One of the biggest trends in beauty right now is supporting vegan and cruelty free brands. Some of the most popular brands out there have made the commitment to abstain from animal testing and use organic ingredients that do not include any animal by products. That’s right, some of your favorite foundations and creams have animal fats and tissues in them. Gross, right?

But what does cruelty free actually mean? If a company claims to be cruelty free, that means they do not test on animals at any point during the creation of a product. However, there are no restrictions on claiming to be cruelty free. For example, a company could claim to be cruelty free by saying they do not conduct any animal testings but an outside party could request for an animal testing on that product in order for a retailer to sell it. Situations like this are tricky and occur frequently. Take a look at China.

Animal testing is required by law in China. For any beauty products to be sold in China the company must have their products tested on animals. So to be technical, if a “cruelty free” company sells their products in China they are NOT cruelty free.

Sadly, animal testing is still relevant in the time we currently live in. With modern science and technological advancements, there are plenty of other ways to make sure that the products we use are safe. Like with in vitro testing, samples of human cells are used to test products in test tubes. Plus there are already over 5,000 beauty product ingredients that have already been tested and deemed safe to use. Companies can use any of those ingredients to formulate their products without needing to use any form of testing.

In some parts of the world like: the European Union, United Kingdom, Norway, India and Israel a ban on animal testing on cosmetics has already been placed. In 2016, Taiwan introduced a bill that bans animal testing on cosmetics and it will go into effect in 2019. Other countries like Australia and South Korea are considering to put a ban in place. Even my hometown state of California recently proposed legislation that will ban animal testing on cosmetics in the state.

If you agree that the products you use frequently should not be testing on animals, there is something you can do to stop it. If you want legislation to be passed in your state or country, write to your local government representatives! Plus don’t forget, as a consumer you have power! You have a choice in what companies you invest in. If you want to make a statement and show these big companies that what they’re doing is wrong, stop buying from them. And, feel free to write to them and let them know that you do not condone their policies and will not purchase from them until they make a change.

One common misconception about cruelty free beauty is that is expensive. While a lot of brands that are cruelty free are high end brands, there are some affordable drug store brands out there that are cruelty free! Elf, Nyx, Milani, Wet and Wild, Hard Candy, Sonia Kashuk, Yes To and Alba are all cruelty free drug store brands.

If you decide to make the switch and support only cruelty free brands, here are the major logos and endorsements you should look for while shopping: These three logos are the most trustworthy ones out there for companies who have a cruelty free status. If you don’t see any of these logos, that’s okay. Not every cruelty free company invests in these logos, since they do have to pay an extra fee to be able to be certified. You can always check Leaping Bunny and PETA’s cruelty free brand database. Just be careful when shopping, some companies will create fake logos to trick you into thinking they are cruelty free. If you’re not sure, it’s always helpful to check out the brand’s website and read through their policies and make an informed decision from there.

To see a full list of cruelty free brands and the long list of brands that continue to test on animals, check out Cruelty Free Kitty. This website helped me so much when I first decided to make the switch to cruelty free products only. Even to this day, Cruelty Free Kitty still helps me out in so many ways! I’m constantly checking to see what brands have changed their statuses and find some new brands to try.

There are plenty of other brands out there that make cruelty free versions of the products we all use on a daily basis. Dare I say, some of these products are even better than the originals. Here are some of my favorite cruelty free brands out there: It’s unsettling to think about how many major companies still rely on these unethical and antiquated practices. But luckily, more and more companies are straying away from those cruel and unneeded methods. Making the switch to support only cruelty free brands was one of the best decisions I have made, and I hope you decide to do the same.
Until next time.