It’s been said that we are only truly human when we treat other living, non-human beings with the same respect that we ourselves enjoy. This is why making the shift to cruelty-free cosmetics when it comes to your makeup and skincare is a really big step for humanity.
There’s absolutely no justifiable reason why any animal should suffer the testing process of any cosmetic product, just so that it can be safely used by people later on.
Fortunately, animal rights awareness has been on the rise in recent years, and many cosmetic brands have managed to distinguish themselves for manufacturing good quality products and for being completely cruelty-free. What’s more, most of these cosmetic brands use organic ingredients, which means that they’re even better for the skin than just any old substance.
The harsh reality of animal testing
Most people aren’t actually aware of the savage treatment that animals have to go through as test subjects in the name of human beauty and skincare. Basically, these rats, mice, monkeys, rabbits, and guinea pigs are kept in cages and bred for the sole purpose of testing cosmetics.
Test animals are often shaved of their fur and have various chemicals rubbed on their bare skin in order for cosmetics brands to test possible irritations that the products might cause on human skin. Test animals are force-fed many different cosmetic ingredients to confirm whether oral intake or inhalation of said substances will hurt humans.
If a substance is harmful to humans, imagine what it can do to small, helpless animals. One doesn’t have to be a vegetarian in order to want to stop the unnecessary pain and suffering of animals.
Moreover, these animals are often killed and cut open so that further research on the influence of certain ingredients can be made. With such dangerous chemicals being used to make these products, why would anyone want to use them in the first place?
Cruelty-free cosmetics: makeup that makes everyone happy
We all love putting on makeup—it brings out the best in our facial features, makes us feel beautiful, and the act of applying makeup itself is enough to make us happy. But now that you know what horrors this specific kind of happiness can hide, the choice is yours to stop supporting makeup brands that regularly abuse animals in order to get their products market-ready.
Make sure to look for cosmetics with the Leaping Bunny icon, or the ‘PETA-approved’ logo; these products are 100 percent cruelty-free. Some brands don’t see the need to get their products certified even though they are cruelty-free, so you can look into this matter and do a little online search of your own. Furthermore, there is no shortage of lists of cruelty-free brands available online.
Remember, the way makeup is tested in no way influences its quality or performance. There’s no study that can prove that cruelty-free cosmetics brands are lower in quality than brands that engage in animal testing. In fact, with premium labels like Anastasia Beverly Hills and Jane Iredale included in the growing list of known cruelty-free makeup brands, you might say it’s quite the opposite.
PICTURED: Cruelty-free makeup from Jane Iredale. Image Credit: Sarah Jeanne
Beyond cruelty-free makeup: brushes and makeup tools
All true makeup lovers will have a bunch of makeup brushes as well. Just like some animals are kept alive only for product testing, other animals are treated the same way solely for their hair. This hair is shaved off of these animals and used for makeup brushes and other beauty tools.
PICTURED: Cruelty-free brushes from The Makeup Revolution. Image Credit: Daisily
Thankfully, most brands have switched to synthetic bristles. These brushes are not only cruelty-free, which is still the most important aspect of it all, but they’re also much cheaper, they shed less bristles, they last longer, they clean almost effortlessly, and they apply makeup a lot better than their animal hair counterparts.
No animal should have to suffer for human skincare
Makeup is not the only industry that test products on animals. Animals have been used as test subjects for all kinds of skincare, haircare, bath, and body care products, too.
It’s beyond any logic to put something that is potentially dangerous and full of chemicals on your skin, especially when you’re aware of what test animals had to go through before you were able to buy yourself that shiny fancy tube of body lotion.
PICTURED: Cruelty-free skincare from Cosmedix. Image Credit: Take Aim
Thankfully, many certified cruelty-free beauty and skincare brands have numerous satisfied users that swear by their products. Burt’s Bees facial creams are an established international phenomenon, while Cosmedix, Murad, and Yes To are only some of the top quality cruelty-free brands that offer a wide range of products for many different needs and skin types.
In today’s market, you can easily find your favourite, ‘holy grail’ skincare product among cruelty-free beauty brands. These conscious brands pay extra attention to what ingredients they use in their products, but they don’t hurt any animals in the process.
The more that people are educated on the brutality of animal testing, the more that they will choose to say no to this practice, and the more chances we all have at making the world a kinder place. It only takes one person to start a revolution, so why not let that person be you? When you choose cruelty-free cosmetics, you become a source and example of absolute compassion to others.
The post Ethical Beauty: Why You Should Choose Cruelty-Free Cosmetics appeared first on Eco Warrior Princess.