What is and What isn't?

I've been doing some research today (in between plays during the GB game. GO PACK!) on what brands are and are not cruelty free, and I'm really trying not to let myself get discouraged. I initially started my research based on products I owned in my own repertoire. Before trying to figure out what wasn't cruelty free, I looked for what was. And surprisingly I found I do already own quite a bit of things by companies that do not test on animals. Hooray!!

However, here's the kicker. I'm discovering that I really have to dig for the correct answer. Some companies claim they are cruelty free, but are owned by a company that tests on animals. For instance, Urban Decay, a higher end makeup company, does not test their products on animals and some of their products are even Vegan! I got really excited because I love their line. But, after doing more digging, I came to learn that UD is owned by L'Oreal which does test on animals. :-( So ultimately you're giving your money to a company that is not cruelty free to buy a "cruelty free" product. On the flip side, a company can claim to be cruelty free, but when questioned about their status with selling products in China, they do. Why is selling to China an issue you might ask? Well, unlike the United States, China does actually have laws requiring their products to be tested on animals. So, the same goes, you're contributing to a company that does, at the end of the day, test on animals. It's really a shame.

I'm discovering helpful websites that help bridge the gap between truly cruelty free and not. For instance, PETA's website will even list which companies have parents companies that test on animals. (Like my Urban Decay and L'Oreal story.) Like I said, I'm trying to focus on what IS rather than what ISN'T so I don't lose sight of mind and get discouraged.