Avon, Estee Lauder And Mary Kay Allegedly Testing Makeup On Animals

Well, hell. I try to stick to the cruelty free brands, with a few exceptions (alpha hydrox), because if I know 100% that a company tests, I try to find an alternative brand. I prefer to reward good companies with my $$$. I found this news on Huffington Post, which I noticed while reading an article about Azaria Chamberlain:

Seems like 2012 is already the year of repeats; debates long-considered settled are rearing their contentious heads once again. From birth control making headlines, to the prevalence of fur at fashion week, its seems like it's the Revenge of the Past coming back to haunt us.

And so it is with animal testing, which for many of us who love both animals and makeup, is another issue that's come full circle. Turns out all that the time spent in the late '80s and '90s signing petitions was just a stay of execution for the nefarious practice of testing "beauty" products on defenseless animals (like the bunnies above; rabbits are used for testing because they are such docile creatures).

While I always hear people disparaging the group, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is once again on the front lines, making sure that we all know this is happening. (I would argue that PETA and Greenpeace have done more for animals in the past 20 years than all the other animal-advocacy groups put together, but that's fodder for another post.) But like any old story with a modern twist, this one involves China.

Turns out that currently, the Chinese government requires animal testing for beauty products sold in China, and PETA reports that while Mary Kay has been trying to work with the government to come up with new testing solutions for cosmetics that don't involve animals, Estee Lauder and Avon have gone along with the government requirements without complaint. Since the companies are all currently doing animal testing, none of these companies' products can bear the "cruelty free" designation (indicated by the leaping bunny logo), and have been removed — after long standing — from PETA's "Don't Test on Animals" list to the "Do Test" list.

Again, well, hell. I like Estee Lauder, and had started to order this set they have out, the Beautiful Skin To Go collection, but I think I'll pass.

Full article.

REVIEW: Clarins Bright Plus HP Intensive Brightening Mask

I wasn't sure I was going to like this. I applied it to the backs of my hands for a test, left it on for 5-10 minutes, washed it off, and felt itchy and kind of bumpy. I went ahead and applied it to my face though, and I am glad I did. I've used it 3 times, so far, every other day. I've gotten 3 uses out of 2 tubes, but I apply it quite thick. It seems like a plain cold cream, nothing you'd expect to see big results from, but it has done pretty much everything it claims. It has faded my post-breakout marks, and they usually take weeks to fade, because I'm pale and every scratch shows. It is non-drying though, it has not made me feel chapped, the way masks like Queen Helene's Mint Julep are inclined to do. It doesn't make my skin oily, either.

The mask, though not a typical acidy peel, does make my skin look very red and blotchy for awhile afterwards. It also itches, but it has not caused a breakout. Like I said, I put it on thick, so it takes some wiping to get it back off. After the redness fades, my skin looks better and better. My pores look smaller, even those on my nose. The smell is ok, it has a slight fragrance, not medicinal, kind of flowery. I leave it on my face for a little over 5 minutes, but not as long as 10 minutes, because it itches worse afterwards. If you leave it on too long, it will separate and come off in clumps. I would recommend it to others, but if you have especially sensitive skin, you should do a patch test.

Glam Bag giveaway @ Ulta

Free with a $35 purchase. It is 14 pieces. They are offering free shipping with $25 purchase, the code is SHIPFEB12.

link.

Free year of Elle Magazine with $25 Sephora Purchase

The code is ELLE4U

**Magazine Offer Details:
Elle magazine subscription included with your purchase of more than $25 of Sephora merchandise is a magazine subscription valued at $10-you will not pay one penny more than your Sephora.com purchase price for this customer benefit. There are no hidden costs, further obligations, or bills associated with your subscription. Sephora will not share your credit card information with anyone for this offer but will need to forward your mailing address to the Elle magazine publisher for the purpose of fulfilling your subscription. Please allow six to 10 weeks for delivery of your first issue. Your Elle magazine will be delivered to the billing address you provided. If you would like to arrange delivery to an alternative address, please contact https://www.m2mediagroup.com/feedback. Offer is available to customers within the 50 United States and District of Columbia. Orders from outside the U.S. are not eligible for this promotion. When a magazine is selected with a non_U.S. address, it will be automatically removed. Sephora is not responsible for the magazine subscription fulfillment. If you elect not to receive Elle magazine, you may request a rebate for the stated value by printing and completing the rebate form and submitting within 30 days of your purchase. Include a copy of your receipt as proof of purchase. Please allow six to eight weeks for processing. Rebate offer is available to customers within the 50 United States and the District of Columbia only.

Bodycology Body Mists

Bought 3 of these @ Ulta because they were buy 2 get 1 free, and I'm always up for trying anything vanilla-y. They were $1.99 each, and I think they have them at drugstores, but I've never noticed them here. I bought Vanilla Cupcake, Brown Sugar Vanilla, and Island Coconut. Of the three, I think the Brown Sugar Vanilla is my favorite. I smells like a complex perfume, rather than a vanilla-scented water. It is very warm, and it isn't as sweet as I'd expected, which is ok. The Vanilla Cupcake is a bit disappointing, it is only vaguely vanilla and smells very thin. The Island Coconut doesn't smell much like coconut, but I have a hard time finding anything that really smells like coconut. It smells like coconut scented paper, if that makes any sense. These don't bother my allergies. Can't say I'd repurchase.

Essence Colour & Go Nail Polish in WAKE UP!

Yech, where to start? Yea, it was only .99, but there are a lot of under $5.00 nail polishes that last forever, so what is up with this? I love Went 'n Wild, and Sinful Colors, and Avon, and assumed Essence would be as good. But...I'd had my toenails painted for a couple hours & looked down and the polish had chipped on several toes. You can literally touch the polish and it peels off.

The color is beautiful--a bright orange/coral--but what is the point of messing with it if you can't make it out of the house without chipping? One year, I went almost a month with an Avon polish on my toes. Made it weeks without any major chipping--just had to use a toothpick to dot the tips, mostly. That included wearing sandals, and doing things like mowing the grass barefoot. This is like the polishes they put in those make up kits for 5 year olds. Like colored water. It peels like tissue....

storage idea

Awhile back I bought an over-the-sink shelf for my kitchen, but I ended up using it in the bath to hold beauty supplies that would normally be in the cabinet & forgotten about. I can't say it looks neat, but it looks neater than before...

 Toilet paper on left. Candle for when it storms & the lights go out--that is wax on the mirror:

what's in my bag

Or Peggy Bundy's bag:

I carry:

Hand sanitizer--hand lotion--keys with pepper spray and whistle--makeup--gum--handkerchief (looks kind or grimy)--tissues--blotting papers--wet wipe--Fossil vanity--pink & black bag from Too Faced--phone (it is a Tracfone--I hate phones, don't care to talk to anyone except in person, and I have a landline, the Tracfone gets the internet and I like that option. It is actually 1 of 2 that I usually carry). In the summer I carry a mini-deodorant, because I'm always afraid I'll forget to put any on. Tampons are carried in a black leopard pencil case--I think it is an Estee Lauder. The denim thing is a CD holder (yea, I know). It also holds discs of my backup photos.

Gosh, look at all that pink & red..

In the Too Faced bag--flash drives with photos--10-in-1 survival tool--allergy meds--pins and pens--bobbies, hair stuff--mini post-it pad--toothbrush & paste--mini Tweezerman tweezers--and bandages, which I can't be without because my shoes are rarely made for walking.

The robot vanity:

3 Lip glosses--including a Too Faced Diamond Gloss which was a deluxe sample from Sephora in 2005 or 2006. I still use it. It isn't rancid.

How cool am I? So cool that I have an Aluma wallet.

The pink bag on the left holds my camera, which is a circa 2007 Kodak Easyshare.

the awwwww ring

It arrived:

It was about $1.50, on eBay. It is heavy & nice. Much nicer than I'd expected.

I think it is a robot...

My new vanity case:

It is Fossil's Penelope Frame Pouch.

I had a frame pouch years ago, and loved it, to death. It was canvas and eventually fell apart. So I've been eyeing this one @ Belk, and when it went on sale for $10.99, I made it mine. I wanted the pink one, but it had a little bird on it, and I figured I'd lose that bird at some point. So I bought the red, not really seeing what the decoration was--it is a robot. Which isn't me. But I like it.


This is what I used to hold lip glosses and mints and mirrors and such:

A Clinique GWP pouch...

I liked it, but it was a coin purse, so it is small.

The newbie holds more:

I love you, newbie...

Clarins Bright Plus HP Intensive Brightening Mask

To qualify for free shipping, in addition to my Clinique order, I bought Clarins Bright Plus HP Intensive Brightening Mask. It was $32.50 for 8 tubes/applications, which seems like a good deal. I don't have many dark spots on my face, unless I've had a breakout, and those spots are slow to fade. I mostly wanted to try it to revive & brighten my skin overall. It will be a few days before I can give it a go, because I am currently broken out from using Jergens Natural Glow on my face. :-D


Info from the Clarins website:

Unrivaled skin tone correcting mask restores the brightness, clarity and radiance of youthful-looking skin in just 5 minutes! Clarins’ proprietary blend of Alchemilla, Raspberry and Vitamin C helps fade freckles, dark spots and discolourations - delivering the ultimate hyper pigmentation protection. Used twice a week for 4 weeks, 97% tested reported a dramatic improvement in clarity and brightness.


Brightening Peel and Intensive Brightening Mask can be used alone or together. For complete renewal of the skin, twice a week, apply with a cotton pad soaked in lotion. Sweep over the face and neck, avoiding the eye contour. Follow with Intensive Clear Mask. Apply to a dry face and neck. Avoid the eye contour area. Leave for 5-10 minutes then rinse with water. Follow with your regular Bright Plus HP products.

Clinique Up-Lighting Liquid Illuminator

I've wanted to try Clinique's Up-Lighting Liquid Illuminator for awhile, but held out until they had a GWP. I decided to try it in Blush, to use as a....blush. I do better with liquidy blushes, like Benetint and Posietint. This is very pigmented and a little overwhelming with the first squeeze (and a ton comes out, so be careful--put it on your hand or blend it on with a sponge). It can be blended down to sheerness (I haven't done a swatch yet, I'm still covered in sunless tanner). It does shimmer, but it isn't too bad. I'm pretty sure this will work mixed with lotion or sunblock. I couldn't decide between the neutral shade or the pinky shade, but decided on the Blush color because I already have a nearly full bottle of Benefit's High Beam (which I love, BTW). I think I'll like this well enough, but the smell is pretty odd. Not perfumey, just chemically, and..odd. The bottle is MUCH bigger than I'd expected--it is about 6" tall with the pump. Again, I'll swatch it shortly.

My gift with purchase:

As it looked in the ad:

My choice includes:
7 Day Scrub Cream Rinse Off Formula (1 oz)
Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion (1 oz)
Lash Doubling Mascara in Black
Colour Surge Eye Shadow Duo in Lucky Penny and Chocolate Chip, Different Lipstick in Surprise (full size), and Long Last Glosswear SPF 15 mini in Stellar Plum
Cosmetic bag
(info and stock photo from GWPaddict)

Will add swatches & reviews soon. So far, the lip gloss is my favorite. It is sheer, and has absolutely no funky taste or smell. The Chocolate Chip eye shadow is beautiful--it is matte, and more sheer than the others I have. So, for the price of the Illuminator, I got a pretty good chunk of try-mes, and I LOVE try-mes.

Mario Badescu Summer Shine Body Lotion

Most days it is up in the 50s and 60s, and I'm itching for spring. I've been testing out warm-weather products and colors, in addition to prepping my skin for some exposure. I saw Mario Badescu's Summer Shine Body Lotion on Amazon and decided to give it a shot. The description:

Enriched with Vitamin A, this greaseless body lotion subtly shimmers for a radiant glow. Reduces the appearance of dull, dry skin with natural moisture retaining ingredients like Beeswax and Peanut Oil. Makes a great accessory for those sexy halter dresses!

6oz is $10 +$2.50 shipping.

It is not a bronzer, even though it is a beigy-gold color. This will not add much color, but it does add shimmer. Lovelylovelylovely ladylike sexy shimmer. Meaning: you won't look like a shiny Real Housewife wannabe. The fragrance is, well, hard to describe. It is summery, but not like citrus or coconut. I want to say it smells a little like papaya, something sweet and a little foody. I like whatever it smells like--it smells clean, and cool, and fresh.

For my $10+$2.50 shipping I received:

Not a bad haul!