Animal Testing

After scouring the internet for a number of hours, I have compiled what I believe is a pretty complete list of companies that still test their products on animals.  Many of us shop for cosmetics and personal/household products without realizing that we’re supporting animal cruelty.  It disturbs me that, before switching to all-organic products, my skincare and beauty regime contributed to the pain, suffering, and death of countless animals, because I didn’t know any better.

While most people couldn’t stand to watch their neighbour abuse a dog, they continue to buy products from companies that do exactly that.  Just because the cruelty is happening somewhere else, doesn’t mean it’s not happening.  Earlier this year the BC SPCA made a huge enquiry into the massacre of sled dogs in Whistler.  There was a public outcry, but many people don’t realize that animal massacre on this scale is happening in labs all over the world every day.

Every year, more than 100 million animals suffer and die at the hands of animal testing by companies that resist progress.  Instead of using human-relevant non-animal tests, they choose to continue testing on animals because their results can be manipulated.  I think this is shameful.

Although animal testing of pharmaceutical products and certain chemicals is still mandated by law, the arguments against using animals in cosmetics testing are strong.  Only six  percent of animal testing is done for medical research, leaving the other ninety-four percent for cosmetics and household products.  It has been proven that there is already enough existing data, as well as test tube alternatives to make animal testing for cosmetics and household products unnecessary and unethical.

Most of the animals that are used in testing are bred for just that purpose, and never know what life outside a windowless lab is like.  Many others come from the pound. Mice, rats, rabbits, dogs, guinea pigs, and cats are the most commonly used animals for tests.

While doing some research, I have read horrible accounts of what is done to animals in the name of research.  I won’t write the details here, or show the images I came across, but part of me does believe that in order to fully grasp the cruelty inflicted on test animals, we need to be aware of what’s being done by the companies we support. The most common test is called the Draize Test where products are put directly into the animals’ eyes and technicians record the effects.  The Lethal Dose Test measures the amount of a product it takes to kill part of a group of animals forced to eat it.

How aware you want to be, is up to you.  A simple google search will offer you many accounts of extreme animal cruelty in test labs, with equally horrifying photos.  I think that because many people are unable to stomach reading about it, ignorance allows them to continue purchasing products that are tested on animals.  Most of us don’t want to believe it’s true, because we want to continue to use that shampoo we  love.  Finding alternative products is time-consuming.  Ignorance is easier, right?

Just like with chemicals, there are no specific laws regarding the cruelty-free labeling of products, so companies can and do take liberties in order to deceive the consumer.  Many companies that do test on animals also have cruelty-free products, but they have not eliminated animal testing from their entire line. In order to pressure them to stop animal testing, we must boycott all the products made by these companies.

For example, Clairol’s Herbal Essence shampoo label clearly states: not tested on animals. Meanwhile, according to PETA, the company continues to conduct animal testing on its other products.

Some companies place cruelty-free labeling on products that are in fact, not cruelty-free at all.  Are you wondering how they can get away with this? Well, the label could mean that the company itself does not test on animals, but instead hires a laboratory to do their dirty work.  Or, testing is done by the suppliers of the individual product ingredients, and a company may purchase them with a don’t ask, don’t tell philosophy.

If we start boycotting the companies listed below, we will send a message to them that we do not support animal testing.  It’s time for people to open their eyes and take some action.  Just because a company makes it easy for us to forget about its cruel practices with fancy language and inviting packaging, doesn’t mean its acceptable.

A List of Companies That DO Test on Animals

3M (Scoth, Post-It)
Ace
Acuvue
Ades
Adidas
Aim
Air Wick
Ala
Alcon Labs
Allergan, Inc.
Ambi
Answer
Aquafresh
Ariel
Arisco
Arm & Hammer
Armorall
Armor All
Arrid
Aveeno
Axe
Ayudin
Aziza
Baby Fresh
Baby Lee
Bain De Soleil
Ballerina
Banana Boat
Band-Aid
Ban Roll-On
Bausch & Lomb
Bazooka
Benckiser
Benetton (United Colors Of)
Bengay
Benson & Hedges
Bic
Biferdil
Biotherm
Blem
Block Drug Co. Inc.
Bold
Bounty
Boyle-Midway
Braun (De Gillette)
Bresler
Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.
Cacharel
Calvin Klein
Camay
Capilatis
Carefree
Cargill
Carpet Fresh
Carter-Wallace
Casting
Chesebrough-Ponds
Chesterfield
Church & Dwight
Cica
Cierto
Cif
Clairol
Clarion
Clean & Clear
Clear Choice
Clorox
Close-Up
Colgate
Colgate Plax
Coloradoks
Colorama
Color Soft / Soft Color
Commerce Drug Co.
Confort
Consumer Value Stores
Contents
Coperttone
Corega
Coty
Cover Girl
Crembelclorox
Crest
Dana Perfumes
Dawn
Del Laboratories
Dermaglos
Desitin
Dettol
D & G
Dial Corporation
Diversey
Dolca
Dolce & Gabbana
Dove
Dow Brands
Drackett Products Co.
Drano
Drive
Dry Idea
Duracell
Easy Off Bang
Eau Jeune
Eco De Los Andes
Ecolab
Eli Lilly & Co.
Elizabeth Arden
El Sanofi Inc.
Elvive
Energizer
Eno (Sal De Frutas)
Erno Laszlo
Espadol
Etiquet
Ever Clean
Faberge
Fanacoa
Fantastik
Fendi
Final Net
Finesse
Finish
First Response
Flame Glow
Formula 409
Freeport
Fresh Step
Frigor
Fuyi
Garnier
Gillete
Giorgio Armani
Giorgio Beverly Hills
Givaudan-Roure
Glaciar
Glad
Glade
Glassex
Glass Plus
Glaxo Smith Kline (Gsk)
Glocot
Gloria Vanderbilt
Green Works
Guy Laroche
Harmony
Harpic
Hawaiian Tropic
Head & Shoulders
Helena Rubinstein
Helene Curtis
Hellmans
Henkel
Hinds
Huggies
Hugo Boss
Iberia
Imparciales
Impulse
Industries
Iso
Ivory
Jhirmack
Johnson & Johnson
Johnson Products Co.
Johnson’s
Jovan
Kaboom
Kérastase
Keri
Kibon
Kid Fresh
Kiehl’s
Kimberly – Clark
Kiwi Brands
Kleenex
Knorr
Kolynos
Kotex
K.Y.
Lacoste
Lady’s Choice
Lady Speed Stick
Lancaster
Lancôme
Lapiceras Parker
La Roche-Posay
Lasting Color
Lava
Le Mans
Le Sancy
Lever Brothers
Lipton
Liquid Paper
Liquid Plumr
Listerine
L&M
L’oreal
L’oreal Usa
Lubriderm
Luvs
Lux
Lysoform
Lysol
Maggi
Magia Blanca
Magistral
Magnolia
Magnum
Maizena
Marlboro
Matrix Essentials
Maxfactor
Max Factor
Maybelline
Mead
Mennen
Men’s Choice
Mentadent
Mimosa
Mizani
M&Ms
Mop & Glo
Mr Musculo
Mum
Nair
Natural Instincts
Naturelle
Neko
Nescafe
Nesquik
Nestle
Neutrogena
Neutron Industries, Inc.
Nexcare
Next
Nina Ricci
Nobleza Picardo
Noc 10
Noel
Ob
Odex
Odol 3 Dent
Odontine
Off
Oil Of Olay
Old Spice
Olean
Omo
Oomph!
Oral B
Orange Glo
Oscar De La Renta
OxiClean
Palmolive
Pampers
Pantene
Parfums International
Parker
Parliament
Particulares
Pearl Drops
Pennex
Pepsodent
Pert Plus
Pfizer
Pfizer, Inc.
Phillip Morris
Pierre Balmain
Pine-Sol
Piz Buin
Plax
Playtex
Pledge
Plenitud
Poett
Poise
Polident
Polyana
Polycera
Ponds
Post-It
Prestige Brands
Prince Matchabelli
Pringles
Pritt
Procenex
Proctor & Gamble Co.
Protex
Puma
Purell
Purex
Purpose
Quintessence
Raid
Ralph Lauren   Fragrances
Reach
Reckitt Benckiser
Redken
Rembrandt
ReNu
Renuzit
Resolve
Rexona
Richardson-Vicks
Right Guard
Rimmel
Rinso
Roc
ROC
Rogaine
Sally Beauty Supply
Sally Hansen
Sanofi
Savlon
Savora
Savory
Schering-Plough
Schwartzkopf
Sc Johnson & Son
Scoop Away
Scotch
Scotch Brite
Scotch Print
Scott Paper Co.
Scrub Free
Secret
Sedal
Sensodyne
Shick
Shower to Shower
Siempre Libre
Signal
Skin ID
Skip
Smithkline Beecham
Snobal
Soft & Dri
Soft Scrub
Softsheen
Softsoap
S.O.S.
Speed Stick
Stanhome Inc.
Stayfree
Sterling Drug
Suave
Sunsilk
Sun Star
Sure
Tampax
Tcb Naturals
Tegrin
Tide
Tilex
Trojan
Truvia
Unilever
Universo Garden Angels
Vaginesil / Vagisil
Vanish
Vaseline
Veet
Vichy
Vicks
Vidal Sassoon
Virginia Slims
Visine
Vivere
Vivid
Vo5
Vortex
Warner-Lambert
Wella
Westwood Pharmaceuticals
Whitehall Laboratories
White Shoulders
Wilton
Windex
Woolite
Yves Saint Laurent
Ziploc

3 comments on “cruel beauty

  1. A great article, Caroline and an exhaustive list. Are you by chance working on a list of companies that don’t test on animals? I’m sure it would be a much smaller list, small enough to carry in our wallets for accessing when we suddenly find ourselves at the pharmacy needing shampoo. I would find that very helpful. Thanks for writing this important piece.

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