Cosmetics and Animal Testing

I know many of you will groan when you see the title of this entry, but I do want to touch base and say that things are better than they used to be where using animals for testing cosmetics is concerned. I was very glad to see that, among others, 2 of my favorite cosmetic companies, Estee Lauder and Clarins, do not use animal testing. As I grow older, I seem to be realizing that most of the cruelty in the world is really needless - and that includes animal testing. I do believe in serious research to discover cures for horrible diseases - and I know that sometimes means animal testing. But to treat animals cruelly so that I can have a longer lasting eye shadow is just silly and wasteful. Does your favorite cosmetic company use animal testing? Go to the Peta website or Google for a list of cosmetic companies that eschew animal testing. No one should have to suffer to be beautiful - including animals.
Donnachloe

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Listen! How Are Your Ears?

Sigh...it's difficult for women; we have to try to make sure that every part of our bodies are attractive...and that includes ears!
Ears are ears you say, what can you do besides keep them clean?

• First: Moisturize your ears, especially your earlobs. Women frequently have very dry skin here, especially as we get older. Even some of that great eye cream that you use that is so rich would be great here. But don't forget to moisturize the tops of your ears either, especially if you've been out in the sun all summer.

• Second: Use a sunscreen on your ears when you're out in the sun. Now most women don't want to do this - the cream or lotion or oil ends up in our hair and feels greasy, or we just forget to do this because except for the times when we are changing our earrings, we don't think much about our ears. They do burn however as well as tan, and since they do both, they will show age - quickly if you forget the sunscreen.

• Third: How long have your ears been pierced? Check out the piercings. Do you still have nice round holes for earwires to go through or have they grown into slits? Are the holes unsightly? Do they look as though they've been stretched or mangled somehow? (And if you lived through those huge, heavy earrings of the 1980's, chances are they do). Wear earrings that have posts with a front element that covers your piercings. Don't wear earwires that pull your earlobes down or that look as though someone has almost ripped the earring from your ear so that there is only a millimeter of skin showing below the wire.
• Fourth: If you must wear earwires, get a second set of piercings. One woman did this because she found that she always wanted to wear some fabulous real diamond studs that her husband had gotten her. Now she wear the diamonds and another pair to match her clothing.
• Fifth: While our ears are a different colour than the skin on our faces, do lightly brush some blusher in a light colour over your ears - not just when you're going out in the evening, but also before you go to work under those fluorescent lights in your office. A bit of blush or very light bronzer will prevent your ears looking as though they belong on an alien being.
• Donnachloe
  

Check out pretty dangle earrings at Cluny Grey Jewelry

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Bare Powder Makeup

I love trying new makeup (if I think there's a chance it won't break out my sensitive skin)although I've been wearing a lot less since I work at home now.
I've been watching those Bare Mineral commercials on televsion, very curious about their foundation that goes on like a loose powder that you use with a brush - but I am not one to order from the television. So when I found myself stuck in a Walgreen's in Memphis yesterday (there are no German car dealerships in our town, so we have to take our cars to Memphis even for an oil change) I was interested to see a new product by L'Oreal that was called Bare Naturale, evidently a take-off on the popular tv product.
Of course, I bought it. I need something on my very sensitive face even when I'm indoors, and I'm tired of doing the EsteeLauder liquid foundation when I know I'm not going anywhere. I am not going to wear a sunscreen product in the house, so I figured this was worth a try.
I like it. I couldn't believe the coverage that a powder could give and that it could actually look as good or better than many liquid foundations. I have never liked those powder foundations that come in a compact, wet or dry, so I was extremely surprised. It's gives a nice fairly matte (not shiny at all) finish with just enough dewiness to look natural.
The packaging leaves a lot to be desired. The top covering the brush is too deep for you to put powder in and then use the brush. I did get powder on my bathroom countertop. But it takes less than 20 seconds to put on (and I use a generous helping) and my fingers weren't coloured with foundation, nor was foundation stuck under my fingernails. Hurrah! No more scaring the postman when she brings a package to the door.
I'll still wear my Estee Lauder for dinner out, but I have a feeling that the L'Oreal is going to become my daily makeup. A couple of other pluses: it has a 15 spf sunscreen (which I need since I break out from the sun)and it is very cool (with my full coverage from EL, sweat often beads on my face - it doesn't take that makeup off, but it is hot!
I wonder if I'm the only Baby Boomer who is changing the way she looks at makeup after all these years (I wore a lot everyday, and now I'm tired of it! But I still want to look good.)
I give L'Oreal Bare Naturale an A-.

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