traditional animal testing is expensive, time-consuming, uses a lot of animals and from a scientific perspective the results do not necessarily translate to humans. – Dr. Christopher Austin, former director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Chemical Genomics Center
All across the world people are waking up and seeing what goes on behind the closed doors of many cosmetic companies. Testing cosmetics on animals, also known as vivisection, is viewed by the majority as necessary to protect the health of humans. The minority, on the other hand, see animal-testing as a cruel and unjust disservice to the non-human population of this planet.
Every year millions of animals will be subjected to cruel tests for the cosmetic industry. Some of these tests involve rubbing potentially harmful chemicals on the skin and eyes of test subjects or force feeding them chemicals. The following brands are not cruelty-free. This could mean that they engage in animal testing themselves, through a 3rd party, as required by law, or use ingredients that are tested on animals. Brands will also be added to this list if they state that they do not verify or check with their suppliers or affiliates about animal testing. Please avoid purchasing these brands and support cruelty-free brands instead.
1. Olay
Olay is probably the largest skincare company in the world and is owned by Procter & Gamble, like many cosmetic brands. According to their publically available material, Olay carries out 400,000 safety tests for its products each and every year. It is unclear as to how many of these are conducted on animals but due to its absence from the Leaping Bunny list and animal-tester status on the PETA list, it is likely that animals are used.
2. Avon
Avon speaks of an ethical duty to maintain standards, but only to the safety of its consumers. While Avon asserts that they do not carry out tests on animals, some of the ingredients they source from outside facilities are tested on animals. PETA has Avon on its animal tester list and Avon is also not Leaping Bunny approved. Keeping in mind a company’s commitment to only using ingredients sourced from other cruelty-free brands or companies is important. To avoid this issue, it is always best to go for a 100 percent cruelty-free brand when picking cosmetics.
3. Garnier
Garnier is owned by L’Oreal, is one of the most well-known cosmetic parent companies in the world. It is also probably the most notorious among cruelty-free shoppers. Although Garnier boasts their use of many natural ingredients, unfortunately, they also test on animals.
4. Neutrogena
Neutrogena is another one of the largest skincare companies in the world. It’s a household name everywhere. Yet it is blacklisted by PETA and not Leaping Bunny approved either. Some of Neutrogena’s products are labeled “not tested on animals,” but that does not mean they are 100 percent “cruelty-free.”
5. M.A.C Cosmetics
M.A.C. Cosmetics is part of the parent company, Estee Lauder. In 2012, Estee Lauder resumed animal testing, after claiming to have sworn off the practice, to meet testing requirements in Chinese markets. Although the Chinese government no longer legally requires cosmetics to be tested on animals, M.A.C. still falls under PETA’s no-fly list.
Other major brands that test on animals are: Abreva, Acqua Di Parma, Acuvue, Aesop, Afta, Air Wick, AJAX, Alberto V05, Alessandro, Algenist, Almay, Always, Amazing Cosmetics, Amway, Andrex, Anna Sui, Aquafresh, Ariel, Arm & Hammer, Arrid, Artistry Cosmetics, Artistry Makeup by Amway, ASTOR, Aussie, Aveeno, Axe, Balenciaga, Ban, Banana Boat, Band-Aid, Bare Foot by Freeman Beauty, Bare Foot Repair by Freeman Beauty, Bath & Body Works, Be a Bombshell Cosmetics, Bed Head, Belloite, Benefit, Bic, Bioderma, Biore, Biotherm, Bliss, BlistexCillit Bang, Bobbi Brown, Boscia, Bulgari, Bumble & Bumble, Burberry, Bvlgari, c. Booth by Freeman Beauty, Calgon, Caress, Caudalie, Calvin Klein, Catwalk by TIGI, Cetaphil, Chanel, Chapstick, Cheer, CHI, Chloe, Cillit Bang, Clairol, Clarins, Clarisonic, Clean & Clear, Clear Scalp & Hair Therapy, Clearasil, Clinique, Coach, Colgate, Colgate-Palmolive, Collection Cosmetics, Collistar, Colors in Mood, Colorsmash, Condensé Paris, Consort, Coppertone, Cottonelle, Coty, CoverGirl, Crabtree & Evelyn, Creative Nail Design (CND), Crest, Curel, Davidoff, Daz, Decorte, Degree, Demeter Fragrance Library, Dermablend, Dermassage, Dettol, DevaCurl, DHC, Dial, Diesel, Dior, DKNY, Dolce & Gabanna, Donna Karan, Dove, Dr. Brandt, Dr. Jart, Dry Idea, DTRT, Duck, Durex, eclos by Freeman Beauty, Ecover, Edge Shave Gel, Elie Saab, Eisenberg, Elizabeth Arden, Elle Girl, EmergenC, EOS (Evolution of Smooth), Equate, Erno Laszlo, Escada, Essie, Estée Edit by Estée Lauder, Estee Lauder, Eucerin, Fabuloso, Fairy Dish, FCUK, Febreze, Feeling Beautiful by Freeman Beauty, Feeling Legendary by Freeman Beauty, Fekkai, Fendi, Fenistil, Finish, Flirt!, For Beloved One, Forever Living, Freeman Beauty, Fresh, Gap, Gillette, Giorgio Armani Beauty, Givenchy, GlamGlow, Goddess Garden Organics, Goldwell, Got2Be, Green Works, Gucci, Guerlain, Guhl, Hansaplast, Hawaiian Tropic, Head & Shoulders, Herbal Essences, Herbalife, Herborist, Henkel, Henri Bendel, Hugo, Hugo Boss, ILLUME, Infusium 23, Inglot, innisfree, Ion Professional, Irish Spring, Ivory, J.F. Lazartigu, Jergens, Jet Dry, Jejuen, Jimmy Choo, Jo Malone, Joa Bath and Body, John Frieda, Johnson & Johnson, Joico, Juicy Couture, June Jacobs, Jurlique, K.Y., KAO Brands, KC Professional, Kenzo, Kenzoki, Keraskin Esthetics, Kerastase, Kiehl’s, Kimberly Clark, Kinerase, Kirkland Signature, KMS California, Kocostar, Kose, Kotex, L’Occitane, L’Oreal, La Mer, La Prarie, La Senza, Labello, Labseries, Lady Speed Stick, Lady’s Choice, Lamisil, Lancaster, Lancome, Laneige, Lanvin, LaRoche Posay, Laura Mercier, Le Petit Marseillais, Lenor, Lever 2000, Lipstick Queen, Listerine, LORAC, Love Beauty & Planet, Lubriderm, Lysol, Maison Margiela Fragrances, Makeup For Ever, Malin+Goetz, Manhattan Cosmetics, Marc Jacobs Perfume, Mark, Mary Kay, Matrix, Maybelline, Max Factor, Melaleuca, Mentadent, Method, Miss Sporty, Mitchum, Mont Blanc, Mr Muscle, MUM, Murphy Oil Soap, Nair, NARS, New York Color (NYC), Nexxus, Nicole by OPI, Nina Ricci, Nioxin, Nivea, Noxzema, OGX Beauty/Organics, Oilatum, Ojon, Olay, Old Spice, OPI, Oragel, Orange Glo, Origins, Osis+, OxiClean, Paco Rabanne, Palladio, Pantene, Papaya by Freeman Beauty, Pat McGrath Labs, Persil, Pet Head, Peter Thomas Roth, Philosophy, Physiogel, Phyto, Plantae Certified Organic Skin Care, Playtex, Ponds, Prada, Prescriptives, Psssst! by Freeman Beauty, PureHeals, Purell, Purpose, Q-Tips, Radox, Redken, ReFa, Renpure, Rembrandt, Revlon, Right Gaurd, Rimmel, Roberto Cavalli, ROC, Rossi & Rossa, Sally Hansen, Sampar, Sarah Chapman, Suavitel, Schick, Schwarzkopf, Scope, Scrub Free, Sebastian, Sebastian Professional, Secret, Senscience, Sensodyne, Sephora Collection, Serious Skin Care, Shea Moisture, Shiseido, Shu Uemura, Simple Green, Simple Skincare, Simply Beauty, Simply Saline, Sinful Colors, SK-II, Skin Bracer, Skintimate, SkinVitals, Soft & Dri, Softsoap, Speed Stick, Spinbrush, St. Ives, Stella McCartney, StriVectin, Suave, Sulwhasoo, Sure Deodorant, Talika, Tanda, Tarina Tarantino by Sephora Collection, Tattoo Beauty, The Art of Shaving, The BrowGal, The Vintage Cosmetic Company, Thierry Mugler, Tigi, Tokidoki Cosmetics by Sephora Collection, Tony Moly, Too Cool For School, Tous, Tresemme, Trojan, Tweezerman, TYRA Beauty, Ultima II, Unilever, Valentino, Vanish, Vaseline, Vasenol, Veet, Veld’s, Vera Wang, Versace, Victoria’s Secret, Victoria’s Secret Pink, Vidal Sasson, Vita-K Professional by Freeman Beauty, Walgreens, Wei, Wei To Go, Wella Professionals, Woolite, Xtra, Yardley, YSL, Yves Rocher, Zegna, Zovirax, Zotos Professionals.
What You Can Do
Choosing to shop cruelty-free is the only way to stop such cruel practices. One may think “I am just one person, I cannot make a difference,” but that simply isn’t true. As more consumers express their concerns over animal welfare in the cosmetic industry, more companies will be willing to look for alternative methods for testing. There is hope that in the near future, the use of animals for all chemical testing will be made obsolete thanks to computer modeling. As long as companies think there is a market for cruelty-free products, they will be willing to give up their antiquated methods and go 100 percent cruelty-free.
You can support companies like: Eisenberg, The Body Shop, Too Faced, Ellis Faas, Urban Decay, E.l.f., Murad, Kat von D, NYX, Younique, LUSH, Yes to, Obsesive Compulsive Cosmetics, and many others, you can find a complete list here.
