You've taken a strong stance on cruelty-free beauty. Why is that something that's important to you?

I love animals. I'm a sensitive soul, and I was brought up vegetarian. I don't have the heart to kill an animal therefore I won't eat one, and I certainly can't use a cosmetic product that's then been tested on an animal. For the sake of what? Potential vanity or creativity? I mean, it goes both ways, but I have to remain ethical about it. I’ll constantly fight this. Until the law changes, I'll definitely be an advocate for it.

Have you ever found it to be limiting? For example, maybe you need to use a certain makeup that you can't have access to because it tests on animals?

I started changing my kit two years ago, at first I found it to be difficult. There weren't many products available, since then it's changed an incredible amount. It's been amazing. Any brands that we do contact, they're happy to help.

What's different about a brand that is environmentally friendly and cruelty-free is that they legitimately care. They want to do as much as they can to promote that you can have a mascara that's just as effective, but an animal doesn't have to die for it. Brands are changing, but there are still a lot of items that I'm looking to add into my kit. We still have quite a way to go, though I'm extremely positive that we'll be there in no time at all.

There’s been a lot of controversy on fur lately, what are your thoughts on that movement?

The Anti-Fur Movement is a movement I respect. It exposes the fashion industry to understand their ecological footprint, especially in the current state of the economy and climate. I don't wear fur personally, but a lot of my friends wear vintage fur that has been passed down in their family. There’s also the conversation about re-worked fur - Yves Salomon did an amazing job at this in his FW17-18 Pieces collection which is made up of unused and unsold fur pieces stitched together. This collection also informed a lot of people about the process in which his fur is made and then further went on to explain how not all faux-fur is good for the environment because of the harsh chemicals, oil, and plastic that some brands use. This is something I did not know before this collection was brought to my attention. At the end of the day, I stick by my decision to not wear fur, but I understand this is not the case for others. I just only hope they are educating themselves in their purchases and understanding the process in which their fur or faux fur is made.

Agreed, I think consumer knowledge is huge and it’s the reason why most of my clothes are thrifted. But when it comes to fur, is there a difference between wearing it and eating a hamburger?

That’s such a good conversation to have because it's the same with wearing leather. I will never wear fur, but I do own leather pieces which have me questioning my own values on why I am not comfortable wearing fur but at the same time I wear leather.

I personally wear vintage fur, but perhaps if you don’t, is it about taking baby steps? First, maybe you stop wearing fur, and then stop wearing leather, and then start taking steps to become a vegetarian?

Exactly. Not sure if I’ll ever make it to Vegetarian though!

Fur was so big in the 90s as well, and I just remember growing up seeing my Aunt’s and Uncles wearing fur and thinking to myself how regal and how polished they looked. We’ve grown up to equate fur with a sense of status. This sense of being rich, and all of that, so it's kind of hard to steer away from that mentality, but I think it's a lot about educating yourself and educating others, and...

Having conversations.

Having conversations, but in a civil way, because everyone has different beliefs and maybe you can’t change their opinion but you can show them your side and hear their side as well.

Exactly. There’s rarely a benefit to getting worked up. But by staying calm and listening to the other side, you might be able to make a stronger case for what you believe in.

Agreed. You're not going to change anyone's opinion if they’re as adamant as you are on yours. The only thing you can do is have an adult conversation with that person, and learn from them, and they can hopefully learn from you as well. Maybe take away one or two things from what you said, and vice versa.