Statements like-

Industries set unrealistic standards of beauty that are harmful to young people

Women shouldn't have to wear makeup to be respected in the workplace

WOC have been told to lighten their skin for years, and MUA don't care to know how to do makeup for their skin tones

Industries that knowingly test cosmetics on animals are needlessly complicit in cruelty

Makeup can warp your perception of how your face naturally looks, leading to a constant feeling of inadequacy

-are completely legitimate criticisms. And none of those criticisms make it wrong to be like

"Holy shit this makes my eyelids purple and sparkly, how fucking cool is that?"

10 years ago I went to Hong Kong to teach a short course in make-up for Beauty Base which was a make-up school in London and Hong Kong. This was my first biggest achievements in my make-up career!

We had the students do a photoshoot at the end of the course and I helped on styling the models hair.

photos from my shoot a few weeks ago, makeup and hair by me

I just saw a post about the pros of non-femininity, which included things like the ability to rub your face on your pets/pillows/family or being able to run and not have their feet hurt. Just wanted to offer some unconventional pros.

Wearing Makeup:

Winging your eyeliner sharp enough to kill and feeling like a badass bitch all day

Wearing lipstick to avoid having to kiss your musty old relatives

Doing that French cheek kissing thing because you're wearing lipstick

Putting on highlighter and taking selfies that make you feel like some sort of forest creature

Wearing High Heels:

Knowing you could stab someone with your stiletto at any point

That click clack while walking down an empty hallway and feeling like the baddest boss ever

The surprise on peoples faces when you can still walk faster then them

Turning and looking someone dead in the eyes instead of up from chin height for once in your life

Shaving Hair:

Summer is hot. Like stupid hot. Excess hair make hotter

Getting rid of that itchy "hair under my arms" feeling by shaving your armpits

Having long Hair:

Using it as a curtain of avoidance

Putting it in braids and pretending you are pippi long stocking or a who from whoville

Smacking someone in the face with your ponytail

Wearing a dress

You can have SO. MANY. HIDDEN. POCKETS.

Leg freedom

Twirling in a circle and doing The Thing

Basically I think that girls should be supportive of one another no matter why we choose to wear or not wear heels or makeup. Everyone is valid.

Here’s another round of makeup that I’ve managed to find suitable cruelty free alternatives to. If you’re looking to go cruelty free and want to find some great dupes check out my other two posts with more swap overs Here (Post 1) and Here (Post 2).  Although I’m not 100% cruelty free yet I’m looking into alternatives and these are products that I’ve tried on both myself and in a professional capacity. I’ll continue to share these as I switch my kit : 

The Mascaras 

[Photography Charlotte Rutherford for Bullet Magazine]

Saying goodbye to all the Mac mascaras that I used and loved and moving over to several new brands. Lets start with Pixi! Absolutely love their Black Waterproof Mascara. If you are London based they have a shop in Covent Garden and I would 100% recommend popping in as the shop is generally quite a  calm shopping experience and the staff are always available to help with questions. Illamasqua Gain Mascara is also a really nice dupe as it’s full coverage black and does the job. Both Pixi and Illamasqua have makeup artist pro programs as well. If you’re not around those shops you can check out Elf Cosmetics on the hughstreet at your local Superdrug. Good value for money. I recommend the Plump It Up Mascara. 

The Setting Spray/Face Mist

[Photography Sophie Ellen / Hair Alaister Jubbs at Vae Hair]

Letting go of Mac Fix + was one of those things I didn’t think I’d be able to do. It was a kit staple for years and I had never found a contender that worked quite as well as it did... until I was introduced to Jane Iredale! Not only did I find a contender but the Jane Iredale Face Mists are also organic and smell AMAZING AND they have a range of sprays for different needs (oily skin, hydrating etc) I personally love their Pommist which has Pomegranate extract in it. Check them out here . Makeup artist note Jane Iredale ALSO shave a pro programme available. 

The Brow Pencils

[Photography Fabiana Delcanton]

For a makeup artist, brows are IMPORTANT. Whether they’re brushed up with clear gel, structured with pencil or just given a little bit more of an arch, its rare that a makeup artist wouldn’t have a huge range of brow products in their kit. I’ve found loads of brow pencil alternatives both high end and on the high street since I started to switch my kit. I’m saying goodbye to Mac Lingering , Spiked and Fling and replacing these with the bargain price Elf range which works a treat and for those interested in organic makeup - check out Jane Iredale’s - they have recently  updated their colour range as well. In terms of a softer pencil replacements I’d highly recommend the Barry M range! The colours are long lasting and they blend into the brow really well. I like that they come with a little comb on the end as well. 

The Eyeshadow Stick

Goodbye Mac Shadesticks (to be fair these are discontinued now and needed to go!) If you’re looking for everyday wear shades like subtle browns and nudes head to your local Superdrug and check out  Elf No Budge Shadow Stick + Gosh Cosmetics Forever Eye Shadow Stick! They don’t crease throughout the day and work beautifully under eyeshadows as a primer. If you’re looking for something with a brighter colour pop shout out to 3ina who have a fab range of bright coloured stick shadows as well! 

The Face Primer

Okay this is a bit of a funny one because I actually have a range of face primers for different things. However the one I used to use THE MOST was this Smashbox Photo Finish Primer which worked a treat for editorial jobs. I’m switching it up for this fantastic but rather wobbly Illamasqua Hydra Veil Primer. It comes in a little pot and when you put it on the skin it has a really fresh and cooling sensation that clients/models LOVE.

Part hydrator, part primer, Hydra Veil instantly hydrates and smooths skin through a self-levelling, futuristic clear gel

 Microalgae, Vitamin C and B3 work together to help maintain skins hydration levels, creating a healthy looking, balanced finish

Plant extracts also provide a calming and refreshing feeling, leaving skin fully prepped to apply your chosen foundation.

 The Matte Face Primer

Another skincare product I’m leaving behind is this Mac Matte Primer. I used to use this for a lot of male grooming jobs and on clients with really oily skin. I’ve found an organic alternative in Jane Iredale’s Absence Oil Control Primer.  

Reduces sebaceous hypersecretion with Hydrated Silica and also helps to regulate the pH balance of the skin; however, it does not affect the skin’s moisture, only the oil ( the interaction of oil and make-up is one of the principal causes of color change.)

 Smoothes the appearance of pores and fine lines. 

Calms and soothes. Reduces redness. 

Key Ingredients include Hydrated Silica which holds seven times its molecular weight in moisture. 

 Green Tea Leaf Extract Calms. Protects. Provides bacterial protection.

The Matte Contouring Palette / Bronzer 

[Photography Mateus Sitek, Hair KT Girl Hair for Revs Magazine]

Goodbye Mac Matte Bronzer and hello Jane Iredale Contouring Palette’s. I love this swap over as Jane Iredale make both a warm and a cool palette with three shades in each (a bronzer, a blusher and a highlighter). 

The Matte Eyebrow Palette 

[Photography Mateusz Sitek]

A good mate eyebrow palette for me is essential. I rarely am without one on jobs because if I get one of those “no makeup makeup” requests, I like to make life harder on myself and still pop a little eyeshadow on! I had some kit favourites such as Mac Wedge and Embark eyeshadow but moving forward I’ve found this lovely Tarte Cosmetic Tartelette Amazonian Clay Matte Palette which has a good range of softer colours , highlights and also deeper tones too. This brand IS now in the UK and you can find them here . 

The White Foundation 

[Photography Mateusz Sitek]

If you’re not a makeup artist you might be looking at this and thinking ??? WHITE FOUNDATION. Yes white foundation my friends. Makeup artists... you know! This is a KIT STAPLE - in order to effectively mix shades of foundation  together I used to always trust my Mac White Face & Body Foundation, but these days I’m using Illamasqua who have the perfect cruelty free dupes. They do a sheerer white foundation in the form of their Skin Base SB01 or a much fuller coverage *also this is great for Halloween or period makeup* Rich Liquid Foundation. I like options. I’m loving Illamasqua for this! 

The Cream Blusher

[Mote Paper Magazine Outtake shot by Joanna W]

Again another really easy product to swap over. Their are LOADS of brands doing gorgoeus cream blushers. I used to have a variety of non cruelty free cream blushers decanted in a little travel size box but I’ve not swapped these over for Glossier Cloud Paint. Great colour choices. SUPER CUTE packaging and of course like all these swap overs ... cruelty free