Animal Testing- What Year is it?

When I became vegan and changed my diet, I knew the next thing I needed to do was clear out other products that were not cruelty-free (and later vegan as well). The difference between cruelty-free and vegan is that cruelty-free means they don't test on animals, while vegan means there are no animal derived ingredients. So something that is cruelty-free isn't automatically vegan.


I originally thought of just my makeup, but soon realized that anything from diapers to cleaning products to clothing can be tested on animals. So how does someone make the switch? First, I recommend tackling one thing at a time. Otherwise it can be too overwhelming. The important thing is to not buy anymore products that are not cruelty-free and vegan.


Animal testing has no place in the modern world. Many non-vegans agree with this as well. I know plenty of meat-eaters who don't buy from certain brands due to their stance on animal testing. Most of us don't want to cause harm to animals and it's obvious the pain and suffering that is inflicted on animals when we test on them (for examples of the kinds of tests performed on animals, click here). But you may wonder, what are the alternatives?


There are a few methods of testing that have recently been developed. These options include:
- Utilizing 3-D Printers
- Technology that mimics standard human muscular function
- Using adult stem cells
- Synthetic Tissues


The Hasting Center has created a list of alternative methods as well. A common misconception is that animal testing is cheaper than these alternative and consumers worry about higher prices for their products. However, these practices are actually less expensive than testing on animals. Even if it was more expensive, I would still prefer to pay more if it meant not exploiting and torturing animals. Many cosmetic lines, including e.l.f and Wet n' Wild, are cruelty-free and more affordable. You don't have to spend more to purchase items that have not been tested on animals.


Animal testing is not only cruel, but ineffective in scientific research. This is because animals have a different physiology than humans and what works on animals doesn't always translate to humans. NAVS has stated that “[p]eople, in general, have longer life expectancies than most nonhuman species, metabolize substances differently, and are exposed to a multitude of different environmental factors over our lifetimes. Diseases that develop in people differ in significant ways from artificially imposed symptoms or in animals that have been genetically engineered.” So not only is animal testing not necessary, but it also proves to not work well anyways. So why in our modern world wouldn't we want to use alternative methods?


Animals experience pain and fear just like you and me and breeding them for the purpose of basically torturing them every day of their lives is inhumane. America banned the use of certain animals such as dogs and cats for research purposes back in 1966 with the Laboratory Animal Welfare Act, but the act excludes animals such as rabbits and mice. There is also no limit to how much pain and suffering can be inflicted on these animals. I don't believe that the pain and suffering of animals for human benefit is worth it.


There has recently been a rise in demand for cruelty-free products and companies are taking notice. If you'd like to look up a company, there are search engines such as Leaping Bunny and PETA. If you're ever unsure of a company's animal testing policies, you can always email or call their customer service. I've done this a few times and most company's will respond in a timely manner.


In 2013, the EU banned the use of animal testing in Europe and as well as importing products that do- which makes it much easier for consumers to rely on their brands to remain cruelty-free. While shopping for products that are made abroad, I'm always comforted by the fact that I don't have to look up the animal testing policies of every company because I know they're cruelty-free. Back in 2014, the United States Congress failed to pass the H.R. 4148, the Humane Cosmetics Act that was designed to phase out cosmetic animal testing and the sale of cosmetics tested on animals. So while we have been making progress, we have a long way to go.


I'd personally like to see less of this:

 And more of this:

If you're wanting to learn more about animal testing, I would suggest these organizations:
- Physician’s Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM)
- American Anti-Vivisection Society (AAVS)
- New England Anti-Vivisection Society (NEAVS)
- National Anti-Vivisection Society (NAVS)

Petit Vour December 2016 Review

Petit Vour is a subscription service that gives you 3-5 beauty related products every month for $15 a month in the United States ($23/month in Canada and and $25/month for worldwide). I used to have Birchbox, Ipsy, and Sephora Play, but got tired of constantly being sent products that were not cruelty free and vegan. So this subscription service is perfect for me. So far I have yet to be disappointed in a box. I believe that due to the holidays, I received my box a little later than normal. I just received my box today (December 28th).



In this month's box we got:

Juice Beauty Phyto-Pigments Luminous Lip Crayon in Salinas, Retailed at $22
From what I've seen, not everyone received the same color of this product. This is full-sized and is something that I have been wanting to try for a while now. This color is described as a "rosy brown" on their website. It felt creamer when I applied it and is more on the sheer side. It feels really moisturizing, which I think is great for this time of year.

OILLE Hair Serum Volumizing Intelligence samples, Full size is $58
This is a brand I haven't heard of before, but I love discovering new brands that are cruelty-free and vegan- that's the whole point of a subscription box, right? This is meant to be put in your roots while your hair is still wet in order to add volume. You apply this before shampoo. I have naturally oily hair so the thought of applying an oil to my hair frightens me, but I'll give it a shot.

Aromatherapy Associates Revive Morning Bath and Shower Oil sample, Full size is $73
I'm secretly (well it's not a secret anymore) hoping that I don't enjoy this product due to its price tag. You're meant to rub this on your body before you shower and when you get into the shower, it releases scents of grapefruit, rosemary, and juniper that's meant to awaken you in the morning. Lord knows I need help with that, so I'm excited to try this. You can put this in your bath as well.

Shamanuti Activated Charcoal Cleanser, Retailed at $10-$36, depending on the size
On their website, they advertise this as a cleanser that "... utilises the properties of activated charcoal to neutralise acidity and absorb impurities as well as to gently exfoliate the skin with maple extract." Sounds good to me! It says that it's good for all skin types, including sensitive and acne prone skin (which is me in a nutshell) and can be a good treatment for acne, rosacea, and eczema. I think I'll be getting a lot of use out of this product.

So that was everything in this months box! If you're interested in this subscription service you can click here. Happy holidays!

Vegan's Guide to Cruelty-Free/Vegan Candles

Where are my fellow candle lovers at? Probably sitting down, reading this article, with your left hand on your chin. Am I close?

If you're vegan (whether relatively new or have been for a while) you might wonder how to enjoy candles while living a vegan lifestyle. The two ingredients that you generally need to be aware of are stearic acid and beeswax. Two other ingredients to consider are paraffin and lead. While they're technically vegan, they pose a risk to human health. Most candles are made with paraffin, which releases carcinogenic toxins such as benzene into the air- not something you really want to breath in. A better option is soy candles if you want to avoid this. Lead is something else to consider and sometimes can be in the wick itself, thus releasing lead into the air when burned. This is mostly a concern with candles that are imported.


Some candles don't have their ingredients listed and I personally don't feel comfortable buying from companies where I'm unsure if they're cruelty-free and vegan. I know I was disappointed to find out that Bath & Body Works is not cruelty-free and that's when I began my search for vegan-friendly candles. Below I've provided a list of websites that you can easily find candles that do not contain animal by-products.

Pacifica
Pura Botanica
GoodNatural Candles
Mrs. Meyer's
Yankee Candles

Of course, Etsy is a great place to find vegan-friendly candles as well. Here are just a few that I found:
Corscandles
Old Soul Artisan
Dardedze
SnowziCraftCo
OpalAndWonder
TheGoodnessInside
BinkoDeco
HazelFernScents

And if you're really crafty, you could also make your own candles. I found two websites with instructions on how to make vegan candles.
Clairek Creations
SheKnows

A Very Vegan Hanukkah

The two traditional dishes served during Hanukkah are latkes (potato pancakes) and sufganiyot (deep-fried doughnuts) and neither are usually vegan. If you're wanting to bring a vegan option to a Hanukkah party or would like something to make at home, keep reading.

The ingredients used that are not vegan are milk, butter, and eggs. Obviously for milk, you can easily use a milk substitute such as almond or soy milk. For butter, you can use margarine. These two tend to be the easiest to substitute out for a vegan option.















For eggs the following items can be used (and not just for Hanukkah- all year round!):
- Chickpea or soy flour (1 teaspoon and 2 tbsp of water= 1 egg)
- Tofu (1/4 cup= 1 egg)
- Cornstarch (2 tbsp= 1 egg)
- Bananas (I personally use this one a lot- 1 banana= 1 egg)
- Applesauce (1/3 cup= 1 egg)
- Vegetable oil (1/4 cup= 1 egg)
- Pumpkin (1/3 cup= 1 egg)

It's pretty simple to change a recipe you may already have vegan by using these replacements. Of course, if you want some vegan recipes, the internet is a great place. Here are a few I found.

Sufganiyot
http://hellyeahitsvegan.com/vegan-sufganiyot-jelly-doughnuts/
http://www.theveganwoman.com/tasty-vegan-hanukkah-sufganiyot-recipe/

Latkes
http://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipe/potato-latkes
http://www.onegreenplanet.org/plant-based-recipes/5-vegan-latke-recipes-just-in-time-for-hannukah
http://www.reformjudaism.org/jewish-life/food-recipes/vegan-sweet-potato-latkes-potato-pancakes

Hope everyone is enjoying your holiday season!

Colourpop Kathleen Lights Haul

This is going to be a long post, so bare with me. Kathleen Lights is one of my favorite YouTuber's. She's incredibly down to earth and she has a similar taste in makeup as me. When I saw that her favorites were 20% off, I couldn't click fast enough. Colourpop is affordable, cruelty-free and most of their products are vegan. For a complete list of vegan products, you can check our their FAQ's. I have been warned that when it comes to new releases, they don't always post what products aren't vegan immediately, so just be aware of that. Some of her favorites I already have, but I'm including them in this post as well. If you'd like to see her video of her favorites, you can click here.

Lippie Stix

Top to bottom: Taurus, Chateau, Grunge, Clique, and Trust Me...

These originally retail for $5.00 each and were $4.00 during the sale. They come in a few different finishes and are extremely opaque. They definitely aren't kiss proof and will come off while you're eating, but are so gorgeous that I think we can look past that. I have five to share with you today: Clique, Taurus, Grunge, Trust Me..., and Chateau.

Clique

Clique is described as an "orangey red" and is in the matte finish. This is one of those colors that I automatically go for. If you want something that's bright and festive, Clique is a good option!

Taurus

Taurus is described as a "mid-tone yellow brown" and is in the matte finish. When I applied it, I definitely could see the yellow tint to it. I have yellow undertones in my skin, so this is perfect for me. As far as browns go, I would say that this is a "safer" option if you haven't tried a brown before.

Grunge

Grunge is described as a "mid-tone red brown" and is a matte finish. If this doesn't take you back to the 90's, I don't know what will. I'm personally so happy that brown lipsticks have made a comeback- even if my husband hates it.

Trust Me...

Trust me... is described as a "true red" and is in their matte x formula. This has been one of my favorites for a while because I love a good red lip. This is a good go-to red to wear every day- because I'm one of those people that loves to wear a red lip no matter the occasion.

Chateau

Chateau is described as a "blackened red" and is in their matte x formula. I originally saw this on a YouTuber and had to know what it was. It's so pretty for this time of year and is unlike anything in my collection. I don't know if it was just mine, but this applied rather patchy to my lips.

I realized that Taurus, Grunge, and Chateau looked kind of similar, so here is a comparison swatch:

Top to bottom: Taurus, Grunge, and Chateau

Ultra Matte Lips

Top to bottom: Lumiere 2 and Mama

These are my favorite formula. These retail for $6.00 each and were $4.80 during the sale. I only have two today from the collection: Lumiere 2 and Mama. I already had these shades and they're staples in my collection.

Lumiere 2

Lumiere 2 is described as a "deep dusty mauve". I don't have the original Lumiere, but this color is gorgeous. I have been told that it is slightly different than the original color. This color looks different on everyone, so be mindful of that.

Mama

Mama is described as a "burnt orange". This came out as part of their fall collection this year and it takes everything in me to not wear it every day. It's a perfect orange-red that manages not to be super bright.

Ultra Satin Lips

Top to bottom: Frick n Frack, Point Zero, and November

I've only recently started trying these and I don't know why it's taken me this long. They have the staying power of the ultra matte's, but don't feel as dry. Just like the ultra matte's these retail for $6.00 each and were on sale for $4.80. I have the following colors: Frick n Frack, November, and Point Zero.

Frick n Frack

Frick n Frack is described as a "rosy terracotta". When I applied this to my lips, it looked more on the brown side to me. While I did think it was a pretty color, I didn't find it as opaque as the others. I did have to put on two coats to get the same pigmentation.

November

November is described as a "warm peachy pink". While I don't normally go for these kinds of colors, I was born in November and what can I say? I'm a sucker for names. This is a light pink, but is not pale. While I don't think I'll get a lot of use out of it for this time of year, I think it'd be perfect for the spring time (which is a little strange, considering the name).

Point Zero

Point Zero is described as a "cool toned grey brown". Kathleen said that out of her collection, that this is her favorite. I wouldn't describe this as an every day color, but the color is so unique and I think everyone needs this in their collection.

Highlighters

Left to right: Flexitarian and Lunch Money

These two highlighters are the only two I own so far. The colors are beautiful, but I haven't quite mastered the art of applying cream products. Any suggestions? These are originally $8.00 each and were $6.40 during the sale. The colors I have are: Lunch Money and Flexitarian.

Lunch Money

Lunch money is described as a "soft light gold" and is in their pearilzed finish. This is a very subtle highlight that can be worn every day.

Flexitarian

Flexitarian is described as a "white champagne" and is also pearilzed. This is more of the blinding highlight that many people love. I couldn't believe how pigmented and beautiful this shade is.

Here is a comparison of the two:

Top to bottom: Flexitarian and Lunch Money

Eye shadows

From left to right: Elixir, La La, Thirsty Girl, Midnight, and Muse

Last, but not least, we have the eye shadows. I love the formula of their eye shadows and they have so many to choose from! These retail for $5.00 each and were $4.00 during the sale. I have the following colors: Elixir, La La, Thirsty Girl, Midnight, Muse, Where the Light is kit that includes Glow, Kathleenlights, Blaze, and Cornelious (originally 18, 14.40 during the sale), and Game Face.

Elixir

Elixir is described as a "terracotta" and is in a matte finish. This seems like a great color for all over the lid or transition color and I'm excited to play around with it more.

Top to bottom: Elixir and La La

La La is described as a "metallic soft copper" and is in an ultra metallic finish. This color is so pretty in person. Kathleen said in her video that this shade makes her get the song "La La" by Ashlee Simpson stuck in her head and now I find that happening to me. Not going to lie, I listened to that song as I was doing this swatch.

Top to bottom: Elixier, La La, and Thirsty Girl

Thirsty Girl is described as a "metallic bronze with gold glitter" and is in an ultra glitter finish. This sold out during the sale and I can see why! I don't know if the holiday collection has a different formula, but this one felt extra creamy when I applied it.

Top to bottom: Elixir, La La, Thirsty Girl, Midnight, and Muse

Midnight is described as a "black shadow with gold glitter" and is in an ultra glitter finish. I can see a hint of green to this one as well and think it's perfect for the holidays.

Muse is described as a "metallic rose" and is an ultra metallic finish. I can't decide if I like this one or not because I don't really like pink colors all that much.

Here is a closer look at these shades:

Top to bottom: Elixir, La La, Thirsty Girl, Midnight, and Muse.

Where the light is foursome includes the shades Glow, Kathleenlights, Blaze, and Cornelious. This set is $18.00 and was $14.40 during the sale.

Top to bottom: Blaze, Kathleenlights, Cornelious, and Glow

Glow is described as a "creamy vanilla" and is in a matte finish. I don't know if it was just mine, but mine felt pretty chalky when I swatched it.

Kathleenlights is described as a "golden copper" and is in their pearilzed finish. I already owned this one and am planning on passing this other one along. Kathleenlights and Game Face are really similar, but definitely different. I will have a comparison picture below.

Blaze is described as "coco bronze" and is in a metallic finish. This is a shade that I can see myself using over and over. I looks like it also has some green or gold in it as well.

Cornelious is described as a "warm caramel" and is in a matte finish. I thought this was going to be too pink, but it is a beautiful warn pink, brown shade. I'm happy that I gave this one a shot!

Game Face

Game face is described as an "ultra metallic intense penny copper" and is in an ultra metallic finish. I already owned this one and it has clearly been used a few times. This is one of my favorite colors. It's darker than Kathleenlights and is more of a bronze.

Top to bottom: Game Face and Kathleenlights

Ok, I'm done.
What are your favorite products from Colourpop? Hope everyone is having a lovely holiday season!

Bacon, Though....

If I had a dime for every time I heard this, I could buy an island so I wouldn't have to hear it anymore. Quite frankly, I'm Jewish so I didn't eat bacon anyways. So I don't really understand the obsession. People want bacon on top of bacon on top of bacon. Yes, I know that sentence to some of you sounds appealing, but to others its revolting. But, here is where your bacon comes from.

As of right now, 97% of pigs in the United States are raised in factory farms. The conditions they live in are less than inhumane. They are cramped in tight cages with one another and have to sleep in their own feces, urine, and vomit. Because of these conditions, over 80% of pigs have pneumonia when they're killed. Every year, 150 billion animals are killed, 100 million of which are pigs. The pigs born are separated from their mothers at about two to three weeks of age (about 15% will die before even reaching this age) and will have their tails cut off so they won't bite them. They will also be conscious at the time of slaughter and their slaughter consist of hanging upside down while having their throats cut and bleeding to death (so much for humane).


Americans consume about 18 pounds of bacon per person a year (gross). It's no surprise that eating bacon has been linked to a greater chance of developing heart disease and stroke. Sixty-eight percent of calories from bacon is from saturated fat and one ounce of bacon contains 30 milligrams of cholesterol (again, I say gross). One slice of bacon also has 190 milligrams of sodium (Nutrition Label). Your daily recommended amount of sodium is 2,300 milligrams (According to Mayo Clinic).


Fun fact: eating processed meats as also been linked to a lower sperm count. I can't help but laugh at this mostly because of the "manly men" (I'm putting this in quotations because gender is something that society creates and is more fluid than just male and female- different post entirely) stereotype. Not saying that having a lower sperm count makes you less of a man. I think you get the joke though.


Eating meat (factory raised animals in particular) had been linked to certain diseases as well. MRSA and obesity are among those listed (The Week). But you can just have free range meats instead, right? I'm afraid not. In the documentary Cowspiracy, Kip Andersen discusses the amount of land that would be required for Americans to eat grass-fed beef (yes, I know it's not pigs, but bare with me). Just to feed the United States population, you would need all the land in the United States and part of Canada, Mexico, and South America. Yes, I mean ALL. No more cities, just grass for cows. Not the most sustainable solution. And it still posses the risks to your health, anyways.


I constantly hear that it's "un-American" to not eat bacon. Or even worse, that if you don't eat it, you should just leave. So I guess if your religion bans pork, you don't belong in America. I think this is supposed to be light-hearted (at least I hope), but it shows how attached Americans are to bacon. Trying to tell people how bad it is for your health and the environment and showing how pigs are treated doesn't seem to do any good when people want to put there hands over their ears. I think this shows a deeply held belief that people have a hard time letting go of. Even a quick Google search of "why you shouldn't eat pork" won't give you many results. In fact, most of what I found was people trying to justify their behavior. But, you can live without bacon. I promise. Plus, just look at this sweet little face.



Kat Von D Alchemist Holographic Palette Review

This highly anticipated palette that Kat Von D has spent seven years developing is finally here! And it's vegan! Kat Von D herself is vegan and is slowly changing her line to be completely vegan- yay! For VIB Sephora members, this was available on December 18th and will be available online for everyone else on December 22nd (today) on Sephora and Kat Von D's website. It will be in Sephora stores on January 5th. I have heard from some people that their local Sephora's already have it, but just in the back, and have been able to ask for it and purchase it. This product can be used on your eyes, lips, and face making it extremely versatile. Here are some pictures of the packaging:

The palette looks beautiful and Kat's hard work shows. I do agree with other reviews saying that the palette is really small- it can fit in my hand (see picture below)! Each color is also 1.53 grams. It is priced at $32.00 making the colors $8.00 each. The mirror is also tiny, so I can't imagine actually using it to apply makeup. An upside to the size is that you could easily travel with it.

The colors themselves are called {pink} opal, {ultra-violet} amethust, {green} emerald, and {blue} saphyre. These pictures were taken under a florescent light without natural lighting (darn you, Oregon, getting dark at 4:30), but the colors are still beautiful. I was moving around in the light and the holographic effect is awesome to look at! They also were very creamy and I didn't have to build it up to get a good swatch (I used my fingers for these swatches). I can't wait to play around with this palette more. I think you could create either a dramatic/intense or a subtle look with this palette.

Pictures are not doing it justice. When it catches the light, it's absolutely stunning. I'm a huge fan of this product and will post updates as I use it as an eye shadow, highlighter, and possibly on the lips. Overall, I'm in love! You can purchase the palette at Sephora and Kat Von D's websites.