Do you want to look pretty and feel amazing at the same time? I know putting on makeup and looking all dolled up will give you an amazing feeling, but you can look and feel beautiful inside and out. How? By using cruelty-free products that do not test on animals, of course!
Why cruelty-free makeup?
When makeup is cruelty-free, it means it is not tested on animals.
Buying make-up that’s been tested on animals means paying an industry to experiment on (and eventually kill off) about 100 million animals per year.
They suffer a slow death from poisoning and other painful consequences of experimentation.
Animal testing is practically outdated — it is, after all, inaccurate because animals have reactions that may be different compared to those of humans. Besides, humans have different skin types — same goes for animals. It is safe to say that results from these tests may not apply to us.
Here are some cruelty-free makeup products that you can find either online or in malls near you.
BYS Cosmetics
The brand boasts of a wide range of products from eyeshadows to lipsticks, and their foundations carry several shades for different skin tones. Their prices lean towards the more expensive side, but considering the wide array of options they offer, the price may be worth it.
Ellana
Ellana is a 100 percent vegan mineral cosmetic company — not only are they cruelty-free, but they also don’t have any animal-derived ingredients in their products! Oh, and their makeup is also pregnancy-safe. Most of their products are designed to complement the complexion of Asian women, which is good for us because it can be hard to pick the right color.
J.Cat Beauty
Although there aren’t a lot of choices in the range of shades this brand offers, they do have fun colors. Their makeup comes in vivid hues, so anyone who wants to make that memorable first impression will enjoy their products.
Nyx Cosmetics
Ubiquitous and easy to find (they’re available at most department stores), NYX makeup already has a cult following. Their bestsellers include lipsticks and eyeliners.
The Body Shop
All their products are cruelty-free, while most are vegan (the ones containing beeswax and honey aren’t). A few of their top products are the all-in-one foundation, brow and liner kit, and lip and cheek stain.
Urban Decay
A leading makeup brand, Urban Decay recently launched vegan products — that means there are no animal-derived ingredients. Try their cherry-scented all-nighter spray, travel-size elements space powder for face and body, glide-on eye pencil, and the lo-fi lip mousse.
Vice cosmetics
From our favorite local star and comedian Vice Ganda comes a brand of cruelty-free makeup which, not surprisingly, is available in a myriad of colors. Vice Cosmetics has an extensive range of lipsticks, plus a few lip and cheek tints. I’ve personally used one of the lipsticks before and totally loved it.
Pink sugar cosmetics
Pinks Sugar, a more affordable brand, provides enough options ideal for everyday use. Their makeup is widely available and the range of shades caters to a lot of skin tones for Filipinos everywhere.
How do cruelty-free brands ensure product safety?
Good news is, we live in the 21st century! There are now a lot of alternatives to animal testing.
Some companies use natural ingredients, such as bananas. A synthetic cellular tissue that closely resembles human skin is also available.
Unlike animal tests that can take months or years, human cell-based tests and sophisticated computer models deliver human-relevant results in just hours or days. These methods are also much more cost-effective!
This appeared in Animal Scene magazine’s March 2019 issue.
