The ugly face of beauty

Gurnaaz Kaur

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Look around in your bathroom and cosmetic cabinet. The specific products may vary, but the general ingredients include soaps, shampoos, creams, moisturizers, lipsticks, kajals, mascaras, colognes, perfumes, eye shadows, make-up foundations, nail paints, hair wax, aftershaves, deodorants, lotions, talcum and Cruelty!  You read that right; cruelty and intolerable cruelty to be precise.

Although the Indian government took cognizance of the atrocities done on animal, and since 2013 there is a ban on animal testing, but still these products make it onto our shelves in the form of imported cosmetic products. Still, more than 2 lakh animals are killed every year due to cosmetic testing. Before the gruesome death, it’s the life they live as a lab animal that is more painful.

Have you ever stopped to think that for all the lather, texture, fragrance, colour and shimmer, that we as consumers are lured by, there are animals dying every minute? The figure of two lakh touches a 100 crore if chemical, drug, food, cosmetics, other medical tests and experiments are included. Shocked? “To put it into perspective, the 100cr figure is just from the capitalist and brand-hungry United States of America. Animal testing worldwide is a mind-numbing figure,” educates Inder Sandhu, an animal rights activist, who also runs an NGO Peedu’s People, and has been crusading for cruelty-free lifestyle for over four years now.

“We’ve been doing regular programmes to inform and educate people about the atrocities that animals go through. There is a general apathy about it unless it is brought into the limelight. I firmly believe we have to learn how to ‘not shut’ our eyes to commercial cruelty. It’s high time we spoke up for the voiceless,” Inder says.

There are painful stories of rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, rats and mice hidden in those much treasured beauty banks of ours. “Animal testing could include skin and eye irritation tests onto the shaved skin or into the eyes. There are long duration force-feeding studies to look for signs of general illness or specific health hazards. These tests may cause considerable pain and distress, including multiple complications, ultimately leading to death,” says 21-year-old Arnab Gosh, who has joined the mission to save animals and promote a cruelty-free environment.

Is the torture really necessary? Isn’t there an alternative? Has the world of science not grown enough since 1830 when such testing was started? Thankfully, there are  ways to get toiletries and cosmetics safe for humans. “It has been proven that different animals react differently when injected with the same chemical and there is absolutely no co-relation to humans. A 90 per cent failure in some tests shows how pointless the practice is. There are tests methods which are cruelty free, like advanced methods using human blood, cell lines, artificial skin or computer models to test the safety of products,” say Inder and Arnab.

Another point that such volunteers make is that, animals are not people, so the precision of tests cannot always be correct. Holding a strong stand against this practice is Rao Shruti Rathore, a fashion designer and style consultant. “Animal testing works on the flawed premise that animals are for our use and benefit. Although animal testing has been banned in India since 2013, there are countless products available in the market that being imported and have ingredients that involve harsh cruelty on animals.”

During her beauty workshops, she makes sure to educate everyone about the wide range of products available that are animal-testing free. A Chandigarh group of 125 plus people, Vegans, have a monthly activity plan for various talks and seminars in the Tricity.

Akriti Sharma, a biotechnology student, wishes to educate masses to bring out their compassionate side, “Most people that we’ve met either did not know or couldn’t make the connection with the animals being killed for no reason. I believe everyone has a compassionate side and it needs to be awakened,” Akriti assures.

“No brand gives the guarantee, that the product they have already tested on hundreds of animals will be absolutely safe for human use too,” opines Harmeet Kaur, who is preparing for the Indian Air Force. 

If we pay attention, there are these disclaimers that warn against the allergies that the products may trigger. 

Globally, a lot many companies are putting it on their products that the products were not animal tested.

Harmeet says that we should approach and involve the lawmakers to put a blanket-ban on animal testing.

Animal right activists all over the world are working towards the welfare and protection of the innocent animals. Our cry about global warming and all its woes includes even animals that are an inseparable part of the ecosystem. Every living being has its role to play in the food chain. Are they here for us or with us? Think about it.

gurnaaz@tribunemail.com