Animal Aid

Despite the UK government no longer issuing licenses to test cosmetics on animals, many of the products on sale in Britain have been tested on animals in other countries.

Approximately 38,000 animals are used every year across the EU to test new products such as shampoos, moisturisers and make-up, and new ingredients for existing ones. And it's not just cosmetics - household products such as paint and washing up liquid, and their ingredients, are also tested on animals. There really is no justification for these experiments. Thousands of ingredients are known to be safe for humans, and many companies are producing cosmetics and household products that have not been tested on animals, which shows such testing is not necessary. Additionally, there are numerous biological differences in the way humans and animals react to chemicals, so the risk to people cannot be established through the use of animals.

When shopping, look for products explicitly stating that they and their ingredients are not tested on animals, or that carry the humane cosmetics ‘leaping bunny' logo to be sure they are cruelty-free. It is also a good idea to check the ingredients of individual products before you buy them, as many contain animal products, such as gelatine and lanolin, and so are not suitable for vegetarians and vegans.