One of the biggest reasons why people continue to advocate for animal testing is due to its proven ability to help companies understand how different products react to the human body. For a long time, it was the only way to ensure that cosmetic companies could call their products ‘safe.’ It made it possible for researchers and innovators to test their boundaries for the good of the business, and it preemptively saved the buyer from painful skin or eye irritations from dangerous chemicals.
But non-animal testing is not an enemy to progress, nor does it increase the odds of product liability. In fact, it may be paving the way for progress in the industry, as more companies discover the benefits of in-vitro testing. This method allows researchers to determine how a consumer’s skin and eyes will react to each new ingredient without the use of live animals. By simulating real-world situations, cosmetic companies can test and create at will without having to worry about legal implications or consumer backlash.
Learn more about just a few practical ways in-vitro testing has been put into action.
Anti-Pollution Skin Care
This is a category that’s expected to explode in the next few decades as the full extent of pollution effects begin to emerge. Companies are looking into measures far beyond what’s currently available on the market to combat an array of harmful chemicals in the air. From carbon dioxide to cigarette smoke, the skin is exposed to a number of unnatural elements that it hasn’t had a chance to adapt to. Companies have already started using in vitro testing to assess how well certain ingredients perform at blocking the free radicals that stem from pollution.
Niche Beauty Alternatives
The rise of awareness amongst young people today has them looking at far more than just a price tag. They’re looking for products that fit in with their lifestyle, whether it’s religious, social, or environmental. These buyers are certainly not looking to increase unnecessary suffering for any reason. In-vitro testing has made it possible to label products as cruelty-free, which has led the way for more independent brands to pop up in the public sphere. It’s afforded more entrepreneurs a chance to get their foot in the door, and it’s created more jobs. The best part about it is that workers can actually feel good about what they do and who they serve.
Consumers Spend Less
In-vitro testing is entirely cost-effective, which means that consumers often spend less money to get the same quality. The everyday consumer marvels over how it’s even possible to get such a healthy glow for just a few bucks. Not only do companies have to worry about the logistics of caging and caring for animals during the testing period, but they can also save hundreds of dollars on each test performed. One draize animal test on a rabbit may cost $1,800, but the same in-vitro test would only cost $1,400. It’s incredible how much of that cost savings can be passed directly down to the consumer. This is exactly the kind of thing that will spark the higher brand loyalty that companies crave today.
There are so many ways that in-vitro testing can facilitate doing more rather than less. Consumers are always going to be on the look-out for that next big breakthrough, but they’re also interested in exactly how that breakthrough came to be. In-vitro delivers for both companies and consumers looking to do more with their limited resources — without help from our animal friends.