2.26.2013

The Cruelty Free Bunny Trapped Me


CrueltyFree1

That is the question. If you read my blog and you know me at all, you will already know the answer is.....drumroll.... NO.

I bet some of you already knew this fact. Sadly I did not. I was fooled by the cute little bunny on the packaging last week when I purchased some makeup at my work. I had been completely out of eyeliner and mascara for a few weeks and just wasn't wearing makeup. I wear makeup because I think it's fun. Plus, I do look like a 12 year little girl without it. I know I don't need it and when I do wear it I don't feel like it's a lot. Even one of my co-workers was shocked one day when I told her I had liquid eyeliner on.

Being a fairly new vegan I feel like I learn new facts and information almost daily. Whether it's from my blogger friends or searching the web. PETA has an amazing list of companies that DO and DO NOT test on animals. They also add little V's next to the companies that actually are vegan or have vegan product options. Why didn't I just do this in the first place??? So what makeup did I buy which then caused me to type this post? Wet N Wild. Which actually seems harder and harder to find now a days. I love their black liquid eyeliner and I have used it for years! I'm a pretty sure it's safe to say it started in 1995 because of Gwen Stefani...

Gwen Eyeliner

So that's like a million years ago so by now I have mastered the art of liquid eyeliner. I love it. I assume that I'm not the only person who falls for the cute cruelty free bunny! I assumed if something isn't animal tested that is wouldn't have animal by products in it. FAIL. Now that I actually think about it, I feel dumb for thinking that. I just thought that cute bunny would always be my friend. Pretty much every product I buy now is "not animal tested". My shampoo bottle has the cute little bunny logo on it but also says "cruelty free and vegan". That's when I made the connection that something might be wrong with my makeup. I grabbed the makeup packaging and starting searching some of the crazy terms and words that most people don't understand. It kinda makes your brain hurt to even look at it...

eyeliner box

I did a Google search for animal by products in makeup. I found this website that had a simple list of about 6 ingredients to look for. Here is what it says about Stearic Acid:

Stearic acid is a saturated fatty acid often taken from animals including cows, sheep, pigs and, according to PETA, even euthanized dogs and cats from animal shelters. You may see stearic acid listed on ingredients lists as Stearamide, Stearamine, Stearates, Stearic Hydrazide, Stearone, Stearoxytrimethylsilane, Stearoyl Lactylic Acid, Stearyl Betaine or Stearyl Imidazoline. It can be found in cosmetics, soaps, hairspray, conditioners, deodorants, facial cleansers and creams. Stearic acids can also be found in many vegetable fats.

It is good however to read that last line that says it can also be from vegetable fats. How do I know which version Wet N Wild uses in their products? Here I go assuming again,....I'm going to say the animal fat since the package doesn't say vegan on it. I could call them but honestly I find it better to just support vegan businesses and products. I shouldn't have to guess or Google search what things are. None of us should really have to do that. Lets check out what Carmine is:

Carmine, also referred to as cochineal or carminic acid, is a red pigment obtained by crushing tens of thousands of female cochineal insects. This colouring is used in cosmetics, shampoos and food dyes. Beet juice or alkanet root are non-toxic options for those who may have allergic reactions to carmine.

WHAT!?! This is craziness. I don't want bugs to be crushed just so my body wash or eyeliner can be colored. Call me crazy, but I don't think this is right. I find it simply unnecessary. I had heard of bugs being used for coloring before and I guess I shouldn't be surprised it's in my makeup. I'm sure many people would just say they are bugs, but to me it's just not right. Technology is way more advanced then this. Animal testing and killing bugs for dye STILL, really? I just don't want to eat or wear animals. That simple. I will miss my Wet N Wild products, but I know I will find something new. I'm not picky as long as it doesn't involve animals being harmed and it works. (and I love purple eyeliner and shadow.)

CrueltyFree2

On another note, I can't say that Wet N Wild has bad products. They actually are good products that serve their purpose at an affordable price. It's just not the right product for me anymore. I simply can't say that I am vegan and then put animal fat on my eyelids. Something about that doesn't feel right for me. I do find it frustrating that all of us are basically forced to purchase items that have the animal by products in them or that ARE animal tested. I only say forced because most stores that we all shop at only offer the typical brands. You know Cover Girl, Revlon, etc..

This isn't just a vegan issue either. Many animals that are tested on are cats and dogs. I know this because a friend in Ohio adopted a cat who had been animal tested at P&G it's entire life. It's just heart breaking. I believe that your dollar counts as a vote every time you spend it. Buying products that are NOT animal tested does send a message to the companies. It's a message that all animal lovers can send!

A few months back I posted a video of some Beagles that had never been out of cages.
They had spent their entire lives as test animals. See that video HERE.
I am looking into purchasing some Urban Decay Makeup. Have you ever tried it?
Do you know of any good vegan or non animal testing makeup products?

Link to PETA list of animal testing companies HERE.

16 comments:

  1. This post really opened my eyes to companies who test animals and those who claim "vegan" just for more sales. It'll make me think twice about what I'm buying.

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    1. Yes it's hard because so many smaller companies are owned by the larger ones like P&G. You just have to decide how much work you want to put into researching your products. It can be a bit time consuming but once you learn then it's just buying the right thing. :)

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  2. Great post, thanks for the information! I'm an aspiring vegetarian and hopefully one day vegan and I was looking into makeup the other day. I use some urban decay eyeshadow and primer that I got for Christmas and love it!

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    1. I am going to check out the urban decay for sure. I just need money first. LOL Good luck on the vegetarian/vegan thing. If you ever need advise, I'm here for support ALWAYS. :)

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  3. Urban decay is amazing stuff. Way better than wet & wild, not just because it's vegan, but because of the pigmentation and everything!
    Look into LUSH cosmetics as well! Love their stuff and it's mostly vegan!

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    1. I will go check out LUSH here in a minute thanks!!!!!!! I am going to try urban decay for sure. I love their bold eye shadows.

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  4. I had actually never thought about that. I have to admit I kind of just buy things without really thinking because I'm really impulsive but I'm going to make it a goal to only buy vegan things from now on. I've been thinking about organic clothing as well because of a post by delightfully tacky and it's just a great ideal. I'm not going to throw anyway I now own but I will think about these things in the future.

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    1. A lot of us don't think about it, it's "normal". I am not throwing away any of my stuff either. I feel I bought it and it's wasteful to throw it in the trash. I just keep replacing the new vegan stuff after I run out of my old products. :) I will have to search for the delightfully tacky post. Thanks!

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  5. Wow, that's really intense to think about. I buy most of my makeup products on the german economy vs the american PX. So I have NO clue what's in it. Woes me.

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    1. It's gross and crazy isn't it? I don't know about Germany. I am sure they sell different things anyways. Thanks for your comment and reading my post. :)

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  6. They are soo sneaky. I found it so hard to find vegan/cruelty free makeup. Then I emailed a company called elf. REALLY cheap and they are completely vegan + cruelty free. HURRAH. Maybe give them a go.

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    1. Elf is actually at the Target by my house, so I'm going to read all the labels next time I go. I did read somewhere online that they were vegan. Also, I am probably going to buy some Lush products as well.

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  7. Thanks so much for highlighting this!
    It's crazy that they can crush insects and call it cruelty free??? I've been in the process of changing my make up products to vegan ones since I started being vegan, it can be hard work to find vegan alternatives but there are a few websites out there that sell only vegan products. Urban decay do a brilliant liquid eyeliner: http://www.urbandecay.com/24/7-waterproof-liquid-eyeliner/305,default,pd.html?start=12&cgid=9999&prefn1=isVegan&prefv1=1 although it's super expensive so i'm currently searching for a new, cheaper alternative as I go through eyeliner fast!
    I also love lush for shampoo and conditioners cause they list which of their products are vegan (I don't recommend their liquid eyeliner though, although i've never tried it, in my experience their make up is awful at staying put!)

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    1. It's a slow process to switch everything over. There is NO reason to be wasteful with all the things that "us new vegans" bought prior. :) I am going to buy that liquid eyeliner from Urban Decay. I love the purple!!! It would be nice to find something cheaper though. I want to try the Lush shampoo. I just put my name on their mailing list!! :)

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  8. Oh do I remember this little lesson. It's one of the things I say now to women who wear such makeup that they are literally putting squished bugs on their face. It's just disgusting.

    Another thing is companies will say "final product not tested on animals" or "ingredients not tested on animals." Both, when individual, are huge warning signs of do not buy. If it says the final product is not tested on animals but doesn't say anything about the ingredients then chances are the ingredients are tested on animals just not the final product, and vice versa. It's disgusting what companies do to try and persuade people of things.

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    1. I knew you would know about this!!! ;) I hate that people think that Bath and Body Works is good. I WON'T fall for that one. I knew as soon as it said "final product" on it, that it was false!

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