Mail of the Week (July 11 - 15)

My prize from Minnie's giveaway: I was extremely lucky to win a selection of MAC products of my choice from Minnie! I just couldn't believe it when she announced me as the winner of her amazing giveaway, as I could never afford MAC products with my tight University student budget. Here's what I received:

• Crème Cup Cremesheen Lipstick (light blue pink)
• Fleur Power Powder Blush (soft bright pinkish-coral)
• Bronze Eye Shadow (gold brown with gold-bronze shimmer)
• Ebony Eye Pencil (soft black)
• Just Superb Cremesheen Glass (dirty neutral pink)

L - R: Fleur Power, Bronze, Ebony, Just Superb, Crème Cup

Thank you sooooo much Minnie!!!

My prize from Catherine's giveaway: When Catherine featured this cute Vaseline tin in one of her recent haul posts, I was so sad that we don't have Superdrugs here in Quebec! I haven't even found the little tins anywhere neither. So she kindly decided to host a giveaway and I was one of the three lucky winners! Here's what I received:

• Vaseline storage tin
• Vaseline Lip Therapy 
• Vaseline Lip Therapy Rosy Lips with Rose and Almond Oil
• Vaseline Lip Therapy with Cocoa Butter
• Vaseline Lip Therapy with Aloe Vera
• Swizzels Maltow Double Dip Orange and Cherry
• Love Hearts

Thank you Catherine! =D

New Jergens Naturals Aloe Soothing Body Moisturizer with Cucumber: I was given the opportunity to try and review this new moisturizer from Jergens. I was happily surprised to learn that this range is cruelty-free (or are all Jergens products cruelty-free?) and it is also made with 94% natural ingredients. I'm curious to see how it will help with my eczema.

My Apothica order: I placed my order on July 6, it was shipped on July 7 and I received it the next Monday, July 11 - talk about fast delivery! Here's what I ordered:

• Too Faced Leopard Love Complexion Perfection Kit
• XEN-TAN Deep Bronze Instant Self-Tan 
• Avène Cicalfate Restorative Skin Cream

With every Apothica order you make come some samples. This time I received a sample of The Art of Shaving Pre-Shave Oil and some band-aids in a very handy little Avène packaging to keep in my handbag.

peta2's I am Not a Nugget Leggings: The moment I saw these leggings featuring the cute Nugget, I knew I had to have them and didn't hesitate to redeem 7000 Street Team points for a pair. These leggings are claimed to be comfy and made of a thicker material than most other leggings on the market, but I was a little disappointed when I tried them on. I ordered them in Small but they are a little loose and not as fitting as I thought they would be, and they also didn't really appear to be especially warm.

PETA's Vegan College Cookbook: I hesitated a long time before ordering this book because from the reviews I read on the net, it seemed like a very average cookbook because some of the recipes aren't even recipes (like grilled cheese, salsa, etc). I decided to order it anyway because it was free (it "costed" me 8000 Street Team points) but it's available in the PETA catalog for $14.99. I received it today so I haven't had the time to properly read it yet, but I'm very eager to try those recipes!

August 2011 issue of Cosmopolitan

August 2011 issue of Glamour

♥ What Them Girls At - David Guetta ft. Nicki Minaj, Flo Rida

Mail of the Week (July 3 - 8)

My prize from Tass' giveaway: After having heard so much rave about the Posie Tint, I'm happy to be able to try it for myself! Here's what Tass included in the package:

• Benefit "That Gal" Brightening Face Primer
• Benefit Mini Benefit Pose Tint
• Benefit Creaseless Cream Eyeshadow

Thank you Tass! (:

Veet products to review: I was kindly given the opportunity to review some new products for Veet - just in time for summer!

• Suprem' Essence Hair Removal Cream With velvet rose fragrance & essential oils
• Hair Removal Cream Dry Skin Shea Butter and Lily Fragrance
• EasyGril Ready-to-Use Wax Strips With Vitamin E & Almond -  Sensitive Formula

peta2's zombie survival pack: peta2 has a very cool campaign going on at the moment called Flesh is for Zombies. Yes, according to them, if you eat meat, you are a zombie! I think it's cute and funny, and a great way to raise awareness (:

Biotherm Aquasource sample: Biotherm Canada was offering free samples on their Facebook page some times ago, but now the offer has ended.

Dove Nutritive Therapy Nourishing Oil Care sample: Dove was offering a sample of  their new Dove with weightless Nutri-Oils on their Facebook page some times ago. Be sure to follow me on Twitter and "like" my Facebook page to be in the know for more great promotions like this one!

♥ Dirty Dancer - Enrique Iglesias ft. Usher & Lil Wayne

Mail of the Week (May 16 - 20)

Product samples from Monave: I've been very kindly given the opportunity to try some products from this brand I had never heard of before. They have a wide selection of mineral makeup and vegan skincare, and of course, this company cruelty-free! As I'm trying to downsize my makeup collection, I opted for skincare products and a makeup brush:

• Flat Top Brush
• Honey Clay Cleanser
• Unscented Emollient
• Gentle Bamboo Honey Facial Polish

Guide to Cruelty-Free Eating from VeganOutreach.com

I Am Not a Nugget stickers from Peta2: I have joined Peta2's Million Sticker Mania, and you can help animals too by ordering free stickers before they run out!

Surprise package from Biotherm: I still haven't figured out how Biotherm got my mailing address, and how they found my blog? Strange... but I certainly won't complain! here's what I received:

• White D-Tox Translu-Cell Intense Brightening Serum
• Aquasource 24h Deep Hydration Replenishing Cream with Thermal Plankton Cellular Water

Coupon from webSaver.ca for a free box of Chocolate Cheerios on June 21

Coupons from P&G: I really want to try their new Natural Instincts hair dye!

My prize from Sarah's mini-giveaway: Sarah held such a cute Easter giveaway! We had to guess how many Cadbury Creme Eggs were in the bowl and I was so close, I guessed 40 but there was 39 eggs! My prize is 6 Creme Eggs, yum! Thank you Sarah =D

U by Kotex samples: I use the DivaCup so I don't need those, but I have ordered them for my mother. You can still order some here (US and Canada)

I won Rabiyah's giveaway: I was lucky enough to win a Sigma Flat Top Synthetic Kabuki - F80! I was excited to finally try it as it seems to be getting so much rave on the blogosphere, and I agree, it's great! The bristles are really super soft and dense.

This exclusive flat top synthetic kabuki was designed to deliver a flawless makeup application. The Sigma Makeup F80 is a buffer brush that can be used to blend powder or liquid products. The short and dense bristles make it easy to buff your liquid foundation. The long handle adds comfort to your makeup application. The synthetic fibers are ideal to be used with liquid products and can be easily cleaned. Made of Synthetic Sigmax HD filament.

Thank you Rabiyah!!

♥ Give Me Everything - Pitbull ft. Ne-Yo, Afrojack, Nayer

Mail of the Week (March 28 - April 1st) + Your Opinion

BE Beverly Hills Inspired Daily Shine & Repair Serum With Argan Oil: This is supposed to be a miracle product, and I can't wait to see if it lives up to its claims. I'll be sure to let you know what I think!

Callahan Girl's T Shirt from Crazy Dog T-Shirts: I love their shirts, they are super soft and they fit perfectly!

Peta2 "Free For All" Purple Logo T-Shirt: Yes, another Peta2 shirt! I love the bold letters on this one, and it's purple (=

Pureology SuperSmooth Shampoo and Conditioner samples: I got these samples from their Facebook page but the offer isn't available anymore.

Neotoric Diabetic Oxygenated Advanced Healing Cream: This cream is supposed to be an exceptional intensive treatment for chronic dry, cracked, damaged, slow healing skin. It's said to be great for hands and feet, and I'm curious to see if it would help my eczema.

♥

I would like to know you honest opinion on my Mail of the Week posts.

When I first started doing these posts, it was to summarize the interesting things I got in the mails like freebies  I could share with you, magazines, and products I would be reviewing in upcoming posts. I chose to show you everything in a single post instead of bothering you with many "Look what I got in the mail!" posts throughout the week.

Personally, my favorite kind of posts to read are hauls, because it's always interesting to see what other bloggers are gettingg and how they like it. I think of my mail posts as haul posts, as it gives you an idea of my upcoming posts (I presonally think it's more interesting than writing a list of posts so come).

My Mail of the Week posts seem to be one of the most popular features on my blog and I never got a single negative comment about them, but I'm still worrying that some of you may find it pointless or think I'm bragging (especially about products I receive to review).

What do you think? Should I continue doing Mail of the Week posts?

Feel free to contact me by email with any comment or suggestion, your feedback is very important to me!

Mail of the Week (February 28 - March 4)

My prize from Adrienne's giveaway: I was lucky enough to win the 2nd prize of her giveaway, which consists of some LUSH goodies:

• Space Girl Bath Bomb
• Mandarin's Tea Party Soap
• The Ex Factor Bath Bomb

Adrienne also included some yummy Mingles, which I have never tasted before. I have never tried any of those products before, so I'm very excited! Thank you very much Adrienne, I can't wait to have a bath now!

PETA Vegan Lip Balms: I redeemed 13000 Peta2 Street Team points for these cute PETA Vegan Lip Balms. I got them in the following flavors:

• "PETA Compassion" Fruit
• "No S'more Animal Testing" S'mores
• "Animals Out of the Act" Tangerine

I have started using "No S'more Animal Testing" S'mores and it instantly melts when in contact with the lips, leaving them incredibly glossy - just like if I was wearing a lipgloss!

My prize from Apothica's DuWop contest: Apothica recently held a contest in which we had to talk about DuWop in a blog post, and this post made me win! Here's what I won:

• Private Red Lipstick
• Lip Venom Lip Plumper
• Crush Heavy Metal Metallic Eyeshadow in 18 Carat
• Keep Blushing Water-Resistant Blush in Peach
• $25 Apothica Gift Card

I have never tried anything from DuWop so I'm super excited, especially about the Lip Venom!

April issue of Fashion magazine: My subscription expired in February, but this is the second time they send me another issue! This one came without a letter though... just to be sure it hasn't been renewed automatically, I checked my account on the website but it's actually expired... strange...

Samples of Biotherm Skin.Ergetic Day and Night Creams: I got these through Facebook, but the offer is sadly not available anymore. However, you can still enter Trip.Ergetic contest to be automatically entered for a chance to win a free full-sized Skin.Ergetic Serum as well as an energizing getaway with 3 friends.

Samples from Four O'clock tea: I absolutey don't remember participating in MemorTeas, but it appears to be why I received some samples. Here is the selection of tea I was sent:

• Fair Trade Chocolate Spice
• Fair Trade Licorice Spice
• Fair Trade White Tea Chai
• Fare Trade Earl Grey
• Mint Chai Herbal Tea Fairtrade
• Green Tea

Peta2 "Cut Class, Not Frogs!" Shirt

A while back ago (in November, actually), I redeemed 13500 Peta2 Street Team points for another shirt (I showed you the first one I got here). This one is very summery and cute:

Description from PETA Catalog:

Our updated classic 'Cut Class Not Frogs' is made in the U.S.A. by American Apparel and is available in standard and fitted sizes.

• The sunshine fitted T-shirt is 100% sheer Jersey cotton construction.
• Baby rib cotton stretchable collar for increased comfort and durability
• Flattering, stylish fit on virtually any body type
• Reinforced shoulder construction to maintain shape through repeated washings
• Durable double-stitched bottom hem
• Machine wash cold with cruelty-free detergent
• Tumble dry low

I ordered it in Girly Small and it fits nicely. However, I'm not too sure about the collar. I would have prefered a deeper v-neck. The color didn't come out very well because of the poor lightning, but it's more of a "sunny" yellow.

This shirt (along with the others redeemable with Street Team points) are also available to buy in the PETA catalog for $20, which is quite a great deal in my opinion. But hey, why pay when you can get if for free while helping animals?

 Join Peta2's Street Team to earn free shirts, pins, and other merchandise for helping animals! It's all FREE!

Dying for a cup of tea?

Before taking your next sip of tea, check the label on the tea box or bottle because you might discover that you are drinking a cupful of cruelty to animals. The company behind Lipton teas has been testing (and paying others to test) tea—a beverage that has been consumed for thousands of years—on animals. The tea giant has caused animals to suffer and die simply to make health claims about its tea products and ingredients. Not one of the experiments that the company conducted was legally required for beverage makers, and regulators have stated that animal tests are not sufficient to prove a health claim about a product. 

In these cruel and painful tests, rabbits, mice, rats, and piglets were tortured and then killed by decapitation and suffocation, among other methods. Following are more of the horrific details about what happened to the animals who were used in the company's experiments:

• Rabbits were fed a high-fat, cholesterol-laden diet, leading to extreme hardening of the arteries. They were then fed tea to see if it could reduce the lesions that formed on the animals' arteries. After the experiment, the rabbits' heads were cut off.
• Mice bred to suffer from a painful bowel inflammation were fed tea ingredients in order to see if the tea had any effect on their condition. After the test, experimenters killed the mice by suffocating them or breaking their necks.
• Rats were forced to eat a high-sugar diet, and then tea was given to the animals to see if it could protect against sugar-induced brain damage. Other rats had their abdominal wall punctured and were fed radioactively labeled tea ingredients through a tube in their stomachs in order to examine the absorption of tea in the body. Then they were killed, frozen with liquid nitrogen, and crushed.
• Piglets were exposed to E. coli toxin and then fed tea in order to see if the tea could prevent fluid loss and diarrhea. As part of the tests, experimenters cut the pigs' intestines apart while the animals were still alive. The piglets were then killed.

Modern, cruelty-free research methods are available and in use by other leading beverage companies around the world. We need YOU to join us in telling the makers of Lipton to ditch its crueltea to animals and use non-animal methods instead.

Please take a moment to ask the makers of Lipton tea to stop this cruelty and join Honest Tea, Twinings, Stash Tea, Luzianne Tea, and other companies that don't experiment on animals.

Text from Peta2.com and images from Peta2.com and Google Images.

Dying for UGGs?‏

UGGs. We hate 'em. They are not only UGGly but also cruel.

UGG boots are made of sheepskin (yep, someone's skin, people!). The sheep who are killed for UGGs are often Merino sheep—just like Pete (pictured here). Every year, millions of sheep are castrated, have their tails cut off, and have their horns hot-branded. Once sheep are no longer needed in the sheepskin industry, they are shot or have their throats slit—all for the sake of a pair of boots.

Every purchase of UGG boots supports extreme cruelty to animals—not to mention that wearing someone's dead skin is just gross. With so many cute and cruelty-free options available, there's no reason to wear the skin of an abused animal.

Take a stand against UGGs! Fill out this form to pledge never to wear UGG boots, and let your friends know that they can help sheep, too, by buying cruelty-free boots and never buying wool.

Text from Peta2.com and images from Peta2.com and Google Images.

Mail of the week (November 22 - 26)

U by Kotex samples: Sign up and get these U by Kotex freebies:

• 1 CleanWear Regular Pad
• 1 Barely There Liner
• 2 Click Regular Tampons

Peta2 "Cut Class, Not Frogs!" shirt: I used my hard-earned 13500 Street Team points to redeem this cute shirt, and I will make a separate post about it with more details and pictures. If, like me, you are an animal lover, join Peta2's Street Team to earn free shirts, pins, and other merchandise for helping animals! It's all free!

My prize from Tammy's giveaway: Tammy gave away two of the new Wet N Wild Coloricon Eyeshadow Palettes, but she also included some more goodies!

• Wet N Wild Coloricon Eyeshadow Palette in Lust
• Wet N Wild Coloricon Eyeshadow Palette in Vanity
• Cettua Trouble Clear Patch with Tea Tree Oil 1 strip 12 patches
• Fast Fortified Amino Scalp Therapy Shampoo
• Fast Fortified Amino Scalp Therapy Conditioner 
• pink nail polish from a brand I don't know (I don't know in which language it's written but I can't read it LOL)
• Physicians Formula Shimmer Strips Custom Eye Enhancing Shadow & Liner in Pop Blue Eyes

Everybody seems to be raving about those new Wet N Wild palettes so I'm very eager to give them a try, and those are definitely my shades! I'm also excited about the Physicians Formula palette... I feel like it's Christmas already! Thanks a lot Tammy! =D

November 26 is Fur-Free Friday!

Every year, millions of rabbits, minks, dogs, cats, and other animals are bludgeoned, gassed, anally or vaginally electrocuted, and sometimes even skinned alive—just to be made into coats, bags, and other accessories that no one needs.

November 26 is Fur-Free Friday, a worldwide day of action against the fur industry.

 

What's wrong with fur?

Life on a fur farm ain't no life at all for all the cute critters forced to live there.

Animals bred and raised on fur farms spend their entire lives in cramped, filthy wire cages. They are denied proper shelter and clean water, and they can't do any of the things that come naturally to them—such as climbing, burrowing, and swimming. They endure fear and stress and often suffer from disease, parasite infestations, and other physical and psychological hardships, all for the sake of an unnecessary industry that makes billions of dollars annually.

In the U.S., no federal humane slaughter law protects animals on fur factory farms, so animals are killed in the cruelest ways possible in order to save money and keep their skins in one piece. Many have their skulls bashed in or their necks broken, and others are anally or vaginally electrocuted.

Contrary to fur-industry propaganda, fur production destroys the environment. Producing a real fur coat from the skins of ranch-raised animals takes a heap more energy than that needed to produce a fake-fur garment. Real fur isn't biodegradable, either, thanks to the chemicals used to stop the fur from rotting. These chemicals can also contaminate local water supplies.

Simply put, fur ain't no good for animals or the planet!

Please don't wear fur!

Pictures, videos and text from PETA.com and Peta2.com