Cruelty has no place in beauty. Desert Essence is proud to be certified cruelty free by the Leaping Bunny Program, which is widely regarded as the gold standard for cruelty free beauty. But what exactly does cruelty free mean in product development, and why does it matter? To answer that, we put together this comprehensive guide to help you navigate the world of cruelty free beauty and shop with compassion.
What Does Cruelty Free Mean?
The term cruelty free in beauty rose out of consumer concern for animal welfare. When a product is labeled as cruelty free, the implication is that it was not tested on animals. But because “cruelty free” is not a regulated term in the United States, its usage can be a bit murky. That’s why it’s important to look for certifications when you shop for cruelty-free products. Though a company might not conduct animal testing itself, it might still contract other companies to test on animals.
Desert Essence is certified cruelty free by the Leaping Bunny Program, which specifically requires that “no animal testing be used in any phase of product development by the company, its laboratories, or ingredient suppliers.” We do not test our products on animals, purchase ingredients from suppliers who do, or sell to countries that require animal testing.
When Did Cruelty Free Become Popular?
The cruelty free movement is not new. In fact, anti-vivisection societies in England can even be traced back to the 19th century. Within the beauty industry, momentum for the cruelty-free movement picked up dramatically in the ‘90s, but there were no clear standards for what was considered cruelty free. In 1996, animal protection groups formed the Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics, establishing the Leaping Bunny Program to create a coherent set of guidelines for cruelty free products.
Importance of Making Ethical Consumer Choices
As a consumer, you have the power to support brands whose business practices align with your personal values. You can make a compassionate choice by purchasing cruelty-free skin care, hair care, and oral care from companies that follow rigorous standards such as the Leaping Bunny Program certification.
How Do Cruelty-Free Products Help the Environment?
Many cruelty-free brands belong in the clean beauty space, where consumers are especially conscious about where ingredients come from. As such, they are commonly committed to sourcing ingredients sustainably and following environmental standards set by widely recognized certification programs. Besides being certified cruelty free by the Leaping Bunny Program, Desert Essence is a certified B corporation, which means that we meet high standards of public transparency, legal accountability and social and environmental performance. Additionally, our collection features many products that use USDA organic, RSPO-certified and non-GMO ingredients.
Is Cruelty Free Good for Your Skin?
Many cruelty-free skincare products feature botanical ingredients that nourish and replenish the skin. At Desert Essence, we use ingredients such as:
- Jojoba oil, which balances and moisturizes skin without leaving a greasy residue
- Tea tree oil, which helps cleanse, clarify and soothe skin
- Coconut oil, which nourishes skin with lightweight moisture
- Aloe, which delivers soothing hydration
How Do I Find Cruelty-Free Products?
No matter if you’re looking for cruelty-free hair products or skin care go-to’s, start your cruelty-free journey by searching for the Leaping Bunny Program label. The Leaping Bunny Program’s website also offers many resources, including a Compassionate Shopping Guide with a comprehensive directory of cruelty-free brands. There’s even a Cruelty-Free app for scanning product barcodes to check if a company is certified cruelty free.
And, of course, you can always browse Desert Essence’s collection for a wide range of plant-based personal, skin, hair, body and dental care products that are certified cruelty free by the Leaping Bunny Program.
Ready to shop with compassion? Explore our selection of cruelty-free products today!