Answer from Yes to

October 25th, I advised people on Twitter that Yes to is not on PETA's cruelty free list anymore.

I wrote to Yes to... to get more information.

I finally did.

Here is their answer.
It is in 2 parts, because of my phone's screen capture capacity  :)

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It says they want to expand... China ?

 Then that they don't test on animals UNLESS the law requires it. (It means they do test)
 And on top of it, they say they're working hard to help find altenatives to animal testing...
***********************************************************************

AS IF THOSE METHODS DON'T ALREADY EXIST!!!!!!

You will understand that I take off  Yes to from my cruelty free list...

To yes to, I SAY NO

Yes or no ?

In the cosmetic world, when it comes to animal testing, there's a lot of changes.
Here is another one :

Yes to was showing on PETA's Don't test list.
Last time I saw Yes to on it, it was 2012, Sept 17th.

Today, can't find them anymore...

I decided to contact them.

No sign of life on Twitter & I got an automatic response to my email saying that it takes 3 open days before any answer.
My email was sent on October 25th, so I'm expecting an answer by October 30th.

However, I'm not expecting a satisfying answer.
What I know is that usually, when PETA takes off their list a brand, it's not good.

What I'd like you to do, for the sake of animals, is also to write to Yes to
care-ettes@yestocarrots.com
Tell them politely you want an answer.

For now, I'm not buying their products anymore.
My dollar, my vote.

I don't like to wait!

New Info on Dec 25th,2012 : OPI is not on the cruelty free list anymore






You know how easy it is to ruin a manicure.

We think the polish is dry, we decide to do something banal, and voila! a big ugly mark on our nails.  >: (

Even worse, we manage to avoid disaster, we go to bed happy & the next morning,  vision of horror! The sheets are printed all over our nails ...

All these efforts for nothing!

I heard of drops used to dry the polish faster.

But still, I told myself '' Well, do your nails in the morning!''

But there's always a cosmic force that gets in the way and prevents me from doing that.

I  always do my nails after work and hey, same shit happens.

Isn't it a sign of madness to always do the same thing and expect a different result ?



Since I'm not crazy (I like to think I'm not), I resigned. I tried the Drying Drops from Nicole by O.P.I.

Promises...

The promise on the packaging is that in 60 seconds, you can touch the varnish and it is perfectly dry in 5 minutes.
Great promise ... fulfilled!

Operation is simple:

1 - We apply our polish + topcoat as usual.
2 - We wait for 60 seconds.
3 - We put one or two drops of the product per nail.

Since it is as liquid as water, the product runs by itself. No effort required.

Verdict

The promise is kept, the nails are really dry in 5 minutes. No ''sheet design'' on our nails the next morning!

This is a 15 ml bottle which cost me $ 10.99 at Jean Coutu.
And since we only need a small amount of product, it may take a long time to empty the bottle.
According to the packaging, the product is good for 2 years.

I think the investment is worth it.
The color of the varnish is not affected by the drying drops and we can relax & be sure the manicure is safe from ugly marks .

Avocado & Oatmeal - Freeman Beauty Mask

I do not know if you know Freeman , but if this is not the case, you miss something good.

Though we can not see the logo on the packaging, these products are approved by PETA .

I have tried the clay mask, avocado and oatmeal from their Beautiful Feeling range.This product promises to absorb excess sebum and dirt in addition to cleanse clogged pores. All for a whopping 3.77$ at WalMart !

It is a tube of 150 ml and it is good for 24 months after its opening.

My first thought when I used the product is that the smell is very very good.

Then the mask dries fairly quickly compared to other brands.

Finally, the most important, the result:

I felt really good after using this mask. I felt that my skin was softer.

I will definitely try other products of Freeman. It became one of my favorites products instantly!

little flat, the list of ingredients. Though the key ingredients are to kaolin clay, oatmeal, avocado and vitamin E, there is also fragrance and other ingredients less attractive. You can see the list here .

Benefits

Clay (kaolin) : removes toxins and remineralizing

Avocado : regenerating, repairing, excellent for dry skin

Oatmeal : soothing

Vitamin E : antioxidant, helps protect against the sun

Brand

This American brand is vegan! It produces skin care, body care and hair care.

Do you know Zorah ?

Do you know this brand?

A reader on my facebook page told me about Zorah , a Quebec brand I did not know about.

Thanks Julie-Christine!

This brand shows on its website the logo of German Union for the Protection of Animals .

It is mainly used on the other side of the Atlantic. I guess Zorah intends to conquer the European market soon.

The brand is already sold in Turkey. This would explain the choice of logo (certification).

Since you have to be certified to show such a logo on your brand, you can usually trust the companies using it.

Used without getting the certification is illegal.

Zorah offers several products.

Moisturizers, masks, balms, cleansers, exfoliants, if you want a little luxury, you have a good range of treatments.

The company sells their products in Quebec , Ontario and Turkey. Their products may be found in drugstores.

They have a calendar of events, it is worth taking a look.

I intend to participate in one of them in Montreal and then give you my opinion on the quality of products.

The prices of their products range from $ 12 for a lip balm to $ 74 for a Bioserum.

Have you tried their products? If so, tell me what you think, I'm curious!

Hey Sephora! It's not like you're irreaplaceable...

The shock to learn that Sephora sells its house brand in China past (country where animal tests are mandatory), I rolled up my sleeves and this is what I propose to replace their products.

Because no Sephora, you 're not irreplaceable!

Here is some examples :

Skin cream

Sephora $ 36 - $ 35 Bare Minerals - Burt's Bees $ 30 - The Body Shop - $ 36

Mascara

Sephora - $ 20 - Korres - $ 16 duo - Physician's Formula - $ 15 - Bare Minerals - $ 22.50

Blush



Sephora - $ 20 - Illamasqua - $ 24 - Milani - $ 15 - Physician's Formula - $ 16

Nail polish

Update - 2013, Jan 4th : nubar is not cruelty free anymore.

Sephora - $ 12 - Nubar - $ 8.75 - China Glaze - $ 7.75 - GOSH - $ 7

There are so many choices on the market.
 

Want to get your message across? You can write to Sephora to show your displeasure in addition to giving your $ $ $ to companies that do not test on animals and who choose not to sell their products in a country where these horrible tests are mandatory.

Lotus Aroma and their policy regarding animal testing

 

I have never been answered so quickly by a company.
Within 15 minutes, I was set! What  a customer service Lotus Aroma !
Wish all companies could do the same!
 

I leave you a screenshot of the emails exchanged between Lotus Aroma and me. I've put my email first, followed by their answer.
 

Since it was in french, I'll put the translation after the pics.

Hello,

I understood from your packages that you don't do animal testing.

I was wondering if this applys only on finished products ? Or if it also applys to the ingredients as well as the formulations ?

Do you make sure that your ingredients providers don't test their products on animals ?

Do you sell your products in countries that make animal testing mandatory ?

Thank you, and have a nice day!

Hello,

Thank you for your email to which is important to us.

Our products, formulations and ingredients are not animal tested. We do require the same from our providers.
Lotus Aroma products are only sold in Canada.

In the name of Lotus Aroma, we thank you for your trust that gives us the inspiration to always aim excellence and always be better. You permit us to live our passion.

Have a good day

My comments

This is not only a quick response, but a precise one.
Unlike the answer I got from Lise Watier , the questions are answered.
I don't feel they're avoiding the questions.

Verdict

I'm adding Lotus Aroma to my Cruelty Free list! No animal testing!

Information about Lotus Aroma

This company was founded in Quebec in 1991.
It has been acquired by Dermolab Pharma , a pharmaceutical company in Montreal.
They do produce medicine (eg, syrup for colds)

For drugs, the law requires animal testing.

This is the same principle as for other companies that have a mother-company which does not have the same policy'' without animal testing.''
(Ex: The BodyShop belongs to L'Oréal)

It is up to you to see if you still want to buy Lotus Aroma. products.
I saw Lotus Aroma at Jean Coutu and Uniprix

Sephora & Cie in China : Black List

Now that we know Sephora is doing business in China and that they are selling their home brand there, we have to take a close look to the brands they are also selling in China.

Don't forget that the chinese law makes animal testing mandatory to sell cosmetics on their territory. It means that all brands sold there by Sephora are as guilty as them.

I was able to get a list of the brands they sell in China directly from their chinese website.
Be ready, it is a long one.

Amazing Cosmetics

Anna Sui

Armani

Avenir

Benefit

Biotherm

Borghese

Burberry

Bvlgari

Calvin Klein

Caudalie

Chloe

Clarins

Clinique

Collistar

Colors in mood

Davidoff

Diesel

Dior

Dolce and Gabbana

Eisenberg

Elie Saab

Elle Girl

Elvena

Erborian

Estée Lauder

Esthederm

Ferragamo

For Beloved One

Front Cover

Fusion Beauty

GAP

Givenchy

Goodskin

Gucci

Guerlain

Harajuku Lovers

Hello Kitty

Herborist

Hugo Boss

Huiles & Baumes

Issey Miyake

John Galliano

Kenzo

Kenzo Ki

Kose

L'Occitane

Lab Series

Lancaster

Lancôme

Laneige

Lanvin

Lazartigue

LCDP

Loewe

Lolita Lempicka

Lunasol

Makeup Forever

Mamonde

Marc Jacobs

Menard

Nail Beauty

Nickel

Nina Ricci

Oleva +

Paco Rabanne

Pangea Organics

Peter Thomas Roth

Rene Furterer

Rexaline

Sampar

Sephora

Shiseido

SK-II

Skinvitals

Stargazer

Strivectin

Talika

Tanda

Tatoo Beauty

Tous

Veld's

Vera Wang

Versace

Viva Lafancy

Ouf...
Are you surprised to see some of those brands on the list ?
It prooves you that you can not blindfully believe what a brand tells you about animal testing.

It is important to look for brands approved by organisations that care about animals.
(Peta, Leapingbunny, One Voice, CCF) or to have a complete declaration from the brand.
(no testing by them or a third party on the ingredients, formulations or finished products and don't sell their brand in a country making animal testing mandatory)

The purpose of this post ain't to discourage you. It is about informing you that it is important to not just blindfully believe anything a brand might say. Make sure to be well informed.

You may click here to get a list of brands that are Cruelty Free.
You should be able to find something that will satisfy you.

I'm keeping faith and hoping that China will change their law, so millions of live can be saved.

Sephora, huge disapointment

I know, don't tell me, you won't like this :
Sephora can't be considered a Cruelty Free brand no more.

They do sell their home brand in China.
The law in that country makes animal testing on cosmetics mandatory.

You may see the chinese Sephora website here.
If the language scares you, you may look in the Sephora international website that they are doing business in China

I did take off Sephora from my Cruelty Free list.

I'm also taking off other brands that were considered as Cruelty Free but are now sold through Sephora in China :

Amazing Cosmetics
Benefit
Clarins
Clinique
Hello Kitty
Paco Rabanne
Talika

Also, Makeup Forever,which did not want to confirm if they are or are not doing animal testing (that's always bad sign) is being sold in China by Sephora...
You know what this means...

Now, Sephora still sells many Cruelty Free brands that are not always easy to find elsewhere. For instance SpaRitual, Illamasqua, etc.

Refusing to buy from Sephora store might seem to be the thing to do, but think that looking at things like that, you would also have to stop shopping at Jean Coutu or Pharmaprix since they're selling L'Oréal products...

But that's your choice.
On my part, if a product is available elsewhere, I'll buy elsewhere!

Peta is working hard with China scientists to change the animal testing law.
I hope from the bottom of my heart that this will happen really soon.
If it doesn't work out, I don't know what will stop animal testing.

Are your makeup brushes cruelty free ?

If you buy makeup brushes made with natural bristles, you are contributing to bad treatments of animals.

Some will pretend that the fur used for those brushes are being taken humanely.

But think about it for a second.
Those brushes are sold for profit.
Do you really believe the animals are being well taken care of ? Do you think they have a lot of room in their cages ?

Probably not. They are considered as merchandise, not as sensitive beings with needs.

There is an interesting alternative on the market : synthetic bristles.
Many will think that the quality is not the same but it is false.
It is as good.

On top of that, if you are allergic to fur, that's a perfect choice for you!


Here is some examples of brushes with synthetic bristles, totally ethical :



Available in drugstores and large surface stores at a very good price. I do have those brushes and love it! You should cheek on Youtube what other people have to say about it.
Alicia Silverstone herself signs some of the Eco Tools kits.


Urban Decay named those brushes Good Karma for a good reason. You may use them with no remorse since it is totally made of recycled ''materiel''. It is not only #CrueltyFree brushes, it is also environment friendly!


You can get those on line. The bristles are really soft and antibacterial (anti-pimple!!!). 100% Pure is a cosmetic brand that is worth knowing. Everything is made out of... fruits! I did not have the chance to try this brand yet, but you will be the firsts to know when I do! (I will for sure)

Made with real ''Teddy Bear Hair'' ! I have to admit that the way they market their brushes is really interesting. I really want to buy those, even if I have already so many brushes! TooFaced promises that you'll have a hard time to see a difference between their bristles and the natural ones.



ELF stands for EyesLipsFace. It is pretty hard to find brushes that are less expensive than those. We are talking about 1 to 3$ per brush.
With a price like that, it is worth giving it a try. Most of the critics on Youtube are good.




Who doesn't know The Body Shop? I also have some of their brushes. I had the chance to buy a kit for a good price in a christmas sale. I don't regret this bought. The bristles are soft and are a good quality. The base of the brushes are flat and you may leave them standing if you want to.

                            
That's luxury! The bristles are PETA approved. There is a good choice of brushes from Hourglass. They have metallic bases, and they are specifically conceived for a precise application of makeup.





abt products are available on line.

That brands dares you to see the difference between their bristles and the natural ones.

They only make vegan products.





From now on, you can't say anymore that there is no ethical choices for makeup brushes!

If you have some of those brushes, I'd like to hear from you  :-)