Ever since I wrote my first ever blog post about animal testing for cosmetics and household products, I’ve been an advocate for shopping “cruelty free”. That was in September 2012 in support of the Beagle Freedom Project and it has taken some time to make that switch. I think I can safely say that over 4 years later at least 95% of the beauty products I purchase are not tested on animals.
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It makes me sad that sweet dogs like beagles are used for medical testing, as well as cats and primates. It is my hope that these companies can find other ways to test their products. It is most distressing, however, that bunnies, guinea pigs, mice and rats are used for cosmetic and household products testing. That seems so completely unnecessary, especially in this day and age. There are other ways. Many countries have banned or are working on banning cosmetics testing on animals. It is a good place to start.
There are so many layers to this subject, that I am not going to go into it all here. I have made the choice to not purchase healthy & beauty or household products that are tested on animals. If you would like to learn more on the subject, I found a very thorough article that covers all aspects: “Everything You Need to Know About Animal Testing” by Cruelty-Free Kitty. Her blog has completely up to date information.
I’d like to share some of the products I use. I’ve tried many over the years and these are some that I have stuck with, or recently found after a long search.
Clockwise from top left:
- Healthy Accents bar soap. This brand is carried at my local Hannaford supermarkets. CF products can sometimes be on the pricey side, but this soap is very reasonably priced at $1.39/bar.
- Jason Powersmile toothpaste*. Jason makes many wonderful products. The bonus with a company like them is that their products are not only cruelty free but natural and free of other nasty ingredients. This is the best tasting toothpaste I’ve found.
- Nature’s Gate hand and body lotion*. This is another natural product and non-GMO. I love the pomegranate sunflower scent, and the bottle is pretty too! I keep some right on my kitchen windowsill.
- Alba Botanica Hawaiian oil free moisturizer*. I find it difficult enough to find an oil free moisturizer for my face that I like, never mind one that is cruelty free! This can seem pricey, but one small container really lasts me a long time.
- This Preserve razor and refills* was my most recent find. I have been looking for a long time for one. Obviously, razors are not tested on animals, but I wanted to find one made by a company that did not, and that was difficult. I love this razor, and as an added bonus, it is made from recycled materials!
- Shampoos and conditioners from Renpure (I like Cleansing Conditioners*). This was another of my more recent finds, and this works great. Renpure is a family owned business who believes in sourcing their healthy ingredients ethically and responsibly. They have the nicest scents too like vanilla mint and sweet pomegranate.
In general, I find that many cruelty free companies have values that align with mine in other ways; more natural and safe ingredients, and eco-friendly. That provides more than one reason to give them my support.
I want to thank our blog friend Barbara at K9’s Over Coffee who inspired me when she recently shared some of her favorite cruelty free products in her article: “We Support Ethical Products – A Peek Inside Our Cruelty Free Dog Grooming & Beauty Basket“. Follow that link to learn of more quality products you can try for yourself (and your dogs!). You might also notice that she and I use some of the same products and brands!
Shopping cruelty free can send a strong message to big corporations that these are the products we’re looking for, and so many animal lives can hopefully be saved from the cruel and heartless fate of life lived in a laboratory.
Are you ready to go cruelty-free? If you already have, please feel free to share your favorite products in the comments section below. Also, stay tuned for our follow-up post on household products!
I have to admit that I do not want to get involved in causes when I shop. I just want a quality product at a fair price without politics. I realize that is very last century of me. lol
You’re not alone in that, Linda. One of my sisters looks at me like I’m nuts when I talk about cruelty-free shopping! LOL
Having been a skincare consultant for Arbonne over the past 23 years (yikes…where did the time go?) I know all about cruelty free skin care products! We always look for all products around the house to be cruelty free. Thank you for highlighting this issue. Together we can all make a difference. ❤︎
We like to shop cruelty free too! Thanks for some new ideas!
Thanks for sharing these products. We do cruelty free products too.
You’re welcome, and I’m glad to hear it! I’m pleased with the response I’ve gotten from this post….it’s so good to know there are so many out there who are aware of this and doing what they can to help.
Also, I had a hard time finding cruelty-free toothpaste I could stand the taste of. Recently we discovered Tom’s Sweet Mint gel, which we like!
I used Tom’s toothpaste for a while too, but there was only one flavor I liked. I don’t remember seeing the Sweet Mint (or any gel at all actually). I ended up switching to Jason’s because Tom’s had some artificial ingredients in it (I think xylitol), and I’m fussy about that!
Oh you’re right! Probably why it tastes better. I remembering seeing that and telling Rob not to let the dogs eat the toothpaste. Not that they would.
Thanks for the great suggestions! CF is the best but it is hard to find good products. I’ll be trying yours!
You’re very welcome! They really are hard to find, so I’m happy to share what I have. 🙂
I use the Beagle Freedom Project app to check products – but you just reminded me that I never checked our toothpaste. (I wish they had more products identified in the app.)
I just recently bought some really great cruelty free products from Positively Posh (via Peggy Frezon’s daughter Kate). I really like the stuff I got, and love knowing it’s all cruelty free!
I just got that app too when I was writing this post, but didn’t get a chance to try it out much yet. Toothpaste was a tough one, and took me a while. I was using Tom’s of Maine at first, but that had some artificial ingredients in it that I didn’t like, plus they are owned by a larger, not cruelty free company, even though their products are CF.
I will keep that Positively Posh in mind too – does she sell it online then?
Keep meaning to answer you and then forgetting! I had the name wrong – it’s Perfectly Posh, and yes, she does sell it online. I really like the stuff I got.
I just put the Jason toothpaste into my Amazon shopping cart 😉 I went with the Cinnamon Mint kind…sounded too good not to give it a try! I’ve been using Sensodyne for the longest time and it actually hadn’t occurred to me that a more natural alternative might be available. Thanks for that, Jan! And thank you also for mentioning my post 🙂
You’re welcome on both counts! 🙂
Ooohh…cinnamon mint, I don’t think I’d seen that one! I might have to give that a try next time!
HA, well it came in the mail today & it DOES taste great! I’m so stoked 🙂 Just tweeted the picture your way.
We like to use cruelty-free products as well, so thanks for sharing these with us. The mom will definitely look for these.
I’m so happy to hear that, and glad to be able to help!
The increasing availability of cruelty-free products shows how unnecessary animal testing is.
However, I’m really cheap. So my favorite way to being cruelty-free is to eliminate many products from my life entirely.
That definitely works too!! 🙂
I use (and sell) Jamberry nail products, which are cruelty free. I’ve also started wearing Kat Von D makeup, which is also vegan and cruelty free.
I saw one of your FB posts about Jamberry and I started looking at those products. That might be one place I am lacking, so I need to get on that.
It’s my second obsession (after my dogs). 😉 You can check them out at karisjams.jamberry.com. I love the nail wraps, but they also have non-toxic, cruelty-free polishes and gels, and hand cream and now a foot care line too. /salespitch.
Animal testing is one of my ‘buttons.’ I think it’s completely and totally unnecessary not to mention inhumane. For the life of me I can’t figure out why they can’t find a better way.
Thanks for sharing this, while I do use CF makeup, I really need to expand the other products I use.
I totally agree, Jodi, and the worst thing is that there ARE other ways, and some companies are just not choosing to use them!
Oh, and PS…there’s not much chance the current government is going to do anything to help it along either. 🙁
BFP had some legislation in the works but last I heard it had stalled somewhere.
Mom tries, she buys only Laura Mercier cosmetics ever since she found out they are cruelty free. Thanks for the info! Love Dolly
It can be very challenging finding the right products, and I admire anyone who at least gives it a try. I’ll have to look for those cosmetics too; right now I’ve been using Tarte.
We try to do cruelty free too but we don’t always know. Thanks for the info!!!
It is tough to know sometimes, and you often need very good eyesight to see those bunny symbols or find the print that says “no animal testing”!
It breaks my heart to see the results of companies that use animals in testing. I follow the Beagle Freedom group and look forward to they day when there is no need for such groups. Thanks for sharing this information. It is so important.
I look forward to that day as well, Melissa. I just honestly cannot understand how anyone could work in a place that does that. 🙁
We do use cruelty free! Whoooa
Lily & Edward
Yay, so glad to hear that!
thanks for sharing these products with us.
Thank you for sharing this info! I also struggle to find CF personal care products. Nature’s Gate makes shampoo and conditioner, but when my current bottle of shampoo is used up I’ll need to try something else because it’s too drying for my hair. I like Avalon organic moisturizers, hand soaps, and toners.
You’re welcome! I’m happy to share. I had the same issue with the Nature’s Gates shampoo when I tried it. I don’t think I’ve ever tried any of the Avalon organic products, though I’m familiar with the name. I’ll have to keep an eye out for them.