Cruelty-Free Cosmetics
Hey there, and welcome back to my blog! As I’ve mentioned before, I’m very passionate about animals. If you know me in real life, you know I’ve sobbed over a video of a little puppy jumping through the snow, and now that you know this too, I think it’s safe to say, it’s obvious I can’t turn a blind eye to animal testing where it is just absolutely not necessary - so in this weeks post, we’re going to discuss animal testing in the cosmetic industry, some brands that are cruelty-free, and some of the products I use, as well as alternatives.
* Disclaimer: I promise I won’t be showing photos or going into details of what happens behind the closed doors of these labs, but if you should want to know what happens, a quick Google search will help you out there.
When Did I Start Caring About Animal Testing in Cosmetics?
My first memory of having my eyes opened to the animal testing industry was specifically in grade 6, when I had to do a public speaking project (I’m sure we all remember that sick form of torture), and I selected animal testing in the cosmetic industry as my topic. My parents helped me research, and write that speech. Without getting into specifics, I was horrified. The photos I saw & the words I read - it didn’t sit well with me. At this point, I didn’t really wear makeup, but I knew when I started, I wanted to do my best to not purchase products that supported this industry, but unfortunately, by the time that I did start wearing makeup, I couldn’t exactly afford the prices that cruelty-free makeup was being sold for. Flash-forward a couple of years, I had to do another public speaking project for my grade 8 English class. Once again, I chose the topic of animal testing in the cosmetic industry, and only a few years ago when I was in college, I chose animal testing again for a rapid public speaking exercise in my Communications course. I think it’s safe to say, I was really passionate about the topic. Around this time is when I saw the documentary Blackfish - I’m sure many of you have seen it, if not, at least heard of it - but watching that documentary is what sparked a fire in me to fight for animal rights, and do everything I possibly could to not contribute to harming animals. This is when I really took going cruelty-free seriously. I changed all of my cosmetics to cruelty-free brands, slowly started cutting out different types of meats until I was completely vegetarian & started trying to educate people on why these things are wrong. I’m not one of those preachy-animal lovers who shames people for eating meat, but of course, I always want people to consume less animal products, and do what they can to not support the harming of animals, so if you have questions, I’m always open to answer what I can.
Cruelty-Free Brands
When I made the change to cruelty-free makeup, it isn’t something you can just do overnight. It took me a long time to figure out what companies were actually cruelty-free, and which ones were smacking the “Unless required by law”, phrasing under their “Is (insert company name here) cruelty free?” answer. I’ve compiled a little of some of my absolute favourite brands that are cruelty-free. Most of these brands are in Sephora, but I also did list some drugstore brands:
Urban Decay*
Tarte*
Too Faced*
Hourglass
Anastasia Beverly Hills
Marc Jacobs Beauty
OLEHENRIKSEN
CoverFX
Smashbox
Fenty Beauty by Rihanna
Beauty Blender
BareMinerals
Besame
IT Cosmetics
Bite Beauty
NYX (Drugstore)
Covergirl (Drugstore - and recently Leaping Bunny approved!)
ELF (Drugstore)
Pixi (Drugstore)
* Brands owned by companies that are NOT cruelty-free. This statement is to the best of my current knowledge. Please be aware that this information is constantly changing, so always continue to research into these companies to find out if their stance on animal testing has changed.
Why Aren’t All Companies Cruelty-Free?
This question really should just have such a simple answer - they all should be cruelty-free. Why aren’t they? Unfortunately, China has a law that requires animal testing on cosmetics before they can be sold to the public - hence, my note above about “unless required by law” coming up in some companies answers wondering if they’re cruelty-free. However, we are making progress! The European Union requires that products must be cruelty-free to be sold there. Canada also just passed Bill S-214 (Read more here) not too long ago, putting forth the same legal requirement. Changes are coming! But since we’re not all the way there yet, a good rule of thumb for when you’re trying to figure out if a makeup company is truly cruelty-free, is to look on their website for the “unless required by law” statement, a quick Google search or even checking the Sephora China website. Another fantastic source is Cruelty Free Kitty.
My Full Face of Cruelty-Free Cosmetics
Primer
For primer, my favourite has always been the Too Faced, Hangover Replenishing Face Primer ($21.50 - $65 CAD). It does a fantastic job of becoming tacky, and holding the makeup to your face. Another great alternative is the Too Faced, Primed & Poreless Skin Smoothing Face Primer ($40) if you’re looking for more of a pore-filling primer compared to a tacky primer.
Foundation
My current go-to foundation is the FENTY BEAUTY BY RIHANNA, Pro Filt’r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation ($45 CAD). I’m a big fan of a matte foundation since I have very oily skin, so this foundation does the job. It’s also great because you can build it from a medium to full coverage, depending on what you need. Some days I need more coverage, especially in certain areas if I have a break out, than others. (Rihanna is also a badass) Another fantastic foundation that I love is the Hourglass, Immaculate® Liquid Powder Foundation ($74 CAD). It’s also a great foundation in a lot of the same ways that the FENTY BEAUTY one is, but the Hourglass foundation is just a little bit too far out of my budget at this point.
Concealer
Now, I’m not perfect - I’ve ended up purchasing products that aren’t exactly cruelty-free before. Example: MAC Cosmetics. I want to love MAC so much, and even though they don’t test their products on animals, they do still sell to China, and require that they do the testing themselves. Yes, it’s definitely better than testing on animals, but I can’t bring myself to commit to using their products without feeling guilty. Because of that, I switched from MAC concealer, to the FENTY BEAUTY BY RIHANNA, Pro Instant Retouch Concealer ($35). It’s great because it perfectly matches my foundation, and the formulas work together to create perfect harmony. Another great option that I used to use religiously is the IT Cosmetics, Bye Bye Under Eye Full Coverage ($35 CAD) concealer.
Setting Powder
Like I mentioned, I have very oily skin, so not setting my foundation & concealer is absolutely not an option for me (all of you out there who don’t have to set your makeup, I’m looking at you with intense jealousy). But it can be difficult to find a setting powder that sets, without drying my skin out too much. My absolute favourite setting powder right now is the Too Faced, Peach Perfect Mattifying Setting Powder ($20 - $44 CAD). Firstly - mattifying. Secondly, it smells like peaches! Kind of tastes like them too… don’t ask how I know that. But it also does exactly what I need - setting without drying my skin out. Another favourite of mine is the CoverFX, Matte Setting Powder ($46 CAD). I generally go for this when the Peach Perfect Setting Powder isn’t available.
Highlighter
I don’t know about you, but a blinding glow is probably the most satisfying part of my makeup routine. My current favourite highlight is the Too Faced, Love Light Prismatic Highlighter ($38 CAD), particularly in You Light Up My Life (Gold). I am by every definition of the word, pale - I’ve had multiple people tell me I’m the palest person they know - so I can’t really have a bright gold highlight. This gold however, is perfect, and would look absolutely incredible on darker skin tones. When I’m not feeling like rocking a blinding highlight, my go-to for a more subtle glow is the Hourglass, Ambient Strobe Lighting Powder ($32 - $52 CAD) in Incandescent (Pink). I love this highlight since it adds something, but isn’t overwhelming at all, and is perfect for a more natural makeup look.
Bronzer
Being very pale, it can be quite hard to find a bronzer that isn’t too dark for my skin tone, but is also the right undertone and doesn’t look too grey, or too yellow on me. My holy grail of bronzer is the Too Faced, Chocolate Soleil Matte Bronzer ($20 - $40 CAD) in Milk Chocolate. Another bronzer with lots of colour options is the FENTY BEAUTY BY RIHANNA, Sun Stalk’r Instant Warmth Bronzer ($40 CAD).
Blush
Okay, I’m not going to lie - I don’t love blush. I don’t wear it very often. It’s just not something that I’ve ever really loved on my skin, or enjoyed using. However, when I do wear it, I almost always reach for my Tarte, Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush ($38 CAD) in Dollface. If I don’t grab that one, and I’m wanting a more muted-pinky-peach to add some colour to my face, I go for the Too Faced, Sweethearts Perfect Flush Blush ($40 CAD) in Peach Beach.
Eyebrows
Okay, I’m getting straight down to business here. My eyebrows looking good is very important to me - all you have to do is Google a celebrity with their eyebrows photo-shopped off, and that says it all. Eyebrows. Are. Important! I also have very blonde eyebrows, and fiery red hair, so they require some attention. My go-to is always going to be the Anastasia Beverly Hills, Brow Definer ($30 CAD) in Auburn. It is perfect since the shape of the pencil allows you to work with three different thicknesses so you can fill in, draw hairline strokes & everything in-between. Before I discovered the Brow Definer, I swore by the Anastasia Beverly Hills, Dipbrow Pomade ($24 CAD) also in Auburn. Don’t get me wrong, I love that product still. The only downside is, I found it would dry up before I got a chance to use it all, and could make your eyebrows a little fake looking if you over-did it (which I often did), which is why I made the switch.
Mascara
Second last category - mascaras! I must say, this mascara may be my favourite mascara I’ve ever worn. The Hourglass, Caution Extreme Lash Mascara ($36 CAD) is literally the most long lasting mascara I’ve ever used. It not only adds volume and length, but seriously, I put it on in the morning when I get up for work at 5:30am, and it still looks incredible when I get home. A close runner up is the Marc Jacobs, Velvet Noir Major Volume Mascara ($34 CAD). It’s another fantastic formula, but the Hourglass mascara wins just because of how long it lasts on me.
Setting Spray
And last, but not least - Setting spray. You know you’ve got a good one if it really does help your makeup last all day & night, and that is exactly what the Urban Decay, All Nighter Long-Lasting Makeup Setting Spray ($20 - $42 CAD) does. Yes, it’s popular, but it’s popular for a reason. The stuff really works! If you want something a little more budget-conscious but still works really well, I’m going to point you in the direction of the Morphe Continuous Setting Mist ($20 CAD).
Alright friends, that’s it! That’s my lengthy full face of cruelty-free cosmetics. You may notice I didn’t cover eyeshadow or eyeliner. Well, with eyeshadow, it’s such a personal preference of what colours you like & look best on you, and since I listed a bunch of really fantastic cruelty-free brands above, I know there’s plenty of options out there for everyone to figure out. As far as eyeliner goes, I’m not going to lie, I’ve yet to find a cruelty-free liquid or pencil eyeliner that I absolutely swear by, which is why I chose not to list it.
I hope you enjoyed, learned some new things & maybe even are now inspired to go cruelty-free yourself. I’m a big supporter of anyone who is on their journey of being cruelty-free, so this is absolutely a no-judgement zone, regardless of if you’re at the very beginning, or still figuring everything out. It doesn’t matter what stage of your journey you’re at, what matters is you’re making a difference ♥︎
