Each day brings a new opportunity to make changes to improve our world, and activism can start from something as simple as your beauty routine. Animal testing should be a thing of the past but, unfortunately, many popular brands are still not cruelty-free.
Often, companies will say that they are cruelty-free, yet continue to sell their products in countries that test products on animals, a prime example being Dove. This creates a lack of clarity around which brands we ought to avoid.
The good news is that there are countless companies that do not test on animals, which create products that are just as good, if not better, than brands that exploit animals. Particularly, you can use them with the peace of mind that no innocent creatures were harmed in the making.
There’s nothing worse than discovering that a product you love is tested on animals. However, with an ever-growing cruelty-free market, switching to a cruelty-free beauty routine doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice great products for average ones. Here are some of my favourite cruelty-free products, which pose as great alternatives to companies that do test on animals.
Toner
Pixi by Petra proudly does not test on animals, nor do they collaborate with any suppliers who conduct animal testing.
They sell a range of skincare and make-up products, but my all-time favourite has to be Pixi’s famed Rose Tonic, which is great for rehydrating and toning the skin after cleansing.
I have quite sensitive and often red skin, so Pixi’s calming Rose Tonic is perfect for me. But for those of you out there with less sensitive skin, Pixi also sells their renowned Glow Tonic. The Glow Tonic’s main selling point is that it contains exfoliating glycolic acid, which gives the skin more of a deep clean.
Moisturiser
Simple skincare has a strong philosophy of kindness in everything they do, in terms of people, the planet and animals too.
Simple’s Kind to Skin Hydrating Light Moisturiser is a great alternative to Clinique’s Moisture Surge 72-Hour Auto-Replenishing Hydrator and it is much less expensive. It’s a great base to have underneath make-up and can be used both in the morning and evening to keep your skin hydrated in these cold winter months.
Foundation
When I think of cruelty-free, the first brand that comes to mind is the Body Shop. I remember signing a petition years ago in their store to stop animal testing worldwide, so I believe they are real pioneers in this movement.
They’ve been fighting for animal rights since 1989, providing insightful and transparent information on their website about how they test their products instead.
Beauty is best when it’s #CrueltyFree! At The Body Shop we have never tested on animals, meaning no bunnies are harmed in the making of our products! 🐰 #ForeverAgainstAnimalTesting #CrueltyFreeMakeup pic.twitter.com/XMIxZV0gJH
— The Body Shop (@TheBodyShop) October 7, 2018
If you like a matte, full-coverage finish, the Body Shops Matte Clay Skin Clarifying Foundation is a fantastic alternative to L’Oréal’s Paris Infallible 24hr Freshwear Foundation and it lasts all day.
However, this matte finish foundation may not be the best option for those of you with dry skin.
Mascara
Does the popular beauty brand Too Faced test on animals? – No way.
Too Faced ‘Better Than Sex’ mascara is certainly one to shout about. It thickens, lengthens and curls my otherwise invisible blonde eyelashes and since using it, I’ve never looked back!
This is an ideal cruelty-free alternative to MAC’s extreme dimension mascara.
Brows
Beauty brand Benefit claim to have eradicated animal-testing in their UK production. However, they also trade in China, where imports are tested on animals.
On their website, Benefit say: “We are hopeful that alternative testing methods will be adopted worldwide and we will see an end to animal testing.”
But to be on the safe side, I swapped out Benefit’s raved-about ‘Gimme Brow’ for NYX’s Tinted Brow Mascara. NYX are committed to producing 100% cruelty-free cosmetics.
NYX’s brow product is also a fraction of the price. From my experience of using both, I think the wand on NYX’s tinted brow mascara is close to the same as Benefit’s, which makes application precise and easy.
I know from personal experience it is not easy to totally transition from the brands you know and love to new, unfamiliar ones.
But I think it’s worth asking yourself whether using non-cruelty free products is ideal. The thought of animals suffering on my behalf is an incentive to support companies that are cruelty-free.
Whether you want to change your whole routine or make a small change by swapping out one of your non-cruelty free products to a cruelty- free one.
Every little effort contributes to the wider movement towards a world where animals are left out of the production of beauty and skincare products.