Beauty, the Ethical Way: Beauty Without Cruelty

To some, the cruelty-free trend in beauty products is a new development. Every day, we see companies switching to more ethical business practices, and treating animals with respect is just one part of that. It’s something that is rapidly becoming a standard, and for good reason: if we want to treat ourselves, our planet, and others with respect, we shouldn’t forget the other living, feeling beings we live alongside.

What many don’t realize, though, is that this is certainly not something new, especially for a company like Beauty Without Cruelty.

For over 40 years, BWC has been working diligently to keeping their products healthy, safe, and cruelty-free. This isn’t about latching onto any new trends or fads; rather, BWC is about setting the bar for ethical, sustainable products. It hasn’t been the easiest mission and it certainly demands a critical attention to detail, but BWC remains devoted, even some four decades later.

For this review, we interviewed Santosh Krinsky, CEO of BWC, and tested four products. Let’s just say the management of the company is as kind as the products themselves!

The History of BWC

The beginnings of BWC set the inspirational roots for the mission it still pursues today. In 1963 England, the company was founded by BWC Charitable Trust, an animal welfare organization. The charity had been formed four years earlier in 1959 by Lady Muriel Dowding. Dowding, along with Katherine Long and Noel Gabriel, came together and decided to put a business behind the purpose, which started by developing the very first full line of “cruelty-free” color cosmetics. Beauty Without Cruelty was born.

At the beginning, some people cared, some didn’t, and others simply weren’t aware of animal cruelty issues in personal care products. BWC, though, took on the mission of educating along with producing. Slowly but surely, consumers and other companies took note to the mission being pursued. The 60s were already a time of change, and BWC somewhat epitomized that in the personal care industry.

Since then, the company has ‘gone across the pond’ to the States, where it met huge consumer support. More and more companies have taken notice, and BWC remains a model for others to follow. In many, ways the cruelty-free dedication of BWC has become a standard for all personal care companies, regardless if they identify with the environmental movement or not.

What’s New with BWC

Today, the line at BWC has become totally vegan in addition to being cruelty-free. Dairy and honey products were searched out and removed from products, and the company has also begun to focus on sustainable, ethical production of the ingredient palm oil, employing the help of the Sustainable Palm Oil Round Table for sourcing and understanding.

BWC has also put focus on toxins that are potentially deadly for our body. With each new discovery by modern medicine, BWC reacts and alters its ingredients to ensure a healthy product. Any potential endocrine disruptors, for example, have been quickly replaced with healthier, safer alternatives. These principles, along with those above, will be carried over into their new line of color cosmetics, too.

With a commitment to superior quality and dedication, it’s no wonder BWC has such phenomenal, effective products. Let’s discover a few.

The Products

Shampoo and Conditioner

Both the shampoo and conditioner from BWC were wonderful. Both were a rosemary, mint, tea tree oil blend and carried a wonderfully peppy scent to them. The shampoo lathered up nicely, and it left my hair feeling softer already (not that hard, dried feeling you get from some shampoos). The conditioner picked up right where the shampoo left off, serving as an excellent conditioner to smooth out and refresh your hair.

Facial Cleanser

As far as facial cleansers go, I loved this. There’s not much worse than a cleanser  that dries you out and makes you feel ‘rough’. This wash, though, left my skin feeling smooth and fresh. And it’s no wonder why: it is completely soap free. Instead, it has a light foaming base that intentionally doesn’t over clean your skin. This allows you to retain some of your natural bodily oils and keep your skin healthy and firm.

Body Lotion

The Vitamin C body lotion has been a HUGE hit around the office (in fact, I didn’t even risk taking it home!). We’ve been using it everyday and with stellar result. Our hands have been feeling softer and everyone has noticed more vibrant skin. This is amazing partly because of the different skin types at Organic Soul.

Discover Beauty without Cruelty

If you’re looking for a company that is really devoted to its mission, you don’t want to miss BWC. After speaking with Santosh, I could tell there was no joking around. As he noted, they put every ingredient under serious investigation, and if it isn’t vegan or cruelty-free, BWC refuses to use it. To be frank, I don’t think I’ve discussed or reviewed a company with such a devoted, time-proven commitment to their mission.

Discover BWC today and discover what’s better with personal care. BWC is more than Beauty Without Cruelty, it is Beauty With Consciousness.