There’s a lot of talk about conscious consumption and the possibility of actively participating in the protection and well-being of animals , who are tortured every year in laboratories to provide us with shampoo that doesn’t sting the eyes or gentle skin cream. This is the sad fate of rabbits, for example, who literally go blind from absorbing substances into their eyes, and of the many laboratory animals used in various cosmetic tests.
But how do animal tests work? And how can we recognize which products are completely cruelty-free without being fooled? The situation is very complex and involves the composition of a given product. First of all, don’t be fooled, because many take advantage of the lack of clear information on the subject.
If you find a cosmetic product labeled “finished product not tested,” don’t trust it. If it’s true that the finished product hasn’t been tested on animals, who can assure you that the individual ingredients haven’t been? The label, therefore, is misleading. You can only trust the list provided by LAV, which is constantly updated, and the logos on products that have received ICEA certification.
Since 2013, it has no longer been possible to test finished products or individual components in Europe . And if someone tries to sell you a product, use these arguments. They’re also scamming you if the product doesn’t bear the ICEA certification symbol, easily recognizable because it’s shaped like a rabbit.
While Europe has banned this type of testing, companies have simply chosen to circumvent the obstacle by having the tests conducted outside Europe , for example in Brazil or China. Did you know?
In essence, many brands decide to wash their hands of the situation by writing on their packaging that the finished products are not tested, which is also true, but they completely ignore information regarding testing of individual components . And this means only one thing: a lack of transparency for customers and consumers.
The situation is very complex, in short, between those who pretend to be cruelty-free just to sell and those who aren’t too concerned about further confusing those unfamiliar with the topic. Sure, stating that the entire product isn’t tested on animals is literally true, but why not inform consumers that the individual components have definitely been tested elsewhere? The answer, unfortunately, is simple: because no one would buy any of the products from many brands anymore, and perhaps the big brands would go out of business.
So don’t be fooled, and remember that if everyone started to buy consciously and boycott all brands that refuse to be comprehensive and clear with their customers, perhaps, one day, things could really change!
