January 11, 2019
Hi guys!! Happy Friday! Or happy whatever day of the week it is when you read this (they should all be happy anyway)! I want to talk to you about something that is near and dear to my heart: animal testing. This was something that for most of my life I didn’t think much about. Of course, I had heard of it but didn’t really want to think about it because what could I do about it? Right? It wasn’t until a few years ago that a series of events changed my blind eye standpoint on the subject.
The first, occurred when my esthetician asked me what skin care products I used. When I told her that I used Clinique, her response was “oh, did you know that they test on animals?”. I hadn’t known that and right away, knowing that I was supporting a company with those kinds of standards started to eat at me. The second event and most traumatic was in a college anthropology class. We were presenting group projects about various topics and one group’s topic was animal testing. Honestly, it wasn’t anything they talked about or said in their presentation that moved me. It was the video they showed with footage from some of the labs that these poor souls are kept it. I was sick to my stomach after watching that and to this day the thought of that one video makes me emotional!
Scarred, I went about my life with the weight of guilt on my shoulders. “I know I contribute to this problem, but what do I do? Not ever buy anything ever again?”. Those were my constant thought for a while. All I can say is thank goodness for YouTube, because it wasn’t until I watched a video by Cosmo by Hayley that I found my solution. Cosmo by Hayley is a makeup artist who only uses cruelty free products. Call me naive, but I had no idea that so many brands were jumping on the cruelty free bus until I saw this video from her.
I cancelled my ipsy subscription and decided to start being more mindful about what I purchase. Friends, I want to stress that this was just my personal decision and I don’t judge others if they choose not to worry about whether or not a product is cruelty- free. But, if this is something that bothers you like it did me, please know that you can help! Every purchase you make, whether it is groceries or makeup is a vote. This vote tells companies what we consumers like and dislike. Along with thousands of others, I have personally chosen not to vote for companies that test on animals.
At this point you might be saying ok great, but how do I find out if a products or company is cruelty free? Don’t worry, I got you! First, start looking for cruelty free symbols on the actual products you are about to buy like this:
Some brands, however, may not have registered yet with Leaping Bunny or PETA. Does that mean that they aren’t cruelty free? Not necessarily! A great resource to check for brands that are and aren’t cruelty free is Cruelty Free Kitty: https://www.crueltyfreekitty.com/. This is my first stop if I am unsure about a brand or product!
Lastly, if you still aren’t sure, contact the someone. I rarely have to do this because if the first two steps fail, most brands have a FAQ page that will disclose if they are cruelty free or not. But, if not, send a message from the brands website using the contact information. I have done this a couple of times and, so far, have always gotten a prompt response.
Really quick, another thing that I want to disclose: I am not a vegan or against the consumption of meat or milk, etc. It’s another area that I try to be mindful about. I don’t approve of how some of those animals are treated during their lives at all! This is why I make it a point to purchase from reputable farmers who treat their animals with respect.
And friends, respect for all lives is what I’m preaching here! Not that animal lives are more important that human lives but, at the end of the day, a life is a life no matter who it belongs to.
