23
http://www.narscosmetics.com/color/eyes/~/larger-than-life-long-wear-eyeliner

There are two reason why I love this eyeliner; first of all, you don't sharpen it so there is no loss of product, and once it sets, it is going to stay for a very, very long time.  There are only two reasons I don't like this eyeliner; Perversion is darker and I don't know if it's vegan. I'm still waiting on a vegan list from NARS.

4.  ELF Cream Liner in Black - $3
http://www.eyeslipsface.com/studio/eyes/eyeliner/cream_eyeliner

This product is amazing for the price.  Once apon a time, Wet N Wild was known for having the most affordable cream liner out there, but ELF's cream liner blows theirs out of the water. j0hn uses this for a base on his eyelids every single day. That boy is hard to please when it comes to black liner.  Their waterproof eyeliner pen is pretty remarkable at a $1 price point.  Both of these items weren't tested on animals, and I think both of them are vegan.  I need to double check that.

5.  MAC Eye Kohl in Fascinating - $15
http://www.maccosmetics.com/products/eyekohl/fascinating

This product was my absolute favorite white eyeliner.  Sadly, MAC is owned by Estee Lauder & that means they are no longer cruelty free.  Other white eyeliners I've been impressed by are Jordana's and Sephora's Nano Liner.  They are both significantly cheaper than the MAC liner, so when Fascinating runs out, you can expect some white liner reviews.  First on the list?  Urban Decay's Yeyo!

Thursday, March 22, 2012

EOTDs: Neutral

You know how sometimes you get in a rut and wear the same look over and over?  Yeah.. well.  Here's my makeup for the last three days because my allergies have been so bad that I'm terrified to play with color.

Busted out my trusty old Naked palette for this one.

j0hn's band had their first show, so I busted out a spicy lipcolor, literally.  It's a new shade from Wet N Wild called Salsa Lessons from their new megashield lip color line.  It has an SPF 15 & the name is on the bottom!  0.10 oz for $2.99.

This is today, at the end of the day.  It's been over ten hours and it is HOT and I'm just starting to show some oil.  Eyes are Stila's Karat & Bronze.  Face is Hourglass Mineral Veil Primer, NARS Sheer Matte, & ELF HD Powder.
FTC:  I received the Stila shadows and the Naked palette from my friend Jess.  I got the NARS Sheer Matte from work.  Everything else I purchased with my own money.  These are my honest opinions and no one paid me to use these products.

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Y u do that tu mi estee lauder?



The gloss I'm wearing in this picture is absolutely beautiful, non-sticky, and unfortunately, no longer cruelty free. It's Smashbox's lip enhancing gloss - true color in Fame.

So sad.

posted from Bloggeroid

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Review & Vegan Insight: Dr. Brandt's Pores No More Moisturizer

I have particular atrocities with my skin directly related to my combination/oily skin type.  I get a little.. shiny in my t-zone and my pores are huge.  I've had a pore on my cheek next to my nose that has been huge for years.  I'd given up all hope on it.  Then my lovely co-worker, Susan, made me a sample of Dr. Brandt's Pores No More.  I'll try anything, even if I don't end up buying it, just so I have the knowledge to tell a client how it went for me.

I tried the sample, which lasted me about a week, and now I am literally in a vegan-researching panic because my sample is nearly out and I am positively in LOVE with this product.  No one seemed to have a definite answer because it appeared vegan & cruelty-free but none of us knew for sure.  Our skin care educator was in today and I attacked him with questions (poor guy).  He told meeee:

[paraphrased]  Dr. Brandt is both vegan* & cruelty free.  He synthesizes ingredients in lab because natural (animal) sources are both cruelly obtained and terribly inconsistent.  Consistency is a HUGE deal to him.  The only reason he doesn't get certified is because he uses honey in a couple of products and therefore is technically not vegan.

After that, he and I had a conversation about why honey is cruel to obtain and he was actually quite shocked.

So, on to the actual product.  I absolutely love the Dr. Brandt's Pore No More moisturizer, and I now want the whole line.  It has done so much for my skin in such a short amount of time.  I will definitely be purchasing, despite the hefty price tag.  It's $55 for 1.7oz.  I'd like to say a little goes a long way, but use is about what you expect.  It's still worth it to me, it's that good.

If you're interested in it, but don't want to spend $55 on one item, pick up the Pores No More Travel Kit that includes trial sizes of the cleanser, the toner and the moisturizer.  I'm interested in the whole line, but I'm really happy with how it's working with my current skin care, which includes the Beauty Without Cruelty AHA Facial Cleanser.

Monday, March 12, 2012

Dinner!! Vegan Pizza Bread!



Bread, toasted under the broiler, topped then with Daiya Mozzarella, sweet red peppers and mushrooms. Forgot italian seasoning this time, which makes it tasty!

posted from Bloggeroid

Sunday, March 11, 2012

FOTD: Bronzed Goddess!

Today my co-workers and I were supposed to be bronzed goddesses (except for Christopher, who was supposed to be a bronzed god).  Most of us embraced them theme except for one girl who thought it was neon day.. (She still looked beautiful, by the way.)


For my face, I started off with Hourglass Mineral Veil Primer all over the face (and probably on my eyes, too?) after I moisturized.  I needed to look bronzed, so I wore foundation that's a touch too dark (read:  only a little too dark, nothing tragically different), which in this case is the Dior Diorskin Sculpt in 020 (not vegan or cruelty-free).  I blended it down my neck to ensure it would look natural.  I followed that up with my MAC Studio Finish Concealer in NC20 (no longer cruelty-free, doubt it was ever vegan).  I set my entire face and neck with the ELF Pressed Powder in Sand (cruelty free and probably vegan), which matches me brilliantly when I have a bit of a summer glow, but right now is also a touch to dark.  I used the Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Bronzer to contour (cruelty free but probably not vegan) and considered adding a shimmer-y bronzer like ELF's Healthy Glow Bronzing Powder in Warm Tan, but settled for highlighting with their same powder in Luminance (cruelty free).  The cute pop of color on my cheeks is the Fox in a Box blush Skinny Dipping (cruelty free).  Then it was time to move on to the eyes.


I started off with my Too Faced Shadow Insurance all over the eye, then added the Tokidoki Perfetto liner in Sabochan for brows (both cruelty-free).  For my shadow, I used the Stila duo I received from my friend Jess called Blushing Beauty - Set 1.  The inner eye color is called Karat, and the outer corner is the color Bronze.  I used the Wet n Wild single Brulee for a brow highlight and to set my brows.  I love how thls look turned out, even if it's not photographing all that brilliantly.  I lined the lower water liner and the out half of the upper waterline with my Sephora Waterproof Eye Kohl in Keep Black.  Mind you, that was almost exactly 12 hours ago and my waterline is still pretty black.  I added two coats of the Tarte Amazonian Clay mascara called Gifted to the lashes and headed out to work.

I didn't put on any lip color until it was time to start my day, and that item is currently unreleased and I'll be telling you all about that when it launches so you have to wait until then.  =]

FTC:  In this post, I received the Dior & Tarte items from work.  Jess sent me the Stila duo and the ELF pressed powder.  Everything else I paid for myself.  These are my honest opinions and no one is paying me to do this post.

11 Questions Beauty Tag

I was tagged by Caity to do an eleven question tag.

RULES:

  • - You must post these rules.
  • - Each person must post 11 things about themselves on their blog.
  • - Answer the questions the tagger set for you in their post and create 11 new questions for the people you tag to answer.
  • - You have to choose 11 people to tag and link them on the post.
  • - Go to their page and tell them you have linked him or her.
  • - No tag backs.
  • - No stuff in the tagging section about ‘you are tagged if you are reading this’. You legitimately have to tag 11 people.
So on to the questions:

1: What are your top five favorite musicians/bands?



Nine Inch Nails, Dillinger Escape Plan, Acacia Strain, Wednesday 13 (& his many bands), Marilyn Manson; I listen to a huge range of music (Die Antwoord almost made this list, for example) but for bands I've liked the longest & listened to the most, these five are up there.

 2: Your top eyeshadow primer?

I am currently using up a tube of Too Faced Shadow Insurance, have a sample of Benefit's Stay Don't Stray & regularly use the vegan primer Under the Rainbow from MTcoffinz.

 3: Best lipstick shade for your skintone?
Black.  It matches my soul.

 4: Favorite drugstore mascara(s)?

None.  I don't think I ever found one I'd call a favorite.  I did like the Physician's Formula Organic Wear one and the NYC Show Time Waterproof formula & at one time I thought I was in love with the Almay.. Triple Effect One Coat or something like that?  Spend a few more $$ and get the Sephora Lash Plumper mascara.

5: Do you enjoy practicing on others by doing their makeup?
lol, it's my job.

6: Can you record videos (or do makeup) with others watching? (Significant other, siblings, etc)

yes.  I have over 300 videos & my work is photographed and I'm given feedback/criticism at work from my bosses and co-workers.

7: Which do you prefer; loose pigment or pressed powders?
Depending, but probably loose pigment.

8: Do you enjoy foiling?
With a good foiling medium, yes.  With water, no.

9: How many times have you colored your hair?
I dye it at least once a month.

10: Do you like cats?
Not particularly.  If they live in their world & let me live in mine undisturbed, we're fine.

11: What is your most favorite full-face makeup attire that you've done on yourself?
I actually didn't think I could pick just one, but here it is:


I TAG.. I don't know eleven people with blogs, sadly.  =[

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

FOTD: no makeup makeup



My lips are very angry, so I just put balm on them and left them alone.

I started off with moisturizer and Hourglass' Mineral Veil primer. I used my NARS Sheer Matte foundation and my Beauty Without Cruelty concealer. I set everything with MAC loose powder. I contoured with my Chocolate Soleil bronzer and todays blush was Fix in a Box in Skinny Dipping with UD's Score over it. I even applied a highlight, something from ELF.

My eyes are Benefits primer withe naked palette (Bare, Naked, and Sidecar I think). I used my sephora waterproof kohl on the upper waterline and some heavy tightlining in the outer corner. Todays mascara is Tarte's Gifted.

posted from Bloggeroid

Sunday, March 4, 2012

Everyday Vegan Cosmetics List!

IMPORTANT NOTE:  Urban Decay is no longer cruelty free.  At the time of this article they were.  I have to find alternatives to list here, but in the mean time, please note, they are NOT cruelty free anymore!

Are you switching to veganism?  Looking to make the cruelty free switch?  Congratulations!  You are doing a very noble thing.  It's not always easy, and you will often find that there's a bit of leg work to do, but hopefully this post can be a step in the right direction.  =]  Some of these brands are high end, and there are always cheaper alternatives, but these are ones that are worth the money.

1.  Face Primer:  Hourglass Mineral Veil Primer - 10ml for $17.00 or 30ml for $52
This is probably my favorite primer that I've found.  It feels nice, it controls my ridiculously oily tzone, and it doesn't break me out.  Even better?  It's 100% vegan.  =]  Oh, and it has SPF 15!
http://www.hourglasscosmetics.com/index.php?type=complexion&item=complexion_primer

2.  Concealer: Beauty Without Cruelty Creamy Concealer Pencil OR Supercover - $15.95 to $16.95
This was the second concealer I've tried that I truly love a month after using it (the first being MAC's Studio Finish, which is not vegan, nor cruelty-free now).  It covers well, it's extremely easy to use, and there are no icky animal products that you wouldn't want to be slathering on your face.  The biggest drawback?  There are only two shades, neither of which would suit medium to deep skin tones (for darker skin I'd check the Urban Decay 24/7 Concealer Pencils, $18.00).
http://www.beautywithoutcruelty.com/scat.php?link=BEAUTYWITHOUTBEAUTY&subcat=0475&vendor_id=11150

3.  Foundation:  Pumpkin & Poppy - 30g jar for $11.25
Kristy is a vegan.  Kristy is cruelty free.  It goes without saying that her entire line is, as well.  She makes foundations, blushes, color correctors, contouring powders, eyeshadows, and she's even dabbling in cream liners and lip products now (with cute product names like Molly's Lips and Cat Liners).  She makes a range of colors for sensitive skin.  Her range is mostly light to medium tones, but I'm sure there will be deeper shades in the future.  The best part?  If you find the perfect combination of colors to make your perfect skin shade, Kristy will send you a custom mixed pot of your color.  That's the perfect vegan foundation right there.
http://www.artfire.com/ext/shop/studio/pumpkinandpoppy/0/0/168163

4.  Setting Powder: Tarte Smooth Operator & Smooth Operator in Bronze - 9.07g/0.32 oz for $28
You need a good setting powder, and while you can get one from Madd Style Cosmetix (Effin Perfektion Powder) or from Pumpkin & Poppy (Mineral Finishing Veil), sometimes you just want to pick one up for a major brand in a store.  In that case, I recommend the Tarte finishing powder Smooth Operator.  It is a part of what they call the vegan collection, as they clearly outline vegan items on their website.
http://tartecosmetics.com/tarte-item-smooth-operator-finishing-powder

5.  Blush:  Everyday Minerals - currently on $ale!
I haven't tried Everyday Minerals yet, but I've only heard good things so far.  They have a HUGE range of shades, which is why they are my choice for blushes, AND they're currently on sale!  Give them a try!
http://www.everydayminerals.com/store/color/cheeks.html

6.  Eye Primer: MTcoffinz Under the Rainbow Eye Primer - 7.5g for $14
I first got this primer eight months ago, and have used it on and off again since that time.  I often use it as a neutral base, but truth be told it's a great stand alone primer.  Once upon a time, Urban Decay Primer Potion was THE vegan primer, but they found out their lanolin wasn't synthetic and it has gone downhill since for UDPP.  Under the Rainbow lasts for a good eight hours, is affordable, and does well with bright colors.
http://www.mtcoffinz.com/Shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=49_54&products_id=335


7.  Eye Shadow:  Madd Style Cosmetix - 5g pots for $5 or 5/$20
You should have expected this.  I'm not just a model of Madd Style Cosmetix, I'm a HUGE fan.  I would never represent a brand I wasn't 100% behind.  Mo Love offers the most amazing range of colors, finishes, collections, and foiling mediums and basses to boot.  If there is a color that MSC doesn't have.. just wait.
http://www.artfire.com/ext/shop/studio/maddstyle

8.  Eyeliner:  Urban Decay 24/7 Glide On Pencil (Perversion/Yeyo) - 1.2g e 0.04 US oz. for $19.00
If you need a good liner, Urban Decay has you covered.  The best part is that many of the formulas are vegan, and they are clearly marked by a purple "Marley Paw".  The best news yet?  Their "blackest black", Perversion, and matte/mattene white, Yeyo, are both vegan formulas!
http://www.urbandecay.com/perversion-eye-pencil/45060,default,pd.html?start=1&cgid=1

9.  Mascara:  Beauty Without Cruelty Full Volume Mascara - 0.24 oz for $23.95
Beauty Without Cruelty is actually a full color vegan line that also has skin care options.  I've only had good experiences with their products, and recently reviewed them both here on my blog as well as on youtube.  I haven't personally tried this mascara, but I've only heard good things about it.  If the price tag seems steep, just take into consideration the next vegan mascara I know of is blinc mascara (formerly Kiss Me, which runs $24 per 0.21oz tube, it is available at Sephora).  I am researching more options if neither of these sound desirable to you.
http://www.beautywithoutcruelty.com/item.php?item=047750

10.   Setting/Touch Up Spray:  Urban Decay All-Nighter, De-Slick & Dew Me - $11-$34
If you've never tried a setting spray and you use a lot of powder products, you're really missing out.  Some people actually use setting sprays in place of finishing powders because of a preference is how their makeup wears.  Others will wait until they finish their entire face of makeup, then use the spray.  Urban Decay recommends them both before and after makeup.
http://www.urbandecay.com/makeup-setting-spray/4_500,default,sc.html?prefn1=isVegan&prefv1=true

11.  Brushes - Sigma Bunny Collection Brushes - $59-$109
This collection is 100% vegan.  The Mrs. Bunny set is more fun & colorful, the Mr. Bunny more sleek and professional.  The travel sets are available for $59+s&h, and the full size sets are $109+s&h.
http://www.sigmabeauty.com/category_s/141.htm?Click=66296

FTC:  No one is paying me to write this article.  These are my honest recommendations.  I have tried most of these items personally, and have noted which items I have not tried.