Without animal research scientists might not have discovered penicillin, various vaccines, or been able to perfect organ transplants. Few will discount the importance of these and other medical advancements, but opponents of animal research argue that there are many instances when animal testing is unnecessary cruelty. Many also question the necessity of animal testing in the beauty, body care, and household products industries.

Cosmetics Without Cruelty

Approximately 50 million animals are used annually in research worldwide, estimates the U.K. organization RDS: Understanding Animal Research in Medicine, which represents the viewpoint of medical researchers. According to RDS, scientists in the United States perform about 15 million procedures each year. Some animal protection organizations believe the total number is even higher, claiming that as many as 100 million animals are used in research each year.

The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act does not require the use of animal testing of cosmetic and body care ingredients. “Yet thousands of innocent animals are maimed and killed every year in the name of beauty,” explains Sally Malanga, president and founder of Ecco Bella natural cosmetics and body care products. “There is no need for animal testing on our products because we begin with high-quality, nontoxic ingredients,” says Myra Eby, president and founder of MyChelle Dermaceuticals, which produces cruelty-free, natural body care products.

Conscientious companies are embracing the cruelty-free motto. Although there is no formal system enforcing the cruelty-free program, manufacturers who carry the cruelty-free label commit to using ingredients that have not been tested on animals.

Why It’s Important

“We choose to be cruelty free because it’s the right thing to do,” says Eby. “There is just no need to make animals suffer if the ingredients are nontoxic in the first place. Besides, we have willing and able humans who test our products.” She notes that her customers appreciate the cruelty-free logo and her company’s strong stance on eliminating animal abuse. “We can all do our part to end unnecessary animal cruelty.”

According to the Humane Society of the United States, if more manufacturers of cosmetic, body care, and household products would give up animal testing, millions of animals would be spared pain and suffering. “All living beings are connected,” adds Ecco Bella’s Malanga. “To injure one is to injure all.”  She says that choosing cruelty free is a significant part of her company’s values. “We were cruelty free from the very beginning.”

Even if a consumer of body care and beauty products can set aside the debate about animal compassion, it’s hard to avoid the obvious: If an ingredient may be unsafe for consumers, why use it? According to both Eby and Malanga, safe, natural, nontoxic ingredients are available for body care and beauty products. “Animal testing in the beauty and body care industries should be a moot point,” adds Eby.

Unfortunately, every day the average adult uses nine personal care products con-taining 126 potentially dangerous chemicals, according to the Environmental Working Group. “The first step to reducing animal testing is to have consumers read labels carefully and not purchase products that contain toxic ingredients,” emphasizes MyChelle’s Eby. “The skin is the largest organ of the body. It’s one of the most sophisticated sponges ever created. The last thing we should do is put potentially toxic ingredients on our skin.”

If manufacturers are concerned about the safety of their ingredients, plenty of alternatives to animal testing exist, says Karen Lee Stevens, founder and president of All For Animals. Some common alternatives include cell cultures (also known as in vitro tests), human volunteers, and data-base searches of other studies to avoid duplication. According to the Humane Society, alternatives to animal testing may be even more accurate and easier to reproduce. Critics maintain that the stress animals endure in labs not only negatively influences the research outcomes but may also make the results of the experiments meaningless.

What You Can Do

Because of the sheer number of beauty and body care products used and the relatively limited number of manufacturers who have made a cruelty-free commitment, you may find it challenging to go completely cruelty free. But consumers can make a difference. Your favorite natural products store is a great place to find brands that commit to no animal testing. Choosing cruelty-free beauty and body care products ensures that you are helping to protect innocent animals. It can also reinforce your desire to use nontoxic products for health.