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1. Snowflake

   March 22nd, 2008 at 12:41 pm

   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



2. Emily

   March 22nd, 2008 at 2:34 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



3. Snowflake

   March 23rd, 2008 at 5:21 am

   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



4. Emily

   March 23rd, 2008 at 11:11 pm

   You’re very welcome!