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This past Friday was national Random Acts of Kindness Day; in case you didn’t get a chance to celebrate, take a moment to be kind to those who can’t stick up for themselves! Specifically the animals tested on by cosmetic companies.
Many of us don’t pause to think about who is being affected by our mascara addiction. According to the Animal Welfare Association (AWA), almost 20 million animals are killed each year in research. And it’s not just rats that are being tested on in these labs: tens of thousands of cats, dogs, and even primates are tested on annually.
43% of American adults surveyed by the AWA answered that they were against animal testing. A vast number or drugstore and department store brands test on animals. Why is it still so common? The truth is, most of us just don’t care. We aren’t seeing the horrible conditions these animals are forced to live in, so we can just pretend it isn’t happening. We don’t have to think about it, so we don’t.
But isn’t it better to be informed? You have the information in front of you. You decide how to spend your money, you decide which brands to support and which to boycott. You do have the power to make change, to be kind.
Some Brands that DO test on animals:
- Almay
- Avon
- Benefit
- Bobbi Brown
- Chanel
- Chapstick
- Clinique
- CoverGirl
- Dior
- Estee Lauder
- L’Oreal
- MAC
- Make Up For Ever
- Mary Kay
- Maybelline
- OPI
- Rimmel London
- Revlon
- Sephora (brand)
- Tony Moly
- Yves Saint Laurent
But before you take a pair of scissors to your Beauty Insider and Ultamate rewards card, and commit to a barefaced lifestyle, consider this:
Finding makeup brands that don’t test on animals doesn’t have to be difficult, or expensive. In fact, some of the most affordable brands at Ulta (including their own brand) are cruelty-free.
Some Brands that DON’T test on animals:
- Anastasia Beverly Hills
- Ardell
- BECCA
- Beautyblender
- Ben Nye (shoutout to my Theatre majors!)
- Drybar
- ELF
- Essence
- Hempz
- Kat Von D
- LUSH
- NARS
- NYX
- Orly
- Pacifica
- Physician’s Formula
- Real Techniques
- Sonia Kashuk
- Tarte
- Too Faced
- ULTA
- Urban Decay
- Yes To
So, my challenge to you, in the spirit of Random Acts of Kindness Day, is to swap out at least one of the items in your collection that you know to be tested on animals, for a friendlier cruelty-free option. It’s a process, and ultimately the choice is yours, but you will feel so much better if you make the change. Let’s strive to be beautiful on the outside, and on the inside, Collegiettes.