Fashionising.com > Fashion Forums > Skin, Hair, Body & Beauty

Hi, I think I read somewhere that one of the Eureka Prizes (apparently Australia's most prestigious annual science prizes) is given every year to scientists who develop ways of testing, research & development that's not based on animals.
I have to use the sensitive skin products and I don't think they are tested on animals, but to be honest its not something that I checked when I bought them last.

Hi,

Firstly, Kaz and Ruru, my comments werent intended to offend you quite the opposite actually, I was actually quite surprised in general about the extent of consumers understanding re: animal testing. My comment was that you were misinformed and I do still stand by that. My comment about attitudes being advanced here wasnt stated as a result of your posts but merely due to the overwhelming facts present such as well the natural, organic, ethical markets are booming here in all sectors and consumers are calling for boycotts of certain products if they test on animals, or damage the environment these are the key trends and it has been reported widely that consumers here are buying through their ethics more than ever, in fact just today top luxury brands by LVMH, Loreal and Hermes just got named and shamed for being unethical and they have all released statements amid the controversy. Also all major magazines such as Vogue, Marie Claire Harpers etc here have an ethical section in their magazines to just talk about ethical living because the demand is so high. Australia so far seems to be far, far behind so this is why I posted in the first place to get opinions. So thank you I am not trying to change your minds everyone is entitled to their own opinions just wanted you to consider all the facts before settling on a decision.

Without getting into a rant about ethics etc, heres some background, I developed my company 11 years ago while still in Australia. I have always had an affinity with super high end brands etc but ethically I never felt comfortable after purchasing these wonderful items, knowing I paid $7,000 for a beautiful handbag which was probably made by a 5 year old in South Asia somehow took that special factor away for me. I felt I must share some of that responsibility, I may not have made it but I purchased it making me a part of this cycle.

I realised most of the worlds problems could be minimised, if we all stopped for a minute to think about where these items came from etc. so rather than contribute to the problems I started working on a solution.

So the at age of 18 I started my company, I now have a fashion, cosmetic and lifestyle enterprise (global) which makes products which are 100% ethical but for the super high end, youre probably using some of them without knowing that was the trick to not market them as ethical so people would buy them because they are exclusive, beautiful etc.

I didnt name my brand only because I did not want you to see as some kind of promotion I really am interested in how Australias views have changed or in this case not changed since I left. I have been in the UK for 7 years now.

Our products are the most ethical luxury brands you could buy we are kind to people, planet and animals.

Re: animal testing any google search will bring up alternatives to animal testing. In 2009, a total EU wide ban will come into effect as animal tests are not conclusive and its cruel.

As for medicines that is not part of this debate, I personally would like to see and end to all animal testing but that is my opinion, I see a life as a life, not judging, each to their ownright? This debate I raised here is about the unnecessary testing of cosmetics, we arent going to die tomorrow just because we dont have the latest anti ageing face cream so why torture these poor little animals for our pleasure especially when there are alternatives out there.

And to answer the question re: my products, we control our entire supply chain so I know exactly whats in it. We have scientists that do stability testing and we test finished products on human volunteers which is the most effective method as its tested on the skin it will be used on. By law, only new ingredients need to be tested, so we use ingredients predating 1976 as thats when the EU brought in laws to regulate cosmetic ingredients and it was a requirement of this law to run toxicity tests. So we use ingredients predating this. Those ingredients may have been tested previously or may not have been but we dont use any new ingredients on principle, so we feel we are doing our part. A small part but one that has saved lives.

to the ruru person
i totally disagree.
who on this earth to know that if a product doesnt react with a rabbit it wont affect us.
i try really hard not to use products tested on animals.
i have to do a speech in english and i decided i would do it on cosmetic testing.
ive been called a hippie and shit buti dont care.
im also a veggie and im really quite proud.


and im reaaaaalllly happy tht its gonna be banned in 2009
why they cant do it now is beyond me.
thousands of animals are killed until its banned

I am totally against testing on animals and as a result choose my products accordingly. I try to keep informed on what companies test and refuse to support their horrible cruelty to these poor innocent animals.