Animal_Testing

Albeit the positive results it has, animal testing is harsh. And more than often, not humane, animals, like humans, have nerves and can feel pain. Sometimes the product that is being testing on them can cause the animal to go blind, lose their fur, and get severe sores and rashes. The sad thing about this is that it is not required by law, and there are safer alternatives, such as synthetic skin, cell and tissue cultures, computer modeling, and Eytex*. Most of these alternatives are more effective than animal testing or show the exact same results. Animal testing for cosmetic purposes has also been banned in the countries of the United Kingdom, Netherlands, and Belgium. While there are companies that do test on animals, such as the ones I listed in the first paragraph along with Aveeno, Clairol, Dove, and Johnson and Johnson, there are many that don’t and have much better products. And to show that I am against animal testing for cosmetic purposes, I look for the cruelty free logo and search out companies that do not test on animals. Companies that do not test on animals include, Mary Kay, Manic Panic, Urban Decay, Warpaint, and Bath and Body works. Animal testing for cosmetic purposes is wrong, it’s cruel, and it’s not the only option. Next time you buy hair products, makeup, or other toiletries, look for the cruelty free logo or the vegan logo. Help save the lives of our innocent animal friends. This is why I believe that animal testing for cosmetic purposes should be banned in the United States. *Eytex is used for testing products that cause irritation to the cornea. The chemical being tested is added to a vegetable protein derived from jack beans. If the product is irritating to the eye, it will change the structure of the protein and turn the gel cloudy. A spectrophotometer then tests the gel, giving a very accurate measurement of the level of irritation. Eytex is much more reliable than the Draize treatment that is tested on bunnies. Alternatives: *Eytex is used for testing products that cause irritation to the cornea. The chemical being tested is added to a vegetable protein derived from jack beans. If the product is irritating to the eye, it will change the structure of the protein and turn the gel cloudy. A spectrophotometer then tests the gel, giving a very accurate measurement of the level of irritation. Eytex is much more reliable than the Draize treatment that is tested on bunnies. Cell and tissue cultures: Also known as in vitro testing, this test uses samples of human cells and tissues to test the toxicity of a substance. An example of cell cultures is the growing human corneas in an eye bank. These cells can now be used in toxicity testing, rendering results specifically relating to humans and costing less than animal testing. Synthetic skin: Known as Corrositex, EPISKIN, EpiDerm and SkinEthic, synthetic skin is used to test the corrosive properties of chemicals. In other words, it is used to test whether the chemical will burn or corrode the skin. Lotions, sunscreen and similar products can now be tested by examining damage to skin under a microscope.