Up until about 2 years ago, I was never one to think about the integrity of a company before I bought anything, especially beauty products. I wasn’t really exposed to the harsh reality of animal testing. I knew about it, yet I didn’t stop and think that some of my favorite products would be playing a role in harming of animals. But one day I came across some videos on youtube talking about this, and I realized I wanted to focus more on my part in helping save these animals, one product at a time.
But where do I start? I had to figure out what companies tested and what companies didn’t. And even if they claimed to be “cruelty-free”, there were some loopholes they could jump. So how did I know what companies were true to their word and what companies were straight up lying?
Here’s 3 ways I figured out ways to look at each company and only buy products that didn’t test on animals:
- If they’re “cruelty-free unless required by law”, they aren’t cruelty-free. The only country that requires animal testing by law is China. So, if they sell in China, they aren’t cruelty-free. Now, this doesn’t mean if they’re made in China and sent elsewhere they aren’t cruelty-free. But just make sure the product you’re looking at does not sell in China.
- Know about “parent” companies and “daughter” companies. A parent company owns the rights to a daughter company. Some daughter companies are considered cruelty-free, but their parent companies are not. It’s a debate right now whether or not buying from their daughter company would help them know which one people prefer, or just give them money either way. Still, knowing the difference can help you judge whether or not you think the daughter company is cruelty-free or not.
- Look at reliable sources. Logical Harmony has been a credible, running site for years now, and I depend on this site as my cruelty-free bible. Tashina, the owner, lists every cruelty-free brand, grey area brands, brands to avoid, and pending brands, and even lists if the brand has vegan products. It’s very useful if you’re just starting out. She checks on the brands that claim cruelty-free for paperwork. It’s a very good source to depend on.
Remember, you don’t have to completely get rid of everything you own to start focusing on a more cruelty-free lifestyle. But even buying one thing that’s cruelty-free as opposed to something that was tested on animals can be really helpful in the long run.
