A Guide to Cruelty-Free Makeup

The old saying "pretty is as pretty does" rings particularly true as we head into 2000. As we reassess our priorities for the millennium, more and more of us are feeling that there's nothing pretty about animal testing and that the quest for beauty shouldn't hurt anyone, including our four-legged friends. As a result, we are seeking out cosmetics from companies that proudly proclaim they are cruelty-free, which means that neither their products nor the ingredients they use have been tested on animals. "The simplest thing to do if you care for animals is to vote with your dollar," says Susan Rayfield, of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). "You can vote for cruelty or compassion."

If you haven't shopped for this kind of makeup since you were in college, you may not realize that these products have truly come of age. "Cosmetic companies that aren't cruelty-free are behind the times," says Kat James, a holistic beauty expert based in New York City. The selection is not just a few compacts of thick earthtone shadows and gloppy rouges. Today you have the full spectrum of contemporary and classic colors--all of which are sheer enough to let your natural beauty shine through. A nice bonus: These products don't cost any more than typical drugstore or department store brands.

EYES

Ecco Bella Botanicals, Earth
Ecco Bella Botanicals, Heather
Ecco Bella Botanicals, Indigo Blue
CIC, Spring Green
CIC, Metallic Silver
CIC, Wood Green
NatrurELLE, Black
Paul Penders, Brown
Origins, Underwater for Lashes, Clear
Dr. Hauschka, Blue
Eco Bella, Beige Cover-up
Mac, Trax, Velvet
Mac, Slick Frost
Mac, Patina Frost
Mac, Tilt Frost

PEEPER POINTERS

Kat James says, "Today's shadows are subtle enough to wear without looking overly made up. Everyone can wear the colored mascaras (especially plums), except dark brunettes, who'll do better with metallic shades."

BLUSH

CIC Feng Shui, Fame
Mac, Slammin Frost
ClC Feng Shui, Devotion
CIC Feng Shui, Romance
Ecco Bella, Burgundy Rose
Ecco Bella, Orchid Rose
Origins, Pinch Your Cheeks Blush Gel

GETTING CHEEKY

James: "A bit of color creates a healthy glow. Always brush in a downward direction for a smoother, more even look."

POWDER

NaturELLE, Mattiste Finishing Powder
NaturELLE, Golden Whisper
Zia, Sunlit Bronzing Powder
Zia, Perfectly Natural
Zia, Rose Beige
ZIA, Tawny Beige
Dr. Hauschka, Finale Leggero
Darphin, Reflect Harmony
Origins, Sunny Disposition Powder Bronze

POWDER POWER

James: "To allow your natural glow to come through, only use sparingly, and never around the eye area or to `set' concealer."

LIPS

Hemp Organics, Warm Shine
Jurlique, Jarrah
Burt's Bees, Playx
Ecco Bella, Peach Rose
Mac, Velvet
Mac Vinyl
Beauty Without Cruelty, Rosewood
Beauty Without Cruelty, Caramel Cream
CIC Feng Shui Sterling
CIC Feng Shui, Rising Star
Origins Lip Gloss, Raspberry (top) and Fire Sign
Ecco Bella, Biscotti

LUSCIOUS LIPS

James: "It's official: Lip liner is out and natural is in. For a soft effect, slick on your favorite lip balm before adding a coat of lipstick."

FOUNDATION

Zia
Z.10

Ecco Bella
Mocha

CIC,
Biscuit

Paul Penders,
Honey Beige

Ecco Bella,
Ivory
Porcelain

BASE BASICS

James: "The best way to use foundation is to apply it lightly with a moistened sponge on areas where you need to even out your skin tone. Choose a sheer liquid with a yellow or warm tone. If it stands out against your skin, you have the wrong color."

THE GOOD GUYS

Interpreting cosmetic ingredient labels can be like reading a foreign language. But we've compiled this simple guide to companies that don't do animal testing and those that don't use any animal--or insect--ingredients (it's not as well known, but insect parts are used in many red lipsticks). Other ingredients to avoid: any form of stearic acid, a common ingredient in lipsticks and foundations (made from cow and sheep fat)that's used as a thickening agent and carmine (aka carminic acid, cochineal extracts or natural red no. 4), which is derived from crushed insects.

No Animal Testing

Aveda
Beauty Without Cruelty
Burt's Bees
Color Investment
 Cosmetics
Darphin
Dr. Hauschka
Ecco Bella
Hemp Organics
Jurlique
Kiss My Face
MAC
NaturElle
Origins
Paul Penders
Un-Petroleum
Zia Cosmetics

No Animal Ingredients

Beauty Without Cruelty(*)
Burt's Bees
Color Investment
Cosmetics
Darphin
Ecco Bella
Hemp Organics
Jurlique(*)
MAC
NaturElle
Origins
Paul Penders
Un-Petroleum(*)

(*) no insect derivatives

RESOURCES

Company Contact Info:

Burt's Bees: (800) 849-7112; www.burtsbees.com.

Beauty Without Cruelty: (707) 769-5120

Color Investment Cosmetics (CIC): (877) 482-6567; www.colorinvestment.com

Darphin: (203) 602-1575

Dr. Hauschka: (413) 256-1792)

Ecco Bella: (973) 696-7766

Hemp Organics: (800) 874-8220

Jurlique: (800) 854-1110; www.jurlique.com

Kiss My Face: (800) 262-KISS

MAC: (800) 387-6707

NaturElle Cosmetics: (800) 442-3936; www.naturalbeauty.com

Origins: (800) ORIGINS; www.origins.com

Paul Penders: (800)440-7285

Un-Petroleum: (707) 769-5120

Zia: (800) 334-7546

To Learn More:

Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics: (888) 546-CCIC, ext. 29; ccic@ix.netcom.com

Consumer's Dictionary of Cosmetic Ingredients (Three Rivers Press, 1999), Ruth Winter, M.S.

Kat James' Informed Beauty Web site: www.informedbeauty.com

Safe Shopper's Bible (MacMillan, 1995), David Steinman and Samuel S. Epstein, M.D.

Shopping Guide for Caring Consumers (Book Publishing Company, 1999), from PETA; (757) 622-PETA (7382); www.peta-online.org.3

COPYRIGHT 1999 Sabot Publishing
COPYRIGHT 2000 Gale Group