This month I blogged about:
Veterinarians Who Aren’t Merchants of Death: The Association of Veterinarians for Animal Rights
If You Wouldn’t Wear Your Dog, Please Don’t Wear Fur: Jared Padalecki’s Ad for PETA
Grateful Body Normal Skin Sampler Set (4/5 stars)
Another Small Victory in the Fight to Remove Animals from Toxicological Testing: In Vitro Test Beats Animal Tests for Measuring Skin Irritancy
Let’s Welcome 14 New Companies to Being 100%-animal-testing-free!
The Body Shop Facial Muslin Cloths (4/5 stars)
I thought I’d start a new monthly wrap-up feature — things I wish I could find from cruelty-free companies. So far, I’ve got:
1) Unscented, aluminum-containing deodorant.
2) Instant stain remover wipes.
3) Teeth whitening strips.
4) Eye drops.
I really wish I could buy all of these. I’m hoping these are out there and I just don’t know about them yet. It’s possible! I haven’t worked my way through all the new cruelty-free companies on the CCIC’s list, or all the European cruelty-free companies, and one of them COULD make unscented aluminum-containing deodorant, instant stain remover wipes, teeth whitening strips, and/or eyedrops. I’ve got my fingers crossed, anyway! I should mention here that the last time I wrote a post about things I wish I could find in cruelty-free form, one of my wishes was answered — namely, I found John Paul Pet dog tooth and gum wipes! So I can only hope these other products will be made available soon as well . . .
Categories : cruelty free, digest
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Stephen Sharkey-Chouinard
June 12th, 2008 at 11:14 am
Hey Emily,
I too have been searching for some viable cruelty-free alternative for teeth whitening. I stumbled across a product recently — in the same searching spree that lead me to your blog :^] — that is doesn’t actually say that it’s cruelty-free but is made by a company that touts all their products as “Natural”, along with some being referred to as cruelty-free.
I sent an email to their info address but haven’t heard back… I was wondering if you had looked into this product or company in the past or were wanting to check it out.
The company is called Taytan (http://www.taytan.com/) out of the Philippines and their product is called Natural White (http://www.taytan.com/natural_white.htm). Someone had recommended is as an option in the PETA forums (http://www.peta.org/forums/post.asp?method=TopicQuote&TOPIC_ID=4541&FORUM_ID=13).
Thoughts?
Emily
June 13th, 2008 at 1:23 am
Hi Stephen!
I am DYING to hear what Taytan writes back to you about whether it tests on animals or not. Please keep me informed!
I’m a little torn on the teeth-whitening front — I’ve found three companies that say they don’t test on animals, but none of them subscribe to the Humane Cosmetics Standard, so I suspect they don’t make sure their ingredients come from animal-testing-free sources. So I would describe them as 50%-cruelty-free at best. Plus they all look like internet scams to me — I’d be VERY hesitant to send them my credit card information. (There’s http://www.britewhitesmile.co.uk/teeth-whitening/teeth-whitener-tips.php , which claims it does not test on animals, and there’s http://www.therabreath.com , which claims that its toothgel is not tested on animals — I’m not sure if its teeth whitening products are not as well, at least, I was unable to find that information on the site.)
(I did find one company that says in its FAQ that its ingredients and final products are not tested on animals, but the site really looks like a scam to me. It’s http://www.whiteshine.co.uk/#FAQ )
That being said, the main ingredient in most teeth whitening devices is hydrogen peroxide, which I don’t think anyone is seriously testing on animals these days. It’s been around forever. (Though I could be wrong about that! God knows what they’re testing on animals these days.) So I wouldn’t be too opposed by people buying non-CCIC-approved teeth whitening products (as long as they’re not owned by Procter & Gamble, of course! Taytan, I suspect, would be a far, far more ethical option).
But I do mean to go through the Australian list of cruelty-free companies on ChooseCrueltyFree and see if any of them have teeth whitening products within the next week or two. I am hoping to find a teeth whitening company, and once I do, I shall definitely get back to you on this!
Regards,
Emily
arden
May 19th, 2009 at 4:53 pm
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE keep me posted as well. This has been a big problem for me and I’m so eager to find a solution. The natural ways (baking soda/lemon juice, strawberries, etc.) have not been at all successful so I’d really like to find a commercial product that works.
Thanks so much,
arden.
arden
May 19th, 2009 at 5:21 pm
I was a bit surprised to see Tom’s of Maine on the list of 100% cruelty-free, as they were acquired by Colgate-Palmolive over a year ago. Despie the fact that the agreement was that Tom’s would retain their policies/philosophy regarding their products, still, the parent company is not one I want to have my dollars benefit in any way. Your feelings on this?
thanks,
arden.
Emily
May 20th, 2009 at 9:43 am
Hi Arden!
I’m so glad you’re looking for a cruelty-free teeth whitening solution! Unfortunately I still haven’t found one. Hmm, maybe I should start sending letters to various cruelty-free companies asking them to start making teeth-whitening solutions.
Good question about Tom’s of Maine! Basically, I include Tom’s of Maine on the 100%-cruelty-free list because I feel that Tom’s of Maine should be supported, since by giving money to Tom’s of Maine, people are actively rewarding Colgate-Palmolive to NOT test on animals. I view it as a financial incentive — sort of the carrot rather than stick method of getting Colgate-Palmolive to stop testing on animals. So I personally do buy Tom’s of Maine products. However, I feel a little squicked out that I do give money to horrible Colgate-Palmolive, so I fully understand why some people refuse to buy Tom’s of Maine products, and support their decision not to buy Tom’s of Maine products, and I’ve made sure to put that big pink square beside every 100%-cruelty-free company that is a subsidiary of an animal-torturing company — Tom’s of Maine, the Body Shop, etc., — so that people who don’t want to give money to horrible companies like Colgate-Palmolive, or L’Oreal, at least can know which companies those are. (I just realized that the large pink square and the small pink square look awfully alike — the large pink square means “subsidiary of company that tortures animals,” and the small pink square means that company never tortured animals.” So, don’t be confused by those.
I really will have to change that in the future to make it less confusing.)
arden
May 21st, 2009 at 6:05 am
Thanks, Emily. I understand what you’re saying and respect that there could be two different approaches to the same end. I am so thrilled I found this site as I am so much more fascist about my purchasing choices than anyone I know in my general circle. There is comfort in camaraderie…
I also wonder if you know why Ecco Bella isn’t Leaping Bunny approved?
Thanks again for all you do and stand for.
Arden
Emily
May 22nd, 2009 at 11:41 am
Hi Arden!
You’re very welcome! It’s always my pleasure to answer cruelty-free questions. And to find another person interested in being cruelty-free! Rock on . . .
You know, I have always wondered why Ecco Bella isn’t Leaping Bunny approved. They seem like just the sort of company that would be interested.
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