MANY LANCERS wear makeup to school every single day. They follow the most popular makeup trends and the most popular makeup products. Some students prefer drugstore makeup products, while others are willing to spend more money on high-end or even luxury products. Although these products work great and last all day on the skin, the processes of making some these products are terrible.

Animals tests are used for many things humans use. From food, to clothing, and even into making makeup. A lot of popular makeup brands selling products tested on animals to see if it will be safe on human skin. The sad truth behind some makeup products is that animals have to suffer in order to learn if the product is able make it to the market. Critics of animal testing created the term ‘cruelty-free’ to describe makeup that hasn’t been tested on animals.

“When I’m buying makeup I usually don’t look to see whether it’s animal-tested makeup or cruelty-free, but I am aware of it and some brands that are strictly animal-tested makeup,” Karol Penate (12) said.

Animals are used for tests in skincare products as well as in hair care, household, self-care products as in Chapsticks and soap.

“My opinion about animal-tested makeup is that we should not allow it. I feel as if there are other ways to test makeup rather than on animals, especially since we are so advanced in makeup,” Penate said.

If makeup brands that are cruelty-free can do it, then makeup brands that are not cruelty-free can also do it without making any excuses. It is possible.

“My opinion on cruelty-free makeup is that I think it’s a great idea, I don’t think makeup should be tested on animals,” Ariana Perez (9) said. “Most of the makeup I use is cruelty-free, and I intend on keeping it that way,” Perez said.

A great way to make a change today is for people to reorganize their personal makeup collection, and sort it into two categories. Makeup should be sorted into cruelty-free makeup to keep and the animal-tested makeup to throw out.

That way, to honor animals who already died, the animal-tested makeup will not be used at all.

On the other hand, consumers could use up all their animal-tested products immediately, so the investment put into the makeup’s production will not go to waste. After that is done, people should only purchase makeup that is cruelty-free from then on and help make a difference for the animals by doing these small steps.

A bigger step consumers could take is to involve politicians like Congressman Jim Moran, who sponsored a bill to stop animal testing back in 2014 as stated on the onegreenplanet.org website.

“I think we can rebel… like not buy the makeup brands that test on animals. They should come to a conclusion that it is not right to test on animals, but in my opinion it would be hard to do all that. All I can do and that I will keep on doing is not buy any makeup brands or products that are tested on animals,” Alyin Ortiz (11) said.

Some makeup brands to avoid that still support testing on innocent animals include: Mac, Estee Lauder, L’Oreal, Cover Girl, Mary Kay, Bobbi Brown, and Maybelline.

To find out more about these brands and brands that are animal-tested makeup or to invest in brands that are cruelty-free visit www.peta.org for more information. Let’s make a change and be the voices for these innocent animals.