CHOOSING CRUELTYFREE BEAUTY Many of us
have become aware that the
luxuries of our daily lives,
our hair care and beauty
products come with a dark
side, that they may be tested
on animals. Looking for
the right logo is important,
but there are a few things
that you should know as a
conscious consumer to help
you get what you are paying
for when it comes to cruelty
free beauty.
A recent investigation by
Choice found that major
cosmetic companies are
misleading
consumers
on their animal testing
policies, with 40 percent
making claims they were
cruelty free while only a
small minority are certified
by an independent third
party. In order to gain access
to the extremely lucrative
Chinese market, where eye
and skin irritation tests
are compulsory, certain
companies are allowing
their products to be tested
on animals, despite telling
Australian customers they
are animal and cruelty free.
When out shopping you
should know that, companies
can print ‘not tested on
animals’ on their packaging
even if some ingredients
they use have been supplied
by a third party, who does
test on animals.
According
to
Choose
Cruelty Free, in Australia,
there is no standard legal
definition for what cruelty
free is, so companies are free
to interpret this as they like.
There are some fantastic
resources that can help you
find the products you are
looking for, so get informed
and inspired to support
the companies who are
truly cruelty free, and click
through on the links listed
at the end of this article.
Some companies with a
history of no animal testing,
have been bought out and
their parent company does
not have the same ethics.
It’s a tricky dilemma. Would
you continue to purchase
a product if you knew that
it’s cruelty free stance was
compromised by being
owned by a parent company
without the same ethical formulations or finished
standards. At the end of the products.
day, where does your money
end up?
3. www.leapingbunny.org
The Coalition for Consumer
CHOICE purchased 32
Information on Cosmetics’
products claiming to be
(CCIC) Leaping Bunny
cruelty free. Out of nine
Program administers a
products
that
carried
cruelty-free standard and the
logos which suggested
internationally recognized
certification by a third party,
Leaping Bunny Logo for
only four of them were
companies
producing
genuinely certified.
cosmetics, personal care
and household products.
What to support: Brands
not tested on animals
With such a huge range of
(SOURCE:
Choice
cruelty free beauty products
Magazine, May 2013) Aesop,
now available it’s easy to buy
Akin, Alchemy , Argan Life,
products that will make you
Australian Pure, Australis,
feel beautiful both inside
Aussie Mineral make up
and out.
Aveda, Bare Essentials,
The Body Shop, Catwalk,
The Cruelty Free Shop,
Dermologica, Eco Tan Face
of Australia, Gaia Skin
Naturals, Inoxa, Jason, TriShave, Lush, Natio, Nature’s
Organics, New Directions,
Paul Mitchell, Smashbox,
Stila Cosmetics, Sukin
Organics, Trilogy Urbay
Decay
How to buy cruelty–free
products: These websites
provide a list of products
which have not been tested
on animals:
1. www.choosecrueltyfree.
org.au To attain Choose
Cruelty Free accreditation
manufacturers must sign an
official declaration. The list
also indicates which brands’
products are suitable for
vegans.
2.
www.caringconsumer.
org To get on the PETA
list companies must sign
a statement that they, and
their suppliers, do not
conduct or commission any
animal tests on ingredients,