Tuesday 24 January 2012

The Ugly Side Of Beauty





At this moment millions of animals are locked inside small cold cages in labs across the country. They are in pain, lonely and long to roam free and use their minds. Instead, all they can do is wait in fear of the next terrifying and painful procedure that will be performed on them. Over 100 million animals every year suffer and die in cruel experiments. To test cosmetics hundreds of thousands of animals are poisoned, blinded, and killed every year by companies. Many of these tests are not even required by law and often produce inaccurate or misleading results.






I have always been very against animal testing. As a child I wrote to my local mp about it, but what difference did my opinion really make? My school girl petition probably just got pushed to the bottom of a pile of a hundred other forgotton papers. If I thought campaigning againgst animal testing would help I would get involved, but if even celebrity ambassadors voices are going unheard what use would mine be?



"I don't want to inflict harm on anything or anyone, especially animals that don't have a voice."
- Kimberly Wyatt

I have done some research into which companies use animals to test thier products and I am very upset to learn that a lot of my favourite brands do. I cannot honestly say that I won't use these products again, but what I can say is I totally disagree with the methods they use to test thier products.

If you would like to check out companies that do and don't test on animals go here

I wish I could live my life 100% cruelty free, but at the end of the day it just isn't practical. I don't always have time to read the labels on every single thing I buy and then find an alternative if it isn't suitable.



If some companies can test products without using animals why can't they all? It makes me feel guilty when I realise the products I like and use have caused pain to defenceless animals, but I believe it is companies that need to change thier ways, not consumers.

What are your opinions on animal testing?


8 comments:

  1. I completely agree with you. Its so hard to know sometimes as a company might not test on animals, but the company they buy their ingredients from might.
    I think it's disgusting that so many companies do still test on animals. I think change is way overdue xx

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  2. Completely agree with you, it's awful to think that some companies still test on animals - especially as they're not able to fight back or have a say.

    I hope that one day it gets changed! xx

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  3. I'm deffo with you on this! Love your blog! I'm a new follower :) xx
    http://lottie-loves-beauty.blogspot.com/

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  4. Please don't take this comment the wrong way, i'm not attacking you or your opinions I am merely stating my knowledge from having experience with labs and lab animals.

    Unfortunately, it seems like you (along with many other people) have been sucked into the propoganda released by organisations such as PETA.

    Here are some facts that are completely true.

    Did you know that testing animals for cosmetics has been outlawed in the UK and has been for many years?

    Did you also know that to gain clearance to test on primates a facility has to go through years of applications and 99% of all approved applications to test upon primates are for HIV aids testing and in 99% of instances only 2 animals will be used.

    Legislation bars the causing of fear, pain and distress to animals in UK labs. If the animal is being tested upon the animal will be anesthatised and all experiments will happen whilst the animal is sound asleep. The animal will then recieve an overdose and will never wake up. So the only pain the animal will have felt will be a hypodermic needle into a numbed area of skin.

    80% of testing is now done on chickens. The chickens will be fed powdered medication and allowed to live a 'happy' enriched life and the eggs they produce will be studied instead. Its very natural for a chicken to lay an egg a day and scientists recieve plenty of information from them.

    Worldwide 3million animals were involved in lab testing last year, 9million were exterminated as 'pests' in households and 48million were killed in the food trade.

    Every facility will be certified by the UK government and are governed under the 'three R's' 'reduction', 'replacement' and 'refinement'. Basically the minimal sentient animals will be used. Most testing happens on grown tissue and invertebrates (that cannot be feel pain due to no brain and CNS).

    Laboratory animals in general live in larger and more enriching cages than the average zoo animal. More stereotypies and self harming behaviours are seen in captive zoo animals used purely for public entertainment.

    It's so sad to see so many people get suckered into this false propoganda that is circulated. Take the photo you have used for instance. It is from the 80's. How do I know this? It's poor quality and the fact its black and white. With the amazing camera quality nowadays why would someone circulate grainy poor quality photographs?....

    References... I have visited labs and will be working as an animal technician in one after i graduate.

    The people we should feel sorry for.... -people who go to zoos to see an animal cruelly caged for 40+ years in an enclosure with just a pond for enrichment.
    & the poor people who work in labs and get death threats and bombs put under their cars. 99% of them are working to try and help the soliders in the front line defend themselves against sarin gas and anthrax attacks. All evils created by mankind.

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  5. I agree... this is just so sad and as you write if some companies can do it without testing on animals why cant the rest?
    super good post

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  6. Totally agree! I did a post on products which don't test on animals a few weeks ago because I do not use ANY make up, skin & body care items that are tested on animals. It can be soooo hard trying to find the right brands and which companies to trust! The EU was meant to bring in a new law that all Cosmetic and Household products are not to be tested on animals by 2013 but the deadline is meant to be lengthened, which is absolutely ridiculous! Like you said, if some brands don't test, why can't they all?! Animal testing is completely unecessary and should be banned everywhere! I would rather not wear any make up than cover my face with these awful products which have caused innocent animals with no voice harm!
    Brilliant post, it's great to raise awareness! xxx

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  7. Being aware and making the decision to check when possible is still better than being a 100% oblivious consumer.

    Personally, it makes me angry because I know that somewhere out there, there are people who would be willing to withstand product testings OF THEIR FREE WILL rather than let animals who have no choice be tested.

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  8. Thanks for your comments ladies, hopefully someday soon things will change :) xoxo

    Oh and my response to Charlotte who now seems to have removed her comment ... I have not been sucked into anything, I speak as I find. While what you say may be true that doesn't mean that certain ingredients in cosmetics aren't tested on animals and I wasn't only speaking of labs in the UK. Whatever the law says, how can a human possibly know how an animal actually feels? I know for a fact that if I was locked in a lab cage and couldn't speak I would feel very distressed. Who gives lab workers the right to choose when an animal dies, no matter how humane? They are not god. I don't agree with the way zoo animals are treated either, but that is not what my post is about. I appreciate your opinion, but unfortunately 99% is not good enough for me.

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