Written for futr singapore.
Excerpts
A beginner’s guide to cruelty-free beauty
If you see a product labelled with the words ‘cruelty-free’ accompanied by various other ‘[insert bad thing]-free’ statements and a bunny logo, take it with a pinch of salt or ten.
The CF label is tricky. Use of the label isn’t regulated, so it becomes easy for these words to be included on bottle labels. Animal testing can still happen even when a company claims to be CF. For instance, it could happen when the product is exported to other countries. Up until recently, all foreign cosmetic products imported into China were required by law to undergo pre-market animal testing. The law has since been revised to adopt new safety regulations and tests that do not require animals.
To complicate matters further, several smaller companies are owned by parent companies that still conduct animal testing. Immediate discernment is not easy, and thorough investigation into the individual smaller companies is needed.
What the heck does this label even mean?
Should parabens be para-banned? (Sorry.)
Makeup and other beauty products are very much like food; they all have a shelf life. Chemicals like parabens are used as preservatives to extend the shelf life of products by preventing bacteria or mould from forming. Ethylparaben, methylparaben and propylparaben are some of the common names you will find on an ingredients list.
Due to their similar behaviours to estrogen, parabens have been linked with not only hormone problems but also breast cancer. Sounds bad, but are parabens as bad as the beauty industry wants you to believe?
Some scientists will assert that there isn’t conclusive evidence linking parabens and cancer, or argue that parabens are included for safety’s sake. And, they may have a point. Mould and bacteria contaminations are not easy to detect, and these can easily cause infections, especially around the sensitive eye area. However, a more recent study has found inadequate evidence to suggest that use of parabens is indeed safe, and we should instead be more cautious.
7 cruelty-free drugstore brands we love
Let me start with a confession. I find it difficult to only buy cruelty-free (CF) and sustainable brands all the time. There, I’ve said it. Sounds hypocritical, but hear me out.
If there’s ever a gripe about sustainable or environmentally conscious living, it’s how, lifestyle changes aside, it tends to come with a hefty price tag. There’s a good reason for this. These brands usually try to ensure that every step of their process is both sustainable and ethical. These steps can include sourcing for raw materials from sustainable sources, and engaging in ethical labour practices like, you know, actually paying proper wages. Sure, these are good practices to uphold, but sometimes being financially sustainable trumps all other forms of sustainability.
Thankfully, not all things good come with a premium price tag. Places like Watsons and Guardian also have a range of sustainable and cruelty-free drugstore brands that you can purchase either online or in-store. Best of all, you’ll be pleased to notice that some of these brands should fit well into a modest budget. Here’s a list of some well-known and lesser-known brands you’ll be able to find!
Read the full series here.
Samantha Phua 