Nars Responds to Customers Against Animal Testing
Fans are asking the brand not to sell in China.
Teen VogueJUL 5, 2017 1:44PM EDT
Normally, makeup fans head to Nars Cosmetics’s Instagram to check out the prettiest new launches and looks to try. But scroll through the brand’s most recent posts, and you’ll notice that commenters are speaking up about something else: the company’s decision to sell in China. In case you’re unfamiliar, China requires animal testing for certain products, meaning brands who want to enter the market must submit to the practice under law and no longer qualify as cruelty-free. Many Nars fans are unhappy with what they view as the company’s changed stance — expressing their displeasure with #stopanimalcruelty and #saynotoanimaltesting comments.
Given the overwhelming backlash, Nars broke their silence today and directly addressed their customers with an Instagram post. “We want you to know that we hear you,” they wrote. “The global elimination of animal testing needs to happen. We firmly believe that product and ingredient safety can be proven by non-animal methods, but we must comply with the local laws of the markets in which we operate, including in China. We have decided to make NARS available in China because we feel it is important to bring our vision of beauty and artistry to fans in the region. NARS does not test on animals or ask others to do so on our behalf, except where required by law.”
Judging by the response, many fans are still unsatisfied with that answer, given that the company is still moving forward with their initial decision. “If you want a cruelty free world, don't do it, don't sell in China,” wrote Instagram user @vnocemakeup. “Make China change their laws and then we can speak about global elimination of animal testing.” Other comments echoed those sentiments, pointing out that the explanation didn’t make sense.
While the brand is currently sticking to their plan to sell in China, they did add that they are seeking other ways to eliminate animal testing globally. “NARS is committed and actively working to advance alternative testing methods,” they wrote. “We are proud to support the Institute for In Vitro Sciences (IIVS), a globally recognized organization at the forefront of advancing non-animal methods in China and around the world. NARS is hopeful that together, we can work toward a cruelty-free world.”
Updated Jul. 5, 1:40PM: Beauty guru and animal advocate Kat Von D just added her voice to the conversation in an Instagram post that's quickly gone viral. Kat has been very vocal about the need for beauty brands to go cruelty-free and she illustrated her point with a series of images on her feed. "I don't normally post graphic images on my Instagram, but due to the terrible news we all got this week when @narsissist announced they've decided to start testing their cosmetics on animals, it wouldn't feel right not to say SOMETHING. I was so sad to hear this news because for years I've supported Nars beauty products because they were one of the few artistry brands that didn't test on animals, and now I am so confused/heartbroken that after all these years they would choose a paycheck over compassion," she said. She added that the images were not meant merely to shock or disturb customers, but to open their eyes to the consequences of animal-testing and make them think twice about brushing off Nars's recent news. "The images that I chose to post on this album are mild in comparison to the typical types of testing that @narsissist will now be implementing on all their products. This unnecessary cruelty is what you will be supporting every time you purchase one of their products [as well as any other company that CHOOSES to test on animals — because it is a choice]," she wrote. See her full post here (and note, as she says, that the content is disturbing).
