Dr. Hauschka

Last Updated: February 2, 2022

How Ethical Is Dr. Hauschka?

Make a positive impact by supporting companies with the same values and ethics as what matters most to you. To navigate and find ethical brands, here’s a summary of Dr Haushcka’s ethics and initiatives.

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Ethical Analysis

Is Dr Haushcka cruelty-free, vegan, or sustainable? We’ve got the answers here! Read below for more details on Dr Haushcka’s policies.
Dr Haushcka is cruelty-free. None of Dr Haushcka’s ingredients, formulations, or finished products are tested on animals anywhere in the world.
Not all of Dr Haushcka’s products are vegan, but they have some vegan options.
Dr. Hauschka claims they almost exclusively obtain their plants, oils, and waxes from certified organic cultivation (biodynamic quality where possible) and under fair trade conditions. Dr. Hauschka is also committed to considering material cycles, for example, using rainwater, easy-to-recycle packaging materials, and plant production waste in compost. Learn more about their Biodynamic garden.

In addition, their manufacturing facilities run on 100% certified green electricity.

Dr. Hauschka uses recyclable materials whenever possible, opting for packaging that remains in the recycling cycle for as long as possible. In addition, they use waste paper and post-consumer recycled plastics and migrating their aluminum tubes for their cosmetics to use 100% recycled material from industrial waste.
Dr Haushcka claims their mica is ethically sourced without child labor. See their ethical mica mining policy here.
Dr. Hauschka products come in plastic or glass containers and they’re committed to using recyclable materials, opting for packaging that remains in the recycling cycle for as long as possible.

About Dr. Hauschka

Dr. Hauschka creates certified natural & organic skin care with medicinal plants for face & body, as well as make-up for holistic skin care & beauty treatments.
COMPANY BASED IN: Germany
PRODUCTS MADE IN: Germany
PRODUCTS: Skincare, Bath & Body Care, Makeup, Hair Care, Makeup Brushes
CERTIFICATIONS: PETA-Certified

Dr. Hauschka

This post may contain affiliate links that at no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission.

You can find Dr. Hauschka cruelty-free products at Dermstore, Amazon, and Well.ca

Dr. Hauschka is Cruelty-Free

Dr Hauschka has confirmed they do not test their products or ingredients on animals or ask others to test on their behalf. Their suppliers also do not test on animals, nor do they allow their products to be tested on animals when required by law. And finally, their products are not sold in stores in mainland China or any other country that may require animal testing.

By our standards, we would consider Dr. Hauschka to be Cruelty-Free.

Below is a screenshot of what’s currently stated on Dr. Hauschka’s website about its animal testing policy:

Is Dr. Hauschka Cruelty-Free?

What About China’s Animal Testing Laws?

Dr. Hauschka has confirmed they only sell their products online and not in retail stores in mainland China; therefore, they are not required to test on animals.

“Products are only sold to China online which means we can avoid the required animal testing.”

As of May 1, 2021, some imported ordinary cosmetics can be exempt from animal testing under certain conditions. However, for the most part, animal testing is still legally required for most imported cosmetics in 2022.

Cruelty-Free Policies

Note that there is no legal definition for the label ‘Cruelty-Free.’ It can mean different things to different people. But Cruelty-Free is generally used to imply no animal testing. More specifically, the ingredients, formulation, or finished product are not tested on animals at any stage of product development.

At ethical elephant, we always assess a company’s cruelty-free policy using our Cruelty-Free Checklist. This ensures no animal testing was performed by the brand itself, its suppliers, or any third parties.

Also, note that Cruelty-Free and Vegan don’t always mean the same thing.

Dr. Hauschka is Not 100% Vegan

‘Vegan’ in cosmetics can refer to an entire brand that is 100% Vegan or a specific product is vegan.

In the case of Dr. Hauschka, not all of their products are vegan. But they have some products that are suitable for vegans.

How to know which of Dr. Hauschka products are vegan?

All of Dr. Hauschka’s vegan products are clearly marked on their website. See below for an example.

Dr. Hauschka Vegan Product List

As of 2021, I will no longer be regularly updating this list of Dr. Hauschka vegan products as all of their vegan products are now clearly marked. Check their website for the most up-to-date and accurate information on which products are vegan or not.

The following Dr. Hauschka products are suitable for vegans and do not contain any animal-derived ingredients or by-products.

Dr. Hauschka Vegan Face Care

Cleansers

Toners

Moisturizers


Dr. Hauschka Vegan Body Care

Body Wash

Body Lotion

Deodorants


Nail Care

Hair Care


Makeup

Not Vegan – Dr. Hauschka

The following products from Dr. Hauschka are not vegan as they contain some animal-derived ingredients or by-products:

  • After Sun (contains beeswax, proposil) – not vegan
  • Blush Duo (contains carmine, silk powder) – not vegan
  • Bronzing Powder (contains silk powder) – not vegan
  • Brow & Lash Gel (contains silk powder) – not vegan
  • Clarifying Intensive Treatment (contains lactose) – not vegan
  • Colour Correcting Powder (contains silk powder, carmine) – not vegan
  • Compact Powder (contains silk powder) – not vegan
  • Coverstick (contains lanolin, beeswax) – not vegan
  • Defining Mascara (contains beeswax) – not vegan
  • Deodorising Foot Cream (contains proposil, silk powder) – not vegan
  • Eye & Brow Palette (contains silk powder, carmine) – not vegan
  • Eyeshadow (contains silk powder) – not vegan
  • Eyeshadow Trio (contains silk powder) – not vegan
  • Firming Mask (contains beeswax) – not vegan
  • Hydrating Cream Mask (contains lanolin, beeswax, proposil) – not vegan
  • Hydrating Foot Cream (contains lanolin, proposil, lactose) – not vegan
  • Hydrating Hand Cream (contains beeswax, lactose) – not vegan
  • Illuminating Fluid (contains beeswax) – not vegan
  • Intensive Treatment for Menopausal Skin (contains lactose) – not vegan
  • Lip Crayon 01 (contains beeswax) – not vegan
  • Lip Gloss (contains lanolin, beeswax, carmine) – not vegan
  • Lip Gloss radiance (contains beeswax, lanolin) – not vegan
  • Lip Line Definer (contains beeswax) – not vegan
  • Lip Liner (contains carmine, beeswax) – not vegan
  • Lipstick (contains lanolin, beeswax, carmine) – not vegan
  • Liquid Eyeliner (contains beeswax) – not vegan
  • Loose Powder (contains silk powder) – not vegan
  • Nourishing Hair Conditioner (contains Hydrolyzed Milk Protein) – not vegan
  • Quince Day Cream (contains beeswax) – not vegan
  • Regenerating Day Cream Complexion (contains beewax, honey) – not vegan
  • Regenerating Intensive Treatment (contains royal jelly, honey, lactose) – not vegan
  • Regenerating Hand Cream (contains honey) – not vegan
  • Regenerating Neck and Décolleté Cream (contains beeswax) – not vegan
  • Regenerating Serum (contains honey) – not vegan
  • Renewing Night Conditioner (contains honey, royal jelly, lactose) – not vegan
  • Revitalising Mask (contains proposil) – not vegan
  • Rose Day Cream (contains beeswax) – not vegan
  • Rose Day Cream Light (contains beeswax) – not vegan
  • Rose Nurturing Body Cream (contains beeswax, proposil) – not vegan
  • Sensitive Care Conditioner (contains pearl powder, lactose) – not vegan
  • Sheer Lipstick (contains carmine, beeswax, lanolin) – not vegan
  • Silk Body Powder (contains silk powder) – not vegan
  • Soothing Mask (contains beeswax) – not vegan
  • Tinted Day Cream (contains lanolin, beeswax, lactose) – not vegan
  • Translucent Bronzing Tint (contains beeswax) – not vegan
  • Volume Mascara (contains beeswax, silk powder) – not vegan

Vegan Policies

Similar to ‘Cruelty-Free,’ there is no standard or legal definition for the label ‘Vegan.’ But it’s usually used in the context to describe something that doesn’t contain any animal-derived ingredients or animal by-products.

Some common animal products used in cosmetics include carmine, lanolin, snail mucus, beeswax, honey, pearl or silk-derived ingredients, animal-based glycerin, keratin, and squalene.

There are plant-based and synthetic alternatives to animal-derived ingredients. But it’s sometimes difficult to know with certainty whether a product is vegan just by reading the ingredient list.

So it’s best to ask the company and manufacturers to ensure the ingredients they’ve chosen to use were from non-animal sources.

Where are Dr. Hauschka’s products made?

I asked Dr. Hauschka where their products are manufactured and they told me:

“Our products have been manufactured in the same small German town named Eckwalden, since the beginning in 1967. Our ingredients are also sourced from our organic farm in the same small town whenever possible and sourced in a socially responsible way whenever it’s not possible.”

Ethical Mica Mining Policy

Mica is a mineral that’s used in cosmetics to add a shimmery effect. But the mining of natural mica has been linked to child labor and human rights violations.

Unless the company discloses its mica mining policy, we have no way of knowing whether its mica is ethically sourced without child or forced labor.

So I asked Dr. Hauschka if their mica is ethically sourced without the use of child labor and they responded by stating,

“All the mica used in Dr. Hauschka products is ethically sourced, without the use of child labour. Please see attached statement with regards to the mica found in our products.”

They sent me a PDF of a one-page statement from their manufacturer stating their supplier can guarantee all of their mica from India is free of child labor.


I hope this article helped you to understand Dr. Hauschka’s cruelty-free and vegan status and by choosing cruelty-free together, we can help end animal testing for cosmetics once and for all!

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What do you think

0 thoughts on “Dr. Hauschka”

  1. Cruelty free and vegan are very different.
    From their website: “Are your products vegan or vegetarian?
    Dr. Hauschka Skin Care upholds holistic principals but does not ascribe to a vegetarian or vegan philosophy. Though we do no animal testing, several humanely obtained animal ingredients: lanolin, honey, propolis, beeswax, lactose and royal jelly are included in many Dr. Hauschka products. We also employ carmine and silk, two ingredients from insects.”

    1. Yup. Cruelty-free and vegan mean two totally different things. That’s why this list that they’ve provided only includes products that are free of animal testing AND animal ingredients. This list of Dr. Hauschka products does not contain any lanolin, honey, beeswax, silk, carmine, etc.
      Hope that clears things up for you! =)

  2. Thank you for your informative information about cruelty-free products. I would like to subscribe to your newsletter updating me on any products that do not contain animal products and are not tested on animals. I nee to build up a list of products available in South Africa so I can try them out myself and spread the news about them to others.
    Appreciate all you are doing to help animals.
    Wishing you love and light.
    Helene Pam
    South Africa
    (Helping in my small way to make the world (Vegan and cruelty free.)
    .

  3. I am surprised that a company such as Dr Hauschka, who has constructed their brand philosophy on Demeter biodynamic agriculture, would ever be considered cruelty free or vegan.
    Biodinamic agriculture philosophie promotes animal sacrifice as part of a spiritual believes and has no scientific evidence to support any benefits of their practices, which are entirely spiritual.
    Part of the process of biodynamic agriculture is to fill the horns of a local cow with manure, to sew flowers to deers bladder and to disperse field mice skin and insects ashes in the field…
    It is strange that any organisation would accept this practice as a vegan or cruelty free !!

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