Want to Go Cruelty-Free? This Is How

With the growing amount of information surrounding animal testing on the internet, many consumers want to make the switch to cruelty-free but don’t know where to start. Here’s how.

Start Small

Replacing your entire collection of products can get expensive, and there’s no need to throw out all of the products you’ve already purchased. A good alternative is when you run out of products, simply replace the previous product with a cruelty-free alternative.

Not sure which brands are cruelty-free? Cruelty-Free Kitty is an excellent resource for determining which brands are Leaping Bunny Certified. They also offer a free newsletter with a plethora of information. You can also check out the Leaping Bunny official site for further information.

Why Go Cruelty-Free?

Purchasing cruelty-free products means that you no longer financially support companies that use animal testing. The more consumers buy cruelty-free products, the more companies that test on animals are held accountable and are pushed to make the switch to cruelty-free. Why is this important? According to PETA, “Every year in the U.S., tens of millions of animals suffer and die in chemical, drug, food, and product tests.”

Under a video of this dog getting her nails painted, someone commended “This is what I thought animal testing was when I was little” and I literally yelled because me too😭

— Pholanthropist (@pholanthropist) January 22, 2022

If you’re anything like I was, you picture a chihuahua wearing mascara when you think of animal testing. This is simply not the case. Animal testing involves injecting harmful toxins into animals to see how they react or applying chemicals to their skin that may cause painful burns. Not only is animal testing cruel, but it is no longer necessary. Advancements in science have made it easier to test the effects of chemicals in a lab without using animals.

So Why Do Companies Still Test on Animals?

Perhaps the most shocking thing about animal testing is the reason that it’s still happening today. The short answer is money. There are still some countries that currently practice animal testing. For example, China requires animal testing before products can be sold in their country. If a company wants their products to be purchased in China, they must either animal-test their products or hire someone else to do so. Another reason they test on animals is to protect themselves from litigation if consumers get injured. This is the reason a lot of larger umbrella companies test on animals.

Not Really Cruelty-Free?

Some companies claim to be cruelty-free when they’re really not. How do they get away with these claims? Some companies don’t do in-house animal testing but hire different companies to do it for them. Other companies purchase ingredients from suppliers that animal-test their ingredients.

No, I Didn’t Get A Facial — These New Beauty Products Are Just *That* Good https://t.co/vqJQyE3HLZ pic.twitter.com/b0ZerxG0JL

— Cruelty Free Beauty (@cardealuxe) June 8, 2022

So How Do I Know if I’m Buying Cruelty-Free?

Always check for the Leaping Bunny logo. You will often find it on the back of your product at the very bottom, below the ingredients list. New cruelty-free companies may not yet have the symbol printed on their products, but you can always find them here. I recommend bookmarking the site on your phone so that it’s easily accessible when shopping.

Cruelty-Free Product Recommendations

Here are some products to get you started on your cruelty-free journey.

Foundations:

Too-Faced: The Born This Way foundation has been a cult favorite since 2011 and comes in Matte and Natural finishes.

Fenty Beauty: Fenty is one of the most popular celebrity make-up brands for a reason. They offer a wide range of foundations, from tinted moisturizers to full-coverage foundations. They also offer shades for just about every complexion.

Cleanser:

Skin Laundry: Sephora describes this facial cleanser as “A gentle foaming cleanser with soothing cucumber and chamomile extracts, perfect for all skin types.” They also offer sheet masks for the face, neck, and chest.

Eye Masks:

Wander Beauty: Recommended by medical esthetician and skin-influencer Cassandra Bankson, the Baggage Claim eye mask is perfect for an undereye boost. They also offer a variety of products, from serums, masks, and moisturizers to foundation.

Facial Mask:

Lush: Another Bankson-approved product is the Mask of Magnaminty. This fresh-made mask is suitable for acne-prone skin and is best kept in the refrigerator. Lush also has a variety of other masks for all skin types, as well as body and hair care products.

Starting Your Cruelty-Free Journey

Going cruelty-free was one of the best consumer decisions I ever made. The trick is to start small by purchasing one product at a time. Every cruelty-free purchase makes a difference in holding cosmetic companies accountable for their practices. These are just a few recommendations to get you started on your journey. Have fun on your new adventure, and don’t forget to wear sunscreen! For other tips on cruelty-free skincare, check out Cassandra Bankson’s video Buy This Not That: 5 Luxury Skincare Swaps below.