Skin Republic

Last Updated: January 12, 2022

How Ethical Is Skin Republic?

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 Skin Republic's ethics and initiatives.

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Ethical Analysis

Is Skin Republic cruelty-free, vegan, or sustainable? We’ve got the answers here! Read below for more details on Skin Republic’s policies.
Skin Republic is cruelty-free. None of Skin Republic’s ingredients, formulations, or finished products are tested on animals, anywhere in the world.
Not all of Skin Republic’s products are vegan but they have some vegan options.
Skin Republic claims their range is fully biodegradable including their mask and outer packaging. Skin Republic also claims to be committed “to creating products in the most ethical way possible” while “using responsibly sourced” plant-derived ingredients.

However, it’s not clear from their website what exactly their responsible sourcing and ethical practices and policies are.
Skin Republic has been non-responsive when I asked if their mica is ethically-sourced without the use of child labor.
Skin Republic claims their entire range is “fully biodegradable including the mask and outer packaging.”

About Skin Republic

Skin Republic is a multiple award winning skin care range combining the latest advances in skin care with nature’s restorative properties.
PRODUCTS MADE IN: South Korea
PRODUCTS: Skincare
CERTIFICATIONS: N/A

Skin Republic

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

You can find Skin Republic cruelty-free products on Amazon.

Skin Republic is Cruelty-Free

Skin Republic 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 Skin Republic to be Cruelty-Free.

The following is a screenshot of what’s currently stated on Skin Republic’s website:

Is Skin Republic Cruelty-Free?

What About China’s Animal Testing Laws?

Skin Republic 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.

Skin Republic 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 Skin Republic, not all of their products are vegan. But they have some products that are suitable for vegans.

How to know which of Skin Republic’s products are vegan?

Unfortunately, Skin Republic doesn’t label or mark which of their products are vegan-friendly. I’ve tried asking for a list and they told me the following Skin Republic items are vegan:

  • Foot Peel
  • Foot Repair
  • Bubble Purifying + Charcoal Face Mask
  • Charcoal Peel-Off Face Mask
  • Hydrating Koala Face Mask Sheet
  • Spot Clear Tiger Face Mask Sheet

The above vegan list was provided to me by Skin Republic but it’s best to always check the ingredients as formulations could change. Or message the company directly to ask for an updated vegan product list.

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 Skin Republic’s products made?

According to Skin Republic’s FAQ page, they claim their products are manufactured in South Korea.

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 Skin Republic if their mica is ethically sourced without the use of child labor, but they never responded to any of my emails or messages.


I hope this article helped you to understand Skin Republic’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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