How Cruel Is My Makeup Bag? | EYES & LIPS

Following last week’s post, I am back today to look into the rest of my makeup bag. Today I’m tackling the eyes and lip products I use the most.

As I explained last week, I really want to make this change. I feel like I should start making better decisions for both myself and the environment. As is the nature of this entire blog, I’m on a journey of becoming better and changing the makeup I used seemed to be such an easy way to contribute to this.

Anyway, here we go again:

THE ‘EVERYDAY’ FACE

EYES

• Essence : Make Me Brow + Eyebrow Designer + 2in1 Eyeshadow Primer

GREY AREA

“have received multiple responses that are unclear”. The site claims there has also been no response to clarification requests.

Once again, I thought this was a cruelty free brand. I love their brow products (which are dupes for Benefits!) but I’m not sure how I feel about this. I’m sure I can find similar products that are cruelty free.

• Natural Collection : Waterguard Mascara 

Could not find. 

However, this is a Boots own brand so I’m assuming they’re all in the same boat. I found Boots’ No.7 under the GREY AREA with unclear responses and that’s how I’m taking this product too. I’m sure I’ll find a better, cruelty free mascara elsewhere.

• Makeup Gallery : Eyeliner (Poundland)

Could not find.

I’m not sure what to feel about this. It claims that it is made in China, which I assumed (due to their laws) that this would make it not cruelty free but apparently it’s not that simple.

There is no doubt I can find a better, definitely cruelty free version so I’ll leave this for now. If you have any more information, please let me know.

• Zoeva : En Taupe Eyeshadow Pallette

CRUELTY FREE!

Finally! I’m so chuffed too, because I absolutely love this product and I am more than happy to continue buying from this brand.

LIPS

• NYX : Lip Lingerie (Push – Up)

CRUELTY FREE!

“…but their parent company is not”

The fact that this brand itself is cruelty free, means I will still support them – hopefully it’ll show their parent company what to do themselves. I have various NYX products and I am so happy I can continue to use them!

OTHER BRANDS

Considering how bad most of my results from this challenge were, I decided to look into a couple of other brands I own. I am one of those people that when I like a brand, I tend to stick to them so I wanted to check what else was going on.

• Lime Crime (Velvetine – Teddy Bear) : CRUELTY FREE! (+ 100% VEGAN)
• MUA (Lip Liner) – Caramel Nougat) : PENDING BRANDS 
• Barry M (Foundation) : CRUELTY FREE!
• Lush Cosmetics (Lip Scrub) : CRUELTY FREE (Obviously!)

THE CONCLUSION

CRUELTY FREE BRANDS

• Zoeva
• NYX
• Lime Crime
• Barry M
• Lush

I thought I had some kind of awareness or understanding of cruelty free makeup and how brands work, but I was SO wrong! I will continue to use the products I have now but when they run out I will replace them with a better brand.

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Stay tuned to see how I get on with cruelty free makeup and what I discover.

If you have any CF brand/product recommendations, please let me know.

Speak soon,

Rachael.

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Sources (all LogicalHarmony):

Cruelty Free Brand List

Brands To Avoid

Pending Brands

Grey Area Brands