Frugal Fridays: Affordable Cruelty Free Beauty

Hello Dolls,

First of all- I would sincerely like to thank those who left such kind words of support in my comments the other day. For the record, I'm feeling a lot better. Obviously the issue of the move hasn't gone away and all of the costs that we're going to face in coming weeks, but I'm just taking every day as it comes right now and I have faith that all will work out for us. 

Anyway, on to my frugal advice of the week! 

Buying products that are not tested on animals is a big deal to me. With that said though, I know that I have products throughout my home which sadly, are (detergent, laundry soap, clorox bleach, etc) but when I can afford it or when I have the option, I definitely prefer to opt for cruelty free items. 

When it comes to makeup however, I only shop cruelty free which in itself has some challenges. Most of the run of the mill drug store / big box store brands are tested on animals. It's a very infrequent occasion that I will splurge on cruelty free brands such as Too Faced, Urban Decay, etc at Ulta or Sephora (usually only when there's a major sale or I have coupons). 

So what's a girl to do!?

Here are my favorite drugstore / big box store brands that are cruelty free and affordable!

1) E.L.F. Cosmetics

E.L.F. Cosmetics (Eyes Lips Face) is so ridiculously cheap that makeup junkies will think they're in heaven! The majority of their products are $5.00 or under and they offer a huge range of beauty tools- everything from brushes, nail polishes, makeup sets to false eyelashes. 

I have a few of their items (lip gloss, eye palettes, nail polish, mascara, eyeliner) and one of the downsides is that some of their products are sub par, in my opinion. You really have to do your research and read the reviews before opting to buy E.L.F. products as even though you'll only be a few dollars out of pocket if you don't like something, it's better off not spending it in the first place!

I've found their Lipglosses and Nail Polish to be decent. Their eye palettes are okay- but for vivid color you really need a good primer (their primer isn't very good in my opinion) and they may not last as long as you are accustomed to with higher end brands. The Mascara is awful and to be stayed away from!

However their Cream Eyeliner is amazing! Their gift sets too, are fun and affordable. Overall, I do think E.L.F. is worth checking out for the price + cruelty free aspect but definitely read the item reviews first!

E.L.F. is available at Target in the U.S.

2) Hard Candy

I first started using Hard Candy years ago when it was still a premium product sold at Sephora. They disappeared for a while and then re-emerged as a discount brand. Their packaging is admittedly juvenile and obviously aimed at the teen market, but don't let that put you off!

Most items are around $6.00 (therefore a little more expensive than E.L.F.) but I swear by their Eye Shadows! Everything from their regular Duos to their special palettes. They offer vivid, vibrant and long lasting color (more so than E.L.F). I'm yet to try their Mascara as they always seem to be out of stock. I remember their Mascara being decent though when they were a premium brand in Sephora.

The Lipgloss I keep in my purse daily is Hard Candy's Sheer Lip Shine in Heartbreaker (light pink). It's lasted me ages and I continue to be happy with it. I'd buy it again! 

So, if you can look past the tacky packages, Hard Candy is all in all good value for money (and has always been Cruelty Free).

Hard Candy is available at Walmart in the U.S. and Canada.

3) Bonne Bell

I realize this is another brand geared towards teens (hey, I loved Bonne Bell in my teens!) and when you think Bonne Bell, you think Lipsmackers!

However, Bonne Bell is far more than just fruity flavored lipgloss. Bonne Bell actually offers a wide variety of beauty products ranging from $3.00-$10.00 and they often have online printable coupons and often have sales! 

I've always found the quality of Bonne Bell very passable- the makeup applies smoothly and the color is always rich. Plus, Bonne Bell makeup always smells good! I keep Bonne Bell Lip Lites in Strawberry Parfait in my glove compartment of my car and it's a treat. A few years back I actually had a similar color in a Chanel lipgloss and the quality is actually comparable, believe it or not! Don't discount it as a 'kids' product so quick!

Bonne Bell is available at various locations throughout the U.S. and world

4) Physicians Formula

This is by far the most expensive brand on this list- but it's such a well known drugstore / big box brand (that does not test on animals!) that I couldn't leave it out!

Physicians Formula cosmetics are great- but range between $7.00-$15.00 which is on the expensive side for non-beauty store brands. Their products are lovely though, and often multi tasking!

I have the Physicians Formula Shimmer Strips (technically a bronzer) but use it as Eye Shadow and it's on par with MAC Cosmetics in the result it produces! I honestly have never owned many Physicians Formula products (aside from foundations and the before mentioned bronzer) so I can't give an all encompassing review, but from the products I have used I can assure you that this is a very nice brand and if you feel like splurging, it's worth it! It's still half the price of a lot of Beauty Store brands!

Physicians Formula is available at various locations throughout the U.S. and world

Anyway, I hope that gives you a tiny bit of insight into some very affordable and easily obtainable brands that are not tested on animals! I would like to add a quick bit of advice though:

IMPORTANT: A lot of companies state on their website that they do not test on animals except when required by law. Unfortunately, nine times out of ten this means they do test on animals! 

A lot of major makeup brands that were formerly cruelty free (including MAC, Avon and Mary Kay) have shifted their production to China due to cost cutting. Chinese law currently requires animal testing on all cosmetic and pharmecutical products developed and produced there. Therefore, any beauty product made or sourced from China is tested on animals! Read more about it here.

Don't you feel just a little more glamorous when putting cruelty free items on your face? 

Until next time!

Frugal Fridays: Saving Money At The Salon!

Good Evening!

Initially I started a ridiculously long post on frugal living. As you're aware, my husband and I are 100% debt free. To be honest, we've never really been in debt (after my first year of University I had a HECS debt which is a kind of student loan in Australia, but I promptly paid that off after the first year and paid all subsequent classes outright). Staying out of debt and staying frugal is a lot easier than getting back on track if your finances are a train wreck! Anyway, I thought it would be cute to share some frugal tips with you each Friday, starting with today!

Saving Money At The Salon

As you can probably gather, I am a girly girl. I love clothes, I love makeup, I love looking and feeling pretty. However, pretty often comes with a price tag! 

I worked in the hotel industry for 6 years and image was everything. I had to look put together and presentable at all times! This meant perfectly manicured nails, neat and styled hair, and professional looking makeup. 

I admit that I got Acrylic Nails for years. Also, I used to spend about $200 every month at the salon on my hair alone! Mind you, I used to have a good job. But looking back, I cringe at how much money I spent! 

My Frugal Friday Solution? Your Local Beauty School! 

Actually, they're called Cosmetology Schools nowadays, but we all know I'm stuck in a bit of a time warp! 

Now, don't cringe and back away- don't think "Oh my goodness I don't want some amateur kid touching my hair! What if they mess it up?". At most schools, they won't let the students run wild on your hair, but don't expect the salon experience to be as quick as you're used to either. Plan to be there at least a few hours.

Why?

Depending on the level of the student, he/she has to consult with their teacher before and after every major step to ensure they are getting it right and to ensure that you are happy with the progress! It seems tedious at first, but wouldn't you rather that process than for some poor stylist to send your hair candy pink like Frenchie in Grease?

Also, be aware that the teacher may take over your hair and use you as a demonstration for the rest of the class. This has happened to me a few times. I don't mind. Actually, I find it really interesting!

The best thing about all of this though is the money you can save. For a color and cut, I would spend anywhere between $20-$30 depending on whether I had any coupons and what exactly I had done! This is HUGE savings on your regular salon bill! A cut and blowout alone I believe was about $8-$10 at the particular school salon I went to! 

Another advantage beyond helping students achieve their dream of becoming stylists, is I found them to be a lot more welcoming of new ideas, styles and techniques. Usually, if I told a regular stylist to give me something retro or to give me victory rolls they would look at me like I was out of my mind! Students on the other hand want to learn and want to experiment- so tell them you want color, curls, a Veronica Lake Peek a boo Bang or anything in between, and they'll most likely happily strive to get it right!

I was fortunate enough to have a wonderful young lady at the school Salon do my hair every time for the past year and a half. She recently graduated however and is moving on- and unfortunately as I'm in the process of relocation too I won't get to see her! However, she always put in 100% effort and always did an amazing job with my hair! 

You better believe I'll be going back to Cosmetology School Salons to get my hair done after I have relocated to St. Louis for good! The savings are worth it! In one year alone, of opting for the Cosmetology School Salon over a regular Stylist- I saved over $2000!

Also, I started doing my own nails and toenails as opposed to getting them done at a nail spa (another $1200 in savings over the course of the year!). 

My nails are a bit shabbier since I don't have acrylics anymore, and my toenails aren't always as shiny and painted as they used to be, but my hair is just as good as it's ever been and the savings have made the small sacrifice worth it! 

So look up your local Beauty School today! Ask about their salon hours and pricing- you may just find your new favorite future hair stylist, and save a lot of money in the process!

Until next time,

Stay Glamorous!