How to Buy Cruelty Free Cosmetics

Central to the vegan lifestyle is a refusal to wear, eat or use anything that exploits animals. Cruelty free means animals aren't used to test the products and the products do not contain any animal ingredients. Here's how to buy cruelty free cosmetic and look beautiful without compromising your ethics.

Instructions

1. Visit your local natural foods store to find cruelty free cosmetics. Most natural grocery retailers carry makeup and hair and body products that are not tested on animals. Ask a cosmetic specialist about which products are vegan.

2. Understand the difference between natural and vegan products. Beeswax, for example, is a natural product, but strict vegans do not use cosmetics that contain any ingredients derived from bees.

3. Know your animal ingredients. Large animal rights organizations have comprehensive lists of animal products on their websites. Familiarize yourself with these ingredients and take a list of them with you when shopping for cruelty free cosmetics.

4. Research companies carefully before buying cosmetics to ensure they oppose all animal testing. Cruelty free cosmetics are not tested on animals at any state of their production. If product packaging indicates that a cosmetic has not been tested on animals, this may just mean that there was no animal testing involving the finished product.

5. Shop online for the best selection of vegan cosmetics. Buying cruelty free cosmetics locally can be frustrating because most retailers carry a limited product selection.

6. Buy cruelty free cosmetics exclusively from vegan retailers. This will eliminate doubt about ingredients and production processes while contributing to companies that embrace your philosophy.

Tips & Warnings

• Read labels very carefully and do not buy a cosmetic if you have any doubt as to whether it's cruelty free. Laws to not closely regulate cosmetics labeling, particularly with regard to animal testing disclosure.

• Some dyes, particularly reds, derive their color from insects and are therefore not cruelty free.

Resources

• See for a useful list of cruelty free cosmetic companies.