The Vegan Kind Beauty Box, August 2015

Subscription boxes are always something that sounded like such a good idea to me. It's like getting a present from yourself with great new products to try! I've been dying to get my hands on The Vegan Kind Beauty Box, and yesterday mine arrived! It was like Christmas morning!

I recorded my first Youtube video, unboxing it and giving my first impressions. Let me know what you think - I've been nervous about making a video, so feedback would be appreciated!

I'll be reviewing the products later, when I've had some time to test them out, so check back soon!

Til Next Time,

Emma 
xXx

Conceal Dark Circles, the Vegan Way!

Covering dark circles is one of the top things clients ask me about. Whether they're caused by lack of sleep, allergies, or hyperpigmentation, they can make you look tired, drawing attention away from pretty eyes.

But don't worry! Help is at hand! My simple tutorial will have you disguising dark circles like a pro!
I've had dark circles since I was a child. Mine are hereditary, and don't fade no matter how much sleep I get! This makes me the perfect model for this tutorial! Our cruelty-free, vegan dark circle fighting arsenal. These are my favourite products to use, they perform so well.

• Small, synthetic hair concealer/lip brush

• Peach corrector (for light skin) or orange corrector (for dark skin) - OCC's Creme Color Concentrate in Newt

• High coverage concealer - Illuminaré Concealing Mineral Foundation

• Mineral powder concealer or foundation to set. (Not pictured) I'm using Lily Lolo Mineral Foundation in China Doll.
• Powder Brush - I'm using a Royal & Langnickel Synthetic Powder Brush

Step one

Start with moisturised, primed skin. Apply a small amount of peach or orange corrector to the darkest part of the circle. Your finger will apply too much, use a small brush. Step two

Blend it up to the lower lashline with your finger using a gentle patting motion. Step Three

Using your finger, apply high coverage concealer to the dark circle using a patting motion. Continue to pat, adding more if necessary, until the circle is covered and the concealer is blended into the surrounding skin. Blend a little over the upper eyelid to counteract any darkness there. Avoid using a concealer that is too light, as the circle could turn grey. I'm using a shade darker than my normal skin tone. Step four

Using a powder brush, apply mineral foundation or concealer to the entire eye area. Use a patting or dabbing motion to press it into the concealer. This will set your concealer and add more coverage. Step five Finished! Apply the rest of the your makeup and you're ready!

Let me know if you enjoyed this tutorial. Are there any other tutorials you'd like to see from me? Til Next Time, Emma xXx

How to Depot/Repackage Indie Eyeshadow Samples ft Shiro

A short while ago I delved into the world of indie make-up. There are a lot of great brands out there, and so many innovative formulas and finishes. Naturally, the best way to try out new shades is to buy a sample, but they come in those annoying baggies that are so hard to work with. The solution? Repackage them into little pots! 

I recently ordered a lot of samples from Shiro's Anniversary Sale, and I want to show you how I depotted - or should I say de-baggied - them.

This was a very fiddly task - you don't want to waste any of that precious make-up, or cover your carpet in it. Best to lay a towel down first. 


Step 1
Get some 2ml pots from eBay or Amazon. Arrange them like so, and spray them evenly with 70% alcohol or surgical spirit. This is a very important step, as it ensures your containers are sterile - we don't want any nasties growing in out makeup! Allow to dry fully.

Sorry about the powder spillage on the towel, this wasn't my first batch!

Step 2
Take your baggie, and hold it in the top left hand corner. Shake it vigorously so that centrifugal force pulls all the powder to the right/bottom of the baggie. if you hold it up to the light, it should look something like this:

Step 3
Now, using clean, sharp scissors, cut the top off of the baggie so that the seal is completely removed. The seal will catch powder as you try to empty the bag.

Step 4
Before you pour your sample into the pot, take the sticker on the sample bag and place it on the lid of your pot. You may have to trim it.

Step 5
If you try to pour out the powder straight away, the sides of the baggie will stick together and make it very difficult. Carefully open the baggie like so to prevent this.

Step 6
Pour carefully. You may need to tap the bottom to get the last of it out.

Step 7
If your pots come with a sifter, insert this now. (Note - these should have been sanitised with alcohol like the pots)

Step 8
Screw on the lid and you're done! 


Do you want to see the rest of my haul?

Eye shadows

I got Neutral Cool, Neutral Warm, and Bright Sample Packs.

Neutral Cool Sample Set

Neutral Warm Sample Set

Brights Sample Set

Extra Samples

Shiro Red in My Ledger Gloss

I adore this lipgloss, it's become my new favourite lip product! You can apply it thinly or thickly for a different intensity, and it wears off to a beautiful stain on the lips!

Hope this post has been informative. I've been loving the products, Shiro has gained a fan in me!

Til' next time,
Emma
xXx

#BlogForBunnies #BeCrueltyFree Week

Pic - from Banksy's The Village PetStore and Charcoal Grill via Getty Images

I am just coming back to regular blogging, so it makes sense that my first real post is about the main reason I started blogging in the first place. 

Finding cruelty-free (and vegan) makeup and beauty products can be a nightmare. Especially when companies word their statements to make it sound like they don't test when they do. In addition to this, once you find a cruelty-free brand, how do you know which products are vegan? If they are good quality or not worth spending on? I'd like my blog to be the place to go to get reviews and find out about new products. Where you can always be sure that the products are not tested on animals, and 100% vegan, too. I want this blog to be a reference for UK and worldwide cruelty-free beauty enthusiasts, and I want it to be fun to read! So that is what I aim for. My mission statement, if you will.

This is why I'm so proud to be a part of Humane Society International's #BlogForBunnies during #BeCrueltyFree week, 9th -15th March.

But wait, there's an EU ban on the import and sale of animal tested cosmetics, so shouldn't everything I buy in the EU be cruelty-free?

Companies are no longer allowed to sell animal tested products here, but if you buy from a testing company, your money is going to support their testing products on animals to sell in other parts of the world. HSI International is working with companies and law-makers all over the planet to end cosmetics animal cruelty.

Yeah but don't they just, like, put makeup on a bunny or whatever? It can't be that bad.

Typical animal tests for cosmetics include - 

Skin and Eye Irritation/Skin sensitisation tests. 
Chemicals are rubbed onto the shaved skin or dripped into the eyes of rabbits, guinea pigs and ears of mice to see if it causes irritation or an allergic reaction. They are then killed.

Repeated dose toxicity.
To see if a chemical is poisonous, animals endure oral force feeding/inhalation or application to shaved skin daily for 28 or 90 days. They are then killed. 

Toxicokinetics.
Animals, such as rabbits or rats are forced to consume an ingredient to study how it is absorbed, metabolised and excreted by the body. They are then killed.

Carcinogenicity.
The rat, or other animal is force fed an ingredient for two years to see if it gives them cancer. They are then killed.

Reproductive toxicity.
This determines the effect a chemical has on an animal's fertility, pregnancy and young. Pregnant rabbits or rats are force fed an ingredient, then killed, along with their unborn babies.

There is no pain relief provided during any of these tests.

Oh. That sucks. But don't we need animal testing to make sure products are safe to use?

In short, no. Animal testing is only required on new ingredients. If it's already in use, it's already known to be safe. There are billions of different ingredients readily available to be combined in infinite combinations to make new products. There's no need to develop new ingredients. If companies want to make sure their product/ingredient is safe, there are more than 40 advanced non-animal tests available. These offer results that are more relevant to humans, and are often cheaper and more efficient.

What about ingredients that were tested on animals a long time ago?

We can't change the past. Cruelty-free companies operate using a 'Fixed Cut Off Date', meaning they won't use ingredients that were tested after a certain date. Other companies sometimes use a 'Five Year Rolling Rule', meaning they don't use ingredients that were tested on animals within the last 5 years. This is not as effective at curbing animal testing, though, as products can often take five years or more to formulate and get into production.

What about parent companies?

A lot of the time, a cruelty-free company can be owned by a bigger company that performs animal testing on some of it's brands. Many people see no problem with buying from them, as the products nor their ingredients have not been tested, and it shows the parent company that there is demand and support for cruelty-free brands. Others say that in buying these products, your money could end up paying for animal testing, as all profits go to the parent company. I personally try to buy mainly from brands with cruelty-free parent companies.



I hope you will join me in signing Humane Society International's #BeCrueltyFree Pledge, and I hope you will choose to #BeCrueltyFree.

Til Next Time,

Emma
xXx

Sources - Humane Society International, Cruelty Free International, Animal Aid.