Maybelline

Hey guys! 
I tried contacting Maybelline. They only allow you to ask one question at a time. This was on their Q & A page. I would like to share it:
Read it for yourself: Maybelline Q & A

"ANIMAL TESTING POLICY.The safety of our consumers is our highest priority at Maybelline, a division of L'Oréal USA, Inc. Our products and ingredients undergo extensive screening so that consumers may purchase and use our products with complete confidence.All the brands of the L'Oréal Group are in full compliance with the requirements for safety in the more than 130 countries in which our products are sold, as well as with FDA regulations and the European Union Cosmetic Directive.L’Oreal is a leader in developing alternative methods to animal testing with the ultimate goal of eliminating all animal testing completely. In 1989, L’Oreal voluntarily stopped using animal testing for the evaluation of its entire range of finished products. The company has invested $800 million over the last 25 years to develop innovative, alternative methods to animal testing, particularly in the area of reconstructed tissue development. We are totally committed to a future without tests on animals.
To learn more about L’Oreal’s work in the area of alternative methods to animal testing, please visit our Sustainability website at http://www.sustainabledevelopment.loreal.com/research-innovation/focus-on-predictive-evaluation/a-new-generation-of-predictive-evaluation-methods.aspx"

     I feel that Maybelline is trying to excuse their unethical behavior by stating that they wish for "a future without tests on animals". Besides that, I feel like this answer is filled with a bunch of unrelated information. These companies try to set themselves up as the good guys when they are as inhumane as humanity can get.
      
       I want to start a cruelty-free list on my blog. I need to gather more information to put together a well rounded list. For now, add Burt's Bees and Maybelline and some others that test on animals, but without evidence I won't add them to my list yet. 

Feel free to comment.

Camila A. 

Burt's Bee's, Un(bee)lievable

Hey guys. So today I got a reply from Burt's Bee's, specifically a Burt's Bee's employee at the Consumer Care Team. I would like to share that email and then express how I feel about it. 

"Dear Miss Alvarez,

      This is Leigh with Burt's Bees. Thank you for taking the time to reach out to us with your concern. We appreciate the opportunity to share our stance on animal testing and our relationship to Clorox.
     We are passionate about our principles and we do not conduct any manner of animal testing nor do we ask others to do so on our behalf. Our products are certified under the Consumer Information on Cosmetics’ (CCIC) Leaping Bunny program, whose seal we proudly display on our packaging. Learn more about the Leaping Bunny seal at leapingbunny.org.
      Yes, Burt’s Bees is owned by Clorox and they are aware of, and fully support our position on animal testing, as they are also committed to the welfare of animals. In fact, using non-animal product safety evaluations is the norm at Clorox. Animal testing is a rare exception, used only when required by law or when all other efforts have been exhausted to establish a product's safety profile. If you would like to read Clorox’s full policy on animal testing, please use the following link: http://www.cloroxcsr.com/products-safety/.
In addition, you may find our Corporate Social Responsibility Report of great interest. It is located at burtbees.com/CSR. If we can provide any further information, please feel free to contact us at 1-800-849-7112 or burtsbees@consumerreply.com.
      GMO is an organism (such as a plant) that has been genetically modified. We reject the use of GMOs because not enough is known about their use and we are not convinced that they are natural or safe. Furthermore, we do not believe GMOs should be used in any kind of personal care products.
     Currently, there is a lot of controversy concerning GMOs and until researchers conclude that this technology is safe we will not use it in any of our products.
     I am sorry but none of our products are certified vegan.
All the best,

Consumer Care Team"

Camila's View:  

I feel extremely disappointed. Burt's Bee's is one of the biggest companies out there the targets natural products. How can a company define itself as natural and "nature becomes you" when they are using animals as petri-dishes for your experiments? Sure they don't test their products on animals, only when "required by law"?? This is a misconception MANY people have, the law (USA) DOES NOT require companies to test their products on animals. Check out : the FDA website to see their regulations on animal testing.    Further, they are owned by Clorox, which is the parent company, meaning even if you buy Burt's Bees stuff, those millions of dollars also go to Clorox and funds their animal testing. By the way Clorox owns Burt's Bees!!?? Clorox makes cleaning supplies, like Bleach that has many chemicals. These two companies seem almost complete opposites!   If you are serious about going cruelty-free, you MUST look at the parent company as well. I will definitely STOP buying from Burt's Bee's and encourage all who want to go cruelty-free, or are cruelty-free and didn't realize Clorox owns Burt's Bee's to stop buying their products. 

 

P.S. Feel free to leave me what you think about this in the comments. Did you use Burt's Bees? WIll you continue to buy from them? 

Cruelty Free/ Power of the Bill/ Vote with your Money

I'm doing research by contacting popular cosmetic companies and inquiring on their animal testing policies. I borrowed this formate from veggiebeauty.com when acquiring information from the companies. "To Whomever it May Concern:I am doing research on animal testing, and I need to verify a few key points about your company.
1. Does your company test ingredients or finished products on animals?
2. Do you test ingredients or products on animals through a 3rd party?
3. Do your manufacturers test ingredients or products on animals?
4. Are you owned or affliliated with any companies that test products or ingredients on animals?
5. Do you/your parent company currently or have plans to market and sell your products in the Chinese market, which requires animal testing by law to sell in that country?
6. Do you use palm oil/carnuaba wax in any of your products? If so, is it from an organic and sustainable source?
7. Could you provide a list of all of your current vegan items available for purchase?
Thank you so much for the information."

So far I have contacted Physicians formula and Burt's Bees. 

If you are willing to also contact these types of companies and share their responses with this blog, and me Camila, I would appreciate it. I also think it's important to see how these companies respond to different people.
 Unfortunately, without physically checking out the companies factories there is no 100% bullet proof way of proving if they do or do not test on animals. Also, if many people show interest in purchasing cruelty free/vegan products more companies will want to go in that direction. The power that we have to vote with our money is powerful, and that is the biggest way we can get these corporations to listen to us. 

Camila A.