Cosmetics Testing

We support the search for humane alternatives to testing on animals and advocate for policies that make animal testing illegal for cosmetics worldwide.

  • According to Humane Society International, more than 500,000 animals die yearly from cosmetic testing. Animal testing is the inhumane practice of experimenting on live animals to study the effects on their behavior or biological system. Cosmetic testing is a form of toxicology research that studies the impact of chemical reactions and lethal doses on animals. Every day, numerous rabbits, mice, dogs, and guinea pigs are subjected to cruelty from skin and eye irritation tests to dermal penetration experiments.

    Animals used in cosmetics testing are subjected to a range of harmful procedures, such as skin irritation tests, eye irritation tests, and lethal dose tests. These practices are not only unethical but also increasingly considered outdated, as modern alternatives exist that are both more humane and scientifically advanced. There are five main forms of animal testing, including:

    • Dermal penetration tests discover the chemical movement of a substance within the bloodstream of rats to study its skin absorption levels. Numerous rats are injected with lethal substances for this inhumane testing method.

    • Skin sensitization experiments study allergic reactions to injected chemicals or applied on a shaved patch of skin in guinea pigs. The appearance of the skin afterward showcases the effects of skin sensitization.

    • Acute toxicity tests expose rats and mice to lethal doses of chemicals via their mouth, skin, or inhalation. These studies determine how dangerous chemical exposure is for humans. Lethal Dose 50 experiments slowly increase chemical exposure to determine the dose that causes half of the test population to die from the chemical. Afterward, the remaining test subjects are killed to gather information about the internal effects of the chemicals. Other tests can use fewer animals but can cause convulsions, loss of motor function, and seizures.

    • Draize tests assess the toxicity of chemicals that may come into contact with the eye. These experiments result in high amounts of pain through dermal and airway sensitization, endocrine disruption, and lethal dose tests, and is typically performed on rabbits.

    • Skin corrosivity or irritation experimentation explores the potential of a substance to cause irreversible damage to the skin. It is typically performed on rabbits and involves putting chemicals on shaved skin patches. Symptoms of itching, inflammation, and swelling are documented to determine the level of damage to the skin.

  • Animal testing inaccurately predicts the effects of chemicals on the human body. According to this article, many scientists, such as Dr. Donald Inber, founding director of the Wyss institute, have found that “animal models, used as a proxy for humans in drug discovery and development, cannot consistently and accurately predict human efficacy and toxicity.” The future of the scientific community lies with In vitro and In silico testing.

    One of the most prominent In vitro methods is organ-chip models, lab-grown human cells that mimic organ systems designed to replicate and mimic the functions of their real-life counterparts within the human body. These models allow scientists to measure the effects of a substance on the whole organ system rather than just the cellular level. Another alternative In vitro method is tissue models. This model uses 3-dimensional, lab-cultivated human cells that can replace the need for conducting skin corrosivity and irritation experimentation on rabbits. We can save countless rabbits from agonizingly painful experiments by replacing rabbit testing with this alternative method. VITROCELL is a new alternative method that researches the effects of inhaled chemicals on the human body. This test exposes human lung cells in a dish to chemicals to test the health effects of inhaled substances. These devices can replace acute toxicity testing, saving thousands of rats and mice from chemical-induced suffering and death. In vitro testing alternatives are the future of cruelty-free research.

    Another strong candidate to replace animal testing is In silico testing. These advanced computer modeling techniques differ from In vitro testing as they do not use lab-grown human cells. Computer modeling allows scientists to research the progression of a developing disease on the simulated human body. In this study, scientists found In silico testing to accurately predict the effects of a new asthma treatment on the human lungs. This means that by investing in computer modeling systems, we can eliminate the need to test these drugs on innocent animals. Quantitative structure-activity relationships (QSARs) are another In silico computer-based technique that evaluates the toxicity of a substance. QSARs would decrease the need for acute toxicity tests on rats and mice as we expand our knowledge of human biology and the database of existing substance toxicity levels.

  • Many countries across the globe have already banned animal testing. The European Union put into effect one of the first bans on testing cosmetics on animals back in 2013. This comprehensive ban eliminated any beauty products that were tested on animals to be sold on their market. This early success for animal rights prompted extensive alternative research to replace animal testing. Since then Iceland, India, Israel, Norway, Mexico, and Switzerland have passed similar laws. Cosmetic companies in the United States and abroad that conduct animal tests are not able to sell their products in these countries unless they change their practices. Australia, Colombia, Guatemala, New Zealand, South Korea, Taiwan, Turkey and several states in Brazil have also passed laws to ban or limit cosmetic animal testing.

    In March 2024, President Biden signed H.R. 4366, the Consolidated Appropriations Act 2024. The Act includes Section 247, which prohibits funds appropriated in the Act from being used by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to conduct new experiments on dogs, cats, and non-human primates unless expressly approved in writing by the VA Secretary. In addition, this Act will eliminate the research conducted using canines, felines, or non-human primates by not later than 2 years after the date of enactment. This is a great step towards instituting more humane research methods in the United States!

    Cruelty-Free Cosmetics Laws Still Stand: In 2022, the U.S. Senate passed a bill to reauthorize the FDA, including eliminating provisions that would have gutted state laws banning the sale of cosmetics tested on animals. State cruelty laws that support modern, reliable cosmetic safety, while protecting animals from testing. Eleven states have passed cosmetic animal testing bans – with more states to come.

    State Legislation Banning Cosmetic Testing:

    • California – Senate Bill No. 1249 899/1834.9.5

    • Hawaii – House Bill No. 1088 321

    • Illinois – Senate Bill No. 0241 (410 ILCS 620/17.2)

    • Louisiana – House Bill No. 714 (51-771 through 776)

    • Maine – House Bill No. 1551 233

    • Maryland – Senate Bill No. 282 (21-1215, 21-259.2)

    • Nevada – Senate Bill No. 197 (NRS 49.325, 600A.070) (NRS 598.0999)

    • New Jersey – Senate Bill No. 1726 

    • New York – Senate Bill No. 4839B

    • Oregon – House Bill No. 3213

    • Virginia – House Bill No. 1289 (59.1-571 through 59.1-574)

    The fight to ban animal testing doesn’t end with the Humane Cosmetics Act. Many hurdles still exist to overcome to protect all animals from cosmetic product testing. One exception to these bans is for companies conducting animal testing to abide by foreign regulations, such as China. Many countries necessitate extensive animal testing for cosmetic brands to sell their products abroad, creating a loophole through state bans. This exception allows their products to be sold domestically despite their use of animal testing. Another loophole concerns abiding sections of the U.S. Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, which require animal testing when no recognized non-animal method exists. So while the intent of these animal testing bans is positive, this legislation is not the end-all solution for protecting animals from cruel testing. This legislation is still essential as it educates the public, brings media coverage to the issue of animal testing, and pressures companies to end animal testing.

  • If you're concerned about animals being used in cosmetics testing, there are several powerful actions you can take to help end this practice:

    Advocate for Cruelty-Free Products

    • One of the most effective ways to help is to purchase products from companies that do not test on animals. Look for brands that are certified cruelty-free by Leaping Bunny. This organizations certifies that brands do not conduct, commission, or allow animal testing at any stage of production.

    • Spread the word to friends and family about the importance of supporting cruelty-free brands. By making conscious purchasing decisions, you can reduce demand for products tested on animals.

    Advocate for Legal Change

    • Many countries have banned cosmetics testing on animals. However, in some regions, animal testing is still legal. Advocate for policies that make animal testing illegal for cosmetics worldwide.

    • Support efforts to create international standards that ban animal testing for cosmetics, like the International Cooperation on Cosmetics Regulation (ICCR), which works to harmonize regulatory approaches between countries.

    • Advocate for legislation that requires companies to disclose their animal testing policies on their product labels. This transparency allows consumers to make more informed decisions about the products they buy.

    Support and Raise Awareness for Non-Animal Testing Alternatives

    • The scientific community has developed many alternatives to animal testing, such as in vitro testing (testing with cells or tissues in petri dishes), computer modeling, and 3D skin models. These methods are not only more humane but also more accurate and cost-effective. By promoting these alternatives, you help reduce the reliance on animals for testing.

    • Educate your community about the many cruelty-free testing methods available today. Many of these alternatives are already widely used in the pharmaceutical and safety testing industries.

    Contact Brands and Companies

    • Write to companies that you are concerned about to ask whether they test their products on animals. Use social media to publicly ask brands about their animal testing policies. Encourage them to adopt cruelty-free practices. Many companies are responsive to consumer pressure, and some will change their practices if there is enough demand.

    • Support companies that have pledged not to test on animals by buying their products. When brands know there is consumer demand for cruelty-free options, it can motivate them to stay true to these values.

    Get Involved with Advocacy Groups

    • Become a member or volunteer with groups dedicated to ending animal testing. Many of these organizations organize global campaigns, petitions, and protests to push for policy changes and raise public awareness about the cruelty of animal testing in cosmetics. Participate in these efforts to increase their impact.

    Use Your Voice on Social Media

    • Share information on your social media platforms about the impact of animal testing in cosmetics and promote cruelty-free alternatives. You can also use hashtags like #CrueltyFree, #StopAnimalTesting, and #BeCrueltyFree to help spread the message.

    • Start your own blog, YouTube channel, or Instagram page to review cruelty-free beauty products, share alternatives to animal-tested cosmetics, and educate your followers on the importance of choosing ethical products.

    Support Animal Testing Alternatives in Science and Education

    • Support research in non-animal testing methods - Consider donating to or advocating for organizations that fund the development of alternatives to animal testing. Many universities, research institutions, and organizations are dedicated to finding more ethical testing methods, and funding these efforts is essential.

    • If you're an educator or involved in education, teach students about alternatives to animal testing. Encourage the next generation of scientists to adopt more ethical and sustainable methods.

    Boycott Companies that Test on Animals

    • Avoid buying from companies that test on animals. Even if you are already committed to cruelty-free products, it's important to regularly check whether your favorite brands have switched to animal testing. Some brands may still test on animals in some regions (like China), even if they claim to be cruelty-free elsewhere. Websites like Leaping Bunny provide updated lists of companies that are truly cruelty-free.

    • If you know of companies that continue to test on animals, share this information with your social networks and encourage others to avoid those brands as well.

    Celebrate and Support the Growth of Cruelty-Free Beauty

    • Follow and support influencers and content creators who focus on cruelty-free beauty. Many of these influencers promote ethical beauty brands, review cruelty-free products, and help educate consumers about their impact.

    By using your voice and consumer power, you can play a significant role in helping eliminate the use of animals in cosmetics testing and promoting a more humane and ethical beauty industry.

Check out our other Advocacy areas of focus: