Did animals suffer for your foundation, blush, mascara, or eyeshadow?  You can choose to go cruelty-free.  New York has just become the tenth state to ban the sale of cosmetics tested on animals, joining California, Nevada, Illinois, Hawaii, Maryland, Maine, New Jersey, Virginia, and Louisiana.  Cutting-edge technologies have made the cruel and archaic animal tests unnecessary.

New York State Assembly member Linda Rosenthal, who co-sponsored the legislation, stated, “More consumers than ever are demanding cruelty-free cosmetics.  For decades, animals have suffered painful, cruel, and unnecessary experiments in the development of cosmetics, despite the existence of alternative methods that do not involve animal testing.  With this new law, animals will no longer be harmed in the service of humans’ pursuit of beauty.”

Even though Florida has not yet banned cosmetics tested on animals, you can institute your own personal cruelty-free policy.  Among the brands not tested on animals are Urban Decay, Alba Botanica, 365, Lush, Jason, Aveda, Pangea Organics, Dermalogica, Meyer’s Clean Day, Pacifica, Body Shop, and Bath and Body Works.

BBUUC’s Animal Chaplain, Elizabeth DeCoux, is available for members seeking spiritual help related to animals, such as blessings, celebrations of life, prayers, attendance at euthanasia, and other services. BBUUC’s Animal Grief Support Group meets first and third Sundays, noon to 1:30, at the church. All are welcome, whether the loss is recent, long ago, or anticipated.