u/ThymeAndThorns

At least it’ll go with…everything? lol got just about every color under the sun in there!

I really like Himalaya’s toothpaste, as does my husband, but I’ve seen conflicting things online about the company recently, specifically bloggers such as Cruelty Free Kitty, listing them as being animal testers. When I’ve searched Reddit, other users were also confused, so I wrote in to the company. Unfortunately they seem to have misunderstood my email and replied to me as though *I* was CFK. But at least some clarification was given?

Sources: Himalaya’s claims of being CF can be found (here). Their oral care and personal products line are listed as CF in Leaping Bunny’s database (here) and they’re sold at Whole Foods (here); however, CFK (here) and Conscious Bunny (here) have the overall brand listed as not CF.

Conclusion: The brand’s personal care items are CF; however, because the brand produces supplements, and supplement research sometimes has required animal testing, we cannot say the brand overall is CF.

My email:

Hello,

I’ve been using Himalaya toothpaste for a few years, and our household loves them. Initially I purchased because I saw your listings claimed to be cruelty free, which is awesome. Every once in awhile I recheck our household products to make sure the companies we buy from are still following that standard, and in doing so I discovered that Cruelty Free Kitty, a very popular blog dedicated to listing cruelty free items, now has Himalaya listed as a company that tests on animals (https://www.crueltyfreekitty.com/brands/himalaya/)

I wanted to reach out and ask if there was a change in policy, or if CFK is misinformed. If you would be able to answer the following questions, it would be greatly appreciated!

1. Do you or your suppliers test finished products or ingredients on animals at any point during production?

2. Does any third party test on animals on your behalf?

3. Do you sell your products in countries (such as mainland China) that require mandatory animal testing for imported products?

4. Are any third-party suppliers or manufacturers commissioned to test ingredients on animals for your formulas?

5. As far as I’m aware, Himalaya has not been acquired by a parent company that test on animals - is that still the case?

 

Thank you very much for your time!
(name)

Their response:

Dear Cruelty-Free Kitty Team,
 
We're writing regarding an inaccurate photo and implied message on your Himalaya Wellness page:
https://www.crueltyfreekitty.com/brands/himalaya/
 
Himalaya does not test our personal care products on animals. Our personal care products are manufactured in India, where animal testing of cosmetics and their ingredients is prohibited. In May 2014, India's Ministry of Health and Family Welfare published the cosmetic testing ban, which adds to the existing rules that were established in 1945. (Rule 148-C, 2014): “No person shall use any animal for the testing of cosmetics.”.
 
The current image and surrounding text on your website could be read to suggest that the pictured personal care products are animal-tested, which is not accurate. We kindly ask that you remove or amend this.
 
For our dietary supplements, we manufacture our own products and conduct human clinical studies, and we’re legally and ethically responsible for participant safety. We follow Good Clinical Practice (GCP) standards to help ensure studies are designed and conducted responsibly, with appropriate safeguards for the people involved.
 
Before any supplement is studied in humans, early-stage safety assessments may be needed; in some cases, that can include preliminary observational studies in mice, prior to human research conducted in compliance with applicable legal requirements.
 
Each study protocol is reviewed and approved in advance by independent ethics committees (and, where applicable, animal ethics boards) to confirm the work is necessary and conducted as humanely as possible. Once safety is established, we avoid repeating studies unnecessarily.
 
We would appreciate it if you could remove or amend our listing and/or update the photo and/or copy to reflect the above. Thank you for your important work on this topic, and for your time.
 
Sincerely,
(name)
Sales Support
Himalaya Wellness USA Limited
800-869-4640
writetous@himalayausa.com

I recently got to test a lip stain by a Korean brand, PassionCat, and on their listing page they claimed to be Leaping Bunny “approved.” This got my attention, because I assumed they’d have said “certified.” I did a quick search and while the brand consistently claims to be vegan and cruelty free, there is no information about them on any CF site that I can find, and no certifications. This is the first time I’ve seen a company specifically state to be approved by a CF organization when they aren’t (at least not yet, publicly).

Anyone else ever encounter something like that?

For clarity, I’m not trying to bash this brand, for all I know there was a miscommunication, mistranslation, or they’re in the process of being certified. Just found it interesting and thought it might spark discussion :)

I lost count of all the blues! There were at least half a dozen more that I didn’t catch 😆

Not my best month, but grateful all the same! I enjoyed the uLook sunscreen more than I expected to, and I’m looking forward to a few of these items coming in still, like the heat protectant hair mist!

Sometimes after I pet his head this dopey boy will remain in flight mode for a few seconds 😹

I missed this product but I’m so intrigued. The reviews on this are completely divided! I’m looking forward to reading more once the viners have a taste. Has anyone here ever tried a clay snack?!

Has anyone discovered a good dupe for this item? I got three samples of it and fell in love, but the company is not cruelty free 😒 It’s one of the most beautiful and hydrating products I’ve found so far though and my skin LOVES it.

I’ve tried the Byoma milky toner before and thought it was just okay (did not hurt or particularly improve my dry skin).

Ingredients, in case this helps anyone and saves y’all time looking it up:

Water / Aqua / Eau, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Limnanthes Alba (Meadowfoam) Seed Oil, Isopentyldiol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Squalane, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Inulin Lauryl Carbamate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Propanediol, Disodium Edta, Carbomer, Mannitol, Acrylates/Stearyl Methacrylate Copolymer, Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Xanthan Gum, Ceramide Np, Camellia Japonica Flower Extract, Tocopherol, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-11.

I don’t know what’s better, the rocking horse, martini glass, and lemon purses, each valued between $86-130, or the “jumpsuit for dementia patients.”
Why oh why 🤦🏼‍♀️

Hi all, I’ve got two tickets listed on Stubhub for the AC show this Saturday. I won’t be using them and am just trying to get back some of what I paid for them. Unfortunately stubhub doesn’t allow me to share my specific listing link (🙄) but mine are for the GA section. Just wanted to draw attention here in case anyone is looking for tix to this show!

I’ve seen a lot of crazy ducks on vine but this one tops them all!

Got a few skincare items that may or may not do anything lol. Kitchen towels to replace my grungy ones that can now by used as outdoor rags by my husband. A “water softener” that I’m 90% sure won’t work but I’ve got test kits at home so that will be a fun experiment. Highlighter. Glp1 vial case. And vanilla beans!! I think I’m most excited about them haha

I was especially excited to grab the SEEN shampoo - I’ve used that brand before and really loved them!

Recently adopted a diluted tortie kitten and gave her her first stremtch tonight after she tried to steal my Mei fun noodles

This is my sweet boy, Artie. Often when he hears cars outside he goes into his meerkat pose!

Thank you Meow Hankie, you made my night. May you be blessed with more cat food and toys by the Vine overlords!

I’ve never gotten perfumes from Vine so I was really excited to score 2!! Also got some cat litter and supplements (we use tikicat sometimes already, our cats like the brand), a pet camera from a brand that makes the litter box cameras we use, a cute shirt and shoes, and some “healthy” brownies.

All but the pet camera was in AI (my RFY is typically junk) around 4:30am EST