As college students, watching what we spend and how we spend it is often one of the most important determinants about the products we buy. When it comes to essentials such as hair care, skin care, and beauty products, you might be tempted to spend as little as possible unless you know for sure that it is a quality product. However, sometimes cost-efficiency isn’t the only aspect that matters. Have you ever thought of using environmentally and ethically conscious products? Every year hundreds of animals are used in labratories for the sake of our beauty. If we purchase these products, we only fuel an unethical fire that abuses innocent animals.
Since finding non-animal tested products that are within a college student’s budget is not always an easy feat, here is a list of affordable, essential products that are not tested on animals:
- Shampoo & Conditioner:
Desert Essence
These shampoos and conditioners come in a variety of scents and types and are organic and vegan. They are made with various fruit and plant extracts that smell great and leave your hair clean and manageable. Scents include Green Apple & Ginger, Red Grape, Coconut, Tea Tree, and even Fragrance Free. The products are priced from $6.29- $8.99 (Desert Essence also makes body washes and lotions that fall in the same price range)
Giovannni Cosmetics
These products are also organic and vegan made with scientific formulas of vitamins, minerals, and plant extracts to leave your hair looking beautiful and feeling great. They range in price from $8.29-$9.99 (Giovanni Cosmetics body wash is $8.99-$9.99)
- Body Wash:
The Body Shop
These products smell amazing and leave you feeling fresh. Some scents include Grapefruit, Lemon, Mango, Peach, Apple, and Watermelon & Eucalyptus. In addition to not supporting animal testing, The Body Shop also partners with other organizations to help combat domestic violence, sex trafficking, and lack of education for children in other countries and donates a portion of the profits of labeled products to those organizations. The body washes range from $4-$10.
Yes To Carrots (and Cucumbers)
Yes To are all natural with a mild scent and leave your skin feeling soft. A portion of all proceeds from the sale of Yes To products goes to the Yes To Seed Fund which helps kids learn about the environment and how to live healthy lives. A 16.9 fl. Oz. bottle is $8.99.
- Lotion:
The Body Shop
The Body Shop makes nice lotions and body butters (thicker lotion that is great for dry skin, especially the Shea!) that match their body washes. They range in price from $6-$18.
Burt’s Bees
These lotions are deeply moisturizing and are good for those with sensitive skin. Most of them have a light, nutty fragrance (Milk and Honey is my favorite!) but they have also added a few fruity scented ones such as Cranberry & Pomegranate and Mango & Orange. These lotions range in price from $8-$13.
- Lip Balm:
Alba Botanica:
This company makes a variety of yummy lip balms that moisturize your lips leaving them soft and kissable. With so many flavors to choose from, you’ll never get bored (if you’re like me and like to switch it up every now and then) and there is sure to be a flavor you’ll love. Flavors include Coconut (my fave), Passion Fruit, Pineapple, Vanilla, and Cherry (the Vanilla and Cherry have SPF 18 in them). These are priced from $2.49-$2.99.
Burt’s Bees:
These lip balms contain beeswax and peppermint oil that leave your lips feeling tingly and cool. Flavors include the original, Pomegranate, Mango, Honey, and Eucalyptus. These balms are priced at $3.
Yes To Carrots:
These lip balms are packed with vitamins to replenish your lips and leave them soft and smooth. They are approximately $2.59
- Face Wash:
Alba Botanica:
Alba has various lines of cleansers that are formulated with natural ingredients to leave your skin clean and fresh. There are lines for sensitive skin, acne prone, normal to dry, and normal to oily. Prices range from $9.95-$14.95.
Yes To:
Yes To makes several products for an array of skin types. The Carrot line is for normal to dry skin, the Cucumber line is for sensitive skin, and the Tomato line is for acne skin. These products range from $7.99-$14.99
- Deodorant/Anti-Perspirant:
Ban:
These deodorants come in a variety of scents (including unscented) and provide lasting protection throughout the day. They come in stick and roll-on forms and cost approximately $3-$5
The Body Shop:
These deodorants contain volcanic minerals that absorb moisture and keep you dry. There are three fresh scents and it comes in stick and roll-on forms. They cost $5 (the roll-on refills are $3)
Mitchum for Women:
This deodorant is made by Revlon and is very powerful in keeping you dry with strengths up to Clinical. It comes in roll-on, gel, and invisible solid. The scents it comes in are Pure Fresh, Powder Fresh, and Spring Fresh. They are priced from $3.54-$4.29
- Make-Up:
Revlon:
Yes! A drugstore brand that does not test on animals. Revlon swore off animal testing in 1987 and continues to make affordable quality make-up and hair dyes.
This brand tends to be a bit more on the expensive side, but they have an amazing eye makeup kit for $34; it includes six different eye shadow colors, eyeliner, and eye shadow primer and comes in a fashionable, easy-to-carry box.
This company has a wide variety of vegan make-up that is super affordable, with products starting at $1! Products at this price include eyeshadow, mascara, eye liner, lip gloss, lipstick, concealer, and blush. Most other products are under $8 and kits are under $20.
OPI:
OPI makes quality nail polish that does not chip 2 hours after applying it like other nail polishes and it lasts for a long time. Both OPI and Nicole by OPI polishes are vegan. They cost approximately $8.
- Fragrances:
Bath and Body Works:
Scents galore! Bath and Body Works has so many fragrances to choose from, and it seems as if they are constantly creating more! With complimenting lotions and body washes, you’re sure to smell as nice as you feel. Body Mists are priced at $12.00 and $12.50 and last for a long time (on your skin and in the bottle!)
* Most of the prices for these products were obtained through the company websites. Prices may vary by store and other online retailers