What is Cruelty-Free + Vegan Makeup? (how fatal makeup animal testing works)
The short answer is no, not all cosmetics are cruelty-free. In fact, most cosmetics on the market today are tested on animals at some point during their development. When animals are tested, it is done all over the world.
This means that rabbits, guinea pigs, mice, beagles, monkeys, rats, and more will be subjected to painful tests and usually death in order to ensure that a new product is safe for human use.
All while, 100% vegan and cruelty-free alternatives exist in every makeup product you could ask for.
It's important to understand what exactly happens to animals when they undergo cosmetic and makeup testing.
We have been led to believe it involves putting lipstick and eyeshadow on a cute monkey. Naive to say the least, that is the furthest thing from the truth.
Take the blinders off and educate yourself. You will most likely care, and it isn't your fault you didn't know better before.
Let's dig in. You'll be happy you did.
What does animal testing for makeup involve?
The most painful and inhumane animal testing includes things like:
force-feeding animals massive amounts of a substance to test for toxicity levels
applying irritants to their skin and eyes (without pain relief) to see how much is needed to cause irritation or an allergic reaction
breaking their bones to study healing processes
Other tests involve...
putting animals in inhalation chambers where they are forced to breathe in toxic fumes
having chemicals dripped directly into their eyes
having holes drilled into their skulls so that substances can be directly applied to their brains.
These are only a few examples of the cruel and inhumane tests that animals are subjected to in the name of human vanity. Each year, millions of animals suffer and die in laboratories worldwide.
While it's easy to feel hopeless when faced with such cruelty, it's important to remember that each of us has the power to make a difference.
You can help end animal testing by using your voice and your wallet to support cruelty-free brands, and by spreading the word to others about the importance of humane cosmetics.
Below photos courtesy of PETA
What are some common misconceptions about animal testing for makeup? 💄
One of the biggest misconceptions about animal testing is that it's necessary in order to ensure the safety of cosmetics products.
This simply isn't true.
There are numerous non-animal methods that can be used to test the safety of cosmetics products.
What are some of the alternatives to animal testing for makeup?
In vitro (or cell culture) methods use human cells instead of whole animals, and they are often more predictive of human reactions than tests on animals.
Using human volunteers in clinical trials, or computer models that can simulate the way humans react to substances.
Not only are these non-animal methods more humane, but they are also usually more efficient and less expensive than animal tests.
Only cheap brands do animal testing = WRONG
Another common misconception is that only cheap or low-quality cosmetics brands test on animals.
This is simply not the case. Many high-end brands, including some that claim to be "natural" or "organic," test on animals.
Here is a (probably incomplete) list of brands that DO test on animals (just on makeup products alone.) Hence, ones you should avoid at all costs. For the purpose of this article, I have only included brands that test their makeup and cosmetic products on animals. This doesn't account for perfume, household cleaning products, and more.
What makeup brands test on animals 2022 ❌
Almay
Algenist
Armnai Beauty
Aveeno
Avon
Banila Co
Belif
Benefit
Biore
Bobbi Brown
Burberry
Benefit
Calvin Klein
Chanel
Clarins
Clinique
COVERGIRL
Dolce & Gabbana
Estee Lauder
Etude House
Giorgio Armani
Givency
GLAMGLOW
Guerlain
Jimmy Choo
Kose
L'Oreal Paris
La Mer
Lancome
Maybelline
MAC
Mamonde
Mary Kay
NARS
Neutrogena
NYC
Ojon
Rimmel London
Pat McGrath Labs
Procter & Gamble
Revlon
Tom Ford
Yyes Rocher
Yyes Saint Laurent
Cosmetics brands that DON'T test on animals in 2022 ❣️
100% Pure Aveda
Lush
Anastasia Beverly Hills
BH Cosmetics
ELF
BareMinerals
The Body Shop
Beauty Without Cruelty
Bite Beauty
Butter London
ColourPop
Cosmetic Warrior
Dose of Colors
Earth's Nectar
Glossier
Hourglass
Huda Beauty
Lime Crime
Milk Makeup
Nudestix
Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics OCC
Pacifica
Urban Decay
Wet n Wild
Plus literally hundreds more. Check out Cruelty-Free Kitty for an exhaustive list, created by Suzanna, a woman who has been cruelty-free since 2014!
Is vegan and cruelty-free interchangeable?
No! Just because a product is vegan, does not mean that it's cruelty-free.
A vegan product is one that does not contain any animal-derived ingredients. So, a vegan lipstick would not contain beeswax or carmine (crushed beetles), for example.
Cruelty-free, on the other hand, means that the product and its ingredients have not been tested on animals at any point during production.
So, a cruelty-free lipstick could still be made with beeswax or carmine, as long as those ingredients were not tested on animals.
You should opt for a product that is vegan and cruelty-free because no animals deserve to be harmed and/or killed for makeup! It's no longer a necessity in 2022, and there are countless options across price points.
Do "natural" products automatically mean they're cruelty-free? 🌱
Again, no! "Natural" is an unregulated term that can mean different things to different people.
For some, "natural" cosmetics are made with ingredients that occur naturally in the environment, like plants or minerals.
For others, "natural" cosmetics are simply free of synthetic ingredients, like parabens or phthalates.
Neither of these definitions necessarily mean that a product is cruelty-free.
A "natural" lipstick could still be tested on animals, for example. The best way to know for sure if a product is cruelty-free is to check for certifications from organizations like Leaping Bunny or PETA's Beauty Without Bunnies program.
What about China? I thought they required animal testing by law?
This is a common misconception! China does NOT require animal testing for all cosmetics products.
They passed a new law in 2021 that no longer required animal testing on makeup and cosmetic products.
However, China DOES require animal testing for imported cosmetics, unless they receive a special exemption.
So, most international brands that sell in China DO test on animals.
There are a few brands that have been able to obtain the special exemption and sell their products in China without animal testing, including Cruelty-Free International, Lush, and The Body Shop.
PETA's 'Global Beauty Without Bunnies' Program
If you're ever unsure whether or not a brand tests on animals, you can check PETA's 'Global Beauty Without Bunnies' Program.
They have a comprehensive list of brands that are cruelty-free, as well as a list of those that are not.
You can also look for the leaping bunny logo on products and packaging, which is an internationally recognized symbol for cosmetics, personal care, and household products that are not tested on animals at any stage of production.
What are some reasons why people still support animal testing for makeup? 💋
There are a few main reasons why people continue to support animal testing for cosmetics, even though it is cruel and unnecessary.
One reason is that they simply don't know that it's happening, or have no idea there are cruelty-free alternatives.
Another reason is that some people mistakenly believe that animal testing is necessary in order to ensure the safety of products.
As we've seen, this simply isn't true. In fact, animal tests are often inaccurate and not predictive of human reactions.
Finally, some people may support animal testing because they don't think that individual consumers can make a difference.
But each of us has the power to make a difference. You can help end animal testing by using your voice and your wallet to support cruelty-free brands, and by spreading the word to others about the importance of humane cosmetics.t each of us has the power to make a difference.
Price point does not indicate cruelty-free or not
The truth is that almost any brand could be testing on animals, regardless of price point. The only way to know for sure if a brand is cruelty-free is to look for the PETA-certified leaping bunny symbol.
You may think it'd be easy to look on their website, or call and ask. It is deliberately made nearly impossible for consumers to find out whether a brand tests on animals or not. They rarely say it outright on their website.
They know it's sick and wrong. All they care about is money. They work hard and spend millions of dollars to keep consumers in the dark. Don't be one of them!
What are some common ingredients that are tested on animals? 🐇
There are many ingredients that are commonly tested on animals, even though there are alternatives that don't involve animal testing.
Some of these ingredients include:
» Alcohols (SD alcohol, denatured alcohol, ethanol)
» Coal tar
» Diazolidinyl urea
» Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA)
» Insecticides/pesticides
» Isopropyl alcohol
» Lanolin
That doesn't mean you can't buy products with the above ingredients. It just means that if there is no leaping-bunny cruelty-free logo, then those are the specific ingredients that were tested on innocent creatures.
In fact, some of the most popular cosmetics brands in the world are owned by parent companies that test on animals.
So even if a particular brand doesn't test on animals itself, there's a good chance its products are being tested on animals somewhere along the supply chain.
It happens in the US, too 🧪
Some people mistakenly believe that only foreign cosmetics brands test on animals.
This is not true. While it's true that animal testing is banned in many countries, including the European Union, Israel, and India, there are no laws against animal testing in the United States.
In fact, most of the world's cosmetics animal testing takes place in the U.S.
So even if a brand is based in a country where animal testing is banned, its products may still be tested on animals if they're sold in the U.S.
What can I do to help end animal testing for makeup and cosmetics?
There are a few things you can do to help end animal testing for cosmetics.
First, you can use your voice and your wallet to support cruelty-free brands.
When you purchase products from companies that don't test on animals, you're sending a message that there's a demand for humane cosmetics.
You can also spread the word to others about the importance of choosing cruelty-free products.
Educate others in small ways. Introduce your loved ones to vegan, cruelty-free brands that work just as well. Explain to them how they can fight animal testing. Make it clear that there are cost-effective alternatives that cost just the same or even less than the cruel version.
Finally, you can lobby for stricter regulations on animal testing.
Currently, there are no laws in the United States that prohibit animal testing for cosmetics.
However, there is a growing movement of cosmetic companies that are committed to producing cruelty-free products. These companies have pledged not to test their products on animals at any stage of development, and they are working hard to end animal testing in the cosmetics industry altogether.
If enough people speak out, we can eventually put pressure on lawmakers to pass legislation that will end this cruel practice.
If you're concerned about animal welfare and you want to make sure that your beauty products are cruelty-free, look for brands that are certified by Cruelty-Free International or the Leaping Bunny Program.
These organizations have strict standards for what qualifies as a cruelty-free product, and they only certify companies that meet their criteria.
Choose cruelty-free every time; shop with your heart + vote with your wallet 💰
When it comes to cosmetics, there is no need to sacrifice your principles in order to look good. With so many amazing vegan and cruelty-free options available, you can have your cake and eat it too!
Please spread the word. Innocent animals are depending on us!
What are your favorite vegan and cruelty-free brands? Mine are ELF and Bare Minerals.
Looking to switch your makeup to all vegan and cruelty-free?
Check out our Top 20 Vegan and Cruelty-Free Fave Foundations blog. Let us know if we missed any!
