When Beauty is Skin Deep: Cruelty-free and vegan cosmetics and skincare gaining ground in the beauty industry

Unfortunately, in the capitalistic world of mass production, it is common to find a slew of animal-derived ingredients in many skincare and cosmetic products.  Many such products are produced in China where animal testing is mandatory by law. International cosmetic and skincare brands are required to adhere to animal testing in government labs before products are released for sale in China. This applies to everything from deodorants to sunblock lotions. The need for animal testing stems from the lack of capabilities and know-how to carry out alternative methods, where people need to be retrained and certified.  Furthermore, 80% of countries still do not have laws against animal testing.