Ever since I adopted my adorable puppy, Ella, I've been thinking more and more about the kinds of products I've been using...mainly, are they tested on animals? I couldn't imagine my sweet little puppy being subjected to the horrors of painful tests just so I could put color on my face. Then when the European Union banned the whole of cosmetic animal testing (read more here), I thought why not me? Hopefully the US follows suit, but until then I'm trying it: going cruelty free with my makeup!
Going cruelty free is easier than you think. While you will have to swear off big box brands that are available everywhere and take out glossy full page ads in your beauty magazines...there are a lot of brands out there that ARE cruelty free! Good news for your wallet, they're not all expensive. Using PETA's Beauty without Bunnies site, I rounded up as many brands as I had heard off. To be on this list, companies have to take the pledge to not test on animals and not purchase ingredients tested on animals. Unfortunately, some brands don't test on animals themselves, but buy ingredients that have been. PETA's list is updated frequently, so check back often and encourage brands to take the pledge.
Arbonne International
Bare Escentuals
Bath & Body Works (select brands)
Burt's Bees
CO Bigelow
Carmex
E.L.F.
Hard Candy
Jane
Kiss My Face
LUSH
Mehron
NYX Los Angeles Inc
Physicians Formula
Pur Minerals
Smashbox
Tarte Cosmetics
The Body Shop
Too Faced Cosmetics
Urban Decay
Victoria's Secret (select brands)
Whole Foods 365
Yes to Carrots
Do you support any of these brands already? Check back on Friday for a few of my favorite cruelty free products!
~Kirsten
