Skip to content 
Search

Latest Stories

‘I'm on the hunt for vegan and cruelty-free products'

JAINEESHA SOLANKI ON TAKING AN ETHICAL APPROACH TO BRIDAL BEAUTY

The beauty and fashion industries finally opening up to being more ethical have had a knock-on effect on consumers, who have started thinking about the products they buy.


One of those leading the way in terms of being ethical is award-winning international bridal make-up artist Jaineesha Solanki, who has worked her magic on brides with products that are cruelty-free and created stunning looks.

With that in mind, Eastern Eye got the bridal make-up maestro to give top product recommendations.

“Being a cruelty-free bridal makeup artist, I’m on the hunt to find great quality products that are not tested on animals and possibly vegan too. Here are my recommendations of must-have products, which I think are currently the best in the industry,” said Jaineesha.

Kate McIver – Secret Weapon Serum: After seeing the before and after images displayed on Instagram of the effect of the serum, I knew I had to try some. My skin has become plumper and scarring has reduced. Head over to Kate McIver’s website and read about her inspirational story and this amazing product. Every bride-to-be needs this. Check out www.katemciverskin.co.uk (£34.99 for 30ml)

Too Faced – Better Than Sex Mascara: This is hands down the best mascara around. I have short lashes, but once this mascara is on, my lashes are thicker, fuller, longer and wispier. The hourglass-shaped brush catches the shorter lashes on the inner corner and coats the lashes to create a wispy effect. I’ve tried other mascaras hoping to find a cheaper alternative, but found this to be the best one around. Debenhams (£19)

CoverFx – Powerplay Concealer and Foundation: The Power Play foundation and concealer are not only vegan and cruelty free, but they are also free from talc, fragrance, parabens and gluten (so great for those with sensitive skin). The brand has created 40 colours in three undertones, so there really is something for everyone. I frequently travel abroad for destination weddings and find both products work a treat for my brides in the heat, as they are sweat-proof, waterproof, and longwearing.

Harvey Nichols, Concealer (£24), Foundation (£38)

Stila – Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner Micro Tip: A liquid eyeliner in felt tip form. Making it easy to create a winged liner due to the microtip, it’s the blackest black I’ve found in a felt tip form and doesn’t dry out as quickly as others do. Stila actually used to sell in China, which means they had to test on animals by law; however, they pulled out of the Chinese beauty market and can now be found in the M&S beauty hall, which only sells cruelty-free brands. M&S (£14.50)

Urban Decay – All Nighter – Long Lasting Makeup Setting Spray: I love that they also do a travel-sized bottle. A quick spritz of this product once the makeup is done means it will stay on all night like the bottle states. I’ve had brides who had their makeup applied in the morning and it was still intact late into the night. A must have in everyone’s makeup bag. Visit www.urbandecay.co.uk (£24)

Beauty Pie – One Powder Wonder: A recent find for me. A monthly subscription unlocks a member-only pricing for luxurious and great quality products. Beauty Pie is a cruelty-free brand with an extensive and growing list of vegan products. The One Powder Wonder is translucent and works on all skin tones. I have a dry skin type so I usually stay away from powders, however, this one creates a matte finish without looking dry, sets my makeup and the subtle iridescent particles help to blur lines. Check out www.beautypie.com (members pay £5.32)

Spectrum Collections: The prettiest make-up brushes in town. All my clients comment on my Spectrum Collection brushes when they see them. I found out about these before my cruelty-free days and it was the colour and design that convinced me to make the purchase. The brushes are cruelty-free and vegan, so completely synthetic. Great for professionals and makeup enthusiasts. Visit www.spectrumcollections.com

Charlotte Tilbury – Matte Revolution Lipstick – Birkin Brown & Bond Girl: Charlotte Tilbury makes me think of luxury and rose gold. This brand has been cruelty free from the day it launched and now also has a growing vegan range. Birkin Brown is a darker brown shade (I wear this when I’m only wearing mascara on my eyes), and Bond Girl is a soft berry colour, great from daytime to evening. Both these shades are matte so they’re long-wearing and the colour payoff is great too. Check out www.charlottetilbury.com (£24)

Charlotte Tilbury – Scent of a Dream Perfume: The first vegan and cruelty-free perfume I purchased. It smells gorgeous and is once again in luxurious packaging. This one can make a great gift for a loved one. Visit www.charlottetilbury.com (30ml for £49)

Violet Voss - Holy Grail Pallete: One of my go-to paletes for my brides. This one is usually sold out, so if you see it, make sure you get it. It consists of gorgeous warm bronze, gold tones and shades of copper and cranberry. The colour payoff is very good, with minimal fallout. A mix of shimmer and matte shadows, 20 in total, you really can’t go wrong with this palete. Visit www.beautybay.com (£43)

Jaineesha Solanki is an award-winning international bridal make-up artist. Visit Instagram: @jaineesha.wife.life, @jaineesha_mua and www.jaineesha.com, Facebook: Jaineesha makeup Artist

More For You

Charithra Chandran Wimbledon

Chandran wore lambskin shorts and a green cashmere sweater for her Wimbledon appearance

Instagram/charithra17/Twitter/charithra files

Charithra Chandran brings ‘Bridgerton’ elegance to Wimbledon in timeless Ralph Lauren look

Highlights:

  • Charithra Chandran attended Wimbledon as a Ralph Lauren ambassador, turning heads in a vintage-inspired ensemble.
  • Her look echoed Bridgerton character Edwina Sharma, with soft curls and a classic summer palette.
  • Fans online praised her poise and outfit, with many saying she outshone stars like Andrew Garfield.
  • The actress wore a green cashmere sweater, tailored lambskin shorts and white Nappa pumps.

Charithra Chandran’s Wimbledon appearance might have been behind Hollywood stars Andrew Garfield and Monica Barbaro, but her crisp summer ensemble made sure all eyes found her. Dressed head-to-toe in Ralph Lauren, the British-Indian actress brought understated elegance and old-school charm to Centre Court, and social media took notice.

 Charithra Chandran Wimbledon Charithra Chandran styled her hair in soft curls for the Ralph Lauren outfitInstagram/charithra17/

Keep ReadingShow less
Amazon Prime Day 2025

Running from 8–11 July, the sale is exclusively available to Prime members

iStock

Prime Day 2025 brings huge discounts on electronics including Apple, Samsung, Sony and more

Highlights

  • Amazon Prime Day runs until 11 July, with major savings on electronics
  • Apple AirPods Pro 2, iPad 11th-gen, and MacBook Air M4 hit all-time low prices
  • Samsung Galaxy phones, Sony headphones and Fire TV devices also see deep cuts
  • Prime Day is exclusive to Amazon Prime members, but free trial users can also access deals

Biggest electronics sale of the year

Amazon’s four-day Prime Day 2025 event has delivered a flood of deals on popular electronics, including smartphones, laptops, tablets, headphones and more. Running from 8–11 July, the sale is exclusively available to Prime members, though new users can sign up for a 30-day free trial to access the discounts.

As part of this year’s event, several top-rated products from Apple, Samsung, Sony and Amazon itself have seen some of their lowest-ever prices. According to The Independent’s senior tech critic Alex Lee, “Apple discounts are notoriously rare — but this Prime Day is a clear exception.”

Keep ReadingShow less
Hermes Birkin handbag

The handbag is now the most valuable ever sold at auction

Reuters

Hermes Birkin handbag fetches record £7.4m at Paris auction

Highlights:

  • The original Hermes Birkin bag sold for £7.4m at Sotheby’s Paris.
  • It belonged to British actress and singer Jane Birkin.
  • The handbag is now the most valuable ever sold at auction.
  • It ranks as the second most expensive fashion item sold globally.

A record-breaking sale

The original Hermes Birkin handbag, once owned by British actress and singer Jane Birkin, has been sold for £7.4 million at a Sotheby’s auction in Paris, setting a new world record for the most valuable handbag ever sold at auction.

The sale, held on Thursday, saw the iconic fashion item exceed all expectations, with Sotheby’s calling it “a startling demonstration of the power of a legend.” The bag is now also the second most expensive fashion item ever sold at auction, following the £24 million paid for Judy Garland’s ruby red slippers from The Wizard of Oz in 2024.

Keep ReadingShow less
Barbie with type 1 diabetes

This is also part of Mattel’s mission to extend the boundaries of imaginative play

Mattel

Mattel introduces first Barbie doll with type 1 diabetes to promote inclusion

Highlights

  • Mattel launches new Barbie with type 1 diabetes
  • The doll features a glucose monitor, insulin pump and CGM app
  • Created in collaboration with type 1 diabetes charity Breakthrough T1D
  • Part of Mattel’s broader push for inclusivity and representation in toys

Barbie with type 1 diabetes joins inclusive fashionistas range

Mattel has launched its first diabetes Barbie doll, designed to represent children with type 1 diabetes and promote greater inclusivity in children’s toys.

The new addition to the Barbie Fashionistas line comes with realistic medical features including a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) on her arm, secured with heart-shaped medical tape, and an insulin pump to help manage her blood sugar levels. She also carries a smartphone with a CGM app to monitor glucose throughout the day, and a bag large enough to store snacks and other essentials.

Keep ReadingShow less
Schiaparelli exhibition UK

Italian-born French fashion designer Elsa Schiaparelli

Getty Images

V&A announces UK’s first Schiaparelli exhibition as Natasha Poonawalla’s Met Gala looks make a comeback

“In difficult times fashion is always outrageous.” – Elsa Schiaparelli.

The Victoria & Albert Museum has announced its first ever UK exhibition dedicated to Elsa Schiaparelli, the visionary designer who blurred the boundaries between fashion, art and performance. Titled Schiaparelli: Fashion Becomes Art, it runs from 21 March to 1 November 2026 in the Sainsbury Gallery and will draw on the V&A’s status as home to Britain’s National Collection of Dress and its foremost collection of Schiaparelli garments.

Keep ReadingShow less