Those animals also have the rightful place to exist with love and comfort. It is a chilling thing to know that even in this 21st century, advanced countries around the globe practice such cruel practices just so that their customers can enjoy their make-up, perfumes, and whatnot. Sadly, one of the most loved brands, Mary Kay, also is not cruelty-free. This brand was among the first beauty brand to eliminate animal testing in the year 1989. The brand was also approved by PETA as cruelty-free initially.
What went wrong with Mary Kay on its stance on ending animal testing?
PETA has removed Mary Kay as a cruelty-free brand in the year 2012 because the beauty brand started to do business with China, whose regulatory policy requires animal testing for determining the safety of humans. Therefore, Mary Kay cannot be termed cruelty-free. They test on animals through their supplier or a third party. Because of such practices, Mary Kay falls under the category of a company that practices animal cruelty for testing their product’s safety on humans.
What does Mary Kay have to say in its defense?
One can read from their website that they claim to be leading globally on developing alternative testing methods for the safety of their products. They claim to be advocates of tirelessly promoting alternative methods to all the governments. They are in partnership with regulatory agencies globally, with animal advocacy groups, and with leading animal alternative researchers that deal with cosmetics safety.
Further on their website, they declare that they do not conduct animal testing on their products or ingredients. But this is quite doubtful because it is also written that they allow animal testing except when required by the law. This proves that they may not do it on their own but they pay others to do it on their behalf. Mary kay has been removed from PETA’s cruelty-free list and is no longer considered a company that does not do animal testing. If one checks their place of doing business, you will find countries like China on its list.
Mary Kay’s practice of alternative methods
Even though Mary Kay claims that they are big supporters of alternative methods, they do not mention it on their website. All that is mentioned is their $100 million state-of-the-art manufacturing and R&D center which hosts distinguished scientists from around the world. The brand works in multiple disciplines like skin biology, cell biology, chemistry, biochemistry, etc. They just mention that the brand is looking constantly for new testing methods on the efficacy of their ingredients but do not explain how it does it. There are alternative methods like using 3D tissue structures produced from human cells etc. But Mary Kay does not mention what kind of alternatives it uses which leaves one in a doubtful position.
Should you go for a brand like Mary Kay that is not transparent in its testing methods?
It is best not to go for such a company that is not transparent about its ways and methods on how they do their product testing because most likely, they are involved in it directly or indirectly. No one has the right to burn a rabbit’s cornea so that you can have a safe massacre or an eye shadow to put on. One cannot expect such practices from a big brand like Mary Kay. One wonders why, when there are lots of Cruelty-free cosmetics available on the stand.
If other brands can do it, why can’t Mary Kay? That is the big question!
Why would such a big brand that was among the first beauty brand to sign the end of animal testing go back to support animal testing on their products to measure its toxic effects on poor animals who are forced to inhale large quantities of test substance or have their eyes smeared with chemical on their eyes and their skin?
One should do away with such outdated practices and one expects more from such a loved brand. One knows that in this modern era, such tests on animals most often do not give accurate results for human safety plus there are many non-animal test methods that are available and continually developing.
It is high time that beauty brands like Mary Kay follow strict rules on the animal testing of their products outside as well. They cannot be content just by claiming that they do not do animal testing themselves but allow it when required. Such hypocrisy has to be removed because it is not doing any good for those poor animals. And by making such claims it is not making them less of a torturer. At the same time, it is disappointing the large customers who expect Mary Kay to be more upfront and advance its scientific method in testing their products. Everyone deserves to live and long to be loved including the animals.
- Does Mary kay has a parent company that does animal testing?
No, Mary Kay is not owned by any brand that does animal testing.
