Cruelty-Free Make Up Brands

I don’t wear much makeup, but the products I do wear, I always make sure that they didn’t touch a hair on all of my furry friends!  There’s so many cruelty-free brands out there now, which is amazing because there’s no reason to harm animals when there’s alternatives to it. Here are my favorite products from cruelty-free brands.

Colourpop: I own about 39284289 of their liquid lipsticks. Their matte line is amazing, their super pigmented, they last all day, and don’t look crumbly and gross!! Big fan and they have SUCH a huge color range! Bonus, their only $6, regular price.

Too Faced: The Better Than Sex mascara…worth every cent!! I’ll splurge on mascara because that’s the one product I wear a lot. I’ve tried so many, but I’m definitely not switching mascaras for a while!

Wet N Wild: For special occasions, I use their foundation, and it’s one of the best I’ve tried. Lasts for hours, lightweight, you can control the coverage, and no flashback in photos. I got it for $6!

NYX: Their setting sprays and concealers are long-lasting and so affordable. I’ve repurchased their matte setting spray and HD Photogenic concealer a few times now!

Tarte: Their Lights, Camera, Lashes mascara is my second fave!! For eyeshadow, I love their palettes because they have such a good range of color and so easy to blend out, essential for me as a beginner!!

Dry Shampoo

I used to wash my hair every single day, but now that I lightened it, I wanna make sure it lasts for as long as possible!  I have a super oily scalp, so second day hair is a little rough for me. I don’t have much money to spend because of the holidays, so I tried out a DIY dry shampoo and it works WONDERS! Not to mention, it’s free of any toxins or other questionable ingredients. I’m seriously so impressed, plus I had everything in my kitchen!

Ingredients:
1 tablespoon of corn starch

1 tablespoon of cocoa powder

1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon

Directions:

Mix and apply with a powder brush. Adjust the cocoa powder and cinnamon based on your hair color! If you’re a blonde, you can probably do without it. I like to apply it underneath the first layer of my hair where it looks greasiness, then brush it through with my fingers. Store in a lidded container.

My Oily Skincare Routine

I’ve been blessed with minimal acne but my number one skin concern is it’s oiliness! Skincare is definitely something I’ve started to take seriously: after washing, I always cleanse, tone, use a serum/oil, and moisturize, and I do this twice a day! The products depend on the whether it’s night or day, but here are some tips that have helped me, plus my favorite products that I currently use.

Gel- Based Cleanser: They’re designed to remove excess surface oils. It’s a deeper cleanse, which can be more stripping depending on the ingredients. Some good things to look for are tea tree oil, witch hazel, or salicylic acid (which unclogs pores). I use one by Acure beauty.

Toner: Just make sure it’s alcohol-free! Witch Hazel is a good natural astringent, I find this cheap at T.J Maxx/Marshall’s. An astringent is stronger compared to a regular toner, astringents are designed to get rid of excess oils. In the mornings, I currently use Botanics Mattifying Toner with Willowbark, another natural cleanser to reduce acne and excess oils. At night, I cleanse my face with Thayers Witch Hazel Astringent, which is different from their alcohol-free toners.

Oils: Don’t fear oils! You want to balance your skins oils, so stripping them is just as bad as having excess oil. Jojoba, tea tree, and argan oils are all great lightweight options, since they have a smaller molecular size that allow it to easily sink into the skin without clogging pores.
Moisturizer: Choose a lighter serum, gel, or lotion, creams are typically heavier. Look for the label “non-comedogenic” which won’t clog pores. Look for the words “oil-free” which means no added oils! Your skin won’t really benefit from heavy extras like coconut oil, so look for hyaluronic acid and glycerin. Both are hydrating but lightweight.
SPF: So important for EVERYONE. Look for a moisturizer with added SPF, and with ingredients like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide that absorb excess oils. I use Aveeno Smart Essentials Moisturizer with SPF 30.

Masks: Try it 2-3 times a week, same with exfoliating. Clay, charcoal and mud masks reduce excess oils best. Exfoliants with salicylic acid help clear the skin of dirt, excess oil, and dead skin.

Hopefully this gave some of you ideas on things to look for and even add to your routine!