benefits-of-buying-cruelty-free-skin-care
How Buying Cruelty-Free Skin Care Makes a Difference
Despite multiple efforts to ban animal testing in the United States, it is still a common practice in a number of industries including cosmetics and premium skincare. But as consumers have become more educated about these harmful tests and cruelty-free alternatives, there has been a surge in demand for cruelty-free products. But beyond the ethical reasoning, choosing to use products that don’t test on animals has a number of benefits for your skin which is what has led many consumers to make the switch.
For those looking to achieve acne-free skin or suffering from sensitivities, cruelty-free skincare can be a great option as the formulas are generally cleaner and free of harsh chemicals in their ingredients like parabens, sulfates, and synthetic dyes. Making the switch to cruelty-free skincare products can also help you be more selective in the purchases you are making and mindful of your choices, selecting only the best products which meet your needs.
Beyond the surface of your skin, using cruelty-free skincare makes a larger impact. Regardless of where animal testing actually takes place, in the border of the United States or otherwise, your purchasing decisions send a message to manufacturers, brands, and legislatures, advocating for changes to be made and demanding regulatory oversight on these harmful practices.
How to Find Cruelty-Free Skin Care
Unfortunately, the term cruelty-free is not regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) which leaves consumers with a variety of ambiguous interpretations on the meaning of cruelty-free. Thankfully, a number of organizations have stepped up and developed programs to address this concern and help consumers find products that are truly cruelty-free.
Perhaps one of the most recognizable cruelty-free logos is that of the Leaping Bunny Program sponsored by the Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics (CCIC). The program has developed a comprehensive standard [1] for labeling cruelty-free skincare products. In order to use the Leaping Bunny logo, brands are required to sign an agreement which states that they will not and have not tested on animals during any stage of their product development. Then, any ingredient suppliers utilized by the brand must also do the same to ensure the products are entirely free from animal testing. And finally, Leaping Bunny performs an on-site audit of manufacturing facilities to further verify each company's claims. This thorough evaluation process is why so many consumers trust this program.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has also instituted a certification process and database of products known as Beauty Without Bunnies. Similar to the process outlined above, a company representative must sign a statement of assurance with PETA to verify that their company does not conduct, commission, or pay for animal testing on any part of a product’s development including the ingredients, formulation, or final product and pledge not to do so in the future. Only after completing this qualifying process does a brand achieve certification, receive permission to use PETA’s cruelty-free logo on their packaging, and is added to the database.
Allowing you to search for products by name, brand, or even type of product, the Beauty Without Bunnies database has more than 3,800 cruelty-free companies listed in addition to thousands of companies that are not cruelty-free. This includes best selling skincare, makeup, cleaners, and other household products as well, making it easy to find everything including cruelty-free moisturizer, soap, and even nail polish.
Kate Somerville has made a commitment to cruelty-free products. That said, we care about our customer’s concerns and their desire to make a change which is why we sought out PETA’s cruelty-free certification. Now, our customers can shop with confidence at Kate Somerville, knowing that the skincare they love aligns with their values. Although our skin care products are not tested on animals, this certification was an important step for us in doing our part to modernize the beauty industry and give our customers the confidence they deserve. Whether you’re looking for acne treatment or anti-aging skincare, you can be sure that our products will protect both the animals and your skin.
Sources:
BEST SELLERS