Celeste Rose

Hey lovelies! Thought I'd share some awesome alternatives to popular beauty and skincare products that are cruelty-free and some that are vegan! Check them out below.

ILLUMINATORS

✖ MAC Strobe Cream
✖ Sephora Collection Beauty Amplifier Afterglow Primer & Luminizer
✔ First Aid Beauty Hello FAB Coconut Skin Smoothie Priming Moisturizer
✔ Cover FX Illuminating Primer (vegan)
✔ Tarte Cosmetics Brighter Days Highlighting Moisturizer (vegan)
✔ NYX Cosmetics Born to Glow Illuminating Primer

Highlighted, glowing skin is very trendy right now and you don't have to pay the costly price of animal cruelty to get the same results!

PRIMER

✖ Benefit Cosmetics Porefessional Primer
✖ Make Up For Ever Step 1 Skin Equalizer Primer
✖ Dr. Brandt Skincare Pores No More Pore Refiner Primer
✔ NYX Cosmetics Pore Filler Primer

The Pore Filler is a great CF alternative for those who like their primer to have a more silicone base and pore-filling properties.

CONCEALER

✖ Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Concealer
✖ Sephora Bright Future Gel Serum Concealer
✔ Tarte Shape Tape Concealer (vegan)
✔ Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer
✔ Urban Decay Naked Skin Concealer (vegan)

BROWS

✖ Benefit Cosmetics Gimme Brow
✔ NYX Cosmetics Tinted Brow Mascara

The benefit here is that the cruelty-free product is cheaper!

LIPS

✖ Sephora Collection Cream Lip Stain
✔ NYX Cosmetics Soft Matte Lip Cream

The NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream is a cult favourite. It's matte, long-lasting, and creamy rather than drying. It also comes in a much wider shade range than the Sephora Lip Stain.

FACIAL SCRUBS

✖ Biore Pore Unclogging Scrub
✖ Any facial exfoliator with plastic/synthetic microbeads
✔ Live Clean Smoothing Facial Scrub (Environmentally friendly + 98% naturally derived)

The Live Clean scrub has a biodegradable abrasive made of desiccated, ground up corn husk which will do no harm once it reaches the ocean in comparison to its plastic/synthetic counterpart which is terrible for aquatic life. Live Clean products do not contain any phosphates which are also terrible for aquatic life.

Check out Cruelty-Free Kitty for a complete & updated list of cruelty-free and vegan cosmetic & body care brands.

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I was so incredibly excited when Queen Nicole herself announced that she had partnered with Anastasia Beverly Hills to create a Glow Kit! My favourite YouTuber AND one of my favourite makeup brands? I'm sold.

Nicole Guerriero Glow Kit pictured with additional lighting

Nicole Guerriero was the first beauty guru that I had ever watched on YouTube 3 years ago! She really drew me in with her personable and unique way of communicating with her viewers. I would say that she was the first person who really got me interested in makeup, I have been hooked on her videos ever since.

I purchased Nicole's Glow Kit when it was exclusively available Feb 25-26 on the Sephora app. It officially dropped on the Sephora & Anastasia websites yesterday, March 3rd, and today is Nicole's birthday! Talk about celebrating your success.

Nicole Guerriero Glow Kit pictured in natural lighting

These pans are huge! This retails for $52 CAD at Sephora, making each pan worth under $9 CAD! The packaging is absolutely stunning, it's a beautiful hue of pink and it's glossy with embedded sparkle. The colour scheme of the palette is so versatile, great for layering, mixing, or solitary wear. A huge positive for me is that this product is certified cruelty-free and vegan!

Let's talk shades!

Kitty Kat is a beautiful pink shade with subtle platinum shimmer. This is definitely in reference to Nicole owning a few cats, I love how personal these shade names are to her. I am getting serious vibes from this shade.

Forever Young is a dusty rose shade with silvery shimmer. Serious vibes!

Daydream is a bright coral/orange with white gold shimmer. Nicole's motto is "Don't quit your daydream."

Forever Lit is a stunning white with lavender shimmer. I think this shade is very versatile, it can be mixed with other shades to make them brighter or layered on top for another dimension.

Glo Getter is a champagne-eqsue shade with rose gold shimmer. I am getting serious vibes from this shade as well.

143 is a rose gold shade with bronze shimmer. 143 is definitely my favourite shade name, Nicole always includes "143" in the description bar of her videos and it means "I love you." The number sequence references the number of letters in each word of the phrase. She is always expressing love and gratitude to her followers which is awesome.

Swatches from the Nicole Guerriero Glow Kit with additional lighting

I did these swatches with my fingers. I did one swipe in the product using a circular motion (as I'm sure you can see from the pans) and one swipe on my arm. These highlights are incredibly pigmented. Not only are they pigmented but they are so smooth and buttery, they really glide on with no effort. The shades on my arm from top to bottom are: Daydream, Forever Young, Kitty Kat, 143, Glo Getter, Forever Lit.

Have any of you gotten your hands on this beautiful palette yet? Leave me your thoughts in the comments below!

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A few months ago I was horrified to see a photo circulating around Facebook with a list of all the beauty, hair, and skincare brands that still permit their products to be tested on animals.

Originally found here

It's funny how blind we are to an issue when it is not blatantly advertised. I had no idea so many brands that I use either test on animals directly, or sell in markets that require products to be tested on animals prior to the use of human consumption (mainly China).

One of my goals for the new year (see full post here: https://goo.gl/f41RgK) was to only purchase cruelty-free products. I am so happy to say that I've made a successful transition! All of my purchases have been cruelty-free! To be clear, I am still (unfortunately) using some products that are not cruelty-free because I had previously owned them before I made this revelation and I didn't see the sense in being wasteful and throwing them away. Once I use them up or once they expire I will definitely not repurchase.

Some resources that I use to check if a brand is cruelty-free:
PETA
Cruelty-Free Kitty
I also just google "[brand name] cruelty free" if I'm struggling to find a definite answer.

Something I was shocked to learn is, in addition to makeup & skincare products, other things like toothpaste and household cleaning products are tested on animals as well! I am currently doing research on this so that I can be as cruelty-free as I can. Animals are not tools for humans to use, they are other living, breathing, and feeling beings!

I did not find the transition to cruelty-free makeup and body care to be very difficult. I was already using a good chunk of cruelty-free products (shoutout to NYX) and the products that I was using that were not cruelty-free were easy to find quality replacements for. The only thing I'm struggling with is replacing my coveted, tried & true Maybelline mascara that I've used since high school. I have super straight lashes and even after I curl them, any other mascara that I've used other than any waterproof Maybelline formula straightens them! I've tried a lot of Tarte ones (Lifted Sweatproof, Tarteist Lash Paint, Lights Camera Lashes) as well as the Physician's Formula Organic Wear Curl + Care mascara and I've had no luck with maintaining the curl of my lash. If anyone knows of a good waterproof mascara made by a cruelty-free brand please leave me a comment below!

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We live in the age of convenience and instant gratification so it's not hard to get wrapped up in fast food culture. I'm not here to preach like I'm perfect, I have definitely fallen victim to consuming fast food and sometimes I still do! People often have a very on-the-go lifestyle, leaving them little to no time or energy to cook for themselves at all, let alone good and healthy food. Eating out is becoming more and more common for students and young professionals.

Eating out, although convenient, comes with a lot of downsides. Not only is it costly but it's also an unreliable source of nutrition. In many cases when eating out, one is unaware of how the food is actually made. You don't know all of the ingredients, the amount of salt and/or sugar used, the fat content, the calorie count, or if there are any significant sources of micronutrients. This is why I am a big advocate for meal prep, you can measure out ingredients, balance your servings, as well as exclude the addition of sugar and salt. In addition to it not being a reliable source of proper nutrition, it is very easy to overeat as portion sizes at restaurants and fast food joints are usually quite large.

Mediterranean salad from Allstar Sports Bar

It is possible to make healthy and informed choices while eating out! All it takes is some discipline. I know that order of a deluxe burger + fries looks pretty good but those kinds of meals contain as much as half (sometimes more) of your daily calorie intake, as well as an unnecessary amount of sodium, fat, and cholesterol. The other night I went out with some friends to a sports bar. Everyone ordered a huge platter of burger and fries and I ordered a grilled veggie salad. This was super hearty and made me feel pretty full! My dish contained lots of complex carbohydrates and fiber, making my meal more satisfying and slower to digest in comparison to fatty foods that contain simple carbs. Simple carbs are a quick source of energy and are digested very quickly, leaving you hungry again in a shorter span of time.

SOME TIPS THAT WORK FOR ME

1. Don't drink your calories (or extra sugar, for that matter)

Only order water (or tea) to drink with your meal. No soda!!! Ordering soda along with your meal adds an unnecessary amount of calories and extra sugar to what you're already consuming. If you want to make healthier choices, start small with this easy step. If you want your drink to have some flavour try ordering your water with a lemon wedge or some cucumber.

2. Eat your vegetables!

Your mom didn't lie to you with this lifelong tip. Order something that comes with vegetables if you are not already ordering a vegetable-based dish. I find that a lot of restaurant items are mostly simple carbs that are just quick to fill you up. I would lean toward something more raw like a salad just because it usually doesn't contain things like fats and salt possibly added in the cooking process if you were to get something cooked. If you get a burger, sub your fries for some salad for a small step in the right direction.

3. Extra stuff on the side

If you order a salad (or anything that comes with dressing), order the dressing on the side, especially if the dressing is something creamy or fattening. The reason for this is so you can control how much is added, as restaurants usually add a whole bunch to make their food tastier. I usually opt for a lighter vinaigrette if its an option. Another option could be instead of ordering an unhealthy main with a salad or veggies on the side, try ordering a vegetable-based dish as your main and then order a treat like sweet potato fries on the side.

4. Make informed choices

If you feel comfortable, ask the server about the cooking process and ingredients of some of the menu items. Ask if they have any nutrition information to better educate your order choice. Some restaurants, especially bigger chains usually have a binder with all their menu items and their ingredients as well as nutrition facts. Ain't no harm in asking! Don't feel awkward or embarrassed for wanting to make a healthier choice in your life. As you can see from the photos I've included and from the story above, the people I ate with did not necessarily make healthy order choices but it did not stop me from choosing what works best for me.

5. Recognize when you're full
Just because you don't feel full and stuffed to the brim and totally satisfied, it does not mean your stomach is not full. That feeling you get after you eat a carb-heavy meal is usually just bloating, and not fullness. In addition, portion sizes of takeout or restaurant food are quite large so you may even be used to overstuffing yourself. If you are someone who is used to eating fast food and a high-carb diet then the difference in the feeling of full was will be a bit of a change. Recognize when you are satisfied rather than stuffed. If you struggle with this, try having water before, during, and after your meal and it will make you feel more satisfied.

Greek salad from a local pub

I hope this post helps you make healthier choices when eating out or ordering takeout! It is definitely possible to find a healthier option at most eateries, even pubs and bars. If you have any tips that you use to make healthier choices, feel free to share them with me & other readers in the comments below.

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Yum yum yum

One of my favourite carb alternatives has to be spaghetti squash. It's a winter squash who deep down inside wishes he was a plate of spaghetti. These things are seriously amazing! You get the benefits of eating veggies but the texture and versatility of eating pasta! There are so many different uses for spaghetti squash; I've made things like spaghetti squash fritters, burrito bowls, and even lightly dressed as a side dish.

Here's all you need:

Ingredients

- 1 Spaghetti squash

- A little olive oil

- Salt & pepper
Equipment

- A cutting board
- A chef's knife
- A soup spoon
- A fork
- Aluminum foil
- A baking tray/pan
- A microwave (possibly)

First thing's first, you need to cut the squash open. Your first step would be to cut off the top and bottom of the squash. Since this is a winter squash, it's pretty tough. A good hack for cutting open a winter squash is to poke holes with your knife along the perimeter of the squash (see below) and then microwave it for 2 minutes. This will soften the flesh of the squash just enough to make it a little easier to cut. Let it sit for a few minutes as it's very hot since you've just microwaved it. Once it's cool enough for you to handle, use your previously made cuts as a guide to cut it in half.

Once you've cut your squash in half, you want to scoop out the guts. I used a soup spoon and a little help from my knife to scrape off the stubborn parts. If you want, you can clean and save the seeds to roast later.

Once both halves of the squash are gutted, you want to place them on a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil. Brush the inner halves of the squash with olive oil and a bit of salt & pepper to taste.

Flip them over and bake them cut side down in the oven at 375° F for about 45 minutes.

Once they're done baking, let them sit for about 15-20 minutes to cool off. Now here is where the magic happens! Take your fork and pull on the flesh starting from the outer skin and pulling inward to shred it. When it's being shredded, it comes apart into spaghetti-like strands which are what gives this unique squash its name.

How easy was that?! Takes 10 minutes TOPS to prep and the rest of the time is just waiting for it to come out of the oven. If you're not using it immediately, scoop out all of that noodley goodness and store it in a container (I like to use glass) in the fridge. Cooked squash usually lasts 5-7 days stored properly in the fridge.

Stay tuned for my next post to see what I've made this lovely squash into!