Are there good reasons to test beauty products on animals before marketing them? The answer is obviously NO. Moreover, the cruelty free practices of certain cosmetic brands are the perfect illustration of this. Discover them here!
Rest assured: this article, dedicated above all to animal lovers, is in no way intended to promote any brand. We are only revealing to you the names of brands recognized for not experimenting with their products on animals. Think of it as a guide that will help you consume with beauty companies that share the same values as you.
According to PETA – the world's largest animal rights organization – more than 100 million animals are used around the world to experiment with beauty products. As you can imagine, this necessarily includes ill-treatment, torture and death for most of them. That is, we agree, absolutely revolting and unacceptable. Far be it from us to put horrible images in your head, but all it takes is a few clicks on Google to see with your own eyes the terrible consequences of animal testing. Rats, rabbits, guinea pigs, dogs, cats … all are subjected to appalling mistreatment: skin and / or eye irritations, poisoning and genetic damage – the list goes on. "Mice and rats are forced to inhale toxic gases, dogs are forced to ingest pesticides, rabbits are forcibly exposed to many chemicals that are corrosive to their skin and eyes. Says PETA. Worse still: “Many of these tests are not even required by law and frequently result in inaccurate or erroneous results. "
But then, what does the regulation say?
It turns out, however, that there is a law prohibiting the testing of cosmetic products on animals … but there is a catch! A second phase, which came into force in 2013, includes extensions and exceptions. So certainly, the sale and manufacture of cosmetic products tested on animals is now prohibited on European soil, only this is not the case elsewhere in the world where 80% of countries continue to make these poor animals suffer since there is no law opposing it.
This is particularly the case with China – which is Europe’s main customer. Be careful, because therein lies the subtlety of the situation: although cosmetic products cannot be tested in Europe, the brand can still request that they be tested elsewhere. Chinese authorities – like many others – continue to demand that foreign products they import be tested on animals. In other words, if a European cosmetics brand is exported to China, it will necessarily have to go through the animal testing phase before being marketed. It will therefore simply take care not to do so on European soil, as the law prohibits.
Therefore, just because the products you use every day are not directly tested on animals does not guarantee that the brands that make them do not encourage these practices outside Europe.
How to disentangle the true from the false?
With all this, it is not easy to know which cosmetic products / which brands use animal testing. Not to mention that the law does not oblige companies to specify it on their packaging. It is certainly one of the most controversial shortcomings in which the associations have struggled. The goal: to make this clarification mandatory.
Fortunately, to counter this, a logo was designed for brands not experimenting with animals that they proudly display on the packaging of their products. Learn how to spot these little drawings, most often representing a rabbit – proof of cruelty towards the animal species.
These brands that don't test on animals
The PETA website lists beauty brands not (really) practicing animal testing. On this list are only the names of the brands that neither use animal ingredients in their composition, nor test on animals – whether in Europe or elsewhere. They also signed the animal safety declaration provided by PETA or presented a document certifying that neither they nor their suppliers carry out, request or finance experimental tests.
Some beauty brands advocating cruelty free to remember
Fortunately, there are many brands that refuse to harm animal welfare. Although they are not necessarily the easiest to obtain in stores, they are still very important to know – especially when you are sensitive to the fight for the animal cause. PETA has divided them into different categories among which we find companies selling vegan products, those authorized to use the logo cruelty free, as well as those affiliated with the organization. Here we have selected some of the most popular ones for you, but do not hesitate to consult the full list by clicking on this link.
- Afterglow Cosmetics
- Anastasia Beverly Hills
- Old formulas
- BareMinerals (Naked Escentuals)
- Kat Von D Beauty
- English
- LUSH Cosmetics
- Marc Jacobs Beauty
- Youth Mountain
- My Konjac Sponge
- NYX Los Angeles Inc.
- The body shop
- Cosmetics too confronted
- Urban degradation
- Smashbox Cosmetics
- Cosmetics pie
- Wet n WIld
- W7 Cosmetics
None of these companies use or use any ingredients of animal origin.
These brands that test on animals
By browsing this much less glorious list, you will inevitably be disappointed. You will find very famous beauty brands there that you must have used in your life. They are also on the PETA list, but this time as companies that manufacture products tested on animals at some point in the manufacturing process. In other words, although they cannot do it in Europe, these brands do it in other countries in order to be able to market their products elsewhere where the regulations are different – as in China, we told you a little above.
Click here to find out the list of these brands that use animal testing.
You may find brands belonging to the same company but not on the same list. This is sometimes due to a lack of information. Fortunately, the lists are updated regularly and although there is still a lack of information, they are constantly evolving.
As you will have understood, as far as the end of animal exploitation is concerned, it is better not to rely entirely on regulations, but rather to identify the brands endorsing these practices and stop consuming at them – quite simply.
Also read: 5 brands of French and organic periodic protection that change the rules