5 products for summer that I currently love

Summer is here! Its hot EVERYWHERE (unless you live in the Southern hemisphere in which case, its winter for you!). Make up melts if you put too much on. The trick is to use multitasking products and don't cake it on. Since its be really gross here in Singapore with the hazardous levels of haze/smog/smoke from the nearby forest fires in Sumatra, I've been doing some skincare rituals at home to make sure that my pores aren't clogged 24/7 yet keeping everything simple.

1) Nutriganics Foaming cleanser by The Body Shop

I've been using this foaming cleanser for about a month now and like how light this feels. Its $26.90 SGD so it won't break the bank and its part of The Body Shop's Nutriganics line.
















2) Origins Make a Difference moisturizer

This moisturizer blends right in and light for daily use but can also be layered on for more moisture at night. I use it both a.m. and p.m. as well as on my neck. I like the fact that it isn't greasy or sticky.

















3) Josie Maran's Broad Spectrum SPF+40 lotion

Its not so easy to find a sunscreen that is light, watery, and blends right in without that white, greasy, sunscreen smell, and heavy texture. When my Kate Somerville sunscreen serum ran out, I started using this. Its lighter than the Kate Somerville sunscreen and smells like her argan oil products (a little like a kid's multivitamin).













4) Urban Decay Naked 2 eyeshadow palette

I really like this palette because there's so much you can do with it. I like to play around with the darker colors to be used as a liner. With all the hype that has everyone coveting the Naked palettes this one certainly lives up to its fame. I'm not a big fan of palettes with colors that you probably won't use. You'd love this one because ALL the colors in this palette is beautiful.













5) VMV Hypoallergenics Ooh-La-Lash Volumizing Mascara

I can't say enough good things about this mascara. This mascara is hypoallergenic, 100% dye free, non-comedogenic, and best of all it works really well! It doesn't smear, coats the lashes to create beautiful feathery long lashes and doesn't make my lashes fall out.















All opinions regarding these products are my own personal opinions alone. The pictures are taken from the companies websites which are linked to this blog. No companies or product endorsements here.

Nude Face Cleanser

Face cleansers are such a necessity and I'm not brand-loyal when it comes to my bathroom cabinet. I like to try different products but there are a few standouts in the facial cleanser department. I was recently using Nude skincare's Purify Cleansing Wash and absolutely loved how gentle but effective this cleanser is. It would clean off the day's grime and melt away make up. I could even open my eyes while applied it in circular motion all around my face. Reminds me a little of Fresh's Soy Face Cleanser.  The ingredient list on this product isn't super long and this product is paraben-free.

In regards to cruelty-free and animal testing, this company does NOT test on animals and attempts to use ingredients that are not tested on animals however, they don't have the cruelty-free stamp because I guess some of the ingredients they have used have at some point been tested in a lab but not anymore. *sigh*

I did find the following information on their website though:

NUDE never tests on animals. When selecting the ingredients to be used in our cosmetic products, NUDE requires raw material suppliers to provide safety information based on scientifically accepted alternative testing methods that meet international safety standards and regulations. NUDE products must meet both consumers' needs and consumer safety, while respecting animal life. NUDE continues to strongly support & favour alternative testing and is committed to following all animal testing laws and regulations in order to ensure our products' safety for the end consumer.

Each country has its own specific regulations that are regularly updated. NUDE’s parent company, LVMH, has always been actively involved in the search for alternative testing methods for many years and supports several industry research programs, including those conducted by the Johns Hopkins University Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing, the European Chemical Industry Ecology and Toxicology Centre (ECETOC), the European Cosmetic, Toiletry and Perfumery Association (COLIPA) and the Personal Care Products Council (PCPC).

NUDE is against cruelty to animals. It is our goal to be as transparent and honest with our customers as possible. We believe the "cruelty free" certifications provide unclear explanations to consumers, as it implies that none of the ingredients incorporated into products have ever been tested on animals. This is a nearly impossible certification for any cosmetic company to make. We prefer to be able to stand 100% behind our claims.

NUDE does not test our cosmetic products on animals and we require our raw material suppliers to provide safety information based on scientifically accepted alternative testing methods. It is nearly impossible for any cosmetic company to certify that all new and existing ingredients incorporated into products have never been tested on animals as part of the safety research and certification process. NUDE selects high quality raw materials with well-established safety records and uses an extensive ingredient database. NUDE is committed to maintaining the highest standards of human safety while eliminating the need for testing on animals.

I think they are in the right direction though. They are actively not looking at ingredients that are routinely tested on animals but also state that they are not positively sure that the particularly ingredients they have used in their products have never been tested on animals in the past.

With that being said, I believe the EU has recently banned animal testing in labs and this is a UK based company. I think it is a step in the right direction to be conscious about the animal-cruelty that goes on in labs across the globe just for human consumption. Baby steps is still better than no steps at all to becoming a conscious beauty consumer. I love my bunnies too much. 

3 Companies Booted Off Cruelty-Free List

3 Companies Booted Off Cruelty-Free List: After two decades of touting their "no animal testing" policies, Avon, Estée Lauder, and Mary Kay have quietly resumed paying for cruel tests on animals—without letting consumers know about this stunning about-face.

As a make up artist and bunny lover, I cannot condone the act of testing of cosmetic products on animals. Why does an animal have to suffer for us to enhance our beauty? There are many cosmetic companies that don't test on animals.
Among those that are some of my favorites:
100% Pure (skincare, body products)
AHAVA (skincare)
Anastasia Brows (specializing on brow products)
Ardell (great cheap false lashes!)
Bare Escentuals (mineral make up - my fave is the mineral veil)
Bath & Body Works (great smelling hand soaps!)
Boscia (skincare - the blotting papers are the best!)
C.O. Bigelow (skincare, make up - Rose salve is amazing so is their moisturizer!)
Caudelie (skincare, body - their body scrub is divine!)
Crabtree and Evelyn (body - have been using their body products since I was tween!)
Dermalogica (skincare - my facialist uses and swears by their products and I've used them too as a result, the only downside is the smell)
Dr. Hauschka (cult skincare line coveted by many top models and celebs!)
FACE Atelier (make up - great pro product)
Henri Bendel (LOVE their candles!)
JAM Cosmetics (make up for dance/theatre - I used to freelance for this company when the owner was starting this line - pretty good product)
Juice Beauty (skincare - their cleanser smells like apples!)
Jurlique (skincare - their hydrating sprays are refreshing)
L'Occitane (skincare, body - love the smells of their products)
LaRocca skincare (I did a post about their products on this blog - Love the gold infused products, makes your skin GLOW)
Murad (skincare - good solid skincare that works and doesn't smell bad)
MyChelle (skincare - sunscreen isn't irritating and doesn't cast a whitish ring on the face)
Obssessive Compulsive Cosmetics (make up - this is a pro make up line and has an amazing line of highly pigmented products, their tinted moisturizer is the BEST, it feels like silk)
OPI (nails - they have a great selection of nail polish from neutral to whats the "it" color for the season)
Origins (though owned by Estee Lauder - does not test on animals http://www.origins.com/customer_service/aboutus.tmpl#/Products)
Smashbox (though owned by Estee Lauder - does not test on animals http://www.smashbox.com/customer_service/faq#animal_testing)
Stila Cosmetics (make up - I am a big fan of their products and have mentioned them in this blog many times)
Suki (skincare - organic line of skincare that smells great! The shelf life is less than non-organic lines though)
Tarte (make up - they have a great line of cheek stains and the mascaras are pretty decent too)
The Body Shop (skincare, body, make up - I've been using Body Shop products since my tweens and still love them to this day)
Trader Joe's Company (TJ's makes body & skincare products too - cheaply priced and smells good)
Urban Decay (make up - great versatile line and lots of colors for eyeshadows to experiment looks with - they make great palettes around the holidays!)
Yes to Carrots (skincare, body - my boyfriend uses their products and it is a good line for an affordable price)

For the complete list please visit PETA