With so many alternatives available nowadays, it’s surprising that animal testing is still present. It involves the use of innocent animals such as rats, rabbits, mice, and guinea pigs to test new ingredients and products. While animal testing is not required by the law in some countries, it is in China, so many big corporations are paying to test on animals, and profiting off of their suffering. With people becoming more aware of the harm done by numerous beauty and cosmetic industries, more of us are swapping our skincare and makeup products for the ones that don’t involve animal testing. If you’re eager to take this important step, help save animals, and make a difference, there are a couple of ways to do it. Read on to learn what they are.
Inspect the product for cruelty-free logos
If you’re unsure whether your favorite brand allows animal testing, it’s best to check the label of their products. If the brand is truly cruelty-free, they’ll contain one of the three official cruelty-free certification logos – the Leaping Bunny logo (international), Choose Cruelty-free, CCF logo (from Australia) and PETA’s Caring Consumer logo (from the USA). They are the only three logos you can trust when looking to purchase a product that isn’t tested on laboratory animals. However, some companies will put logos similar to these to indicate that their product is cruelty-free. Watch out for unofficial bunny logos since they can be misleading, in which case it’s best to contact the company and get first-hand information.
Check the database even when you don’t see cruelty-free logos
You may be shocked to hear that there are companies that are certified by PETA or the Leaping Bunny, that still don’t display the cruelty-free logo on their products. You might be asking yourself: Why would the trustworthy, ethical brands skip labeling their products as cruelty-free when there are so many unethical brands that use the logo unlawfully? Well, the truth is that putting a cruelty-free symbol on the packaging is costly, and in order for them to be labeled as an ethical brand, they need to pay a certain fee. Therefore, you shouldn’t rely solely on the logo, but instead, you should verify the authenticity of it by browsing certain websites to obtain information from a reliable source.
Watch out for misleading labels and company’s statements
When purchasing beauty products, be wary of the statements made by brands about animal testing. Even if the company highlights they are cruelty-free, you should still double-check the product before you make a purchase. As we mentioned before, some companies unlawfully use one of the three official certification logos to make themselves appear animal-friendly, while others add unofficial logos that only seem legitimate, when they’re not. If you scroll through their FAQ section and you notice statements such as Ingredients not tested on animals, the famous Yes, we are cruelty-free, or any other statement that is followed by the word except – definitely reconsider your purchase. Sometimes the product itself was not tested on animals, but many of the ingredients going into it have been. This is another way companies get away with saying they are cruelty-free.
Check the list of ingredients on the label
You can also go through the ingredients list and check what the product consists of to make sure that you’re buying a product that doesn’t include animal-derived ingredients. If you’re looking to buy cruelty-free makeup, chances are you’re against using products with animal-derived ingredients in them. Any beauty products that list ambergris, lactic acid, or lanolin as their components are major no-nos and shouldn’t be in your bag if you truly care about our animal friends. Instead of buying those, opt for natural skincare products that will nourish your skin without doing any harm to other living beings and help you successfully transition to cruelty-free shopping.
Download a cruelty-free app on your smartphone
One of the best ways to ensure you’re getting a product from a brand that doesn’t support animal testing is to download a cruelty-free mobile app. We live in an era where information is accessible with a click or two, so why not use that to your advantage when trying to buy more consciously? There are a number of free apps you can easily download on your smartphone and use them to find out whether the brand of the product you want to buy supports animal testing. By simply scanning the barcode on the packaging, you can ensure you’re getting a product that is vegan and cruelty-free – how awesome is that?
There you have it – five tips on how to avoid buying and using products by animal testing brands. Use the tips above next time you go shopping to make sure that the brand you’re purchasing is cruelty-free as well as vegan.
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