My favorite cruelty-free coalition — the Coalition for Consumer Information in Cosmetics, aka the “Leaping Bunny” people — recently overhauled its website. It has a whole new look — it’s all purple and blue — here is a screenshot:
Isn’t that nice? I think it’s pretty. Even better, if you go to the CCIC’s list of cruelty-free companies, you can see that the list has grown to 189 companies. This means there are now 189 companies that produce 100% animal testing free products (both the ingredients and final products are animal-testing free). Seriously, this list just keeps growing. I can’t remember how many were on the list last year, but it was definitely fewer than that. Isn’t that fantastic?
Hi Emily!
I am new to your blog, and have found tons of useful info here. Thanks so much for blogging
I’m not vegan or vegetarian, but I don’t like using products such as cosmetics, household products, and hygiene products that are tested on animals.
I feel like there’s so much I don’t know, and am shocked to find that though I’ve been careful with cosmetics and hair products, the deodorant and toothpaste and cleaning stuff I use are on the “no-no” list (for lack of a better word). I don’t mean to get personal, but do you buy your products from your local supermarket or do you go online or to a health-food sort of place? Like I said, this is all new…
Thanks,
Snowflake
Comment by Snowflake — March 22, 2008 @ 12:41 pm
Hi Snowflake,
Welcome to my blog! I’m so glad you’ve found lots of useful information here.
I think that’s GREAT that you’re not interested in using cruel products yet are not a vegan/vegetarian. I don’t think you have to be one to be the other. It’s not required! I swear.
Anyway, in regards to your question, I buy most of my products from my local health-food stores. I actually never used to go into those places — I was not a hippie or even a health food nut — but for some reason most animal-friendly products don’t tend to be sold at Longs/Walgreens/Safeway/etc. (Though that is changing! Longs now sells a bunch of animal-friendly products — Alba Botanica and Kiss My Face, I believe.) I can’t tell you how embarrassing it was for me the first time I went to a health food store to buy some Aubrey Organics shampoo (of course they don’t sell that at Longs), and I had to navigate my way through all the intimidating hippies and highly-pierced people who shopped there. But now I’ve grown used to them and enjoy my trips to health food stores.
I also buy some stuff from Whole Foods, and I would buy more, but the nearest Whole Foods to me is insanely popular, and I hate crowds, so I don’t go there too often. If I ever go to the suburbs and see a Whole Foods I tend to drop in — the lines are so much shorter there.
Also I buy all my Method products at Target, a few upscale cosmetics from Sephora (Hard Candy, Urban Decay, L’Occitane), Dermalogica products from whatgreatskin.com because the prices are good, Juice Organics products direct from juiceorganics.com, and probably a few other things direct from online sources as well that I can’t remember at this time. I occasionally buy stuff from Amazon or drugstore.com as well — Paul Mitchell products mostly.
Anyway, I hope this gives you some ideas on where to shop, and good luck with finding new cruelty-free products!
Regards,
Emily
Comment by Emily — March 22, 2008 @ 2:34 pm
Thanks tons Emily, that helps!
You’re right, I feel really intimidated when I think about shopping in those health food stores. I actually never saw myself doing that…ever. Glad you feel comfortable now, makes me feel like I might fit in.
I have a friend who sells Shakle (pardon my spelling) and I know their products are on the list, so I plan on getting some stuff from her for a while. Online shopping is a great idea, never thought of that. I don’t drive, so convenience is a huge deal. The nearest health food store from me is a good 45 minute bus ride away. I’m trying not to let that get in my way though.
I got lots more research to do, but I feel like I’m on the way. Thanks so much for your help
Comment by Snowflake — March 23, 2008 @ 5:21 am
You’re very welcome!
Comment by Emily — March 23, 2008 @ 11:11 pm