With summer approaching, shopping sprees are almost inevitable. Shelves fill with new beauty and skincare products that promise glowing results. But behind the advertising is a reality many consumers would rather not think about: animal testing is still used in the cosmetics and chemical safety industries including in the United States. Cruelty Free International ranks the United States as the third-largest user of animals in scientific testing, with 15.6 million animals used in 2015, behind China and Japan. While the European Union set a clear precedent by phasing out animal testing for cosmetics beginning in 2004 and implementing a full marketing ban by 2013, the practice continues elsewhere. Cruelty Free International also reports that animals suffer for beauty products, with an estimated 500,000 animals lost to this testing annually.
In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration does not require animal testing for cosmetics. However, companies are still responsible for proving their products are safe, which has allowed animal testing to remain a common default. This regulatory gap creates a system where cruelty is not strictly required by law but is still widely permitted. Furthermore, because the U.S. does not include many species, such as rats, mice, and birds, in its official animal statistics, the actual number of animals used is likely much higher than reported figures.
Scientific methods have advanced, but policy lags behind. Modern tools such as human tissue models and computer-based testing offer more accurate, relevant data than traditional animal tests. Some regions show that this change is possible. For instance, the Netherlands has set national goals to phase out animal testing in several areas.
Progress in the United States has been slow. The 2022 FDA Modernization Act 2.0 removed the federal requirement for animal testing in drug development, a significant step that still failed to end the practice or mandate a switch to modern methods. As a result, animal use continues across the safety testing sector.
State-level action is now the primary focus. California became the first state to ban the sale of cosmetics tested on animals in 2018, with the law taking effect in 2020. Since then, 11 other states have followed, including Nevada, Illinois, Maryland, Virginia, Hawaii, Maine, New Jersey, Louisiana, New York, Oregon, and Washington; notably, Colorado is not among these states. This uneven approach leaves consumers with inconsistent protections and makes it difficult to maintain high standards across the country.
Federal reform would unify these rules. The Humane Cosmetics Act, reintroduced in 2025, would ban cosmetic animal testing and prohibit the sale of such products nationwide. Public support for this is high: a 2024 survey found that 85 percent of American adults believe animal experiments should be replaced with modern research methods. While critics often raise safety concerns, modern, animal-free methods are increasingly faster and more reliable than the older tests they replace.
Consumers are already driving this shift. Brands such as Plaine Products, e.l.f. Cosmetics, and Pacifica have built their identities around cruelty-free practices, while certifications like Leaping Bunny provide a reliable way for shoppers to verify these claims. This transparency is vital, as vague labels like “clean” or “natural” often lack clear standards.
Animal testing is no longer a sign of progress; it is a sign of delay. The United States has the scientific tools, the public support, and the industry examples needed to end this cycle. What remains is the political will to make this change permanent. The future of cosmetics should be built on transparency, innovation, and compassion– not pain.
