Are you REALLY buying cruelty free?

For years the makeup and beauty industry have been ridiculed for their diabolical cruelty to animals. The methoods used in order to test these makeup/beauty samples on animals its utterly horrific and sickening. During recent years it has come to light just how many beauty/makeup brands are NOT leaping bunny certified (cruelty free)

During my recent scrolling through the Internet and looking up at just which brands are the ones to avoid, I stumbled on some shocking discoveries.

As many of you know 'leaping bunny', a cruelty free program, strives to keep a cruelty free standard. you can find logo's like this one beside products and companies that have been found to be totally animal cruelty free.... but is it all true? 

 Well, let me put it to you this way. Lets take for example everyone's favourite cruelty free companies such as The Body Shop, Urban Decay & NYX, these companies ARE leaping bunny certified,therefore are totally 100% cruelty free...Well, they should be.

All three companies are in fact owned by L'Oreal who practise animal testing.So by puchasing any of these brands, your money is going straigh into L'Oreal's pocket

So do you want a list of REAL cruelty free products? lets have a go then (I have added in some American companies for my American readers too)

ARDELL

BARRY M

BECCA COSMETTICS

BUTTER LONDON

CHARLOTTE TILBURY

CHINA GLAZE

DERMALOGIA

E.L.F

GOSH

HOURGLASS

ILLAMASQUA

JULEP

LIMECRIME (not vegan although they claim to be)

LUSH

MILANI

MUA

MOLTON BROWN

OCC

PHYSICIANS FORMULA

SONIA KASHUK

SUGARPILL

THE BALM

TOO FACED

WET N WILD

YOUNGBLOOD

If you want any more information on any other companies who are cruelty free just comment below or mail me at nadinestephens1990@gmail.com

favourite products 2014

First of all id like to say happy new year to all my followers! I cannot believe we're all the way back to the 1st of January again!How did everyone ring in their new years? Did you sit at home with your loved ones, throw an awesome party OR just simply have a quiet night in by yourself? Either way let me know what you all got up to :)

Now, I'm super sorry that I've been M.I.A recently, I currently have no camera, and had terrible Internet connection. But I'm back! So without further adieu, here are my top products(In no particular order) of 2014!

MUA LUXE LIP LACQUERS

These babies are utterly astounding.

Forget limecrime's velvetines, these tubes of velvety goodness are JUST as good! And at only 3.50 each who can say no? I own nearly all  the colours available and my god I adore them. I wear 'reckless' on most nights out. It is my go to perfect red. Looking for colour that doesn't budge an inch? Then look no further!

Available in Superdrug

MAXFACTOR MASTERPIECE TRANSFORM MASCARA

I recently went to a blogger event and found this loveliness in the goodiebag i received, I was delighted because this was just what I needed as I was running out of mascara! And i adore it! It makes my lashes suuuper long and thick looking!Love They're real by benefit but hate the price? Then switch it for this baby for a fraction of the price (13.99) The brush is great too but be warned it does take a fair while to dry so be careful!

GARNIER MICELLAR CLEANSING WATER

Where has this stuff been all my life?! As previously stated in past posts, I suffer from Rosacea so my skin is quite sensitive and nearly everything makes me break out. So that's why I was delighted to find this! This holy water is suitable for even the most delicate skin. Removing makeup has never been so easy! Think Bioderma Micellar water but way waaay cheaper! Now 4.19 in boots!

GARNIER ULTIMATE BLENDS - THE NOURISHING REPAIRER 

My hair is in an absolute heap. Its atrocious. That is in no way an exaggeration either.

The years of dying my hair every colour under the sun and having dreadlocks has taken its toll on my poor locks, and I can never ever find a shampoo/conditioner that gives my hair the right amount of moisture. Until now! 

If you have very dry / damaged hair then look no further than these glorious bottles of heavenly smelling hair stuff! Guaranteed to leave your hair feeling healthy and looking incredibly shiny.

URBAN DECAY - ORIGINAL NAKED PALETTE 

I know this one is quite generic but seriously, can you go wrong with this palette? The answer is no. I recently received this as a super generous Christmas gift from my best friend Dolly. I was gobsmacked when I opened the wrapping paper, I've wanted this palette since it came out!And now i have it and seriously cannot stop using it. So thank you Dolly! You know me so well :)

HOUSE OF HOLLAND NAILS - VAMPS

I also piked these up at a logger event, and they are seriously my most favourite nails ever! Just look at them, they're so gorgeous. I went to a Christmas Dinner and so many people were asking me where I got them done! Super gorgeous nails! Usually 10 Euro in boots

RIMMEL LASTING FINISH 25 HR FULL COVERAGE FOUNDATION

Now, I'm going to just come out and say it...

I'm not the biggest fan of Rimmel, I do not get the hype at all...its all crazy to me.

But a recent trip up north made me rethink! I found this foundation for just £3!!!!

So I decided to take it home with me and slap it all over my face. and OH my god I am in love. I don't think I will ever buy any other full coverage foundation ever again! This one is magnificent! hands down the best foundation I have ever come across!

What have been your favourite products of 2014? I'm dying to know! 

The Parma Violet

My August wish list

Good afternoon everyone! And wow what a busy evening I have ahead of myself!

I am actually going to be attending an evening celebrating the many years of Vaseline in the fabulous Morgan hotel in Temple Bar. And I'm super excited!

Now this is just a list of everything that made me go WOW this August! Nothing too fancy about this blog post, just a wee bit of lusting fun! 

1. Yves Saint Laurent - Touche Eclat 
2. MAC -  Ruby woo
3. MAC - Spiked
4. Urban Decay - Pulp Fiction Collection ...wow
5. Anastasia Beverly Hills dipbrow
6. Crux and Crow - Tie Dye dress
7. Lancome - Hypnose Eau de Parfum 

The Parma Violet

Thin lips? Transform them using this age old trick.

Everyone seems to want big, plump, juicy lips right? But sadly some of our gene pools aren't kind enough to bless us with Angelina's pout. BUT Makeup has blessed us with the tools to fake it! I myself have very thin lips but I plump them up using this age old, but VERY useful trick!

1. Simply Grab your lipstick of choice ( I chose Viva Glam by M.A.C)
2. Grab your most shimmery eyeshaddow you have (make sure its white/silver/nude, I chose 'Bootycall' from the Naked 2 palette)
3. Simply dab your chosen shaddow to the middle of your bottom lip and youre done!

Yep, seriously..it is THAT easy!

P.S.. i am VERY sorry about the short post and terrible pictures, on quite a harsh time limit today!

But I do hope you enjoy this short but very useful post! Try it! you'll never look back!

Do you have any useful makeup tips? Simply comment below or email me @ theparmavioletblog@gmail.com , thank you!

The Parma Violet

Upcoming collections from MAC and Urban Decay!

Now, we all know that MAC have been KILLIN IT this year with their ballsy and new collections and collaborations! 

Believe it or not! Urban Decay seem to be following in their footsteps! With an extremely exciting Pulp Fiction themed collection! This is so so exciting! Urban Decay has always had unbelievable makeup but i think this will be the cherry on top! So here is the preview that I found!

Pulp Fiction by Urban Decay

Behold!

Id that eyeshaddow quad just for that packaging! 

Pulp Fiction is most definitely one of my favorite films ever and this is sending me wild!

I sadly have no further information available on this collection as of yet but I will keep you posted!

NEXT we have

 MAC's Simpsons collaboration 

In my opinion, I think this collection looks cheap and tacky

MAC had this in the palms of their hands and they ruined it! The packaging is horrible and cheap looking,it looks like something you'd grab in the pound shop or Dealz! And to my absolute disgust, they wont be selling lipsticks! So this collection is a no no for me! Launching in August/September this is very disappointing

MAC Rocky Horror Picture Show Collection

I am nearly peeing myself with excitement over this!

Now THIS is the collection for me. This has SO much potential and I really hope they pull it off! And a little birdy told me a whole load of lipsticks will be available! Amazing!!

Kinky Boots by MAC

Apparently this is only going to be a lipstick and lip glass WITHOUT Limited edition packaging!

I don't know too much about this Limited Edition release as the idea seems to only be thrown around at the moment, but id say were in for the most glittery lips we've ever had.

Do you have any more info about any new Limited Edition releases? If so comment below or mail me at theparmavioletblog@gmail.com, thank you

The Parma Violet