Is Elemis Cruelty-Free And Vegan?
Elemis is a London-based skincare company well known for its luxury products. Whether you’re looking for a cleansing balm to remove makeup, a face mask, or a rich moisturizer, Elemis has something to offer.
However, if you’re a vegan shopper and concerned about their cruelty-free status, it’s also important to take note of Elemis’ ethical standards. Is Elemis cruelty-free and vegan?
Elemis tests the products they sell in China on animals, so they are not cruelty-free. And while they do offer some vegan-friendly options, many of their products include animal-derived ingredients, preventing them from being a vegan company.
In this post, we’ll discuss why Elemis can’t be called a cruelty-free or vegan brand.
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Is Elemis Cruelty-Free?
Elemis should meet these guidelines to be considered cruelty-free:
- They shouldn’t ever test their products or ingredients on animals at any time during their development.
- They shouldn’t pay any third-party companies to conduct animal testing on their products.
- They shouldn’t buy ingredients from suppliers who test their ingredients on animals (and they should monitor their suppliers to make sure they are following this demand).
- They should refrain from selling their items anywhere that it’s a legal requirement to test cosmetics on animals (like mainland China).
Elemis meets the first three requirements of cruelty-free production. However, in 2020, they began selling their products in China. It is currently legally required for most cosmetics offered in Chinese stores first to be tested on animals to prove that they are safe.
Of course, since Elemis sells their Pro-Collagen line and other age-defying products in Chinese markets, they comply with this law and have their products tested on animals. If they don’t conduct the animal testing themselves, they have to pay the Chinese government to do it for them.
Either way, Elemis products are tested on animals. Until they decide to change their policies, they can’t be considered genuinely cruelty-free.
Is Elemis Owned By A Parent Company That Tests On Animals?
In 2019, the company L’Occitane purchased Elemis. L’Occitane is listed on PETA’s “Companies That Do Test On Animals” list because they sell their products in mainland China. Current laws require most cosmetics in China to be tested before being offered for sale.
By selling their products in China and consenting to the animal testing requirements, L’Occitane demonstrates that they aren’t cruelty-free. While they don’t test their products on animals when selling in other markets, they do consent to animal testing in countries like China that require it by law.
Prior to being purchased by L’Occitane, Elemis didn’t appear to sell their products in China. They may have been cruelty-free before becoming a part of the L’Occitane family of products, but L’Occitane’s corporate policies have stripped any cruelty-free status Elemis may have had.
Is Elemis Certified Cruelty-Free?
Because they test their products on animals, no organizations have certified Elemis as cruelty-free. Even PETA, which has the least amount of restrictions on animal testing to be certified cruelty-free, prohibits companies from selling any of their skincare products in China.
Other third-party organizations that offer cruelty-free certifications have much stricter requirements for their endorsed brands. They require more proof that the company isn’t testing any of their ingredients on animals or purchasing from suppliers that do test on animals. They also need to recommit to cruelty-free standards regularly.
Is Elemis Vegan?
Elemis does offer some vegan products but is not a completely vegan company. Some of their vegan-friendly options include their Superfood Facial Wash, Pro-Collagen Advanced Eye Treatment, and Pro-Collagen Marine Oil.
Besides the fact that not all of Elemis’ products are vegan-friendly, it’s impossible to label them vegan because of their animal testing policies. Even if none of their products contained animal-derived ingredients, their testing of products on animals would prevent them from being vegan.
If you’re looking for vegan options, Elemis has some. However, you’ll need to search elsewhere if you’re looking to support a brand committed to being entirely cruelty-free and vegan.
Do Elemis Products Contain Animal-Derived Ingredients?
Many Elemis skincare products contain animal-derived ingredients. If you’re planning to buy any Elemis products, be sure to read the entire ingredient label to make sure you’re purchasing a vegan-friendly item.
Is Elemis Sold In China?
Before 2019, Elemis did not appear to sell their products in China. However, since being acquired by L’Occitane (a company that tests on animals) in 2019, Elemis products have made it onto the shelves in Chinese markets.
Even with China’s recently revised animal testing laws, most cosmetics are still subject to animal testing at one point or another. If the Chinese government deems a product is fit to be offered for sale, they can still change their mind at any time and have the item pulled from stores to be tested on animals.
Cruelty-Free Alternatives To Elemis
Luckily, many other skincare brands offer luxe skincare products using natural ingredients to create skincare products that are cruelty-free and vegan, such as the following:
Here are more excellent skincare brands that are cruelty-free and offer some vegan options:
By choosing one of these brands, you’ll be supporting a cruelty-free skin care brand, and your skin will thank you for using a product that is effective (and ethical).
If you are a fan of best-selling Elemis Pro Collagen Cleansing Balm, a cruelty-free and vegan alternative, Versed Day Dissolve Cleansing Balm, is MUCH more affordable!
Final Thoughts: Is Elemis Cruelty-Free And Vegan?
Elemis isn’t cruelty-free because they test their skin care products on animals in countries like mainland China, where it’s required by law. They also aren’t vegan because many of their products contain animal-derived ingredients.
Hopefully, Elemis will eventually adopt cruelty-free and vegan policies. In the meantime, there are many other skincare brands to shop that don’t test on animals and offer vegan products.
Thanks for reading!
