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How important is it to you that your brands are cruelty free

95 replies

Houseplanter · 14/01/2024 23:01

Have recently been checking and frankly horrified how many I've been using that have been tested on animals .. or might have been.

For me this will change.

OP posts:
AliceMcK · 15/01/2024 23:47

MyheartgoingBoomBoomBoom · 15/01/2024 09:37

CatMadam I was the same. My mum started buying products from Cosmetics to Go and Beauty Without Cruelty back in the 80’s.
I was a teen back then and was horrified to learn so many animals were being tortured each day so people could wear a nice lipstick or mascara. Back then they were about the only companies you could guarantee didn’t test on animals.
These days there are so many that it’s no excuse to purchase products using animal testing, no excuse at all.

I remember a massive drive in awareness of animal cruelty back then and a lot of companies getting a wake up call.

i think on a whole there are more companies that have cruelty free policies which they follow these days. Being Vegan and the general increase of the vegan population keeps some awareness and companies on the ball, but I don’t think it would do any harm to remind the public about cruelty to animals and the general ethics of businesses again as it seems that for some people what the products they buy are tested on dosnt even register to them.

twodogsandI · 15/01/2024 23:52

Incredibly important. I look it up before I buy a new product and replace old ones when they run out with a cruelty free replacement. Beauty products are completely a choice for me and I can't bear the thought that something I use essentially superficial reasons causes pain and suffering.

I also do the same with household products.

I accept that this is more difficult with medicine. But I fight for big pharma to put more resources into finding cruelty free ways to ensure product safety.

Imagine every time you use your foundation that you would have to drip it into your dogs eyes. It's not a hard choice to make.

These products aren't more expensive either - most of mine have been replaced with cheaper products

MyheartgoingBoomBoomBoom · 16/01/2024 08:43

AliceMcK · 15/01/2024 23:47

I remember a massive drive in awareness of animal cruelty back then and a lot of companies getting a wake up call.

i think on a whole there are more companies that have cruelty free policies which they follow these days. Being Vegan and the general increase of the vegan population keeps some awareness and companies on the ball, but I don’t think it would do any harm to remind the public about cruelty to animals and the general ethics of businesses again as it seems that for some people what the products they buy are tested on dosnt even register to them.

I personally would like to see another campaign similar to those back in the 80’s, I remember it vividly, the images haunted me and still do.

Maybe if people had just a little understanding of the suffering animals go through on a day to day basis just to improves one’s appearance or have softer skin would surely this would push several to consider purchasing cruelty free brands?

There is absolutely no need for beauty and cosmetic products to involve animal testing in 2024.

herewegoagainonmydog · 16/01/2024 10:03

@Ibizafun the easiest way is to look for the leaping bunny logo.

I have stood in shops before and googled of it isn't clear. It's not a massive chore as most products last a while. Same for cosmetics and household stuff.

Once you 'know' your brands then it gets easier Smile

I also had an app but it's not really necessary - google will do it!

Ibizafun · 16/01/2024 10:04

Thank you so much I will be doing that from now on.

AWOL66 · 16/01/2024 10:21

It is important to me and good on you for thinking about it.
Your post is even above a Johnsons ad who test on animals!
I genuinely tend to much prefer the ones that don't as they usually use more eco and natural ingredients and so are more luxurious and kind to my body in my view.
Check Peta's site or Cruelty Free Kitty's as they give a definitive answer as to whether they are tested on them or not.
This is because many say they don't in England but do in countries required to by law for example China which required everything imaginable to be tested so if any brand sold there it was a red flag. China very recently relaxed some of their laws so brands like Simple and Aussie don't have to be tested their anymore so are now deemed cruelty free I think.
I highly recommend Brighton store Eden Permumes who sell very good quality eau de Parfum dupes of popular perfumes online. It's Trust Pilot reviews are extremely high.
Also Aussie shampoo bar (not conditioner) is brilliant, Body Shop Shea soap and Camomile cleansing butter (gentle enough to use as eye make up remover in the shower) are gorgeous. Superdrug own brands are cruelty free. Revolution cosmetics in Superdrug do the best foundation and bronzer. Body Shop did an amazing highlighter for under foundation but stopped selling it recently but I have had a lot of compliments about my make up over the years - my point being you seriously don't need any brands that test on animals and I have tried them too when I was younger.

Honeyroar · 16/01/2024 11:03

You have to watch out for some companies. They will tell you they don’t test on animals, but they pay other people to do it, which makes them worse than those that openly test. I just buy things with the Leaping Bunny symbols. And keep ckecking, as a lot of things revert to testing. Aldi is very good for cruelty free, so I buy most cleaning/washing up stuff there. Tesco used to be, but hasn’t had any bunny symbols for a few years now, so I no longer buy them.

AWOL66 · 16/01/2024 11:13

Houseplanter · 15/01/2024 22:37

Thank you, some really interesting posts.

I am ashamed not to have given this more thought before... what was I thinking?! Or not thinking.

I've spent some time looking at what I use regularly and if it's tested on animals.. thank fully a lot isn't. It's goodbye to some some of my favourites though (Mac, EL) and hello to more of those I already use and like (No7, Lisa Eldridge, Rimmel).

Rimmel's owned owned by a parent company Coty who do test on animals. And since writing my comment before this one I realise No 7, Aussie and Simple's parent companies do too! I'm just letting you know so you can make an informed decision-see Cruelty Free Kitty's website which goes into a lot of detail. Good on you for now thinking about it as millions of people don't and it's so good to be supporting the brands that don't test on them. 💕

Houseplanter · 16/01/2024 11:19

Well this is going to be tricky. Google very clearly says that No7 is cruelty free, so a quick google in a shop won't do. Same for Rimmel.

Can't I ask a daft question?

If a product contains a substance that has previously been tested on animals BUT isn't anymore, is that deemed a cruelty free product?

OP posts:
AncoraAmarena · 16/01/2024 11:21

It's the most important factor to me. It shocks me that people don't consider this and boycott brands who test on animals. It's completely unnecessary and those brands that do it so that they can sell in China are the scum of the earth.

StarDolphins · 16/01/2024 11:23

It’s my main concern when buying any beauty products.

Beeinalily · 16/01/2024 11:26

I was horrified to find that some brands which were previously cruelty free now aren't, I gather it's because they export to China and the rule there is that they have to have been tested in animals. For cosmetics I use Barry M, for skin care supermarket own brands are often cruelty free and strangely enough seem to be better on my sensitive skin than many more expensive products.

Theshieldofdoom · 16/01/2024 11:28

Very important to me and has been for years.

Delilah cosmetics don't test on animals and dont think big enough to sell to the bloody Chinese

All the threads where people go on about Korean skin products, I bet they don't care or know if they test on animals, I bet they do but happy to be corrected.

FormerlyPathologicallyHappy · 16/01/2024 11:57

Nothing gets bought in my house unless it’s cruelty free. Skincare, makeup, household cleaning products are all cruelty free.

I use cruelty free kitty a lot as a resource.

Leyenda · 16/01/2024 12:45

Very important. But it also depends a bit what the product is.

Medication / other essential product? I might buy something that has been tested on animals because for some medicines this was the only way they established it was safe before testing on humans and there are no comparable but ethical alternative products.

Make up / other vanity product? I never knowingly buy something that‘s been tested on animals. There’s nothing beautiful about torturing bunny rabbits.

blackpanth · 16/01/2024 12:47

Charlie2121 · 14/01/2024 23:18

I’ve never given it a second thought.

Same

SparrowFeet · 16/01/2024 13:20

@AliceMcK be careful with the labelling of 'sustainable palm oil'
Palm oil is NEVER sustainable. All it means is that the company, instead of clearing the forest itself, grows it on areas that someone else has cleared for them. Sometimes this can be right next to areas that are being cleared. Palm oil is environmentally devastating no matter what. It frustrates me so much that supposedly 'green' companies use it in their products.

AWOL66 · 16/01/2024 15:25

Houseplanter · 16/01/2024 11:19

Well this is going to be tricky. Google very clearly says that No7 is cruelty free, so a quick google in a shop won't do. Same for Rimmel.

Can't I ask a daft question?

If a product contains a substance that has previously been tested on animals BUT isn't anymore, is that deemed a cruelty free product?

I know how you feel. What I do now is Google search terms like "Is Rimmel cruelty free Cruelty Free Kitty" and it goes straight to a full answer on their site-you scroll down for a full breakdown.
Even Peta accredited brands can be owned by parent companies that do test on animals e.g Aussie is owned by Proctor and Gamble who do but Aussie itself don't at all.

I'm on the fence as to whether it's still bad to buy from Aussie as you could argue you're encouraging a cruelty free brand to exist but on the other hand some of their profits go to a bad parent company which feels wrong.

I think of it like a traffic light system. For example No 7, Aussie and Simple in my mind now are amber- I will still buy some of their products as they're not the worst ethically but will try to embrace buying green traffic light companies more than them and always be looking for something similar to their products from a "green light" brand to use instead so I don't have this sense of guilt - which is actually fun as I get to test stuff out.

Red companies who do test I really try to avoid altogether.

My impression is if a company doesn't test on animals now even if the ingredients were in the past they still will show as Cruelty Free which is ok in my view - I just don't want to affect future animals.

You might find the odd product that's not from an ethical brand is hard to give up. Don't beat yourself up over it. Just thinking about it more and trying to predominantly buy from green light companies makes a massive difference!

In relation to cleaning products I prefer the cruelty free ones like Ecover washing powder, Ecover washing up liquid, Astonish cleaning products (TK Maxx often sells Astonish floor cleaner etc), Pink, Smol dishwasher tablets. I used to have terrible skin issues using non cruelty free ones.

One last thing I'm not vegetarian or vegan but I have switched to Oatly oat milk as my main source of milk. I now prefer this over normal milk and it has calcium added to it which has made my nails stronger than ever so I know it works. The dairy industry is cruel. So many people have switched to oat milk and prefer it Oatly are now a global brand. This is an example of how you can make one change and collectively if we all do similar it supports a company which changes the world for animals.

Don't feel guilty - just do as you are doing and try to take steps in the right direction trying to think about it and make more ethical choices over time. I actually feel I've really benefited from the changes I've made.

Mercurial123 · 16/01/2024 15:51

Theshieldofdoom · 16/01/2024 11:28

Very important to me and has been for years.

Delilah cosmetics don't test on animals and dont think big enough to sell to the bloody Chinese

All the threads where people go on about Korean skin products, I bet they don't care or know if they test on animals, I bet they do but happy to be corrected.

Not all Korean skin brands test on animals Beauty of Joeson, Re:p are cruelty free.

herewegoagainonmydog · 16/01/2024 15:57

@AWOL66 thankyou- great post.

It's that thing about 'don't let good be the enemy of perfect'. Do what you can as you're able Smile

Houseplanter · 16/01/2024 15:57

@AWOL66 thankyou for such a detailed and sensible response 😊

I think my plan is to use up what I have already and then do my best to replace with products I have researched beforehand.

OP posts:
Houseplanter · 16/01/2024 15:58

@herewegoagainonmydog we posted at the same time and you put it far better than me 😊

OP posts:
Ponderingwindow · 16/01/2024 16:00

I have almost zero choice. As far as I have been able to find, there are two safe toothpastes in commercial production. Both of which I have to special order and hope they aren’t sold out at the moment. My other option is to use straight baking soda which my dentist advices against unless i have nothing left. Other personal care products are similar. I need simple things like soap. I can live without makeup. They could be testing on baby bunnies and I would still need to buy their hygiene products.

twodogsandI · 16/01/2024 17:16

I think there are two schools of thought on the parent company - one approach is that if you buy the cruelty free products it will encourage the parent company to take the right steps

twodogsandI · 16/01/2024 17:16

I use ecover for household products but I am stuck on drain cleaner - any suggestions?