Cosmetics

Although generally when referring to cruelty free cosmetics it means they haven't been tested on animals, though this is the case for many cruelty free products. You might be surprised to learn that some products that are classed legally as cruelty free,they contain ingredients that have been derived from animals.



A list of animal based ingredients you might find in your make up, shampoo or other beauty products would include:
Vitamin A, which can come from egg yolk or fish liver
Animal Fat, which can be found in soap
Bristle, which is animal hair used to make brushes - often for make up brushes
Chitin, comes from the hard shells of insects or crustaceans (like crab or shrimp) and is used in moisturisers and shampoos
Collagen is used in moisturisers and is derived from animal connective tissue
Elastin is a protein found in the muscles of animals and is used in cosmetics
Fish oils are sometimes used in cosmetics
Glycerine (Glycerol) can come from sugar fermentation but is sometimes derived from animal fats. It's used in some toothpastes.
Honey is sometimes used in cosmetics
Keratin is often used in shampoos and conditioners. It's a protein found in fur, feathers, hair, hooves and horns.
L'Cysteine Hydrochloride is derived from chicken feathers or hair. It's sometimes found in shampoo, but can be manufactured synthetically.
Lactose is used in some cosmetics. It's milk sugar, usually from cows.
Lanoline is the fat extracted from sheep wool, often used in cosmetics
Musk, used in perfume. It comes from oil harvested from a gland taken from musk deer, civet cats and beaver.
Oleic Acid is used in soap and other cosmetics. It's a fatty acid that can come from vegetable or animal fats.
Oleostearin is a solid fat derived from tallow and is found in soaps
Oestrogen is used in creams and other cosmetics. It is the female sex hormone and usually comes from horse urine or cow ovaries.
Progesterone is another sex hormone found in creams and comes from animal tissue
Propolis, comes from bee hives and sometimes found in toothpastes and other toiletries
Royal Jelly, which comes from bees and is used in cosmetics
Sable is the fur of the Sable Marten and used in make up brushes
Shellac is used in hair spray and lip sealer for shine. It is an insect secretion.
Sponge is often artificially produced but can come from the skeletons of sea animals
Squalene comes from shark liver and is used in cosmetics and toiletries
Stearic Acid, also used in cosmetics and toiletries is derived from the fat of sheep, cows or pigs, though a synthetic alternative is available
Spermaceti Wax is found in toiletries and cosmetics and is a waxy oil that comes from the head of the sperm whale and also from dolphins
Tallow is a hard fat taken from the kidneys of sheep and cattle. It's used in soap and other cosmetics.
Urea is fairly common in creams and other cosmetics. It comes from the livers of various farmed animals.
Wax is used in some cosmetics and can come from plants or animals

Animal Testing
Many cosmetic and toiletry products undergo animal testing, or their ingredients have been tested on animals. European law states that animal testing data should be provided for new ingredients in a cosmetic, but there are more than 8,000 ingredients where the safety has already been demonstrated. Companies could use these ingredients for their products and avoid the need for further animal testing.

The BUAV (British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection) is one of a number of animal protection groups that have developed and operate a global Humane Cosmetics Standard (HCS) to help consumers choose animal testing free cosmetics. Because statements about animal testing made on the product labels can be misleading, for example stating "This product has not been tested on animals" when the ingredients within the product have been tested, the HCS alerts shoppers to cosmetics which are genuinely animal friendly.

The BUAV have a free book of cruelty free companies you can send for, and you can look for the 'leaping bunny' symbol on products that meet their standard.
The list is actually very long and includes Co-op and Marks and Spencer own brand cosmetics. Also on the list are Beauty Without Cruelty, Bio-D, The Body Shop, Clearspring, Dermalogica, Earth Friendly, Faith In Nature, Kingfisher, Liz Earle, Meadowsweet, Moor Spa, Morrisons, Neal's Yard, Organic Make Up, Tom's of Maine, and many other companies both in the UK and from the US.

If you want to steer clear of toiletries and cosmetics you think may contain animal products or have been undergone animal testing, make sure to read the ingredients on the label and look for the HCS seal of approval for animal testing free cosmetics

Fair Trade Clothing

Fairtrade Clothing
The Bishopston fair trading company was set up in 1985, to create employment in the south Indian village of K.V. Kuppan. The village has long links with Bishopston in Bristol, the company was to set to also strengthen the links with the village.



Profits from the company are not used to extend the business and create more work but to actually benefit the people of K.V village through their registered charity the South Indian Rural Trust.
Their fabrics are handloom cotton, denim and calico, woven from organic yarn, certified as Fair Trade by the Fair Trade Foundation.
At the moment there are only a hand full of Bishopston trading shops based in the West of England, hopefully they will decide to move further afield in the future, though they do have an online mail order service at www.bishopstontrading.co.uk

Ok they may not be cat walk designs made by your famous fashion designers, but their products are stylish, hard wearing and best of all colour full, natural colours to boot !!!.
They range from kiddies clothes starting at 0-3 months up to adults size 18-20.I find them reasonably priced £35 is an average price for a good quality ladies dress, which by todays standards and pretty much in line with the high street shops.


There is also a range of accessories, hand bags, shoes hand made jewelry and also a selection of house hold items such as bed linen etc.
By using fair trade products not only are we helping the planet but we are also helping those that live in the poorer villages have a brighter future, I my self have purchased from Bishopston and highly recommend them.