Makeup testing on animals has to stop. These sadistic tests on animals are not needed. There are an abundance of ways for companies to become cruelty free. It is just the matter of them taking the steps to become cruelty free. It is purely in the company’s hands on whether they want to test on animals or not.

Many big makeup companies test on animals. According to PETA, companies like Avon, Covergirl, Rimmel London, MAC, Mary Kay, Maybelline, and Estée Lauder all test on animals. Some of these brands, and others not listed, only test on animals in countries like China because it is mandatory to be able to sell the product. However, these companies are still considered, “non-cruelty free.” Also, it is the brand’s decision to sell in countries where testing on animals is mandatory. They do not have to sell their product there..

An estimated 100,000-200,000 animals are tested on yearly. These animals include rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, rats, and mice.The kinds of tests these helpless animals go through include skin and eye irritation tests where chemicals are rubbed onto shaved skin or dripped into the eyes, there are repeated oral force-feeding studies lasting weeks or months to look for signs of general illness or specific health hazards such as cancer, and there are many more tests that these animals go through.

All of those tests can cause considerable pain and distress including blindness, swollen eyes, sore bleeding skin, internal bleeding, organ damage, birth defects, convulsions and death. Pain relief is not provided at all during all of this and at the end of a test the animals are killed by usually neck-breaking or decapitation.

Usually, makeup companies test on animals to develop new ingredients to use in their makeup or to see if there is any potential harm in their substance. However, there are already thousands of existing cosmetic ingredients available and do not need to be tested since they already have been used. They could use any of these ingredients in their makeup. Also, tests on animals do not indicate the results for humans.

Some people have different opinions on animal testing. Jennings County High School Student Stephanie Druschel said, “I only buy from cruelty-free brands, and the products I buy are always vegan as well. I do something to stop animal testing every time I purchase something. Simply by supporting cruelty-filled companies, I communicate that I would rather buy from an ethical brand.” People like her are aware of the issue and taking action. They are not being bystanders. They have a stance and are going full force with whatever they can do.

MCHS student Elora Proffitt said, ”I buy any kind of makeup. I never really pay attention to the details. Animal testing is wrong, though. Animals are meant to be free, not test subjects.” People like this are aware of the issue but are not taking action. Taking action is one of the biggest steps you could take. It shows that you care enough about these animals to take a stance on the issue and to try to stop these sadistic acts.

Makeup testing on animals could be stopped fairly fast if people looked at the facts: makeup testing results on animals are completely different from actual results on humans and there are already thousands of ingredients to use. Makeup companies need to start going down the path of becoming cruelty free. This is the 21st century and these companies need to come to terms with alternate means of testing their products.