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Going Cruelty-Free

Wednesday 22 June 2011 at 10:15 am

This week I was inspired by the blog post “5 Easy Ways We Can Help Animals” to talk about going cruelty-free.  It’s sad to me, and to animal lovers I know, that companies that make cosmetics and household products still test on animals.  Our dollars have a voice, and one way to take a stand is to switch to cruelty-free products.

There are lots of ways to find cruelty-free products, and technology is making it easier every day.  You can visit the Leaping Bunny website and get the Compassionate Shopping Guide to find products from lipstick to floor cleaner.  If you have a smartphone it is even simpler, you can download an app for iPhone or Andriod so you always have your shopping guide handy.  You can get a printer-friendly list of cruelty-free companies from PETA’s website , or get the Be Nice to Bunnies iPhone app.  I like having the information on my phone, because it makes it easier when I am standing in the store.  This is especially true if I am looking for something I haven’t bought in a while, like sunscreen, or they happen to be out of my usual brand of conditioner.  You can also look for the Leaping Bunny logo or the “cruelty-free” label on the back of the bottle.  Several HRS Chapters sell soaps and lotions, and the proceeds from those sales benefit each chapter’s rescued rabbits.  You can find the list here.  I will admit that cruelty-free products can sometimes be more expensive.  If you are watching your budget (and really nowadays who isn’t?) it can be hard to think about making the switch from that $1.99 bottle of shampoo to something that costs twice as much.  One way around this is by picking and choosing.  I might pay a little more for lip-gloss, but I choose one or two of my favorite colors.  Really, having lots of colors is fun, but I don’t need them, and I feel better about my smaller, but more conscientious selection.  If you shop at an organic grocery, or a store that carries lots of organic products, they may have a store brand that is about the same price as the non-cruelty-free alternative.  Next time you’re shopping for beauty or household products, look for the bunny on the back of the package, and let your dollars speak for going cruelty-free!