Being cruelty free is
something I feel very passionately about. Animal testing is gross and I don’t
want to support brands that participate in this act. So, I’ve been trying to
revamp my life to fade out products from brands that test on animals and make
room for more cruelty free options. I’ve swapped out hair care products, makeup
and skincare items, to make room for better alternatives. My collection is now
about 98% cruelty free, apart from a few items here or there that I’m trying to
use up.
I try to do as much
research as I can when it comes to buying new products, especially skincare. A
few of the websites that I frequently use to discover cruelty free brands are:
Logical Harmony, Leaping Bunny, and Cruelty Free Kitty. These are all great
resources to help you find what brands to avoid when trying to make the switch
to cruelty free.
When it comes to
makeup, making the switch wasn’t too difficult. Most the brands I enjoyed and
bought frequently were already cruelty free, which was a plus when it came to
decluttering and getting rid of non-cruelty free items. This was also the case
when it came to hair care products. Skincare was a bit trickier because my skin
has always been delicate so it required extra TLC. Having crazy-sensitive skin
is never fun. It’s also no fun to take care of as well when the tiniest thing
can irritate your skin. I also have combination skin so combating an oily
T-zone while fighting dry cheeks can be a pain too.
In my skincare routine,
I’ve discovered that less is more when it comes to sensitive skin. The less products
I slap on my face, the less I worry about irritating my skin. Using products
that are all natural is also something I aim for. With all natural products, I
don’t have to worry about unnecessary chemicals in my skincare that can serve
as irritants – thus not having to deal with angry skin later. Thankfully, a lot
of the brands that feature all natural products are cruelty free.
Cleanser:
Lush’s Aqua Marina: I’ve
mentioned this before but I’m going to mention it again because it’s that good.
I’m already on my third container and I’m going to continue to repurchase this.
This cleanser is perfect for those with sensitive skin because it’s formulated
to calm and soothe sensitive skin. It has calamine powder and seaweed to help
nourish and soothe irritated skin. It also has a small amount of very-fine sea
salt for exfoliation. It’s so fine that you don’t even feel it. This is a plus
for us sensitive skin babes because exfoliants that are too gritty can tear
your skin, leading to more issues.
Alba Bontanica Acnedote Face Wash: This is great for those that want to deep clean their pores
and deal with blemishes. This cleanser is formulated with salicylic acid and
willow bark extract to unclog pores and leave your skin feeling refreshed. While
I don’t deal with acne (other than the occasional hormonal breakout) I love
using this for a deep cleanser at night to clear away the daily grime. (The
Acnedote astringent is fantastic too!) I apply this with my Eco Tools facial brush. It's soft and perfect to provide a little extra exfoliation. It's also cruelty free and vegan.
Toner:
Thayer’s Rose Petal Witch Hazel: This stuff is amazing. If you’ve heard someone rave about this
before – it’s well worth the hype. This toner is filled with natural
ingredients to help cleanse, tone and soothe the skin. Some toners tend to
irritate my face and this is one of the first toners I’ve used that didn’t
sting my face. If you like the smell of roses, you’ll love this. If roses aren’t
your thing, fear not because they have toners in cucumber, lavender, original,
and unscented.
Pixi Beauty Glow Tonic: Now, this is what I use when I need some extra TLC for my skin. The Glow
Tonic is an exfoliating toner designed to purify and tone the skin, leaving
behind an even tone and texture. It has a low percentage of glycolic acid,
which is an Alpha Hydroxy Acid used to slough off dead skin and stimulate cell
resurfacing to help even the skin tone. It also has aloe vera to help soothe
and hydrate your skin. Now, while it’s a low dosage of glycolic acid you could
still experience a bit of stinging if you’re sensitive like myself. It only
lasts for a couple of seconds and then it’s gone but just be weary. Using
products with AHA’s or BHA’s can increase the skin’s sensitivity to sun so make
sure to use a sunscreen or a moisturizer with SPF. Hint- using SPF’s helps with
hyperpigmentation and evening the skin tone and texture.
Moisturizer:
Lush Imperialis Moisturizer: This moisturizer is formulated to work with most skin types, but
it’s great for sensitive skin! It’s formulated to help soothe and ease
irritations. It featured lavender to help balance the skin and orange blossom
water to brighten dull complexions.
Alba Bontanica Hawaiian Oil-Free Moisturizer: This is a lightweight moisturizer that’s perfect
for those with oily or combination skin because it’s oil-free. It doesn’t go on
greasy or too thick so it provides the right amount of hydration without
causing your face to be too oily. It’s infused with aloe, green tea, gotu,
kola, and cucumber extracts so it’s filled with antioxidants to help balance
and even the skin tone and texture. A great affordable alternative to
Imperialis.
Serum:
Insta Natural Hyaluronic Acid Serum: This serum helps to prove deep hydration and nourish dull and dry
complexions. While I don’t have dry skin, this serum has helped minimize texture
on my skin and has helped keep it looking bright. It has Vitamin C which paired
with Hyaluronic Acid, helps reduce fine lines, texture, and discoloration. The
texture of this serum is a lightweight gel and it quickly sinks into the skin.
Because of how hydrating this is, I only apply this at night and after letting
it sink in, I go in with my moisturizer. If you have dry skin, you can apply
this both morning and at night.
Masks:
Lush's Ayesha: This is my all-time favorite mask from Lush. It's a clay mask that helps tighten, tone and brighten dull, tired complexions. It's a blend of vitamin-rich kiwi to brighten dull spots, asparagus to exfoliate, and honey to hydrate and soothe redness. It also has witch hazel which helps tighten and tone the skin. You store it in the fridge so it feels nice and cool when you apply it to the skin. It's a great physical exfoliant for sensitive skin because it's not grainy or overly abrasive so it helps soften the skin without over-exfoliating and causing micro-tears. It's one of Lush's fresh face masks so it's only available in stores.
Making the switch to
cruelty free can be difficult but it’s well worth it. Especially when you find
those holy grail products that become staples in your routine. Research is your
best friend and there are a ton of sources online that help provide great
resources on what brands to buy – and which to avoid. If you have any brand recommendations
let me know!
