The Cruelty-Free Beauty Stash. Saying No to Animal Testing One Lipstick at a Time

I love animals and always believed they shouldn't suffer for my vanity.  When cosmetic testing on animals was outlawed, I rejoiced and mentally added a few more companies onto my "okay to buy from list". Then I didn't give the issue any more thought.  With hindsight, this was naivete of me. Turns out there's cruelty-free and "cruelty-free".  

Properly Cruelty-Free

Anything with a logo from an accreditation scheme, like Leaping Bunny.  Other brands aren't accredited, but state bluntly:  "At Soap & Glory, we absolutely do not test our formulations on animals, however we can’t say that each and every ingredient that goes into them has not, at some point historically, been cleared for human use, by animal testing".

Even then it's complicated.  Companies with impeccable cruelty-free credentials have parent companies with less impressive ones.  Some people won't buy from these companies, but I do. Buying only from the cruelty-free subsidiary, but not others in the same group, tells the parent that consumers value cruelty-free.  Helping ensure the subsidiary stays cruelty-free.

Not Really Cruelty-Free

Other companies have more ambiguous statements: "We do not test our products on animals nor do we permit others to do so except where it is required by law".  The statement in bold italics shows animal testing is going on somewhere.  For some, animal testing is "business as usual" and part of their research and development processes.  For others, the desire to access the lucrative Chinese market has turned previously proudly cruelty-free companies into animal testers.  All imported cosmetics sold from a physical storefront must be tested on animals. Paula's Choice has information on Chinese animal testing laws. Cruelty Free Kitty adds additional details.  Both have brand lists.  It was the selling into China that caught me out.  

What Am I Going To Do About It?

In the future, I'm only buying cruelty-free.  It's a good excuse for a tidy, a refresh and using things up - Project Pan!  

There are excellent cruelty-free alternatives for most things.  Apart from perfume.  That's been a bit of a challenge.  My favourite perfumes are now off limits, but the only high end perfume that's cruelty free is Stella. Which I don't like.  Fortunately Gorilla Perfumes at Lush filled the gap with Sikkim Girls.  Good to see they've moved on from the Cosmetics to Go days when you could have whatever you liked provided you liked patchouli.

What Do I Expect You To Do About It?

Whatever you feel is best.  Everyone chooses their issues and this may not be one of yours.  But worth a thought maybe?  Mentioning it on the blog will help keep me honest and avoid temptation.

Hope you all had a great half-term.  We saw family and I'll post about the Moomin's at the Southbank when I've picked through the photos.