I hope you all have an amazing Halloween...if you are going out to any parties tonite, please be safe!  If you are recovering from a weekend of parties, condolences!  Hahaha, hope you feel 'up to work' soon!  I've got a massive Guy Fawkes Party coming up next weekend...and I'm so looking forward to it.  We bought some crazy fireworks!! :)

Have you been lucky enough to carve your own pumpkins?  I had some bad luck and my pumpkin rotted! Here is a few amazing pumpkins that have been carved for Halloween, and also have a look at the 'Google' logo which is made entirely out of amazing pumpkins!  Put a big smile on my face this morning!

Still looking for an idea for your Halloween costume?  Why not try this easy makeup look which is amazing!  Kandee Johnson on her blog and You Tube channel have done lots of easy breezy Halloween looks.  Check her blog out here.

If you still haven't got any sweeties ready for those trick or treaters, how about taking inspiration from these cake pops.  These are fairly easy to make and a lot of fun!  If you'd like to attempt these little beauties...have a look at 'The Pink Whisk' for a full recipe and 'how to'.

The most important thing during this time is just to have fun and be safe!  Watch your favourite scary movie, enjoy the hype and the sweeties...the fun comes around only once every year!

Lots of scary love from me

ANGIE X X X

Animal Welfare when testing on cosmetics

Hello everyone to another friday post!  I'll be honest with you...I had a make-up post ready for you, but have actually decided to change the topic early this morning after seeing something on another blog that I thought is very important and needed to be aired. 

It is all about Animal Cruelty during the testing of make-up and beauty products.  If you feel that this isn't important to you, you can leave the blog now BUT if you feel this is an important topic you'd like to hear more on, please stay!

Yolandie a good friend of mine on The Bloomin' Couch blog, actually aired this topic today.  Please go and read about the topic on her blog, because she has written an excellent piece on it, and not only that, but given us a list of companies that Do and Don't test on animals.

I'd just like to add:

Animal testing on cosmetics is arguably one of the most - if not the most - controversial areas of animal testing. Although it was banned in the United Kingdom (UK) in 1998, it does still occur in other areas of the world. The European Union (EU), introduced a testing and marketing ban in march 2009.

What Happens During Cosmetics Testing?

Cosmetics testing on animals relates to many aspects of the manufacturing process. Animal testing may occur on the full, finished product or it may occur on individual ingredients within a formulation. Another country may even be contracted to conduct the testing within the cosmetic company's homeland or it may be contracted out to a country where animal testing is not currently banned.

Types of Animal Testing for Cosmetics

Cosmetics testing is usually focused on ensuring that a product does not harm a person's eyes and skin. It is also tested for overall toxicity and any toxicity related to ultraviolet light. An example would be a product that contains retinol, which makes a person more susceptible to sun damage. As such, manufacturers will usually recommend a person use a sun protection factor of a minimum amount to safeguard skin and prevent damage and burning. Cosmetics testing will also focus on testing for mutagenic effects. Despite even this array of stringent testing, people do still suffer from reactions to cosmetics, which does indicate the challenges of drawing conclusions from testing that apply to the majority of the public. At present, cosmetics testing is generally faring well without the use of animal testing in areas where it is banned and hopefully, this trend will continue to take hold of other countries.

Marketing of Cosmetics

While many companies are now citing 'no testing on animals' in terms of their ethical stance on cosmetics, it is clear that this is an excellent marketing strategy given the widespread public disapproval of the practice. Ironically, those companies who do not test cosmetics on animals are still benefiting from previous data that was conducted on animals. The basic ingredients in many cosmetics formulations are the same. Therefore, a company can still obtain great benefit from the prior use of animals in cosmetics testing while being able to claim that their particular product was not tested on animals. This is a legal practice but it does go to show how far-reaching animal testing on cosmetics can be in terms of current claims.

Would you want to hurt me?

We have to put a stop to this terrible practice and stand against any previous data being used.  If these particular scientists are not sure if a product is safe to use, then why use it in the first place and test it on animals??  There are human clinical trials (for medicine) that has gone majorly wrong because of being tested on the wrong sort of animal first.  These trials do not guarantee that it will be safe on humans.  I for one, will not be putting lipstick in my eye.

Please support Yolandie's blog, she really talks about some amazing topics and is well worth the read!  Please keep in mind that I support her every single day without fail, and I haven't wanted to copy her topic...just to strengthen it.  I feel very strongly on this subject because I'm an animal lover.

Have a wonderful weekend!  And enjoy every moment.

My 17 splurge...

On tuesday I went shopping for a few little bits and pieces of new cosmetics in Boots.  I browsed all the shelves and wasn't really sure of exactly what would float my boat.  It had to be pieces that I could use daily...but I also felt like getting something a bit special.  Difficult combo!

Now it is no secret that I've fell in love with Chanel's amazing Autumn/Winter make-up range, especially peridot nail polish and the amazing Illusion D'Ombre Luminous Eyeshadows.  But the price tag is seriously putting me off. 

THEN, I remembered a DUPE for Chanel Peridot....Boots 17 Fast Finish Nail Polish in the colour Fury. 

17's Fury vs Chanel's Peridot

The amazing colour of 'Fury' on my nails

Isn't it an amazing dupe?? I'm totally in love with this shade and can't wait to wear it out.  I've found that you definitely need two coats for a true opaque colouring and you also need a good topcoat.  It is a snip at £2.99.

THEN I spotted my second exciting product:

17's Wild Metallics Eyes in the shade Wild Nude

This reminded me of Chanel's Illusion D'Ombre and is also a close dupe.  The shadow has an amazing texture and the colour is fabulous! The texture is creamy but also slightly like a mousse.  It has a soft metallic colour with a sprinkle of fine glitter.  They have six shades (silver, purple, wild nude, mid blue, green and bronze) and is priced at £3.99. 

17's Wild Metallics Eyes range in silver, green and purple

Chanel Illusion D'Ombre eyeshadow

My eyes with the 17 Wild Metallics Eye Shadow in Wild Nude

The great thing about Boots (excluding the fact that you get points AND a £5.00 off No. 7 voucher if you spend over £5.00)  is the fact that they are currently running a promotion when you buy any two 17 products, you receive a great little gift called 'Femme Noir'. 

This includes:

1)  17 Ultimate Volume Lipgloss in Very Berry
2)  17 Glitter Eyeshadow in Night Sky
3)  17 Liquid Liner in Black
4)  A 100 points voucher if you spend £5.00 on 17 before 29 November 2011

The amazing little gift you get with 17

Have you got any dupe products?  What do you think of the 17 brand? 

Guest Post: Holly Crouch

How exciting!  Here I am on to my second guest blog feature.  A while ago, you would have noticed that I said that I'd be featuring another guest blogger and that they were having issues with their PC.  Well, the problems have finally been sorted out and the much awaited post is going up!  >Hooray<  

Holly has a wonderful "homey" blog that talks about everything fashion-related with a sprinkle of beauty and general life!  I'm a big fan of her blog and will definitely be following it for a very long time. 

So without further ado, in the words of Holly:

Merhaba

My name is Holly and I have a little blog called GalaxyGlamour. I’ve been blogging since around July but life has been pretty hectic so it’s taking me a little while to find my ‘blogging feet’. I love to blog about fashion; I regularly share outfit posts and I’ve had a go at doing some outfit recommendations/style ideas posts. I also love to review beauty products (as I have sooo many!) as well as babbling about my life and sharing some of my poems as I am currently studying English and Creative Writing at Uni.

The weather is now becoming very autumnal in England and my wardrobe is seriously lacking in appropriate pieces, so here are a few items I am lusting after….

(Faux Fur Jacket: Newlook – Snood: Newlook – Boots: River Island – Knitted Jumper: River Island – Owl Necklace: Accessorize – Earrings: Accessorize)

I desperately wanted one of these jackets last year but couldn’t find one that I liked. This one looks like the perfect shape and they appeal to me so much because they look so snuggly – perfect for cold winter train journeys (I’m a commuter!)

Snoods look like heaven in a scarf to me – so snuggly and trendy at the same time; the perfect way to keep your neck warm this winter. Scarves don’t always agree with me as they strangle me and annoy me sometimes so snoods feel like a very comfortable alternative.

I’ve only recently come around to the ‘knitting craze’ but I instantly fell in love with this jumper. It’s so simple which is what I usually love in clothes because you can dress it up with accessories or just throw it on if you’re in a rush. I think the light grey and cream colours really compliment each other and I’m loving stripes at the moment! I fear that this jumper will be unobtainable though as it is sold out on the website, sob!

I have been searching high and low for a good pair of grey ankle boots. I have a gorgeous pair of Uggs (they’re real!) which my boyfriend brought me for Xmas last year but I worry about wearing them in the rain. These ones are the best ones I’ve found but I doubt they would be particularly sustainable in the rain either!!

I love this little owl necklace, it’s so cute and I love the gold and silver contrasted together. These earrings reminded me instantly of Xmas (I think they look like Xmas tree decorations!) and I am so so so excited about Xmas that I’ve fallen totally in love with them!

These are all really versatile pieces which can be dressed up or down depending on the occasion but will keep us warm and snuggly in the impending cold winter months.

I hope you’ve enjoyed reading this little ‘lust haves’ article and I hope you will check out my blog very soon.

Take care and lots of love <3 Holz oxo

~~~~~~~~~~~

What a fab post, I'm definitely going to be looking into getting myself some amazing knits and snoods!  I'm totally in love with this look.  I agree it has to be a lust!  What do you guys think?  Please support Holly on her amazing blog, and make sure you regular stay tuned in.