MERIT

Last Updated: January 14, 2022

How Ethical Is MERIT?

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 MERIT's ethics and initiatives.

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Ethical Analysis

Is MERIT cruelty-free, vegan, or sustainable? We’ve got the answers here! Read below for more details on MERIT’s policies.
MERIT is cruelty-free. None of MERIT’s ingredients, formulations, or finished products are tested on animals, anywhere in the world.
All of MERIT’s products are 100% vegan and don’t contain any animal-derived ingredients or by-products.
MERIT is committed to using non-toxic ingredients that are safe and effective. All of their manufacturing processes meet their high standards that consider ethical labor practices and commitment to the environment.
MERIT claims their mica is ethically-sourced without the use of child labor.
MERIT products come in plastic packaging, some of which are made from recycled materials. And MERIT is committed to eliminating as much virgin plastic as possible from their products and operations. In addition, all of the shipping materials are recyclable, reusable, or biodegradable.

About MERIT

MERIT offers well-edited essentials that have earned a place on your vanity with responsible luxury cosmetics that are safe for the body, skin, and planet.
COMPANY BASED IN: USA
PRODUCTS MADE IN: USA, South Korea
PRODUCTS: Makeup
CERTIFICATIONS: Leaping Bunny

MERIT

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

You can find MERIT cruelty-free products at meritbeauty.com and Sephora.

MERIT is Cruelty-Free

MERIT 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 MERIT to be Cruelty-Free.

Below is a screenshot of what’s currently stated on MERIT’s website:

Is MERIT Cruelty-Free?

What About China’s Animal Testing Laws?

MERIT has confirmed they do not sell their products in retail stores in mainland China; therefore, they are not required to test on animals.

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, and by any third parties.

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

MERIT is 100% Vegan

MERIT has confirmed all of its products are vegan and don’t contain any animal-derived ingredients or by-products.

Vegan Policies

Similar to ‘Cruelty-Free,’ there is no standard or legal definition for the label ‘Vegan.’ But it usually means no 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 MERIT’s products made?

When I asked MERIT where their products are manufactured, they told me:

All MERIT products are made either in the US or South Korea in factories that specialize in clean, luxury products. We have vetted all production facilities, and they are monitored by a third party watchdog to ensure that the conditions are safe, equitable and that workers are paid a living wage.

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 MERIT if their mica is ethically sourced without the use of child labor and they responded by stating,

“Thank you for reaching out. We are happy to let you know that our suppliers have confirmed that the raw materials are sourced sustainably and ethically, and of course, only work with suppliers who proactively combat child labor.”


I hope this article helped you to understand MERIT’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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