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The Effects of Animal Testing in the Cosmetic Industry

When it comes to the cosmetics you purchase, how much do you know about the testing process? For nearly a century, it’s been common practice in the cosmetic industry to lab test beauty products on animals to determine their safety for human use. Unfortunately, these products can cause harmful side effects to animals, which — while it prevent humans from experiencing these side effects — is a form of animal cruelty.

Altfore uses natural ingredients that do not contain animal products or animal by-products, nor do we test our products on animals. Learn more below about the effects of animal testing in the cosmetic industry, and switch to cruelty-free beauty products like Altfore.

The Physical Effects on the Animals

One of the more obvious effects of animal testing is the physical reactions that the animals themselves experience. Animals such as rodents, rabbits, dogs, and other species are subjected to testing of makeup products, skincare products, and even hygiene products like soaps and cleansers. 

The purpose of this testing is to see if they have a reaction to any of the ingredients in these products, such as chemicals or minerals that sensitive human skin could react to. This begs the question, however, why are we including these harmful ingredients in our makeup and beauty products in the first place?

To start with, there are several different animals that test products. The easiest way to identify each animal is with a physical indicator. Therefore, many animals receive ear-notching or tail-clipping in order to be identified quickly. 

Then there’s the effects of the tests themselves. Animals are exposed to chemicals through physical application, inhalation, and are even force-fed some products to determine the effects that they could have on humans. The effects of these tests range from mild skin irritation to violent illness, and can even kill some animals if they’re overexposed to certain chemicals.

Cruelty-free beauty products, on the other hand, do not go through this type of testing. The ingredients for cruelty-free beauty products are more naturally and responsibly sourced to begin with, meaning that animal testing is unnecessary and the product is safe enough for human trial.

The Effects on the Industry

On top of the physical effects that animals endure during testing of products, the practice of animal testing isn’t actually a productive use of time or resources. The genetic makeup of other animals is so dissimilar to humans that their responses don’t mirror a human reaction at all.

Animals may show symptoms and responses to products that are absent in human trials, while some products cause significant side effects in human trials that were non-existent in animal testing.

So, not only does this practice submit animals to harmful side effects and treatment, but products may still be harmful to humans if they make it to clinical trials. This means that, on top of unnecessary animal cruelty, this type of testing is a waste of time, money, and resources. 

The Alternative

While many products, such as medication, need to go through more extensive testing to determine their effectiveness, we shouldn’t have to worry about the physical reaction our skin could have to everyday products like cosmetics.

This is why Altfore has developed products that are natural, vegan, gluten-free, and cruelty-free. The ingredients we use in our lip glosses and lipsticks are proven to be safe and don’t contain harsh chemicals that require testing — on animals or otherwise.

When shopping for makeup, consider cruelty-free beauty products like Altfore’s to support sustainability goals that cut down on animal testing to preserve resources, and to be kinder to our fellow animals. Shop our selection of lip gloss and lipstick today.