To continue with the pet theme from Wednesday , today I wanted to share some of my favorite Cruelty Free Products!
We only recently became a cruelty free product home… After we adopted Hank in October of 2013 I started to become obsessed with all things beagle. Around the Fall of 2014 I had really started learning more about animal testing through The Beagle Freedom Project and I was shocked by the information. I quickly decided our home was going to be cruelty free and began phasing out any products that weren’t cruelty free and switching to products that were.
You can find more info for yourself from The Beagle Freedom Project on Animal Testing, but basically tens of millions of animals are tested on every year with beagles being a large majority. This testing has proven to be ineffective and inconclusive, yet U.S. companies continue on. When laboratories are done with the animals they kill them, however Beagle Freedom Project works to free the animals and give them a chance at a better life after testing. Read up on the topic a little bit, I am sure the statistics will horrify you as much as they did me!
I strictly only purchase products that I know are cruelty free. A really easy way to check when I am out shopping is with the Cruelty Cutter app. Also I look for symbols like those below, but do know that just because a symbol isn’t used on the packaging doesn’t mean it isn’t cruelty free so you may have to research a little more. On the flip-side just because a company says it doesn’t test a specific product on animals doesn’t mean they don’t test on animals in general.
My favorite cruelty free household products are by Method. We use the dish-soap, hand-soap, dishwasher pods, all-purpose cleaner, and laundry detergent.
The make-up I use is e.l.f. which is also cruelty free. These are my daily products: face moisturizer, foundation, mascara, and blush.
Finally, the hair products I use vary between brands. I use Soapbox shampoo and conditioner and Burt’s Bees body wash. I’ve also tried Burt’s Bees shampoo and loved it other than I felt like my hair was greasy the next day and I don’t like washing my hair everyday.
I was using this leave in conditioner but for the price I didn’t really feel like I was noticing a difference.
So I switched to this and whoa has my hair been growing crazy long! I also love my dry shampoo of the same brand.
Common products to purchase cruelty free are: air fresheners, candles, soaps, make-up, perfume, hair products (shampoo, hair spray, etc), skin-care (lotion, creams, etc), household cleaning products. Even post-it notes, Kleenex, and Iams pet food are tested on animals! We really like Tom’s of Main products too!
The switch hasn’t been difficult at all! Cruelty-free brands are likely right in your local grocery store, you just have to look and be aware. Once you find the brands you like it’s really easy and it isn’t even more expensive! Plus a lot of the cruelty-free products end up being organic or all-natural which is better for us anyway too right!? More importantly you aren’t supporting companies that test on animals so its better for them too! And even though these guys weren’t laboratory beagles I hate the thought of even imagining if they were! 🙁
I know going cruelty-free isn’t for everyone but I do hope that this helped shed a little light. Think about the products you’re using and maybe even try some new cruelty-free products too! Are there any cruelty-free items you use and recommend? Did you see a few items on my list and realize you’re already making cruelty-free purchases?
*This post does contain affiliate links which means if you follow a link and make a purchase I may receive a small commission. Thank you for supporting my blog and my family*
Oh my gosh I had no idea that beagles were being tested on. My parents have had one for 12 years and it makes me sick to think of poor Gwen being tested on!! Thanks for spreading awareness.
I didn’t know until we had a beagle ourselves and now I try to educate others without being too pushy, but it truly is terrible! Thanks for stopping by Caitlin!