OPINION: Cosmetic brands should have to clearly disclose if they aren’t cruelty-free

Sometimes it's hard to maintain a cruelty-free makeup routine, but to make it easier to navigate, brands should clearly state if they test on animals.

Currently, there is no existing law regarding products being labelled cruelty-free. The term 'cruelty-free' itself doesn't have a legal definition, meaning some companies can use labels saying 'this product is not tested on animals' to conceal that the product's ingredients are.

Many popular brands you find on the high street do not disclose on their products or website if they are cruelty-free. If you were to take a look in your makeup bag right now, you would be shocked to find how many products you use on a daily basis test on animals – I know I was!

According to PETA's official list, brands such as MAC, Clinique, Benefit Cosmetics and Bobbi Brown test either their products or their products' ingredients on animals. Cruelty-free brands include Lush, E.L.F, NYX and Too Faced Cosmetics.

Around the world, it's estimated 100,000 to 200,000 animals die for cosmetics each year. The animals most commonly used in these harmful and deadly tests are rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, rats and mice.

This important topic needs to be openly discussed more often, especially now more people are embracing a vegan or vegetarian lifestyle with open arms. There's no better time to inform ourselves and those around us about the enormity of animal testing.

It is difficult to wrap your head around what goes on behind the scenes at some of our favourite brands. We see the products on the shelves and most purchase them without a thought. As someone who, just like many others, wears makeup almost every day, I have been unknowingly supporting brands that still continue to test on animals.

But with a quick Google search, you can find out the best brands in the business. Some of my favourite cruelty-free brands, which are also student-friendly, include E.L.F Cosmetics and NYX. E.L.F is 100% vegan and affordable, and NYX is completely cruelty-free and has an easy-to-find vegan makeup section.

Customers have never had so much power – if we stop purchasing from harmful brands, they will be encouraging to adopt kinder ways to test their products and ingredients to stay afloat. You too can bring light to the depth of this issue and help to reduce animal testing.

Edited by Amy Mullen-Brown