I have avoided writing about this topic because, to tell you the truth, I find it very confusing. When I first started to tell people that I was vegan, I was talking mainly about my food intake. I , like many others, was in the dark about what being vegan really means. There was so much to deal with in just making the correct food choices. I did not spend that much time thinking about other non vegan products that I was buying and using.
But I am thinking about it today, because I am just back from getting a pedicure. Sounds indulgent, right, and it can be. It is one hour of relaxation where someone takes care of my feet. I go to a kind of fancy salon because that is where my pedicurist, J. works. I don’t go just because it is a treat for me, I go because I really do need to.
You, see, I have a leg that has been operated on twice and does not cooperate with me in terms of bending the way I would like it to. In simple terms, I cannot reach my feet and toes on the bottom of said leg well enough to do all the necessaries required so that my nails don’t end up curling over the ends of my toes. I can clip them, but the angle at I which I hold my leg to get the job done is so awkward that the nail is too long on one side and too short on the other. It is not a pretty site. Forget about using any kind of exfoliate scrub or cream-just can’t do it.
Hey, it’s not the end of the world-Right? Just go and get your feet fixed up once a month and move on. But, this is where the plot thickens. I started to become more aware that most personal care products are not cruelty free and definitely not vegan. And, that was bothering me. I began reading labels. I was delighted when I would see the Leaping Bunny Logo sitting proudly on the side of the container.
So, what does the Leaping Bunny Logo mean? Well, I will tell you. It means that there was no nonhuman animal testing used by the company or a third party on the ingredients in the product. However, it does not mean that it is free of nonhuman animal products. A few of the favorite ingredients are honey, goat’s milk, beeswax, collagen and lanolin.
In order for the product to be certified vegan, there must be no nonhuman animal products or by-products used in the formula. Now, because the product is certified vegan, neither would there be any hanky panky going on as regards nonhuman animal testing.
But, it took me a long time to figure all of this out. So, what did I do? I stopped going for pedicures-for maybe a year or more. Yes, my feet did look terrible, but it was a very small price to pay for less suffering for some and more peace for me. In the meantime, I continued my research.
Until, one day, I saw my pedicurist, J. when I was out shopping. We exchanged big hugs, how do you do’s and what are you up to now, and so on and so on. I found out from J. that she is now using Aveda products and I almost shouted for joy. I know Aveda. I use Aveda hair products. The company says right on the side of their products, that the ingredients are tested on humans, not nonumans.
So, I made an appointment. Yay, I am going to be able to wear sandals again and my nails won’t click when I am walking barefoot on the hardwood floor. Win! Win!. I took my own Vegan Nail Polish, No Miss with me and headed off. At the end of it all, while I was waiting for my nails to dry, I casually checked out the ingredients on the side of one of the products. Lanolin!!!!!! I was not happy to see this.
I threw my purse down when I got home and headed up to the computer to get some info. Luckily, I came across this fantastic, informative site called Logical Harmony. What I learned is that Aveda, while cruelty free is owned by Estee Lauder, which is not. I sent Tashina Combs the creator of the site, an e-mail and asked her what I should do. She kindly suggested that I try the company Lush which definitely is cruelty free and has many Vegan products. Plus, they do not use any palm oil which is a biggy for me. I try to avoid contributing to the destruction of habitat in the Rainforests, as well as the Rainforests themselves.
So I went to Lush and, with the help of a very helpful young lady, I found almost everything I would need to have my cruelty free and vegan pedicures. I added some Karma Naturals Nail Polish Remover to my little bag that I take with me when I go and all is good. And I feel good about it. I go once a month, have a nice chat with J. about our children and grandchildren and then I trot home with my little bag of products which I stow in the cupboard until next month.
Annie’s Vegan View
If we all shunned products that are not cruelty free and vegan, companies would take notice lickety-split. They need our money to survive and thrive.
There are sites out there that will guide you through the process of finding products that are not made through the suffering of nonhuman animals.
It takes a little time but it is worth it. I promise you, your contribution will make you feel good about yourself, as it did me.
May all beings be happy and free.
I had no ides. Thanks for the very valuable education!
Hi Judy,
So glad that this post was helpful. You are most welcome!
Many thanks,
Anne
Annie-Lush is not vegan…they are vegetarian…some products use eggs and/or honey. I just had a “chat” with Nick on their website.
Hi Darlene,
Welcome to my website and thank you for your reply. You are correct, as I mentioned in the body of my article. ” I sent Tashina Combs the creator of the site, an e-mail and asked her what I should do. She kindly suggested that I try the company Lush which definitely is cruelty free and has many Vegan products.”
Take care,
Anne
I think it’s so great that you shared your story. It’s important to get people thinking but also for people to realize that it’s a journey we all have to start on our own. <3
Hi Tashina,
Thank you very much! We are all in this together, both individually and collectively. I heard today that the increased backlash against veganism means that we are being noticed and that things are changing for the better. Let’s hope so, for the all nonhumans who are suffering at our hands!!
Anne
I use these products as well now. Much better to put natural stuff on use rather than paying to put chemicals on use. Also, I find that animal teating for cosmetics, nails, etc. Is just a nonsence. The line becomes blurry when it comes to medication. My friend needs to take her heart medicatikn everyday. This medication is tested…
Hi Caroline,
Great news that you are using cruelty free and vegan personal care products. This one simple gesture reduces suffering for many. There is no question that companies whose main focus is their bottom line will take notice and make positive changes.
I understand your feeling about drug testing and meds. I recently learned that 98% of the results from nonhuman animal testing in what is called the first phase, do not hold up in the second phase of testing which does not test on nonhumans. With increased awareness on the part of the population at large, many experts agree that this form of cruel testing will end soon because it benefits no one. I wrote a post about this very subject.
http://vegangrammie.com/2014/07/non-human-animal-rights-and-law/
That having been said I understand about your friend and her heart medication. I must take a drug that was no doubt once tested on nonhumans.
Many thanks and keep up the good work you do for nonhumans,
Anne
Good idea to take your own materials with you! But yeah, you always have to be on the lookout it seems, especially when companies change ownership.
Love some of the vegan Lush products, like Daddy-O shampoo and Happy Happy Joy Joy conditioner. They’re pricey, but hey, I (and the animals) are worth it. 😉
It is a murky subject for me. I am constantly checking, making mistakes in what I purchase and then choosing something else. I also stay away from palm oil which is in so many personal care and household products. And anything labelled natural ingredients. It is usually unspecified and can contain nonhuman animal by products. Not using Body Shop anymore because of the palm oil and their sketchy record of selling products to China which does animal testing on items imported to their country. When this issue came to light Body Shop suspended their exports to China, but this has become a trust issue with me. I will use Lush more often.
Many thanks,
Anne
Hi Anne!
I didn’t know that about the Body Shop but hey, I do now, thanks to your article. I love Lush and was only in there yesterday in York. I didn’t realise they had them in Canada too!. I thought it was a U.K thing. It is expensive but I would rather pay a bit more for cruelty free and vegan products. Here in the UK we have stores called Superdrug and the Co-op which are very good. They display the leaping bunny logo and many of their products are vegan too and it is quite reasonably priced. I buy my washing machine capsules and conditioner from the co-op. Before I was vegan I used to buy a lot of perfume. I now realise they contain all kinds of animal products and are tested on animals.
I now shop at Lush for perfume and personal care products like you. Not only are they vegan and cruelty free, but they also are natural and do not contain all the chemicals or have an extensive unknown ingredients list like the bigger companies. Before I was vegan I used to buy L’Oreal products and, “no, it really isn’t worth it”.
To be honest Anne, I try and make a lot of my own stuff now. I have made some face cream myself that is just blended coconut oil and household cleaners can be made from things such as lemon and vinegar!. There is no need for the multitude of chemical cleaners that we see in the supermarkets. It is bad for our pockets and bad for the environment!
Take care Anne. You are awesome!!
Rachel.
Hi Rachel,
Making our own cleaning and personal care products is always a good idea. I have experimented with this and must admit to not being very knowledgeable in this area, but it is on my to do list. I use just plain soap and water a lot for cleaning products as well as vinegar. I am washing my clothes with Soap Nuts which is a biodegradable found in nature fruit of a tree found in India, I believe. What I have not been able to find out is whether or not slave labor is used to pick the soap nuts. I hope not, because if I find out this is the case, I will be searching yet again for a different product.
Take care.
Anne
Thank you for this informative article with links! I’ll be sure to pass along https://logicalharmony.net/cruelty-free-vegan-brand-list/#axzz3BdKNIHlv
recheck, they use eggs and/or honey in some of their products.
Hi Darlene,
No one is saying that Lush is 100% vegan. Their products are cruelty free as in no animal testing, but some do contain animal ingredients. it is important to look for the Vegan logo when shopping!!
Take care,
Anne
Hi Nancy,
You are most welcome. Logical Harmony is one of my favorite websites, Tashina really does her homework in order to present us with the most up to date info about cruelty free and vegan personal care products.
Take care,
Anne