The not so beautiful beauty industry

I've been hesitating on wheather I should write this post or not. Now the following will only be my personal opinion. I do not intend to tell you what you should do (buy) and what not. The only purpose this post has is raising your awareness on this issue. If this, however, is going to change somebodies mind and you'll decide to go on this journey yourself I'll be more than glad to have made a little change. I can only appeal to your conscience and hope for your understanding. :)

Already starting to write this post lets off so much pressure fom me, so I'm happy that I did decide to write about this.

Okay so today I want to talk about the issue of cruelty in the beauty industry, in particular make up, skincare and hair products beeing tested on animals. This issue is really been bugging me for quite a while now.

I do love animals (I've got a tom cat just in cas anyone is curious) and I'm not understanding why they have to suffer from cruelty or even die just so that we (egoistic) human beeings can use shower gel, face wash, toner, etc. to get clean, make up to doll up ourselves. I mean isn't beauty industry all about creating a beautiful "YOU"? Now how can we consider ourselves as truly beautiful beeings if you are willing to taking brutal animal testing in account in order to pamper ourselves and get "the look".

We are living in the 21st century, so why aren't those companies using testing alternatives? I know that many companies nowadays do test their products on volunteers.

Well, I think here's something you didn't know or just didn't thought about. Products beeing tested on poor animal doesn't meen that they're harmless!! I mean the animals not only suffer from the testing procedure but often get diseases as a result or even die, which STILL DOES NOT MEAN that the company won't sell the product to you!! So there isn't even a "dunno-what-to-call-it-like-reason" that justifies animal testing.

I'm not willing to put up any pictures or videos of those poor animals up here but you can go and google it.
Nevertheless, I want you to picture your pet or just your favourite animal (in case you don't have a pet) getting toner, nail polish, shampoo,.. you name it, poured into the eyes or make to drink it. Because that's what happens to those poor and helpless animals!!

Okay, I think that's enough. If I could speak up to conscience I'm glad, if not I can't change it and you must to make it up with yourself.

I started doing my researches on this product during summer and I may tell you that it is a very controversial topic, you'll sure will feel a little bit lost at first but don't worry I now will help you a little bit. :)

First and foremost if you ever write an e-mail to one of those big brands (you know them) asking if they do test on animals or do buy ingredients from other companies that do test on animals will reply you this way:

"Dear ********, 

Thank you for taking the time to contact us and for your interest in brand name. 

The brand name is committed to the elimination of animal testing.  We are equally committed to consumer health and safety, and bringing to market products that comply with applicable regulations in every country in which our products are sold.

We do not conduct animal testing on our products or ingredients, nor ask others to test on our behalf, except when required by law. (We evaluate our finished products in clinical tests on volunteer panels.)

The brand name fully supports the development and global acceptance of non-animal testing alternatives.  To this end, the Company works extensively with the industry at large and the global scientific community to research and fund these alternatives.

Please be insured that our packaging includes all the legal requirements and as I am sure you appreciate that space of our packaging is limited.We trust that the above addresses your concern. We hope you will look to brand name for all your beauty (and fragrance) needs.

Again, thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and concerns.

Sincerely, 

          ****************" 


blablablabla....HELLO!!! Are you making fun of me? Theoretically, they just took you for a fool. See the red highlighted words? Well, doesn't it sound strange to you that there are ingrediens that those companies want to use in their products yet the law of the country tells them to obey certain regulations. I do not even want to know what kind of toxic/ etc. substance this could be. And as I've already told you that those might still be used in the products bought by you.

Second of all you can devide people that are against animal testing in different categories.

For one there are those ones who are not willing to purchase products from non - cruelty free brands anymore yet will by products of companies that originally had a cruelty - free concept but were taken over by the before mentioned one. E.g. MAC, The Body Shop, Burt's Bees, etc.

Then there are people who will only support cruelty free companies.

The 1st and the 2nd category are often vegetarians but not always (I'm not a vegetarian & counting myself to the 2nd group of ppl).

And the third category are people who are going even one step further they make sure that their products do not even contain proteins from silkworms or any other insects, also know as vegans.

I hope that this helped you so far to get an abstract ovverview.

Last but not least, I'd like to ask you not to listen to PETA' s cruelty free guide. You can go and make your own research on them if you like. However, I am yet to come up with a cruelty free shopping guide that I feel safe to recommend to you.

I feel that with the Leaping Bunny certified companies you cannot go wrong.

I'm not using only companies certified by them as I did my own research and read a few cruelty - free cosmetic guides written (& researched) by vegans.

I'm not telling you to go and throw out the products you already own that were tested on animals. I'm simply encouraging you to not repurchase them and go on your journey for alternatives.

Actually, I think it's quite refreshing and interesting as well if you see so many alternatives and try out new products you might not have stumbled accross before.

As for myself I feel like this journey did not start for me such a long time ago (only a few months) and I'm still learning. So far I'm only conscious about make up and hygiene products. I don't know where me journey will bring me in the future and what new things I'll come across but for now I'm okay with my decission, going one little step by one.


*puhhh*....I'm a little bit tired now, after writing for this long. If you've red all the way from the beginning to here please tell me in the comments. :)

I know how big of an issue this is. Therefore, I'm sure I forgot about some things and most - likely didn't cover up all aspects that's why I'm willing to do a live video, where you can ask me some questions you may still have. Now, please, let me tell you that I'm by no means an expert on this topic and still learning about companies.


<3 Lexi