Our Commitment to a Kinder World Starts with Cruelty-Free Beauty
Each morning as the sun peeks over the horizon, our furry friends greet us with unconditional love and affection. Their soft purrs and warm nuzzles motivate us to be better people and leave the world a little kinder. This Earth Month, we're thrilled to announce Butter & Me is now Leaping Bunny certified cruelty-free.
As we reflect on how to be more eco-conscious this April, cruelty-free beauty rises to the top of our priority list. With over 100 million animals tortured in cosmetics testing every year, choosing compassionate products makes a meaningful difference. Butter & Me is committed to protecting our furry friends while crafting clean skincare you can feel good about.
Join us this month in celebrating beauty that leaves paw prints, not scars. Small daily choices to support ethical brands add up to enormous positive change. Together, we can build a future where all beings are treated with respect. The journey starts with your skincare.
Butter & Me's Commitment to Cruelty-Free
Butter & Me has been committed to cruelty-free beauty since our founding in 2018. As a small startup, we knew we wanted to develop high-performing skincare powered by ethically-sourced, vegan ingredients. We never wanted our products to be tested on animals, as we believe strongly in promoting kindness towards all living beings.
After years of effort, we're thrilled to announce Butter & Me has officially earned Leaping Bunny certification, the gold standard for cruelty-free brands. To become Leaping Bunny certified, our entire brand portfolio and ingredients had to pass a rigorous auditing process. We're proud to join the Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics' list of over 2,000 cruelty-free brands worldwide.
In the words of Butter & Me founder Vivian Wong:
"Achieving Leaping Bunny certification has been a long-time goal on our journey to creating ethical, sustainable skincare. We know our customers care deeply about animal welfare, so we're happy to provide the assurance that Butter & Me is 100% cruelty-free across our entire range of products. As we look ahead to future innovations, we remain committed to developing formulas with plant-based ingredients that are never tested on animals."
By securing Leaping Bunny certification, customers can trust Butter & Me is dedicated to cruelty-free practices from formulation to production. We're proud to make shopping ethically effortless for our customers.
The Cruel Truth of Animal Testing
Each year, over 100 million animals worldwide suffer and die in cruel chemical, drug, food, and cosmetics tests. These sentient beings are subjected to extremely painful experiments and life-threatening damage, despite viable alternatives existing.
Animals used in toxicity testing are force-fed or made to inhale massive doses of a chemical or substance. They undergo skin and eye irritancy tests where harsh chemicals are rubbed onto shaved skin or dripped into their eyes without pain relief. Repeated forced swim tests cause panic and exhaustion. Lethal dose tests determine how much of a substance will kill, often causing convulsions, bleeding, paralysis and death.
Not only are these tests inhumane, but their results are often unreliable when applied to humans. Yet companies continue this cruelty solely for ingredients or finished products, ignoring non-animal methods scientifically proven to be more accurate. No life deserves such suffering for the sake of beauty. Testing on animals is unethical, especially when cruelty-free options are readily available.
The Rise of Cruelty-Free Beauty
The rise of cruelty-free beauty has been one of the most significant shifts in the cosmetics industry over the past decade. More and more consumers are seeking out cruelty-free brands and products, leading to incredible growth in this sector.
Market data shows the cruelty-free beauty industry is expanding rapidly. In the US alone, cruelty-free cosmetics sales jumped 70% between 2013-2018, compared to non-cruelty-free sales which only grew 10% in the same period. Major retailers like Sephora and Ulta now have dedicated cruelty-free sections due to demand.
Many top beauty brands are now cruelty-free, including Urban Decay, e.l.f. Cosmetics, Cover FX, and Milk Makeup. These brands prove you don't need animal testing to create best-selling, innovative makeup and skincare products.
Consumers are drawn to cruelty-free for ethical reasons, as well as perceived benefits. Cruelty-free products are believed to contain more natural ingredients and be better for sensitive skin. The rise in veganism and clean beauty has also contributed to the surge in cruelty-free demand. With so many excellent options now available, there's no need to buy products that harm animals.
How Cruelty-Free Aligns with Earth Month
Earth Month is about celebrating our planet and taking steps to protect it. A key part of this is showing compassion towards all life, including animals. By avoiding products tested on animals, we help reduce the suffering inflicted on these vulnerable creatures. This aligns with Earth Month's ethos of kindness and care.
Cruelty-free practices also promote environmental stewardship in a broader sense. The toxins used in animal testing contaminate land and waterways, damaging delicate ecosystems. Bypassing animal tests reduces this ecological harm. It enables us to develop beauty formulas that are gentler on the planet.
Opting for cruelty-free additionally means supporting cleaner, greener innovations in cosmetics. Brands like Butter & Me use plant-based ingredients and environmentally-conscious practices. We avoid harsh chemicals that may persist in the environment. Our focus is on natural, biodegradable formulas that nurture skin and tread lightly on the earth.
This Earth Month, we encourage everyone to reflect on how daily choices impact animals and the planet. Seek out cruelty-free brands aligned with your values. Together, through compassion and care, we can build a healthier world for all living beings.
Cruelty-Free Certifications to Know
When shopping for cruelty-free beauty products, it's important to look for trusted certifications to ensure you're getting authentic ethical products. Here are some key labels to know:
Leaping Bunny
The Leaping Bunny logo is awarded by the Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics (CCIC). To be Leaping Bunny certified, a brand must pledge to:
- Not test finished products or ingredients on animals
- Not use any animal-derived ingredients
- Not commission others to test on animals on their behalf
- Undergo independent audits to ensure compliance
Leaping Bunny has the strictest criteria, making it the gold standard cruelty-free certification. Brands authorized to use the Leaping Bunny logo are 100% cruelty-free.
PETA Bunny
PETA also has its own bunny logo for cruelty-free brands. To qualify, brands must verify:
- No animal testing on ingredients, formulations, or finished products
- No animal-derived ingredients
- No contracting of animal testing with third parties
While similar to Leaping Bunny, PETA does not require third-party auditing for continued use of its logo.
Choose Cruelty Free (CCF)
This logo comes from Choose Cruelty Free, an Australian nonprofit. Brands must meet CCF's criteria:
- No animal testing on end products or ingredients
- No animal-derived ingredients
- Commitment to cruelty-free practices, with compliance audits
CCF offers certification globally, making it a trusted logo worldwide.
By looking for reputable logos like Leaping Bunny, PETA Bunny, and CCF, consumers can identify authentic cruelty-free products and support ethical brands. When in doubt, don't hesitate to reach out to a company to ask about their specific policies and practices. Vote with your dollar to protect furry friends!
Shopping Cruelty-Free on a Budget
Shopping cruelty-free doesn't have to break the bank. There are plenty of ways to find affordable options while still supporting ethical brands.
- Look to drugstore favorites. Brands like e.l.f. Cosmetics, Wet n Wild, and NYX provide quality makeup and skincare at low prices. Their extensive cruelty-free ranges offer everything from foundations to lipsticks for under $10.
- Get free samples. Many cruelty-free brands offer free samples so you can try before you buy. Sign up on their websites or contact customer service to request your favorites. Samples allow you to test new products without spending money.
- Seek out multi-use products. Opt for items that serve multiple purposes, like a tinted moisturizer with SPF or a lip/cheek stain. Dual-purpose products help streamline your routine so you buy less overall.
- Buy value sets. Sets and bundles allow you to get full-size and travel-size products for a discounted price. Stock up on a few staples in one purchase.
- Shop sales and clearance. Sign up for email lists from your favorite brands to get alerts about promotions and sales. Check clearance sections regularly for major deals.
- With a bit of savvy shopping, you can absolutely go cruelty-free on a budget. Support ethical brands while saving money with these useful tips.
Conclusion
At Butter & Me, we are proud to announce our commitment to cruelty-free beauty. As we celebrate Earth Month, it's important to reflect on how our choices impact the planet and its creatures. By becoming Leaping Bunny certified, we are taking an ethical stand against animal testing while creating clean, natural skincare loved by our community.
With over 40 ingredients banned from our formulas, we aim to nourish your skin in a compassionate way. Our products are thoughtfully crafted to hydrate, soothe and rejuvenate using plant-based extracts and minerals. We believe beauty should do no harm, which is why every ingredient and process is carefully considered.
This Earth Month, we hope you'll join us in supporting cruelty-free beauty. When you choose Butter & Me, you can feel confident your self-care ritual aligns with your values. Our commitment to ethical, sustainable business practices runs deep, and we're here to help you make more conscious choices for your skin and the planet. Now is the perfect time to make the switch to cruelty-free beauty. Experience our best-selling creams and cleansers to nourish your skin the cruelty-free way.
