Your budget isn't a valid reason to buy cosmetics and skincare products that were tested on animals. Cruelty-free beauty products don't cost more or less than brands that torture animals for the sake of mascara and lipstick.
Because I've been writing more about makeup and skincare lately, I'm hearing from a lot of readers and friends who have their own thoughts on beauty products. Two of my friends should be careful not to meet each other, though, because my understanding is when matter and anti-matter meet, things explode.
The first friend told me, with great confidence, that she couldn't possibly use cruelty-free cosmetics because she was on a very tight budget and buys all her makeup and skincare at the drugstore. "Cruelty-free is for rich people," she said.
Just a week later, a second friend told me, also with great confidence, that the reason she didn't use cruelty-free cosmetics is because her skin is very sensitive and she can only wear high-end products or she breaks out. "They don't sell cruelty-free products at Nordstrom," she assured me.
The problem is, of course, that they're wrong. Both of them. Matter and anti-matter.
Cruelty free products are indeed sold at Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, and countless other high end retailers. Some of the brands include By Terry, Trish McEvoy, Marc Jacobs Beauty (a separate company from Marc Jacobs Fragrances, which is not cruelty free), Jane Iredale, Paula's Choice, Trish McEvoy, RevitaLash, and Chantecaille (of the $64 mascara that's worth every penny).
They're also sold at Sephora and Ulta -- Kat Von D, Anastasia Beverly Hills, BECCA, Hourglass, Urban Decay, Butter London. They're sold on Beautylish, which carries both affordable brands like cult favovrite RCMA, and pricey brands like Natasha Denona, Kevin Acouin, and Charlotte Tilbury.
And yes, they're sold at the drugstore. Some of the very best, least expensive cruelty-free products are sold at drugstores, in fact: Milani, Physicians Formula, E.L.F., Wet 'n' Wild, NYX, Makeup Academy, Sonia Kashuk -- all of them are affordable cruelty-free products sold in drugstores as well as big box stores like Target, online, and other retailers. There are more listed over at Cruelty-Free Kitty.
My purpose in writing this isn't to list cruelty free brands; others do that, and I'm grateful to benefit from their research. I'm simply saying despite what you believe, and regardless of whether you're Nordstrom's best customer or buy all your makeup and skincare products at Walgreens, you can afford to choose cruelty-free beauty.
You made a difference. I decided to stop buying Maybelline products even though there are a few that I really like.
I already use a lot of Paula's Choice stuff and religiously consult her reviews when shopping. From now on I'll look for cruelty-free products that get 5 stars :)
Posted by: Lindsey | 13 March 2017 at 02:47 PM