Ethical Considerations

Testing cosmetics on animals, although intended to create safety of products for human use, cause pain, suffering, discomfort, and ultimately death to the laboratory animals. As science has advanced, different methods may be used in order to decrease the harmful procedures and ultimately discontinue the use of animals in cosmetic testing.

The Three Rs

• Refinement: the modification of experimental procedures to minimize pain and distress caused in animals and to enhance their welfare from the time of their birth to the time of their death.
• Reduction: strategies which will result in a fewer number of animal subjects being used
• Replacement: the avoidance and replacement of animal subjects being used when the use of alternatives are possible

How to Help

Many cosmetic brands produce products that are strictly cruelty free. As consumers, we can do our research about the brands we are purchasing from and make changes in order to support cruelty-free practices. A simple way to tell if a product is cruelty-free is to look for the Leaping Bunny logo on the packaging of the product as an indicator that the products are cruelty-free.

Some Cruelty-Free Cosmetics verified by Peta as Cruelty-free

• Aveda
• The Body Shop
• Kat Von D Beauty
• Aesop
• Tarte Cosmetics
• Burt’s Bees
• Annabelle
• Bath & Body Works
• Lush
• wet n wild
• Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics