#BlogForBunnies #BeCrueltyFree Week

Pic - from Banksy's The Village PetStore and Charcoal Grill via Getty Images

I am just coming back to regular blogging, so it makes sense that my first real post is about the main reason I started blogging in the first place. 

Finding cruelty-free (and vegan) makeup and beauty products can be a nightmare. Especially when companies word their statements to make it sound like they don't test when they do. In addition to this, once you find a cruelty-free brand, how do you know which products are vegan? If they are good quality or not worth spending on? I'd like my blog to be the place to go to get reviews and find out about new products. Where you can always be sure that the products are not tested on animals, and 100% vegan, too. I want this blog to be a reference for UK and worldwide cruelty-free beauty enthusiasts, and I want it to be fun to read! So that is what I aim for. My mission statement, if you will.

This is why I'm so proud to be a part of Humane Society International's #BlogForBunnies during #BeCrueltyFree week, 9th -15th March.

But wait, there's an EU ban on the import and sale of animal tested cosmetics, so shouldn't everything I buy in the EU be cruelty-free?

Companies are no longer allowed to sell animal tested products here, but if you buy from a testing company, your money is going to support their testing products on animals to sell in other parts of the world. HSI International is working with companies and law-makers all over the planet to end cosmetics animal cruelty.

Yeah but don't they just, like, put makeup on a bunny or whatever? It can't be that bad.

Typical animal tests for cosmetics include - 

Skin and Eye Irritation/Skin sensitisation tests. 
Chemicals are rubbed onto the shaved skin or dripped into the eyes of rabbits, guinea pigs and ears of mice to see if it causes irritation or an allergic reaction. They are then killed.

Repeated dose toxicity.
To see if a chemical is poisonous, animals endure oral force feeding/inhalation or application to shaved skin daily for 28 or 90 days. They are then killed. 

Toxicokinetics.
Animals, such as rabbits or rats are forced to consume an ingredient to study how it is absorbed, metabolised and excreted by the body. They are then killed.

Carcinogenicity.
The rat, or other animal is force fed an ingredient for two years to see if it gives them cancer. They are then killed.

Reproductive toxicity.
This determines the effect a chemical has on an animal's fertility, pregnancy and young. Pregnant rabbits or rats are force fed an ingredient, then killed, along with their unborn babies.

There is no pain relief provided during any of these tests.

Oh. That sucks. But don't we need animal testing to make sure products are safe to use?

In short, no. Animal testing is only required on new ingredients. If it's already in use, it's already known to be safe. There are billions of different ingredients readily available to be combined in infinite combinations to make new products. There's no need to develop new ingredients. If companies want to make sure their product/ingredient is safe, there are more than 40 advanced non-animal tests available. These offer results that are more relevant to humans, and are often cheaper and more efficient.

What about ingredients that were tested on animals a long time ago?

We can't change the past. Cruelty-free companies operate using a 'Fixed Cut Off Date', meaning they won't use ingredients that were tested after a certain date. Other companies sometimes use a 'Five Year Rolling Rule', meaning they don't use ingredients that were tested on animals within the last 5 years. This is not as effective at curbing animal testing, though, as products can often take five years or more to formulate and get into production.

What about parent companies?

A lot of the time, a cruelty-free company can be owned by a bigger company that performs animal testing on some of it's brands. Many people see no problem with buying from them, as the products nor their ingredients have not been tested, and it shows the parent company that there is demand and support for cruelty-free brands. Others say that in buying these products, your money could end up paying for animal testing, as all profits go to the parent company. I personally try to buy mainly from brands with cruelty-free parent companies.



I hope you will join me in signing Humane Society International's #BeCrueltyFree Pledge, and I hope you will choose to #BeCrueltyFree.

Til Next Time,

Emma
xXx

Sources - Humane Society International, Cruelty Free International, Animal Aid. 

UPDATE - Urban Decay Backs Down!

Epic win for animals and lovers of cruelty-free make-up! Urban Decay have released a statement announcing they will no longer be going ahead with the move into China, saying they couldn't "...comply with current regulations in China and remain true to our core principles." Click here to read the full statement.


Whilst I'm delighted about this turn of events, I can't help but think that they only changed their minds due to the outcry from their customers (I like to think my email had something to do with it).

However, I've noticed something curious. Since the news about Urban Decay selling in China broke, YouTube gurus and beauty bloggers have been abuzz with criticism and opinions about it. This is a stark contrast to the tight lipped silence that met the news about Estée Lauder, Avon and Mary Kay. Arguably, that should have received more coverage - Estée Lauder owns a lot of companies, their decision would bring many more animals to the labs than Urban Decay. So why did the online beauty community ignore Estée Lauder but criticize Urban Decay?


Hypocrisy. Urban Decay have always made their cruelty-free status a selling point, printing it on all their packaging and shouting it from the rooftops. Avon, Mary Kay and Estée Lauder's crew never made a big deal out of it, they just stated it discreetly on their websites. You aren't shocked when you walk past a restaurant and see some guy tucking into the remains of a cow, but when you see me chowing down on a chicken leg, you're gonna do a double-take.


The point is, the animals don't care who is hurting them and experimenting on them. It could be Hitler or Ghandi, it makes no difference - they just want it to stop. And so do I. 

Urban Decay's backtrack shows us that when enough people talk, big companies listen - if only to save face and stay in the public's 'good books'. So I ask everyone reading this to sign and share my petition against Estée Lauder, Avon and Mary Kay testing on animals, and join me in boycotting them until they agree to stop selling in China - where animal testing is mandatory. Post on their Facebook and Twitter pages, blog and vlog about it, message your favourite beauty guru about it.

Although I'm sure Urban Decay wouldn't have changed their minds were it not for the consumer backlash, I want to commend them for listening to their customers, and not being too proud to hold their hands up and say 'Ok, you're right, we made a mistake'. 


Urban Decay is available in the UK via Debenhams and House of Fraser - check out their list of vegan products here.


There are more posts from me coming soon! 


Until then,


Emma
xXx

Urban Decay's Shocking Moral U-Turn

So Urban Decay is now tested on animals. 

ARE YOU KIDDING ME? This has to be a joke, right?

It's true.
They, like Estée Lauder, Mary Kay and Avon, have decided to sell their products in China. They have now lost their cruelty-free certification. This is the same Urban Decay who prints on all their products the phrase "We don't do animal testing, how could anyone?" How indeed.


They released a statement, which has since been taken down, claiming they were only going into China to help change things from the inside. If you'll believe that, you'll believe anything! There was so much PR spin in their statement, I was getting dizzy! The press release can now be read here: Temptalia. 


I am outraged by this turn of events. Urban Decay is insulting our intelligence by trying to paint themselves like the good guys in all of this, when everyone can see the move is simply a money-making exercise.

Urban Decay's profit from China

So I did what I always do in extreme situations such as this.


Send a stern email!


I now present said email for your perusal.

To: u2@urbandecay.com; jdouglass@urbandecay.com

Subject: RE: Animal testing
Hello Jennifer,
I have read the original press release published at www.urbandecay.com/chinainfo (it has been taken down now). Urban Decay claims it is moving into China because 'Change can only happen from within. When we enter the Chinese market, we will do our part to help make those changes.' This is blatant whitewashing, as if Urban Decay had done their research, they would know that Peta has been working closely with Chinese government officials and researchers to change the laws, and they are in the final stages of approving the first non-animal tests (source). If you wanted to change things, you could invest in non-animal research (as Peta have done), and delay the move into China until the laws and regulations have changed. 
Urban Decay's move into China is just a thinly veiled plan to make a profit. It is clear that Urban Decay views their 'anti-animal testing stance' as a marketing gimmick. Selling in China whilst claiming they're trying to 'change things from within' is just trying to have your cake and eat it. 
 There are some consumers that aren't concerned with animal testing, and no doubt Urban Decay will have their continued custom, as well as all the new custom from China. But compassionate consumers are not convinced by your poor excuses, and will no longer purchase your products. I doubt you care, as the dollars rolling in from China should silence your conscience quite effectively. Allow me to suggest a more fitting name for your company - 'Moral Decay'.

Thank-you for reading,
Former Urban Decay Fan,
Emma Carvell

Please join me in boycotting Urban Decay, and sign these important petitions!

Change.org Petition

Peta's Petition

Every signature counts, guys! Be sure to share it on Facebook and Twitter!

Sorry for the lack of posts of late, I'll be back soon, posting my guide to vegan make-up shopping! 

Emma

xXx

Animal Testing Bombshell - Step Backwards for Cruelty-Free

I am SO annoyed and frustrated after learning that Peta has struck Estée Lauder, Mary Kay and Avon off their cruelty-free list. After many years being at the forefront of the cruelty-free movement, these companies have backtracked and started animal experiments again. 


Why? Why on earth, after proudly claiming 'Not Tested on Animals' on every website, box, and leaflet, would they suddenly U-turn and start maiming mice? 


Greed.


China is a massive market for cosmetics. In order to sell their products there, they have to conform to China's requirements - many products have to be tested on animals before they can be marketed there. No testing - no money from China. And so they caved. 


Now unless you've swotted up on your beauty company knowledge, you might not realise the enormity of this policy change. It's just three companies, there's plenty of others, right? Well Estée Lauder owns 28 of the most popular beauty and fragrance companies, including M.A.C Cosmetics, Bobbi Brown, Clinique, Smashbox, La Mer, and many more! (click here for a full list)


As you can see, this is a large chunk of the beauty industry that has gone to the dark side. So I got to thinking, what can we, the consumers, artists, beauty gurus, and bloggers, do to stop this? We have to talk to them in the only language they'll understand - money. We need a boycott. In order for them to listen, we need a large enough number of people to stop buying their products until they change their minds. 


This needs to go viral. If you're a blogger, blog about it. Gurus, post videos about it. Tweet #ELauderAvonMaryKayBoycott , facebook it, stick it on reddit. I've started a petition, so please sign along with Peta's petition. If this gets big enough, we won't have to go without our beloved Mac for long, as they'll soon come round! 


I'd really appreciate if you help me out in this. We, as consumers, have the power to change things according to where we spend our money. 


Sorry for going all soapbox-y on you, I promise I have more, less rant-y posts on the way!


Emma
xXx