Everybody at one point in his/her life uses cosmetics such as make-up, deodorant, shampoo, wrinkle creams, blemish creams and many other products. In the many different trials that these products go through before reaching the public, some are tested on animals. Many people believe that this is a necessary part of product testing, and I agree that limited testing needs to be done in a controlled environment; however, animal testing of cosmetics is bad.

Animals are used to learn the many different things about how cosmetics have on animal skins; however, they do not always have the same effect on humans. In some cases animals have their fur shaved off and they have the product placed on the skin, which ends up burning or giving them a rash, causing them pain. They also have chemicals dropped into their eyes, and lethal substances injected into their bodies. In other cases the animal shows no effect, but when they use it on humans, it does not give the same results as it did on the animals.

Although animals are said to be well treated, they are not. The treatment is harsh, and they are cared for half-heartedly. Cages are not cleaned out. They are so small the animal can hardly move or breathe, and the animals are not fed like they should be. The animal is under mental and physical torture. This can also affect the outcomes of the studies being done.

Nowhere in the world is animal testing of cosmetics, toiletries or household cleaners actually required by law In most countries the law simply states that cosmetics and toiletries must be safe for human use. Critics maintain that animal test data is only used to defend the company against consumer lawsuits. Examples of companies producing cosmetics, toiletries, and household cleaners include: Pfizer Inc. (Coty), Hoechst Nestle (L'Oreal), Boots Eastman Kodak, British Petroleum, Max Factor, Clarion, Colorfast, Cover Girl, Maxi, and Procter & Gamble.

As well as being wholly inappropriate, the continued testing of these products on animals is simply unnecessary. There are many products and ingredients already available whose safety has been demonstrated by years of use on humans. Many of the companies producing cosmetics, toiletries, and household cleaners are also active in other industries, such as the pharmaceutical, chemical or petroleum industries. These industries are closely related, due to the nature of the raw materials used in the products.

Testing methods, therefore, are determined by manufacturers. The very unreliability of animal tests may make them appealing to some companies, since these tests allow manufacturers to put virtually any product on the market. Companies can also use the fact that their products were tested to help defend themselves against consumer lawsuits. Others believe that testing on animals helps them compete in the marketplace: Consumers demand products with exciting new ingredients, such as alpha-hydroxy acids, and animal tests are often considered the easiest and cheapest way to "prove" that new ingredients are "safe."

The bottom line is that animal testing should be stopped. It wouldn't be so bad if it was just a few animals to save a million people. But sadly, that's not the case. Millions of animals get tested to save hardly any people. It's up to the caring people in this world to make a stand and do something about animal lab testing. Animals should not be abused for our own benefits, if there are any. They are living, breathing, creatures, and despite what some people say, they feel pain and emotions.