Cosmetic+Testing+on+Animals

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Every year millions of animals die, and suffer because of being test subjects in cosmetic and appliance research. Many regular household items and cosmetic products have been tested with this form of research. Companies that use this method of testing include Arm and Hammer, Clairol, Johnson and Johnson, L’Oreal, Olay, Pantene, Suave, and Vicks. Although there are many companies that do not test on animals, the majority of them do, and as a result, cause unneeded pain on living beings. Since the regulations on animal testing can be a bit relaxed at times, many companies may be doing illegal things to animals without authorities knowing about it.

There are many different ways to test cosmetics on animals. All of them are extremely inhumane, and inflict pain or death on the animals. One form of animal cosmetic testing involves lab technicians placing liquid, flaked, or powdered substances into the eyes of the test subject. In these kinds of tests they very rarely use anesthesia on the animals. The animals are very often caged in stocks that immobilize them. After the lab technicians put the substances into the animal's eyes, they analyze the damage done to the animal's eye tissue at intervals spread out over a period of 72 hours. Sometimes these tests can last up to 18 days. Many animals have negative reactions to these substances such as swollen eyelids, inflamed irises, ulceration, bleeding, massive deterioration, and blindness. To put the substances in the animal's eyes, lab technicians use clips to hold open the animal's eyes, and sometimes, in an effort to break free, the animals break their necks or backs. In other tests, a tube is put into a hole in their stomach or throat, and substances are forced into their bodies. They can also inject substances under the animal's skin or inject them in to their veins, or put it into the animal's food. They can also inject it into the eyes, rectum, or vagina of the test subjects. The lab technicians then observe and record the animal's reactions. Some of these reactions include convulsions, labored breathing, diarrhea, constipation, emaciation, skin eruptions, abnormal posture, and bleeding from the eyes, nose, and mouth. It may seem as though these tests are the most efficient, but there are many other methods that are much more effective and humane.

Cosmetic companies kill millions of animals per year to test their products. The companies who use these types of tests say that testing on animals is the most effective form of cosmetic testing, but the FDA stated that there are more efficient and more humane ways of testing cosmetics, than testing them on animals. Humane tests also have more accurate results. Many companies such as Avon, The Body Shop, and Mary Kay are already using these humane tests. Testing methods that don't include animals are much safer and generally less expensive than the methods that do use animals. Some of these alternative tests include the use of cell and skin tissue cultures and computer and mathematical models. Many other companies skip testing all together because they use all natural and non-toxic ingredients in their products. In fact, the only reason most cosmetic companies test on animals is to avoid liability issues with the consumers. Even though it may seem as though all of the companies who use animal testing are to blame for this immense amount of suffering on the animal’s part, the fault goes deeper than the actual source of the pain. Consumers who buy products tested on animals are also to blame.

When people think about all of the issues facing the world, most of us say to ourselves that there is no way one person can make a difference, so we don’t try to help. And that might be true for some problems, but with the issue of cosmetic testing on animals, it isn’t true. There is a wide variety of things you can do to help improve the lives of the animal test subjects. For example, you can simply choose not to buy products that have been tested on animals. Another important thing to do is to inform people about the situation. People can’t make a difference without knowing about what they are trying to change. There is one more way to make a difference, but it may not be as effective as the first two. Write a letter to a company that you know is testing on animals. Explain why you think it is wrong and suggest safer alternatives to animal testing. Any one of the above suggestions would work, and the first step to making a difference is choosing to.



__Companies that DO test on animals__


 * Aim
 * Arm & Hammer
 * Kaboom
 * Nair
 * Oxi Clean
 * Aussie
 * Herbal Essences
 * Clorox
 * Glad
 * Pine-Sol
 * Purex
 * Aveeno
 * Clean & Clear
 * Johnson & Johnson
 * Listerine
 * Neutrogena
 * L'Oreal
 * Giorgio Armani
 * Lancome
 * Maybelline
 * Max Factor
 * Mead
 * Olay
 * Pantene
 * Ponds
 * Clairol
 * Crest
 * Gillette
 * Tide
 * Lysol
 * Dr. Scholl's
 * Skintimate
 * Windex
 * Ziploc
 * S.C. Johnson
 * Oust
 * Pledge
 * Suave
 * Axe
 * Dove
 * Vicks

__Companies that DO NOT test on animals__


 * Almay
 * Bath & Body Works
 * Bobbi Brown
 * Body Essence
 * The Body Shop
 * Bumble & Bumble
 * Burt's Bees
 * Calvin Klein Cosmetics
 * Clarins of Paris
 * Coca Pink
 * DuWop Cosmetics
 * Earth Alive
 * Flirt!
 * Hannah Montana
 * Hello Kitty
 * Herbal Mineral
 * Jessica McClintock
 * Kate Spade
 * La Mer
 * L'Occitane
 * M.A.C. Cosmetics
 * Mary Kay
 * Nature's Best
 * OPI Products
 * Pathmark Stores (house brand products only)
 * Paul Mitchell
 * Safeway (house brand products only)
 * Tommy Hilfiger
 * Too Faced Cosmetics
 * Trader Joe's Company
 * Victoria's Secret
 * Wet N' Wild
 * Whole Foods (365 house brand)
 * Zia Natural Skin Care

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