Animal Products in Your Makeup- And No, They Are Not Pleasant To Have In Them Either!

You might believe its not a big deal that you have some sort of animal product, or by-product in your makeup. Yes, it's in your lipstick, lipgloss, nailpolish, foundation, eye makeup, creams, lotions, toiletries - and pretty much everything.

Surprised? I would be too, and was when I first learned this. Want to know what the top 10 animal by-products are help to make up your makeup? Here is the top 10 countdown of animal byproducts in your cosmetics.

10. Oleoresin Capsicum
Better known as pepper, and a huge part of what makes pepper spray- this this substance is commonly used as a defense spray by police and law enforcement who may encounter dangerous animals in the wild. Heck pepper spray is used by women to defend themselves if need be. This pepper spray causes temporary blindness when making contact to the eye, and is burning to the skin.

And guess what- its found as capacin extract(same thing as extract of chilli pepper) in cosmetics! When you wear your lipstick or lipgloss and you feel a tingly sensation on your lips- know that its the oleoresin capsicum that causing this.  Fairly harmless, but is it even needed?

9. Waste Cooking Oil

This great stuff is often used by cosmetics companies as a surfactant. This basically helps to "regenerate damaged skin" so they say. Many of these companies get their waste oil from good old fast food restaurants. While the idea that they are recycling something sounds great, its pretty gross and disgusting to know they use that as a skin regenerating agent. Eww!!

8. Fish Scales

If you have ever used any cosmetic that has a shimmer to it, you can bet it has fish scales in it.The pearl-escent sheen on eyeshadows, nail polish, and such come from this ingredient.

7. Chicken Bone Marrow
Chicken Bone Marrow is just one of many animal based ingredients used in your everyday cosmetics.  A possible reason behind this is that it is said that bone marrow helps promote youthful skin, and helps skin cells to create a youthful appearance. It may also be used as an anti-inflammatory. You can also find this in facial creams and moisturizers.

6. Cochineal Dye
So guess what this is!??! You may not find cochineal dye listed as an ingredient in your cosmetics, but you will find carmine, cochineal, or carminic acid. If you find any of these ingredients listed, you probably are using a cosmetic that has some sort of red hue to it, such as lipstick. It may seem pretty harmless, but this dye is used in a lot of cosmetics that comes from cochineal beetles. The bugs are drowned in hot water, dried, and then ground to a fine powder. The crimson red dye is then extracted and used in whatever beauty product you can imagine. It’s also used in food products as well, such as gelatins, juices, and even candy.

5. Bull Semen

As surprised as you may be by this, this trend of using semen in cosmetics is not new. It has been used for several years in the form of cod sperm in lotions because it provides a quality that binds with water. But recently, bull semen is being used by cosmetic companies and salons in products for instance, for the hair, that provide a sheen, and lustrous quality to it.  They also believe no other ingredient can provide the same sheen. The salon, known as Hari’s Salon, uses bull semen mixed with katria root, to neutralize the odor, and viola, shiny hair. If you’re up for some semen in your hair, take a trip to the U.K. with $90 in hand. Maybe the cowboys know something we don’t.

4. Human Foreskin

Yes! Are you surprised too? If you are "looking for the fountain of youth" then look no further. Human foreskin is what is used been used for years as a method to cultivate new skin growth, instead of performing skin graphs on burn patients. While it may seem unethical to you, many cosmetics companies around the world have been using this in their makeup for a long time! The same method is also used in the cosmetics world. Companies, the most notable being SkinMedica, use foreskin fibroblasts in cosmetic creams and collagens, especially those made to reduce wrinkles. It is said that one piece of foreskin from a baby boy can be used to create about 4 acres of new skin.

3. Ambergris

Ambergris; sounds like something nice, maybe pretty, however, it’s everything but that. It’s actually a gray or black substance that is found in the digestive system of sperm whales-  we’ll just call it bile, or “whale by-product,” both work. Despite its dark color and waxy texture, ambergris is said to have a very earthy and sweet smell to it. The substance was widely used in cosmetics, especially perfumes because of its smell. However, not many companies use it today as synthetic scents have become much more popular. Whoever decided to smell this definitely has some guts!

2. Urea

Who knew urine contained something cosmetic companies would flip over? Urea, a chief waste product of our body as well as from animals, is used in antiperspirants, moisturizers, mouthwashes, deodorants, and shampoos. That’s right; you’re getting all beautified with the help of an organic compound in urine! Urea is used because it is known to absorb, attract and retain water, and contains vitamins A, D, E, and K. Not only does it work wonders on sweat and moisturizing, it is also a great anti-inflammatory as well as a sun protection. Thankfully, most companies now use synthetic urea instead of extracting it from a horse.

1. Human placenta

Despite how disgusting they look, some people have actually found a new use for them: cosmetics. The company Plazan has created and manufactured an entire line of cosmetics made with human placenta. Why placenta? Apparently cosmetics that use hormones extracted from the placenta, such as Hyaluronic Acid and Protein Hydrolysate, help to promote tissue growth, which is very effective in removing wrinkles. As if it’s any better, our bodies don’t become reliant upon products with human placenta because it’s made with our biological structure, both those products that use animal placenta are another story.

The Thick Bushy Brow Trend

Jennifer Connolly looks great with the thicker brow.

So this new bushy brow trend seems to be the craze these days. Everywhere I look that is all I see! Women sporting thicker, bushier, straighter(less arch) brows.

This Model could thicken her brow and still look good because of her strong jawline.

Brooke Sheilds brought the thick brow into trend!

While it may look good on SOME women, I really think it is rather unflattering on most! Sorry ladies. But an undefined, bushy eyebrow on the wrong face shape (for many it is) turns out to look not so right.

Sorry, this model has too thick brows for her face shape. Not flattering.

Bushy eyebrows- the CORRECT face shape- someone with a STRONG jaw line, and a more square shaped face. So Kyle from The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, or Brooke Shields, or Bethanney, all who have a strong jaw line and a square shaped face- they can rock the bushy brow and make it look good.

Thick brows look good on Kiera Knightly because she has a wide jaw line.

But if you have a narrow, round, or long face, the bushy brow is not for you! The important focus will have to be on SHAPE and ARCH, even if you want a thicker brow.

Even with a thicker brow, Megan Fox still gets arch-y in her brow.

Bollywood actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan also does a nice arch.

Beyonce arches and shapes her brows just right!

Halle's delicate long face is complimented by her shaped, arched brows.

  Getting the right tweezer, or having someone do it for you, whether its threading, waxing, or tweezing can give you the best brow look for your face. To further define your brow, many beauty brands have brow liners & brow definers like brow gel enhancers. Just take a brush, dab, and fill in your brow once you have given it the right shape.

Even Oprah has said, "Your eyebrows change your face." Getting the right brow will give you the best look for your face. The end-results will enhance your face and your beauty, giving you that extra edge of fabulous-ness!

Be Cruelty-FREE!! Cruelty-Free Makeup Is the Way to Go!

Think of a bunny. Harmless, cute, fluffy, soft, white- bunny rabbits. Yes, those adorable, nose-twiching creatures- they are PREY to many BIG-time cosmetic companies out there. As adorable as they are, they are the ones, along with rats, who get tested on products, injected into their eyes, rubbed onto their bare skin after being shaven, and these poor animals are tested on while pregnant.

"While testing cosmetics such as lipstick and shampoo on animals was banned in the European Union in 2009, elsewhere around the world animal suffering for cosmetics continues. Rabbits still have chemicals dripped into their eyes or rubbed into their shaved skin, and rodents still have substances forced down their throats or injected into their blood to observe toxic effects. Even pregnant animals are dosed with chemicals to test the effects on their unborn babies. These tests cause suffering and ultimately death - just to produce a new shade of lip-gloss or a reformulated skin cream."( Mark Jones, http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/mark-jones/animal-testing-ugly-secret-of-beauty_b_1454715.html).

Although  Europe is on its way to completely banning animal-tested products(they are planning to ban everything animal tested by March 2013), the US and Canada are still not strict, and have flex guidelines that do not prohibit such testing.

Cruelty-free companies like Glam Girl Naturals Cosmetics and LUSH use ingredients that they already know are safe, and thus have no need for testing on animals. If any cruelty-free companies need to test, they use the EpiDerm artificial human skin model.

However, if companies insist on using 'new to the world' ingredients without existing data and for which non-animal tests are not yet available, the 'need' for animal tests can be triggered. For these companies, the solution is simple: avoid new ingredients until their safety can be assured using strictly non-animal methods.

There are a good amount of CRUELTY-FREE beauty brands out there which include: Glam Girl Naturals Cosmetics, LUSH, Urban Decay, Dermalogica, Liz Earle, Marks & Spencer, Faith In Nature, and Paul Mitchell. These are SOME of the cruelty-free beauty brands out there, and you can visit PETA's website(www.peta.org) to learn more about cruelty-free beauty brands.

Companies that are NOT cruelty-free include big names like: L'Occitane, L'oreal, Revlon, Mary Kay, Avon, Lancome, Yardley, Clinique, Johnson & Johnson, Givenchy, Lancome, Estee Lauder,  Yves Saint Laurent, Christian Dior, Chanel, Proctor & Gamble, Garnier, FCUK, and many others.

It is a sad fact that these big name beauty brands continue to animal test- and be cruel to animals- even though there are equally effective alternatives out there.

We hope that the list of CRUELTY-FREE COSMETICS will continue to grow, and more and more consumers gravitate towards a healthier, kinder, and more eco-friendly choice by purchasing CRUELTY-FREE beauty products.

Happy New Year- Ring the New Year in With Health and Beauty!!!

This year we have exciting gift sets that will remain, and change throughout the year. We also have gift cards for $25, $50, $75, and $100. They make for great gifts, especially if you don't know what to buy your special friend, mom, sister, or co-worker!

Get Glammed Up Gift Set--- Org Price: 67.50, On Sale $55

Buy our Gift Cards for $25, $50, $75, $100

 Check us out on facebook, and don't forget to "like" our page to show your support! You can find us on facebook at: facebook.com/glamgirlnaturals and also on twitter at twitter.com/glamgirlnatural

We will be having some fun contests where you can win free Glam Girl Naturals Cosmetics products, so check the pages out frequently and don't miss out on the fun!

We have many written testimonials on our website, and you can view them here: http://www.glamgirlnaturals.com/testimonials-17.html and we have video testimonials that we put up on our facebook page, so check those out too!

Our Awesome, Long Lasting, Beautiful Glam Girl Blush!

We hope to be formulating some skin care this year, so stay tuned. In the mean while, enjoy our DEAL OF THE DAY, that we have every day to week. This week the DEAL OF THE DAY is Glam Girl Blush, for $12.50, msrp $15.   
This blush has 6 beautiful shades that will enhance any complexion, and bring out more dimension to your cheekbones. Plus adding blush to your look always freshens up the entire makeup ensemble. The blush is non-comdogenic(won't clog your pores) , is gluten-free, & is non-acnegenic.

Don't forget to LIKE us on Facebook! Thank you for your support! We hope you all make it a beautiful, healthy, glamorous NEW YEAR!!!!

Giving the Gift of Glamor, Health, & Beauty: Give Beauty Gifts, that Are Toxic-Free!!

      Tis the Season! So every evening afterwork, or even during your lunch hour you are out there, getting gifts, stocking stuffers, checking that list off of to-gets, and stressing about not having enough time to do it all! You are at work, browsing through different store websites to see what you can get for your loved ones. Many will get perfumes, makeup kits, and other beauty related gifts for their special ladies. But have you thought of what those very things- perfumes, makeup, and other beauty related gifts- are made of? When you do, and you actually read the ingredients, and even do a quick google on all that stuff you get to see what all the chemicals these beauty items are made of. Yes, all the silicone, bismuth chloride, parabens, dyes and colors, lakes and carmines- you can google it- are actually very bad and even detrimental to everyone's health. Why do they use it? Mainly because these ingredients are cheaper, easier to preserve the makeup and beauty items, so that they can sit on shelves and eventually be sold to you!

Did you know that foundation itself has 24 different chemicals in it that are harmful to you? Perfume- try 250 chemicals- yes, you read right, 250. How about lipstick- the stuff that goes directly on and in your mouth- 33. I mean just look at the picture below to see how much harm women do everyday to themselves: You can learn more about all these chemical ingredients found in most beauty products here: chemicals found in beauty products. At the end of the day, its your choice to use and gift others to use this stuff, or something better. There are many different better brands out there, that use better-for-you-ingredients. Some of my favorites are Alba(lotions, body scrubs, etc), Nature's Gate(shampoos, conditioners, and lotions), Avalon Organics(shampoo, conditioner), & Glam Girl Naturals(an all natural, mineral & plant based makeup line, that pretty much has everything you could ask for in a makeup line, and the quality is great- plus it is gluten-free, vegan, and cruelty-free). Make a better choice this year when gifting beauty related gifts to YOURSELF, and your loved ones! There are great options out there, so why not choose better? You and I- we all deserve it!

Natural Face Mask for OILY or ACNE PRONE SKIN

Have oily skin, acne, &/or blackheads? This natural remedy will work wonders for your skin, clearing it, making it less oily, and making it glow. 

The tomatoes are the antioxidants here that help to absorb the oil of the skin. The lemon is not only an excellent agent to make your skin glow, but it also helps to kill any bacteria that sits in the pores causing breakouts.

For this mask you will be needing:

Ingredients: 
1 over-ripe tomato
1 tsp lemon juice
1tsp instant oatmeal(plain!)

Method:
- scoop out the inside of the tomato and put into your blender
-add lemon juice and oatmeal, and blend till it is a smooth consistancy
-apply to your face(should be clean, no makeup)
-leave on for 15 min
-wash off with warm water, and pat face dry with towel


Your skin will feel smooth, clean, and refreshed, and the tomato and lemon juice acid will be in action in your pores, helping to clear up your skin, and deminish any excess oil! The oatmeal helps provide balance to the skin and prevents itchiness.

Remarkably, the ingredients in Glam Girl Naturals also help to heal and restore your skin. Recommended for the face after this mask, is Glam Girl Naturals Concealer, and Glam Girl Naturals Loose Mineral Foundation.

Over time, you will see how the healing properties in Glam Girl Naturals makeup helps to improve the quality of your skin. The ProVitamin B5 and Allantoin(comes from Comfrey Root) which work together to condition and repair the skin. In addition,
Golden jojoba oil will aid in reducing acne by helping to regulate sebum production and balance the skin.
Also included are skin beneficial topical botanicals such as Bisabolol, the active part of Chamomile, which is great for its soothing and anti-bacterial properties. Improve the quality of your skin and your skin will glow in gratitude!

Natural Facial Skin Care! All Natural Winter Moisturizing Mask

 All Natural Winter Moisturizing Mask

With the cold weather surrounding us for the next few months, dry skin will be a common thing to deal with. You can save a lot of money and  time using these all natural, effective face remedies!

MOISTURIZING FACE MASK:
Ingredients:
1/2 an avocado
1 tbsp honey
1 1/2 tbsp milk(whole milk for best results, since it has the most fat)


Method:

-Half your avocado and scoop it out.
-Add milk to create a smoother  consistency.
-Add honey.

-Mix together for a minute and apply generously over your face. Leave on for 30 mins.

After the 30 mins, wet a washcloth with warm water, and wipe off the mask. 

Apply your favorite moisturizer, and finish it off with Glam Girl Naturals -Glam Girl Naturals Loose Mineral Powder, Glam Girl Naturals Cream Mineral Foundation, and ALL other Glam Girl Natural Makeup!

Your skin will thank you for the natural things you have used!