The Use of Animal Testing in Cosmetics and Skincare
Our country is home to a handful of cosmetic and skin care companies, many of which have become a part of our society’s daily routine. What many of us users may not know about these products is how they have been tested to their perfection. A large amount of companies choose to use an outdated and cruel way of testing product’s safety for in order to ensure perfection. Animals aid testing by being an empty slate for these cosmetic companies to test and improve their products. However, with other testing options available, why do companies continue to use this cruel and inhumane way of using animals for our selfish benefits? The first year that Animal Testing started was 1922. Now, 94 years
…show more content…
One of their purposes is not to be used as the control group in a science experiment to test what face cream, mascara or other beauty products works for what skin types on humans.
Many of America’s favorite go-to skin care products and cosmetics are tested on animals. Despite that, there are products on the market that use alternative testing procedures yet are still considered safe and effective. In the article titled Animal Testing on Cosmetics written by author Ian Murnaghan, the controversy of animal testing in cosmetics is referred to when he says, “The practice is particularly controversial because animals may experience discomfort, suffering and ultimately die, all in the name of aesthetics and 'looking good.’”. Much of what he says in this quote can be applied to extremely popular cosmetic brands like Sephora , Almay, and Revlon who all use animal testing to build their products to maximum use. Brands that compare to these are ELF, Too Faced, and Physicians Formula who all claim to using alternative procedures to show the importance of being
…show more content…
I also agree with this; however, I don't agree that it means we should be using animal skin either. Many of the cruelty-free brands use reconstructed skin tests to in order to assure a safe product before it hits the market. Companies like, EpiDerm, EPISKIN and SkinEthic are all known to help aid cruelty-free cosmetic companies by creating a reconstructed epidermis to test products on before they are released. In the article titled “About Cosmetic Animal Testing”, written by Humane Society International, when talking about alternatives to animal testing they claim, “Making use of a growing number of advanced non-animal safety tests that can better predict how humans will react to chemicals. More than 40 non-animal tests have been validated for use, and these modern alternatives can offer results that are more relevant to people, often more cheaply and quickly, too.” This reassurance that there are various other ways to test cosmetic products aside from harming live animals, possibly kill them, gives cosmetic companies little to no excuse as to why they are continuing this outdated and cruel form of testing. Cosmetic brands have been choosing animal testing to prove that their products are safe; however, they have the option to stop the torturing and killing of animals and switch
Imagine being born, only to live a life of torture. You are brought to a lab, and cruelly tested on against your will. Toxins poured into your eyes, painful injections to your skin, then left to die when you’re no longer useful. Although many do not realize it, people use products tested on animals in their everyday lives. For girls, many of your favorite makeup brands, such as Estee Lauder, Makeup Forever, and Maybelline take part in animal testing. Products such as toothpaste, cologne, deodorant, laundry detergent, razors, and even band-aids aren’t tested innocently, either. As a makeup enthusiast, I am passionate about how the products I use daily are tested. Today I will help you understand what animal testing is and how it started, how it’s currently affecting animals around the world, and what organizations are doing to help make a difference in the future. To begin, I will explain the history of animal testing. An animal test is any scientific experiment or test in which a live animal is forced to undergo something that is likely to cause them pain, suffering, distress, or lasting harm.(https://www.crueltyfreeinternational.org/why-we-do-it/what-animal-testing) Animal experiments are not the same as taking your animal to the vet. Animals used in laboratories are harmed, not for their own good, and usually killed at the end of an experiment. Animal experiments include injecting or force feeding animals with potentially harmful substances, exposing animals to radiation,
Everyday cosmetic products that many people use, such as lipsticks, shampoo, face wash, etcetera, are verified to be safe using animal testing. Chemical burns and other short term ailments are very serious concerns that plague Americans and the knowledge that the products they use will not harm them and their families is possible because of animal testing. Also long term effects, such as cancer, have been discovered through animal product testing and promptly stopped saving countless lives. “NOT TESTED ON ANIMALS YOU’RE THE GUINEA PIG” (Source C). Living day to day with the risk that the products trusted to use on your children and yourself is enough to validate
Many people might say that animal testing has proven results for the safety of beauty products and cosmetics. Although, in some cases it is helpful, why would you want to use such an old outdated method of research in 2017 many more methods have opened up due to advanced technology. Animal testing dates back to the 1900’s and yet in the 21st-century companies are still doing this even though it is more costly than alternative methods.
Animal testing is a very serious issue, considering the fact that it kills one-hundred thousand to two-hundred thousand animals each year (“About”). Many companies do not believe that animal testing is a serious problem and find that there are issues that are more important to worry about. The FDA believes that animal tests should be replaced with other tests that do not involve the use of animals because of the harm it causes them (“Animal Testing and Cosmetics”). Animals have emotions and feelings just as humans do, even though they are not always noticeable. Although animal-tested cosmetic products are very popular and used everyday by most people, animals are being hurt and killed daily to create them, therefore they should be banned
In the article they mention “safety, toxicity tests on the finished products may be skipped”. After several incidents involving untested products it was made mandatory for the both cosmetics and drugs to be tested. In the 1930s due to the lack of cosmetic testing more than a dozen women went blind after using a mascara that contained a chemical that was prone to burning the skin. Skipping the toxicity test is unacceptable to use the consumers. Even when the products are tested there is not a one hundred percent that the product is completely safe to use. By skipping the test even if it is the final product and it has already been tested it does not give us any better outcome of the use of the product. The testing is done for a reason it is not just another process to take up time or money. I would rather have my products tested in an alternative way that is not animal testing, than not have it tested at all. We the consumers are trusting on the manufactures that they will effectively test our products and that we can us them without expecting any
Many people are unaware that several brands they use on the daily practice animal testing to help develop their products. Although it may not be every brand on the shelf, there is a good handful of them that would surprise you. Products such as beauty cosmetics, household cleaners, personal cleanliness products, and food additives use tests. For example, the company Johnson and Johnson claims that they care for the world and the people. What they don’t quite understand is that mistreating animals is
Fatima walks into the cosmetic section of Macy’s and is interested in buying some acne skin care products. As she was paying for them, she notices plenty of harmful side effects the acne products contained. Fatima is glad she is aware of these symptoms and knows that these side effects are rare and that the product is almost completely safe to use. If it was not for animal testing that is currently being used in some laboratories, these side effects would have been discovered on people and that would create an unsafe environment. Less people would want to buy care products and medicine since it would be viewed as a risk instead of something helpful. Animal testing is becoming a more controversial topic, despite its many successes over the years. Since people have various misconceptions about it, such as it being an unsafe and cruel technique, it has become a more unpopular method. However, the benefits of animal research and testing have been less spread due to negative media attention, which created a bias among the public. Animal testing is a practice that has proved to be beneficial and should be continued because of the close similarity between humans and animals, the many lifesaving cures that it contributed to, and the regulation of the practice that makes it safe and humane for animals.
Animal testing is something we have all heard about and/or read about. It is something most people would consider to be horrifyingly wrong. Animal testing is something that many claim to be against and will not support. The lines involving animal testing are a tangled web of blurry and missing pieces of a much greater puzzle. On one hand, there are companies that claim to be cruelty free, but the technicalities that are dug up beg to differ. On the other hand, there are big practices such as pharmaceutical practices that use animals to test on in order to create life saving treatments and medicines for humans. Do we make sure to buy cosmetic products that stray away from testing on animals but continue to take medicines
in animal testing. As stated, “The question alluded to the use of the Draize Test, which involves dripping substances such as toluene into rabbits’ eyes, causing pain and sometimes blindness” (2). Through this meticulous description, it is quite evident that the animals’ lives are put in danger through nonstop inhuman practices. After revealing the horror that these animals survive, the authors then transition to how to alleviate the issue specifically. As explained, “Eliminating animal testing of cosmetics is entirely feasible. In the part three decades, scientists have developed many advanced alternatives to animal testing... methods that use human blood, cell lines, artificial skin or computer models... As a result, they cut costs and save
Europe, the world’s largest cosmetic market, Israel, and India have already banned animal testing for cosmetics, and the sale or import of newly animal-tested beauty products. Major companies have turned their backs completely on animal testing and no longer use ingredients that were tested on animals – and a number of animal tests have been completely replaced with superior, cheaper and more effective non-animal methods. Proponents of animal testing say that it has enabled the development of many life-saving treatments for both humans and animals, that there is no alternative method for researching a complete living organism, and that strict regulations prevent the mistreatment of animals in laboratories. Opponents of animal testing say
In the United States, we produce billions of cleaning and beauty products on a daily basis thanks to the advancement of machinery. Although we have machines and workers, these products need to be tested in order to be available to purchase in stores. Instead of using machines to test these products, most companies enforce testing their products on animals to ensure they are safe for humans. To some this not seem like a controversial topic, but for many this is a heartbreaking issue that is cruel to the lives of our animals. Animal testing is not ethical because it not only harms the lives of millions of animals, but also isn’t an accurate way to ensure the safety of our products.
Over the years, it has been a vast ethical and legal debate about using animals for cosmetic testing. Recently the European Union (EU) has taken steps to stop animal testing. According to PETA, the EU has banned the sale of any cosmetic ingredients that have been tested on animals. This means that any cosmetic company who wishes to sell in the EU, must cease animal testing. Unfortunately, this has incited little change in the United States and its views toward animal testing. Even though there are so many cruelty free options available, many manufactures in the U.S. still continue to experiment with animals. What is even more horrific is that the U.S. does not require animal testing to be conducted to determine if a product is safe or not.
The field of animal advocacy has historically suffered from a lack of research attention and animal testing for cosmetics is an ugly business. Around the world, many thousands of animals such as rabbits, guinea pigs and mice suffer needlessly to test products like lipstick and shampoo, even though producing cruelty-free beauty products is safe and simple. All cosmetics should be cruelty-free and must stop animal testing for cosmetics as well as on the sale of new cosmetics that have been tested on animals. However in the European Union, Israel, and India have banned the sale of any cosmetics or cosmetics ingredients that have been tested on animals, it is a huge victory. These marketing bans mean that companies all around the world will have to abandon animal testing for cosmetics they want to sell in these huge markets. There are three defects of animal testing for cosmetics, which are immorality, unnecessary and high cost.
One of the leading industries in the United States is the cosmetics business. When cosmetics started up people were applying all different types of product to their bodies. While using the products, people were starting to acquire serious injuries to their skin and hair. This forced make-up producers to figure out a way to test the products before it hit the market. In the 1940s, scientists started to use animals for testing purposes. In recent years, testing on animals has decreased because producers use safer ingredients in their products. Even though there are safe ingredients, people continue to experiment with new chemicals and dyes. To avoid major lawsuits, companies still experiment on animals to prove the product is safe. With all these new products, the Food and Drug
You are walking down the aisle in your local drug store and you spot a new brand of waterproof eyeliner. You pick one up and scan the back of the product to see if it matches what you’re looking for – long lasting color. But you do not notice the absence of a little symbol on the back: a small rabbit or ‘V.’ This means that before the eyeliner came into your hands, innocent animals were put through tests like acute oral and dermal toxicity tests where they experienced diarrhea, convulsions, bleeding from the mouth, seizures, paralysis, and eventually death (New England) to ensure the safety of this product. Cosmetics are just one of the areas in which animal testing occurs. Throughout history, animal experimentation has benefited humanity through new discoveries. However, many people tend to either ignore or forget the large number of animal subjects that have suffered serious harm during the process of experimentation. Over 115 million animals are burned, crippled, poisoned, abused, and killed in laboratory experiments each year around the world (“Animal”). There is no valid reason why any living thing should be subjected to cruel punishment and unwanted torture just to serve another being’s needs. Therefore, no animal should be used in research or in testing the safety of products.