Our Society is a civilized society and we proudly say so. Living in a civilized society and calling ourselves as civilized people, we really need to behave that we are civilized in the true sense of the word. We love and care about our family members, friends, co-workers, talk highly about human right issues, injustices against minority nations by giant countries and the list goes on. But the test of our morals is that being humans are we only concerned about the human sufferings? What about the products that we daily use, have been created through the torment and suffering of defenseless, innocent animals? We love and care about our household pets but forget those animals that have been cruelly killed to produce various kinds of cosmetic products for our personal use. Can you believe an animal has to die to make makeup? Can you watch an animal in utter pain just to carryout tests to make beauty products like facial wash, toners, moisturizers, soaps, creams, lotions, masks, shampoos, lipsticks, eyeliners, eyeshadows, blushers etc?

Torturing an animal is like torturing a human baby. Although neither can talk or say stop, they both feel the pain and make noises. Some slogans like “Blood on your hands”, “End vivisection”, “cutting while alive”, “Deliberate Cruelty” have been popularly used to highlight the ongoing cruelty on animals by the hands of cosmetic manufacturing companies all around the world.

Safety tests are conducted on a wide range of chemicals and products, including drugs, vaccines, cosmetics, soaps, detergents, pesticides and food products. According to The Humane Society of the <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /?>United States, this safety testing probably accounts for only about 10% to 20% of the use of animals in the laboratories, or approximately 2 to 4 million animals in the United States alone. According to Animal Liberation Front, an estimated 50,000 animals suffer and die at the hands of a famous consumer product company every year in unscientific 'product testing'. This company, one of the world's largest consumer product companies, along with some others, have been branded the "world's worst" corporation for their continued poisoning and killing of animals in the development of new cosmetics and toiletries.

We as cosmetic consumers fall into two groups. One who never look for the animal ingredients while purchasing a cosmetic product whereas the second group comprise of people who hope that the products that they are buying are manufactured in the human working environment without causing any sufferings to animals. But how can one be sure that the product one buys is really what it claims to be? What things should be kept in mind when purchasing a cosmetic product to promote non animal testing.

To answer these questions and concerns, the very first development to audit the constituent ingredients on ethical grounds took place in the birth of an organization called as Social Accountability Audit (CSR). Even though it was formed on the ethical ground, still it did not specifically exclude animal testing. Now, with the formation of Humane Cosmetic Standard (HCS), we have a legal document to ban animal testing on cosmetic products. Animal testing or invivo testing was finally controlled in UK by the British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection(BUAV). The formation of such international organizations to promote  non animal testing products or ingredients clearly shows that it was a serious global problem that required global attention and solution. Gone are the days when only women used cosmetic products. Men are now the equal consumers of these beauty products so now there is a huge market of such products at present.

Many cosmetic companies made non animal testing claims that could mislead consumers. Most common  statements are as, “this product has not been tested on animals” while the company was still using animal tested ingredients. HCS for the first time introduced a formal statement “Not Tested On Animals” or “Cruelty Free” or a “leaping bunny” logo. This is the written assurance that we as consumers can easily read on the products that we are buying. We should realize that we as consumers, are in full command and any cosmetic company can not force us to buy an animal tested product. Since consumers have the real power to influence the company therefore, this would definitely put increased pressure on suppliers and manufacturers to provide non-animal tested ingredients and finish products.

To eliminate this dark practice, the cosmetic companies need to find the alternatives which are scientific methods to replace, reduce or refine a procedure to cause less pain or discomfort to the animal. Many companies are now developing new, advanced and innovative products using many established ingredients known to be safe for use as an alternative to animal ingredients that include Estee Lauder, Avon, Clinique,Clarins and Chanel to name the few.

Let’s be more civilized, let’s say no to animal testings for cosmetic manufacturing.