When I was younger, I imagined animal testing in cosmetics as something harmless, just an innocent game between scientists and animals. As I learned more, I discovered that animal testing was far more disturbing. Animals are used to test the product’s safety and effectiveness, often by being forced to inhale, ingest, or come into contact with harmful substances. These procedures can cause pain, stress, and death. Most animals do not survive testing, and those that do are often killed afterward.
Because of this, some shoppers specifically look for products labelled “cruelty-free” in the hope of avoiding brands connected to animal testing and thus to prevent animals from being harmed and showing that they don’t support animal cruelty. In stores like Ulta or Sephora, shelves are filled with colorful cosmetic products like sunscreens, lotions, and makeup. Many of these products have some form of a cruelty-free label slapped on them. However, in many cases, the label tells a different story than reality, and there are many misconceptions surrounding the label.
Companies often use phrases such as “cruelty-free” or “not tested on animals” as marketing tools. According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), these terms are not explicitly defined or regulated, which allows companies to use them in misleading ways. For example, a company may claim that its final products were not tested on animals even though its raw materials were tested on animals in the past, tested by other companies, or tested in another country with less strict animal welfare laws. A brand may also say it has not conducted animal testing since a certain date, without guaranteeing that it will never do so in the future.
Although many labels are questionable, some certifications are more reliable because they are awarded by independent organizations following specific criteria. One of the most trusted is the Leaping Bunny. According to Human World for Animals, this label indicated that neither the raw materials or the final products or anywhere in the supply chain were tested on animals. Cruelty Free International helps manage the Leaping Bunny label outside the United States and Canada. However, some companies use fake labels that look similar to legitimate certifications without actually meeting those standards. For that reason, Human World for Animals recommends consumers verify the legitimacy of a label by checking the certifier’s official databases.
The cruelty-free label also comes with some common misconceptions. One is that cruelty-free means vegan, but the two are not the same. Products that are not tested on animals may still contain animal products like beeswax. Some also assume that because a product is vegan, it is automatically cruelty-free. Vegan products avoid using animal products but often are still tested on animals. Another misconception is that cruelty-free is a universal label, when, in fact, regulations vary by country.
Many countries require products to pass safety testing before they can be sold. Safety testing is done to guarantee the product has no harmful effects on human health, like not being toxic and not causing skin or eye irritation. To help reduce reliance on animal testing, the FDA is helping validate new approach methodologies for safety testing. These alternatives include testing on lab-grown organs or skin, human cell cultures, and computer simulations. As these methods continue to improve and as more and more people are aware about the cruelty-free label, we can make more informed choices and enjoy safe products while also protecting animals from suffering.
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