Revlon. MAC. Chapstick. Clorox. These are all brands that you have heard of and probably have at home. These are also brands that still test their products on mice, rats, guinea pigs and rabbits. But why?

The short answer is this: they want to sell their products in China. The Chinese government requires all cosmetics to be animal tested. Cosmetics are classified 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,” according to the Food and Drug Administration. This means that any makeup, shampoo, hair color, nail polish, etc. is labeled as a cosmetic and has to go through animal testing to be sold in China. Please note that these laws are not required in the United States, yet the practice is still carried out.

The reason why animal testing is so awful should be obvious, but most people don’t know what animal testing really entails. Animals are shaved down and have harsh chemicals dropped onto their skin or dripped into their eyes. This means that these animals are subjected to their skin being burned by acid and are blinded while they are restrained and offered no pain relief. They are also fed lethal doses of chemicals to find the dosage that will lead to death. Are the deaths of thousands of small animals really worth the profit?

A big question that usually comes up when the subject of animal testing is, “How will we know products are safe if we don’t test them?” The easiest solution is to use products that have a history of being safe. Using all-natural products in place of harsh chemicals would remove the need to test them. Many brands offer the sentiment of “tested on models, not animals.” Advanced non-animal testing methods are some of the most up to date and technologically advanced methods that science can offer. Practices using human tissues and cells to replicate how a product will react in use have proven more effective than animal testing. So the fact that animals are being bred to live a life of abuse trapped in unkempt, filthy cages and just waiting to die is completely cruel and unnecessary. Do your part and shop cruelty free. Brands like Yes To, Tarte, and Burt’s Bees are just a few cruelty free brands that you could replace in your life. You can also urge your lawmakers to support the “Humane Cosmetics Act” which would require animal testing to end in the United States. Help out your furry friends where ever you can.