makeup brands I'd like to try if they were cruelty free
- Missy
- Apr 26, 2020
- 5 min read
I've been a big fan of makeup for a long while, perfecting my blending techniques and my cateye (both debatable depending on the day) and having fun with different brands and products. I've purchased loads of different drugstore products and saved for months for more luxurious, expensive ones. I have the staples that, until my recent cruelty free kick, I repurchased for years and new products that I picked up on a whim or on recommendation from a YouTuber. What I'm trying to say is; I have a lot of products and a lot of brands sitting on my dressing table. That being said, I've managed to miss out on a lot of products and brands that now, since they're not cruelty free, I won't ever get to try- unless they change their ethics and stop testing on poor animals!
Benefit Cookie Powder highlighter
Honestly, I don't know why I've never bought anything from Benefit (aside from taking a stand against them for publicly supporting a very controversial YouTuber family that exploits their young children- but that's another topic). Even in my small-town Boots there's a mini Benefit counter in the way of the entrance, impossible to ignore.
I adore the aesthetic- I'm a huge fan of fun packaging as well as a fun product, and Benefit have
positioned themselves so cleverly with their image
and really clever ideas.
A perfect example; the super cute Hello Happy foundation and concealers (putting aside of course the disastrously minimal shade range)- absolutely adorable. I especially love the look of their cheek products, the box-like packaging is very innovative and appears to protect the product inside.
I'd have loved to try the Cookie Powder highlighter, a dusting of champagne with gold shimmer, but I remember why I never got around to it- at €34 for the single product it's a bit extortionate. Though, if Benefit became cruelty free certified tomorrow I'd love to try it out, or even buy a mini. Until then, though, I'll just have to live without it. A small price to pay compared to all those animals who live their lives in labs.
By Terry Paris By Light palette
I still get a horrible sickening feeling whenever I think about this palette. The French skincare-infused makeup brand is so Parisian, so chic, so me that I wanted to snap up every last item that they have to offer. And I absolutely would have. I came across the Paris By Light palette sometime in late February and it went straight onto my wishlist. I planned to order it at the beginning of March for that month's bigger makeup purchase, but alas. As I started my cruelty free investigations I was devastated to discover that By Terry isn't as ethical as I'd hoped.
The Paris By Light palette has a darker sister; Paris By Night. Both gorgeously Parisian-themed, I was drawn to the Paris By Light palette for its pretty pink shadows and that incredible taupe- at over €50 it's an either/or kind of purchase. Of all the products that I'm mentioning here, it's this palette that breaks my heart the most. Damn you, By Terry!
Nars Afterglow palette
Nars Cosmetics is a brand that I've always wanted to try, but I always just ended up buying something from another brand instead- you know that feeling? I think it might be because of how expensive everything is, even simple eyeliners. I doll my face up every day, I can't afford a €40 mascara! Nars was readily available when I lived in Manchester, and I'd often plan to go have a nosey around the counter but it just never happened. And now it never will.
Everyone and their mother has heard about Nars and its cult blush in shade 'orgasm'
(a bit provocative, but we'll go with it).
I personally don't wear blush so it's not something that I've ever been interested in looking into. That and, as a pale redhead, I can't imagine that any kind of blush would do me any favors.
The thing about Nars is that it's a brand that's very subtle which I generally don't appreciate- I like being that little bit extra. But the Afterglow palette doesn't quite fit with that subtle narrative, and that's what makes it interesting. Yes, it does have a lot of nudes that I already have in my other million eyeshadow palettes, that's not unusual. What makes the Afterglow palette stand out are the soft lilac and dusty pink shades of matte and shimmer that play with and compliment the golds and orange. I really appreciate the colour story and I think that if I had it in my hands I'd be able to easily create multiple different looks. I think I'll have to try and find a dupe....
Avène Hydrance Intense Rehydrating Serum
The French side of my family have sworn by Avène since before I was born.
As a child in the hot French summers my mother would spray refreshing mist onto my face in an effort to cool me down. As a teen my grandmother would softly apply her favourite creams onto my dry, itchy skin in an attempt to relieve my pain- her bathroom is like an Avène stockist! But as an adult, still struggling with eczema, I've never actually had the opportunity to try out the various creams, lotions and potions for myself. I've recently fallen down the rabbit hole of skincare and I'm excited to try new products to see how my skin reacts, and serums seem particularly interesting to me.
The Hydrance Intense Rehydrating Serum is one of Avène's best sellers in the Hydrance range. Formulated with the brand's famous Avène Thermal Water, one pump of serum rehydrates the face for 24 hours, while patented Cohederm helps to restore skin barrier and prevent water loss. Apparently it also reduces fine lines caused by dehydration after seven days of use. There have been so many tests that conclude that it's not too good to be true and my poor skin sobs for what could have been. I'm particularly annoyed that Avène is available in Boots- there's nothing more satisfying than collecting those points. Regardless, there are other brands out there that don't test on animals and that are just as good as Avène, I just need to find them.
What do you think? What's your opinion on cruelty free brands? Is it something that you research before buying makeup and skincare? And does anyone have a dupe for that By Terry palette? Thank you so much for reading my blog, it means a lot! If you have any suggestions or constructive criticisms do let me know in the comment section down below, I'd love to hear from you!
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