Tabs is 1) constantly getting up in my grill/personal space and 2) constantly getting on my case about finding him cruelty-free makeup lines.
When I introduced him to Sula Beauty the other day, a new line of cruelty-free makeup for eyes, cheeks and lips, he leaped onto my lap, looked deeply into my eyes and said, “Meow.” Bravo.
The line, which launched in early summer, is available now at Ulta stores and also online, but after catching a glimpse of the list of ingredients for one of the new lipglosses below (see below), I half expected to see it also sold at the Target Garden Center.
Sula calls the line natural, but nowadays that can be a loaded phrase. In this case it means “mostly natural,” which to me is better than “not natural at all.” The lipglosses, at least, do contain a couple of man-made ingredients, like styrene/butadiene, a synthetic rubber widely used in car tires (but generally believed to be safe).
Products in the line are, however, free of parabens, phthalates, silicones and petroleum by-products — other cosmetic compounds of common concern.
I started wearing the new Lip Gloss in Mesmerizing ($8), a pigmented, shimmery, bronzy red that’s one of eight glosses in the line, and if it’s any indication of the quality of the other products in the line, I may have found another makeup crush.
Mesmerizing’s light blackberry flavor and scent are just that: mesmerizing. And the product feels soft, smooth and non-sticky on my lips. It’s not a long-wearing gloss, though, so it probably won’t make it through a veggie burger and fries, but it does hang on for from three to four hours when I sip my non-fat, half-caf latte through a straw. 🙂 Not bad (for a gloss).
Ingredients: Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) oil (and) Carthamus Tinctorius, (Safflower) Oil (and) Styrene/Butadiene Copolymer, Simmondsia Chinensis ( Jojoba) Seed Oil, Cera alba (Beeswax), Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Natural Flavour, Tocopherol.(+/-) Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), Carmine (CI 75470), FD&C Blue No. 1 (CI 42090), FD&C Yellow No. 5 (CI 19140), FD&C Yellow No. 6 (CI 15985), FD&C Red No. 40 (CI16035), Manganese Violet (CI 77742), D&C Red 6, D&C Red 7, D&C Red 33
I think I’m picky when it comes to glosses, but I’ve found a keeper. An $8 cruelty-free, mostly natural product (the No. 1 ingredient is sunflower oil), high in pigment and heavy in moisture (I almost forgot to mention — it’s incredibly hydrating!)? Not a bad deal at all. I look forward to seeing the other seven colors.
PRICE: $8
AVAILABILITY: Available at Ulta stores and also online
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: A+
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
P.S. Hope you have a great morning, and I’ll catch you again soon. My flight to San Diego for BlogHer leaves in a little while.
Nina says
have a safe flight!!!!
i think i want to check out this line more … the prices and the quality are a come on!
Vijaya says
This looks lovely on you, and yay for cruelty free!
laksh says
The gloss looks so pretty on you and that beaded blue necklace is very flattering on Tabs 🙂
Have a good trip!
shiny says
The gloss looks mucho awesome. And the bottom 2 pix are the best.
Tabs looks great in your necklace – but don’t tell him that or you’ll never get your jewellery back :0
And the last pic looks hilarious!
Have fun at BlogHer, you jet-setting blogger, you!
dani@callitbeauty says
$8?! sign me up!
Mary says
Yeah, it’s a great price, especially since it’s hydrating and looks so pretty.
Chris25 says
I love cruelty-free brands! I’m so happy you’ve found another one!
Whenever I try to pose with Rock n Roll, she always hides her face in my arm. It’s like she’s ashamed of being seen with me! LOL.
Karen B says
Hi Karen!
Wow, it’s been a while since I followed your blog. You’re rocking the bangs like nobodies business!
I love cruelty-free brands but as I’m quitting my job to go back to school I’m afraid I won’t be able to try it out.
Christine says
Haha, Karen, that Tabs + you photo-montage absolutely made my day. Both of your expressions are priceless :D.
Have a great time at BlogHer!
Karen says
Hi Christine,
Those pics are all Tabs. He’s a modeling pro and knows how to work his angles. 😉
Sanah says
My Ulta is kind of lame.. I never see these lower cost brands that arent the typical Revlon, covergirl etc. Also they have a very small Essence Cosmetics collection.. booo… I looove your cat!!
Karen says
Hi Sanah,
You should check out the Ulta website. They’ve got a really extensive selection!
Tales from the Lip Gloss Junket says
Wow, I’m loving that blackberry color. I’ll have to try that one!
Ik says
OMG This looks great on you!!! 😀 Its amazing that they don’t test on animals!:D
Karen says
Thank you! Do you think you might give it a try?
JoElla says
I love Tabs!!
That is a beautiful color!
Karen says
Tabs loves you too, JoElla! He’s got a lot of love to give. 🙂
Sarah S. says
I have a crush on this color now! Looks so pretty and shimmery, without being *ugh* frosty. Love the pics of you with Tabs! Looking forward to more of these swatches 🙂
Karen says
Hi Sarah,
I have a crush on it too. I like that it has sparkle but isn’t over the top.
How’s your day been?
kimberly says
Very prettttty 🙂
Karen says
And so affordable, too!
Smartypanties says
That’s a gorgeous color on you! Love that they don’t animal test!
LauraA says
Love the color, Karen, and I can’t wait to check out the Sula display at Ulta.
Also, I never realized how big a kitty Tabs is! Tabs has always reminded me of a Manx mix–Jaguar–I had while growing up, and I think they could be long-lost siblings other than the fact that Jag had the bobbed tail. Tabs is just adorable.
Karen says
Hi Laua,
Tabs gets that a lot. 🙂 He’s about 15 or so pounds — husky boy!
What was the name of your Manx mix?
DanaJae says
Ugh how I love your pics of you and Tabs but it makes me want my very one bebe tabby kitteh – soon! We are in the negotiation process of buying a house and once the overhaul is done a wittle bitty boy tabby will be mine! Muhahahaahaaaaa
Some crazy cat lady just came out of me HeeHee
Dana
Karen says
Hi DanaJae,
Good luck with the house negotiations! I hope everything works out for you. I can’t wait for you to get a baby tabby… they are the best. 😉
gio says
I had never heard of this brand before. The gloss is so pretty and I love the price too. 🙂
Karen says
Hi Gio,
The makeup line is relatively new. They just launched in June!
Tasha says
I really enjoy the pics of u n tabs… 🙂 love it. I just want to squeeze that fluffy fur ball.
Karen says
Hi Tasha,
You know he loves a good squeeze!
Hope you’re having a nice day.
Tiffany says
Oooh… I must keep an eye out for Sula products. The color of that lip gloss is gorgeous!
Tobeinstyle says
I love the color of the gloss. It’s really pretty and I love your cat. So furry 🙂
BettyS says
I think beeswax gives me an allergic reaction, but for $8, it’s worth the experiment. Lip gloss is a great pick-me-up when I’m staying at home and don’t feel like loading on the makeup.
Adrienne says
Hi! Just wanted to stop by and say that the pictures of the gloss are just gorgeous. I really like the pictures of you and Tabs too- so cute!
SatelliteDreamer says
Look at that beautiful floofy belly! Oh, and the gloss looks nice, too 😉
vonnie says
stunning color!
Mindy M. says
I work with rubber for a living, and the thought of putting anything with SBR in it disgusts me. But then again, there’s a lot of crazy junk in most products we use daily, so who cares?! This color is gorgeous and I really want to try it.
kalcedon says
This shade is absolutely gorgeous! 🙂