I started using solely Cruelty Free Make Up in May 2018. It feels good to me to know that the beauty products I put on my face are not used to harm animals at any point during the process of creating them. They say 'beauty is pain', but that shouldn't include endangering the lives of our furry friends. This being said, I know that going cruelty free can be a difficult transition - and one that is not for everyone. I have no judgement for anyone who isn't cruelty free yet, and if you have found yourself here and this is the first you've heard of cruelty free make up, welcome, and you're not alone.
I'm going to start this blog post by speaking about my current make up favourites, but if you are interested in going cruelty free - please do scroll down for my thoughts on that!
My Current Favourites
It Cosmetics SPF 50+ Illuminating CC Cream in "Medium Tan" - I absolutely LOVE how glowy this CC cream makes my skin look. I have dry skin, particularly around my nose but this doesn't emphasise my texture at all. It just makes my skin look smooth and dewy, which is exactly the look that I like.
Nyx Doll Eyes "Long Lash" Mascara - This mascara does exactly what it says on the tin - enlongates my lashes without making them look clumpy. 10/10.
Colourpop Disney Designer Highlight in "Horse and Carriage" - I mean I adore everything that Colourpop does, but This. Highlight. Is. Stunning. Photos don't do it justice; it's a stunning champagne highlight which isn't too sparkly, and leaves a gorgeous sheen to the skin. Lasts all day too when paired with the setting spray on this list. Not to mention the adorable Cinderella packaging.
Kiko Ocean Feel Maxi Bronzer in "02 Natural Sienna" - Kiko bring back a maxi bronzer like this in every collection, but the packaging will be different. I love the marbled effect inside and it leaves a beautiful bronze glow on the skin.
Colourpop x Kathleen Lights Ultra Satin Lip in "Dreamy" - My everyday lip colour. I love everything Kathleen creates, and have religiously watched her videos for years now, but this one is just such a winner for me.
Colourpop Pretty Fresh Hyaluronic Acid Setting Spray - I love this setting spray. The only thing to note about HA products is that they do pull moisture from the air to leave that hydrated look to the skin, so if you live somewhere humid, it may leave you looking a little bit dry. I'm cautious with the amount of it that I use, but when it works, it really works, and the hydration factor is phenomenal. Not to mention it for the 100th time, but products like this are Heaven sent if you have dry skin like me. It just melts everything into the skin, and makes it look flawless.
On Being Cruelty Free
When it came to my journey, I found that a lot of my holy grails were non cruelty free, and would need to be replaced. The initial hunt for new items which you love and work for your skin type can surely be tricky, but after a few months, this becomes a lot easier. At this point, I have a handful of brands that I know are cruelty free, and that I absolutely love and stick to. There are now so many wonderful brands on the market which are cruelty free, so if you are interested in trying it out, I say go ahead.
I recently watched an incredibly interesting Youtube video uploaded by Jen Luv Reviews (full credit to her) which explained that there are different 'levels' of how cruelty free a person can choose to be.
Feel free to watch her video here
Around the 6 minute mark, Jen explains that the 'Level 1' cruelty free category means that the brand itself does not test on animals, but the brand does pay China to test on their behalf (China tests on animals as part of their safety assessment of cosmetics - therefore if brands want to sell in China, they have to allow this). As most cosmetic companies state that they don't test on animals, but they do sell to China, this is least restrictive category of being a cruelty free consumer.
The 'Level 2' cruelty free category means that the brand does not test on animals, and they do not sell to China, however the parent company of the brand does sell to China. This has been reported to be the most popular category, and is also the kind of consumer that I claim myself to be.
Finally, the 'Level 3' cruelty free category means that the brand does not test on animals, they do not sell to China, and their parent company does not test on animals or sell to China either. This is the most restrictive category, as it does limit the purchase of a large number of products on the market.
If you are looking to start transitioning to Cruelty Free Make up, I find this website incredibly useful as a point of reference before buying a new product.
Let me know if you have, or are going to try out any of the products I mentioned :)
Esha xo.
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