Well, April is almost done and I haven't really been actively attending to my blog since my first April post on April first (geddit? Ahahaha... b'awww nevermind. ^^;)

I had this plan of reviewing products that are against animal cruelty for this month... and of course, the philosophy is better to start late than never placing the idea at the backburner to simmer till next summer altogether (so many "-er's" thar). So I'll be doing this instead for the entire summer, from here on until June. :)

Why for the summer when I can do reviews on cruelty-free stuff for the entire year? Of course I can do that, and I do plan to remain doing so among a variety of topics after June, but I'd just want my post to be timely. xD April has been dubbed Prevention of Cruelty To Animals Month by OrangeRibbonForAnimals.org; a cause has been circulating around Facebook to spread such awareness all throughout the month of April. I signed up, of course. :) And so sign up if you're all for the cause so they reach their targeted numbers. ^_^

Now, on to the product review!

Photo from their web site

The sun's more potent in this here tropical country in the summer (and while the bit that says that it's because the sun is closest to the earth during the summertime is false, let's leave the science to the scientists haha), so the sunblock and sunscreen craze in local supermarkets, drugstores and department stores has erupted. There are a whole lot of choices out there with different levels of SPF, so pick your poison, put on your hat, and walk down that sunny road.

Whilst I--well, I picked mine own poison through DeVita's Solar Protective Moisturizer with SPF 30+. It's mainly for the face, and it can be use for both day time AND nighttime. While there's already a photo provided above, I'll pitch in some photos of mine (just click on them to enlarge):

The box and the tube

The ingredients list

The cruelty-free label, and all the other good stuff

And this is what it looks like on the back of me hand:

Forgive teh spottled hobbit hand. ERK.

...And all blended out. It leaves a bit of a sheen which disappears after about a minute:

It's quite an understatement if I simply say, "hey, this is a pretty good moisturizer." It's more of: "I can't believe it's sunblock!!!" Because IT DOESN'T FEEL LIKE SUNBLOCK. That's a big plus for this product. Whilst I will list the pros and cons of the product later, I can say right now that it's non-greasy (for real), it absorbs quickly, and it doesn't leave a ghastly white cast on your FACE as most sunblock face creams and lotions do. It's exactly what it says and more: it's a light moisturizer with sunblock properties that really do wonders to your skin.

SO YEA. This stuff helped with the tone and texture of mah skin.

Anya, my kitty's and my mugshot ahehehe

There I am, no makeup, nearly just woken up, but I don't look as horrible as I thought I would without makeup. Of course I still have a bit of marks from acne scars, but THEY ARE FADING as I use this product regularly. At least, they fade faster than they usually do if I just go with my usual skincare routine.

YOSH!!! I think it's Holy Grail-worthy for me!

Now, on with:

LIKES: 

• Non-greasy and easily absorbed
• No discernible scent
• Has relatively high SPF for a moisturizer
• Has natural ingredients. No parabens and all that icky stuff
• Cruelty-free
• Visible improvement on skin tone and texture (I used this day and night for 2 weeks now)
• Can be used as your normal moisturizer (for both day and night)

DISLIKES:

• Like sunscreen, it must be applied liberally, so this isn't a "little goes a long way" product
• Not available locally (as far as I know)
• Can be quite expensive. It retails for $25.95; that's about Php1,000 more or less for a 2.5oz tube
• If you're allergic to zinc, this product is a no-no for you; it's active ingredient is ZINC OXIDE

I got mine from Vitacost, where it's being sold for a percent cheaper than its retail price, via my mom who visited from the States some time ago. BUT!! Vitacost and DeVita SkinCare ships internationally, so if you'd like to give this a try, I say, go for it. :D

Rating: 5/5 (despite the dislikes)

Will I repurchase: YEP! I actually have a spare tube of this goodness. haha.

Do I recommend: INDEED. :3

This summer, the wisest words are: HYDRATE REGULARLY AND DON'T FORGET TO PUT ON SUNSCREEN. Yes, even when you're bloody INDOORS. At least something with Spf15 for indoors. 

Have a grrreeaaat summer, ya'll! :D And don't forget to sign up for the orange ribbon cause. 

LURVE,

Why hello there, luvs. ^_^

I do think we've reached this day and age when most people are starting to turn to organic stuff for health and humanitarian reasons. Of course, the matter of animal testing for products we h00mans would normally use is definitely more than just being "on trend." Conscientious consumption is making its way to the forefront, to the relief and delight of animal welfare-ists, and to the immense joy of beauty junkies who would rather not have innocent bunnies suffer on their behalf. In fact, most cosmetics web sites have FAQ or mission/vision sections that specifically address the "animal testing" concern.

Also, labels on the products themselves are now being more prominent enough (albeit in fonts or pictures as tiny as the ingredients and instructions print :P) that sooner or later, they'd be hard to miss. This brings me to show you some examples of brands and their products that I own and have been using that bear the "cruelty-free" emblem. Note that I'll first show the product, and beside it would be how their respective "cruelty-free" labels look like. :) (Click on the photos to enlarge them.)

**FTC: I don't get paid or sponsored to feature these products. I'm just supporting these brands for the awareness they bring to their consumers. ^^**

E.L.F. (Blush and Bronzer Duo)

The Body Shop (Macadamia Straightening Balm)

Mario Badescu (Drying Cream)

Mineral Flowers (Rose & Geranium Facial Wash)

Some proudly Pinoy-made/local products:

Cyleina (Black Pearl soap)

Beach Hut (Hair and Scalp sunblock spf 20)

And here are some brands available from one of my favorite go-to stores for various cruelty-free skincare and haircare stuff: Healthy Options. :)

Alba Botanica (leave-in conditioner for color-treated hair)

Alba Botanica Acnedote (oil control lotion)

Tints of Nature (Seal & Shine leave-in conditioner)

Stuff I got online/abroad:

One With Nature Dead Sea Salt Soap

Manic Panic (in Vampire Red) and Special Effects (in Candy Apple Red) semi-permanent hair dyes

Best With Blueberries (Body Spray)

The "cruelty-free" or "against animal testing" label comes in different forms and shapes, but in basically the same size, so look for it as best as you can around the packaging. :P You can't miss it! :)

However, not all products that are against animal testing are free from animal-derived products. Some known ingredients such as beeswax still pervade in some products as emolients. On the other hand, there are products that are considered "vegan" and contain all vegetable-derived ingredients. The "vegan" label isn't as permeable yet as the "cruelty-free" one, so it's best to check the ingredients list first. ^_^ To give you more than a peak, here's a page from PETA.org that lists down animal derivatives in all their names and definitions .

I love animals, and I love makeup, and I know that I'm not the only one. ^^ We gotta settle for something no less as much as possible, right? :)

These kitties very much approve:

Look how they uh... sleep like babes (Chunyi, ya can't peek, yer supposed t' be asleep xD).

Stay tuned for another entry on cruelty-free beauty in time for Prevention of Cruelty To Animals Month. 

Lurve,

Any person who loves and are owned (yes, they own us, verily) by a cat/s can attest to the daily damage of being scratched and even bitten by their kitty lords and ladies. Some would opt to trim their cats' claws or cover them with claw caps, but others--especially when their kitties get too fussy and cranky when getting a trim--would simply opt to let their kitty go, uh, au naturale. 

(Side note: NEVER declaw your kitties. It would be like taking out a part of their "fingers." Imagine cutting off that entire part of your finger where your nail is.)

Well, I'm the latter. My cats simply dislike having their claws trimmed, and it would take me great lengths to make sure that they're distracted enough for me to remotely snip a single claw on their paws. I do manage to get their claws trimmed at the vets', but most of the time, I let their claws (and them) be. 

At that comes with disadvantages, of course. Not that I'm complaining. My cats have had their shots, and I've had my own shots as well, so yea, I guess I'm pretty much on the losing side with only the pain and some scarring to deal with. O_O

Kitty scratch! My camera downplays it. :P It's a bit worse than it looks here.

I've also been into one incident which, well, was really BAD. 3 years ago, I GOT MAULED BY MY KITTEH. :o Hehe, that may be an exaggeration, but my left arm had to pretty much undergo a month-long recovery period, and for pre-cautionary measures, I was administered with periodic anti-rabies shots, about 13 or 14 in all. T.T

Needless to say, that encounter has left me with scars. Now for photos! (grossness alert)

BATTLE SCARS!!! ..which I got from saving the world (???)

I'm literally scarred for life. O_o

Story: At that time, my kitty hadn't been neutered yet. He wanted a sexeh lady kitteh to get it on with. I've kept him an indoor cat since kittenhood, and whenever he managed to slink away from the shelter of my home, I'd usually chase him, catch him, and carry him back to the house. It was pretty much routine, and for all the STUPIDITY, I just had to do the exact same thing when one night, my kitty managed to slink away once again in pursuit of his lady love. SO what do I get?

I get mauled by kitty fury. 

It's not a very good idea to play evil stepmother and come in between star-crossed lovers, really.

Long story short, as soon as able, I spirited my cat away to the vet to give him the SNIPPY SNIPPY. He is now Eunuch Cat. Bwahaha.

Who, then, was at fault for my scarring?

"O HAI, H00MAN. YOU HAS A FLAVOR. YUM."

Yep, it's Chunyi. The kitteh cat I featured in my previous post. ^_^***

The funny part is that I never detested him after that. Maybe because I "punished" him by taking away his kitty manhood? *snicker* In any case, neutering him sort of took his aggressiveness down a notch, and while he still has tomcatty moods, is very territorial, and is as snooty as ever, he isn't very prone to mauling me anymore, to say the least. ^_^;;; He's gone REALLY FATTTTT too. 

I still love Chunyi more than ever, despite everything. I think a lot of cat-lovers share my sentiment on this sort of matter. As the Mariah Carey song goes, Chunyi will "always be my baby." :3 (I'd like some bread with that cheese, plz)

This is my kitty #1, Chunyi (NOT "Chun-li." :P). He's your typical snooty, grumpy, I-love-you-when-you-feed-me-and-give-me-belly-rubs cat. Otherwise, he will sleep and generally ignore my existence. But I SO love heeeeeem. <3 His snootiness is what makes his personality unique among my other cats that love and demand attention. O_O Chunyi contorts in such a manner when he demands belly rubs, STAT.

I'll feature more of my kitties in the following weeks. Don't worry, I don't have a CRAZY WHOLE LOT of kitties. xD

In other news, the only grammatically wrong phrases I accept are in LOLspeak. AHAHA~

Have a hopefully not-so-stormy week ahead, folks! ^_^;

Right-o, September has been an eventful month for me with my baby brother's (nyahaha) visit, and I do miss that pipsqueak a whole LOT, but October really has a special place in my heart for me every year because not only is it my birthday month, it's also Halloween month, and when a lot of other stuff happens, such as the recent World Animal Day 2010 held in Mall of Asia Music Hall, and yep, International Vegetarian Week, which is from October 1st to October the 7th. :D

Check this link out for the details on World Animal Day 2010.

And check this link out for details on the International Vegetarian Week Challenge.

Being a trainee (yep, I still have a lot to learn) on animal welfare advocacy, and a lover of animals--especially catsomg!!!!--I decided to take tiny steps to ensuring that I am, indeed, an advocate, and that I participate in such events just to let the world know that animal advocacy does exist and we mean serious business. ^_^ I've rescued cats in the past (I'm still saddened, though, that my family doesn't share this passion with me), I've adopted a beautiful pair of meowpers--a nickname I've given to kitties, borrowed from my friend Mich (O hai, MichieCat!)--from CARA, rescued more kitties, joined CARA, volunteered for World Animal Day with CARA, and then signing the pledge for International Vegetarian Week.

I've been a vegetarian before, from ages 18 to 24, but started eating meat again under the pressure of my ex (boooo! >:-( ). Ah yes, the things you do for "love." Harrumph. Anyway, after a time, I decided to become flexi-vegetarian, or a "flexitarian" as some would call it, where I take out beef and pork from my diet, but still keep chicken and fish in along with helpings of veggies and gulp--carbs. I've gained a whole lot of weight (@#$#$@!$%$%@#!!!!!) since then, and to be honest, my initial purpose of becoming vegetarian in my teen years was to lose weight; doing it for the animals was a secondary thing only. However, right now, I'm doing it STILL for those two reasons but now, they're at the same level. :P

(Yes yes, hoomans were meant to be omnivores; I've heard that argument before and more. Balanced diet, yeah, but one can still get something balanced out of being vegetarian. Harhar. ^^)

I've taken the challenge and pledge (see link to IVW website), but initially just for a week. I've set my challenge from October 4 to October 10, where at this time, I'd take chicken and fish out of my diet. However, after that challenge, I'll return fish to my diet, and slowly wean myself away from chicken (Yea yea--my aunt will be wholly upset if I just left the bag of grilled chicken which she brought from the States sitting in the freezer, untouched. Nyar. Excuses, excuses! :P) until I'm chicken-free, just as I am already pork- and beef-free. I'll get my protein elsewhere (Beans... beans.... chickpeas.... yea.....).

I hope others would take the challenge too! Of course, it would be hard first to resist that barbecue or that rack of baby back ribs, and you'll wonder why you're giving yourself a hard time when you don't have to, but take note: CHALLENGE. ^__^ That, and if you do some research on the vegetarian diet, you'll also find out that it would do the world a whole lot of good: for yourself, the animals, the environment, and hmmm.... agriculture? LOLz. Try it. It's one of those things you'd like to try once, twice, even thrice in your lifetime. :)