The Cruelty-Free Edit

So I'm not really one for new year's resolutions. Whenever I've made one, I've never really stuck to it. But for 2018, I guess you could say I've made one? I mean, it's a continuation of an and idea that I started working on sometime last year. Buying strictly cruelty-free makeup. I was surprised how many of my favourite brands actually test their products on animals, and that's not something I really want to buy into. There actually are some awesome brands out there fighting against animal testing, and if it sounds like an initiative you'd be interested in, here's my current everyday makeup look using only cruelty-free products! 

complexion. 

Even though I've gone out and bought makeup bits to purposely replace some of the products I already owned, these two staple pieces in my collection are actually cruelty-free. And what's super fab is that the Urban Decay Naked Skin One & Done Hybrid Complexion Perfector - as well as having the longest name in history - is also the only higher-end product on this list. I use the shade light, and apply it just like I would a moisturiser, blending it all over my face and down my neck. It wouldn't be a makeup post without talking about my fave little NYX Colour Correcting Palette.  I press the peach-toned corrector under my eyes to erase dark circles, the green around my nose to eradicate the redness, and the lighter concealer to cover up any spots or blemishes. 

brows and eyes.

The MUA Luxe Power Brow 3-in-1 Brow Definer is the product that inspired my mini cruelty-free makeup splurge in Superdrug the other day. It's a pretty great premise, based on products like the Anastasia Brow Wiz but for just a £4 price tag. I brush my brows through with the spoolie on the end (side note - petition to have these included with all brow products pls?), then fill them in with the angled pencil. It's kind of a waxy, crayon-like formula and I'm a big fan. I use the shade dark brown, which is a great match for my brows. The brow definer also comes with a powder, but I tend to skip that step. If I do wear eye shadow on just your normal day, it'll probably be something very matte and very neutral. Also on my Superdrug mini splurge, I picked up the Elf Blush and Bronzing Duo in St Lucia, which I am now 100% head-over-heels for. Today I took the bronzer shade through my crease for some subtle, warm definition. To add a bit of sparkle, though, I used the shade Royal Gold from the Sleek Highlighting Palette in Precious Metals just in the inner corners. After drawing on some wings with my trusty Topshop Magic Liner and curling my lashes, I wacked on a tonne of the Elf Mineral Infused Mascara. For just £4.50, this is a cracking mascara - thickening, mostly non-clumping, and super long-wearing. 

cheeks 

Touch of deja vu? A lot of my eye products I also use on my face - so this is also a look quite light on the old bank account! I dusted the bronzer from the Elf Blush and Bronzing Duo in St Lucia over my cheeks, temples, forehead, down the bridge of my nose and pretty much everywhere else. The blush is an absolutely gorgeous colour; it's a very subtle, neutral and warm rose dusky rose shade - the type of blusher I tend to make a beeline for. I focus the application on the apples of my cheeks, but then pull it up higher onto my cheekbones too. For highlight, I reached yet again for the  Sleek Highlighting Palette in Precious Metals, this time taking Renaissance Gold and dabbing it onto the tops of my cheekbones, down the bridge of my nose, and on my cupid's bow. And guess what? The freckles are also back, baby. Using the furthest brown shade on the right, second row in the NYX Ultimate Palette in Warm Neutrals and a diddy little pencil brush, I dotted them mostly over my nose, but also around my cheeks too. 

lips. 

And lastly we come to lips. I was already enamoured with the Sleek Matte Me Lip Cream in Vino Tinto (which you can find my makeup look with here), so when I received a set of four more 'Matte Me' shades for Christmas from one of my besties Rachel, I was beyond excited to try out some more. I am in love with this shade - Shabby Chic - for everyday wear. I don't find it as flaky as Vino Tinto, although it is still quite drying. Pop some lip balm on before though, and your good to go! The staying power is second-to-none, however, and it's just the perfect Ellie lip colour. So thanks Rach, you did good girl. 

I feel like I should probably point out that I am still going to be using up the non-cruelty-free products I already own, but won't be buying any more, so if you see some products by brands that definitely test on animals, the likelihood is I had it before I stopped buying from them. I thought it might be quite the challenge to only buy cruelty-free makeup, but when it's so cheap, and the products are so good, I think this is going to be the easiest New Year's Resolution ever. 

From, 

Eleanor