I have to admit I titled this blog using the snarky side of my brain as I really wanted to do scream out in big bold letters “SAVE LIVES” x 3, drop the mic, and walk away.

Ultimately I can’t express how important this topic is to me so I could never do it such a disservice as simply screaming out “Save Lives” and walk away (though that is the No.1 reason to go cruelty-free FYI). It’s important for everyone to understand what it means to live a cruelty-free life and I hope that I can lay that out in a concise and informative manner.

1. Help put an end to Animal Testing

Millions of animals are currently confined to cages and are being subjected to cruel and inhumane tests and experiments. The products used in such experiments range from cosmetics to household items as well as cigarette smoke (because apparently we don’t already know that smoking causes us harm). The United States law DOES NOT require cosmetics to be tested on animals, in addition, the testing of household products is so cruel (AND UNNECESSARY) that the European Union, Norway, India, and Israel have outlawed Animal testing all together.

So why do companies still test on animals?

“Companies test on animals to provide data that they can use to defend themselves when they are sued by injured consumers—even though some courts have ruled that the FDA has failed to show that the results of animal tests can be extrapolated to humans. The unreliability of animal tests allows companies to put virtually any product on the market.

If cosmetics or household products blind or poison animals during tests, they are often marketed anyway. Companies use the fact that the products have been tested—rather than the actual test results—to support the claim that they are conscientious. In most cases, companies settle out of court, preferring to pay off the injured consumer rather than bring the unreliability of their testing practices to light. In some cases, courts have ruled in favor of the injured consumers.

In the end, animal tests protect no one.”

As it is stated above, “animal tests protect no one”. Every day we “vote” with our money. When we purchase a product from a company we are throwing our support behind the company as well as helping it profit. By adopting a cruelty-free life you are throwing support behind those that provide us with products with a conscience. The beautiful thing is there are a number of cruelty-free companies whose products are sold in drug stores, grocery stores, boutiques, etc. In other words the ease of everyday shopping for beauty and household products does not have to change when switching to cruelty-free products. Or if you are like me and like to shop online in your PJ’s at 2am then you have hit the jackpot with the number of cruelty-free companies you have access to via the internet.

2. Toxicity

We absorb pollutants, chemicals, and toxins through our skin, hair, nails, etc. Cruelty-free products are made with simpler, cleaner ingredients reducing the chemicals in which your body absorbs. Companies often use animal testing when trying out a new ingredient. New ingredients are generally synthetic or manufactured as opposed to natural which is why it’s safety comes into question in the first place. Ultimately cruelty-free products are safer and healthier by reducing the amount of chemicals you are inhaling via your household cleaning products as well as what’s being absorbed directly through your body via cosmetics, hair products, etc.



3. Money

Cruelty-free cosmetics as well as household products are available at your local grocery store, bodega (yes my local bodega in NYC carried Cruelty-Free products), and drugstores. You are not confined to shopping at specialty stores. Additionally, cruelty-free products are often cheaper than other leading brands. Ultimately you don’t pay more when shopping conscientiously.





So how do you know if a company is truly cruelty-free?

The truth is just because a product says it “does not test on animals” it still may outsource other companies to do testing on various ingredients that make up their product. Most testing is done at the base level on individual ingredients. Leaping Bunny, PETA, and Choose Cruelty-Free are the three bunny logos you can trust. Any other logo is a fake. Something important to note, many companies are certified cruelty-free by Leaping Bunny, Peta, and CCF but don’t display a correlating bunny logo due to fees. Companies choose not to pay it. That being said, if you don’t find a certified bunny logo on a product go directly to the source.

Download the Cruelty Cutter App. Developed by Beagle Freedom Project it is the only app in which you can scan an item to discover whether or not an item is cruelty-free. You can also earn “Doggie Dollars” through various actions within the app which can be redeemed for discounts on cruelty-free products. The Cruelty Cutter App takes the guesswork out and it’s FREE!



With the access we have to information today via the internet it’s easier now than ever to research a company to find out it’s cruelty-free status. Ultimately when it comes down to it it’s important to do your homework. If you aren’t 100% sure about a company’s practices email them. There are also a number of blogs out there focused on providing information on companies that test and don’t test on animals. This is a lifestyle change, like anything there is support out there. Remember you may stumble (i.e. mistakenly purchase something you thought was cruelty-free and ends up not being so) but what’s important is that you are now conscious of the unnecessary cruelty happening in labs all over the United States and are doing something about it.

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