When thinking about where your clothes, food and favourite beauty products come from, you can begin to feel a little overwhelmed. Making these products is a complex, diverse process that takes lots of different people from various countries across the globe, before they end up in your hands.
This extensive journey can often be overlooked when you’re quickly picking up lunch in the supermarket or grabbing a new nail polish! When you get the chance, it can be important to consider where these products come from and whether you morally agree with the different stages of production.
It can sound extremely daunting at first, but remember even the smallest of change can have the biggest difference. One area that I’ve started to make a change is by trying to go for make-up products that haven’t been tested on animals. It can be difficult to determine whether a brand is completely cruelty-free, although it is illegal in the UK and many other countries!
It can still be a complex issue because if a brand sells in China, who still require animal testing, then they are ultimately not cruelty free. This is the category many brands fall into, because although the make-up you’ve purchased in the UK has not been tested on- the brand as a whole still participates in the animal testing industry by selling to the Chinese market. Therefore, to avoid indirectly helping the animal testing industry it is best to avoid these brands entirely- you can find lots of helpful lists of cruelty free make-up companies online, like this one.
I felt like it was important to start making more conscious decisions about where some of my favourite make-up products come from, as I take more responsibility for my influence in the world. It does mean avoiding some of my favourite products, but it also means getting to explore different brands which can still be exciting!
I’m not suggesting you immediately get rid of your entire make-up collection and start again, but just making more conscious decisions next time you’re shopping can make a huge difference. You’ll probably be surprised that many brands are already cruelty-free, so it will not be hugely challenging!
“Power and might are in Your hand, and it is in Your hand to make great and to give strength to all”
– 1 Chronicles 29:12.
You might feel too young or that your influence is insignificant, but you are powerful and mighty. Any positive change you make is important and can have an endless influence. Even something as simple as changing your mascara to a cruelty-free brand… it sounds so simple, but it is a great way to look after God’s creation and put more good into the world.
By Amy
