Why you should make the switch to cruelty-free products

Animal testing is still a widespread practice that causes unnecessary suffering and death to millions of animals in the US alone.

Many people are unaware of the realities of what animals are subjected to for the sake of profit in the US cosmetic industry which generates over $64 billion annually. Sadly, many of the animals are bred for the purpose of testing, especially beagles because of their gentle nature. Many corporations force these dogs to ingest and inhale harmful substances (such as household cleaners and hairspray) to determine the toxicity level and safety of a product for humans.

Animals have chemicals rubbed on their skin resulting in severe burns and even death. Losing limbs, going permanently blind, and brain damage are all a result of these animals being poisoned.

Making an informed decision when buying cosmetics or household products can make a big impact on the prevalence of animal testing. Where you choose to spend your dollar gives power to that corporation. Consumer demand is what pushes companies to make a change. It’s about a movement towards cruelty-free and we create that by not supporting animal testing.

Cruelty-free products are healthier

Cruelty-free products generally have fewer ingredients and chemicals. If you compare labels in the store, you will find you are able to pronounce and recognize ingredients in the cruelty-free option. Our skin is our largest organ which absorbs anything we put on it.

We certainly don’t want to be applying substances with harmful parabens, fragrances and other toxic chemicals that many products carry. Hence why they are tested on animals!

Cruelty-free options don’t need to be tested as they contain natural, non-toxic ingredients. This is also important to remember if you are using household cleaners and have small children in the house. There are plenty of non-toxic, eco-friendly, and cruelty-free cleaning products available.

You will feel better

When you conscientiously shop for products and support the rights of animals and a healthier environment you will feel good about your purchase knowing you’ve made an impact. For example, you can purchase make-up brushes made of synthetic hair over real animal hair.

You could opt for the vegan leather over real leather, and rest easy knowing no animals were slaughtered for your handbag. You will also be minimizing clutter by sticking with fewer higher-quality items that won’t take up a lot of space.

If you are out shopping and aren’t sure if a particular brand is cruelty-free, there’s an easy solution! You can download one of several apps that tell you whether a company tests on animals. Here are a few: Bunny Free, Cruelty Cutter, and Cruelty-Free.

Some of the most popular cruelty-free cosmetic and household product companies:

Make-up:

Kat Von D
Anastasia Beverly Hills
Urban Decay
Too Faced
Charlotte Tilbury

Cleaning Products:

Seventh Generation
Mrs Meyers
method
ECOS
Dr Bronner

If you haven’t been aware of the cruelty in animal testing, that’s okay, and you may want to research further on this matter to educate yourself. There is a ripple effect in every dollar you spend, so it’s important that we support companies that share our values, and have our health in mind, rather than feeding companies that only care about their bottom line.

At the end of the day, there is no justifiable reason why an animal should suffer for the sake of product safety on humans. We should be more evolved, this is 2018. Purchase with your values in mind!