Choose cruelty free cosmetics

(For the 8th of May)

Lake Natron, Tanzania
Photograph by Philippe Bourseiller

It is often difficult to distinguish between companies that do and so not test on animals. Many companies do not label their products clearly and others make confusing statements - for example, a label claiming 'this product has not been tested on animals' may mean that the final product may not have been animal tested, but the individual ingredients could have been. So even if the manufacturer claims to be cruelty-free, the ingredient supplier could have tested on animals.

If you want to buy genuinely cruelty-free cosmetics, look for products approved under the Humane Cosmetics Standard (HCS). The HCS is the world's only international criteria for cosmetic and toiletry products that are genuinely not tested on animals. By offering a single, internationally recognized set of cruelty-free criteria, the HCS helps ethical consumers avoid animal-tested cosmetics and toiletries. Check the labels on the cosmetics you buy.

- from the book '365 Ways to Save the Earth' by Philippe Bourseiller