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Say Goodbye to Animal Testing and Hello to New Beauty Products!

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at BU chapter.

Animal testing is when a company or organization performs procedures on living animals to test the health and effectiveness of products like cosmetics or medicine. The procedures are not kind and usually cause a lot of suffering for the animals. At the end of the experiment, the animals are either killed or ‘spared’ for subsequent experiments. 

 

Many animals are used in the experiments from cats and dogs to hamsters and monkeys. It is estimated that “more than 115 million animals worldwide are used in laboratory experiments every year.” Besides the ethical issues, animal testing is wrong because it is not always accurate. Reactions from the products can differ between animals and humans so when something is be deemed ‘safe’ it might just mean safe for the animals being tested. 

 

There are over fifty other methods of testing products that do not involve hurting animals. These methods are safe, ethical, and use processes like in-vitro (cell-based, in a test tube) or artificial human skin to prove accurate results. 

 

I know that this was a lot of information and some of it was not pretty but if you read on you will find out about ways to help and some products that are tried and tested (by me, not on animals) and that you will love! 

 

First things first, know what to look for! When you are shopping or looking at any cosmetics or any products look at the back of the product. Look for these three symbols:

Photo credit: Cruelty Free Kitty

 

If you see these symbols, then you are safe! But beware; some companies will put fake bunnies on their products to make it seem like they are cruelty-free when they are not. Or they might be cruelty-free in the United States but if they sell products outside of the US, for example in China, where animal testing is mandatory for all products, then they are not completely cruelty-free. Also, some products are still cruelty-free even if they don’t have the bunny symbol so you might have to look it up. My advice is to go to https://www.crueltyfreekitty.com because there are complete comprehsneive lists of products and brands that are cruelty-free. 

 

Now onto the fun part, the products!!! 

 

Photo credit: Into the Gloss 

 

Personally, I only use products that are cruelty-free which means this list will include all of the things I use from makeup to toothpaste to soap. 

 

Makeup:

 

To be honest, I do not know what I am doing when it comes to makeup so this list won’t include every possible cruelty-free product. So, this section will cover the basics (but these brands have other products that are more glam too). 

 

  • Primer

 

e.l.f. Hydrating Face Primer

 

  • BB Cream

 

Physicians Formula Organic Wear BB Cream SPF 20

 

  • CC Cream

 

Physicians Formula Organic Wear CC Cream SPF 20

 

  • Foundation

NYX Stay Matte But Not Flat Liquid Foundation

 

NYX Mineral Stick Foundation (had been using this as a concealer up until I was writing this article, what a beauty pro) 

 

  • Concealer

 

NYX HD Studio Photogenic Concealer

 

NYX Color Correcting Concealer 

 

  • Mascara

 

e.l.f. Lengthening and Volumizing Mascara 

 

  • Eyebrows

Wunderbrow 1-Step Brow Gel

 

  • Blush

 

tarte (in paaarty) 

 

  • Highlighter

 

tarte twinkle stick highlighter (in skylight) 

 

  • Lips

 

The Body Shop Vitamin E Moisture-Protect Lip Care

 

tarte Matte Liquid Lip Paint (in birthday suit)

 

The Beauty Crop PBJ Smoothie Stick Lip Crayon (in guava nice day)

 

  • Makeup Remover

 

The Body Shop Camomile Gentle Makeup Remover 

 

Skincare: 

 

Boy oh boy do I love my skincare! Give me a face mask over an eyeshadow palette any day! Everyone’s skin is different so you have to find the best products for you. For me, I need products that help with dry and sensitive skin. Luckily for me, (and now for you!) products that are not tested on animals are also more likely to have no chemicals or harsh materials (like parabens, dyes, sulfates, etc.) so the products are going to be more gentle and perfect for sensitive skin! 

 

  • Cleanser

 

Botanics Hydration Burst Dual Action Cleanser

 

  • Moisturizer

Pacifica Berry Matcha Recharge Face Lotion

 

Yes to Tomatoes Daily Balancing Moisturizer 

 

  • Toner

 

Thayers Witch Hazel with Aloe Vera

 

Lush Breath of Fresh Air Spray

 

MyChelle Quick Clean Micellar Water 

  • Exfoliator

 

Derma-E Purifying Daily Detox Scrub

 

  • Face Mask

 

Lush Cosmetic Warrior Fresh Face Mask

 

Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay

 

The Body Shop British Rose Fresh Plumping Mask

 

  • Serum

 

Lush Full of Grace Facial Serum

Dermalogica Breakout Clearing Booster 

 

For the Shower/Bath:

 

  • Shampoo

 

Lush Big Shampoo

 

Derma-E Nourishing Shampoo (with Apricot Seed & Argan Oils) 

 

  • Conditioner

Lush Veganese

 

Maui Moisture Heal & Hydrate + Shea Butter Conditioner (for Dry, Damaged Hair)           

 

  • Body Wash

 

SheaMoisture African Black Soap Body Wash

 

Dr. Bronner’s Pure-Castile Lavender Liquid Soap 

 

  • Body Soap

 

Lush (any soap is great!)

 

The Body Shop Satsuma Soap 

 

Love Beauty and Planet Coconut Water & Mimosa Flower Bar Soap

 

  • Bath Bombs

 

Lush Metamorphosis

 

Lush Intergalactic 

 

 

The Basics:

 

  • Hand Soap

 

method Waterfall Foaming Hand Wash

 

  • Sunscreen

 

Bare Republic Mineral Sunscreen Face Lotion SPF 30

 

Alba Botanica Hawaiian Sunscreen SPF 50

 

  • Deodorant

 

Certain Dri Extra Strength Clinical Solid Antiperspirant

 

  • Toothpaste

 

Desert Essence Wintergreen Tea Tree Oil & Neem Toothpaste

 

  • Mouthwash

Eco-Dent Sparkling Clean Mint Natural Daily Rinse 

 

  • Perfume

 

Pacifica French Lilac Perfume 

 

  • Body Lotion

 

Lush Charity Pot 

 

 

And that’s it! Gosh, when you write it all down you really notice how much stuff girls have to buy (and this list is only a fraction of it). Besides using the previously listed products, another easy way to be cruelty-free is to make your own products. Do a DIY face mask with avocado and honey or make your own bath bomb with wild colors! 

 

If you want to learn about more products, here are some cruelty-free brands that you can check out or you might find that you already have them:

 

  • Anastasia Beverly Hills
  • bareMinerals
  • Essence
  • Glossier
  • Marc Jacobs Beauty 
  • Orly 
  • Ouai
  • Smashbox

 

Most of the time I find my products at Target, Ulta, or drugstores. When I am feeling a little fancy, I might go to Lush or the Body Shop because I know that whatever I buy will be amazing and cruelty-free! 

 

Now, go! Go get those face masks and lipsticks! 

 

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Peyton is a sophomore at Boston University majoring in journalism in the College of Communication and minoring in Women, Gender and Sexuality. Besides writing for Her Campus, Peyton also writes for the Daily Free Press and is a member of Students for Reproductive Freedom. In her free time, she tries to find the best places for dessert in Boston and reads along with Emma Watson's book club "Our Shared Shelf."
Writers of the Boston University chapter of Her Campus.