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Is Nivea Cruelty-Free?
☠️ Nivea is NOT cruelty-free in 2023. Nivea allows its products to be tested on animals when required by law, including when selling in stores in mainland China.
Nivea’s Animal Testing Policy
When asking, does Nivea test on animals? We must look beyond to ensure none of Nivea’s ingredients or suppliers test on animals. And they don’t sell in any country or under conditions that may require animal testing by law.
To assess whether brands are cruelty-free, I always start with the company’s official animal testing policy on their website.
On Nivea’s website, they claim they do not carry out any animal tests on their products or ingredients, unless it is mandatory by law.
See below for a screenshot of what’s currently stated on Nivea’s website:
They also have a link where you can read more about Nivea’s ‘Commitment Against Animal Testing’, where they go on to state China’s animal testing regulations.
Policies stating China’s animal testing laws 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 Nivea Sold in China?
In my research, I discovered that Nivea products are indeed sold in stores in mainland China.
Below is a screenshot of Nivea’s Chinese website:
But Doesn’t China No Longer Test on Animals?
With the recent changes to China’s animal testing laws, cosmetic companies can now export and sell some of their cosmetics in China without animal testing only if they meet ALL of the following preconditions first.
- ONLY sell ‘general’ cosmetics (like makeup, skincare, haircare, nail polish, and perfumes)
- must NOT sell any ‘special’ cosmetics like sunscreens, hair dye, hair perming, or other cosmetics claiming new efficacy
- must NOT sell products designed for infants or children
- must NOT sell products that contain a ‘New Cosmetic Ingredient’
- AND if post-market testing is required, then the company must have a policy in place where it will RECALL its products rather than allow its products to be tested on animals
Also, products must meet ONE of the following in order to avoid animal testing in China:
- manufactured in China, or the final assembly is in China
- if manufactured outside of China and then exported to China, companies must obtain the proper product safety certificates and documents
However, it’s not stated anywhere that Nivea has taken any steps to meet the above preconditions in order to avoid animal testing while selling in China.
Follow the highlighted lines in the graphic below to see why most cosmetics sold in China (like Nivea) are still required by law to be tested on animals in 2023.
Because Nivea 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 2023.
Although Nivea may not be conducting these animal tests themselves, they knowingly allow Chinese authorities to test their products on animals in order to sell in China.
For those reasons, we would not consider Nivea to be cruelty-free by our standards.
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Cruelty-Free Policies
Many truly cruelty-free brands have chosen not to sell their products in China under conditions where animal tests may be required. Unfortunately, Nivea 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, or by any third parties, including when required by law.
See below for our complete cruelty-free checklist. Since Nivea already does not meet the last two, we cannot classify the brand as being cruelty-free.
Is Nivea Certified Cruelty-Free?
Nivea is not certified cruelty-free by any third-party cruelty-free certifications like Leaping Bunny or PETA.
Since Nivea is not certified cruelty-free by a third party, no one is substantiating or auditing Nivea’s cruelty-free commitments and claims.
Is Nivea Owned By A Non-Cruelty-Free Parent Company?
Yes. Nivea is owned by Beiersdorf, parent corporation that still engages in animal testing in 2023.
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, Nivea is NOT cruelty-free, and neither is its parent corporation, Beiersdorf.
Does Nivea Test on Animals?
To wrap up, Nivea allows its products to be tested on animals when required by law, like when selling in China. Therefore, we would NOT consider Nivea to be a cruelty-free brand.
Currently, Nivea is on our List of Brands to Avoid – Animal Tested.
Is Nivea Vegan?
❌ Nivea is NOT vegan. Nivea claims to offer some “vegan” options that are free of animal-derived ingredients, but Nivea engages in animal testing in some capacity, so we wouldn’t consider any Nivea products vegan at this time.
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 Nivea:
Looking for a cruelty-free option to Nivea, here are some of our recommendations:
- Dove *owned by Unilever
- Shea Moisture *owned by Unilever
- The Body Shop
- Acure
- Lush
- Derma E
14 thoughts on “Nivea (Beiersdorf)”
i will finish up my nivea cream and will NEVER buy another Nivea product …shame as i love their nivea thick cream , but i cannot buy it anymore now that i know that they test on animals ..or pay to . Sort it out NIVEA !!!!!!
They even have a China website. Such a shame.
http://www.en.beiersdorf.cn/about-us/local/cn/beiersdorf-china
Stop selling in China
I think we understand their statement completely different! Nivea says that they are against animal testing, but the government in China forces them to do so, right? One of their goals is to stop this.
In other words (from my opinion): a little bit of money from the products we buy goes to people and actions against the statement of the China government.
I assume that Nivea is a big compony that has more influance on this, compared to soms individuals that stop buying a particilar product.
So, instead of neclecting Nivea, I would suggest that we have to support them in their fight against the goverment!
(Altough I love my Nivea deodorant, I have no conflict interrest ;))
that is certainly a different perspective however most people, including myself, find that approach hypocritical
Also, most companies that say that they’re trying to work “from the inside” usually don’t have anything to back up these feel-good claims. No receipts or proof of how much money they put into funding alternatives to animal testing and it’s been a year now since I published this post and I haven’t seen NIVEA campaigning or doing any type of advocacy or “convincing” the Chinese government to change their animal testing laws.
So, it may sound like they’re doing good. But where’s the proof that they are actually DOING some good?
Thats is how I feel! glad I am not the only one! nieva is the only deodorant that works for me, that is affordable! I tried natural they just dont work!
They actually testing first in China and then selling then all over the world – in the end the result is the same – they test on animals and Chine is a perfect cover for them – I agree with @Marica – if you are against animal testing – stop selling it in countries that force you to do so – but as I said – Chine is the perfect cover for continuing animal testing without problems – not only for Nivea.
These big concerns are good at lying when they are taken to task over animal testing.
Money is more important than any animals feelings.
I mean, humans are not fed dog food to decide if the dogs will like it or not. So-do the tests on humans who are going to use the stuff. Animals DO NOT and never will use deodorant!
Get some of the thugs and never-do-wells out of prison and test it on them. At least it would make them useful and appease us tax payers who keep these scum in moderate luxury in prison!
Unfortunately until a government has the guts to stand up to these companies, this cruelty will continue. So just do your bit and DO NOT buy an yet hung that you believe to have been animal tested.
We managed years ago with coal tar soap and stuff like that and it didn’t smell to bad either!!
These multi – million scumbag concerns need to be stopped. There is no need in this day and age to be torturing animals just so some ‘dolly- bird’ can smell nice!!
Think about it and check your cosmetics. Shop around and do the right thing.
Jonathan.