Wednesday, April 1, 2015

Cruelty-free perfumes!

Hi everyone! So lately I've been on the hunt for cruelty-free perfumes and it has not been easy. I've been doing a lot of research and wanted to find some fragrances that sell in stores as opposed to having to order them online and just pray that they actually smell like vanilla (this happened to me and it did not, in fact, smell like vanilla). Many of these companies listed offer sample packs if you're paranoid like I am and also sell in stores.


Fun fact: their perfume boxes are embedded with flower seeds and can be planted! I'm on a wanna-be gardener kick lately and that's my favorite part about this company so far.
(online & offers free shipping! Also could be purchased at any of these stores.)


These perfumes are made using only real essential oils from flowers, fruits, herbs and spices. They are also made to last longer than cologne. 
(online. Also could be purchased in stores, here is their store locator link.)


This perfume line was made by Drew Barrymore who started it so people can have cheaper alternatives to great smelling fragrances. Instead of paying for advertising, she promotes the line and uses the money on the funding for her products.
(online & sold in Walmart)

KAI 

Kai is sold in many stores around the world and a favorite of many celebrities. This scent embodies the exotic flowers the creator loved as a child. It is sulfate, paraben, phthalate, phosphate and cruelty-free (obviously). If you're wondering what parabens are - like I was since I've been seeing "paraben free" everywhere - they are chemicals that help preserve cosmetics. Many people who strive to lead natural lives take parabens out of their products because they are detected in breast cancer tissue samples. There is no real evidence that parabens cause breast cancer, but it's enough of a reason for me and other people to not use products that include these. (online & in store, here is their store locator link.)


This line of perfume is so good for your skin! Over 30 vitamins, minerals, and amino acids are packed into the products that are exactly what your skin craves.
(online & sold in Sephora and other stores. Here is the link.)

LUSH 

I am obsessed with LUSH. I visit every chance I get and always spend almost all of my money there. I hadn't even thought about them having a perfume line but I'm really interested in trying it. I love their natural products and learning about the different ingredients. Sidenote- they have a sustainability program where you bring in your old bottle and get it refilled. (online & sold in LUSH stores. Here is their link to find one near you.)


What's really cool about this perfume line is each collection is inspired by the tales of ancient civilisations, by-gone eras, travel, and art allowing the creation of a truly unique story, capturing and emanating a moment in time. It's like you're going somewhere new and experiencing new scents with every spritz. And how pretty is that packaging?! (online)




Fragrances for the travel inspired. Scents that bring back memories of where you've been and where you want to go. The concept of these perfumes being named after places is so cool to me. As an example I'm going to use Brooklyn since it's close to me and I lived there for a few months while I was in school for culinary management. The scent is called Brooklyn Violet Leaf and is described as a "deep, rustic, edgy fragrance, redolent of an autumnal stroll along Brooklyn's violet-leaf clad cobblestone streets at twilight. This sensual eau de parfum channels Brooklyn’s magical alchemy of newfound leafy affluence juxtaposed with the gritty bohemian artistry of secret gallery dens and lithe young musicians on the cusp of their first big hit." (sold in store & fragrance wipes sold at Sephora*)


When I first started buying cruelty-free lipsticks, Pacifica was one of the first brands I got in my Petit Vour box. I haven't tried any of their perfumes yet but I know that their cosmetics are all happy, fun, unique and easy to wear so I'm excited to try them out. (online & sold in Target. They are also sold in these stores.)

This company was started up by a perfumer who would create the scents in her apartment until it became too small for her and her Etsy business. Based on legends, lore, literature, as well as scenes from the creator's life, these perfumes are all named after characters found within the stories that inspired their scents.
(online & sold in select stores; here is their store locator link.)


After doing this research, I decided on purchasing a few samples from some of these companies so once those come in, I'll be sure to review them. Thanks for reading!

Lots of light,
B

Thursday, February 26, 2015

Petit Vour Beauty Box: January 2015

Hi all! It's been awhile since my last post since I've been so busy with work and so I wanted to start off and say that I'm going to be reviewing my beauty box for January and I'll get to February's beauty box by next week, then jump into March!

This month's was called The New Luxury and was co-curated by supermodel Emily Nolan from My Kind of Life. I really loved their quote in the description (as always). "We believe in taking conscious steps to evolve in every way -- from what's inside our cosmetic bags to the way we interact with the world (& ourselves) on a daily basis, the answer is always kindness." That's exactly what got me into even going cruelty-free in the first place; I wanted to be more kind and compassionate in all aspects. I think it's very fitting for the first box of the new year so yay Petit Vour! Let's get this started.


1. 100% Pure French Lavender Hand Buttercream | $8
If you've read my other posts, you'll know I was - and still am - on a lavender kick. I cannot get enough of it. I'm usually iffy about buttercreams because I feel like they're either too thick or not thick enough, but this one is very smooth and moisturizing. It also has a lot of natural ingredients that are directed for the skin and helpful during the winter. I've been bringing this EVERYWHERE with me. Perfect size!


2. EVOLVh Leave-In Conditioner | $8 (Full-size, $26)
I am always always always looking for new leave-in conditioners so I was really excited to get this! I loved this immediately because it left my hair very soft and manageable and helped fight frizz. This product also works as a detangler if your hair is like mine and always a hot mess when it's curly. I usually like serums for my heat protectants but this liquid has an even consistency and moisturizes without weighing my hair down. This is my favorite leave-in conditioner to date!




3. MODERN MINERALS En Pointe Eye Shadow | $12.50
The perfect rose gold. Ever. Let's just start off there. I am a huge fan of neutrals and shimmer so this color is everythinggggg. I like my eyeshadow to be subtle so I only apply it once but if you like yours a little more dramatic, just keep sweeping! When I was researching Modern Minerals, I read that this color is exclusive to Petit Vour. So, yes, I do feel very special.




4. RAWSKINCEUTICALS Rose Creme Cheek Color | $15
Soooo I don't use any blush. I'm really lazy when it comes to my everyday makeup and I stick to a cat-eye and mascara and call it a day, so I didn't really know how this was supposed to go on. I've been practicing with it, though, and I've noticed that with just one swipe the color was on. It's very pigmented and super thick if you can't tell. It took me a few tries to work it in the right way so I didn't just have a blob of rose blush on my face, but I got it!

Overall, I'm very happy with my beauty-box as always. I love getting new products that I can use regularly and can work into my routines. It was a great way to start off this year for Petit Vour! I'll be posting about February's box within the week so stay tuned :)

Lots of light,
Breanna