If you’re a makeup enthusiast or someone who knows a thing or two about it, you may have heard of cruelty-free makeup. This label pertains to products that were made without any animal cruelty involved. To be specific, there are animal tests being done on a regular basis by cosmetic brands to see if their new products are safe, effective, and good to go for the market.

Captive animals are hurt and killed in laboratories because of this practice. It’s unsurprising then that a movement would be borne out of the need to stop animal testing. Here are several reasons for makeup users to switch to cruelty-free products.

Test Animals Are Maltreated

The main reason cruelty-free campaigns exist is to stop the hurt being done to animals. Test rabbits, for example, get their skin experimented on while being held captive. Other animals include guinea pigs, hamsters, mice, and even domesticated ones like cats or dogs. Makeup brands test soon-to-be-released products on these animals to determine the effectivity or compatibility of ingredients, which usually leads to fatigue-inducing conditions.

These conditions include skin and eye irritation tests done to the test subjects. HSI accounts mention rabbits with chemicals rubbed onto their shaved skin or dripped onto their eyes. There are also lethal dose tests in which the animals are force-fed chemicals to determine how much of it could cause death. Without any pain relief, the test subjects experience organ damage, internal bleeding, and eventually, death.

Many Cruelty-Free Brands Exist

Opting not to support brands that do animal testing doesn’t mean you’ll get locked out of quality makeup. There is a multitude of cruelty-free brands that you can purchase from, which are usually recognized by animal rights organizations or cruelty-free programs. These include People For The Ethical Treatment Of Animals (PETA) and the Humane Society International (HSI).

Finding cruelty-free brands should be easy since the reputation functions as a feature that brands use for marketing their products. This means that makeup would have conspicuous cruelty-free labels for buyers to see. The next time you shop for a mascara, makeup primer, or another cosmetic product, there should be several cruelty-free ones at a drugstore or boutique.

There Are Scientific Limitations To Animal Testing

Even the science behind animal-testing shows that it’s not as reliable as it may seem to be. Research shows that species respond differently when exposed to the same chemicals. This means that what happens on a test animal’s skin might not exactly be the same case for human skin. The results then become variable or unpredictable, which leads to consumer safety not being guaranteed.

HSI adds that scientific credibility would be lacking due to how the animal tests were first made in the 1930s. The study of toxicity in the body has advanced compared to before and now accounts for the difference among species. Simply put, studies say how guinea pigs and humans are too different from each other to assume that their skin would react the same to certain chemicals.

Countries Already Ban The Practice

In recognition of cruelty-free campaigns, many countries have already banned cosmetic brands from performing animal tests. Since 2009, 28 countries in the European Union have participated in the campaign against this practice. The implementation of the ban makes it illegal to sell cosmetic products or ingredients involved in animal testing. With the number of nations already against animal cruelty, it is pretty clear that the practice is disapproved by many, including heads of state and celebrities that support cruelty-free change.

While some countries have yet to support cruelty-free cosmetics, the campaign continues regardless. Legislative bills are under consideration in countries like Taiwan, Australia, the USA, and Brazil to implement animal-testing bans. The #BeCrueltyFree campaign of HSI and the Leaping Bunny program are just two of many initiatives spearheading cruelty-free support.

You Become Aware Of Other Campaigns

In getting introduced to the cruelty-free advocacy, chances are you’ll also be made aware of other movements that need support. These include campaigns for plastic bans and those that are against environmental degradation. Because these movements tend to dismantle the insidious harm done by big corporations, it wouldn’t be surprising to see them team up and support each other.

This means that cruelty-free campaigns can endorse environmental movements, campaigns that support exploited workers, and other initiatives that support the well-being of people, animals, and nature alike. Now that calls for climate change are gaining more attention on social media, it’s expected for someone with access to pay attention to these movements.

You Reevaluate Your Buying Habits

Besides getting introduced to other initiatives, supporting cruelty-free makeup also helps you reevaluate your buying habits. Have you been buying more than what’s necessary? Maybe you’ve been unwittingly supporting brands that do the opposite of what campaigns advocate for. Cruelty-free, environmentalist, and fair wage campaigns have already called out many brands for choosing to continue harmful practices.

You don’t have to feel bad about buying from these brands in the past since now you know that you can simply stop purchasing their products. This way, you have the chance to look for other options that can be cheaper yet maintain the same quality and support the campaigns mentioned above. As said earlier, there are a variety of cruelty-free brands you can choose from.

You Set An Example For Many

Cliche as it may sound, it never hurts to set an example for the future generation, which can include your kids. As an adult, your purchasing decisions are yours to make, which can be noticed by your family, friends, or colleagues. By buying from cruelty-free brands instead, you can inform other consumers about the issue and tell them they have a choice like you do.

Pretty Without Hurting

Makeup is a positive, empowering thing. It is supposed to make you feel good, boost your confidence, and look good to others. It’s ironic, therefore, for it to get entangled with something as negative as animal cruelty through harmful tests. This is the reason cruelty-free products exist, as an alternative to brands who perform such practices. If you’re a discerning customer, you can make a difference by choosing which brand to support. This helps lessen the hurt in the world and make it a prettier place.