L’Oreal’s Cruel Animal Testing Practices

In the name of vanity, animals are subjected to painful and cruel ingredient testing by L’Oreal. The L’Oreal company does not want to share the fact that thousands of animals are needlessly tortured each and every day in the name of vanity and profit. The L’Oreal company is among the world’s largest beauty companies, but is the worldwide leader in animal cruelty.

Although many of the animals testes by L’Oreal are rabbits, dogs, and cats; they are very much an equal opportunity torturer. L’Oreal seems to have a special preference for rabbits because they are the only animal who can not flush chemicals out of their eyes without using aids like water or their paws. However, dogs and cats that are used often tortured by L’Oreal research as they are taken out of animal shelters. These animals would otherwise be euthanized. Their number comes to approximately 1.1% of dogs and cats euthanized in shelters. It is estimated that in 2010 alone, almost 2.5 million animals were tested in France.

L’Oreal regularly conducts disgraceful eye irritation tests by securing rabbits so they are immobile while substances are dropped into their eyes (rabbits are used because they have no tear ducts and therefore can’t relieve the stinging and pain). Poisoning takes place whereby groups of animals are continually force-fed an ingredient until half of the group dies. Other animals have their skin shaved and scraped until it’s super-sensitive, then the particular chemical is applied to test skin while L’Real researchers make sure that the animal cannot scratch or remove the substance.

It is hard to imagine the pain suffered by these beings. But we all know how sore it can be when we get something in our eye or our skin is scraped – at least we can immediately do something to relieve the pain. Think of what it would be like, if we were unable to touch or stop the pain, not just for a minute or two, but for hours running into days.

It’s simply disgraceful! And I have only briefly mentioned a couple tests – there are a further six animal tests commonly used by L’Oreal.

Thankfully, some countries, such as the United Kingdom, have banned cometic ingredients testing, so L’Oréal had to go elsewhere, such as Japan or the U.S. where animal testing is allowed. However, the sale of products developed via animal testing is NOT banned. So, despite overwhelming public disapproval, L’Oréal continues new product developments via animal testing.

L’Oréal is pretty much the single biggest obstacle to ending cosmetic testing on animals within the United States and the European Union.

Although L’Oreal has vowed to eliminate animal testing by 2013, they seem to simply be undergoing a corporate restructuring so as to contract out their animal testing to subsidiary or contract companies that they control.

Only you can stop L’Oreal from exercising these unnecessary and cruel animal testing practices by:

1. Stop buying their products, especially from L’Oreal Professional.
2. Sign the Petition to Stop L’Oreal Professional’s Cruel Exccessive Animal Testing.
3. Send this post to every salon professional you know and urge them to take the above two actions.
4. Only purchase hair color, cosmetics, or other salon products that are certified as cruelty-free by PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals).