Before cosmetics reach the shelves of your local CVS, Walgreens, Ulta or Sephora, the chemicals in them need to be tested. This sounds pretty obvious. From face washes to foundation to eyeliner, each cosmetic is made up of a concoction of chemicals and pigments that act in certain product for a given purpose. In foundations and concealers, different pigments react with different formulas, so it becomes very difficult to formulate a foundation with a wide shade range. But once a formula is created, the formula needs to be tested for skin sensitivity. Back in the days, when cosmetics first started becoming a public market, labs would test the individual chemicals and then their combinations, just to ensure that there would be no reactions to the skin. The most popular way to do this was to test on animals. This means applying the substances to the skin of animals, popularly sheep and rabbits, and recording the reactions.

Since then, the science of cosmetics has evolved so that chemical labs are already aware of the ingredients that should be going into their products. While different cosmetic companies have their own formula of eye shadows, creams, shampoos and concealers, the list of what not to put into those formulas is pretty extensive. Years of prior research has determined the effects of chemicals and minerals on the skin, and those results are no top secret. In fact, anyone can find what’s in their makeup, given that cosmetic companies are required to label the ingredients in their products. Not only is this the case, but advancements in computer sciences create models and formulas to help create cosmetics with the right mix. So, in the 21^st century, why do companies continue to test on animals?

To answer this, there’s a question of morality which pertains to the vegetarian and vegan diets. Some argue that the reason for going vegetarian or vegan is an issue of health and sustainability, while others argue against it due to their own nutritional concerns, or they offer alternative solutions for a more sustainable environment. The question of one’s diet is personal, for everyone has different dietary and nutritional needs, and different foods, whether meat or dairy or greens, are right for them accordingly. However, wearing cosmetics is not a question of sustenance. Wearing cosmetics is not only a choice, it is a privilege. And while I am entirely for the use of makeup as an accessory, as an art form, there is no reason a person’s vanity should come before the life of another living creature.

It is true that we cannot change the testing done in the past, and that many results have come from animal testing done in the past. However, in previous decades, the technology that exists today was not available. Statistically, it is also proven cheaper to use alternative methods of testing rather than testing on animals. So why do companies continue to do it?

One of the more obvious reasons is that they believe they can discover a “ground-breaking” new formula of some sort, and they will use a certain ingredient that has not been previously tested. This is one of the biggest arguments used in support of animal testing, yet such a huge breakthrough in cosmetics has yet to occur, especially coming from non-cruelty-free brands. Cosmetic companies have the option to formulate from the thousands upon thousands of ingredients that have been labeled safe to use for years. Another, perhaps more greedy incentive, is the huge markets in the countries that require animal testing on their cosmetics. China has a written policy that requires animal testing to be done on all cosmetic products sold. Analytically, the profits that come from selling in China are huge. Companies such as MAC and L’oreal can be purchased in China because they test, so China has approved them to be legally sold. In China, you can buy cruelty-free cosmetics from an unlicensed retailer or a re-seller for a much higher price, or you could buy a cheaper knock-off (I would not recommended no matter what country you’re in, considering that knock-offs [not dupes!] usually contain a plethora of bacteria and traces of animal droppings).

Deciding to purchase cruelty-free is a question of one’s vanity and one’s conscience. While many may think that going cruelty-free is expensive, or that the products are not as good, this simply isn't true. You can be cruelty-free on a budget! Eyes Lips Face, or ELF, is dedicated to being manufactured in the USA and is fully cruelty-free. NYX and Wet n’ Wild have a wide range of products as well that are cruelty-free certified. Higher-end cosmetic manufacturers are including different ingredients in their cosmetics that are cruelty-free and safe for the skin because they are natural based. Too Faced Cosmetics is known for their cocoa-infused makeup, such as their eyeshadows, bronzers and powder foundations. Most of Tarte’s products are Amazonian-clay based. So there are plenty of options, high-end and drugstore, that cater to the cruelty-free market.

There are many ways to figure out if your favorite makeup company is testing on animals. If they sell their products in China, they cannot be labeled as cruelty-free. See if they are certified by PETA, or by other organizations dedicated to fighting animal cruelty. If it so happens that your favorite cosmetic brand is not cruelty-free, there are alternatives and dupes to many products. MAC Cosmetics, for example, has a plethora of eyeshadows that can be found amongst the collections of other cosmetics. There’s no true reason to be supportive of cruelty-free cosmetics.

So while you may not actively support veganism and vegetarianism, you should be conscious of the products you put on your face. In this day and age, testing on animals is unnecessary and a cruel step to take, so why support it when you could consciously act instead?