This to That: Bronzer & Contouring Products.

Hello, friends! Happy Friday to you all! Today’s blog post is the one that I promised in my last post… All about my journey to create a makeup collection that serves me, and the Earth, as best as it can.

I don’t utilize bronzer too much, I tend to instead apply blush with a very heavy hand. However, I do own a couple of such products. And I do enjoy adding bronzer to my routine if I am doing a more dramatic look. Bronzer is something that is certainly not one-size-fits-all, so finding the perfect one is all the more difficult AND important. And I am on the hunt!

Physician’s Formula Shimmer Strips: Vegas Strip/Light Bronzer. $13.49.

• I’ve had this bronzer for longer than I’d care to admit. Middle school, maybe? I know that it’s bad to keep makeup longer than the recommended date, but I just can’t seem to get rid of items until they’ve been completely used up.
• Physician’s Formula is a cruelty-free brand.
• This product is NOT vegan, as it contains carmine. (Carmine, I looked up, is made up of beetles.)
• The yellow/orange highlighter/bronzer combo is not flattering on my skin type whatsoever.
• I’m trying to phase out all makeup products that aren’t cruelty-free and vegan.
• I’m also wanting to move onto makeup products that are more clean and less wasteful.

Final Thoughts: I will not be buying this product again.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Contour Cream Kit: Medium. $40.00.

• I’ve had this palette for around two years, I believe. I bought it at TJ Maxx, so I definitely didn’t spend that much on it.
• Medium isn’t my shade, and I don’t know why I bought it. I think I was caught up in the glamour of brand-name makeup.
• I don’t think I like cream contour. It doesn’t blend out how I’d like it to.
• Anastasia Beverly Hills is a cruelty-free brand.
• This product IS vegan.
• I’m sure that this product could be wonderful for people who do more intensive highlighting and contouring than I do, but for me, it’s just not something I find myself reaching for.
• I will say that I’ve been mixing some of the shades and using them to fill in my eyebrows, which works really nicely!
• I may not like cream bronzer/contour, but I really love cream blush, so I will say that I enjoy the blush that’s provided in this kit.

Final Thoughts: I will not be buying this product again.

Pur Epic Illusion Cheek & Contour Palette. $28.00

• I’ve had this palette for a couple of years as well. I’m pretty sure it was a Christmas gift.
• It features two highlighters, two contour shades, and two blushes.
• I actually really like this palette. It has many uses, as I utilize the highlighter and the contouring shades as eyeshadow to create some really lovely natural eye looks.
• Pur is a cruelty-free brand.
• This product is NOT vegan. It contains magnesium stearate which is derived from pork. It also contains ethylhexylglycerin and tocopheryl acetate which can be sourced from plant OR animal sources, and I don’t believe that Pur states anywhere whether it’s one or the other.

Final Thoughts: I will not be buying this product again.

What do I plan on replacing these items with?

I’ve been doing some research on brands that are vegan, cruelty-free, and low-waste. I don’t plan on purchasing any of these products until I’m completely out of the ones that I already own. I also don’t plan on buying all of these at once, because that seems counterproductive, but when I do end up buying one, I plan on making a blog post about which I choose! ❤

• Elate Cosmetics: this is a brand that I’ve been wanting to try for awhile now. On their site, they say that they are cruelty-free, vegan, toxin free, gluten free, and sustainably made! I also really enjoy that you are able to buy refills for your containers once you have bought them! This is the shade that I plan to buy… They have so many other things that I want to try, so I’m sure that this will not be the last time they’re mentioned here.
• EK Bare Beauty: this is a brand that I stumbled upon when looking for cruelty-free bronzers. Their bio on Etsy says that they are“low-waste, inclusive clean beauty.” Again, there are so many other wonderful products in their shop that I want to try when I’m in the market for some other products. They are also vegan, cruelty-free, low-waste, and all sorts of good stuff. This is the one that I’m wanting to try! It says that it’s a blush, but I think on my skin tone it’ll work great as a bronzer!

And that’s that, my dear friends! I will keep you all updated on this journey.

Thank you so much for reading!

XOXO,

Mattie Mae