How to make a switch to Cruelty-free?

If you are here, it means you have decided to make a switch to going Cruelty-free. It’s still the beginning of the new year, still time for new resolutions 😃.

Now, the question is, where do you begin? I have started my cruelty-free journey 6 years ago, once I learned how cruel and unnecessary animal testing is. And it was the best decision of my life! By going cruelty-free, you are not only making a stand but also showing these big corporate companies that you don’t support them anymore.

In this day and age, with all the advancement in technology and so many alternatives to animal testing, there is no need for animal testing esp, in the cosmetic industry. And also, why put your hard earned money in unethical companies that only care about profits and nothing else!

Step #0

Yes, there is a step 0 😂. This is the step where you get to pick the area you want to focus on.

Choosing a Cruelty-free lifestyle could mean a lot of things. You could start by, changing your diet, buying vegan clothes, switching to cruelty-free products etc. Just thinking about doing this all of a sudden can get really intimidating. Changing your diet, lifestyle and clothing can be very hard to start with. So, let’s pick the easier area, to begin with, ie, switching to cruelty-free products.

Below are 8 simple steps for you to transition over to Cruelty-free products:

 

Step #1. Start slow

Once you have learned about how cruel and unnecessary animal testing is(Sorry, I just can’t stress this enough :() and if you are like me, you might be tempted to overhaul your complete skincare and beauty collection. This can get overwhelming, So, I would advise you to stop, and take it slow. Start by evaluating the products you own. Do not feel pressured to make all the changes right away. Instead, gradually replace your products one by one as you run out.

Step #2. Evaluate your products

Take a step back and look at all the products you currently own. Think about the things you love about your beauty products. It is easier to find cruelty-free brands when you know what you are exactly looking for. Some cruelty-free brands may only have hair care products vs. some like Mrs. Meyers would have both bath and household products.

Step #3. Make a list

Once you have evaluated the products you have and you want, you should make a list. This list could be your starting point of which products you want to switch first. Let’s say, you want to start with changing your hair care products. This will narrow down to around 10 good cruelty-free brands and once you are done with the products(yes, do no throw your current products – Step #4), you are using, you can start trying the new ones out.

Step #4. Do not throw

Do not throw the products you already own. You have spent your hard earned money on these products. So, use them until they run out or expire. This will also give you time to research on the cruelty-free brands you may like.

But let’s say you have some non-cruelty-free products you don’t really use and have decided to go ahead and get rid of them, then what do you do? Trashing these products or dumping them down the drain is not really the best option as they just end up in a landfill. The best thing you could do:

• If you have a recently purchased product that you have barely used, you can check on the return policy with the vendor. For example, Sephora and Target have a return policy of up to 60 – 90 days. This is also not the ideal option as the returned products are just disposed of and thrown in a dumpster. I was researching “what happens to Sephora’s returned products?” and I came across this snipped on Reddit.

“I work at a Sephora in a jcpenney location and if we get unused returns of products we do carry, they can go back out for resale. However, the amount of naked palettes I’ve had to throw in the dumpster because ONE single shadow had been swatched just once is so incredibly depressing.”

• If you have bottled products like shampoos, body wash, cleaning supplies, detergents etc. that weren’t used as much, you could also donate them. Not all thrift stores and homeless shelters usually accept beauty products. But you can call your local shelters and ask.
• You can also sell them for money on websites like Poshmark.

Step #5. Knowledge is power – Do your research

As the saying goes, “Knowledge is Power”. So do all the research you can before you start buying new products. Start with knowing your logos!

For more details, you can check out my blog post on “Understanding Cruelty-free & Vegan logos”.

There are plenty of resources out there for finding cruelty-free brands. Every product(at least big brands) that’s cruelty-free has a certification logo on the back.

You can also get reliable information from some well-informed cruelty-free bloggers who have specialized in this area for a while now (Cruelty-Free Kitty, Logical Harmony, PHYRRA and Ethical Elephant). I am working on curating my own list(updated weekly) as well soon! I will keep you posted! 😃.

If there is a particular brand you are interested in but unsure if it’s cruelty-free, you can also reach out to me through my website’s contact form. Or feel free to leave a comment below. I will follow up with the company and get back to you.

Step #6. Don’t forget your Essentials

When it’s comes to animal testing, a lot of people are unaware that essentials like toothpaste, mouthwash, deodorant, cleaning supplies, laundry detergent etc. are also tested on animals. Yes, it’s not just cosmetics. Even some of the pet products are tested on animals. Ahhh the irony of testing animals products on other animals! :(.

Keep in mind that most of the drug store brands you see are not Cruelty-free. So, make sure you have done enough research before you dive into these.

Step #7. Let’s not leave out our makeup brushes

Yes, brushed too! 🙁 Natural brushes are made from animal hair(horse, squirrel, goat, badgers etc.). But, with so many synthetic brush options ie, vegan makeup brushes available today, we don’t need to buy brushes made out of animal hair. Another tip to know is synthetic brushes are actually way better for your skin as they don’t contain hair follicles that can trap bacteria.

Step #8. Last but, not the least, have fun!

There are tons of cruelty-free products now! Lots of big brands like the cover girl have stopped testing on animals. So, discover new brands and try out different products. This is the best phase to be in! When I was venturing my cruelty-free journey, I loved discovering new brands and products.

There are plenty of talented people that make their own products! You can also check them out in your local grocery stores or websites like Etsy. This way you are helping small businesses grow!

 

Conclusion

Remember that with every cruelty-free product you buy, you are saving an innocent being’s life! Vote with your money! Show the big parent companies that you are not going to support them!

If you have reached the bottom of this post, you are already making a difference! 😃