Guilt-free beauty: How you can be certain that products have not been tested on animals



By LAURA JACKSON

How many beauty products on your bathroom shelf have been produced without cruelty to animals? The truth is, most of us couldn’t be certain and, sometimes, even checking the packaging won’t provide you with the full story.



Cruelty-free beauty is an issue that’s been thrown into the spotlight, as some of the industry’s biggest names have been forced to clarify their claims on animal testing.



Earlier this month, Avon’s website withdrew claims its cosmetics are not tested on animals after a complaint to the Advertising Standards Authority.



At one with nature: Look for the symbol of a leaping bunny on the bottle for guilt-free beauty

Despite donating £760,000 to a charity that researches safe alternatives, L’Oreal has also been criticised for not entirely eradicating the practice.

‘Companies can claim they aren’t testing the finished product on animals, but they may be buying ingredients that have gone through a process of animal testing,’ says Michelle Thew, chief executive of the British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection (BUAV).

So where can you find high-performance beauty products that haven’t been tested on animals?



While firms such as The Body Shop have long been known for their ethical stance, there are now 109 cosmetics brands on sale in Britain that guarantee their products are completely free from animal testing — look for the symbol of a leaping bunny on the bottle.



Here are some of our favourites:



M&S



In 2008, Marks & Spencer was the first high-profile brand to sign up to the BUAV’s scheme guaranteeing products produced without cruelty.



The M&S Advanced Formula Peptides Firm & Lift Illuminating Night Cream (£12) is so hydrating and soothing it can even be used to treat psoriasis.

Reassurance for animal lovers: Find out which beauty products haven't been tested on animals by visiting gocrueltyfree.org

NEAL'S YARD



Neal’s Yard Remedies — used by Kate Moss and Sadie Frost — is best known for organic skincare, but the firm has also been producing humane products since 2003.



The latest addition to its skincare line is a Rejuvenating Frankincense Facial Oil, (£25.50, 0845 262 3145) which can be worn under make-up or used as an overnight treatment.



DERMALOGICA



None of Dermalogica’s products are tested on animals. Try its Overnight Repair Serum (£56) if you are worried about fine lines and a lack of radiance.



It contains a new ingredient, palmitoyl tripeptide-38, which is believed to mimic the body’s mechanism for producing collagen, speeding up the process to fill out skin that has lost its firmness.



LIZ EARLE



TESTING TIMES More than 3.6 million experiments were carried out on animals in the UK in 2009

Make-up brands offering cruelty-free colour are few and far between, but Liz Earle launches her first make-up collection in May. The natural finish loose powder (£19.50 01983 813 913) has been designed to hide fine lines.



MELVITA



One of France’s largest organic brands, Melvita scours the globe for ethical ingredients. Its Naturalift Youthful Skin Cream (£30, melvita.co.uk) is packed with anti-ageing components, including peptides extracted from hibiscus seeds that support collagen production.



SAAF



A hot cloth cleanser will ensure your face feels squeaky clean while exfoliating the dead skin cells that leave your complexion looking dull. UK-based Saaf Skincare’s Pure Face Cleanser, (£25.95, saafskincare.com) has been developed with safflower oil, which is also good for rosacea sufferers.



AUBREY ORGANICS



Aubrey Organics’ Lumessence Rejuvenating Eye Cream with Lipsomes (£23.48, aubreyorganicsuk.co.uk) harnesses oat protein, which has been shown to reduce crow’s feet by up to 34 per cent.

