Cruelty free alternatives

[Flinkyflonk]

I'm looking for some suggestions for alternatives to my 2 favourite products.

I have recently decided - considering I was a huge supporter/Local campaigner of animals rights in my yoof (think, jumping out of vans sabotaging fox hunts, going to greenpeace rallies & fundraisers, and showing horrific posters depicting animal testing to all my friends at every given opportunity) - that I need to go cruelty free with my beauty products.

I've therefore started replacing my normal collection with cruelty free brands, Too Faced replacing Clinique, and some Body Shop (although I recently found out its owned by L'Oreal - Anita Roddick must be turning in her grave), Tesco and Superdrug for other products.

Problem is, I don't like much of what I've bought!

My 2 all time favourite Clinique products were moisture surge (the pink gel-like stuff) and moisture surge CC cream. I've never been into heavy foundation at all.
When I went to the Too Faced counter, they recommended their Born This Way foundation and said it was very similar - it's nothing like it! The guy did a small check on one side of my face and it seemed ok at the time (and I stupidly bought one instead of asking for a sample) but it's just too heavy.

And I bought The Body Shop Vitamin E aqua boost sorbet but it's nothing like moisture surge, and leaves a residue which you notice a lot if you have to apply make up afterwards.

Can anyone recommend anything else?

Thanks in advance!

A lot of shops’ own brand stuff is cruelty free and surprisingly good - Superdrug and Sainsbury’s are both good for this (not boots). I use Superdrug daily moisturiser with spf and have found it to be at least as good as body shop.

Hi OP, sorry I have no specific recommendations, but have you seen this article by Sali Hughes?

https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2017/jul/15/50-best-vegetarian-vegan-ethical-beauty-products-sali-hughes?CMP=ShareiOSAppp_Other

Might be something useful in there.

You might be pleased to hear that Natura recently bought The Bodyshop from Loreal, and seem to intend to return the brand to its cruelty-free roots. I have to say that I don't personally rate their skincare or makeup that highly, based on what I've tried, but different things suit different people and obviously I haven't tried everything.

For skincare I like Lush products - I use ultrabland as a cleanser, the million dollar moisturiser for moisture and some sun protection, full of grace serum, ultrabalm as lip balm and for other dry bits, and sleepy body lotion. Lush use a lot of plant-based ingredients as well as being cruelty free.

For makeup, I use Lily Lolo - I have the powder mineral foundation and various eyeshadows and lipsticks. The foundation gives sheer but buildable coverage. They do offer a bb cream as well but I haven't tried it yet.

I'd also be interested to see other suggestions too!

In my youth when I wore make up, I bought Beauty Without Cruelty. Not sure if this still exists tho.

No7 is cruelty free. Their foundations are excellent. I have a tinted moisturiser of theirs in Fair or light (the lightest, anyway) and it gives some coverage but, you can still see your own skin iykwim.

Most of the high end brands will not embrace the animal friendly route as it keeps them out of the huge Chinese market.

Thank you all,

I'll read that article, and it's good to hear The Body Shop has been bought over. Anita Roddick was a hero of mine when I was young!

Feawen I had never heard of Lily Lolo. Samples of day and night cream, as well as 2 shades of BB cream are now on their way to me so thanks for that!

Keep 'em coming!

I think Boots sell in China, so aren't certified as cruelty-free on account of that. I do believe they don't test on animals though.

Just read that Too Faced was bought by Estée Lauder last year! I spent over £100 at their counter after asking if they were certified cruelty free and vegan

I suppose technically the brand is, just not the parent company. Should've done more thorough research.

@FlinkFlonk you're welcome! Would love to hear what you think of the BB cream if you have a chance to report back. I've been meaning to try it out.

Keeping track of who owns what in beauty brands is hard work. As well as cruelty-free brands, I also prefer to use products that are free from parabens, silicones and mineral oils, and fairly low in alcohol, and of course I want them to actually work! Finding stuff that ticks even most of those boxes takes up more space in my head than it should.

And don't even start me on shampoo.

*Feawen
*
I am finding that out! This seems like quite a good website: https://www.crueltyfreekitty.com/ultimate-guide-to-cruelty-free-makeup/

Will definitely report back - I'm feeling optimistic

If you aren't put off by the smell of the shop you should go into Lush. Ultrabland is a classic.

Beauty Without Cruelty still exists. Their loose translucent powder is excellent. I tend to use it in the summer.

The ordinary is cruelty free & has said they won't be selling in Chinese shops, only online.

Thanks for all the further recommendations, I'll check them all out.

Interestingly, I saw a thread yesterday in the 'Ethical living' section - I never knew this section existed! There are some really good tips for being more eco-friendly - using reusable breastfeeding pads as make up remover wipes is definitely one I'll be passing on to DD (who's bathroom bin generally resembles a mini Mount Everest!)

I went cruelty free with makeup a few months ago. I decided I'd go by whether the individual product has been tested (I.e for sale in mainland China) rather than what the parent company did) so for instance even though Body Shop was owned by L'Oréal, Body shop was still cruelty free as its products weren't for sale in China. Boots own brands are cruelty free by the way at present.

You have to be vigilant though - companies change their policies sometimes, for instance Nars, which had been proudly cruelty free from its inception, now tests on animals.

My favourite cruelty free brands at the moment are:

NYX
The ordinary -their serum foundation is great v lightweight
Cover FX

I can't get on with Lush Ultrabland. It is so thick and gloopy it feels like putting lard on my face. Getting it off is even harder. You need to really scrub at your face to remove it. I ended up having to use soap afterwards to remove all the grease.

The Bodyshop Camomile Sumptuous Cleansing Butter is just brilliant though, and melts on contact with your skin. It fully deserves its 5 star ratings.

Another brand to consider is the Tropical range.

I recently started going cruelty free (I'm using up all current products first though, I hate waste) and it's unbeleivable the amount of companies owned by big brands that sell in china. I personally think if a brand cannot be cruelty free if the parent company isn't but everyone has to decide where their personal line is.
I use a lot of lush and Superdrug own brand things. Nspa is cruelty free too and available from asda.

I'd also just like to point out that far from turning in her grave Anita Roddick was alive and well and had a part in the body shop sale to Loreal. Seems money motivates her more that the body shop truly being cruelty free.

Thanks for the further recommendations.

Is that right formerly?** I am so saddened by that. She was one of my idols as a teenager L'Oreal featured heavily in a school project of mine as one of the worse offenders of testing on animals! (As did AR, as one of the most influential campaigners of animals rights and ethical trading).

Unfortunately yes. She did an interview for the guardian where she said she felt like a Trojan horse and could change things from within.

Pft. It is a total mine field!

This from L'Oreal sounds pretty convincing:
www.loreal.com/sustainability/l'oréal-answers/the-question-of-animal-testing

Then you read this:
https://www.crueltyfreekitty.com/news/loreal-animal-testing-not-cruelty-free/

Does anyone know if Cruelty free kitty is a reputable source of info? Seems like it is.

From what I can gather due to Chinese law some Loreal products must still be tested on animals however Loreal themselves don't do the testing. Ultimately if companies want to sell in China they must comply with Chinese laws. I know Loreal say they're working on it and there are SOME products not tested on animals but that must mean others are.
I could be wrong but I also think a company can only be certified cruelty free (with the bunny logo) the raw ingredients must also be certified cruelty free.
I think the cruelty free kitty site is pretty accurate. They do a lot if emailing to verify companies claims.

I've been cruelty free for a number of years. If I have any reservations about a new (to me) product, cruelty free kitty is my go to as I trust their research far more than some of the vague and misleading information put out by marketing departments.

It depends where you draw your own personal line too. Personally, I don't use any products where the parent company isn't also certified cruelty free. Leaping bunny logo helps too.

Love Lula do an amazing beauty box which is fab for getting new products.
Best beauty box by miles.

Aldi shampoos are good they just copy the big brands but don't test on animals.

They also do good creams.

NYx makeup is fab didn't know they were cruelty free.

I haven't converted yet but I will hope to one day. I'm tackeling my diet first

You'd think id have heard of Nyx!

But looks like they are owned by L'oreal too?