Get To Know Aly

The brief synopsis:

Aly is an almost 30-year old creative-minded aspiring entrepreneur, who hails from Ottawa, Canada. She began her blog in January 2011, in order to serve as a beauty resource for her friends, both online and offline. She strives to provide beauty smarts that are well-researched, and a delight to read. Expect silliness, rants, and frequent rambles of a potentially crazy woman.

Let’s be serious for a second.. what is your stance on going cruelty-free?

As far as I’m concerned, if there is a cruelty-free alternative to a certain product, and it works just as well, if not better than the product that is animal-tested, I would suggest choosing the cruelty-free option. The approach I take is to minimize harm, make genuine attempts to search for cruelty-free alternatives, and to do the research about what products are actually beneficial for your skin. You will most likely find that cruelty-free skin care and makeup lines contain ingredients that are much more beneficial for your skin, than a good majority of the brands that do test.

So, are you really an anarchist?

Yes. I’d call myself a market anarchist, which basically means I think consenting parties ought to be able to engage in trade with one another, without interference from an external party (such as the State). I think individuals ought to be personally responsible for their own choices, as opposed to the responsibility falling on others (we can use public education, or publicly-funded health care as an example here). Politics is a show (a shit-show, might I add), and it is a way for tyrants to legitimize their reasons why they must control our lives. With that said, I also think the progression to a freer society is a gradual process, and it is important to remain practical in our pursuance of freedom. For more information about these ideas of a free society, check out these great resources: Free Talk Live, The Free State Project.

What can I expect to read at The Classy Anarchist?

The Classy Anarchist has been completely re-designed – the archives from my old site are still available (don’t fret!), but the primary focus of new content will be skin care and nail-related topics. If there is something specific you’d like to read about – feel free to use the search option on the upper left corner of my site!

Do you have a favourite animal?

You bet I do! The sloth captured my heart several years ago, and it is a dream of mine to one day volunteer at the Aviarios Del Caribe Sloth Sanctuary in Costa Rica. These creatures are gentle, loving, and have such charismatic personalities. And you’ve got to see how they shit!