Did you know that cosmetic animal testing is still legal in 80% of countries? Sadly South Africa is one of the countries which allow for painful animal experimentation, including for testing cosmetics, and there is no legislation protecting animals used in research in South Africa. It is shocking that in 2021 we are still fighting against such an outdated practice. In today’s age, there are many modern non-animal methods that can be used to test cosmetic safety issues, and these methods may actually better predict human responses in the real-world than the animal tests they replace!
Brands should have a moral responsibility to implement anti-testing policies, but since testing isn’t regulated in most countries, many brands LIE to consumers and simply stick a bunny on the back of their labels. There is no legal definition of the term “cruelty-free”, so it can mean “different things” to different brands. Some brands will justify their position by stating that they never test on animals unless it is “required by law” – which means that they do conduct government-mandated tests of cosmetic ingredients. The term “cruelty-free” SHOULD mean that a brand 1) does not test its products on animals, 2) that they do not use any ingredients that have been tested on animals, 3) that they don’t use ingredients derived from animals (like animal fat) and finally, 4) that they do not test on animals when required by law.
No animal should suffer for the sake of beauty. In toxicology labs around the world, rabbits, guinea pigs and mice have cosmetic products and ingredients dripped in their eyes, forced down their throats, and smeared onto their shaved skin or on their ears. None of these animals are given pain relief, and all of them will be killed after the testing is done. It is incredibly cruel.
Humane Society International is working to ban cosmetic animal testing in the world’s most influential beauty markets, and also ban the sale of cosmetic products or ingredients that have been newly tested in any other part of the world. They have just released powerful stop-motion animated short film, #SaveRalph, calling for an end to cosmetic testing on animals around the world. You can help laboratory animals like Ralph in Africa by SIGNING the HSI/Africa country petition, urging our government to prohibit animal testing for cosmetics. SIGN here: hsi.org/saveralph
In the interim, it is up to us as consumers to make our voices heard. The power is in your purse and every time you buy cosmetics from an accredited cruelty-free brand, you vote for a better life for laboratory animals. Be a conscious consumer and refuse to support brands who still test on animals (even when “required by law”).
To help you, I’ve put together a list of my current favourite beauty cruelty-free & vegan products, available in South Africa or online. If you are unsure whether a brand is really cruelty-free or not, you can refer to the certified guides including Beauty Without Cruelty (best source of info, very strict criteria and local – South Africa) , Leaping Bunny (UK and EU) , Choose Cruelty Free (Australia & NZ) , Logical Harmony and BeautyWithoutBunnies (PETA global).
SHOP MY FAVOURITE CRUELTY-FREE BRANDS, TESTED ONLY ON ME – VOLUNTARILY
| Brand | Product(s) | Certified list | Origin | Stockist | Veg? |
| Shampoo | |||||
| Lush | Jason and the Argan Oil | Beauty Without Bunnies & Local Harmony | International | Online Lush stores countrywide | Vegan |
| The Body Shop | Shea Butter Richly Replenishing Shampoo | Leaping Bunny | International | Online Clicks The Body Shop stores countrywide | Vegan |
| Conditioner | |||||
| Rain Natural Skincare | Biologie Natural Conditioner | Beauty Without Cruelty | Local, South African | Stores nationwide | Vegan |
| The Body Shop | Shea Butter Richly Replenishing Conditioner | Leaping Bunny | International | The Body Shop stores countrywide | Vegan |
| Hair Mask | |||||
| The Body Shop | Banana Truly Nourishing Hair Mask | Leaping Bunny | International | The Body Shop stores countrywide | Vegan |
| Skincare | |||||
| Skin Creamery | Oil-milk Cleanser | Beauty Without Cruelty | Local, South African | Online Wellness Warehouse Faitful-to-Nature | Vegan |
| Skin Creamery | Facial Hydrating Oil | Beauty Without Cruelty | Local, South African | Online Wellness Warehouse Faitful-to-Nature | Vegan |
| Skin Creamery | Skin Tonic | Beauty Without Cruelty | Local, South African | Online Wellness Warehouse Faitful-to-Nature | Vegan |
| Skin Creamery | Wildflower water-cream | Beauty Without Cruelty | Local, South African | Online Wellness Warehouse Faitful-to-Nature | Vegan |
| Skin Creamery | The Everyday Cream | Beauty Without Cruelty | Local, South African | Online Wellness Warehouse Faitful-to-Nature | Vegan |
| REN Skincare | Ready Steady Glow Daily AHA Tonic (exfoliation) | Beauty Without Bunnies | International | Woolworths Wellness Warehouse Clicks | Vegan |
| REN Skincare | Radiance Skincare Radiance Perfection Serum | Beauty Without Bunnies | International | Woolworths Wellness Warehouse Clicks | Vegan |
| REN Skincare | Overnight Glow Dark Spot Sleeping Cream | Beauty Without Bunnies | International | Woolworths Wellness Warehouse Clicks | Vegan |
| REN Skincare | Evercalm Overnight Recovery Balm | Beauty Without Bunnies | International | Woolworths Wellness Warehouse Clicks | Vegan |
| LenKa | Preparing Face Mask: Sensitive | Beauty Without Cruelty | Local | Online | Vegan |
| The Body Shop | Hydration Spray | Leaping Bunny | International | The Body Shop stores countrywide Clicks | Vegan |
| Body wash / soap | |||||
| African Organics | Africa Organics Kalahari Melon Body Wash | Beauty Without Cruelty | Local | Faithful To Nature Wellness Warehouse | Vegan |
| The Body Shop | Coconut Soap | Leaping Bunny | International | The Body Shop stores countrywide Clicks | Vegan |
| Woolworths Beauty | Glycerine Soap | Beauty Without Cruelty | Local | Woolworths Nationwide | Vegan |
| Perfume | |||||
| Woolworths Beauty | Infinity EDP | Beauty Without Cruelty | Local | Woolworths Nationwide | Vegan |
| Rain Skincare | Leaf perfume | Beauty Without Cruelty | Local | Online and Rain stores | Vegan |
| Africology | Gardenia perfume | Beauty Without Cruelty | Local | Online and in Africology stores | Vegan |
| Makeup | |||||
| Woolworths Beauty | Primer | Beauty Without Cruelty | Local | Woolworths Nationwide | Vegan |
| The Body Shop | Fresh Nude Foundation in Bali Vanilla 020 | Leapping Bunny | International | Online and The Body Shop stores nationwide | Vegan |
| Woolworths Beauty | Longwear Max Cover Foundation SPF 20 | Beauty Without Cruelty | Local | Woolworths Nationwide | Vegan |
| The Body Shop | Blush Shimmer Waves | Leapping Bunny | International | Online and The Body Shop stores nationwide | Vegan |
| Woolworths Beauty | Ultimate Waterproof 3-in-1 Mascara | Beauty Without Cruelty | Local | Woolworths Nationwide | Vegan |
| The Body Shop | Lash Sport Waterprood Mascara | Leaping Bunny | International | Online and The Body Shop stores nationwide | Vegan |
| Woolworths Beauty | Pressed Powder (setting powder) | Beauty Without Cruelty | Local | Woolworths Nationwide | Vegan |
| The Body Shop | Brow & Lash Gel Clear | Leaping Bunny | International | Online, Clicks and The Body Shop stores nationwide | Vegan |
| Sunscreen | |||||
| Oh Lief | Sunscreen | Beauty Without Cruelty | Local | Wellness Warehouse | Vegan |
| Heliocare | Gelcream Color SPF 50 (Light) | Beauty Without Bunnies | International | Dermastore | Vegan |
| Insect Repellent | |||||
| Pure Beginnings | Insect Repellent Spray | Beauty Without Cruelty | Local | Wellness Warehouse | Vegan |
| Toothpaste | |||||
| Pure Beginnings | Fresh Mint Toothpaste | Beauty Without Cruelty | Local | Wellness Warehouse | Vegan |
| Earthly | Toothpaste bits | Not yet listed, homemade | Local | Wellness Warehouse | Vegan |
*Read more about REN Skincare’s policy as they are owned by Unilever.
If you have any questions about our anti-animal testing campaign in South Africa, the products I listed or maybe products that I haven’t listed, please feel free to drop me a comment below or send me an email via the contact page.
Love, Leo x
