More and more beauty brands are committed to cruelty-free skincare, particularly makeup and skincare that is vegan, organic or ethically-sourced.
Cruelty-free means that neither the finished product or its ingredients have been subjected to animal testing, such as the Leaping Bunny logo and other certifications.
Benefits
Shopping cruelty-free skincare can be an ethical decision that benefits animals, the planet, and your skin all at the same time. Products made without testing on animals tend to contain less toxic ingredients and usually utilize natural components which are better for both the environment and you skin. In addition, as cruelty-free products don’t use additives like triclosan and sulfates that damage marine ecosystems for disposal purposes or recycling, their impact is reduced considerably on Mother Earth when being recycled or disposed of properly.
Consumers who opt for cruelty-free items often pay less, making the switch cost effective and helping spread kindness through making an ethical choice cost-effectively. Look out for products with either the Leaping Bunny logo or PETA stamp of approval to know they are cruelty free products.
Ingredients
Choose cruelty-free skincare to stop contributing to animal suffering. Each year, millions of animals are used in tests on cosmetics and ingredients; thousands may become maimed, blinded or even killed as researchers determine if a product is safe or effective for consumers. By choosing cruelty-free brands which never test on animals or use animal raw materials such as honey, beeswax and lanolin instead, we can reduce animal suffering.
As there are no laws regulating cruelty-free and vegan labels, they should not be treated as synonymous terms. While many companies may use the label “cruelty-free” to attract customers, truly animal-friendly businesses avoid animal testing at every step from ingredients production through to finished goods production – thus it is essential that we always look out for cruelty-free certifications like Leaping Bunny or PETA’s Beauty Without Bunnies programs when considering any product that claims to be cruelty-free.
Certifications
No single governmental body regulates or defines cruelty-free products, yet many companies opt for third-party certification from organizations like PETA and Cruelty Free International as a measure. These certification organizations set high standards for cosmetic products manufactured, and require manufacturers agree not to test on animals either now or in the future, undergo independent audits regularly and renew their commitment annually.
Leaping Bunny, which can be found on over 2,100 U.S. and Canadian products, is one of the best-known third-party cruelty-free certificates. Other labels such as Beauty Without Bunnies run by PETA and Global Animal Test-Free and Vegan which maintain stricter standards than Leaping Bunny are also widely recognized third-party labels that demonstrate cruelty-free standards.
USDA Organic certification guarantees that products contain at least 95% organic ingredients – another great way to ensure that skincare and makeup products are both healthful and environmentally responsible.
Companies
Many of our favorite makeup and skincare brands now provide cruelty-free options. Garnier, one of the world’s most beloved drugstore brands, recently earned two certifications ensuring it protects animals throughout its supply chain: Beauty Without Bunnies and Leaping Bunny certifications.
Another advantage of cruelty-free products is that they’re often made with safe, nontoxic ingredients that won’t irritate or worsen skin conditions like eczema or acne. Furthermore, cruelty-free items may be better for the environment since they’re made without harmful chemicals like phthalates, parabens, sulfates, oxybenzone and triclosan which could harm wildlife.
The cruelty-free movement began over 100 years ago and has experienced exponential growth over time, inspiring numerous governments and states to pass laws prohibiting cosmetic animal testing. Europe pioneered this approach with their 2013 ban, prompting other nations to follow suit and many companies opting for alternatives such as computer modeling or in vitro testing as alternative forms of cruelty testing.
