Why I Buy Cruelty-Free

About a year ago I made the conscious decision to only buy cruelty-free makeup. I’ve mentioned it in other posts before, but I’ve never talked about why.

I have been a vegetarian for about 9 years so I’ve been pretty aware of animal cruelty for a while now. What really changed it for me though was my dog.

I’ve had beagles for all of my adult life and I can’t imagine having another breed of dog. So when I heard that beagles are the number one dog breed tested on, my heart broke. For all the reasons I love my dog, those are the same reasons they’re tested on, and then some. They’re small, docile, friendly, and cheap to feed. They’re an easy dog to love and that makes them an easy target. (Source)

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All 3 of my beagles have been rescued in some capacity, and I have no idea where they really came from. Bradley was found running down a 3 lane highway. We adopted Devin from the Southeast Beagle Rescue – she was supposedly a hunting dog in Louisiana with a noticeable history of abuse. Mash, the sweetest beagle-mix, came from the same rescue. The only thing we know for sure is that he lived in a shelter before the rescue took him.

All 3 of these dogs are so special to me that the idea of one of them being kept in a cage for their entire lives, never seeing the sky, never breathing fresh air, and never knowing what grass feels like, breaks my heart. Many other animals, not just beagles, suffer every day from animal testing.

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The idea that my makeup or vanity should come before the physical and emotional well being of innocent creatures is not okay. Not for me.

I used to think that only high-end brands were cruelty-free and that cruelty-free drugstore brands were limited. That’s not the case. In recent years the art of cosmetology has become such a phenomenon that it has created an availability of so much more makeup.

Cruelty-free brands like NYX, Pixi, Physician’s Formula, e.l.f., even Wet N’ Wild, can all be found at your local Target and some Walmarts. Stores like Ulta and Sephora allow access to even more cruelty-free brands like tarte, Kat Von D, and Too-Faced.

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If you’re interested in learning more about the suffering and laws surrounding animal testing, here is a great resource. 

If you’re interested in brands that are cruelty-free here is an amazing master list from Cruelty-Free Kitty. It also features brands and their vegan products (which is a whole separate thing from cruelty-free).

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This post isn’t about trying to convince anyone to convert to cruelty-free makeup, it’s just to tell you why I did it. Because it’s not just about my dog. It’s about all animals and animal suffering.

What are your thoughts on the subject? Let me know in the comments below.

Christina

Christina is a twenty-something living with her beagle, Mash, and husband, Nate in their van. She loves traveling, shopping, art, and photography. She’s also a vegetarian, pop-culture enthusiast, book-lover, and Dave Matthews Band fanatic. Catch her somewhere around the country in a converted camper van or at home in Florida for a visit.