A few problems that vegan's like myself, run into occasionally.

P.s. it's a long post but I ask of you to please read it all<3 thank you, in advance.


Sometimes, vegan's run into issues like this. Issues involving make-up, soap, lotion, hygiene items etc.


I have been finding that a lot of make-up and other products that we are lead to believe is vegan, (mineral line usually indicates something will be vegan-friendly, not always, but sometimes) isn't exactly okay for us vegans. Some items from places that claim to sell vegan make up along with non-vegan make up have been missing the points. I personally love physicians formula! I have bought items from them over the years and have learned there's small traces of animal derived ingredients. Which is not exactly cruelty-free OR vegan. Physicians formula is not tested on animals. Plus, there is no third-party animal testing involved either.    (Thankfully)


However, a lot of items from various make-up companies do have animal derived ingredients in their products.  

Ana 2009 Physicians Formula

Here is a picture of me from 2009 where I was wearing only physicians formula on my entire face. 


The gloss, the eyeshadow and mineral powder. I was wearing the mineral line mascara, mineral line powder, mineral line pallet (i believe that's what it was called) I recently learned that not everything in the mineral line is 100% vegan. It's about 90% vegan. Which, believe it or not; Isn't acceptable. I can't remember exactly at the moment what the name of the ingredient was, but I learned it was definitely not vegan. I have only recently found this out. 


YES, I'M OBVIOUSLY STILL A VEGAN. It's just a minor mistake was made because I had reason to believe it was safe for a vegan to use. No, i'm not blaming physicians formula at all. I just wish I had more understanding of what a mineral make-up line meant, back then. Now, I have become much more aware.


Some of you may be thinking "what the hell are you talking about, just because a company comes out with a mineral line doesn't mean it's vegan" Yes, i'm aware of that but, sometimes it can mean just that! It depends who the company is and what their ingredients list. I have recently found the most amazing list that I am using religiously!  


Here is the link to the website! I use this list about 20 times a day, now! 


The list


Why am I using this list so much? Because i've decided to no longer be in the dark about what make-up I believe is vegan or not. I am a vegan so therefore, I only use vegan make-up. But I am obviously not perfect, so there will always be mistakes in the make-up department for me. I am at the 99.7% rating in my vegan lifestyle. BECAUSE OF THIRD PARTY TESTING and small traces of animal derived ingredients, in make-up. :( DAMN IT, I'M ANGRY! (trust me, it tears me up inside) Third party testing is not just involved in make-up. It's many more items than that. 


It's not because of the food I eat or the clothing I wear. (which is always vegan)  It's the make-up that I have been in the dark about, and the lotion, toothpaste, shampoo and deodorant. I have always been very good at spotting the non-vegan ingredients in shampoo and deodorant and toothpaste. I used tom's deodorant and toothpaste. (which contained no animal ingredients, but has recently sold out to a parent company that TESTS ON ANIMALS.) Which is obviously not vegan.   (Colgate Palmolive) Don't worry, I've switched! I use Kiss My Face deodorant and toothpaste, plus I use Nature's Gate Shampoo (the vegan products) (expect my video about these products within the next week)


I mentioned "lotion" earlier. Yes, I use lotion so much because I live in a very, very dry climate. 2% humidity to be exact. I have always bought ST.IVES lotion. (The no animal ingredient products only) Plus the no animal ingredient "timeless skin" facial scrub. Some of their lotions contain animal ingredients and some of the facial cleansers do as well. Here's the names of the one's I would use.  The reason I know this is because I was on LeapingBunny.org and I clicked their FAQ after I saw St. Ives was not listed on their website. 


*SOOTHING OATMEAL SHEA (link to the product details) Click


*INTENSIVE HEALING (link to product details) Click


*REPLENISHING MINERAL THERAPY (link to product details) Click


As you can imagine, I am extremely angry to know that my most favorite animal-free lotion  takes part in CRUEL animal testing. Not the immediate finished product, but what about the ingredient process? Here is a quick definition I found about Third-party testing and the lies behind not tested on animals. REMEMBER not everyone uses third party testing. Only some companies do. P.S. I will finish using the lotion I already own (It contains no animal ingredients) If it did contain animal ingredients I obviously would not continue using it. But I will not ever go back to get it again until they've changed.


Information from: http://www.wordiq.com/definition/Animal_testing

There has been a great deal of contemporary controversy over animal testing to determine the safety of cosmetic products to human consumers. Many people feel it is immoral to cause harm or death to animals for the sake of human vanity and it is unethical to sell commercial vanity products based on the harm of animals.

"Cosmetic testing on animals" includes all of these practices:

• Testing a finished cosmetic product (e.g. lipstick) on animals (see below for examples of toxicity tests);
• Testing individual ingredients of cosmetic products on animals;
• Testing any combination of ingredients on animals;
• Contracting a third-party company to perform any of the above tests;
• Using a subsidiary or third-party company to perform any of the above tests in countries where animal testing is not banned.

Some cosmetics companies claim that their products are not tested on animals, despite using one or more of the aforementioned practices.

Sad, but true.

I usually know exactly what to look for and end up scoring well! However, I recently learned about third-party testing so that has shocked me into researching even more than ever before, and trust me, I research like there's no tomorrow! LITERALLY!

I have been using LeapingBunny.org A LOT more often. I am however running into walls about why their lists actually have a name for a company on it but doesn't have the bunny next to it. For example; I use KISS MY FACE deodorant and toothpaste now (which is vegan!) But there is no leaping bunny next to it...Someone want to help me?


UPDATE- As I was writing this blog I decided to dig a little deeper and this is what leaping bunny says! (straight from their website)


 "All Leaping Bunny companies must comply with the same Standard. Obtaining the Leaping Bunny Logo is an optional step that some companies choose for marketing purposes. At any point, a Leaping Bunny company may purchase the Logo for a nominal fee; however, there is no cost for companies to apply, get approved, and be listed in our online and printed shopping guides and marketing materials. Those who choose to use the logo are marked online with a ."


Click this to get the link to where I found this info; FAQ


I am still confused as to why TOM'S OF MAINE is still on their list because I learned on a few different websites that TOM'S has recently been sold to Colgate Palmolive WHICH IS A COMPANY THAT TESTS ON ANIMALS. Here is what someone said on a TOM'S forum


"I just saw that Tom`s of Maine has been bought buy Colgate Palmolive. Our money now goes to pay animal testings. Tom`s has been corrupted."


Whoever this person is, their right. Tom's has officially been corrupted. We cannot trust them anymore and I hope that Leaping Bunny will remove TOM'S from their cruelty-free list.


I I will be making a video based on all of the products my mom recently bought for me. I'll describe what their like and how amazing they are compared to Tom's! 


The point to this entire blog post is, I have decided to make my own personal favorites list of products  that ARE vegan; meaning NO animal ingredients and NO animal testing in any way shape or form. Yes, it will take some time to do this but I have been researching like crazy so that I can have this list not only for me, but for all of you vegans out there who feel you can't find something for you. I will have a job soon so I will be buying things to try them out. Of course I will try and find the best stuff for good prices and occasionally the expensive stuff. (only if it's worth it!!!) I will be also making a video about this to explain in more detail. 


Thank you SO much for reading! I know it was a lot to read! If you got through it, AWESOME! 
 Remember, if you ever screw up on accident it does NOT mean you aren't a vegan. It just means it was a mistake that you were completely un-aware of. You can be angry about it, of course but just don't lose focus! You can fix it! Just find the alternative and learn not to make the same mistake again. That's what I'm doing. Don't lose faith. The animals are counting on us and it's our responsibility to save them, no matter what.


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