Monday, 17 October 2011

Mirenesse Pearl Crush Creaseless Shadows free with this week's issue of Woman's Day

If you have been wanting to try Mirenesse, then here's your chance. I often buy magazines purely for their free products as they cost less than instore.

The Woman's Day offering of Mirenesse comes in six varieties of Pearl Crush Creasless Shadow tri-palletes. I picked the peachy/bronze palette. Soft, smooth and easily blendable, the bronze shadow can be layered for additional impact. The finish is luminious and complements brown eyes well. Indeed, the neutral shades in this palette could be used with almost any eye colour.

A great "chuck-in-your-hand-bag' buy, the neutral tones will be suitable for the workplace.

With Woman's Day cover price being $4.00 you can afford to try this and possibly all six palettes on offer!

Sunday, 16 October 2011

Cruelty Free Cosmetic Brands

My Favourite Cruelty-Free Beauty Brands

Knowing that I am guilt free when using my favourite cosmetics is very important to me. These brands are some of my favourities. They are also commonly available and well-know brands, available in department stores and chemists. I have also included fragrance brands as it is very disheartening to learn your favourite fragrance is from a company that harms animals. Thank god I am a Chanel girl!


To find a comprehensive list of cruelty- free brands visit http://www.peta.org/living/beauty-and-personal-care/Search-Cruelty-Free-Companies-Products.aspx:

Almay
Aveda
barEscentuals
Bonne Belle Lipsmackers
Burt's Bees
Chanel
Christian Dior
Clarins
Crabtree and Evelyn Cosmetics
David Babaii for Wild Aid
Dermalogica
Eco Tools Cosmetic Brushes
Estee Lauder
Fudge
Goldwell USA
Inika Mineral Cosmetics
Jurlique Pure Skin Care
L'Occitane
La Mer
Lush Cosmetics
M.A.C. Cosmetics
Michael Kors
Mirenesse
Mitchum Deodorant
Nina Ricci
Nutri-Metics International
OPI Products
Paco Rabane
Prada
Physician's Formula
Prestige Cosmetics
Revlon
Smashbox
Stila Cosmetics
Thierry Mugler Beauty

Thursday, 6 October 2011

To implant or not to implant - that is the question

I look around me and see more and more women with breast implants every day. Most of the results look great, especially in terms of the way they fill out clothing.

It's really the risk of complications and a less than perfect end result that leave me feeling squeamish. To put it simply I don't want to have surgery full stop. Especially, if I can avoid it.

A quick google search reveals a "breast augumentation patient education source" http://www.justbreastimplants.com/risks/. It’s a site designed to inform of the possible risks associated with breast surgery. The medical terms contained on the drop down menu are enough to cause a rupture in my brain, let alone my breasts:

* Bottoming out - Isn't that what happens to the economy sometimes?
* Capsular Contracture - Are we talking Star Wars?
* Gel Bleeding – Hmm… sounds nice
* Extrusion - Sounds like something dental related
* Symmastia - Groovy
* Hematoma - Another one of those words
* Seroma - And yet... another one of those words
* Mondor's Cord - I don't even want to know
*Necrosis - Will my boobs become a little neurotic?
* Breast implant rippling - Reminds me of raspberry ripple icecream
* Rupture/Deflation - Yay, my breasts might explode like balloons!

Add to that a "loss of sensation". So then, might I end up with some nice and icy, yet, presumably perky breasts? Sure, they will look good... too bad that I mightn’t be able to feel them!

The chance of success for breast augmentation depends on the amount of breast tissue that you have as well as the shape and contour of the breasts. A bad result is usually the result of a botched procedure performed by an unskilled or inexperienced plastic surgeon.

Even top surgeons mess up from time to time (think Tori Spelling and Tara Reid). Even with the best conditions there is always the chance of leaking and rupturing.

The biggest problem for me is that no implants are permanent. They require additional surgeries for their upkeep during a lifetime. For someone scared of hospitals and who can't even upkeep a manicure this poses a significant problem. I just don't feel like undergoing all that pain.
The most natural result of all methods is sub muscular (under the muscle) although this incurs a longer recovery period and is the most painful at the beginning.

I may be a wimp. I know that. But, forgive me - I just don't feel like being cut up and potentially winding up with some wonky, lacerated bazookas just because I feel my natural state could always do with some tweaking.
I think women who do undergo breast augmentation are incredibly brave but it's a worrying expectation. When so many women are walking around with large, round breasts (the obvious result of surgery) doesn't it increase the feeling among those that don't have implants that maybe they are missing out on the memo - that implants are better than au natural?

Wednesday, 5 October 2011

Cosmetics and Animal Testing

I buy and use cosmetics on a regular basis and my choices in the market are subject to my personal code of ethics. As I find cosmetic animal testing abhorrent and unnecessary I am faced with challenges and obstacles when I make everyday purchases.
To adhere to my personal ethical code is a challenge. This is not a personal failing or lack of resolve; rather, it is a lack of accountability and transparency in the cosmetic industry regarding animal testing policies and practices. The problem it that is hard for me to be sure that a cosmetic product has not been tested on animals.
This is because some companies (when I research their policies) state that they are against animal testing and that “their finished products are not tested on animals”. This can mean that the ingredients in the product have been tested on animals, somewhere along the line of manufacturing. I believe it should be necessary for cosmetic companies to be transparent about the testing of the ingredients in their products or the outsourcing of their testing as their statement regarding “the finished product” is a blanket approach that is misleading to the consumer.
This is deceitful and anyone who is opposed to animal testing should be concerned by this use of phrasing, particularly since it allows cosmetic companies to minimise the negative aspects of their practices. Further research into the issue reveals that The Body Shop (against animal testing since its inception) is owned by Loreal (a company that continues to test on animals) – a paradox that leads me as a consumer to make a decision against purchasing products from The Body Shop.
To overcome my obstacles in purchasing cosmetics with ease of mind I employ research and analysis. I would like to see laws enacted that ban the use of animal testing for cosmetic companies, therefore eliminating the confusion and side-stepping altogether. On a personal level, I am compiling this blog – that lists companies that legitimately do not test on animals to better inform consumers of their choices. I am also reviewing the cosmetic products produced by the various companies so that you, the consumer can buy quality ethical cosmetics.