Furry Friends and Skincare
Updated: Sep 4, 2021
Have you ever wondered if your choice of skincare product had ever been tested on animals? There is an increasing preference in consumers to gravitate towards products that clearly list cruelty-free on their packaging, but unfortunately this isn’t always exactly the case. The beauty industry has long used animals as specimens for testing and although many brands moved toward cruelty-free testing to meet demand (as early as 1996!), the practice still occurs. Animal testing is not mandatory in the US, but it also isn’t banned either. Similarly, cosmetic products don’t need premarket approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the federal law does not mandate testing on animals to determine product safety. The FDA even notes that terms like “cruelty-free” and “not tested on animals” are unregulated in the US and therefore may not be accurate. So how should we make sense of all this? What steps can we take to ensure the products we are buying have legitimate facts stated on their labels? We love animals here at FēLē so we decided to write about it in an effort to help you down the line!
When in Doubt - Do Your Own Research
Naturally, humans are curious. We question most if not everything, but sometimes we allow companies to tell us what we should believe, versus allowing us to discover what we didn’t know. As a result, do your research! We cannot express this enough and how important it truly is. Heck, you might learn something along the way!
When it comes to researching brands, a popular organization is PETA who hosts a directory, Beauty without Bunnies, of all companies that do and do not test on animals among other topics. Companies here must apply and be approved before being listed on their site. Pretty cool if you ask us!
Another similar organization is Leaping Bunny who hosts their own directory of companies. As an aside, eight national animal protection groups came together to form the Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics (CCIC). The CCIC promotes a single comprehensive standard and an internationally recognized Leaping Bunny Logo to help make shopping for animal-friendly products easier and more trustworthy.
Other similar sites/apps available for cruelty-free research:
So while many beauty brands claim they do not test on animals, their products may be subject to animal testing requirements in other countries, most notably China. China requires animal testing on all imported beauty products. If a company, most likely the behemoths that rule the cosmetics industry that we all know, wants to expand or are already offered in China, they must comply with this rule. Well, that probably rules out some of your favorite brands then… but not FēLē :)
We are in the process of being added to these various lists of companies that do not test on animals and we cannot wait for this approval. We just love our furry friends! Either way, we hope this provides some guidance as a great starting point for the average consumer to do some research before buying or re-buying some of your favorite brands - assuming you care about our furry friends also!
Now onto some bonus content as we became inspired writing this...
Is Skincare for Pets a thing? Yes! And no, we’re not crazy...
We would summarize this notion as ‘the same, but different.’ The skin of humans, cats, and dogs is very similar (although not exactly alike). Human skin naturally is thicker than that of our furry friends. As a result, it's not often appropriate to use human skin products on our pets. Though some owners believe that their personal products have no negative impact on their animals.
While you may not be giving your dog facials and washing their face with your favorite FēLē Mastic Face Wash, pets require a different approach to skincare from within, which ultimately draws parallels to how humans can improve their skin as well. What you put on your skin from the outside is equally as important and effective as what you may be putting inside your body.
Keep reading and you’ll understand what we mean.
Your pet’s skin is naturally made of layers of skin cells held together by what are called ceramides, which make up a big portion of the outer layer of skin. Unfortunately, ceramides get lost over time and need to be replenished to correct any dull or dry skin areas (ceramide deficiency) - makes sense! Any sort of poor skin barrier can make your dog susceptible to harmful bacteria and allergens. If your pet is healthy and fortunate to not have any skin problems, there is little daily maintenance required to keep them balanced. If, on the other hand, you find that their skin is dry, greasy or even sensitive in certain areas leading to itchiness, there should be some extra attention and TLC involved in their daily/weekly routine.
The Most Important Factors to Healthy Skin:
Routine washing / grooming: Yes, this is a pain sometimes, but totally necessary to preserve their skin and coat
Pest Protection: Flea control is a must and should be regularly checked up on
Quality Food: The foundation to healthy skin starts with nutrition. Quality should not be confused with priciest. It's simply the diet that best fits the needs of your furry friend. Your vet is the best resource for this information - don't be afraid to ask!
All in all, the best skincare routine for humans is usually one that is unique to that individual. The same can be applied to our pets. What may work for on
e, may not for another. Recommendations for a dog with significant allergies will be different than those for a dog with no signs of skin irritations versus one with metabolic problems. It's important to talk to your vet and dermatologist (yes, that’s a thing) for the best advice - just tell them FēLē sent you, duh!
Everyone should aspire to be the best version of themselves and sometimes it's the little things that add up. Sometimes it's things we never thought of that may be restricting us from reaching our potential. This is why we always recommend that our customers do their homework! At FēLē, it's our promise to provide the most high quality effective products in the world with guaranteed results. We hope we inspire you to continue becoming more knowledgeable consumers, more in-tune with what it is you are consuming, and greater advocates to your friends and family on ways to help them become better versions of themselves as well.
After all, sharing is caring!
With love,
FēLē