If you live overseas in countries that haven’t banned cosmetic animal testing, you may have the opportunity of going cruelty-free. Going cruelty-free means supporting cruelty-free brands, and boycotting brands that continue to test on animals. Some companies may claim to be cruelty-free, but they sell in stores in Mainland China, where their products must be tested on animals. Remember, the phrase “cruelty-free” is not regulated by laws, and any companies can call themselves cruelty-free. So, always think critically and fact check. If you want to be 100% sure, call companies and ask them if they test on animals and if they sell their products in Mainland China.
Products that are certified as cruelty-free may have these three bunny logos (the only three you can trust) on their packaging. (Scheler, 2018)
Refer to the images below for some shopping guidance.
Feel free to splash your cash on these ethical brands:
*Vegan: all products do not contain animal-derived ingredients.
*Vegan options: some products do not contain animal-derived ingredients.
Think twice before buying from these brands:
Full lists of cruelty-free brands:
https://crueltyfree.peta.org/companies-dont-test/
https://ethicalelephant.com/cruelty-free-brand-list/
https://logicalharmony.net/cruelty-free-brand-list/
Full lists of brands that test on animals:
https://crueltyfree.peta.org/companies-do-test/
https://ethicalelephant.com/brands-that-test-on-animals/
https://logicalharmony.net/cruelty-free-brand-list-brands-to-avoid/
If you are thinking of going cruelty-free, refer to these resources, (And most importantly, do your own research as well).
https://www.crueltyfreekitty.com/tag/cf101/
https://ethicalelephant.com/crueltyfree-beauty/crueltyfree-resources/
https://logicalharmony.net/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtaVEzJD90lyxwumMzwOQzQ
https://www.youtube.com/user/logicalharmonydotnet
Please keep in mind that going cruelty-free and being an ethical consumer is a gradual process. It’s definitely a beneficial lifestyle, but it can be overwhelming. At the end of the day, it’s really about trying your best and doing it one day at a time.
Spreading the Words
The best way of advocating for change is to create conversations with people you know, and people you don’t know. Take initiative, and let people know how animals are suffering in laboratories. Use your social media platforms and spread the message. If you’ve already adopted a cruelty-free lifestyle, tell people the benefits of going cruelty-free, but do not pressure them into doing it. While going cruelty-free, in its entirety, is a good and responsible thing to do, it’s still a choice.
Other than raising awareness, if you are financially capable, feel free to support influential organizations that are capable of putting an end to animal testing. Here are some organizations that you can support by donating and/or signing petitions.
- PETA (People for The Ethical Treatment of Animals): https://www.peta.org/
- Cruelty Free International: https://www.crueltyfreeinternational.org/
- Humane Society International: https://www.hsi.org/
“One day the absurdity of the almost universal human belief in the slavery of other animals will be palpable.
We shall then have discovered our souls and become worthier of sharing this planet with them."
---Martin Luther King Jr.
Editor 文案｜Cavior Jian, Cindy Zhang Layout 排版｜Cindy Zhang, Cavior Jian
References
Images:
Animals Australia: https://www.animalsaustralia.org/features/animal-testing-list.php
Cruelty Free International: https://www.crueltyfreeinternational.org/which-animals-are-used-cosmetics-tests
Daily Mail: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3610309/The-moment-lab-test-dogs-saw-sunlight-time-150-canines-used-experiments-lived-lives-small-cages-freed-five-years-India.html
Green Queen: https://www.greenqueen.com.hk/bulldog-skincare-first-certified-cruelty-free-brand-to-sell-in-mainland-china/
Institute for In Vitro Sciences (IIVS): https://iivs.org/testing-services/assays/dermal/skin-irritation-test/
Lush (brand): https://hk.lush.com/shop/causeway-bay-lockhart-road
Nanshy (brand): https://nanshy.com/7-tips-for-switching-to-cruelty-free-products-permanently/#comments
Peta: https://www.peta.org/students/student-life/which-companies-test-on-animals/
Peta UK: https://www.peta.org.uk/blog/hundreds-scientists-learn-spare-animals-suffering-painful-tests/
https://planetbox-duentscheidest.de/kosmetik-hersteller-liste-ohne-tierversuche/
http://pngimg.com/download/18734
https://www.jstor.org/stable/41060388?seq=1
https://www.nationofchange.org/2014/10/29/cut-animal-cruelty-cosmetics/
https://www.polyp.org.uk/cartoons/people/polyp_cartoon_Loreal_Animal_testing.jpg
Content:
Allure: https://www.allure.com/gallery/best-cruelty-free-brands
ChemSafetyPro: https://www.chemsafetypro.com/Topics/Cosmetics/How_to_Comply_with_Cosmetics_Regulations_in_China.html
Cruelty-Free Kitty: https://www.crueltyfreekitty.com/cruelty-free-101/makeup-brands-that-test-on-animals/
Ethical Elephant: https://ethicalelephant.com/understanding-china-animal-testing-laws/
Forbes: https://www.forbes.com/sites/celiashatzman/2018/01/26/how-you-can-help-end-animal-testing-in-cosmetics/#1c07c9ca4ddc
Frontier: https://frontier.ac.uk/blog/2019/03/27/china-removes-animal-testing-requirements-on-post-market-cosmetics-but-its-not-enough
Humane Society International: https://www.hsi.org/news-media/about_cosmetics_animal_testing/
Last Object: https://lastobject.com/blogs/blog/top-10-cruelty-free-makeup-brands-youll-be-proud-to-wear
Logical Harmony:
https://logicalharmony.net/can-brands-sell-in-hong-kong-and-be-cruelty-free/
https://logicalharmony.net/cruelty-free-brand-list/
New England Anti-Vivisection Society: https://neavs.org/blog/2019/1/23/what-is-the-draize-test
Peta:
https://www.peta.org/issues/animals-used-for-experimentation/animal-testing-bad-science/
https://www.peta.org/living/personal-care-fashion/beauty-brands-that-you-thought-were-cruelty-free-but-arent/
SPCA: https://www.spca.org.hk/en/animal-welfare/cosmetic-testing-on-animals
Statista: https://www.statista.com/statistics/875794/china-cosmetics-market-size/#:~:text=In%202018%2C%20the%20cosmetics%20market,485%20billion%20yuan%20by%202021.
The Washington Post:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/books/2011/04/25/AF5cDgGF_story.html
Vogue: https://www.vogue.co.uk/beauty/article/journey-ban-animal-testing-china
YouTube Video by Kelly Gooch:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fx-Bfpw3u6c
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJ-2wFfDGFs&list=PLTo_pVkRHQ75HCWVVJR7DZpknKIOhxwed&index=9
https://daxueconsulting.com/selling-cosmetics-in-china-beauty-and-personal-care-market/
https://www.promocell.com/cells-in-action/using-3d-skin-models-to-test-cosmetics/