Whilst we see images of cute bunnies everywhere at this time of year, and I'm fortunate enough to look out of my window and see an abundance of bunnies freely hopping around, it's inspired me to tell you about an amazing free app called 'Bunny Free' - a way to search whether your cosmetics and household products are tested on animals.
When we talk about animal testing, we're talking about rabbits, rats and mice being subjected to force-feeding, dripping chemicals in their eyes and rubbing ingredients onto their abraded skin. With the current advancements in technology, such as using human cells and tissues and high-speed computer models, there is no excuse to continue this abuse. Don't fall for products which state 'not tested on animals' because they might still test their ingredients on animals.
When we talk about animal testing, we're talking about rabbits, rats and mice being subjected to force-feeding, dripping chemicals in their eyes and rubbing ingredients onto their abraded skin. With the current advancements in technology, such as using human cells and tissues and high-speed computer models, there is no excuse to continue this abuse. Don't fall for products which state 'not tested on animals' because they might still test their ingredients on animals.
There has been much talk over the past few decades concerning the use of animals testing for cosmetics products and their ingredients. This use of animal testing was banned in the UK in the late 1990s and across the rest of the EU in 2009; however, this provided a loophole for companies testing outside of the EU to still be able to sell in the EU. This was successfully stopped in March 2013 when it became illegal to sell cosmetic products within the EU which have been, or which contain ingredients, newly tested on animals.
Outside of the EU there are still hundreds of well known brands that continue to test on animals, mainly in the US, China and India where there are still no laws against it - in fact China has made it a legal requirement - which means some 'good' companies have gone back to being bad! PETA are working on China and India as we speak, but the only way you can really help is by not buying their products.
Outside of the EU there are still hundreds of well known brands that continue to test on animals, mainly in the US, China and India where there are still no laws against it - in fact China has made it a legal requirement - which means some 'good' companies have gone back to being bad! PETA are working on China and India as we speak, but the only way you can really help is by not buying their products.
COMPANIES WHO TEST ON ANIMALS
| Revlon Benefit Estée Lauder (including the companies they own such as MAC, Bobbi Brown, Clinque, Jo Malone, Origins) Johnson & Johnson Max Factor L’Oréal (including the companies they own such as Lancome, Kiehls, Vichy, Maybelline) Avon Mary Kay P&G Dove Elizabeth Arden Guerlain L'Occitane St Ives (According to PETA's website - find a full list here.) |   |
COMPANIES WHO DON'T TEST ON ANIMALS
 |  |
Feeling guilty and confused? Because I am! I see all of the products named above that still test on animals on our shelves across the UK, but I thought it was illegal to sell these in the EU? Perhaps there is yet another loophole where companies in the EU can buy from the US or China. The plot thickens....I've contacted PETA and will let you know the outcome when I hear back.
Either way, it's still important to make a conscious, ethical and informed decision when buying cosmetics and applying them to your body, so download Bunny Free now or look out for the Leaping Bunny mark on products which are certified ‘cruelty free’ under the internationally-recognised Humane Cosmetics or Humane Household Products Standards.
Happy Easter everyone!
Laura x
Either way, it's still important to make a conscious, ethical and informed decision when buying cosmetics and applying them to your body, so download Bunny Free now or look out for the Leaping Bunny mark on products which are certified ‘cruelty free’ under the internationally-recognised Humane Cosmetics or Humane Household Products Standards.
Happy Easter everyone!
Laura x
