Before last year, I didn't give much, or any, thought on how my cosmetic and beauty products came to find their way into my drawers or onto my bathroom counter. I blindly purchased products simply because I liked them and without any thought of the possible harm that went into their creation.

Then, some of my favorite beauty bloggers and YouTube beauty gurus started discussing cruelty-free products last year and made the decision themselves to become cruelty free. It completely woke me up to my role as a consumer. I do not support the harm of animals, whether it is physical, mental or emotional harm (and I do believe animals are capable of all three). However, animal testing was something I simply wasn't considering when I went to the store to buy a new mascara or pick out a new shade of lipstick. When these beauty bloggers I follow made the decision to go cruelty free, I knew it was something I wanted to do as well.

One of my New Year's resolutions was to go cruelty free. Over the past three months, I have been working towards that goal. And, let me tell you, it can be quite challenging. I've had to stop purchasing some of my favorite staple products. I've had to make decisions for what companies I define as cruelty-free brands. And I've realized just how many companies out there do test on animals. This switch has been disheartening at times and some people in my life simply haven't understood. But I know it is the right decision for me, so I've been sticking to it.

Now, I said that making the switch and conscious decision to go cruelty free can be challenging. I've had to learn and determine a slew of choices since becoming (and still working on becoming) cruelty free. In light of that, here is a list of things to remember and/or figure out if you're interested in becoming cruelty free, too.

• Determine what "cruelty free" means to you.
  A lot of cosmetic, beauty and health brands are owned by larger companies. So, while a particular brand might be cruelty free, the parent company might not. Some people won't buy any brands if the parent company isn't cruelty free, but others will. Figure out if you want to just buy products that are cruelty free or if you want to buy from companies that are entirely cruelty free.
• Figure out the parts of your life you're going to be cruelty free in.
  Commonly, people think of makeup when they think of animal testing. But shampoos, deodorants, toothpaste and loads of other health and beauty products can be tested on animals. Decide if you want to totally eradicate animal-tested products from your health or beauty routine, or if you just want to eradicate your animal-tested makeup. Either way, you're working towards being a more socially responsible consumer, and that's great!
• Don't feel like you have to rush into it or be perfect.
  When you decide to make the switch, don't change every single beauty product you have overnight. If it is easier for you to wrap your head around and do the research, go about in waves. First, find alternatives for your "everyday" makeup. Then, look into the rest of your makeup. Move on from there to researching (and, if needed, finding new) face washes, cleanser, moisturizer, etc. Continue with lotions and body sprays. Then, work on your hygiene products: deodorant, toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, and so on. Slowly making the change doesn't make you any less committed. Rather, it can really help you manage and balance the switch. In addition, don't beat yourself if you accidentally buy a product that is tested on animals, whether because you were unaware or you forgot. People make mistakes, and you do too. Learn from your mistakes, resolve to not buy the product again, and move on.
• Don't "start from scratch" with products.
  Not everyone will agree with me on this, but when you switch to cruelty free, you'll probably discover a few (or several) of your current products are not cruelty free. Don't dump them down the drain or throw them in the trash automatically. It's great that you're so ready to change, but don't be wasteful in the process. Being socially responsible also means trying not be wasteful. You've already purchased the product, and the damage is already done in a way. Use and finish the product, but don't buy it again. You don't have to feel guilty if you're still using animal-tested products that you bought before you made the switch.
• Trying new products can be fun.
  I've had to say goodbye to some of my favorite staple products after learning they were animal tested. Not gonna lie, it was hard to stop buying things I've been buying for years. I was unsure if I'd find a product that worked as well. But don't be afraid to try new things! Some products won't be quite what you were hoping, but others might be even better than the ones you had to stop using. For example, the mascara I've basically worn nonstop ever since I started wearing makeup is not cruelty free, but I love that mascara. However, I recently found a new, cruelty-free mascara that I like even more and that works even better. Not everything you try will be the right fit for you, so don't be afraid to try loads of new things. A lot of cosmetic stores have sample or travel sizes of products, so buy those first to determine if you like something instead of spending loads of money on something that might not work for you.
• Some people might not understand, and that's okay.
  Recently, someone close to me found out I had gone cruelty free and I was barraged with questions: How can you afford that? What's the point? Aren't you worried about the products harming you since they aren't tested? Simply and calmly explain your decision to them and realize you can't change everyone. I explained to my friend that a lot of products aren't expensive and that you'd be surprised by the companies and brands that are cruelty free. So, it can be affordable. The point of switching is that I decided I wasn't comfortable supporting brands, companies, and an industry that performed testing on animals. I did it for me and to hopefully convince others around me to do the same. If enough people decide to change, it could make a difference. And I'm not worried about the products harming me. There are plenty of alternative ways to test products. Animal testing just happens to be one of the older and more common ways, so companies are sticking with what they've always done. Just because products aren't animal tested doesn't mean they aren't tested in other ways. These were all things I had to explain, and I didn't change my friend's mind that what I was doing was worth it, but that's fine because I was able to still firmly stand by my decision. It's been an interesting three months since I started this, but I'm so excited to continue!