Walking through the aisle of your local cosmetics store, millions of different things may catch your eye. The vibrant pigments, provocative names, and orderly displays make it almost impossible not to start testing every swatch that you come across. But as you swipe that deep plum or nude pink onto the back of your hand, do you ever wonder what went into making that product? Have you ever thought about the millions of helpless animals that were senselessly experimented on and left physically, genetically and emotionally scarred, perhaps even dead, to ensure that your lipstick was bright enough, opaque enough and glossy enough? Being that April is Animal Cruelty Awareness Month, it only seems fitting that this issue gets some light shed on it. Believe it or not, hundreds of popular brands deemed as reliable, long-lasting and trendy are some of the biggest culprits of animal cruelty.

PETA (The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) has released a list of cosmetics companies that still, in any way, utilize animal testing and experimentation for their products. Among them are fan favorites such as MAC, Maybelline, and Covergirl.

PETA's offical list of companies that continue practicing animal cruelty.

By testing on animals, these companies subject innocent creatures to horrible, disgusting acts. These include the forced inhalation of toxic chemicals, leaking of corrosive chemicals into the eyes, and even the pulling out of their own fur out of stress.

While a majority of countries, such as the European Union, Canada, Russia, and India have banned animal testing of any kind without exception, nations such as China have been less open to policy change to protect these unsuspecting creatures. Instead, China and a few fellow countries have implemented mandated animal experimentation and testing on foreign cosmetic brands that wish to be sold in that region. Thus, the way in which these companies test on animals most commonly lies in their production, distribution and business in countries that require some form of animal testing on products.

This issue has become extremely widespread within the past year, with celebrities like Jenna Dewan-Tatum, Kesha and Paul McCartney each getting involved in cruelty-free campaigns to help raise awareness of this silent killer of animal life. In fact, actress Pamela Anderson penned an August 2015 letterto the president of Estee Lauder, the parent company of MAC cosmetics, voicing her disappointment in their use of animal testing to comply with national mandates in certain countries after being the one-time face of their "Viva Glam" promotional line.

Actual PSA advertisements regarding animal cruelty in the cosmetics industry.

However, it is limitations like this that have sparked the creation and need for cruelty-free products. According to PETA, a company that formulates cruelty-free cosmetics and products has "a commitment to manufacturing products without harming any animals."

In fact, companies such as LUSH, NYX, and Urban Decay have become recently notorious for being cruelty-free beauty brands, not only adding to their business but their integrity as consumer brands.

With the growing education of the public on what really happens to animals behind white coats and laboratory doors and the expanding research on advancements in replacing animal cruelty in cosmetics testing, there seems to be no excuse for companies to continue repeating this unethical, senseless, and often fatal practice on innocent animals.

So, it is time to use our voices to raise awareness for those who do not have voices themselves. By purchasing products exclusively from cruelty-free companies, your support is given to helping protect and preserve the lives of millions of laboratory animals, as well as cutting off funding to companies that continue to partake in this destructive activity for personal gain. So, think twice before splurging on that new eye-shadow palette or concealer who's parent company tests on animals. It may cost a lot more than you'd think.