Because makeup shouldn't harm us or animals.
Guide to Cruelty-Free Makeup

Beginner’s Guide to Cruelty-Free

a beginner's guide to cruelty-free makeup and skincare

Being an animal lover, I have a hard time accepting the fact that some beauty brands still test their products on animals. Not only is the act heartbreaking, but completely unnecessary. Below you will find everything you need to know about cruelty-free makeup and why it’s important.

What is Cruelty-Free Makeup?

Cruelty-free is a label given to consumer products that are not tested on animals at any point in their creation & distribution.

What is Animal Testing?

Animal testing is the act of administering a product directly to an animal, externally or internally. Testing is most commonly done on rats, mice, guinea pigs, frogs, fish, birds, rabbits, monkeys, cats, and dogs, however, many more species are affected.

To learn more about animal testing, you can view PETA’s video below. WARNING: The video is graphic and disturbing.

 

Why Do Companies Test on Animals?

Companies test their products on animals to collect data on what happens to the animal when a product is applied. The main purpose for collecting this data is so that the company has documented proof of the side effects should they ever be sued by a consumer who is injured after using their product.

Is Animal Testing Required?

While animal testing is not required in America, it is still required in some countries such as China and parts of Brazil. If a brand wants to sell their products in these two locations, they have to conduct animal testing. While it may not always be the company’s wish to test on animals, some are not willing to cease sales in parts of the world that require animal testing. Even in places that don’t require animal testing some brands still elect to do so.

How Do I Know If a Brand is Cruelty-Free?

In the United States, it can be difficult to decipher what is and isn’t cruelty-free. Because there’s no real set of regulations a brand can put whatever they like on their packaging in regards to animal testing. If you’re willing to conduct a few minutes of research it’s not terribly difficult to decipher which brands are indeed cruelty-free.

♥ Leaping Bunny Program

The best way to tell if a brand is cruelty-free is to search for it in the Leaping Bunny Program database. All brands in this database have gone through a rigorous verification process, which you can learn more about here. Not ALL cruelty-free brands are in this database, however.

♥ International Sales in China/Brazil

If you come across a brand that claims to be cruelty-free but isn’t part of the Leaping Bunny program, there’s a surefire way to tell. Simply research if they sell their products in mainland China or Brazil. Both countries require animal testing and will not put a product on the shelf without it. You can search for products sold in China here.

♥ Reach Out Directly

If you can’t find any solid information on a particular brand’s animal testing policy it’s best to ask them directly via email. Click here to learn exactly what questions you should ask!

How Does Going “Cruelty-Free” Help End Animal Testing?

By no-longer purchasing products from brands that conduct animal testing, you’re making a stand. Besides discontinuing use of the products, you can also send an email to the brand (politely) explaining that you will no longer purchase their products until they become cruelty-free. Lastly, don’t forget to share your findings with other beauty lovers. The more people stop purchasing products from an animal testing brand the bigger the push will be for the brand to become cruelty-free.

Ready to Make the Switch?

The decision to move to cruelty-free products can be overwhelming at first. For this reason, I’ve created a few helpful resources for you.

Rest assured that making the switch is easier than you think. There are a lot of cruelty-free brands out there! There’s a good chance some of the products you’re already using are cruelty-free!


Feel free to share the heck out of this article! The more people who become aware of animal testing or make the transition to cruelty-free the better!


Resources:

https://www.peta.org/issues/animals-used-for-experimentation/animals-used-experimentation-factsheets/animal-experiments-overview/

 

Stephanie Thorn
Founder of Clean & Cruelty-Free. A Midwest girl with a passion for green beauty, makeup artistry, animals rights, and comfy leggings. Since being diagnosed with PCOS she's made it her mission to adopt a less-toxic lifestyle.