cosmetic vs. BIOMEDICAL
COSMETIC
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) defines cosmetics as "articles intended to be applied to the human body for cleansing, beautifying, promoting attractiveness, or altering the appearance without affecting the body's structure or functions." Some examples may include skin cream, perfume, lipstick, nail polish, hair color, or shampoo. Some brands that make things such as toothpaste, soap, lotion, etc. make medical claims in order to avoid being classified as a "cosmetic" by the FDA.
The most common type of cosmetic test is a skin or eye irritation tests done on mice, rabbitts, rats, and guinea pigs. Companies also test products to make sure they are free from any chemicals that cause health complications or birth defects.
Companies that have announced their disapproval of animal testing and are now "cruelty free" include:
Abercrombie & Fitch, Avalon Organics, Bath & Body Works, Bonne Bell, Burt's Bees, ELF cosmetics, LUSH, Paul Mitchell, Smashbox, Stila, St. Ives, The Body Shop, Urban Decay, Victoria's Secret, Wet n Wild, and many more.
Cosmetic testing makes up only a fraction of the total number of animals used in experimentation.
The most common type of cosmetic test is a skin or eye irritation tests done on mice, rabbitts, rats, and guinea pigs. Companies also test products to make sure they are free from any chemicals that cause health complications or birth defects.
Companies that have announced their disapproval of animal testing and are now "cruelty free" include:
Abercrombie & Fitch, Avalon Organics, Bath & Body Works, Bonne Bell, Burt's Bees, ELF cosmetics, LUSH, Paul Mitchell, Smashbox, Stila, St. Ives, The Body Shop, Urban Decay, Victoria's Secret, Wet n Wild, and many more.
Cosmetic testing makes up only a fraction of the total number of animals used in experimentation.
BIOMEDICAL
"Animals are used to understand basic biology, as "models" for understanding human biology and disease, and as test subjects for the developement and testing of drugs, vaccines, antibodies, horomones, etc. to improve and advance human health. Scientists aim to artificially produce a condition in an animal in a laboratory that may resemble the human equivalent of a medical disease or injury." (Healthresearchfunding.org)
The exact number of animals used in biomedical testing is unknown, most because government statistics do not include mice, birds, rats or fish. In medical testing, it is important that scientists are as accurate as possible, therefor more human-like animals are used. Dogs, typically young purpose-bred beagles, are commonly used in cardiovascular, heart and lung research, genetic studies, cancer research, and orthopedics. Cats are usual.y used in respiratory, nuerological, immune system, and infectious disease research. Nonhuman Primates are used in research of vaccines, cardiovascular diseases, aging, reproductive biology, drug addication, transplants, and toxicity testing. Rabbits are frequently used in toxicity and saftey testing of medical devices, vaccines, and drugs.
Millions of animals and dollars are used in the production and testing of biologicals like vaccines and antibodies. Many scientists believe this is a small price to pay for the billions of human lives that have been saved from medical advances made through animal testing. In fact, seven out of the ten most recent nobel prizes in medicine were based on animal research.
The exact number of animals used in biomedical testing is unknown, most because government statistics do not include mice, birds, rats or fish. In medical testing, it is important that scientists are as accurate as possible, therefor more human-like animals are used. Dogs, typically young purpose-bred beagles, are commonly used in cardiovascular, heart and lung research, genetic studies, cancer research, and orthopedics. Cats are usual.y used in respiratory, nuerological, immune system, and infectious disease research. Nonhuman Primates are used in research of vaccines, cardiovascular diseases, aging, reproductive biology, drug addication, transplants, and toxicity testing. Rabbits are frequently used in toxicity and saftey testing of medical devices, vaccines, and drugs.
Millions of animals and dollars are used in the production and testing of biologicals like vaccines and antibodies. Many scientists believe this is a small price to pay for the billions of human lives that have been saved from medical advances made through animal testing. In fact, seven out of the ten most recent nobel prizes in medicine were based on animal research.
This graphic was taken from Novaritis.com. It shows the reasoning behind biomedical animal testing and also provides some information about alternatives.