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NARS Cosmetics announces it’s no longer cruelty-free, consumers boycott it

NARS Cosmetics has recently announced that it will pull back its cruelty-free stance in order to enter the Chinese market, The Independent reports.

NARS has decided to begin sales in China, a country in which animal testing is compulsory for all cosmetics companies, and its consumers have responded on social media in an agry fashion.

The company has been accused of putting ”money over principles”, while many Internet users have called for a boycott and even came up with a hashtag – #boycottnars.

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Once the initial wave of criticism cooled down, NARS Cosmetics came with an explanation on Instagram, stating that ”We want you to know that we hear you. 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 want you to know that we hear you. 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. NARS is committed and actively working to advance alternative testing methods. 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. For more on the good work IIVS is doing, see: http://bit.ly/2rVjnwV

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Nevertheless, this further attracted backlash from social media users.

According to a US report, “China is projected to become the largest market for personal care and cosmetics products globally in the next five to ten years”, with well-known brands L’Oreal, Benefit, Rimmel London and Shiseido – which owns Nars – among its biggest sellers.

Lydia Peirce

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