The Gray Zone

Today I'd like to tackle the question of the gray zone companies. Gray Zone companies are companies that are cruelty free but are owned by a larger corporation or parent company that is not cruelty free. I.e. Clorox (not cruelty free) owns Burt's Bees, yet Burt's Bees is Leaping Bunny Certified. So, the debate amongst all of us who are trying to live a responsible, cruelty free life is... 
Is buying a cruelty free brand that is owned by a non cruelty free parent company really cruelty free? 
Let's break down the problem:
If you buy a cruelty free product from a company who's parent company is NOT cruelty free, are you ultimately giving money to the non-cruelty free corporations? Yes, unfortunately, you are giving some of your money to them. But you are still buying a product that is in fact cruelty free. Let's think about what this says to the cruel parent companies. As consumers, we show the companies what we will and will not buy. So, ultimately, my hope is that these big corporations will find it is worth it to become cruelty free altogether instead of just buying up smaller, cruelty free brands. This may sound naive, but I think I see a trend occurring...big corporations are making more and more moves toward cruelty free products! Look at how many are buying up these smaller brands! 
Now the other side of the argument. Many, many people who have chosen to be cruelty free simply won't buy a product if it is owned by a NON cruelty free parent company. It means ultimately giving their money to a parent company that does test on animals, even though the smaller brand doesn't test. I also see the value in this thinking. Honestly, if we as consumers don't put our foot down then companies will keep testing on animals. Big companies like Clorox have decided there is some value to the cruelty free movement and so have decided, as opposed to stopping cruel animal testing, to buy a cruelty free brand so as to promote a good image and to capitalize on the money to be made off of us animal lovers. Typical big corporation move.
In general, I do not buy from companies if their parent company is not cruelty free. But, if faced with a dilemma in finding something 100% cruelty free that I actually like, (I.e. my toothpaste and mouthwash preference is Tom's of Maine, owned by Colgate-Palmolive), I will choose a cruelty free brand with a non cruelty free parent company over a straight up non cruelty free product any day. I am still telling the big corporations that I don't want a product that was tested on animals, just sadly, giving them money in the process...
So folks, I say, the choice is yours! ANY step you make toward being cruelty free is a positive one in my book! Either way I think it shows big corporations that we don't want animals being tested on! Let's keep moving in that direction and maybe one day soon we will see a totally cruelty free U.S.!