The issue of animal testing for cosmetic development and the guarantee of cruelty-free testing for makeup products is something that strikes a chord with many people. We will give you a brief summary of some of the tests so that you can make up your mind and feel confident that you are making the right purchasing decisions for yourself.
Throughout much of recent human history, people have used various types of makeup and cosmetic techniques to enhance their appearance. During this time, new and unproven compounds, methods, and regimens were developed, all in the name of enhancing a person’s beauty and attractiveness.
However, during the course of these developments, people who were later subjected to serious health problems and disfigurements unknowingly used new and dangerous chemicals. Because of this, in the 1940s, animal testing was instituted. This naturally helped make cosmetics safer for human use, but over time, as people realized this, a growing percentage of the population began to worry about the welfare of the animals that were used for this kind of testing. This sparked a surge in movements to ensure cruelty-free treatment of animals.
There are countries where testing on animals for makeup and various cosmetic products is still legal and whether or not companies participate in the act of testing on animals for such purposes or whether such testing is conducted in an ethical manner is beyond the scope of the true probative knowledge that is to be found in this article. However, if you are one of those who oppose the use of animal testing, then it may brighten your day knowing that there is a large part of the Western world that has outlawed it.
Perhaps due in large part to public demand, laws were passed in 2013 prohibiting testing of cosmetics or their ingredients on animals in the UK and all members of the European Union … The question that may arise is “if you don’t Test in animals, how do I know which products are safe? “
Fortunately, there are alternatives to animal testing. Many of the ingredients found in cosmetics are already well known and their level of safety has been firmly established. These existing ingredients and compounds can be used to allow the use of safe products without the need for animal testing. There are also a number of techniques that allow for a variety of tests that do not require the use of animals. As of this writing, there are approximately 50 established methods of doing this, with more being developed.
The benefits of stepping away from animal testing are, of course, the welfare of the animals and the removal of any guilt that we as consumers may feel when we buy the products we love. In addition to this, it is often the case that moving away from animal testing is actually more profitable for companies and therefore makes it more likely that they will move in this direction. These positive motivators, combined with the desire of many consumers to move away from animal testing, create a path for more ethical development and production of cosmetic products now and in the future.
There are cosmetic brands that have the support of organizations like PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) because they meet the criteria that organizations like PETA pose as necessary to qualify as cruelty-free in their eyes. So of course, check them out to find out more.