The Body Shop: Against Animal Testing

Hello  Readers!

The Body Shop.

Just another beauty and cosmetics shop? Think again. The Body Shop has supported many causes such as anti-human trafficking, environmentally friendly products and more important to our blog, against animal testing.

An introduction. What do you think of when we say animal testing? This?

 Or this?

Not a pretty sight isn't it. In the second picture, that is testing for effect of irritants on a mascara. Usually the animals' eye will swell up and redden. Usually, the effect of the irritants on the eye will be recorded and the animal will then be killed. To sum it up, their purpose in animal testing is to just be in pain and than die. A more common animalused in animal testing laboratories for cosmetics is, the rabbit. The reason for animal testing is to ensure or see if the product is safe and won't cause any adverse reaction to the human being. Animals hold an almost similar bodily structure and bodily functions as human beings, thus they are used.

Now about The Body Shop. One of The Body Shops many values is to not test their products on animals and also to not engage suppliers whose products have been tested on animals in the name of cosmetics. The Body Shop is certified by the British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection to have complied with its Humane Cosmetics Standard.

So how do they ensure their products are safe without testing it on animals? Easy. We live in a world of technology where a simple wire can turn into millions and billions of wonderful things such as, lights, printer, microscopes and other important technological inventions. The Body shop funds research that go into animal testing alternatives. One of their partners L'Oreal who has contributed significantly to this research project have managed to come up with synthetic skin called, EpiSkin. EpiSkin is an artificially grown human skin that is used for skin irritancy test.

Here's a featurette on one of their products, The White Musk.

Musk is an ingredient used to scent soaps, perfumes and many other cosmetics. Its scent is often described as very earthy and woody or something akin to the odor of baby's skin. Musk is one of the most prized cosmetic item in ancient times due to its fragrance. But, little do you know that musk comes from the testicles of a male deer. As such, people hunt down deers just for a vile of musk. To save those deers, synthetic musk is formulated. This synthetic musk is called White Musk and the name has been trademarked by The Body Shop.

The Body Shop also won an RSPCA Good Business Award in 2008 for their dedication against animal testing and animal derive products. On top of that, their ever growing campaigning against animal testing for cosmetics has brought about some success as The European Union (EU) has banned animal testing for finished cosmetic products in 2004, and for ingredients in 2009.

Until the next post, do support The Body Shop's against animal testing products!