The global movement to end cosmetics animal testing has achieved significant victories while facing challenges from major markets like China.
Cosmetics animal testing subjects animals to skin and eye irritation tests (Draize test), repeated dose toxicity studies, and carcinogenicity testing. These tests cause significant suffering for products whose benefits are aesthetic rather than medical. The existence of validated non-animal testing methods makes continued animal testing ethically unjustifiable for cosmetics. Consumer demand for cruelty-free products has driven faster change than regulation alone.