The Culpable Beauty Industry: L’Oréal and the Profits of Oppression

The Ugly Truth Behind Animal Testing

When you think of unethical makeup, you have probably heard of animal testing. To our despair, animal testing is not giving a horse a makeover. It is far crueller, and you do not have to be vegan to believe so.

Animal testing includes:

• Draize tests: chemicals dropped into their eyes or applied to shaved skin

• Oral toxicity tests: force-fed large amounts of substances

• Lethal dose tests: to determine the amount that causes death

Behind the Scenes of a Pretty Glow

Many makeup products also thrive on mica mineral mining, previously shamed in the newsletter for its roots in child labour. Unfortunately, mica, a mineral used to add shine, has a case of 62% of workers in Madagascar being underage and many more in India. China is the primary destination for this high-risk child labour. 

But it isn't only sourcing background that is concerning. The biggest global beauty brand, L'Oréal, has set the record with 200 billion in worth but takes part in a serious ethical dilemma and crisis you won't want to miss hearing about.

No Good Side: L’Oréal’s Unspoken Roots

Did you know that the rich founder of L’Oréal, Eugene Schueller, allegedly supported the Nazi regime in many ways? 

• He wrote a book called La révolution de l’économie, where he praised Nazis for their gift and called liberty and equality childish characteristics. 

• He went to court for collaborating with a senior commander of Nazi police, Helmut Knochen, who had been sentenced to death for war crimes. But the rich business owner got acquitted through a witness testimony.

• He also allegedly supplied money to the Nazi regime for painting military boats. 

To add to the shadiness, not many official news articles can be found on this topic. And it has been said that many articles were removed from the French libraries after Jean Frydman, a former shareholder, found the evidence of L'Oréal's Nazi association.

Here is what is happening now with L'Oréal:

• L’Oréal awarded $100,000 towards a scientist for Israel’s Weizmann Institute. Known for research and development of nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons on behalf of Israel's military establishment. 

• L’Oréal also exploits the Dead Sea minerals gained through occupied Palestinian territory.

• L’Oréal Israel is on occupied stolen land from the ethnically cleansed Palestinian village of al-Mujaydil.

So in the morality of human rights and human lives, L’Oréal and all its sub-brands have ties that are hard to ignore. L’Oréal sub-brands include Garnier, Urban Decay, Maybelline, NYX, L’Oréal Paris, La Roche-Posay, CeraVe, Yves Saint Laurent, and many more. But don’t worry, you can still look glam with some more ethical brands that do not support apartheid or cruelty.

Glow Without Guilt: Beauty Alternatives

K-beauty:

• South Korea banned the distribution of cosmetics tested on animals in 2018.

• Many brands offer affordable and trendy beauty products reflecting the rise of K-culture

• K-beauty supports diversity countering historical eurocentric beauty standards 

Huda Beauty:

• Huda Beauty owner Huda Kattan has openly supported and advocated for Palestinian agriculture and preservation. 

• Certified cruelty-free 

• Huda beauty offers high quality, long-wear, and full coverage products. 

SimiHaze Beauty:

• The SimiHaze sisters have used their platform to raise awareness of the ongoing Palestinian human crisis. 

• Certified cruelty-free 

With these brands much of the products can be found to be in support of ethical values. Some more affordable options include Colourpop, Milani, and LA girl. 

To support genocide time and time again isn't a mistake — it's a statement. No branding can cover up that kind of cruelty. You deserve products that reflect your principles, not ones that profit off injustice.