Cruelty-Free Beauty Blogging: Not Always Black & White
NOTE: This post is outdated and the information listed here may now be incorrect. Please do your own research about each company to find out their cruelty free status.
I’ve always been the kind of person who had an extreme mindset. All or nothing. Black or white. Left or right. Light hair or dark hair. But I have started to realize that’s obviously not always the case with everything. There are grey areas (but not in my hair). There is a middle ground. Something can be both good and bad.
Recently I started thinking about my somewhat extreme position on cruelty-free beauty companies. I believed that not supporting a company who is isn’t cruelty-free (CF) OR was owned by a company that wasn’t CF was entirely correct for me. Why would I want to give any attention or money to a company who in turn gave their money to a big evil non-CF corporation? Well, there actually are some really valid reasons that I never gave much thought to, and now I am starting to see make sense.
There are a couple things that got me started thinking about this. One was that I always noticed on PETA’s site and The Leaping Bunny that they include CF companies on their “do not test” lists that are owned by non-CF companies. I read a little more about what they had to say about it and it made sense. The other event was I was contacted by a PR Rep from a company that is CF, but owned by one that I believe still isn’t. She said she was sending me samples then I mentioned I no longer supported that company and why. She emailed back saying she had checked with the parent company and they said they were CF with cosmetics. But aside from the whole parent company thing, it got me thinking, why am I just ignoring great CF companies because of who their parents are? I hope people don’t judge me by my parents actions! 
One reason to support CF companies with non-CF parent companies is to show support for a cause. By giving money and attention to the CF company, it shows that you do not need to test on animals in order for a company to produce safe quality cosmetics or for them to be successful. Money talks. A few examples of companies that are CF then bought-out by a non-CF company are: OPI, Essie and NARS.
Another issue to point out is that so many honest, good companies are being bought by larger companies now. That doesn’t necessarily mean that the smaller company all the sudden turned evil and isn’t worth the time. All it means is they have been bought by someone else. It doesn’t mean that their beliefs changed, just their circumstances.
I should know.
The company I work for was bought out a couple years ago by a huge European company that basically swallowed us whole and changed a lot of things. But it didn’t change MY values, goals and beliefs or that of the department I am in. So companies like Burts Bee’s and The Body Shop still have their same core values and are still against animal testing, despite who their parents are. Supporting them shows you believe in what they believe in, and approve of their values. And because so many companies are being bought by larger ones (in every industry) that might mean in a few years, who knows how few beauty companies would be left on their own?
A great way of looking at this was pointed out to me by another CF beauty blogger. She said she doesn’t support Phillip Morris, but if they had an anti-smoking campaign for kids, she would support that. That really put it in perspective for me because it’s the same idea. I do not support Coty, Inc., but I do believe that OPI is still cruelty-free and has the same values as they always did.
So long story short, I have changed my mind. I understand now that these CF companies still need to be supported and I still believe in them. For me, this is a decision I feel really at ease with now, but it wasn’t easy getting here. When I went cruelty-free back in August of 2010 I did it with that old black and white thinking. Nearly a year and a half later I have realized that that wasn’t the right decision for me. Or maybe I just opened my mind up a little more in my old age (hardy har har) and started to see other people’s point of view.
There is no right or wrong decision here. It’s all up to you on how, or even if, you want to be cruelty-free. The bottom line for me is this. I love animals, always have, always will. I do not believe in harming or testing on them, especially for something as trivial (when it comes down to it) as cosmetics . I believe there are other ways of testing products and ingredients. I always wanted to work helping animals in some capacity, and this is my way of showing my love and support towards them. I will still not be posting about or buying from any company that isn’t CF, and that’s not going to change.
Here is a partial list of companies that are cruelty-free, according to the research I have done. There are many, many more, but the ones mentioned below are more likely to show up on my website. Those marked with an asterisk have parent companies who are not cruelty-free, according to information I have read.
- Afterglow Cosmetics
- Almay
- Aveda (There is a note in their statement that no testing is done unless required by law. They may say this to prevent lawsuits if ingredient suppliers are not truthful, but it’s up to you to trust them or not)
- Bare Escentuals*
- Barry M Cosmetics
- Bath and Body Works
- BB Couture
- Benefit Cosmetics
- Bloom Cosmetics
- Bobbi Brown
- Bonne Bell
- Borghese
- Boscia
- Bourjois
- Bumble & Bumble
- Burt’s Bees*
- butter LONDON
- CARGO
- Carmex
- Caudalie USA, Inc.
- Chanel
- Cheeky Cosmetics
- China Glaze
- Clarins of Paris
- Clinique
- C.O.Bigelow
- Coach
- Color Club
- Conair
- Cover FX
- Crabtree & Evelyn
- Daisy Fuentes
- Dermalogica
- Dior
- Donna Karan
- DuWop Cosmetics
- Dr. Hauschka
- Eco Tools
- e.l.f. Cosmetics
- Eyeko
- Essie*
- Estee Lauder
(There is a note in their statement that no testing is done unless required by law. They may say this to prevent lawsuits if ingredient suppliers are not truthful, but it’s up to you to trust them or not)Update 2/18 – PETA has removed Estee Lauder from their cruelty-free list and I am as well after hearing this and reading a press release about them secretly testing in China. Bummer. - FACE Atelier
- Givenchy
- Gosh Cosmetics
- Hard Candy
- Hourglass Cosmetics
- Illamasqua
- Il-Makiage
- IT Cosmetics
- Jane Cosmetics
- Jesse’s Girl Cosmetics
- Jo Malone
- John Frieda
- Josie Maran Cosmetics
- Jurlique Pure Skin Care
- King of Shaves
- Kiss My Face
- Korres*
- La Mer
- L.A. Girl Cosmetics
- Laura Mercier
- Lavanila
- Lime Crime
- Liz Claiborne Cosmetics
- Liz Earle Beauty Co.
- L’Occitane
- LORAC
- LUSH Cosmetics
- M.A.C. Cosmetics
- ManGlaze
- Manic Panic
- MD Skincare
- Mehron
- Merle Norman
- Michael Kors
- Milani Cosmetics
- Misa Cosmetics
- Murad, Inc.
- Nails, Inc.
- NARS*
- Nicole by OPI*
- Nordstrom Cosmetics
- Nubar
- NYX Cosmetics
- Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics
- Ojon
- OPI*
- Origins
- Orly International
- Pacifica
- Patricia Wexler
- Physicians Formula
- Pixi
- Prescriptives
- Prestige Cosmetics
- Revlon
- RGB
- Rusk
- Salma Hayek Nuance
- Seche
- Smashbox Cosmetics
- Soap & Glory
- SpaRitual
- Sephora by OPI*
- Stila Cosmetics
- Sugarpill Cosmetics
- Tarte Cosmetics
- The Body Shop*
- Thierry Mugler Beauty
- Too Faced Cosmetics
- Tom Ford
- Tommy Hilfiger
- Urban Decay
- Victoria’s Secret
- Wet n Wild
- Yes to Carrots
- Zoya
-Kelly
Actually, the thing with Estée Lauder also relates to the fact that they market and sell in China, which actually does require animal testing for safety when it comes to cosmetic ingredients. So really, any brand that distributes in China cannot be said to be CF, unfortunately. (That includes EL, as well as pretty much all the brands under their umbrella, including MAC.)
Maggie´s last post…Estée Lauder Topaz Chameleon Illuminating Powder Gelée
Hi Maggie,
Seems as though nearly all makeup brands are distributed in China though, so that would mean there was pretty much nothing CF left!
Ya, pretty much.
Maggie´s last post…Estée Lauder Topaz Chameleon Illuminating Powder Gelée
This is actually the response I got from MAC, when I asked them directly if their distribution in China, with their laws, meant that they had started animal testing:
“We have always been against animal testing. Recently, the global regulatory climate has become more stringent and cosmetic companies are being asked to further validate the human and environmental safety of their ingredients and products. We are equally committed to consumer health and safety. Given these increased requirements for ensuring the safety of cosmetic ingredients, animal testing may be legally necessary under certain circumstances when no non-animal test alternative is available or acceptable to governmental/health authorities. Be assured that we will make every effort to avoid having ingredients tested on animals, taking all practical and available steps to see that existing or non-animal test data is used instead. However, if ultimately this is required in order for the Company to sell its products, we will, of course, comply with the law.”
So yeah. I assume that every company that distributes in China will give the same response, when pressed, as much as they want to vague it up. I’ve gotten pretty much the same couched answer from all the ones I’ve contacted, including all the ones under the EL and LVMH umbrellas, because they all distribute in China.
Maggie´s last post…Estée Lauder Topaz Chameleon Illuminating Powder Gelée
Many seem to want to jump on the companies but the fact is they need to make money and there is a HUGE market in Asia. If you are upset about the testing then blame the Chinese Government. They are the ones who require it. Send them letters and phone calls etc. There isn’t much the companies can do to control the government. I thought the response was pretty clear. They will animal test when required by law but not just because they can. I think somethings do need to be tested on certain animals before humans consume it. Now if they are testing to see what harmful chemicals they can add in our products to save them money by all means that is not acceptable.
Hi,
I just came to point out how Avon and Mary Kay have been moved from your list because, I quote your article from September: “Also just last week I was told that Avon and Mary Kay are no longer cruelty-free since they just started selling in China and the law there requires animal testing. They have both been moved onto the PETA “do test” list now.” and I wanted to ask how is it possible that none of the companies on your list below sell in China?!? Or is that ok?
And I see that the discussion has already been raised. People are completely misguided.
All who are otherwise CF but sell in China should be on that list, or none of them.
Or, it was all about bringing back OPI?
I hope not, because I love your blog.
Hi Dani,
I am basing my list on information from PETA and The Leaping Bunny, who have them listed as do test now. I think it’s pretty obvious from what I wrote that I didn’t conjur all this up just so I could review OPI again. If that was the case I never would have stopped or done this a year ago. Quite honestly I don’t feel I have missed out on very many interesting colors from OPI since I stopped reviewing them anyway. There are a million other nail polish brands out there.
Blerk. Posted enter before adding this part…
It’s really, really tough to be a cruelty-free consumer these days. I personally don’t believe that any cosmetics company is as cruelty-free as they claim, because I think there are very few chemical companies out there (including those that manufacture cosmetic chemicals) that restrain themselves to only producing chemicals and ingredients that were already tested years and and years ago. They would have no growth if they didn’t create new compounds, you know? So I really doubt that, at the end of the line, any commercial cosmetics company is only sourcing CF ingredients, despite what they say.
I think the only thing anyone can do is what you’ve done – draw their own line in the sand based on what they’ve learned and know, and take it from there. I have a lot of support for you and how complex this ethical issue is.
Maggie´s last post…Estée Lauder Topaz Chameleon Illuminating Powder Gelée
Hi Maggie,
So true. We can only take their word for it and they probably don’t even know half the time exactly what their suppliers are doing 100%. It’s one of those impossible situations to be fully informed about, so drawing a line in the sand as you said is about all we can do.
I wonder what China would do if ALL of the CF companies worldwide banded together and said “No Animal Testing- if you don’t like it, we won’t sell to you.”
Surely China would rethink it’s position if it couldn’t get anything from ANY of those companies- don’t you think? (hope?)
That would be so amazing, but a miracle also…
So, will you be reviewing these companies again?
Hi sarah,
If the occasion rises, yes. I have changed my position so I do want to support the still non-CF companies out there that I like.
Thanks for the update, Kelly. This is really interesting to me because of how it coincides with a similar decision of my own! You inspired me to go cruelty-free when I began reading your blog (sometime in Spring 2011), but I recently purchased some skincare that was recommended to me by my esthetician. I did some research and the company itself is cruelty-free, but I believe it is owned by Estee-Lauder, which is not. However, based on the company’s values, I decided to move ahead because they themselves are not testing and are very committed to natural ingredients, etc. I am not sure how I will proceed in the future with other tiems, but as of right now I think I’ll stick with the brands I know are CF and make the decisions on the ones that are CF but owned by non-CF parents per my comfort level. In any case, thanks again for the update…it was interesting to see the new perspectives.
Hi Lesley,
It’s such a hard decision to make mainly because the information out there is all over the place. You can find 10 arguments that say a company IS CF and 10 that say they aren’t. Frustrating, but I guess in the end we have to go with our gut and what we believe about a brand. I’ve said it before, no one really knows except those who actually work there in that animal-testing capacity or deal with the suppliers.
“You can find 10 arguments that say a company IS CF and 10 that say they aren’t. Frustrating, but I guess in the end we have to go with our gut and what we believe about a brand.”
This was completely my experience with this product line!
Thanks again for sharing your point of view on this.
Great post I agree that as much as I like to look at it as black and white that grey area is always there. I really like how you explained the whole parent company thing too!
Ashley´s last post…Lada Gaga and Terry Richardson
Hi Ashley,
Thanks!
RBL is cruelty free as well! She lists it on the site =)
Hi Anna,
Yes, thanks!
I recently saw that OPI was nominated for a CF award. I was a little confused, knowing that you didn´t swatch their products.
But I totally understand your point of view, sometimes when our feelings are passionate, we start with a black/white position, and then we open a little to see the gray areas. it doesn´t mean that you are less committed!!
Hi Mara,
Yes they are CF and always have been but when they were bought by Coty I decided not to support then. Have changed that now
I feel like that too. How to be supportive to a company that is cruelty-free if the parent company isn’t? That’s a hard thing, for both consumer and company that still tries to grab it self to cruelty non-free world. For me what’s sitll bugging, is the China law on animal testing. That’s evil.
Luciana Canarin´s last post…Feliz Natal!
The problem with seperating the company with the “mother company” is that your money goes to the same pocket that conduct animel testing. In this way they enjoy both; selling to china and to costumers who cares about animels.
Hi Michelle,
That is one position on it, yes. There are others though, as I mentioned in the post.
Great post! I have actually recently come to the same decision; specifically when it came to the Body Shop and Burt’s Bees. I really like the way you phrased it when it came to parent companies; it’s so true. It really isn’t a black and white issue and all we can really do is follow our hearts and what feels best to us. Thanks for caring so much about, and keeping us posted about, this issue! <3
Hi Rebecca,
You are welcome!
Hi Kelly! I never even gave CF or not CF any thought until I read your opinion on here. It’s so nice to learn something new every day. It’s refreshing to see how we can learn and listen to other opinions, not just be blinded by labels or by trendy beliefs. I admire your effort and dedication to research and follow your beliefs and gut feelings if that makes sense. My eyes have opened just a bit more today. Thank you!
Ioana´s last post…Fresh and Clean New Year with Soaps by Melissa
Ioana-
You rock!
Hi Ioana,
I never really had either until a couple years ago. I just wasn’t on my radar and I think a lot of people think it’s been banned already in this day an age. Glad I could help!
Interessant article, thanks
Lisa´s last post…Going to London for my birthday!
It’s really cool that you were vocal about changing your mind. This is all really good information, and definitely food for thought in many ways. I really appreciate the level of discourse you harbor on your site regarding this issue. I wish all people would keep researching/learning about their beliefs like you have (rather than stagnating or just believing what they are told), and adjust accordingly! It’s very awesome that you shared your journey with us. It’s super inspiring!
Hopefully, if the parent companies see that their cruelty free branches are doing really well, they’ll be persuaded to change over to CF completely. (because sadly, most large corporations only seem to respond to money…)
Thank you, Kelly!
Hi ReaderRita,
I strongly believe in transparency on my blog. If I have a strong belief related to cosmetics, I’ll share it. If I am ever sponsored by someone, I’ll share it. If I ever get paid for a post, I’ll share it. I think the blogs that aren’t totally transparent are the ones hurting those who are. Love it or leave it!
I love it!
How I wish everything was cruelty free… Testing on animals is just plain madness to me.
Sarah´s last post…OPI – Planks A Lot
Hi Sarah,
I know, things would be so much easier if we could buy whatever we wanted and KNOW it was not tested on animals and totally safe and effective. Sadly the almighty dollar always rules.
I think it is an age thing
Not that you have changed your values or your passions, but I do believe age and experience allows us to look at other views and feel less threatened–or at least open to other ideas. BTDT so SO many times. Being 41 has made me more mellow and more open to opinions.
This just proves what an awesome writer/blogger/person you are. It’s not that you were wrong—but you clearly have given this whole issue a lot of thought and that’s what makes you awesome.
ManicuredSlayer´s last post…Too Pretty To Use!
Ah, I wish that was true for my mom. If anything, as she has aged, she is more stubborn than ever. She is always right, never wrong and will never admit to any other opinion but her own.
While I definitely disagree with animal testing on animals, it is crucial in some areas such as cancer and other disease research. It is very sad, but a necessary evil.
Great and well thought out post. I appreciate all your reasoning and agree with you.
MarciaF´s last post…Reviva Labs Pomegranate/Lactic Acid Exfoliant review, good enough to eat?
Hi Kelly,
I’m glad you wrote this post. I know what you mean about a ‘black and white’ point of view. I’ve recently been going through a similar thought process. I initially wrote off everyone whose parent company (which is most) are animal testers. However, I think you are right that supporting the companies that are cruelty free despite their parents may be helping move the cosmetics industry in the right direction. I feel more at peace with using some of my favorite brands like Burt’s bees or OPI.
Although I’ve adopted a more ‘grey’ criterion, I still struggle with some topics. I agree that we shouldn’t judge brands based on their parents— however the brand’s revenue goes to the parent company, and they could theoretically use that to expand their animal research to find the latest and greatest skincare ingredients (or whatever) to be on top of the market. Secondly, I don’t believe that cruelty free companies can really exist in a complete cruelty free bubble apart from their parent companies. One example I struggle with is NARS. I’m constantly told by sales associates that NARS skin products use ‘Shiseido technology’ (Shiseido being the parent company) in their skincare products. This raises a huge red flag for me because this implies that NARS is using ingredients that are products of Shiseido’s current animal testing. Sure, NARS doesn’t test themselves, but it seems they may be direct beneficiaries of animal testing. To deal with this, I drew my line at buying NARS cosmetics, but not skincare.
Thanks for this post— my views on animal cruelty and cosmetics are always evolving too. I think it’s great that you are still keeping the discussion going!
Dear VV,
This is an incredibly thoughtful post. I appreciate your willingness to change your public opinion on this and your explanation of your thought process. I agree that there are more shades of gray than our immediate responses may recognize and as someone who is often taunted as “evil” based on my occupation, I really loved this post. Thanks for sharing!
This is an issue I have been struggling with for a year or so. And this came very timely. I had been thinking about what I have learned from you about CF products and wanted to make a harder attempt at only purchasing cosmetics from CF companies.
If I purchase a product and the person(s) who continue to make the decisions to do animal testing, profit by my purchase…I don’t want to be a part of that.
I feel very strongly about that. However, now with this post and with the comments Maggie has shared, I don’t know if I can even use/pick any product that isn’t totally CF. And that thought makes me very sad for the animals.
Kimberly´s last post…China Glaze’s Ginger; A Penny For Your Thoughts
Hi Kelly,
. From Crest to Tide to Dawn ….even my vitamin 
, and my prescriptive medicine hic hic hic. It is really hard to avoid NOT cruelty free products. They are every where around us.
After reading your post about Animal cruelty, I checked all over my house to see what products I have been using are CF. Turned out, most of them are NOT CF
Hi Tu,
Yep! I am focusing on beauty products mainly though because that’s what I blog about and buy a lot of.
I have had tons of mixed emotions about one brand in particular on this list – BE – once they were bought out and this just adds to it. Most of my collection is pre-buyout, but I am totally in agreement to everything you have posted. Off to feed my feral cats a little something extra tonight
Thanks for the posting. I boycott companies that do animal testing few years back too. Everytime if I want to try a new brand I would use PETA’s as a reference. But I get all confuse when I contact the company directly and the ensure we that they r CF but PETA list show otherwise. Is there a possibility that they did not declare their practice to PETA? Cosmetics giant like loreal was one of them, they have a CF policy in place according to their website.
I guess the only way out is to not buy from them entirely…:(
PETA only lists companys that have signed an agreement with PETA to never animal test in the present or future. If the company does not sign that, they are not listed by PETA as cruelty free.
I had the same question/issue as you. I figured that companies that claim to be CF but are not listed by PETA have simply chosen not to sign the agreement.
I, personally, go by what the company says because, even though I have been a vegetarian for 4 years, I disagree with the extremism that PETA frequently displays.
Thanks for the post. I have to agree that navigating the world or cruelty free cosmetics is more than difficult and often confusing. I tried so hard to go completely cruelty free but got so discouraged because of all the parent companies and who owned whom and all of that. So, I decided to support animal rights by becoming vegetarian because that is, black and white, for me. But, I continue to prefer to buy from CF companies but won’t say i’m 100% because i don’t think it is just incredibly hard especially on a limited budget. If i could afford to buy all too faced or urban decay I would, but I can’t. So, yeah – it’s difficult. It would just be much easier if animal testing would be banned here in the US.
courtney´s last post…Zoya Kristen and Jesse’s Girl Stiletto Swatches
Reading the comments about China, I wonder how that will be compatible with EU banning animal testing in cosmetics now… they will have to chose between selling to China or Europe?
I really struggle with this too. It’s a fine line. I do feel like I want to email the parent companies and say “I am supporting this brand b/c they don’t test. I would support these other brands if they didn’t test as well but until then, I just can’t.” The big companies need to know this is important to many consumers. And that it is unnecessary for cosmetic items.
I have spent many weeks trying to figure out the whole animal testing cloudiness, and it is quite hard to make things clear. Like a rep from Lancaster said to me, even when a brand uses an ingredient like glycenine which has once been tested, the product should be labeled animal tested. Even tough the company itselfd did not do that. The products that are on the leaping bunny website are brands which should be applauded for using the most advanced technologies.
Crystal´s last post…Chanel and YSL spring 2012 quick tape swatches
I feel the same way. I thought about the ethics of giving my money to a non-CF company, through buying from a CF company they owned. I decided that any company could be bought out at any time. There’s no sense in boycotting a perfectly good brand just because the parent company tests on animals.
Chris´s last post…NOTD: Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure in Haute Chocolate
The other thing to consider as well, is that while there are no laws on North America requiring animal testing for cosmetics, there are also, currently, no viable alternatives to animal testing for several safety tests. These safety tests are absolutely necessary if you want to place a new chemical ingredient on the market for human use – that includes but is not limited to ingredients used in cosmetic formulations. There is no cosmetic chemical company that I know of that would NOT use those tests, as they would be risking tremendous liability otherwise.
That means that any cosmetic company claiming to be CF would have to 1) not test themselves, 2) not have their manufacturers test, and 3) not have the chemical companies that provide the raw ingredients to the manufacturers test. Point 1 and 2 are easy enough for most companies, but 3 is where it all breaks down. Any company that produces a new chemical for the market does, with current regulations concerning safety and the current state of viable alternative testing, use animals at some point in the research and development of that chemical.
It’s a tremendously grey area, and one that no cosmetic company wants to delve deeply into.
Maggie´s last post…Origins VitaZing SPF 15 Energy Boosting Moisturizer
Thank u for doing all that research! It was your post in ’10 that made me think twice about buying Essie and OPI and I felt super guilty when I would have a moment of weakness and buy these brands. Now with your new info, I feel really good about how things were explained and am looking forward to buying these cruelty free brand agains guilt free.
Angelica B.´s last post…Butter London Black Knight & Tart With A Heart Holiday Dressing Table
PETA is one of the worst places to get accurate information from anyhow – they are disgustingly biased and not an organization I would support in any way even as an animal lover and animal rights activist.
The best thing to do is to do the research yourself. It’s tedious but it’s worth it, because that list PETA has is no good. There are companies on there who shouldn’t be and I never would have known that if I hadn’t talked to them myself and gotten information!
Hi Brianne,
Some people feel that way and that’s fine but I don’t. I have found that their information has matched the company info many, many times. But who knows really unless you somehow have insider information from people who work there, it’s just an opinion. PETA could be lying but also companies lie constantly as well to cover their butts!
I really appreciate your thoughtful, nuanced thoughts a very complicated subject.
One thought: I definitely agree that a company being bought out doesn’t change the character or values of the employees or the brand, but it does change who is making a profit. That being said, I still buy from companies whose parent I dislike.
One thing I’ve always wondered about the CF thing, I see bloggers still reviewing products made in China. So while they may not test the cosmetics on animals, they may be using people or children being paid what we would consider slave wages.
So I stick to my buy American made (although I make exceptions for European and Australian companies) pledge– I will not buy or use cosmetics made in China.
Tikibwana´s last post…Happy New Year
Hi Kelly,
I now understand your point of view but even if you buy from a CF brand that is owned by a non-CF parent company you are still funding for the parents company’s animal testing. Also I hate to say but many of the comanys you review such as the ester lauder brands and channel and such do perform third party testing where they benefit financially from pre-tested chemical ingredients by the suppliers.
Hi Hannah,
As I said, there is no right or wrong and no way of really knowing who does what. There are as many arguements about certain companies testing as there are for them not testing. No one knows unless you work there and are privy to the info. It’s all speculation and opinion and I drew my line where I feel comfortable.
Thank you for this very interesting article
. I don’t see Sephora and Yves Saint Laurent in your list. Does it means their are not CF companies?
*Does it mean they are not CF companies?
Hi Amelie,
I didn’t include every company there are tons more. I only showed the ones I show a lot on my blog or that I buy.
Kelly,
I really commend you are your cruelty free thinking. I too am a supporter of cruelty free companies and have had the same views that you have shared. Your blog post has helped me to realize that we should support the companies that do not test on animals even if they are owned by bigger companies that dont have similiar views. Also thank you for including a list of the companies that do not test on animals but also noted the ones that are owned by bigger corporations. I appreciate your blog posts and that fact that you are always honest with your readers!
Thanks!
Kimmy
Wait… so will you be reviewing things by O.P.I. and other companies with bad “parents” or not? I’m a bit confused :p
Hi Kamille,
I may be in the future since I have changed my position (sorry, I thought I was pretty clear about it in the article).
Hi Kelly,
I just wanted to thank you for this post and all of your posts clarifying CF beauty products! They’ve been enormously helpful for me since I’ve started to really think where my money is going, and what that says. For example, getting an Egg McMuffin at McDonald’s for a lot of people wouldn’t need a second thought – but then you see what you are supporting on the other side of the transaction (squalid conditions for those hens that supply the eggs) by giving McDonald’s your money.
I’m glad to see that basically every brand I use is listed as cruelty-free (which, when I started really getting into cosmetics, I admit I didn’t specifically look out for), so that’s a great thing.
Thank you again!
Florence´s last post…Winter is Coming… GAME OF THRONES Concept Nails
I would like very much that the label “Cruelty Free” includes cruelty against human beings. After all, it is easy for us to choose buy beauty CF products – since most of them do not really need to be tested on animals. After all, most part of the ingredients have been used on cosmetics for a long, long time and are considered safe nowadays.
But I wonder: what about Made in China beauty products? What about human rights? What about Chinese workers, whose rights have been violated to the point that they can be considered slaves?
I know some can argue that we buy plenty of stuff that is Made in China. My laptop, my mobile, several things. In fact, too many things. But the same happens to medicines that we have to take and are not CF. The alternative is being sick, so we don’t have alternative.
So, if we can not choose CF medicine, we can choose CF beauty products. And, YES, we can choose not to buy Made in China beauty products, because they ARE NOT cruelty free. They are cheap, of course (some of them are not), because human and labour rights have been violated, because workers have been underpaid. Because there are human beings working in inhuman conditions. Because environment has been disrespected There is no such thing as “too cheap”: there are human beings paying, with their lives, for the “too cheap” beauty products we are buying. And we are all paying the environmental price – but somehow, we don’t see it clearly. We will, in the nearest future.
Sorry, I did not want to cause a buzz, I really don’t get it, really can’t understand why all of us, beauty customers, can stand against animal rights (and I stand against it myself) and do not remind of human rights. And why can’t we all stand for those rights as well.
And I apologize for my English mistakes, as it is not my primary language.
Renata
Hi Renata,
Totally understand your point, however that’s a completely different cause and my main cause is for cruelty to animals. I only have so much bandwidth to spend on certain causes and I am a huge animal lover, so that’s where my attention goes.
Thanks for that information…….it was very helpful and I’m glad to support a blog/blogger like you.
Now if I can just get some of my fashion blogging friends to stop posting about fur *cringe* even if it’s “vintage” *eyeroll*
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Really good post, K. I agree with you it’s not black and white at all. I’ve always loved MAC and their line used to be ‘Tested on models, not on animals.’
I really hope the day comes soon that all makeup companies are cruelty free.
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