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Monday, June 13, 2011

Bunny Blog Pledge - Buy Cruelty-Free

say NO to CRUEL COSMETICS...

WHY?

Because I love animals
and I am an animal lover
and I can't in good conscious use products that are tested on animals...and most often tested on rabbits...
Because the sad and gruesome fact is that millions of bunnies face the horrors of
product testing everyday...
and it's partly because not enough people are protesting it or care enough to make changes & some are just sadly ignorant of what test lab animals go through for us...
are YOU OKAY it???  I sure as hell am not.


That is why I recently signed up for the 'BUNNY BLOG PLEDGE'.

This blog pledge comes in the form of a paper bunny that is travelling around the globe from
bunny loving blogger to bunny loving blogger.
Bloggers, like yours truly, who LOVES animals, especially rabbits and who vow to buy
CRUELTY-FREE COSMETICS....


(The pledge bunny arrived with a sweet postcard from the previous host & I happily brewed a pot of peppermint tea so I could sit down and visit all the other bloggers who signed the rabbit).
Those participating are hoping to spread the word through our blogs on the
importance of buying Cruelty-Free.

Miss Bunny has travelled well so far...she has visited:
Annette Tait in the UK...than she travelled to a bunny named Jet & her Mama...
than she went to see Juliet Wilson over in Scotland.
Than she had a visit with Charlotte and Humphrey of Cottontails Baby.
Than hopped over to Jane, Max & Molly in Edinburgh.
Than she went to visit Gill's Garden alongside buns Daisy and Archie...
Now she's popping in to me, in North Bay Canada and from here
she'll move onto Donna Swan & her furry brood in Dallas Texas and from there to a new place and so on...

As I said rabbit's are the #1 test lab subject for cosmetics & household products.
It breaks my heart every single day to think of what's happening those rabbits 'out there'
(hence my dreams of someday opening a rabbit rescue for such sweethearts).
...
Beautiful rabbits like our Jinny (shown here)...
just because they have very sensitive eyes and skin.


Can YOU be a Part Of That???

I can't...
which is why I've been buying Cruelty-Free Cosmetics & such for years now.
My make up comes from either AVON or REVLON or Burt's Bees,
all cruelty-free companies whom I feel good buying from...
(even though neither Avon or Revlon advertise their cruelty-free sides).

Some quickies that I can think of that you'll want to avoid are any products from
Johnsons & Johnsons and Proctor and Gamble as they are BIG testers...

and popular products like:
Aveeno, AquaFresh, Aussie, Arm & Hammer, Always, Acuvue, Biotherm, Calgon, Clairol, Clearasil, Colgate, Clean & Clear, Clorox, Coppertone, Crest, Dove, Febreeze, L'Oreal, Glade, Ivory, Iams, Herbal Esscences, Head & Shoulders, Lacome, Listerine, Max Factor, Maybelline, Nair, Neutragena, Nice & Easy, Pampers, Olay, Old Spice, Palmolive, Ponds, Pantene, Pearl Drops, Suave, Swiffer, Vaseline, Vidal Sassion, Vicks..and so on, ALL of which ARE TESTED ON ANIMALS...
even lines such as Christina Aguileras Perfumes are tested on animals.
(refer to this list for more names, etc)

There's tons of choices for kind alternatives however, you just have to take the time to look, research
and ultimately care.


It's easy to spot the 'Not Test On Animals' line or the not tested bunny logo...
and keep in mind that just because a product doesn't have these identifying marks,
 doesn't necessarily mean they are tested...
some companies don't advertise anywhere on their packaging that they are cruelty-free
(though I do find that most who are cruelty-free do advertise as such).
If you don't see the cruelty-free line or logo than just 'google' any brand/product your thinking of buying
or simply look up the ones your already using & which your not sure about...

(don't forget there are always links listed here on my sidebar of Cruelty-Free lists I like to use. 
I am partial to this list & this list).

There are MANY companies who have 'no-testing' policies...
and it's easy to find out who does and who doesn't and than switch from those who do.
(but don't forget, it helps to take an extra step and send the bad companies a letter or email
telling them why your switching from their products and to voice that kindness is a priority for you...
especially towards those who have no voice of their own).

Some companies that do test on animals, such as Clorox, do have products that aren't tested,
like the readily available line called 'Green Works'.
Is buying these products just lining the pockets of a bad company?
or
Is it sending them the message that there is a market for Cruelty-Free?
the choice is yours...the latter is better than nothing in my opinion.

You don't have to replace all your items ALL AT ONCE...just finding one replacement at a time can make the task of 'switching over' seem 'less daunting' & are steps towards a kinder lifestyle.
(Jonathan and I are still looking for a really great cruelty-free under arm deodorant)

BUYING CRUELTY-FREE IS EASY

And it doesn't have to mean more money. That is a common misconception...
And even when it does cost abit more, isn't knowing an animal won't suffer for your choice, worth it?

Sadly, as I said, rabbits, (especially those with red eyes) are the most common test lab subject.
I could never in good conscious, snuggle up to my fur babies,
knowing my make up and products were tested on any of their precious long-eared kind...


I can't stress how EASY it is to BUY CRUELTY-FREE...
AND Not just cosmetics...
But face creams, soaps, oils, cleaning products and perfumes, etc...too.

I have a few favourite company's
(click right here to read another blog post I wrote on my favourite cruelty-Free Jason's products)
(and right here to read a post on cruelty-free Earth Therapeutics products)
I also love Kiss My Face products...
Let me show you some of my other favs that I eagerly use right now...

Avalon Organics has many beautiful products and I can't get enough of their face creams...


I am somewhat of a face cream addict., ha ha...
I have many kinds in the house and ALL are Cruelty-Free
...40 Carrots is another big favourite of mine
(as you can see I stocked up a a few tubes, ha ha).


There are soooo many lovelies out there....
and usually the cruelty-free brands are also natural or organic lines as well, which is just a bonus!

As with cosmetics and beauty products there are many cleaning products that are cruelty-free.
One of my favourite household line is from the brilliant and fantastic company called 'Method'.
They cover a large range of cleaners including a wonderful Cruelty-Free wood cleaner that I love using...


I can't praise 'Method' supplies enough.
Seriously, if your not able to get these products where you live they are soooo worth ordering by mail.
(especially the baby laundry detergents...I LOVE them & the 'Rice Milk & Mallow scents ROCK).

Cruelty-Free products are readily available in regular shops like Shoppers Drug Mart, grocery stores and places such as Canadian Tire, Walmart, even Winners/Homesense usually has a lovely selection...
thinking cruelty-free is just a speciality item is wrong.
and what you can't get in town, think about ordering online.

It may not be something you can do overnight...especially if you live in smaller towns, but it is possible and so worth it and most certainly a positive action to really prove that you love animals.


REALLY, Once you start looking for that little 'Not Tested On Animals' line and/or the not-tested bunny rabbit logo, you'll be pleasantly surprised at how often you come across it...
and your be pleasantly surprised at how easy it is to put back the products that don't have them....
because kind people want and can make kind choices
& if your still lagging on the decision, than think of any animals you have at home or have ever loved...
...
Think of them stuck in a small cold metal cage day in and day out
only to be taken out every day for a torture session...
having their eyes pinned open as a monster drops in perfume or detergent or goodness knows what...
just to see if they are scalded or blinded...or worse.
(as a long standing PETA member/supporter you wouldn't believe some of the things these rabbits & animals go through, it truly is heart-wrenching)

I truly think that my bunnies love us just that much more for making the choice to go
CRUELTY-FREE...
I can hear their sweet little hearts say...
Thank You Mama & Daddy....


So please from the bottom of my heart...
Buy Cruelty-Free...
Rabbits and animals around the world will thank you...
especially the sweethearts stuck in Testing Labs.

Our own precious Jinny, Jaks, Ella Luna, Roo and our fur angels Beanie, Thodan, Gimmley, Noodle, Hobbs and Hazel send you all extra love and virtual bun snuggles if you do...


XO Mandy & The Bunnies XO

(If Your Interested In Hosting Ms.Rabbit for the Bun Blog Pledge please do email me at MandySaile@BijousWhimsy.com or sign up here and we'll get your name on the hosting list, Thank You).

11 comments:

Annette Tait said...

what an absolutely perfect post Mandy!! you said every single word so eloquently on behalf of all the furries in labs around the world.
And it is so easy to make the switch to cruelty free - and do it when your old products run out :)
win - win!

many thanks and such lovely pics of your furs :)

Deyfenn Slayd said...

Beautiful post. Well said Mandy.

Unfortunately, humans are experts at ignoring that which is inconvenient or contrary to their own self-assumed rights, like animal testing or eating meat. They HAVE to have that perfume, or couldn't live without . They will say things like “I know eating veal is bad and it upsets me…but I still do it”. The horrors behind the products are simply blurred and buried in their minds to the point where no personal accountability is required. How sad and pathetic to live in such a fog of self-delusion.

People need to face reality, accept reality, and then change it. Period.

Deyfenn Slayd said...

...Oh, and Jackie and the red-carpet....come on!!! :-)

bean-curd likes.

suz said...

Interesting post - I looked at the lists figuring I'd have to change something and discovered my makeup and soap (Crabtree & Evelyn rosewater & glycerin) are there. I have extremely sensitive skin and it's taken a while to find makeup that doesn't cause problems, so that was a sigh of relief. The additional thought was that these companies must know they are making a good product without a lot of harmful chemicals, so the testing isn't needed!

Michelle May-The Raspberry Rabbits said...

I agree and indeed buy cruelty free.
xx, shell

Lisa said...

Thanks for this Mandy. When I have a little more time I'm going to check out your suggestions for soap. I've been having a real hard time taking "the pledge" because the soap i used to use was dove, not leaping bunny approved. Long story short, I got a rash using cruelty-free that only seems to go away when I use actual soap. (I tried two different brands: the body shop and burt's bees). I want to keep trying, but the rash was pretty brutal. I'm also having a hard time finding acne wash and deodorant that really work. But, it's just a matter of being nervous about ordering unfamiliar brands online, so now I have some suggestions from you to start with! Thanks Mandy. It really brought tears to my eyes.

Edie said...

How about cruelty free art products? I avoid bristle brushes, but I know that many products that have to be tested for toxicity for chemical safety are tested on animals. Is there a cruelty free art supplies list out there? I've not been very successful in finding one.... thanks for any insights you may have!

edie

Jane said...

Fab post Mandy! Nice to see Miss Rabbit has made her way safely across the water to Canada. Your bunny photographs are beautiful, & everything you've written really educational.

Lisa - Could you try making your own soap? 'Melt & pour' is really easy & cheap. I have sensitive skin too & that's my solution. That way you know exactly what's going into it too so you can make sure you avoid putting in anything that irritates you.

Edie - There is a good list somewhere but I can't find a link to it. I remember going through my screenprinting materials & checking them on it though. Hopefully someone else can pass it on to you.

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Unknown said...

Hello Mandy,

Edie posted a question about cruelty free art supplies as a result of your blog. I'd like to respond if you don't mind.

Colors of Nature was formed in response to the need for natural, vegan and cruelty free art supplies. We offer 13 watercolor paints and soon to be added oil paints that are made with natural earth mineral pigments using an all vegetable based vehicle. On every paint jar you will find an ingredient list. In order to be certified by ACMI and PETA we needed to supply an ingredient list. We were certified as being safe for children and adults plus vegan and cruelty free.

I hope you will consider us as a solution to the cruelty free art supply question.

Please feel free to visit us at Colors of Nature or contact me directly.

Thank you,