Looking beyond the labels of your favorite cosmetic products.
The beauty industry is certainly on the rise. By 2017 it is estimated to reach the record $265 billions per year.
However, the real price of beauty goes well beyond these numbers.
What L’Oreal, Maybelline, Estee Lauder have in common apart from producing widely popular makeup products, is that they still practice Animal testing according to PETA investigations.
Over 100.000 animals are estimated to suffer and die per year, so that most of us, girls, could enjoy a new lipstick color.
The sadder truth – animal testing makes no sense when it comes to beauty products.
A vast number of alternative testing technologies have been researched and introduced in the last decade ranging from 3D printing to stem cells that are used for growing new organs.
In fact, according to most international laws Animal Testing is voluntary. Meaning any company can choose whether to test their products on animals or not. Sadly, most brands choose the crude option.
We at Mineralissima strongly believe that animal testing has no place in the modern world.
You should know the truths and the actual numbers behind the Cosmetics industry:
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The Industry of Cosmetics |
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The global cosmetic market was 460 billion USD in 2014 and is estimated
to reach 675 billion USD by 2020 growing at a rate of 6.4%. Of the cosmetic
products, skin care has the highest market share. |
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The global cosmetics industry is
forecasted to reach around
$265 billion in 2017. |
Leading companies in the global cosmetics
market include L'Oreal, Beiersdorf, Johnson
& Johnson, Avon, and Estee Lauder. |
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As consumers become increasingly wary of potential toxicity in cosmetics, market
segments offering fragrance-free products made using natural ingredients and
essential oils are likely to record strong growth. |
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We estimate that the Cosmetic testing
countries in the world are: |
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USA
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Japan
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China
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Australia
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Canada
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Taiwan
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Brazil
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It's estimated that approximately
100,000-200,000 animals suffer and die just
for cosmetics every year around the world. |
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Each year, more than 100 million animals - including mice, rats, frogs, dogs, cats,
rabbits, hamsters, guinea pins, monkeys, fish, and birds - are killed in U.S.
laboratories for biology lessions, medical training, curiosity-driven experimentation,
and chemical, drug, food, and cosmetics testing. |
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Looking for a perfect pout? Think again, animals
experience discomfort, suffering and ultimately die,
all in the name of aesthetics and 'looking good'. |
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How Animals Suffer at the Price of Looking Good |
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When used in cosmetic tests, mice, rats, rabbits, and guinea pigs are
often subjected to skin and eye irritation tests where chemicals are
rubbed on shaved skin or dripped into the eyes without any pain relief. |
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If that didn't bring tears to
your eyes, then did you
know that tests of potential
carcinogens, subjects are
given a substance every
day for 2 years. Others
tests involve killing
pregnant animals and
testing their fetuses. |
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What's even more heart
breaking is that animals that
are protected under the
AWA can also be abused
and tortured. |
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On March 11, 2013 European Union
regulators announced a ban on the import
and sale of cosmetics containing ingredients
tested on animals and to pledge more
efforts to push other parts of the world. |
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Too often people keep most of these
animals as their pets so imagine the
pain they go through when they are
tested, tortured and killed just so that
you could look pretty. |
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Norway also announced a ban in their
nation, along with Israel and India to ban
the import of any cosmetic that has been
tested on animals. |
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Did you know that snail slime does an excellent job of preventing and
treating skin conditions such as acne, scars, and burns. They are used in
manufacturing various beauty and skin care products. |
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Where Has Animal Testing Been Banned? |
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Every year there are close to 900 million
lipsticks sold worldwide. Did you know
that Squalene is the gooey oil squeezed
from a shark's liver and is commonly
found in lipsticks and eye makeup. So is
that actually 'blood' on your lips? |
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Looking to contour your face through
Botox? Think again! The mice are injected
into the abdomen with Botox to see how
they react to the Lethal Dose (LD50)
poisoning test. They become increasingly
paralysed, eventually gasping for breath
and, if left, will suffocate to death. |
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Countries that are currently considering a ban on cosmetics that test on
animals include: |
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| USA |
Australia |
New Zealand |
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Ready To Switch To a Cruelty-Free Brand? Here’s What You Should Do:
Cruelty-free beauty products are on the rise, offering a safer, greener and more modern alternative to the traditional cosmetics. If you are ready to make the transition today, here’s what you should do:
1. Know The Alternatives
Cruelty-free products are plentiful. You just need to know where to search!
Check out the Beauty Without Bunnies by PETA and The Leaping Bunny listings – both will have you covered at most times. Our mineral beauty products are also on the list, just so you know ☺
2. Do Your Research
Interested whether a particular brand is testing on animals or not? Go online and visit their website. Usually, this question is covered in FAQ section.
However, not all companies like to play it honest and oftentimes write what their potential buyers would love to hear. Take a step further and simple google “Company name animal testing” and see what pops up in the news and on the blogs.
If there’s no information online, just pick up the phone and ring them up. The representative is bound to answer your question according to consumer laws in most countries.
This routine may seem a bit daunting at first, but as you build up your list of ethical companies, shopping becomes a breeze again!
3. Learn to Read the Labels
Now, safe products should always have the official Leaping Bunny trademark or the cute pinkish PETA bunny. It takes time and effort for companies to earn those, so it’s a legit and reputable sign you can trust.
Make sure you know how both of them look. All the other bunnies no matter how cute they look absolutely do not stand for “cruelty-free”.
Standalone phrases like “not tested on animals” or “cruelty-free” written on the back of the product sadly do not stand for anything. Companies are not prohibited to use these statements no matter what their actually policy is. Make sure you make additional inquiries.
How do you feel about animal testing? Let us know if the comments below!
