Japanese apron and cruelty-free skincare: reporting back

A while back, I posted seeking suggestions for skincare that was not tested on animals.

I tried a variety of natural bar soaps and they were all too drying. I bought a big refill jug of Vanicream Gentle Facial Cleanser and while it is cruelty-free and gentle, it is also very foamy and stings if it travels near eyes. (A benefit of older, lined skin is that it pretty much channels everything to your eyes.) In the end, I decided that as long as I changed every other product I was using to a PETA-approved brand, it was ok to keep using Cetaphil on my face.

I am replacing all my makeup as well and have learned a few things.

Team no animal testing:
Revlon
CoverGirl
NYX
Thrive Causemetics
IRL
Il Makiage
Mommy Makeup

Team animal testing:
L'Oreal
Lancome
Chanel

Of course, there are a zillion more companies in each category, these are just the ones I have either started or stopped using for this particular reason.
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Carol recently posted about aprons and I hopped over to Etsy and bought a very pretty one in the Japanese style. Here's what I will say about it.

First, it definitely provides generous coverage at the top.

Second, there is a learning curve to putting it on and taking it off - it has a bit of a Mobius-strip quality to it. I think the trick to remember is LIFO (Last In First Out). When you don it, head first arms last. But when you remove it, arms first head last.

Third, I have become accustomed to tucking a side towel into the waist-tie of my apron. Since the new one has no ties, I tried putting the side towel in the pocket but the pockets are too low on me for that. So I tucked it in the armhole but that was not quite the right place to grab it easily.

In sum, I think a tie apron is important to me, and now I will look for one that has more coverage up top.

6 months ago

Roberta

Veteran

Thank you for your report! I suspect if I tried one of those Japanese aprons I would become hopelessly entangled and have to call the paramedics. I will also stick to my tie back apron for now. Mine has an adjustable neck loop so I make that as short as possible and find that covers my chest better.

Mary Beth (formerly LBD)

(website)

Interesting! I gravitate towards cruelty free, and vegan, but I don't know that I've really looked closely at everything.

My go-to's that are cruelty-free:

Acure skin products: I love their brightening day and night creams, and their clarifying hair shampoo (I lather and rinse twice). There was a Unicorn face wash that I loved, but when I went to re-order, it was gone. I haven't checked back, so, note to self to look on Amazon.

Their prices have gone up a good bit since the pandemic, but the brightening day cream is still worth it, IMO.

Tarte eye makeup and mascara: Tarte has gradually become about 95% of my eyeshadow, eyeliner, and mascara, because it's the one company that I know will not give me inflammation, redness, itching, or styes.

Dr Bronner Peppermint soap: I buy the bars in bulk from Amazon. It doesn't make me itchy, and while all soap seems to dry my skin, this isn't too bad. (Our water has a high chlorine level where I live, which is likely the culprit of dryness). I wash my face with it at the end of the day, and I really like it. Although it really stings when I've accidentally gotten it in my eyes.

Burt's Bees: Any of the lemon body oils (Mama Bee, Body Oil, stuff labelled for baby) are on my go-to list. I have been mixing this with Eucerin or Lubriderm daily sunscreen for at least twenty years, and it keeps my skin hydrated and reasonably protected.

I've bought other Burt's Bees products here and there and liked it, but it seems to come and go out of stores - their Rose Micellar Water is definitely worth the price of admission, and if I see it again, I'll grab it.

Suz

That's really interesting about the apron. Mr. Suz's strategy for the dishtowel is to toss it on his shoulder. It never seems to fall off. I don't know why. He has rather narrow shoulders and a bit of scoliosis and he stoops.

I am not super conversant with the animal testing on cosmetics so this is good to know.

April

I learned that there are many levels of the animal issue. Some markets, like mainland China, do not allow sales of products that have not been tested on animals. Some brands (Mary Kay is one) will therefore do no animal testing except where required by law.

Some are more stringent (don't test, don't buy from suppliers that test, don't sell where it's required) and those earn PETA approval. It really depends how severe you want to be.

I also found that a number of my old products did not say "non-comedogenic" on the label, which may be why I ended up having about 30 milia pried out of my face by a dermatologist wielding a tiny ice pick. Don't care to repeat that experience, so now I'm back to reading labels more closely.

Jenni NZ

Happy to think about it, thank you April. I happen to already be a Revlon fan probably thanks to Charlie perfume from the 70s! I loved that when I was 17 (in 1978)-it was my first perfume. I wouldn’t have even heard of or thought about animal testing back then. Shows the power of their advertising I guess. The Charlie girl ads were enticing to a 17 year old. I hardly use any products at all, soap and water on my face. Trying to buy NZ made bar soap for environmental reasons.
L’Oreal’s slogan annoys me, so I won’t buy it, but the joke was on me as I like some Maybelline and then found they owned it! Lancôme and Chanel too rich for me

Bijou

April thanks for the information - please add Dermalogica skin care products to your list as they are certified cruelty free, gluten free and vegan - they are excellent products too. The unnecessary testing of products on animals concerns me and my preference is to support those companies that don't do this.

cat2

Thanks for the suggestions. I went on a mission to eliminate silicones from my products and ended up with much calmer skin. I don’t know if they are animal friendly, but I found Philosophy body wash, some Bumble and Bumble hair products, some REN skincare products and some Tarte makeup products made the cut. I am still looking for a good sunscreen: the Kosas Silicone Free is next on my list.

Angie

Fashion Stylist

Good info on this thread! Thanks, April and everyone

Jaime

Thanks for the list. We like Mrs. Meyers hand soaps and cleaning products, which are cruelty free. DH keeps the towel on his shoulder like Mr. Suz.

I asked myself why I don't want the side towel on my shoulder.

I have long hair.
I don't want to reach upward with dripping hands.
Though I don't personally eat meat or chicken or fish, I do cook it for others and sometimes have to wipe my hands. The last thing I want is that scent near my nose. Sorry, carnivores and pescaterians.

But, to Mr. Jaime and Mr. Suz - carry on! I love hearing about men having *any* kitchen habits, unless it's those annoying ones like leaving sweaty ballcaps on the cutting board. I don't know anyone who does this mind you but I know I would hate it.

Suntiger

Active Member

I won't buy animal tested products. Trader Joes, Pacifica, Nyx, Elf and indie brands from Etsy or locally made things are go tos for me.

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