The Unstoppable K-Rex

Make-up, beauty products, movies, geeky things.  I'm a jack of all trades.

[unstoppablekrex]

Monday’s Motivation

All dogs should be as lucky as mine! Not a care in the world.

[unstoppablekrex]

Monday’s Motivation

I live next to a farm. This time of year is when the baby cows are born. The babies act a lot like dogs, running and playing together. These animals are one of the many reasons why I am going cruelty-free and I am transitioning to becoming a vegetarian. Right now, I really don’t eat much red meat and I’m trying not to eat poultry, but I’m a rather picky eater!

[unstoppablekrex]

Cruelty-Free Products: Wet n Wild Photo Focus Eyeshadow Primer

My favorite drugstore eyeshadow primer is the Wet n Wild photo focus eyeshadow primer. My eyeshadow stays on all day and doesn’t crease. This is very comparable to the Urban Decay primer potion, which I also love. I wear this every day, where the primer potion is for cosplay and special occasions. Wet n Wild is cruelty-free, which makes this product so much better! I just got another one since I am almost out of my first tube.

This eyeshadow primer is $4.99.

[unstoppablekrex]

Cruelty-Free Products: Lifted Mascara by Tarte

I received a travel sized version in one of my Ipsy GlamBags and fell in love with it. It is one of the most natural looking mascara I have ever tried. This may be due to the fact that it is a dark brown color that is super similar to my natural lashes. I just bought the full-size version. The packaging is cute. Plus, this is one of Tarte’s vegan products. The Tarte website claims that it is sweatproof. Who wears makeup to the gym? Anyway, it doesn’t transfer during the day but I wouldn’t wear this for a workout. I am in love with this product!

The lifted mascara by Tarte is $23.00.

[unstoppablekrex]

Cruelty-Free Products: Wet n Wild Photo Focus Face Primer

All Wet n Wild products are cruelty-free and pretty affordable. I have been using this primer for my everyday use. I don’t wear makeup all day but I do wear it for a few hours. It seems to work. The product is white but then becomes clear as you rub it into your skin. I do find that the primer is tacky, which I like. I want my foundation to stay. I don’t think it is as good as some of the other high-end primers, but for the price this is good. I just purchased a new version of this, which is supposed to make your skin dewy. I’m interested in trying it.

This product retails for $4.99 on the Ulta website.

[unstoppablekrex]

What Does Cruelty-Free Mean?

What does cruelty-free actually mean? According to the FDA, “cruelty-free” or “not tested on animals” means:

Consumers sometimes ask about use of claims such as "Cruelty-Free" or "Not Tested on Animals" on cosmetic labeling.

Some cosmetic companies promote their products with claims of this kind in their labeling or advertising. The unrestricted use of these phrases by cosmetic companies is possible because there are no legal definitions for these terms.

Some companies may apply such claims solely to their finished cosmetic products. However, these companies may rely on raw material suppliers or contract laboratories to perform any animal testing necessary to substantiate product or ingredient safety. Other cosmetic companies may rely on combinations of scientific literature, non-animal testing, raw material safety testing, or controlled human-use testing to substantiate their product safety.

Many raw materials, used in cosmetics, were tested on animals years ago when they were first introduced. A cosmetic manufacturer might only use those raw materials and base their "cruelty-free" claims on the fact that the materials or products are not "currently" tested on animals.

If this isn’t cool with you, like for me, double check other sources. Before buying a product, I do a large amount of research to make sure the company does not test on animals in any way, shape, or form. This includes third-party vendors. Many websites are misleading. Take the Matrix Biolage products. Their website claims that they are cruelty-free but according to PETA they are not. The Matrix Biolage products that are on the shelves were not tested on animals but other versions were. Again, always do your research.

[unstoppablekrex]

Cruelty-Free or Not? Graftobian

Graftobian is a makeup and special effects company that sell a wide range of products. I’m personally interested in their pro paint products since I have recently gotten into cosplay and will need some face paints for a few of my costumes. The Graftobian website says they are cruelty-free and according to the cruelty-free makeup artist (http://crueltyfreemakeupartist.weebly.com and https://hootsofbeauty.wordpress.com) I sent them an email asking them about their products, like where there are made, if their vendors a cruelty-free, and if they sell their products to China. Here are their answers.

Graftobian Makeup Company does not test on animals. We also do not contract with any third parties to conduct animal testing. Some of Graftobian Makeup Company’s products do contain lanolin or lanolin derivatives, beeswax derived from beehives, and a few other miscellaneous non-vegan sources. A handful of our products are vegan friendly. Our ProPaints are made in the USA.

They did not say if they sell their products in China, although according to the cruelty-free makeup artists, all of their products are made in the US and of three years ago they only sold products in Hong Kong. A plus side is that they do offer vegan products.

[unstoppablekrex]

Cruelty-Free Products: Tarte

I have recently been buying Tarte products, which are cruelty-free and some are even vegan. Tarte sells makeup and skin care. I received a few Tarte products in my Ipsy Glam Bag and have loved every one. I just bought their Shape Tape Foundation and Concealer, the Rainforest of the Sea Foundation, and the Lifted mascara. The only downside for me is price, but I love their products!

[unstoppablekrex]

Cruelty-Free Products: e.l.f.

Another company that sells cruelty-free products is e.l.f. (eyes, lips, face). The reason I got into these products was the prices. They sell decent cosmetic products at an affordable price (yay!). 

Not only does e.l.f. have a PETA certification, but they do not endorse animal cruelty practices. All of the brushes from e.l.f. are cut from horse hair (no pain for the horses) or made from Synthetic Taklon hair. Similar to Wet n Wild, products are made in China, but are NOT sold there.

Recently, I have not been buying many e.l.f. products. I have just been leaning towards other makeup brands. I need to start buying more of their products.

[unstoppablekrex]

Cruelty-Free Products: Wet n Wild

One of my favorite cruelty-free makeup brands in Wet n Wild. I have been using Wet n Wild products for years, mainly because the products aren’t a lot of money. I have been buying their eye products, but now that I am going cruelty-free, I have been trying out some of their other products.

The Wet n Wild website says they are PETA-certified (which they are) and that they only work with third party vendors that do not test on animals. Even though their products are made in China, they are NOT sold there (China requires cosmetic companies to test their products on animals). Their parent company, Markwins, is on the Leaping Bunny approved list.

In the future, I plan on comparing my non-cruelty free products with cruelty-free versions, most of which will be from Wet n Wild.

[unstoppablekrex]

I’m going Cruelty-Free

I have decided to take the plunge and go cruelty-free! Alright, it's not so much of a plunge then slowly getting used to the water. My plan is to buy cruelty-free products. I will continue to use the non-cruelty-free products I currently have but will be buying cruelty-free from now on.

I decided to do this because of my dog. I can’t imagine her, let alone any other animal, be a subject for product or chemical testing. Many countries have outlawed product and chemical testing on animals, except for medicine. Companies in the United States do not have to test on animals.

Most of the information I have will be from crueltyfreekitty.com (go check her out!) and cruelty-cutter, a phone app that has lists of cruelty-free and non-cruelty-free companies. Cruelty-cutter allows you to scan a product’s barcode, using your phone’s camera, and the app tells you if the product is cruelty-free.

I hope you plan on joining me as I make the transition to buying cruelty-free.

[unstoppablekrex]

Happy New Year

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Empty: e.l.f. Poreless Face Primer

I love e.l.f.  They are a super affordable brand and most of their products are okay.  They are not high end quality but pretty close for the price.  I love the fact this this comes in a bottle with a pump.  It makes it easier to use.  The bottle is pink, but the product is white.  This primer was super sticky, but that may have been me. I use a moisturizer for my dry areas, generally followed by sunscreen for day usage.  I don’t think it made my foundation last any longer.  I also feel like it didn’t do anything to my pores, but I also have huge pores on my face.

I would not buy this again.  I would like to try out more of the e.l.f. primers first.

[unstoppablekrex]

The Punisher Episode 10 Review

Virtue of the Vicious

Finally, more Kastle!  I love the relationship between Frank and Karen.  He is just so protective of her and she would do almost anything for him.  The terrorist, Lewis, from the last episode attacks a senator who is doing an interview with Karen.  This episode reminded me of the movie Memento, starring Guy Pearce. We learn what happens and then go back in time to other characters and learn how they became effected.  Even though I loved the Frank and Karen moments in this episode, I felt bad for Lewis.  The character gave the audience a bit of an insight into the PTSD that soldiers deal with after coming home.  I totally hope that Karen and Frank end up together.  The chemistry between Jon Bernthal and Deborah Ann Woll is out of this world.

[unstoppablekrex]

Empties: Fresh Effects BB Cream by Olay

The idea of a BB cream seemed amazing to me.  Something to blur the imperfections so I didn’t have to wear foundation.  The coverages very light.  My skin did feel moisturized after applying it.  The only bad thing was that it was too dark for me.  I mixed it with foundation to lighten it up, which worked nicely.

I won’t be buying this again.  If Olay added more shades to their line, then yes.  But right now, no.

[unstoppablekrex]

The Punisher Episode 9 Review

Front Toward Enemy

In this episode, a terrorist, who is also a former soldier, has attacked New York. He believes that the government is taking away our rights and wants to hurt the institutions that are helping them, like newspapers.  He kidnaps one of Frank’s friends and Frank decides to go and save him.  The terrorist, named Lewis, thinks that himself and Frank are the same and tries to recruit Frank to his cause.  Frank doesn’t bite and it costs him.  Even though Frank saved his friend, the entire world now knows that Frank Castle is alive.  It makes you think who is considered a hero and who is considered a villain.  If this happened in real life, I’m sure I would think Frank as the villain, but since I know his past, he is the hero. We also learned how far Frank is willing to go to protect his friends.  

[unstoppablekrex]

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you and your family!