1) How long have you been on your cruelty free journey?
I went cruelty-free just over three years ago. I had been a vegetarian a year before that and I began experimenting with veganism at the same time. I have been vegan for just over one year, and I am currently getting my head around cruelty-free cleaning products.
2) What made you decide to go cruelty free?
By accident (I believe it was on Twitter) I stumbled upon Louise's blog where I was introduced to cruelty-free cosmetics. Don't get me wrong, I was always firmly against testing lipstick on a bunny but I didn't realise just how common it still was! I began to use her brand list to phase out products and two months later I made the full commitment to boycotting animal testing cosmetics.
3) What has been the hardest product to find a cruelty free dupe for?
Not a specific product, but I find finding really good hair removal products (whether waxing, shaving or cream) to be a pain. I'm still shaving with a razor and a cheap conditioner in place of shaving foam!
4) What's the best cruelty free dupe you've found?
I only began to get really into beauty about a year before I went cruelty-free so I didn't really have that many 'holy grail' products. It's probably since going cruelty-free that I've become more brand loyal which is probably just extension of that fact that I'm now more into beauty products in general.
5) What product or brand do you wish was cruelty free?
It's the eventual goal that all brands in the world will be cruelty-free. However a brand I really really really miss is Benefit Cosmetics. Still haven't found a dupe for that Erase Paste!
6) What's your holy grail cruelty free brand?
I'm going to be a big massive blogger cliché and say that Lush is my holy grail cruelty-free brand. I lack any imagination. But in seriousness their products are great and easily available on the high street.
7) Name one cruelty free brand we might not have heard of?
I've mentioned them a few times on my blog but the smallest brand I use is the Aromatree Company. They make one of my favourite foot creams.
8) Are you a vegan? If so, for how long and have you had any struggles? If not, why not?
I went 100% vegan a year ago, but it had been a long time coming. I started to experiment with it in 2012 when I was still in Dundee. But when I began experimenting with soya cheeses and tofu is became quite apparent that it was likely I had a soya intolerance, which lowed the process down. I also moved back to my parents house in Aberdeenshire then onto Glasgow, which meant having to find new shops to find vegan foods. I occasionally find struggles when eating out and buying vegan non-food items but otherwise it's natural now.
9) What's your favourite local vegan friendly venue?
I live in one of the most vegan friendly cities in the UK but I actually love the options that the chain restaurants are creating more so than any independent place. The pizza at Pizza Express and the options at Las Iguanas are both delicious.
10) You have 30 seconds to convert someone to a cruelty free lifestyle - what would you say to them?
I find that most people are against cosmetics testing but just aren't convinced that one person boycotting actually works. I'd remind them of the ripple effect and that if enough people boycott it can work - also look at the consumer pressure that made Urban Decay back-track on their decision to enter China. When I first started cruelty-free blogging there was very few of us, and now there's a whole community.
What's your cruelty-free history? I'm gonna let this tag be open to anybody but specifically I'm gonna tag Hayley and Louise!
What's your cruelty-free history? I'm gonna let this tag be open to anybody but specifically I'm gonna tag Hayley and Louise!
