Rouge For Rabbits
Some of the worlds leading cosmetics company’s still test their products on animals these include L’Oreal, Lancme, Maybelline, Max Factor, Olay and Vaseline.
Although animal testing of cosmetics was banned in the UK in 1998, some EU countries such as France, still oppose a European-wide ban coming into place. The majority of the testing is based in the USA and Japan.
So why do they test on animals?
Companies test on animals because they are the closest living thing to a human being. They normally test products to see how the eyes and skin will react. However, this is not a fail-proof method of testing as people still have reactions to make-up. So why can’t scientists find another way?
Rabbits are often immobilised and then have ingredients dropped into their eyes. Another common thing is poisoning where they force groups of animals to continually eat ingredients, until at least half the group dies. How would we like it if someone did that to us?
We all know how sore it can be when you when you get something in your eye or a scratch on your arm and it tends to be the smallest cuts that hurt most. But we can immediately relieve the pain, we can get some gel, or a plaster, or some paracetemol. But what if we couldn’t touch or stop the pain, not just for a minute or two but for hours slowly running into days. This is how these animals gets treated.
The most shocking news about these companies is they just don’t seem to get the picture. Even when countries such as the UK banned animal testing for cosmetics, they just packed their suitcases and moved abroad where it’s still legal.
But what I despise most is the fact that we can still buy products that have been tested on animals and not even know about it. How many people have bought Max Factor mascara or Vaseline? The companies, who chose to do this, should at least have the guts to tell people about it.
These are cruel companies who continue to crave creatures for cosmetics.
Sub-Editor Note: As with everything on theSprout, this article represents the views and opinions of the writer and not necessarily those of theSprout.
Want some more info on the issues around animal testing? Have a nosey here.
Image: Brian Gunn / IAAPEA
