Whimpers of the Voiceless: Gruesome Animal Testing methods behind the Cosmetic Industry’s Glamour. 

In the contemporary woke era of 2022, it’s hard to believe that numerous cosmetic brands still conduct animal testing for cosmetics and beauty products daily. PETA reports that one hundred million animals, including mice and rats and dogs, cats, rabbits, hamsters, fish, are killed in US laboratories alone each year. A significant number of those creatures are used for testing beauty products on their skin or fur before they’re produced to make sure these items are safe to use.

However, as awareness of cruel practices has risen across countries around Earth, it is becoming more uncommon for these to occur as brands take responsibility and shift towards cruelty-free products and 100% vegan options. The global market for cruelty-free cosmetics is expected to reach USD 10 billion by 2024, but there’s still a long way to go. BeZen, which has been steering clear of greenwashing, educating its users about sustainability, and striving to bring a change can also help you find sustainable options for various products. 

What is animal testing in the cosmetic industry?

Animal testing is still a widespread practice in the cosmetics industry as it allows beauty companies to determine whether their products are safe for human beings. However, animal rights organizations have opposed this notion and started campaigns against these practices because they believe that there’s no reason why we can’t find alternatives other than harming animals.

Any scientific experiment that is likely to inflict pain, fear, or harm to the animal is called animal testing. The majority of the animals are seriously injured throughout the experiment and either die or are killed soon afterwards. Governments and animal welfare organizations have condemned animal testing for years. The EU banned animal testing back in 2009 and prohibited selling any beauty products that have been created through the procedure ever since. 

Why is it so crucial to avoid animal-tested beauty products?

To put it simply, animal testing is a bad idea because it’s an inhumane act towards animals. It is no longer the most effective method of determining product quality. Many brands that test on animals claim the process is most effective and reliable when examining product safety. But this argument has been refuted by studies worldwide, showing animal testing isn’t helpful for human health research. The testing of animal products often leads them to be hurt or killed, which means we cannot guarantee our health will remain safe. Many leading cosmetic companies are still practising this testing method worldwide.

What are the most frequent animal-derived components in cosmetics?

When it comes to animal protection in the cosmetic industry, it’s also essential to understand some of the most common animal-based substances used in cosmetics. Choosing items that contain any of the ingredients listed below may indicate that animals were both tested on and harmed during the manufacturing process:

1. Keratin: Keratin is a protein that occurs in the hair and nails of various animals. It’s used as an ingredient for strengthening them and can be found inside shampoos or conditioners.
2. Guanine: The effect of guanine can be seen in many eye shadows as it is used to create a beautiful sparkling effect. 
3. Shellac: Shellac is an ingredient that comes from insects. Shellacs are famous for giving nail polishes their shine and strength, which has led to them being used in other places such as furniture polish or ink production.
4. Beeswax: Beeswax, also known as cera alba wax or Brazilian Wax, is a type of polymer that comes from honeybees’ secretion glands and feet. It’s most commonly used to make lip balms soaps moisturizers, but it can be applied directly onto your skin for increased absorption rates.
5. Tallow: Tallow, animal fat and often used as an ingredient in nail polishes or cosmetics to create moisturizing skin effects. It can also be referred to as Oleic Acid (OA), Oleyl Stearate/Oleamide, and many other names depending on its source.
6. Carmine: Carmine is responsible for the rich red colour of lipsticks, blushes, and nail paints. It’s made by crushing insects known as cochineals. This component is also known as natural red 4, E120, and C. I 75470.
7. Lanolin: Lanolin is a natural, sustainable, and Biodegradable material from sheep’s wool. It can make lip balms and lipstick or glosses for the lips.

How might you know if a product is cruelty-free?

Let’s look at how to select cruelty-free makeup brands in light of the harm that animal-tested & animal-based products cause. There are a few various ways to tell if the beauty items you’re considering are cruelty-free:

1. Research: You should understand more about the specifics of how certain personal care products which have not been tested on animals were manufactured before purchasing them. The idea is to keep an eye on the ingredient list and hunt for alternatives whenever possible. With so much on the market, you can always locate one created ethically and without harming animals.
2. Look for a certified cruelty-free bunny logo on the package: You can tell the bunny logo-bearing beauty products from those without by their cruelty-free status. The certification process tends to be pricey, but if you see it on your investment, then that’s even better.
3. Check the products using cruelty-free apps such as PETA’s: Because most of us carry our mobile devices with us wherever we go, downloading the app and scanning the product’s barcode may be one of the most straightforward solutions. Remember that various apps may include other brand products in their lists.
4. Contact the company: You may want to reach out and contact the company if you are purchasing from a smaller local brand. This is not always an option that works well.
5. Online databases of cruelty-free products: To find a company that doesn’t test animals, you can check beauty without bunnies by PETA or Leaping Bunny. However, it is recommended to use several databases because the list might vary per database, and they all have different information available for review.

It is essential to address that animal testing in the cosmetic industry is still a significant issue and so prevalent because somewhere, the businesses are being non-transparent about their methods and the consumers are unaware of the consequences of their actions. All it takes is looking out for yourself – if something sounds too good or promises enjoyment without cruelty-free ingredients, then don’t purchase it. The first step towards stopping this cruelty is to stop yourself from being its enabler, choosing better, and knowing better.