Written By: Natalie Gordo

Staff Reporter

Many of our favorite fragrance, hair and cosmetic brands use animal testing for their products, leaving the animals suffering in and outside of laboratories. But, there are also many brands that have alternative ways to test their products.

Acute toxicity and crossing testing are the most common testing. Acute toxicity is done by force-feeding, inhalation, and eye and skin contact. This test leaves animals in pain. For example, animals are left with abdominal pain, paralysis, seizures, and convulsions. Then, there is Crossing testing. This is done by dripping the product into the animal’s eyes or smearing it onto its shaved skin. This leaves animals with inflamed skin, bleeding, swollen eyes and it could even lead to blindness. Only 3% of these animals that are being tested survive, while most of the testing still hasn’t been proved to be okay for use by people.

Yes, animal testing is done in laboratories, but even though it is done inside, it is still affecting the environment outside. Scientists that do the testing tend to dispose of dead animals’ bodies that didn’t survive the testing along with potential chemicals, food, waste, and even supplies. The disposal of these products can also lead to bad air and water quality which isn’t good for the environment. This can also lead to 1.5 million pounds of animal waste in less than a time span of 2 years.

Animal testing isn’t the only kind of testing. There is volunteer study, computer models, and human tissue testing. Volunteer study is where there are volunteers being tested. They use micro-dosing which involves a volunteer taking a small drug for one-time drug use. After the testing, they are left unharmed. Computer model testing is where scientists use technology in order to accurately show us how new substances will affect the human body. Finally, the human tissue testing where people can donate a piece of their tissue which will then be tested on.

Brands, such as Chanel, are well known for using animal testing. Not just because they can, but because in some places they sell to, animal testing is mandatory. Same thing for CeraVe and Aveeno. Compared to other brands,  Revlon and Nair have to test by law.

Doll 10 is a cosmetic brand that avoids selling its product in countries where animal testing is mandatory. This also includes brands like Coconut Matter, Hempz, and ColourPop. Burt’s Bees is another company that avoids animal testing. These are just a few of many other companies that do not test on animals.

Even though many of our favorite products use animal testing, there are many non-animal testing products that can be your new favorite. From hair, cosmetics, and even fragrances, you can find products that are just as effective as products that are tested on animals.