Urban decay have now released the following statement on their website
"After careful consideration of many issues, we have decided not to start selling Urban Decay products in China.
Following our initial announcement, we realized that we needed to step back, carefully review our original plan, and talk to a number of individuals and organizations that were interested in our decision."
You can read the full statement here.
One thing that struck me as a little strange is that the full statement mentions several times that "We do not test our finished products on animals."
Prior to this I hadn't seen Urban Decay use the word "finished" it was always "We do not test our products on animals."---The word finished is always a red flag in my mind, (but maybe I'm just being overly suspicious.)
I think it's fantastic that they listened to the "backlash" they received from their customers on Twitter and Facebook (it's nice to know our opinions matter!)
However, I personally don't see myself becoming a loyal customer again.
I can't help but wonder why it took so much backlash via comments, tweets, emails etc for them to stick to their core values as a brand.
Urban Decay was always synonymous with cruelty-free in my mind until this. Now, I'd rather stick to brands I know I can trust.
I can't help but wonder why it took so much backlash via comments, tweets, emails etc for them to stick to their core values as a brand.
Urban Decay was always synonymous with cruelty-free in my mind until this. Now, I'd rather stick to brands I know I can trust.
What are your thoughts? Does this change your mind about not wanting to purchase Urban Decay product?
I was never boycotting UD, so this hasn't changed my mind, but I almost feel disappointed by their decision to back out of the Chinese market. Not because I don't like that they're listening to their fans (I think that part is great), but because it makes me feel like this was just a ploy to make more money all along, and not change the Chinese beauty industry for the better like they originally claimed... I was willing to take them at face value the first time around, but now it's sounding more like it was already about the almighty dollar. Call me naive for not seeing through that the first time, but I was giving them the benefit of the doubt! As for saying that the finished product is not tested on animals, it could be because so many ingredients that are standard in cosmetics now were tested on animals back in the day when they were first released... Maybe they just want to cover their bases? Hoping this isn't just a way to cover up the fact that they are buying recently-tested ingredients and incorporating them into the brand. I believe Bath & Body Works uses similar wording, and the explanation I heard was that they are not truly cruelty free, and had other companies test individual ingredients so they could claim that the product as they sell it has technically never been tested on animals... But I'm sure there are many people out there who know better than I what this means!
ReplyDeleteExactly! That's why I'm still put off the brand really because it confirms what I originally thought--which is that it was all about money to begin with.
DeleteAlso, yes, I know what you mean. Some companies will cover themselves with the "finished" so it could be either way.
I was so pleased to hear this, but like you, I'm still unsure whether they test their ingredients on animals or not, that's usually the case when they only mention their 'finished' products aren't tested. I also agree with the fact that they shouldn't of felt the need to sell to China in the first place and it took thousands of complaints to change their mind.. x
ReplyDeletehttp://jessicabeautician.blogspot.co.uk/
I'm glad you understand where I'm coming from! Regardless, it's still good that they changed their mind.
Deletetotally agree with you.
ReplyDeleteExcellent! :)
DeleteThis sort of changed my mind. I am so happy they decided not to, but I think if they just took a little more time to make a decision, all of this hoopla never would have happened!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad they changed their mind too, but my opinion is the same, as it reconfirms what I thought all along.
Deleteyeah!!!
ReplyDeleteI understand your point but i am glad they decided to not sell in china
ReplyDeleteI am too!
DeleteWoo hoo!!!
ReplyDeleteI think animal testing declarations are generally vague and it's tough to really understand what the company means when they state 'Not tested on animals' or 'Against animal testing.' I think the first thing is to read the company's full animal testing declaration posted on their website. Don't just read word for word but really try to read between the lines. Second if you are really concerned is google the shit out of it. I think for most companies their claim is only for their finished products. Usually if they don't test their ingredients on animals we also will see that in their official statement some where. If their claim is simply 'Against animal testing' ... then as consumers we need to recognize that potentially the ingredients could have been tested by the company, or commissioned to be tested by the company on animals.
ReplyDeleteThat's what I always do! :)
DeleteIts all about money... I wonder which of these companies really truly thinks about this cruelty-free term. So many leading brands have been found guilty so far!
ReplyDeletewww.whatfarahthinks.blogspot.com
Exactly!
DeleteHello! Actually, you are not being overly suspicious. It's possible they DID test their unfinished products in China. I'm sad to hear this because they were a brand that I really felt did the right thing. I mean, I can't even imagine how they would test makeup on animals, but I guess it would be chemical reactions or something. It is all about profits, as most companies are.
ReplyDeleteThank you! I'm pleased that you understood what I meant.. because it did seem a little weird to me that they all of the sudden use the word "finished." I'm really sad to hear it as well because it was always a brand I thought of as totally against animal testing.
DeleteThey'll test the individual ingredients on the animal's bare skin or in their eyes to see if it causes a bad reaction! :(
I agree with you 100%! I think it's all about the money and I'm currently put off by the brand... I also am very glad that they stopped in time and I hope other brands will follow...
ReplyDeleteThank you! It's so nice to see that we share the same opinion.
DeleteI think I'm pretty much put off the brand for.. well.. forever! This whole thing is just too much of a mess.
I'm glad to see you've raised this here Vintage. I'm not sure how I feel about this to be honest - part of me is not suprised to see a company betray/move their morals to access new opportunities and part of me thinks it's all very staged/prepared media opportunity (any press is good press). I mean what did UD think would happen here? That we would appauld their moved into China given the animal testing guidelines - as if.
ReplyDeleteI guess ultimately I am just happy that this is not a brand that I really hold close to my heart.
I was actually very surprised to see that they would consider compromising their cruelty-free status, but at the same time I completely see what you're saying, and in a way it's also not surprising!
DeleteI honestly don't know what they thought would happen either because most of their fans buy the products because they know they're CF, and some are vegan.
I'm glad that I no longer hold it close to my heart! :)