Looking behind the labels // Cruelty free beauty

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I have mentioned before that I favour organic and natural based beauty products in my Looking behind the labels: Parabens post, but what about cruelty free products? 

I have always been an animal lover since I collected the Animal Ark book series as a child. Although my vet aspirations did not last long (weak stomach!), my love for animals has always stayed with me. Due to this I would never knowingly purchase a product that has been tested on animals, but like many beauty lovers I feel that the industry makes it difficult to find out the origins of the products we buy. Many consumers buy products based on their advertising or on a whim whilst out shopping - therefore skipping the research into the ingredients and whether or not they are tested on animals. This convenience shopping could mean that people are unknowingly purchasing products that they might otherwise avoid for ethical reasons.  

Fortunately there are many fantastic cruelty free brands on the market today which certainly makes it easier for those of us who want to avoid products that have been tested on animals. For an easy way to identify cruelty-free products look out for the Leaping Bunny logo which are 'certified cruelty free under the internationally-recognised Humane Cosmetics or Humane Household Products Standards.' Although the EU has now banned animal tested cosmetics, this is not applicable to cosmetics sold outside the EU. As Go Cruelty Free states, 'The Leaping Bunny is a global standard and applies to all of the operations and sales of companies, not just those for the EU. We only certify companies that have a policy not to test their products on animals for any market, including China where animal testing for imported products is currently required.' So definitely keep an eye out for the Leaping Bunny if you want to ensure you are buying cruelty-free products! 

Cruelty free brands:

Burt's Bees

Neals Yard

Liz Earle

Dermalogica

Lush

Marks and Spencer's own brand products 

Models Own

REN

Sainsbury's own brand products

Soap and Glory

Pai Skincare

The Body Shop

To name but a few! For more cruelty-free brands and shopping advice I highly recommend visiting the Go Cruelty Free website. How do you feel about cruelty-free products? Do you research cosmetics or companies before you make a purchase?

Boots Botanics Rosewater Toning Spritz // Review

I love the idea of using natural products in my skincare routine. The thought of applying products that are filled with chemicals and unnecessary ingredients bothers me. I do not see the point of using bad ingredients when there are alternate options that don't cost the earth! (both literally and metaphorically).

With this ethos in mind, my first port of call was the Boots Botanics line, and in particular, the organic range. This range is free from parabens and is made using natural plant ingredients that have been approved by Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. It certainly sounds impressive but the important thing is do the products work?

The first product that I trialled from the line was the Rosewater Toning Spritz. This is a 100% organic toning spritz that you spray onto your face to cleanse and refresh. Personally I like to spray this product on liberally after cleansing and remove the excess with a cotton pad. This product is great to use just before bed or even in the morning before applying make-up. It leaves your skin feeling clean, soft and prepped for the day without being at all harsh or stripping.

I found the toning spritz both refreshing and effective in removing any last traces of makeup. The scent is delightfully rose, but in no way artificial, just very natural and pure. This product only contains five ingredients; Aqua (water), Alcohol denat., Glycerin, Rosa Damascena flower oil, Citronellol. Plus it is 100% organic. Simple.

I thoroughly enjoyed using this product and would definitely repurchase it. I think that it is reasonably priced and contains good natural ingredients so I did not feel guilty spritzing this liberally all over my face! I found that the bottle lasted a good amount of time, especially considering that I was using this daily. The spray bottle is easy to use and it dispensed just the right amount of liquid - no case of unnecessarily drenched faces here! 

The Botanics Rosewater Toning Spritz retails for £4.99 for 150ml. The Botanics range often has regular offers available so keep a look out if you're interested in trying anything from the line. The Botanics line is available from both Boots stores and online. 

I will be reviewing more Botanics products in near future so keep an eye-out if you are interested in what else is available in the range. What do you think about Organic skincare? Have you tried anything from Boots Botanics? Let me know in the comments below!