FFF Fave Blogger: Cruelty-Free Beauty

Jen Mathews shows us how to make conscious beauty purchases

Jen Mathews, founder of mybeautybunny.com, is giving us the scoop on what cruelty-free products we should be buying. We got a chance to chat with her about everything from beauty, to writing a hit blog, to acting as President of the social media and blogger outreach agency Top Tier Media. Phew, she is one busy bunny! Check out why Jen is one of our fave bloggers.

What are a few products you can’t live without?

I’m in love with fellow beauty blogger Phyrra’s new product, Pretty Little Elixir. I use it once a week to revive my over-colored hair! It doesn’t weigh my hair down and it’s cruelty-free and vegan. I also love Too Faced cosmetics. I particularly love their Chocolate Soleil Bronzer and their highly pigmented eyeshadows.

For skin, you can’t go wrong with Murad and Dermalogica. Two cruelty-free companies that make a product for every skin condition. I also recently launched my own vegan, cruelty-free alpha hydroxy moisturizer. It’s got 5% fruit AHAs, which exfoliate gently but effectively, and it works well for most skin types.

What are the most challenging parts of writing a blog?

The challenging part is keeping up with daily duties: blog writing, editing, photo editing, fact-checking, social media management, etc. Not to mention attending blogger and industry events. Blogging is time-consuming when it’s not your only job! My day job is acting as President of Top Tier Media, a social media and blogger outreach agency for beauty, fashion, health, and lifestyle brands.

What’s your process for finding cruelty-free products?

New brands tend to find me. They send me products, and my job is to find out if they are really cruelty-free (meaning no animal testing by the brand or the suppliers, and not sold in countries that require animal testing). And if they are cruelty-free, are the products good enough to share with my readers?

What would you say to a girl who has never thought of using cruelty-free products? If she makes the switch, will it really make a difference?

Absolutely! There are so many amazing cruelty-free brands — even in the drugstores (Milani, Wet N Wild, Physician’s Formula, Nuance, ELF, NYX, etc.). There’s no reason to use products that have been tested on animals when there are so many similar (and often better) products on the market. It’s so easy to do once you start reading labels and paying attention to which brands test and which don’t. Leaping Bunny has a handy app for your phone, so you can easily check while you’re shopping. Buying cruelty-free products shows the big brands that consumers care about what they buy. And that inspires change.

Are there any common marketing phrases consumers should be aware of when deciding on what to purchase?

Absolutely. First of all, “natural” doesn’t mean much, and has nothing to do with animal testing. Many people confuse that term with cruelty-free, but the two are mutually exclusive. Secondly, watch out for tricky phrases like, “finished product not tested on animals” or “we don’t test on animals”.

Even “cruelty-free” is often used in error. In some cases, the brand does not test, but their manufacturer or ingredient suppliers test. Or they may not test, but third party governments (like China) are testing their products (with or without their consent). Currently, China mandates animal testing for all imported cosmetic products. The best way to find out if something is cruelty-free is to check my list, Leaping Bunny’s list, or contact the brand directly. Be sure to ask the right questions to get a legitimate answer.

What is the latest product you’ve found that every girl should be using?

I love the sponges from My Konjac Sponge! They have been used for a long time in Asian countries, but are relatively new to the US. They give you a good scrub without being too harsh for delicate facial skin. And they are reusable — they last for about three months.

source