Spring’s bloom is in full swing, bringing to mind growth, replenishment, and rejuvenation. Scenes of foraging animals, the scent of damp, green grass and droplets on rustling tree leaves float to the surface after a good rain. These associations remind us about the true interconnectedness of our experience with nature and nurtures a respect only possible with that awareness when it comes to our impact and the products we consume.  In the spirit of the season we renew our commitment to staying informed about all things cruelty-free and sharing that compassion with our beloved community. 

Cruelty-free progress today:

Although there’s been improvement in the prevalence of animal testing in the industry, there’s still a long way to go to end these harmful practices.  While a growing list of countries has banned animal testing, companies are using law loopholes to continue testing during some portion of their offshore product formulation process. A common practice is for companies in banned countries to pay for testing in places that actually still require it, like China, as long as other non-animal testing data is also included in their process. Big brands that have been confirmed to do this include Clinique, Maybelline, and Benefit, just to name a few.

How is animal testing justified today?

There are claims by governing and regulating bodies that animal testing is needed to show safety for workers handling products, however many studies have shown that often what’s deemed safe on tests with animals fails human tests, due to biological and environmental differences. In other words, animal testing is not reliable, and therefore not worth harm. 

Alternate testing methods:

Following the push to ban animal testing, there have been a number of alternate testing methods developed and reviewed. 

• Human volunteers
• Computer simulations by which advanced algorithms can be used to predict reactions to potential toxicity
• In vitro-testing where cells can be grown to allow scientists to test reactions. Tissues donated can also be used for testing.

Should any ingredient’s safety necessitate animal testing beyond the above alternatives, we should ask ourselves why we’re working with something so potentially harmful to a living being. 

Word to the wise:

As we know the cosmetic and skincare industry is rife with claims for the cleanest, the most natural, compassionate, vegan, eco-friendly, and so on. Consumers have a mountain of a task trying to understand what is truly what without any real agreement on legal definitions and requirements, made much more complicated by international law and “workarounds.”

We stand behind a clear cut definition of cruelty-free, where it applies to any part of the supply chain of products. Many companies strive toward this ideal falling short using animal products, however to truly embody the goal in full, ingredients and products must also be vegan. The bottom line is that many companies can call themselves cruelty-free and still test in other, more lax countries.  

Though cruelty-free products tend to contain less synthetics, and often are natural and organic, the shift in consumer informed investment is a slow climb. Movements shifting deeply-rooted, convenient, and cost saving practices have led to companies taking shortcuts, and strategies in bad conscience. Investment in the health of our planet and its creatures, human or otherwise, stays at the base of every choice we make as a brand, and as consumers. This springtime, our values are renewed together with those of our community. Stay healthy, friends.

Where to check your facts:

🐇To keep the noise low, check your brand for PETA and bunny logos. 

🐇 You can also check your brand on vetted databases here:

ethicalelephant.com

crueltyfree.peta.org/company

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At Ellovi we believe skin health is deeply connected to overall health and well-being. Our mission is to offer wellness using pure ingredients with safe and transparent methods. Self care is not just a luxury and it cannot wait. We’re here to remind you to invest in your health from head to toe, inside and out. 

Team Ellovi 🌺