Makeup tutorials are flooding the internet streams of young women across the world, assisting in the modern art of contouring and highlighting, even featuring eye shadow tutorials that look way too meticulous to be real. More money than ever is being circulated through the cosmetics industry, and in spite of this, most brands are still keeping and shifting their production processes to countries like China. As a part of the business contract these companies have with Chinese labor forces, they cannot guarantee animals won't be hurt in the process.
A much cheaper alternative to producing realistic, responsive skin grafts to test new products on, these companies are opting instead to use live animals as their test subjects.
Somewhere in the world, there are animals locked away in cages, struggling to breathe because they're crammed into areas too tight. Millions, to be more specific. Mice, rats, rabbits, cats, and even dogs are among the most popular test subjects used. If their surroundings don't eventually cause them to die of stress, and if they aren't starved or dehydrated too drastically, they are selected to be tested on. Usually victim to several procedures in their lifetime, many of the animals live with open flesh wounds, severe chemical burns, and self-inflicted injuries that result from the tests.
An organization more commonly known as PETA, or People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, highlights the cruel extent of the procedures conducted when testing on live subjects. "Examples of animal tests include forcing mice and rats to inhale toxic fumes, force-feeding dogs pesticides, and dripping corrosive chemicals into rabbits’ sensitive eyes," the website reads.
Here are some makeup brands that aren't cleared as cruelty-free.
1) M.A.C.
2) Revlon
3) Covergirl
4) Maybelline
5) L'Oreal
6) Clinique
7) Benefit
8) Almay
Most of these companies have testing and packaging facilities overseas, which allows them to be sold cheaper, which begs the question: is it worth it to pay more for your cosmetics in protest of what companies are doing to keep costs down?
Another option would be to shop instead with companies like NYX, who provide high-end results at low drug store prices, and harm no animals in the process.
