For many of us, it can be fun to get dolled up and put on a lil’ makeup before heading out for the day or a special event. A little blush or mascara never hurt anyone, right? Wrong. Many cosmetic products are tested on animals before hitting the market. Cosmetics animal testing is a horribly cruel practice in which animals such as mice, rats, and most often rabbits like the one in this video, are subjected to allergy tests in the mucous membranes such as eyes, nose and mouth. These chemicals can cause irritation, burning, and corrosion of the eyes and skin. And 50 percent of all animals die in lethal dose tests.
The worst part? These tests have aren’t exactly reliable, considering humans react to chemicals very differently than the animals they are tested on. And in the U.S., these tests are not even required by the Food and Drug Administration.
Thankfully, some countries, like many in the EU, have banned animal testing for cosmetics, showing that this can be effectively and safely done using animal-free tests. There are also a number of companies in the U.S. have phased out animal testing from their production process, but there are still many that do not. It’s time to join Ricky Gervais in fighting with Cruelty-Free International to place a worldwide ban on animal testing.
What You Can Do
- Consider making a donation to Cruelty-Free International to help them place a worldwide ban on cosmetics animal testing!
- Avoid cruelty when you shop by looking for the Leaping Bunny symbol, check out their website for cruelty-free brands, or check out this post for a list of companies already standing up to animal testing.
- Help the Humane Society of the United States pass the Humane Cosmetics Act. Click here to find out how.
- Support the work of PETA, the American Anti-Vivisection Society, or the National Anti-Vivesection Society to help ban animal testing!