I've recently noticed that not many people are aware of the amount of animal testing that STILL goes on and I wasn't for long time. So I thought I'd write a little post and share with you what brands are cruelty free. I will also list cruelty free brands that are owned by parent companies who still test on animals, I choose not to buy from these brands as I feel as if I am still giving money to that industry. However, I'd rather people chose to buy products from cruelty free brands instead of brands that test on animals.
Cruelty Free Brands
Original Source
Lush
The Balm
Two Faced
Gosh
Wet and Wild
Barry M
Makeup Geek
Colourpop
Charlotte Tilbury
Soap and Glory
Illamasqua
Hourglass
ELF
BH Cosmetics
Sleek
Zoeva
Yes To
Dr Organic
PIXI
Paul Mitchell
Lime Crime
Becca
B.
Cover FX
Kevin Murphy
100% Pure
Anastasia Beverly Hills
Owned By Parent Companies That Test On Animals
Body Shop - Owned by Loreal
NYX - Owned by Loreal
Nars - Owned by Shiseido
Tarte - Owned by KOSE
Urban Decay - Owned by Loreal
All of the above information is from July 2016, if you are aware of any changes, I'd appreciate you letting myself and others know in the comments. Also let me know what your opinion on animal testing is!
Thanks for reading
Char x
Let's face it, there isn't many people out there, including myself that can straight up say that they are happy with their body and honestly that is upsetting. We seem to think that it is okay to compare ourselves to other people and this is because we are growing up in a society that is obsessed with peoples appearances, the sizes of our bodies, our facial features and the way we choose to dress. Imagine walking down the street and every single person looked the same, that would be a bit boring, wouldn't it? I'm definitely guilty of comparing myself to anyone I come across and pointing out the things I think are bad about myself. But we need to remember that everyone is different and everyone's body is different but that doesn't make you any less beautiful, each and every person is beautiful in their own way.
I remember walking down the stairs on the day of my prom and being absolutely petrified to leave my house. I just wanted to stay at home and avoid going to event where I would be surrounded by everyone I went to school with, parents and teachers. All I was thinking about was what people would think of me, what people would think of my dress, what people would think of my make up, what people would think of how I had my hair and I remember my sister turning round and saying "Char, no one is going to be worrying about what you look like. They will all be too busy worrying about themselves". At the time, I just brushed it off and continued to go on about how people will judge how I look. But since then, I have realised that my sister was right. Do you walk down the street and judge everyone that walks past? No. You walk down the street thinking that every single person is judging you and that isn't the case. We need to learn to love ourselves and stop focusing on what other people might think of us, it is only YOUR opinion that matters.
Now that I've finished rambling, I am going to give you a few tips which may or may not help you to feel slightly more confident with your body.
1. Point out something you like about yourself each day - Yes, this does sound extremely scary because who ever speaks about the positive things about themselves? A few weeks ago, a friend and I decided that each day we would share something that we liked about ourselves hoping that it would result in us being more positive. Which indeed it did, I use to look in the mirror and point out everything I disliked but I can now proudly say that I have started pointing out the things I like about myself.
2. Find a form of exercise that you enjoy doing! - Exercise is something that a lot of people dread but it doesn't have to be boring! You could do yoga, hiking, weight training, dancing, running, swimming or any other physical activity you enjoy. If you find the exercise you enjoy, I can guarantee that you will look forward to doing it and it will make you feel so much better.
3. Eat a balanced diet - I can assure you that if you put good foods into your body, you will feel good. This doesn't mean that you need to follow a strict diet, that is definitely not what I'm saying. All of our bodies are different, find a diet that works for you. For me personally, going plant based worked wonders and I feel healthier than I ever have before. Just make you are getting a range of fruit, vegetables, healthy fats, protein and whole grains. This doesn't mean you cut out all of your goodies, of course it is okay to demolish a packet of Oreos every now and then (lmao). Don't be strict on yourself!
Thanks for reading
Char x
After seeing so many other Bloggers sharing their love for subscription boxes, I've been very fond on the idea of having lots of goodies arriving at my house each month. So of course I signed up to one! I discovered LookFantastic whilst searching online and it stood out to me the most, it was full of amazing beauty products and was a reasonable price too, which was definitely a bonus. You are able to decide whether you receive the subscription box for 1 month, 3 months, 6 months or even 12 months. No matter how long you sign up for, you receive 6 products in every box. I went with the 12 month with the price of £11.25 per month, I thought this would give me more than enough time to make a fair judgement on the company and the box itself. I am very pleased with what arrived in July's box so I thought I'd give you a quick sneak peak.
The products in this months box were:
This Works - In transit camera close up
This is a product I didn't expect to work, especially since it is a mask, moisturiser and primer in one! My opinion soon changed when I tried it for the first time, it left my skin feeling great and I looked so much more awake than usual. That alone was amazing and then I discovered that it worked wonders as a primer! Usually my foundation starts to disappear by lunch time and this keeps it in place all day. It also leaves you with a matte finish, which is great for me as I have oily skin. If you have dry skin, I'd suggest using your normal moisturiser before applying this otherwise it will dry out your skin.
Bellapierre - Cheek and lip stain
When I saw that this product was CRUELTY FREE, I was overly excited to try it and it was the first product I used from this months box. After using it, I wasn't too keen on the shade of pink as it didn't suit my skin tone at all. I still kept it on all day, mainly to see if it was a good product in general and to my surprise, it was! Usually when I use a cheek stain, I'm left with a sticky feeling on my face but with Bellapierre, I can't even feel the product! I will be purchasing this again but in a more suitable shade for my skin tone and if you are looking for a new cheek/lip stain, I'd suggest trying this.
Mi Salon Series - Hair bands
Let's talk about the hair bands that everyone is raving about. I wasn't fussed about receiving these, hair bands are just hair bands, right? But they are so much more, they were designed to meet the crucial hair up needs. Now for someone who straightens their often, finding out that these hair bands don't leave an indent is amazing, I hate spending a whole hour straightening my hair and then as soon as I want my hair out of my face, it's no longer straight due to using an ordinary hair band. These bands can be used on all hair types, are great to use when you go to sleep and prevent head stress. Again, this is something that I was happy to hear. I have the struggle of wanting to keep my hair out of my face but after a few hours, I'm left with a headache due to having my hair up for too long. Now that I've switched to these, I can have my hair up for a longer period of time without worrying I'm going to be left with a headache afterwards.
Nuxe - Multi purpose dry oil
This was definitely the product that I thought I'd dislike the most, the thought of putting a glittery oil on face, body and hair didn't interest me one bit. Especially since I am prone to oily skin. But it absorbs quickly and doesn't leave your skin feeling greasy at all. It is definitely suppose to be used around this time of year, it looks great with a tan and smells divine. It does have a gritty feeling when you first apply it, due to the glitter but as soon as you rub it into your skin that feeling goes away and you are left with a golden glow on your skin. It can also be used on your hair, this came as a shock but after applying a small amount through my hair, I had healthy looking hair and all of my split ends disappeared into thin air.
Kebelo - Anti-Frizz cream
Now this was a product I was extremely excited to receive. I struggle with taming my mane on a day to day basis and no frizz creams seem to help. I wasn't expecting this to help either but I was in shock when it tamed my frizz ALL DAY! After washing and towel drying my hair, I applied a pea size amount through the ends of my hair and a tiny amount towards the roots (I tend to use less product near my scalp to prevent grease). I then left my hair to naturally dry and was left stunned once it had, my hair was a whole lot less frizzier than usual and easier to manage. I will definitely be re-purchasing this when I run out and I suggest it to anyone that struggles with taming their frizzy hair.
Benefit - Goof Proof Brow Pencil
Brows have never been something I've been overly fussed about, I'd just apply a little bit of powder and occasionally brow gel to keep them in place for the day. Although, I was never happy with my brows I didn't think to branch out and try new products. I had always heard good things about Benefit products in general and never got round to purchasing or trying anything myself. That was until this month when I received a life changing product (slightly over the top?). I am currently growing my brows out and this has been so helpful. I can use the tiniest amount of product and my eyebrows look so much fuller and have such a nice shape to them. I read a lot of reviews before trying it myself and most of them said the product was rock hard and difficult to use. Personally, it's the best eyebrow product I've EVER used and it glides on so nicely. I will definitely be trying the other products from their new collection in the near future.
I think subscription boxes are a great, easy and affordable way to discover new brands and products. Not only for beauty products but also for healthy snacks and you can EVEN subscribe to boxes for your pets (yes, you read that correctly). The thought of a box also arriving for my dogs each month fascinates me extremely, and there is a slight possibility that I will be signing up to one!
Overall, I was very impressed with the products I received this month and to my surprise, I liked all of them. I can't wait to see what is in store for next month. As I mentioned before, I signed up for 12 months so if you want me to review future boxes, please let me know! Also, leave any suggestions of other subscription boxes that you love. I'd love to hear about your favourites and possibly sign up to more.
Thanks for reading
Char x
One of my favourite things to do is try new vegan foods, so I thought why not try making my own? I decided that doughnuts would be the best bet because who doesn't enjoy a sweet treat? Well, I definitely do anyway. These cute mini doughnuts are great for parties, picnics, movie days with friends and just for a treat every now and then. To some extent, I know vegan foods can often scare non-vegans, if this is the case, why not head over to Alice's blog as she has a great recipe for non-vegan doughnuts.
You will need:
- 50g Vegan Butter
- 120ml Soya Milk
- 2 tbsp Sunflower Oil - For the doughnuts
- 500ml Sunflower Oil - To fry the doughnuts in
- 250g Plain Flour
- 50g Caster Sugar
- 1 tsp Baking Powder
- 1/2 tsp Salt
Method:
Step 1 - Melt the butter on a low-medium heat. Add the milk and two tablespoons of sunflower oil and then mix together. Once you've done that, take off of the heat and set aside.
Step 2 - Next, you will need to combine the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt in a separate bowl. You can then mix in the butter mixture and stir the ingredients together until it forms into a thick dough.
Step 3 - Now it is time for the messy part, forming the doughnuts! You will need to roll the dough into balls and create a hole in the middle using your thumb. You can use extra flour if the dough is a bit too sticky for your liking.
Step 4 - Heat up the 500ml of oil in a frying pan, you may need more or less depending on the size of your pan. You want the oil to be around 350° F, this can be tested by using a thermometer. If you haven't got one at hand, place a doughnut into the pan and if it sizzles, you can start frying.
Step 5 - Using a spatula, gently place the doughnuts into the frying pan. I'd suggest frying around 3-4 at a time so you have full control over all of them. Fry the doughnuts for around 2-3 minutes on each side, depending on the size you have made them or until they are golden brown.
Step 6 - Finally, transfer the doughnuts onto some kitchen roll to soak up the excess oil. Once you've done that, roll the doughnuts in the bowl of caster sugar and then your they are complete! Feel free to use any toppings of your choice, I just chose to keep it simple.
Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy this recipe!
Char x
