You may think animal testing is a thing of the past, but sadly it’s still happening, and the beauty industry is one of the main culprits. Although animal testing doesn’t happen in Australia, some companies test their products on animals in other countries before shipping them to our shores.

Cosmetic testing on animals exposes them to chemicals that may cause irritation of the skin or eyes, developmental abnormalities, cancer, and even death. These tests can be extremely painful for animals who are not given any pain relief. 

What’s more, animal testing isn’t even an effective way to find out if substances are toxic to humans. We now have many more effective, cheaper, and cruelty-free ways to test products, such as computer modelling and cell cultures (the growing of cells in a lab environment).

So what can you do to make sure you’re not contributing to cruel animal testing practices?

Look for the Not Tested On Animals Rabbit Logo. Products with this label have been independently accredited, they are not tested on animals, and no animals were killed specifically to make that product. They even have a list of cruelty free products so you can know what to look for before you hit the shops.

You can also check out Shop Ethical’s guide to ethical personal care products. This guide considers ethical factors in addition to animal testing – such as environmental impact and worker conditions – so you know which products are good for people and the earth, as well as our furry friends!

If you want to find out more about animal testing head to the Animals Australia website.