Charlotte Tilbury

In a market containing approximately a gazillion products, it can be difficult to navigate the tricky path of what is accessible, affordable, good value and high quality. Add in a layer of ethical responsibility, and the scene can be a nightmare.

2016 proved an interesting year for cruelty-free cosmetics, with cosmetic giant Estee Lauder acquiring previously independently owned, cruelty-free brands Becca and Too Faced.

As a parent company, Estee Lauder does sell products in mainland China, where animal testing is required by law for any cosmetic to be sold. Even if the products and ingredients themselves are not tested on animals, this fact means the brand cannot be considered cruelty free.

Too Faced issued a statement that they would always remain cruelty free, but this doesn’t change the fact that any money spent on the brand does in fact go towards the parent company.

What a person chooses to buy is entirely up to them, and though many cruelty free shoppers will continue to buy from Too Faced, there are others who will not purchase for a brand with a parent company that allows the use of animal testing.

Being a conscious consumer is important, so if you’re feeling like some brands are a little two faced, here is a run down of some of the best 100% cruelty free cosmetic brands, with a large majority – if not, all – of their products also being vegan.

ANASTASIA BEVERLY HILLS

Known primarily for their life-changing brow products, the pro brand has expanded naturally and effortlessly to provide an incredible array of high quality, beautiful cosmetics. The eyeshadow quality is impeccable, their highlighters are some of the best available, and their brow products are firm favourites for a damn good reason.

My favourite products:
– Glow Kits in Sweets and Moonchild;
– Modern Renaissance Eyeshadow Palette;
– Dipbrow Pomade – I use the shade Ash Brown.

BY TERRY

By no means the cheapest option when it comes to buying your cosmetics – they sell a cult $82AUD lip balm – but if quality is what you’re looking for, then By Terry is a solid bet. They’re an independent company, not owned by any parent company, and completely cruelty free, not selling in Mainland China.

My favourite products:
– Ombre Blackstar Eyeshadow Sticks in shades Misty Rock, Bronze Moon, Black Pearl and Frozen Quartz;
– Sun Designer Palettes – I love shade Tan and Flash Cruise 1.

This shamelessly opulent makeup artists line is nothing if not gorgeous, but if you want a slice of old school glamour and quality to match the exceptionally beautiful exterior, then Charlotte Tilbury really can’t be beat.

My favourite products:
– Filmstar Bronze and Glow;
– Light Wonder Foundation;
– Eyeshadow Quads;
– Swish and Pop Blushes;
– Matte Revolution Lipsticks.

COVER FX

This 100% vegan brand has carved itself a nifty niche in the makeup world, offering innovative and interesting products different to what many other brands put out, rather than regurgitating the same ol’ stuff over and over.

My favourite products:
– Custom Cover Drops;
– Custom Enhancer Drops, Moonlight, Celestial;
– Cream Contour Kit in G Light Medium.

HOURGLASS

Famous for their luxe powder products, the independent company is 100% cruelty free, and largely vegan, spare a few products.

My favourite products:
– Ambient Lighting Powders in Luminous Light, Diffused Light and Ethereal Light;
– Ambient Lighting Blushes in any shade really, but my favourite is Incandescent Electra;
– Mineral Veil Primer;
– No 28 Serum Primer;
– Brushes – All vegan and cruelty free, and of the upmost quality.

KAT VON D

Kat Von D has always been cruelty free, but midway through 2016, the brand reformulated many of it’s products to ensure they were in line with the namesakes vegan lifestyle. With some of the best eyeshadows on the market, and a liquid lipstick line to die for, her edgy aesthetic stands apart on the spectrum of makeup brands.

My favourite products:
– Shade and Light Eye Contour Palette;
– Pastel Goth Eyeshadow Palette;
– Everlasting Liquid Lipsticks, they’re all pretty fantastic, pick your favourite colours;
– Lock It Hydrating Primer.

KYLIE COSMETICS

Say what you will about the always controversial Jenner/Kardashian clan, but there is no denying 19-year-old Kylie is a savvy business woman. Her cosmetic range is surrounded by more buzz than a beehive, but the quality of many of her products lives up to the hype, and then some. To top it off, the products come up reasonably affordable as far as mid-range Australian makeup pricing goes, just remember to save up and do one big order to get the free shipping.

My favourite products:
– Lip Kits in Posie K, Koko K, Love Bite, Kristen, and Koko Kollection;
– Burgundy Kyshadow Palette.

MARC JACOBS BEAUTY

Though the fashion design house Marc Jacobs may use animal products to create their clothes, bags, and other fashion items, Marc Jacobs Beauty exists as an entirely separate entity – from their fragrances, too – and the cosmetics brand is entirely cruelty free. With some of the nicest powder products on the market, and some of the sleekest packaging.

My favourite products:
– Air Blushes, all the shades! They’re really great. But I do especially love Lines and Last Night, Flesh and Fantasy, and Lush and Libido. Yes, the names are ridiculous;
– #Instamarc Light Filtering Contour Powder in 10 Mirage Filter.

I’ve cried at my reflection more times than I can count.

As a gal with a chronic illness, the horror of staring into my bulging eyes, grey skin and tired dark circles so purple and bruised that it looked like I’d been hit in the face, made me scared to shower for fear of catching a glimpse of myself in the mirror.

But with a bit of concealer, blush, lashings of mascara and some eyeliner, my corpse-like face stopped looking so close to death, and gave me the courage to walk out my bedroom door.

That’s one of the very many reasons I love makeup.

Retro CV, Hazel Grace style, circa 2011.

Though I rarely feel as bad as I did in the above photo, bad days still happen often.

When I feel like shutting all the doors, pulling the curtains and diving beneath a pile of blankets so heavy no one will ever find me, I take a moment to face my reflection, and be kind to it.

With brighter, more defined eyes, colour in my face, and bruises concealed, I feel human, and I am ready to be part of the world with the confidence illness all too often steals.

With this in mind, Look Good Feel Better (LGFB) is something I am immensely passionate about, and will forever sing the praises of.

LGFB is an Australian program, that offers a free service for cancer patients, to teach them how to manage the way their illness and treatments like chemotherapy and radiotherapy affect their appearances.

Women, men and teenagers are taught everything from proper skin care to makeup application, and head-wear demonstrations.

The program is by no means huge, and is managed by a small team of staff, and volunteer support from cosmetic specialists, makeup artists and hairdressers, giving their expertise to help these sick individuals regain some confidence.

Without government funding, the program relies on the support of corporate and community support, one partner being Priceline Pharmacy.

Though there are many ways to get involved with the wonderful program, a new makeup brush collection now available from Priceline is an exciting new way to support the cause.

13514282_917534958372860_710749881_n — Blush brush with Hourglass Incandescent Electra blush

The high-quality, synthetic, twelve brush collection is cruelty-free, allergy-free and suitable for sensitive skin.

15% from the sale of each brush will be donated directly to Look Good Feel Better, helping the estimated 10,000 people who will take part in the program this year.

I’ve purchased the blush brush, and the angle blending brush. Though bigger than my usual blush brush, is excellent for applying blush. Picking up just enough pigment and then buffing in perfectly. Works perfectly for bronzer, or just plain ol’ powder, too.

The angle blending brush is great for blending out eyeshadow edges, or even buffing in concealer.

If you feel like adding some brushes to your arsenal, I cannot recommend these more. Not just for the good cause, but the undeniable quality.

Angled blending brush with Charlotte Tilbury The Vintage Vamp eyeshadow palette

Not too long ago, someone online wrote a pointed comment towards me, claiming that my money spent on makeup could be better spent on mental health care.

The fury that pulsed through my veins as I read that was enough to drive a woman to break things.

Image is directly related to wellbeing and confidence. It is hard enough to suffer any kind of illness, whether that physical or mental, and lose the state of health so many people take for granted, without losing the appearance you’ve had your whole life.

Chronic illness can changed the way people see themselves, whether they like it or not. That “I look like crap” feeling doesn’t leave.

Every now and then my usually invisible illness rears it’s ugly head and becomes visible to me. Suddenly I want to hide myself away, I feel embarrassed to walk in public. I remember people staring at my thinning hair, falling out in chunks, my bone thin frame, and my face so devoid of colour it was frightening.

So if something as small as buying a few makeup brushes can help women, men and teenagers living with cancer across Australia feel good about themselves, and wake up each day with confidence, then it feels like the least I can do.

Look Good Feel Better brushes are available online here, or in stores.

*These were all purchased with my own money.

Tag: Charlotte Tilbury

Too Faced? | Cruelty Free Makeup Options

ANASTASIA BEVERLY HILLS

BY TERRY