Doing the best you can

I'm blogging to you from my sick bed this afternoon, I have a horrible cold virus that's gone down onto my chest and is making me feel breathless and miserable :(

This post may infuriate some or may be agreed with by others but its about the cruelty free product issue.

As you know I personally don't buy products that are animal tested including parent companies but you know I think that eventually something has to give. As I've been doing this for about six months now, it throws up other questions about ethical production of the things we use.

This train of thought started the other day when I received my compassionate shopping guide from Naturewatch. I noticed that companies like Tesco and Poundland were approved but those such as Jason Naturals and Superdrug weren't. In both cases this was due to both not having a fixed cut off date.

Now don't get me wrong, I understand the gripe with the five year rolling rule, but is buying from Tesco any better? The large corporation that closes down local businesses, sells food with horse meat in, creates a massive global impact and doesn't pay food producers a fair price. So they don't test on animals but does this make them any more ethical?

Products made in China, like e.l.f and a large number of other brands, the human rights situation in China is appalling and the pollution unspeakable. My eyeshadow may not be animal tested but how much did the person making it get paid? Will they go and buy cheap animal tested products because they earn so little and that's what they can afford?

I used some cruelty free bubble bath the other day, it was ok but I was technically sitting in a bathtub of chemicals. Why am I sitting in chemicals?

I realise that if we questioned every tiny thing we would never buy anything from anyone, but I do think that maybe I've given some companies a rough deal.

If I take Superdrug as an example. Yes the parent company has a five year rolling rule which I don't care for but they are BUAV approved and most products are made in the U.K and Europe which also means they have to comply with the ban recently passed.

In other cases such as Urban Decay, I feel a boycott is justified as they have lied publically to customers and then backtracked, only finally to be sold to L'oreal.

I'm not sure if I could bring myself to start shopping in The Body Shop again but they do pay their producers a fair price for ingredients and they are BUAV approved.

I see no difference ethically in giving my money to L'oreal or Tesco. One may not test on animals but they have other ethical and moral implications.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that this should be a balance and as long as you have an awareness of what you're purchasing and where your money goes , then you're doing a lot more than others. Yes I'll never buy a maybelline products again but if I need toothpaste I'd rather it be BUAV approved than not.

So in conclusion I will continue to boycott those companies who show no regard for animal welfare whatsoever. I'll also boycott those who don't sit right ethically with me. Trying to cut down on products is something I want to try too, then at least I'm only buying what I need and therefore making less impact.

I hope this has made sense! Do you agree? What are your thoughts? Xx