Imagine taking your brand new ruby-red lipstick and applying it to your lips. It feels soft and the color makes a great contrast with your skin. What you don't realize is that behind that ruby-red pigmented lipstick, millions of innocent animals have died during testing.

When you ask someone what kinds of animals they think have been used in animal testing for cosmetics, they will most likely say rats or dogs (if they've watched "Legally Blonde 2"). Truth is, yes rats are used, but that's not all. Rats, mice, guinea pigs and rabbits are used during cosmetics tests according to The Humane Society of the US. And I'm pretty sure many more animals are used abroad.

These animals have the substances being studied applied onto their skin, injected into their bodies with needles, applied to their eyes, forced down their throats, forced to inhale or fed to them along with their foods.

(As shown by this picture.)

Yes, some of these animals survive these trials, but that's not always the case. Many tend to die from the trauma their bodies undergo.

Those that are in support of animal testing say that it's helpful for research because it has contributed cures, that it's safe because it's regulated, that it prevents humans from being used as subjects, that they (animals) don't have rights and some even say that's not a big deal.

But really, those aren't good excuses at all.

The truth is: animal testing kills animals because they are treated with cruelty and with inhumane tactics. It even costs more money. Medical advances can be found without taking an animal's life. Animals suffer just like humans, so they aren't appropriate subjects. Just because it "works" on an animal doesn't necessarily mean it'll work on a human. And, it's just not right.

For those who believe that animal testing is a must because it would be wrong to test humans, then they should know that thousands of ingredients have already been tested in the past, therefore there's no need to test new ones that would endanger an animal's life.

Also, there are methods to testing ingredients for cosmetics without actually using a human being or an animal. According to The Humane Society of the US, there are 50 different methods for testing that have been developed. A few of those methods can be found on here.

If you can buy cosmetics that are cruelty-free, then do so. If you continue to buy cosmetics that are not, then you are practically continuing the support of cruelty towards animals.

Here is a list of cosmetic brands that still continue to use animal cruelty according to PETA and Cruelty Free Kitty:

1. Victoria’s Secret

2. Revlon

3. Covergirl

4. Maybelline

5. M.A.C.

6. Clinique

7. L’Oréal

8. O.P.I

9. Benefit

10. TRESemmé

11. Avon

12. Estée Lauder

13. Nuxe

14. Rimmel London

15. Organix

And here's a list of brands that are cruelty-free according to Cruelty Free Kitty.

I hope you make the right decision and stop supporting animal testing.