After seeing some recent posts on social media, I decided to do some digging of my own to confirm claims of animal testing by brands. As an animal lover and pet owner, I was shocked and deeply saddened to find that so many of my favorite brands perform animal testing.

While some do their own animal testing, many of these companies and brands perform animal testing to sell their products in countries like China that require animal testing. They then claim to do animal testing "only when required by law." This wording is misleading because it sounds like these big companies have no control over their products, ingredients or formulations being tested on animals. For L'Oreal, their policy claims that the company does not conduct animal testing but they cannot deny paying the Chinese government to perform animal testing. No one is requiring these big companies to sell in China though. For me, many of these companies show that money is a pretty strong motivator.

So here is a list of some major brands and companies that may surprise you:

1. Covergirl

Now you know what Covergirl is really trying to cover up. Covergirl is owned by Coty, Inc., which claims to not test on animals except where required by law and has no brands certified as cruelty-free. Other brands owned by Coty, Inc. include Philosophy, O.P.I., and Sally Hansen.

2. L'Oreal

L'Oreal has not adopted a company wide policy banning animal testing. While most L'Oreal brands like Maybelline perform animal testing, some brands owned by L'Oreal have stuck to their guns and do not like The Body Shop, Pureology, Urban Decay, and NYX Cosmetics.

3. Nestle

As owners of L'Oreal, Nestle engaging in animal testing should come as no surprise. Even Nestle's food and drink products like Nestea have been known to involve animal testing, even when not required.

4. MAC

Not only are you paying a high price for MAC cosmetics, but so are the animals they are tested on. On their website, MAC states they are "working toward a cruelty-free world" and "do not own any animal testing facilities". MAC, however, does sell their products in China and has to pay for animal testing there.

5. S.C. Johnson

S.C. Johnson may be "a family company", but that does not include our pets. S.C. Johnson's Points of View on Animal Testing includes the belief to reduce, refine, and eventually replace, animal testing but "[they]'re not there yet." S.C. Johnson brands include Glade, Windex, Shout and OFF!.

6. Splenda

Splenda is the brand name for Sucralose, an artificial sweetener, owned by Johnson & Johnson. During testing, thousands of monkeys, rabbits, rodents and dogs were killed not only by the product but also by researchers.

7. Clean & Clear and Neutrogena

These brands are not clear of animal testing. Like Splenda, Clean & Clear and Neutrogena are owned by Johnson & Johnson. Enough said.

8. Pantene

Pantene wants to help women #ShineStrong, but the 'shine' might be the tears of the animals they test their products on.

9. Dawn

It may not have 'dawned' on you that the only way Dawn can claim their products are animal-friendly is that it has been animal tested! How could you think that with their adorable commercials where they wash the little duck clean?

10. Proctor & Gamble (P&G)

As owners of both Pantene and Dawn, their presence on this list may be obvious.

Although they announced in 1999 that they ended animal testing, P&G has not stayed committed as evidenced by their expansion into China's market. On their website, P&G states they have "not tested a finished product on animals in over a decade, but we choose not to make this claim because we want to be straight with you. Nearly every ingredient used in consumer products today has been tested in the past and some laws require animal testing still today." No P&G products are listed on PETA's Do-Not Test list.

11. Dove

Ironic that a brand named after a bird still performs animal testing for their ingredients. Owned by Unilever, Dove tests on animals when required by law and for certain ingredients. They along with Nestle have been accused of engaging in animal testing not required by law and that go beyond necessity in order to be able to make certain marketing claims about their products.

12. AXE

Also owned by Unilever, Axe was even turned down by Pamela Anderson when they asked her to represent them in an ad campaign.

13. Chapstick

Although Chapstick denies testing on animals, their parent company Pfizer is well-known for animal testing and even defends it on the Pfizer website.

While I realize that this list is long and it may not be possible to boycott many of these brands or companies, I hope that you are now more aware of this issue. This list does also not include all of the brands and companies that I came across as using animal testing. This list is based on information I've found, but there is lots of conflicting information and so I encourage you to do your own research too. I suggest checking out PETA's lists of companies that do and do not test on animals as well as the Leaping Bunny, which certifies companies as cruelty-free. Don't be fooled by labels claiming a product wasn't tested on animals, since the FDA doesn't regulate 'cruelty-free' and 'not tested on animals' packaging labels. Instead look for the Leaping Bunny logo on products that are not animal tested.

Those brands and companies that have stuck to their morals over the years and not expanded their market into China should especially be supported. It IS possible for companies to not use animal testing to perfect their product or be able to sell their product. Companies like ELF, NYX Cosmetics, Wet'n'Wild, Yesto, Method, Honest Co., Paul Mitchell and LUSH (who even has a Supplier Specific Boycott) are a few names that show animal testing and selling in China is not necessary to be successful.

Hopefully, by being more aware, we can make a difference by at least letting these companies and brands know that we are upset that they still play any part in animal testing. Every voice counts, and something as simple as emailing the company, signing an online petition or even making comments on their web page can make a difference. Some of these companies and brands are working towards animal alternatives and trying to work with government authorities like China's to change regulations. Be sure to let them know that you support them trying to make these changes.

I know I just want to do my small part in making the world a kinder place, and I hope you will do what you can too.