I have been a long time user of Bath & Body Works products ... I have very sensitive, dry skin and few things work. In 2007 Peta voted "Best Retailer" for being wonderful to animals and not testing on animals (apparently the label stating that the finished product was not tested on animals was just a legal requirement). I felt okay about using these products and continued to use them, but I just glanced at the the label of a body cream and it listed milk protein. What's the deal with this company and Peta's endorsement? I'm so bummed!
I don't know anything about B&BW and PETA, but I know they use lots of terrible ingredients in their products. Check them out on the Environmental Working Group's Cosmetics Database:
I too wondered about this today as my daughter was brave enough to try to spread awareness about animal testing and bad chemicals at school. A teacher, who also works at Bath and Body, berated her, told her not to spread rumors and lies and apparently snuck the Peta best retailer info in her folder. I am so pissed. "Final product not tested on animals" says to me that the stuff that goes into it is.
Not to mention the awful crap they put in it. I sent a very nice email to this teacher as well as the principal with several links explaining the dangers of the chemicals used etc. Grrrr.
The Body Shop actually has against animal testing written on their products. The company has been sold but I think they still operate under the original founder's principals like donating money to help battered women and no animal experimentation.
I don't like Bath & Body Works finished product nonsense which implies they use ingredients tested on animals. The Body Shop has a membership program that costs $10 for the year where you get 10% off everything, special promotional offers & coupons and a $10 item of your choice for free for your birthday so that takes care of the cost of the membership.
Katie, I'm sorry to tell you this, but The Body Shop may state that they are "against animal testing" but its mere wording that helps them to promote to a wider consumer base. I have a friend that works for The Body Shop and she had confirmed with me that the products that they buy before the finished product is put together is likely to have been tested on animals. They may be "against" animal testing, but that doesn't mean that their products are 100% cruelty free. So, with that said, unless the company states that all of their products and it's ingredients are free of animal testing, I wouldn't trust it entirely until I had all of the facts.If I'm wrong, and I hope that I am, I would love to know.
Many companies get around the cruelty-free labeling by stating finished prduct is not tested on animals. This usually indicates that individual ingredients have been tested on animals and these companies should not be supported. Another huge issue is that these companies also use many toxic ingredients in the products that are known to cause cancer and are major hormone disruptors. A few years ago I started my own skincare line for this very purpose - to avoid toxic ingredients. My company, Golden Path Alchemy is dedicated to providing non-toxic, effective, cruelty-free (including all ingredients & finished products), therapeutic skincare that is safe enough to eat. We are major supportors of Campaign for Safe Cosmetics (who has the searchable databse - http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.org, PETA, and Leaping Bunny. Just beause a product is cruelty-free doesn't mean it is safe for you. You should be able to understand all ingredients on the label.
As a soap & candle maker myself. I hate Bath & Body works. It kills me to see lines out of the door every holiday. The products are mass produced . They use cheap fillers and toxic chemicals in their ingredients. Avoid parabens, lanolin, petro chemicals( such as petroleum and mineral oil, sodium lauryl sulfate and list goes on. They do no benefit your skin. You know its like Glade air freshers. How do they get away with saying they use essential oils. hmmm when there is no such thing as a Linen plant where they extracted essential oils from to make a Linen scented air freshner. Besides those home air freshners contain Formaldahyde. Also when buying " Soy Candles" make sure they say 100% soy. Alot of store bought "Soy Candles" are a soy blend meaning they are blended with some paraffin too. Cheers Julie www.ctsoapandcandles.com
Shirley, I am surprised to hear what your friend told you about The Body Shop. I called the company to confirm because that is not what a salesperson had told me in a store. The representative adamently denied that their products are EVER tested on animals, even before being "finished," and stressed that there are no animal ingredients in their products. She said they are 100% cruelty free. I don't mean to sound naive, but I can't believe they would flat-out lie when asked direct questions. Was your friend sure about what she told you?
That said, I am disappointed to learn that they are owned by L'oreal, who does test on its other lines. In effect, we're supporting this by giving them our money.
I think Bath and Body works stuff is absolute junk - way too many suspect ingredients:(
Of course companies lie. Well I think they use the fine line thing too. Like Glade I am sure they put a drop of some essential oil in their products and then the rest synthetic fragrances in the rest. You see then they can claim they are made with essential oils. You can find many soapers and crafters who do things the right way. I even saw the women on here who Alicia buys serums and lotions from.
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