the blog.
Review: Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara (Vegan & Cruelty-Free)
Today is the day we've all been waiting for... I am FINALLY getting to cruelty-free and vegan beauty product reviews! As of right now I am planning on doing my own makeup for my wedding in September, which means a LOT of product testing - and I'm taking you along for the ride! After using this much-hyped about mascara for over two months, I feel as though I'm ready to give you the full lowdown. Check it out after the jump!
Today is the day we've all been waiting for... I am FINALLY getting to cruelty-free and vegan beauty product reviews! As of right now I am planning on doing my own makeup for my wedding in September, which means a LOT of product testing - and I'm taking you along for the ride! After using this much-hyped about mascara for over two months, I feel as though I'm ready to give you the full lowdown. Check it out after the jump!
What Too Faced has to say about it...
'Take home our Better Than Sex mascara and all your desires for lush, incredibly intense lashes will be fulfilled. One application of our collagen-fueled formula and touch of our specially shaped brush will leave you begging for more. One coat and lashes are full, defined and stretched to unbelievable lengths. Two coats and they’re reaching unbelievable heights of drama. Three coats and you’ll believe in magic.
More to love...
- Film-forming Polymer for smudge-proof, all day wear
- Acacia Senegal Tree Extract to nourish, thicken and lock curl in place
- Unique Peptides for the deepest, intense black possible
- 1,944% more volume*
- 100% saw longer lashes**
- 100% saw dramatic volume**
- 93% saw base-to-tip curl**
- 8 out of 10 say it’s the best mascara they’ve ever used**
- 3.4 out of 10 say great lashes are better than sex**
- 3.1 out of 10 agree that this mascara is so good, it’s better than sex**
- Vegan Friendly
- *results observed in a clinical study.
- **results observed in a consumer study.' (from toofaced.com)
Cost: $30-35 CAD
Vegan? Yes!
Cruelty-Free? Yes!
What I have to say about it...
The Good
- Holds curl well over the course of the day;
- Gives my lashes a very deep black colour;
- Lengthens noticeably;
- Adds significant volume, and;
- You don't need a lot - one coat for beautiful lashes, two for dramatic ones!
The Bad
- This mascara can get very clumpy if you don't scrape the excess mascara off of the brush before applying (and sometimes even if you do);
- It is definitely never going to give a natural look (it's not particularly versatile, even one light coat (the middle image above) is dark and dramatic);
- It won't give your lashes a nice curl if you don't use an eyelash curler before and/or after application;
- The formula is very wet and will smudge easily after you first apply it until it dries (the first 5 minutes or so - so don't sneeze!), and;
- It doesn't define the lashes as it claims to - I found the brush to be too full for that and the formula too wet.
The Ugly
- This mascara flakes (crumbles) onto the under eye area within a couple of hours of application and smudges when you try to wipe the flakes away. To be fair, Too Faced never claimed this formula was flake-free - but I would consider that to be a given for any high-end mascara. There is also, of course, the fact that the flaking leads to smudging if you're not VERY careful, which they specifically state their formula won't do.
RATING: 3/5
Final Thoughts: I've enjoyed using this as my daily mascara and absolutely love the length and volume it gives, but I do find the flaking to be a very irritating factor. As I always use an eyelash curler and like more dramatic lashes, the other cons don't really bother me - but due to the flaking I don't feel confident using this mascara on my wedding day. It really is too bad, because otherwise this would be a serious contender!
Would I recommend? I would definitely recommend this mascara if you like a more dramatic look and don't mind keeping tabs on your makeup throughout the day!
Have you tried Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara? What did you think? Is there a vegan and cruelty-free product you'd like me to review? Let me know in the comments below!
Also, be sure to check out my list of cruelty-free beauty brands before you head on your next shopping trip!
Until next time,
2016 Reading List
Hello friends!
I'll be honest with you, I have always been a voracious reader. But in 2015? Not so much. I had so much going on working at sea, getting engaged, moving, starting my blog, getting two new jobs, and two kittens, that reading took a backseat to the craziness that was my life! But 2016 is going to be different. No matter what life throws my way I'm going to make reading a priority.
There is almost nothing else I find as inspiring as reading a good book. They allows me to relax, escape, learn, and keep my mind sharp. They are my safe, cozy, happy place. And who doesn't want to be more safe, cozy, and happy?
That's what I thought.
So without further ado, my 2016 reading list!
Hello friends!
I'll be honest with you, I have always been a voracious reader. But in 2015? Not so much. I had so much going on working at sea, getting engaged, moving, starting my blog, getting two new jobs, and two kittens, that reading took a backseat to the craziness that was my life! But 2016 is going to be different. No matter what life throws my way I'm going to make reading a priority.
There is almost nothing else I find as inspiring as reading a good book. They allows me to relax, escape, learn, and keep my mind sharp. They are my safe, cozy, happy place. And who doesn't want to be more safe, cozy, and happy?
That's what I thought.
So without further ado, my 2016 reading list!
FICTION
VEGANISM
NON-FICTION
PLAYS
And there you have it: the nineteen books I'd like to read in 2016!
I'm cheating a bit here at the end to recommend a couple of the best books of the few I did manage to read in 2015. They are life-changing, incredible books. Do yourself a favour and order/download them now!
This book is a serious game changer. I took pages of notes while reading it and am excited to begin putting the strategies into effect in my life!
This one is in the same vein as The Slight Edge, but talks more about the actions than the philosophy or purpose behind them. I think they really complement each other!
If you follow my blog at all you already know that this book has made a huge impact on me this year, virtually launching my shift to minimalism! It has inspired many posts on the blog such as:
How To Build A Capsule Wardrobe
This book asks that you open your mind and look at the world objectively. It's a masterpiece that EVERYONE should read.
If you've already read it, did you know there's a sequel?
Also a definite must-read!
And last, but certainly not least:
A classic for a reason.
What's on your 2016 reading list? What were your favourite reads of 2015? I want to know! Let me (and everyone else!) know in the comments below.
Until next time,
Winter Capsule Wardrobe
Winter is here and that means it's finally time to reveal my second capsule wardrobe! I had a lot of fun with my Fall Capsule and loved putting together this wardrobe, armed with months of capsule experience. (Learn how to build a capsule wardrobe here!) Some of my choices last time just didn't get worn, so I'm hoping to make wiser picks in my Winter Capsule that can handle the range of weather conditions and temperatures that Toronto winters throw at us Torontonians!
Winter is here and that means it's finally time to reveal my second capsule wardrobe! I had a lot of fun with my Fall Capsule and loved putting together this wardrobe, armed with months of capsule experience. (Learn how to build a capsule wardrobe here!) Some of my choices last time just didn't get worn, so I'm hoping to make wiser picks in my Winter Capsule that can handle the range of weather conditions and temperatures that Toronto winters throw at us Torontonians!
First things first, I promised I would review my first ever capsule wardrobe experience!
F A L L C A P S U L E W A R D R O B E R E C A P
T H E G O O D.
- I LOVED the capsule wardrobe experience and never want to go back to the standard closet explosion of earlier years!
- The neutrals meant that almost every item went with everything else, which made getting ready so much faster!
- I loved the minimal and neutral style I curated for myself.
- I really enjoyed the challenge to create different combinations from the same pieces for the 3 months. Go check out my instagram to see what I put together!
- This experience made me realize that I can downsize my wardrobe even more than I did during my KonMari minimizing spree, which is super exciting for a clothing hoarder like me!
- The majority of my clothes were super comfortable which was AWESOME.
T H E B A D.
- My tall black boots broke the first time I tried to wear them. Yeah.
- I barely wore the dressier items I included - the two white button downs and the deep v neck long sleeve tops in black and white. My day to day and work environments are very casual and I had barely any opportunities to dress up, other than auditions. Since audition wear isn't included in my capsule I just didn't need these items!
- The dress pants, track pants, and green jeans I included are cropped and it was often too cold to wear them, despite wanting to.
T H E U G L Y.
- I definitely didn't include enough clothing for cold weather - it got VERY cold in December and I had to go outside of my capsule to keep warm enough with more layers and heavier sweaters. This is a tough problem in Toronto where fall weather goes from summer heat to winter chill on a day to day basis. I hope next year I can find a better balance!
And now time for my winter capsule wardrobe reveal...
Once again I'm sticking to an almost entirely neutral palette. I considered including a plaid shirt again, but finally decided against it. Only time will tell if I regret that decision!
I did a lot of thinking and planning around layering options, since the temperature in Toronto ranges quite a bit. I also work in a store that can go from freezing to boiling to freezing again within any give day, so I need to be able to take off and put on layers easily! I'm hoping that I have enough of each layering category to keep me going until the end of March, I actually increased the number of tops in my capsule from 18 to 27(!) so hopefully I've covered all of the bases!
I'm also excited about my new vegan coat (see my unboxing video here) as it's black (surprise surprise), super warm, and very comfortable! 20 points to HoodLamb for making an awesome winter jacket. I plan on doing a detailed review after I've had a bit longer with it!
Just like last time, I'll share where I bought everything if you're interested in picking up a couple of the pieces. Once again, a little disclaimer. As I am an ethical vegan, I do not endorse purchasing any items made from or by animals. A couple of these pieces I purchased before my transition to veganism, and are therefore not in line with my current beliefs. If you are interested in my take on wearing products made from or by animals as a vegan, and why I continue to wear some of my old pieces, check out the post HERE. I won't be linking to items containing animal products but will instead link to a similar item made with vegan materials. I hope you understand and respect why I am choosing to do this! Also, some of the items were given to me or I purchased long enough ago that they are no longer available. In those cases I will link to something similar, or the same item in a different colour!
Alright, here we go!
TOPS (27)
- white cami - similar
- white flowy cami - aritzia
- white tank - similar
- white tee - aritzia
- white v neck tee - urban outfitters
- beige deep scoop cami - similar
- taupe waffle long sleeve - aritzia
- deer baseball tee - similar
- heavy patterned cardigan - similar
- grey cropped tank - brandy melville
- grey tank top - hollister
- grey tee - aritzia
- grey v neck long sleeve - similar
- grey hooded cardigan - similar
- grey & black baseball tee - aritzia
- dark grey tee - aritzia
- beatles tank - similar
- black cropped cami - similar
- black cami - similar
- black tee - aritzia
- black deep v neck tee - similar
- black henley - similar
- black long sleeve top - aritzia
- black v neck long sleeve - aritzia
- black cardigan - similar
- black pullover sweater - similar
- black chunky pullover sweater - similar
BOTTOMS (8)
- black skinny jeans - american eagle
- black zippered leggings - zara
- black leggings - urban outfitters
- black vegan leather pants - similar
- grey high waisted leggings - similar
- high waisted blue jeans - urban outfitters
- blue ripped jeans - similar
- blue jeans - anthropologie
DRESSES (1)
- grey sweater dress - aritzia
OUTERWEAR (1)
- black parka - hoodlamb
SHOES (3)
- vegan doc martens - doc martens
- short black cowboy boots - similar
- black winter boots - nice shoes
That's it! I'm excited to see how this capsule holds up over the next 3 months. I will be committing to no new purchases until mid May or so, when I will be planning my spring capsule! Check out my Style and Capsule Pinterest boards to see what I'm loving for spring as I begin looking for inspiration!
I hope you've enjoyed reading my recap and seeing my new picks for winter 2016! I've been considering filming videos to go along with my capsule wardrobe posts, whether sit down chat style or showing the clothes on my body as more of a look book. Let me know if you'd watch and which you'd like better! If you have any questions or suggestions please let me know in the comments and I hope you'll consider giving capsule wardrobes a try!
Until next time,
Are you doing a capsule wardrobe this winter? Leave your link below so that we can check out your picks!
Say No To Fur (HoodLamb Vegan Coat Unboxing!)
I've never been a big fan of winter, but since going vegan I find the Canadian winters even more difficult to bear. As soon as the temperature starts to drop the winter gear comes out in full force, and that means that almost every person is wearing fur. Before going vegan I owned coats with fur trim and never thought anything of it. I was told that it was natural, that it was the perfect material to keep warm, that it was normal. And I never thought to question it. Now I know better, and every bit of fur I see feels like a punch in the stomach. We no longer NEED to wear fur to keep warm, so why continue to inflict unnecessary suffering? Let's turn over a new leaf and say no to fur in 2016.
I've never been a big fan of winter, but since going vegan I find the Canadian winters even more difficult to bear. As soon as the temperature starts to drop the winter gear comes out in full force, and that means that almost every person is wearing fur. Before going vegan I owned coats with fur trim and never thought anything of it. I was told that it was natural, that it was the perfect material to keep warm, that it was normal. And I never thought to question it. Now I know better, and every bit of fur I see feels like a punch in the stomach. We no longer NEED to wear fur to keep warm, so why continue to inflict unnecessary suffering? Let's turn over a new leaf and say no to fur in 2016.
For some, simply fully accepting the fact that fur is the skin and hair of an animal killed solely for that purpose is enough to change their ways. But unfortunately, most of us have been so brainwashed by our society that even that fact makes zero impact. I refuse to believe that we are past the point of no return, however. Here are 10 facts about fur that should make you squirm, get sad, get angry, and make a change:
ONE More than 50 million animals are abused and slaughtered each year for their fur. This includes rabbits, foxes, minks, cats, and dogs.
TWO 85% of fur comes from animals on fur farms where they are crammed into tiny, filthy wire cages for the entirety of their short, miserable lives. Cages full of animals are thrown to the ground, often breaking their bones.
THREE China is the world's largest fur exporter. There are no laws in China to prevent the abuse of animals on fur farms. Innocent animals are stunned by having their heads clubbed or slammed against the ground, often regaining consciousness as they are skinned alive.
FOUR In Europe and North America, animals are electrocuted genitally or anally to avoid damaging valuable "product" - their fur.
FIVE Buying fur supports an industry that slaughters cats and dogs in the millions each year. In China more than 2 million cats and dogs are killed annually and their fur is sold around the world, including in Canada and the US, intentionally mislabelled as the fur of "less loved" animals or even as faux-fur.
SIX Fur farms are bad for our planet. Fur causes ozone layer depletion, soil and water pollution, and toxic emissions 2 to 28 times greater than other textiles. Each and every year the average Canadian fur farm produces around 240,000 kilograms of manure and requires 600,000 kilograms of feed. The runoff of manure from these facilities is a major threat to soil and water quality, according to the David Suzuki Foundation - affecting humans and wildlife alike: “[t]he Department of Agriculture, the primary promoter of the fur industry, is also the primary regulator” they say. Troubling, indeed.
SEVEN Fur farms in the US are not regulated by the federal government.
EIGHT Furs are treated with toxic chemicals to prevent them from rotting in your closet. Not only is that an unsettling thought, but what are those chemicals doing to the people who are wearing the flesh and hair treated with it?
NINE Animals caught in the wild are often left in traps for days as they suffer from shock, blood loss, dehydration, starvation, frostbite, gangrene, and attacks by their predators. Once collected from the traps they are brutally killed, if not already dead.
In Canada we have many blights on our reputation for our abuse of wildlife. Tens of thousands of baby harp seals are killed by gunshot or bludgeoning with clubs tipped with metal hooks each and every year while hundred of black bears are shot or caught in traps so that their skin can be made into the hats worn by Queen Elizabeth II's Five Guards' Regiments.
TEN Many animals are skinned ALIVE. The lucky ones are clubbed over the head to induce a state of unconsciousness, but often awaken and struggle as their skin is peeled from their bodies. Bloody and in agony, they are thrown onto a pile of dying animals as they blink slowly with shock. They are left to die a slow and painful death.
I will not include pictures or videos in this post, as they are universally horrifying. I couldn't research this post and write this list without stopping to cry every few minutes due to the extreme suffering these animals experience. I truly believe that anyone who fully accepts the horrific nature of the fur industry would be unable to continue to support it financially. Sometimes words aren't enough. If this list hasn't moved you to change I suggest you watch this video (at the bottom of the article). It is graphic. But if tens of millions of animals can go through this hell each and every year, we can at least be honest with ourselves about what we are doing to them. If you buy fur, it's the very least you can do.
Maybe you're convinced that you should cease to support the fur industry. How will you stay warm without fur (and leather, down, and wool) this winter?
Easy. There are more vegan winter-wear options every year, and the technology is rapidly improving! I suggest looking into Vaute or HoodLamb as a start for a warm and stylish coat that is 100% cruelty free!
I decided to buy a HoodLamb coat myself, as The Toronto Hemp Company carries them and I could try it on. I made an unboxing video for the coat which you can watch below!
The weather has been all over the place so far this winter, but on the coldest days this coat has kept me toasty warm! I'll do a review at the end of this winter with my impression of the coat over the long term.
Until next time, keep it fur-free!
If you have a vegan winter coat let me know what you think of it in the comments below!
If you liked this post you may also like... Should You Get Rid Of All Your Leather Now That You're Vegan?
S O U R C E S
http://www.peta.org/issues/animals-used-for-clothing/fur/
http://www.humanesociety.org/issues/fur_fashion/?credit=web_id86162647
http://www.peta.org/features/nine-shocking-fur-facts/
http://features.peta.org/ChineseFurFarms/
http://www.lcanimal.org/index.php/campaigns/fur/fur-trade-facts
http://furbearerdefenders.com/environmental-impacts/environmental-impact-from-fur-farms
http://www.humanesociety.org/assets/pdfs/fur/field-guide-on-real-vs-fake-fur-final.pdf