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You can find Ogee cruelty-free products on Amazon.
Ogee is Cruelty-Free
Ogee 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 Ogee to be Cruelty-Free.
Below is a screenshot of what’s currently stated on Ogee’s website about its animal testing policy:
What About China’s Animal Testing Laws?
Ogee 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, or any third parties.
Also, note that Cruelty-Free and Vegan don’t always mean the same thing.
Ogee 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 Ogee, not all of their products are vegan. But they have some products that are suitable for vegans.
How to know which of Ogee’s products are vegan?
All of Ogee’s vegan products are clearly marked on their website.
In addition, the following is what’s currently stated on Ogee’s FAQ page clarifying which of their items are vegan and not vegan.
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 Ogee’s products made?
“We source the best ingredients from around the globe, including our hero ingredient Jojoba Oil, that is sourced from a sustainable farm right here in the USA. We are blended, filled, certified and packaged in the United States using 100% recycled paperboard. You can find us headquartered in Burlington, Vermont!”
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 Ogee if their mica is ethically sourced without the use of child labor and they responded by stating,
“Our Mica is sourced from a fully transparent, ethical, and environmentally friendly mining location right here in the USA! You can learn more about our Mica and mining practices here: https://www.colors-effects.com/sustainability/mica/
For reference, the following Lip Tints do not contain Mica: Begonia, Gardenia, Viola, Nolana.”
I hope this article helped you to understand Ogee’s cruelty-free and vegan status and by choosing cruelty-free together, we can help end animal testing for cosmetics once and for all!