Sara Klimek

We've always been aware of the potential suffering of animals in the cosmetic testing process, but it hasn’t been until recently that popular culture has shown society what actually happens to animals behind closed doors.  The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is an activist group that works to expose how cosmetic products are being tested on animals prior to their release to the consumer market.  Their Facebook feed is filled with videos of rabbits and mice having allergic reactions to lipsticks applied to their bare skin.

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Shop SMASHBOX cruelty-free products here!

My mother, who is one of the most caring and compassionate people I’ve ever met, worked in an animal-testing laboratory.  She worked on testing the reproductive and endocrine systems of small mammals to observe any lasting effects of reproductive pharmaceuticals, and her research, and the research of others, has helped to save the lives of humans.  In the pharmaceutical market, we often need to test and be sure that medications are safe for humans; using animals saves lives and money.

Unlike lifesaving prescriptions, humans don’t have a need to apply life-saving lipstick or mascara.  We use cosmetics because they touch up our features and build confidence.  The least we can do, for the sake of laboratory animals, is to purchase products that are cruelty-free.

But what does cruelty-free mean?  According to the Food and Drug Administration, there are no legal definitions for ‘cruelty-free’ and ‘not tested on animals.’  Companies can claim that their finished product is ‘cruelty-free,’ but ingredient-suppliers may rely on contractors to test components of the product on animals to make sure that they’re safe for humans.  When in doubt, it’s best to look up information on the company and their providers to see what their definition is.  Here are some major cosmetic companies that are currently cruelty-free as stated by the PETA website as ‘companies listed either signed PETA’s statement of assurance or provided a statement verifying that they do not conduct or commission any animal tests on ingredients, formulations, or finished products and that they pledge not to do so in the future':

  • LUSH Cosmetics
  • Too-Faced
  • Tarte Cosmetics
  • Urban Decay
  • Anastasia Beverly Hills
  • BareMinerals
  • Kat Von D Products
  • Marc Jacobs Beauty
  • SMASHBOX

Now, here are some brands that still have some products being tested on animals (*as required by law by the governing body):

  • Benefit
  • Avon
  • Clinique*
  • Maybelline
  • OPI
  • Victoria’s Secret
  • Chapstick
  • Lancome
  • Revlon
  • Sephora (brand products)
  • MAC Cosmetics*
  • Bobbi Brown*

As you read, you may feel slightly alarmed when you realize that one of your favorite mascaras is on the list of ‘still tested on animals.’  It's important to avoid throwing this product out immediately.  If everyone threw out the products that they just purchased, we would end up wasting our money and filling our landfills.  Finish using it and then consult PETA’s list before you make your next shopping trip.  If you’re as alarmed as I am with the amount of cosmetic companies that still test on animals you can:

1) Contact the companies directly.  Voice your concerns to customer service regarding your dissatisfaction with their testing process.  If there’s one thing that makes companies want to listen, it’s the thought that they could lose profit.

2) Avoid purchasing animal-tested products.  If you should have a question prior to purchasing the product, consult the product’s website and/or fine print.

3) Talk to other members of the bSmart community about the ethical benefits of going cruelty-free.  Discuss the importance of ditching animal testing and conscious consumption.

Our generation has the capacity to change how the world looks at cosmetic animal-testing.  In the end, animals help humans in a variety of ways, but there's no reason why we shouldn’t advocate for them being treated humanely.

 

Sara is a freshman at the University of Vermont in Burlington. She is currently studying Environmental Studies in the school of natural resources and is preparing for a future in environmental policy or in journalism. She is currently an Editorial Intern at bSmart.

Comments (1)

  1. Angelina Eimannsberger

Love this!!!! Also, there's the app 'Leaping bunny' that lets you scan products in the store and see if its cruelty-free. It takes the thinking out of the process. They are focused on cosmetics and also on cleaning products and anything else that...

Love this!!!! Also, there's the app 'Leaping bunny' that lets you scan products in the store and see if its cruelty-free. It takes the thinking out of the process. They are focused on cosmetics and also on cleaning products and anything else that might be animal tested for no good reason. Another great brand is The Body Shop (even though I like some of their stuff more than others, for example, I don't love their mascara but the skin and face care is amazing).

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