Modification of the Draize eye test for the safety testing of cosmetics

Until alternatives to the Draize test have been developed and shown to be adequate for assessing the safety of cosmetic products, modification of the existing method to reduce the numbers of animals required and the severity of the effects induced is of great importance. In the testing of cosmetic products, comparison with already known products plays an important role. Tests to demonstrate whether a new product is better or less well tolerated than a known one can be carried out with concentrations that are only slightly irritating. A decrease or increase in effect is clearly identifiable with these relatively low concentrations, and allows the product to be appropriately assessed.