A DARESBURY-based cosmetic testing lab has been appointed by The Body Shop to provide the skincare giant with animal-free tests of its products.

XCellR8 is the only lab globally to make its tests entirely animal-product free in a regulatory environment; eliminating all animal components from their tests.

Celebrating their shared visions to be a force for good, both companies firmly believe there is no scientific requirement for animal testing in the beauty industry.

The companies are also working together to lobby for a worldwide ban on animal testing. Most recently, XCellR8’s founder, Dr Carol Treasure attended the UN’s 18th general assembly with The Body Shop, to speak at an event.

The UN is working to achieve 17 sustainable development goals and as one of The Body Shop’s testing partners, XCellR8 was able to explain how animal-free safety tests have now become the default choice thanks to scientific innovations in human cell culture techniques.

Jason Matthews, international director of regulatory at The Body Shop International said: “The Body Shop has been campaigning against animal testing in cosmetics for more than 30 years, and we are pleased that since the EU ban, there’s been great industry progress in animal-free alternatives.

"We’ve recently started working with XCellR8 because it’s an innovative, women-founded, British, animal-free testing business. We both share a strong commitment to animal testing alternatives and we’re passionate about the scientific and ethical advances in this field.”

Dr Carol Treasure added: “Our aim is to become the global leader in animal free testing. Our in-depth, academic understanding of physiology and how chemicals react with the body, mean that more accurate and reproducible results are achieved when tests are conducted on human skin cells instead of animals.

"Partnering with The Body Shop has been the icing on the cake of a fantastic year for XCellR8 and our continued investment in innovation, research and development keeps us at the forefront of cosmetic science.”