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Paul Mitchell

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Having reviewed a number of products that I've found at stores like Whole Foods where all of the products are cruelty-free, I've unfortunately overlooked products that you aren't going to find at a grocery store. And there is one particularly glaring example because it is a fairly iconic brand, at least in the hair care industry. And that brand is Paul Mitchell. What's particularly impressive to me about Paul Mitchell is that they never tested on animals, refusing to engage in such practices long before it was an issue that became elevated in the public consciousness. According to their website , "In 1980, we became the first professional beauty company to publicly stand up against animal testing. Now, nearly 35 years later, that pledge to our furry friends remains a driving force in all that we do. Just last year, Paul Mitchell® Co-founder John Paul DeJoria made the decision to stop selling our products in China when animal testing became a mandate, reaffirmi
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Cruelty Free Products for Sensitive Skin

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Having been over a year since my last product review, I neglected to explain the reason for my lack of posting. While it's partly because I haven't been able to find the time, the main reason (and the one most important to this blog) is that I've gotten to a point where I have found excellent products in every category that have surpassed all the others I'd tested. So I find that I'm content purchasing the same ones again and again. As I mentioned in a previous post , I have Seborrheic dermatitis, which causes some dryness and flaking on my skin, but I was also finding that my skin is pretty sensitive in general, and I was experiencing some reactions after testing out some of the products. There were a number of products that I enjoyed quite a bit, but they weren't always agreeing with my skin. This was fairly surprising to me as I would have expected some of these "natural" products to be less aggravating than some of the other brands that are more
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Crystal Body Deodorant - Product Review

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Truth be told, I've been a bit embarrassed to review this. But if you've read my previous posts, my track record with cruelty-free deodorants has not been great. For whatever reason, there aren't many choices of deodorant that aren't tested on animals. So having run through the gamut of options, there was one left. One pink, somewhat phallic looking option left. Crystal Body Deodorant . It doesn't help that the label looks like the cover of a romance novel either. I remember when I first heard about crystal deodorant years ago, and thought that it was some ridiculous, new-agey product that aging hippies used to commune with their earth mothers, or something along those lines. So, needless to say, I was skeptical. But I'm committed to my testing and I'm not going to let a few muffled snickers and the underlying thought that I am going to be rubbing a rock in my armpit prevent me from trying out a new 'deodorant'. After all, based on my previous t
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Every Man Jack Shave Gel

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I have to admit, I was somewhat discouraged after my first two tests with cruelty-free shaving cream . Both were Alba products, which is a brand that I consistently enjoy. So, I was surprised by the disappointing experience I had with both of them. They were just so far from my expectations of what a shaving cream should be and what I'd gotten used to with Gillette and the other brands that test on animals. But I'm not willing to go back to using products that are tested on animals, so I was a little disheartened by the prospect of having to use a product that I just didn't enjoy. And when browsing the aisles at Whole Foods, there aren't many options when it comes to shaving cream. However, I did see that there were a couple new options from Every Man Jack  - one in a tube, and one in a can just like what what I'm used to seeing from the major brands. It's called the Every Man Jack Signature Mint Shave Gel . I was cautiously optimistic about this new shav
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Tom's Deodorant

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Oh, Tom's. Tom's, Tom's, Tom's. I don't hate you. I don't even dislike you. I really don't. I swear. So, it was with an open mind that I approached your deodorant. This one was labeled as a  men's deodorant with a "Mountain Spring" scent. So, I was looking forward to seeing what this would be like. If you've read my previous posts, you'll know that it's been a bit of a mixed bag for me when it comes to cruelty-free deodorant . I liked the smell of the Herban Cowboy deodorant , but it turns out that I developed a rash under my arm as a result of using it. The Burt's Bees deodorant  was nice, worked well, didn't leave a rash, but was just a little bit sticky when applied. So, while not a wholly negative experience, I also haven't one that I've been completely impressed with either. So, next in line was Tom's of Maine Mountain Spring Deodorant . On first sniff, all signs were positive. Nice, not overpowering, no
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Every Man Jack Face Wash

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Face wash is not an easy thing to find. Well, let me rephrase that. Face wash - that isn't skin-clearing (meaning it contains 2% salicylic acid), isn't a face scrub, and isn't prohibitively expensive - is not an easy thing to find. Considering that I wanted to pay less than $15 for 3oz., I was left with very few choices. One of the few was a face wash from Every Man Jack. I'd been looking to try new brands, but that really wasn't an option in this case. So, I grabbed the tube of Every Man Jack hydrating face wash (fragrance free), making sure not to grab one of the skin-clearing tubes, since there was very little difference in their appearance. I admit it, I like fragrance. Minty, flowery, fruity, something. I'm a sucker for it. I like to breathe in a nice refreshing scent. So, I wasn't thrilled about having a fragrance-free face wash, but it's not a deal-breaker either. Performance-wise, the Every Man Jack face wash is outstanding. Nice foaming ac
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Burt's Bees Deodorant for Men

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On the heels of my experience with the Herban Cowboy Deodorant , which was my first foray into cruelty-free deodorant, I was a little bit wary. I liked the Herban Cowboy, but it did aggravate the skin around my armpits. So, I was curious to see how my skin would react to a different brand of deodorant. Next up was Burt's Bees Deodorant for Men .  My experience with Burt's Bees products has been a bit less-than-stellar, so I was hoping that this might be the one to turn the tide. It has a nice woodsy sort of smell, which was a good masculine scent. The texture is a bit sticky, almost. It didn't flake off or leave residue, but it certainly didn't feel like it was going on smooth. I don't know if it was the beeswax that produced this texture but it wasn't what I was expecting, and I can't say I'm really a fan. Once it's on, however, it doesn't feel sticky at all, so it's really only an issue during application. As for the most impo
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