Tomorrow morning when you’re applying your mascara or your cover up, take a good hard look at that little package that contains materials that enhance your appearance each and every day. Sure, we’re all grateful for make up and how it enhances our natural features, but what if you were to be told that hundreds of animals needlessly suffered so that you can have this $7 pressed powder to help set your foundation? What if you knew that several whales were hunted and killed to make that favorite lipstick of yours – would it still be your favorite?

The amount of pain and cruelty that animals have been subjected to all in the name of “cosmetics” and “beauty” is downright disgusting, particularly as there are alternative – albeit perhaps more costly – methods of testing products. Not only would these other alternatives protect our animals’ rights, but they are also more effective testing tools!

Take a stand against these completely unnecessarily and downright horrid animal testing practices. Choose safe and effective animal cruelty-free products.

How can I Tell if a Company is Cruelty Free?

Every company who is cruelty free is proud of the fact and quite often openly advertizes it on their packages (they also know that more and more consumers are looking for cruelty-free products, so this of course helps their earnings).

If you are curious about make up you already have, or are interested in purchasing cruelty-free products, PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) has a website which lists the vast majority of companies and their products that do not test on animals, and also a list of companies that still do test on animals. How they determine how a company is “cruelty free” or not is also outlined on the same page.

What are some Companies that are Currently Cruelty-Free?

Some of the more popular companies you may be familiar with that are deemed “cruelty-free” by PETA include:

• Abercrombie & Fitch
• Almay
• Aveda
• Bath and Body works
• Estee Lauder
• Liz Claireborne cosmetics
• Mary Kay
• Revlon

What are some Other Ways I can Tell that I am Not Buying a Cruelty Product?

There are certain ingredients in any sort of make up that will give you a good idea as to whether or not they are a “cruelty free” company or not. Vegans and vegetarians will also appreciate these lists as they can now find make up that contains no animal products. Some of these ingredients include:

Carmine: Carmine is obtained by crushing thousands upon thousands of female cochineal insects to obtain the carmic acid that gives a red coloring to several different cosmetics (such as shampoos and lipstick)

Collagen and Elastin: Though these two products both have been promoted as a source of youth, both are derived from animal tissues and ligaments.

Keratin: Keratin is often added to hair and nail products with the promise of “strengthening” them; however keratin is a product that is derived from the horns, hooves, feathers, quills and hair of animals.