Friday Five

5. Really want to make this for my mum.

4. I've been lusting after flakey nail polish.

3. My go to way of determining who tests on animals.

2. Project Runway All Stars looks amaz.

1. I freaking won Mal Pearson's These Are a Few of My Favorite Things Giveaway.

Skin Care Sunday (On Wednesday): Aquaphor

I've decided to do "Skin Care Sunday," even though it's Wednesday, because I haven't done one in ages. (This past Sunday was Christmas, the Sunday before that I was on a cruise, and the Sunday before that was finals week.) But enough excuses..

Aquaphor Healing Ointment is one of my all time favorite products. (It was featured in my November Loves.) Eucerin describes it as "advanced therapy for dry, cracked, or irritated skin." It's my favorite lip balm year round. This time of year though, I pretty much cover myself in it before bed. Lately, I've been smearing a liberal amount over my lips, my eyelashes, my eyebrows, and under my nose. I know this sounds bizarre, but this cold, dry weather leaves these areas completely dehydrated. Aquaphor can also be used on one's hands and feet, especially under socks and gloves.

XOXO, T

Cruelty-Free Christmas Eve FOTN and OOTN

I'm proud to announce this is the first make-up look I'm posting which includes exclusively cruelty-free products. Since it's winter (a term which I use extremely loosely) or whatever, I decided to incorporate a navy smoky crease. Because my eye make-up turned out a bit dramatic for a well lit family function, I kept my lips quite neutral. (I also completely forgot to apply blush.) My parents and I always spend Christmas Eve across town at my Aunt Vicki's house, and it was lovely to see my little cousins Kaley and Shana home from UF and FSU, respectively.

What I'm wearing:

1. Estee Lauder Double Wear Light Foundation applied with my fingertips

2. e.l.f. Essential Eyelid Primer in Sheer from my lash line to my eyebrow blended with my fingertips

3. Revlon Luxurious Color Perle Eyeshadow in Glistening Snow over my entire eyelid and tear duct

4. Wet n Wild Color Icon eyeshadow trio in I Got Good Jeans (the darkest shade, in my crease)

5. e.l.f. Studio Cream Eyeliner in Gunmetal (a very thin line, as close to my lashes as possible)

6. Two coats of Almay One Coat Get Up & Grow Mascara in Black

7. Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Just Enough Buff

8. NYC Liquid Lipshine in Nude York City (from my VoxBox)

As far as my outfit goes, I'm wearing an Express long sleeve tee, an Old Navy faux fur vest, Guess jeans, and a Banana Republic bag. (I'm sorry this picture is so creepy and doesn't even really show my outfit.)

Friday Five

I've decided to edit my usual Weekly Favies down to only five things:

5. I'm pretty sure I don't maintain any of the 10 habits of skinny people.

4. How major is Girly Bits Cosmic Ocean?

3. This kit is even better than last year's Junkie Kit, which I love.

2. Who knew it was this easy to donate Free Kibble?

1. I die for the Sigma Beauty Bunny vegan brushes.

Holiday VoxBox 2011 c/o Influenster

It's been about a month since I heard about Influenster from one beauty blogger or another. (I can't remember who off the top of my head.) She described all of these great free samples she had received in something called a VoxBox. I wasn't entirely sure what that was, but I immediately registered and began completing surveys. Then, a couple weeks ago, I received an email telling me I had qualified to receive the Holiday VoxBox. Impatient as always, I I just got home from my cruise to find the Holiday VoxBox waiting in my mailbox. I'm not including a picture of the outside of the box in case one of our, I think, three followers is a serial killer who might hunt me down via my address. (It's just a plain white cardboard box.) Anyway, clockwise from the top, my VoxBox contains:

1. Softsoap Coconut Scrub Bar Soap

2. Montagne Jeunesse Face Mask

3. NYC (New York Color) Liquid Lip Shine

4. imPRESS Press on Manicure by Broadway nails

5. Larabar

6. Mentos Pure Fresh Gum

I'll try to review all of these items in a semi-reasonable amount of time.

XOXO, T

Keep Calm and...

This wall hanging makes a cute gift! Custom made, so you can add whatever "Keep Calm" saying you like.

Can You Survive a Sample Sale?

Do you think you have what it takes to survive a sample sale? I don't think I'd make it our with anything. Thanks to Refinery29 for bringing this hilarious video to my attention: http://www.wreakhavocny.com/2011/12/dvf-sample-sale-video.html

Couture de Boyfriend

I'm all for getting dressed up and looking your best 100% of the time, but once in awhile, you just have to go the casual route and steal a look from your man. (Also, please excuse the myspace style pic...it was just easier at the moment.)

No Make-Up Make-Up and Straight Hair

Just so we're all on the same page, "no make-up" make-up is very minimalistic make-up; the goal is to look like you're not wearing any make-up but are just that naturally gorgeous. This has pretty much been my go to look the past couple weeks. What I'm wearing:

1. e.l.f. Golden Bronzer dusted over my entire face

2. Urban Decay Midnight Cowgirl dabbed right on my tear ducts

3. CoverGirl LashBlast Volume in Very Black

4. Burt's Bees Pomegranate Lip Balm

Seriously, that's it. Four things. Had I been going anywhere important today (read, seeing a cute boy), I would've used a tinted moisturizer to even out the redness around my nose and probably a little coral blush under my cheekbones; but since I was just going to a hair appointment, which I was already late for, I did the abridged version. I spent the rest of the day packing for my cruise! (This will be my last post for a week.)

XOXO, T

P.S. Can we please talk about my hair? I seriously didn't even realize it had gotten so long (since it's always so curly). I got a dark auburn rinse, a trim and (obviously) a blow dry.

Why I've Decided to Go Cruelty-Free and My Favorite Cruelty-Free Cosmetics Brands

I should disclose that I'm a complete animal lover. During my twenty-two and a half years on this planet, I've had close to a dozen pets (probably double that if you count fish), including 3 cats, 4 rabbits, one leopard gecko, and a genius Border Collie-Blue Heeler. My Tuffi (below) has the sweetest soul in the world. When I look in her big, brown eyes, I can't imagine how anyone could commit such horrors to an innocent animal.

A few days ago, I saw Beagle Freedom Project - Second Rescue - June 8, 2011, which broke my heart since Beagles are typically such an adventurous, high energy breed. Although the video has a happy ending for these nine puppies, I can't help but think about all the other animals who aren't as lucky.

But the severity of the issue finally hit home for me when I read a Shimmer Kisser article, detailing just what all happens to animals in test labs. I'd always assumed that all that happened in these places was painting bunnies' fingernails or putting mascara on dogs, but learning otherwise made me cry.

I was happy to find that a few of my favorite make-up brands are indeed cruelty-free, including Almay, e.l.f., Estee Lauder, NYX, NYC (New York Color), Physicians Formula, Revlon, Sally Hansen, Sonia Kashuk, Urban Decay, and Wet n' Wild. (In addition to being cruelty-free most e.l.f. products are also vegan, with the exception of a few lip treatment items.)

I also found a pretty extensive list of cruelty-free nail polish brands. (Zoya is vegan, too.)

"The average dog is a nicer person than the average person." - Andy Rooney

XOXO, T