In 2018 we have more choice than ever before. And with that choice comes the power to make conscious decisions about the things we use every day
This year, more and more people are opting for cruelty-free products – where neither the product itself nor the ingredients used to make it involve harm to animals. This comes after consumer market research firm the NPD Group revealed there has been a 38% growth in the industry between February 2017 and January 2018.
Whether you’re doing it for the animals, the environment, or for the excess of incredible, game-changing natural ingredients that often go into these products, choosing cruelty-free allows you to shop guilt-free without sacrificing on the must-haves. And it doesn’t need to be difficult. Here’s our 10-step guide to tried-and-tested cruelty-free products:
Makeup
Bohemian Chic Minerals
After three years of testing products on herself, Jameela Kosar launched Bohemian Chic Minerals in 2011. Having suffered from sensitive skin, she wanted to make products free of both harsh chemicals and animal products. The range continues to grow, and the online store boasts all your makeup essentials, including 28 shades of foundation, moisturising lipsticks and pigmented eyeshadows in show-stopping hues.
Hair
Maria Nila
Bringing together a love of animals, nature, and great hair care, Maria Nila is the Swedish brand making high-quality products you can feel good about. Certified by PETA, the Vegan Society, and Leaping Bunny, Maria Nila also works with Zeromission, Taking Root and Plan Vivo as part of their Climate Compensation scheme. Their range caters for all hair types, with shampoos, conditioners, oils and styling products that address all our hair qualms.
Body
Lush
In the 1970s, Mark Constantine, a trained trichologist (someone who studies hair and scalp health), and Liz Weir, a beauty therapist, met in a salon in Poole. They wanted to get together to make natural, cruelty-free products, but it wasn’t until 1995 that the first Lush shop was opened. Today you can buy a huge range of sumptuous body and bath products, with thick, moisturising creams, scrubs, oils, bath bombs and fizzies. Lush spoil you with a choice of products and scents and will have you smelling delicious all day.
Skincare
Faith in Nature
When Rivka Rose moved from New York City to Scotland, she needed a moisturiser that could handle the strong Scottish winds. And so, Faith in Nature was born. For Rivka, three things really mattered about her products: that they were affordable, cruelty-free and eco-friendly. Whatever your complexion or skincare needs, from moisturisers to cleansers and washes, Faith in Nature’s gentle formulas and delicate scents will leave you glowing.
Dental Hygiene
Green People
When Charlotte Vøhtz’s daughter, Sandra, was born in 1994, she was dismayed at how difficult it was to find natural products for her family. So in 1997, after years of research, Charlotte launched Green People. The brand promised to never use synthetic chemicals, and it was Charlotte’s strong affinity to nature which ensured that all of Green People’s products are cruelty-free.
Green People’s toothpastes come in four flavours – fennel and propolis, citrus and aloe vera, mint, and minty cool – and are fluoride, SLS, triclosan and animal-glycerin (animal-fat used in some toothpastes) free. They also have toothpaste for children, perfect for milk and mixed teeth.
Shaving
Dr Bronner’s
Founded in 1948 by Emanuel Bronner, a third-generation German-Jewish soapmaker, the labels of Dr Bronner’s products were used to spread Emanuel’s message of the importance of uniting across religious and ethnic divides in order to truly prosper. Today, Emanuel’s vision is continued in the company’s commitment to making socially and environmentally responsible products. Dr Bronner’s shaving creams are made from organic, nourishing ingredients, and come in the scents lemongrass lime, tea tree, lavender, and peppermint, with an unscented option as well.
Deodrant
Salt of the Earth
After admiring the work of Salt of the Earth deodorants for years, the brand was adopted by mother and son team Sally and Thomas Laird in 2005. The duo wanted to take the deodorants mainstream and spread the word about natural deodorants free of the harsh synthetic chemicals that can damage sensitive skin, and the environment. Coming in a variety of scents, these unisex deodorants will keep you fresh all day long.
Perfume
Eden Perfumes
Created by a vegan family living in the lively city of Brighton, Eden Perfumes create perfumes and aftershaves in a variety of scents, including cruelty-free, natural ingredient replicas of some of the most famous smells out there, from Chanel No.5 to Chloé. With affordability at its core, Eden Perfumes allows you to pay a fraction of the price to wear famous fragrances, free of animal-testing and headache-inducing synthetic chemicals.
Cleaning
Method
Back in the year 2000, roommates and childhood friends Adam Lowry and Eric Ryan were fed up with seeing cleaning products full of toxic ingredients. Adam knew that he could create eco-friendly, cruelty-free products, and Eric had an eye for design and wanted to take cleaning products out from under the kitchen sink to be proudly displayed on countertops. Today, Method’s products look sleek, smell divine, and are as tough on germs as any traditional cleaning range. All the while, the brand ensures that “guinea pigs are never used as guinea pigs”.
Laundry
Ecover
In 1979, a “bunch of Belgian hippy scientists” decided to find a cleaner way to make products that were having such a detrimental effect on the waterways and aquatic life. A decade later, Ecover’s first box of washing powder hit the shelves and, finally, a product for eco-conscious buyers was available. Today, you can buy Ecover’s laundry products in a variety of luscious aromas, all free of animal-testing and palm-oil, and perfect for sensitive skin.
To find out more about cruelty-free products, and to stay in-the-know about any brand updates, visit crueltyfreeinternational.org
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