MAN...

Today, here is something different than what I usually publish. But I swear, it's worth it!!

A beautiful short video (3:36) that shows how human uses animals and the planet.

Don't worry, there is no difficult images to look at.

Video by Steve Cutts.

OPI - Off PETA's cruelty free list! :(

As if 2012 didn't take enough brands off our cruelty free lists, here is probably another one.

Sadly, OPI disapeared from PETA's good list.

I print out once in a while that list to have proof a brand was on it.


So here is a pic of it - Last updated Dec 3rd, 2012:

And now, a pic of PETA's list on their website - Today, Dec 25th, 2012:
(link if you want to see by yourself)

Disapointed ? Yeah, me too.
Surprised ? Not really, it belongs to Coty...


The reason why I think they're not cruelty free no more ? They seem to be now available in China (mandatory testing) :

It would help the animal cause if you too would write (politely) to them and tell them how you feel about this.

On their website : http://www.opi.com/contact.shtml
On facebook : https://www.facebook.com/OPIProducts
On twitter : https://twitter.com/OPI_PRODUCTS

Please, let me know what are your feelings about this!

100% Pure - Part 2

As promised, here is 100% Pure part 2.
If you missed the first part, you may read it here.

Today, we're looking at a hand cream and 3 eye shadows.

Vanilla Bean Hand Buttercream 

A hand butter cream! mmmm...

Scent of vanilla bean.

It is a thick texture.
Great for Canadian winters!

What to say about the scent ?

Well, that's the best vanilla scent I ever was allowed to smell in a cosmetic!!

Forget about The Body Shop products.
This one smells way better!
(and doesn't belong to L'Oréal!!)

I almost want to order a full box !!
Seriously, I adore this cream.

I terribly long to buy again from 100% Pure and try their body lotion.
And why not, maybe a giveaway for you soon ? to follow...

Oh yeah, I really want you to know: I LOVE THAT CREAM!!

Ok, I stop  :- P

Fruit Pigmented Satin Eye Shadows

This, I got as a gift for ordering.
Each time you order, 100% Pure gives you a little something.

What made me happy, besides receiving 3 eyeshadows instead of only one, it is not samples! Full size only.

These eyeshadows are colored with fruits (and vegetables).
I prefer that kind of coloring as opposed to crushed bugs... (For  those who didn't know, sorry to tell you, but it's better that you know)

So here are the colors, from top to bottom :

Tahiti
Bora Bora
Barbados

Dream destinations!

3 colors that fit well together.

As you can see, the colors are sparkling.
It is pretty silky when applied.

Despite my best efforts, the photo is not doing justice to the colors.
They are just exquisite.

I will not hesitate to order 100% Pure eye shadows in the future.

My conclusion

100% Pure has conquered my heart!
The products are natural & vegan (except for certified cruelty free honey in some products)
It is excellent quality.

Is there anything else to say ? If this brand would open a store in Quebec, I'd go bankrupt!!


*if you are against animal testing and like this blog, don't hesitate to join by subscribing at the top of the page, on the right side + liking the facebook page! :-)

Happy Holidays!!

I'd like to take a moment to thank you all for visiting this blog and for your support to the animal cause!

 

I also wish you a merry x-mas and a happy new year for 2013!!

 

 

Thank you from Smarty & I : )

 

 

 

 

 

 

100% Pure - Part 1

I've been thinking about 100% Pure for a while.
For us, in Quebec, it is only available on line. That's why I did not try it sooner.

If I knew what I know now, I would never have waited so long before ordering it.

What's interesting about the brand, is there is no perfumes, no chemicals, no artificial colors or any other unhealthy toxins.
You understand where the name comes from now ?

Also, this line of skin care & body care + cosmetics is practically vegan.
The only non vegan ingredient you may find is cruelty free honey.

My order

Mint White Tea Tonic

Vanilla Bean Buttercream for hands

Eucalyptus Seafoam facial cleanser

Pineapple Enzyme Peel Off Mask

I also got 3 eye shadows as a gift for ordering. (Full size!!)


Since I have a lot to say, I decided to split this in 2 posts.

If I don't, you'll stop reading before the end!

Part 1 - Cleanser, Tonic and Mask

The cleanser I chose is meant for oily skins.

I want you to know I really like it.

Eucalyptus Seafoam

I found it to be a bit liquid, but it makes a lot of foam quickly.

Once out of the shower, my skin is clear and well cleansed.

It is $25 for 100 ml.
It is a bit expensive if you compare to drugstore brands, but when you have a mixed or oily skin, you look for THE product, and I believe this one is a really good option for me.

I know I will empty the bottle and reorder.

And not to forget! There's drawings of seahorses and sea stars on the package!
(I know, don't tell me! loll)

The tonic is nice, I like it.

Mint white tea

I think it is as good as the Alba one.
(That's a compliment!)

But it is a bit more expensive. We are talking of $24 for a 177 ml bottle.

It is a glass bottle, which I like a lot.

It's meant for normal to oily skins.

We feel it working on the skin.
It stings a little. (a good sting!)

The scent is pretty nice.
I'm satisfied.






The Mask is a brightening one. I can tell you it works.

It comes as a powder mix, in a glass pot. It's charming.

Pineapple enzyme

We have to prepare it ourselves.

100% Pure suggests to use water, tea or even yogurt.

I used water since the product is vegan and I wanted to keep it that way.

Once dry, it's a peel off.
And it peels! Really!
My skin was a bit sensitive for the rest of the evening.

There was no redness but I knew I used the mask for a while!

If you prefer a ready to use mask, 100% Pure does offer some.

It's $22 for 57 gr.

My Verdict

I adore it, as simply as that. I do not regret buying it.
I'm already preparing part 2 : hand cream + eye shadows.

You'll get the post within next week. I promise!

I'm curious to know if you already tried 100% Pure ?
Tell me what you think.

Mary Kay! Would you lie to me ?

In the cosmetics industry, there are lots of lies when it comes to animal testing.
Many brands do not hesitate to tell you what you want to hear, as long as they get your money.

I was told before that Avon & Mary Kay make it a common practice to tell customers their products are crueltyfree.

But if you do some research, you'll find out they're not!

Both companies are well established in China.
If you follow this blog, you know this automatically implies tests on animals.

Indeed, chinese laws require those tests in order to be able to sell cosmetics on their territory.

I never witnessed any lies about that matter from Avon or Mary Kay, until recently...

On twitter, someone asked me if she should believe a MK salesperson who told her they are crueltyfree.

Of course, I said no.

I gave her this link where you get really interesting information about what's going on in China.

I also shared the link on Twitter & Facebook.

It got shared by a friend and here's what happened.

As you can see, someone was told MK does not test on animals.

What's interresting in that comment is that she shares her source's name.

I clicked on that name to find out this person is an executive sales director at MK...

What do you think about that ? Yeah, that's what i thought.

What should you learn from this?

Just be careful. Cosmetics companies want your money, and some are willing to lie for it.

I can not say that these two MK representatives actually did say the brand is cruelty free. I'm not the one who spoke with them.

However, we witness a lot of lies about animal testing.

Choose your information source.

Someone who wants to sell you something should not be your source.
A friend that thinks she knows should not be your source either.

Please, tell me if Mary Kay did ever tell you their products are not tested on animals ? I would like to know about it!

St-Ives, ain't no Saint!

Here's an alternative

If there is a popular product in drugstores, it is St-Ives's facial scrub. 
Not surprising if you think about it. It is good & affordable!

But one day, the brand disappeared from PETA's good list.
And we know it doesn't happen for no reason.

Since I refuse to buy a product without knowing for sure that it's cruelty free, I went on a mission!

I've been looking for a while for something in the same prices.
I've found lots of products, really interesting ones, but nothing as cheap.

Then I found this! from the Feeling Beautiful line made by Freeman

It costs $3.99 for 150 ml.
(same size & price than St-Ives)

I found this at Loblaws, but you may also get it at Walmart and drugstores.

Since my first experiment with a Freeman product was satisfying, I did not hesitate.

What I think about it

What a great smell !
It is a pink grapefruit scent.

It is a thick gel but we feel the grains exfoliate the skin.
There's nothing worse for me than a scrub that doesn't seem to do the job!

A small amount is enough.

 

 

 

Scrub your face, not a rabbit!

Freeman products are on PETA's good list and is also vegan according to that same list.

2 for 1!

No animal testing, and no animals suffering in a factory.



What about you? Do you like that scrub ? Will you try it ?

Christmas !

Did you start your Christmas shopping already ?
Uninspired ?

Here are my suggestions for a Christmas without cruelty! Peace on earth to all!




1- Gift packs from Lush  - $12 to $200 - a wide selection!
2- NYX makeup sets - $15 to $55.
3- Too Faced : Sweet Indulgence palette at $52 & the Teddy Bear Hair Professional Brush Set at $65.
4- What about making a personalised set with some nail lacquers ? NARS, SpaRitual, GOSH, butter london and china glaze - $7 to $20 each.
5- Ginger Sparkle collection from The Body Shop - a body butter at $19 and a hand cream for $6.
6- Stila - All is bright lip glaze set - $25.
7- A must: Beauty blender sponge for $21.

Bah! who cares about the price?!

Best of Stila makeup case, for $250.

A makeup case that includes :

• Stay All Day™ Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner in Intense Black
• Passion Fruit Crush Lip & Cheek Stain
• Smudge Stick Waterproof Eye Liner in Stingray & Starfish
• Lip Glaze – Grapefruit & Gleam (exclusive shade)
• Major Major Lash Mascara in Black
• Convertible Color in Lillium
• Long Wear Liquid Lip in Muse & Caprice
• In the Garden Eye Shadow Palette (includes a how-to look book)
• Stay All Day™ 10-in-1 HD Beauty Balm
• Custom Color Blush in Pink
• All Over Shimmer Liquid Luminizer in Bronze Shimmer
• Smudge Crayon in Midnight Blue & Pink Violet
• Jewel Eye Shadow in Blue Sapphire & Black Diamond

So? What will you offer to your people ?