Embracing a lifelong passion for animals and a strong advocacy for their rights, Marisa Robinson, the founder of Wild & Cruelty Free, embarked on a mission to enlighten and motivate others to adopt cruelty-free beauty products, contributing to the fight against animal testing.
Having transitioned to a cruelty-free lifestyle in 2018 and more recently embracing a vegan way of living, Marisa has emerged as a dedicated advocate for animals. Through her social media presence, she generates content to showcase to her community that transitioning to cruelty-free living is both accessible and seamless.
With over 15 years of experience in digital marketing, nearly a decade of testing and reviewing beauty products, certification in makeup artistry, and a steadfast commitment to change, Marisa is leveraging her expertise and profound admiration for both beauty and animals. She is crafting a compassionate platform that champions ethical Australian brands, guiding women on a transformative journey towards a more conscientious approach to beauty.
Please tell us more about yourself
Beauty With Purpose
Marisa 🐰🌱 Vegan & Cruelty Free Content Creator
My name is Marisa and I am a beauty content creator, digital marketer, animal lover, activist and the founder of Wild & Cruelty Free.
I have been trialling and reviewing the latest beauty products for over 10 years (@marisarobinsonbeauty) and in that time I have evolved a lot in terms of what products I use and my values.
In 2018 I hit a crossroads with my love for animals and my love for cosmetics, and there was a huge disconnect when I learnt of how many animals are being used and killed each day for cosmetics testing. I couldn’t continue supporting and using products from brands who knew animal testing was taking place (directly or indirectly) so I switched to Cruelty Free Beauty and adopted a pescatarian lifestyle.
That marked the start of living in alignment to my values and advocating for the rights of innocent animals undergoing testing for our vanity.
While I was doing all the right things as a consumer and promoting cruelty free beauty products, I was still living quite naively to the cruelty and harm animals face each and every day in factory farms, for the production of dairy products and the fish I continued to eat. The Dominion documentary shed a lot of horrific light and after being rattled to my absolute core, I could no longer consume animal derived products or ingredients in any way, shape or form, including beauty products.
So at the start of 2023 I switched to living a completely Vegan lifestyle. My personal beauty collection and the products I accepted for trialling was getting smaller, but I was becoming much happier knowing that everything I owned and used was truly cruelty free and more sustainable to the planet and our furry friends.
Tell us more about your Vegan business?
The relationship I have with cosmetics is rather like one you would have with a best friend
Marisa 🐰🌱 Vegan & Cruelty Free Content Creator
Wild & Cruelty Free is your online destination for Australian Vegan and Cruelty Free beauty products. I have curated a conscious collection of cruelty free and vegan makeup, skincare, haircare and wellness products that work harmoniously together. I have personally tried and trust every product and they each include a free video tutorial to help people implement them effortlessly into their daily routines.
I want my favourite Australian vegan and cruelty free beauty products to be more accessible while educating and inspiring people to make the switch to a cruelty free and vegan beauty routine. I have done the hard work, the research and the testing to help remove confusion and overwhelm. People can now shop from Wild & Cruelty Free – a trusted online store with a considered edit of vegan and cruelty free beauty products.
I don’t intend to start a revolution, but I do intend to start a revelation within each woman
Marisa 🐰🌱 Vegan & Cruelty Free Content Creator
When you shop at Wild & Cruelty Free you’re not just buying another pretty makeup or skincare product, you’re buying into a brand that stands for something. We proudly stock and support Australian Vegan and Cruelty Free brands who tread lightly on the earth while creating a circular economy.
With an abundance of beauty products on the market, greenwashing and lists of ingredients we can’t even pronounce, we understand that it can be difficult to determine which products are truly safe and ethical. We want to help you become more aware of an industry that disguises harmful behaviour with pretty packaging so we have done the research to eliminate confusion and guide you on a journey towards better beauty.
Wild & Cruelty Free is your online destination for Australian Vegan and Cruelty Free beauty products
Marisa 🐰🌱 Vegan & Cruelty Free Content Creator
No animal should ever have to suffer for our vanity so we give a voice to animals who can’t speak for themselves. By supporting small and compassionate businesses and making their purposeful products more accessible, we can collectively make a difference to the future of the planet and the beauty industry.
Everything we do is led by compassion and kindness. We are committed to providing ongoing support and donations to animal sanctuaries and organisations so collectively we can make a difference and create a kinder, cruelty free world for all.
We’ve curated a conscious collection of cruelty free and vegan makeup, skincare, haircare and wellness products that work harmoniously together
Marisa 🐰🌱 Vegan & Cruelty Free Content Creator
We have a variety of Australian Vegan and Cruelty Free makeup, skincare and wellness products but a few of my current favourites would have to be…
Beauti-fltr Feather Light SPF50+ Sunscreen –
We love a multi-purpose beauty product and Feather Light has become a staple in our morning skincare routine. This 3-in-1 sunscreen, moisturiser and primer protects from harmful UVA and UVB rays while it nourishes the skin and creates the perfect base for makeup. Sunscreen is a non-negotiable in your routine so why not cover all bases with one time saving product!
Sunset Days Liquid Rays Bronzing Pigment Drops –
They come in 3 shades for light, medium and deep skin tones and you simply mix a few drops in with your favourite sunscreen, moisturiser or foundation to give your skin a beautiful, golden glow. The beauty of them is that they add a subtle tint but they don’t compromise the product you are mixing them with, so by adding to sunscreen you’re still getting protection from the sun while creating safe, sun-kissed skin.
Recreation Beauty ‘Sun-Kissed’ Eau de Parfum –
This scent is summer in a bottle that awakens your every sense with its zesty energy. A quick spritz and you will be instantly greeted with a burst of sparkling citrus while fresh pear, fig, jasmine and petitgrain are wrapped in the embrace of coconut, cedarwood and musk for a lively, sumptuous scent. Recreation Beauty only uses clean ingredients and does not contain any harmful synthetics or endocrine disrupting ingredients.
The Ere Perez Carrot Colour Pots
are a cream balm which you can apply to the lips, cheeks and eyes for a pop of colour. The beauty of this balm is that it melts effortlessly into the skin for a dewy, natural finish and it is buildable so you can apply a subtle wash or intensify for a bolder look.
Do you have someone you’d like to express gratitude to?
When I hear I’ve impacted another creator or consumer to make a change, I know my work here is done yet also beautifully unfinished
Marisa 🐰🌱 Vegan & Cruelty Free Content Creator
My Mum. My love for animals was instilled in me at a young age and my mother is the catalyst for everything I do and everything I’ve built. Growing up, if an animal somehow arrived on our property, my mother would adopt them and take them in as our own. If it was a baby she would be up at all hours of the night hand-rearing and nurturing them, just as their mother would have, until being strong enough to join the other animals. She will forever be my biggest inspiration and my biggest supporter.
Nothing makes me happier than when I hear that I’ve inspired someone to make the switch to Cruelty Free beauty or that they trust my judgement on the products I stock so they don’t have to hunt around wasting their time or money.
No animal should have to suffer for our vanity and every being should be treated with respect, love and kindness. I’m here to guide you on a better journey towards better beauty and a kinder planet for all
Marisa 🐰🌱 Vegan & Cruelty Free Content Creator
I think there is a lot more awareness these days around the benefits of eating a plant based diet, not only for the animals and the environment but the positive impact it can have on our health. The Game Changers documentary on Netflix strongly demonstrated that eating a plant based diet can enhance the performance of professional athletes, so it goes without saying that it would also have positive nutritional benefits when incorporated into the average person’s diet.
You are what you eat and I always think about that animal’s journey and the life it had before making its way to your plate. If it experienced and endured abuse growing up, especially as a result of factory farming, that trauma would be stored in its body and you are then consuming it. That cannot be good for you and could transform into disease within your body.
What are some misconceptions about being vegan? How do you educate or explain?
That it is hard or inconvenient. That was always what I had been told and a big reason why I hadn’t made the switch sooner. But in honesty, while it can be challenging when you eat out (depending on where you live or the area you are in) there is always an alternative vegan option available. I love using the Happy Cow app to find vegan cafes and restaurants when I am travelling somewhere new. Plus, if you enjoy cooking, the options for delicious plant-based meals and desserts are endless.
When it comes to beauty people often think cruelty free products are more expensive. This is completely untrue. While there will always be luxurious vegan beauty products on the market there are plenty of affordable brands with quality, high performing products you can add to your routine too.
If you ever need some guidance deciphering which products are cruelty free you can always consult my Cruelty Free Beauty Brands Directory.
If you are ever looking for a vegan or cruelty free beauty product alternative please don’t hesitate to reach out to me, I love sharing recommendations and helping people make the switch.
Also be sure to follow Wild & Cruelty Free on Instagram, we have some amazing brands joining the family that you won’t want to miss!
Wild And Cruelty Free
all images courtesy of Wild And Cruelty Free