Giorgio Armani (L’Oreal)

Last Updated: February 25, 2024

How Ethical Is Giorgio Armani (L’Oreal)?

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 Armani Beauty’s ethics and initiatives.

Ethical Analysis

Is Giorgio Armani Beauty cruelty-free or vegan? We’ve got the answers here! Read below for more details on Armani Beauty’s policies.
Armani Beauty is NOT Cruelty-Free. Armani Beauty engages in animal testing by allowing its products to be animal-tested.

Armani Beauty is also owned by L’Oreal, a parent corporation that does engage in animal testing.
Yes, Armani Beauty sells its products in stores in mainland China under conditions where animal testing is still legally required.
Armani Beauty does not claim or market itself to offer any vegan-friendly options. And since Armani engages in animal testing, we wouldn’t consider anything sold or produced by Armani to be vegan anyways.

Giorgio Armani (L’Oreal)

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Giorgio Armani is NOT Cruelty-Free!

Giorgio Armani allows its products or ingredients to be tested on animals when required by law including when selling in stores in mainland China.

In addition, Giorgio Armani Beauty is owned by L’Oreal, a parent company that is NOT cruelty-free.

Giorgio Armani’s Animal Testing Policy

On Giorgio Armani’s website, they claim they don’t use animals to test their products, however, “others, completely independent of L’Oreal and outside of the direction or control of L’Oreal, might do animal testing pursuant to their local requirements.”

See below for a screenshot of what’s currently stated on Giorgio Armani’s website:

Based on their response, we now know L’Oreal owns Giorgio Armani Beauty. And Armani Beauty has the same animal testing policy as L’Oreal. Both Armani and L’Oreal state they don’t test their products on animals but then state that others might do animal testing as per their local requirements.

Policies stating, “unless required by law,” usually imply the company is selling its products in mainland China. That’s because cosmetics sold in stores in mainland China are required by law to be tested on animals.

Is Giorgio Armani Sold in China?

In my research, I discovered that Giorgio Armani’s beauty products are indeed sold in stores in mainland China.

Below is a screenshot of Giorgio Armani’s Chinese website along with their store locator showing results in mainland China:

Giorgio Armani Sold in China - Not Cruelty-Free!
Giorgio Armani Sold in China – Not Cruelty-Free!
Giorgio Armani Store Locations in China - Not Cruelty-Free!
Giorgio Armani Store Locations in China – Not Cruelty-Free!

But Doesn’t China No Longer Tests on Animals?

Companies can bypass China’s pre-market animal testing by choosing to manufacture their ordinary or general cosmetics in China, but it’s not stated anywhere that Giorgio Armani has taken this route.

Additionally, the possibility of post-market animal testing is not completely ruled out and may be conducted on some cosmetics sold in physical stores in China.

As of May 1, 2021, cosmetic companies can also export and sell their ordinary or general cosmetics in China without animal testing only if they meet a set of preconditions first. However, meeting these conditions has proven difficult, and it’s still unclear what exactly is accepted according to the new regulations. So there’s no word yet of any company that has successfully done so.

Follow the highlighted lines in the graphic below to see why most cosmetics sold in China (like Giorgio Armani) are still required by law to be tested on animals in 2022.

Because Giorgio Armani has decided to sell in mainland China stores, they must consent and pay to have their products tested on animals. That’s why most cosmetics brands selling in mainland China cannot be considered cruelty-free in 2022.

Although Giorgio Armani may not be conducting these animal tests themselves, they knowingly allow Chinese authorities to test their products on animals to sell in China.

For those reasons, we would not consider Giorgio Armani to be cruelty-free by our standards.

Cruelty-Free Policies

Many truly cruelty-free brands have chosen not to sell their products in China because of its animal testing laws. Unfortunately, Giorgio Armani refuses to do the same and therefore cannot be considered cruelty-free.

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, and by any third parties, including when required by law.

See below for our complete cruelty-free checklist. Since Giorgio Armani already does not meet the last two, we cannot classify the brand as being cruelty-free.

Complete Cruelty-Free Checklist

Is Giorgio Armani Certified Cruelty-Free?

Giorgio Armani is not certified cruelty-free by any third-party cruelty-free certifications like Leaping Bunny or PETA.

Because Giorgio Armani is not certified cruelty-free by a third party, no one is looking into or substantiating Giorgio Armani’s cruelty-free commitments and claims.

Is Giorgio Armani Owned By A Non-Cruelty-Free Parent Company?

Yes. Giorgio Armani is owned by L’Oreal, a parent corporation that still engages in animal testing in 2022.

Some cruelty-free consumers may choose to purchase and support cruelty-free brands owned by animal-tested parent corporations as they hope it will convince the parent company to become cruelty-free.

But in this case, Giorgio Armani is NOT cruelty-free and neither is its parent corporation, L’Oreal.

Is Giorgio Armani Cruelty-Free?

To sum up, by choosing to sell in mainland China, Giorgio Armani must have its products tested on animals. Therefore, we would NOT consider Giorgio Armani to be a cruelty-free brand.

Currently, Giorgio Armani is on our List of Brands to Avoid – Animal Tested.

Is Giorgio Armani Vegan?

Armani Beauty does not claim or market itself to offer any vegan-friendly options. And since Armani engages in animal testing, we wouldn’t consider anything sold or produced by Armani to be vegan anyways.

In order for products to be considered vegan by ethical elephant’s standards, the products and their ingredients must not be tested on animals anywhere in the world. Also, they must not contain any animal-derived ingredients or by-products.

Cruelty-Free Alternatives to Armani Beauty:

Looking to switch to cruelty-free brands? Here are some options that are similar to Giorgio Armani:

and check out our list of high-end cruelty-free makeup brands!

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What do you think

3 thoughts on “Giorgio Armani (L’Oreal)”

  1. Jacqueline McNamer

    Great to find a clear and honest answer to my question. I will not purchase now, will never buy if there is crusty involved. Greedy, horrible brand.

  2. Lorraine Morris

    You say L’Oreal are not cruelty free but then recommend one of its high quality products. I’m confused

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