Many psychology studies are done on rats. We cut their heads open, put little electrodes in their brain and watch how they react to certain stimulation. That sounds like fun, right?! Nope, nope, it certainly doesn´t. Just as much as I don´t want that to happen to these innocent rats I really don´t want little bunnies to die because some make up product has been tested on their eyes. Especially now that we have already done so much animal testing and practically every single possible make up ingredient has been approved we don´t need this anymore! Are we testing on animals now just for fun?!
Luckily, this has been a great deal in the blogging community recently and brands are reacting to it. Even L´Oreal who have been known for animal testing are saying in their policy now that they won´t anymore. That´s a great thing although it´s a little naive to really believe that. These brands hide behind their policies. They all say they won´t test on animals UNLESS it´s required by law. Well, guess what, it´s required by law in some countries. Admittedly, there are only a handful of countries requiring animal testing to sell there but one of them´s China with one of the biggest beauty industries in the world. So as long as brands sell in China, they need to test on animals.
Another thing brands hide behind are associations with other brands. Many beauty brands have been bought by a parent company now. Only a few stay on their own. I´ve been shocked to find out that The Body Shop and Urban Decay (two brands stating they´re completely cruelty-free) are part of the L´Oreal group. And what does L´Oreal do? Yep, they test on animals! I guess it depends on your own opinion if you count these brands as cruelty-free. Personally, I wouldn´t because by buying their products you are indirectly supporting the parent company who tests on animals. I think cruelty-free should stand for no association with animal testing whatsoever.
For me, the worst part about all of this the simple fact that we still have to worry about it. It´s 2016, for god´s sake. We have send robots to mars but we can´t stop animal testing?! The beauty industry needs to catch up with the time. I know it´s hard for a brand to stop selling in countries that demand animal testing because it´ll cost them a lot of money but it´d be worth a try at least. Send a message to these countries and maybe their laws will change!
Going cruelty-free is a hard decision. You have to dismiss many of your favourite brands and I look up to everyone that can do that. Sadly, I know I´m not able to make such a clean cut. But I´ve noticed that after all that research, I tend to buy more from brands that I know are cruelty-free. Maybe with time the full change will come. For now I´m trying to buy more from cruelty-free and less from other brands and I think that´s at least one step in the right direction.
If you want to check which brands are truly cruelty-free, Logical Harmony have a great and always updated list of cruelty-free, vegan and cruelty-free-but-owned-by-parent-company brands!
On the note of brands like Urban Decay and The Body Shop, I once read an interesting article where someone said that maybe you *should* buy those brands, because if more people start buying those brands that don't test on animals, and stop buying the brands that do, the parent companies will realise that people want to use cruelty-free products, and will consider alternative testing methods. I completely understand why you wouldn't count them as cruelty-free and why you still wouldn't want to use them, but it was just an interesting idea :)
ReplyDeleteKelly // www.velvetandvibranium.com
That´s another great thought process. I haven´t thought of it like that but I can definitely see the point in it. I think in general it´s difficult to find the balance between not wanting to sponsor the parent companies but also wanting the cruelty-free products. Hopefully, this issue will resolve itself with some time.
Deletexx
I've been trying to steer my buying habits to be more ethical but I've found it so difficult when brands are just owned by bigger, more evil brands! But that's what makes blogging such an important, empowering movement; we have so much power as a collective and through informing (like you've done here!) even if two people read it and are inspired, we've made a difference!
ReplyDeleteSinéad ♥ fabuleuse, toujours ♥
That´s so true. I´ve also found it very difficult to see which brands are actually cruelty-free especially since there are quite a few loopholes. Hopefully we as a collective will make this issue disappear some day because as you said, we have so much power!
Deletexx
I'm so happy to see another blogger turning towards a cruelty free lifestyle. Nothing makes me happier. Logical Harmony is a fantastic resource for products.
ReplyDeleteIf you want to follow more cruelty-free bloggers then I have made a list on my blog so feel free to check it out and find some new blog favourites.
Helen
Tea in the Tub
Sadly, I´m not fully there yet. But I´m definitely trying. I wish companies would have to have signs on which it says if they are cruelty-free. That would make shopping so much easier!
DeleteI´ll definitely have a look around your list of cruelty-free bloggers! I´d love to follow & support more of them!
xx