UZ

Last Updated: January 17, 2022

How Ethical Is UZ?

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 UZ's ethics and initiatives.

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Ethical Analysis

Is UZ cruelty-free, vegan, or sustainable? We’ve got the answers here! Read below for more details on UZ’s policies.
UZ is cruelty-free. None of UZ’s ingredients, formulations, or finished products are tested on animals anywhere in the world.
Not all of UZ’s products are vegan, but they have some vegan options.
UZ claims they’re committed to using sustainably sourced ingredients for long-term ecological balance. But it’s not clear from their website what their sustainable ingredient sourcing policy is.

UZ also claims its product containers are made with recycled materials. And the packaging for their Eye Opening Liners are made from recycled paper and a pulp-mold technique that uses fewer materials.
UZ’s products do not contain mica.
UZ’s products come in plastic packaging, but they claim their containers are made with recycled plastic and recycled steel.

About UZ

UZ is a Japanese-born beauty and makeup brand where craftsmanship meets modern design.
COMPANY BASED IN: USA
PRODUCTS MADE IN: Japan
PRODUCTS: Makeup
CERTIFICATIONS: N/A

UZ

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UZ is Cruelty-Free

UZ 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 UZ to be Cruelty-Free.

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

UZ Cruelty-Free Claims

What About China’s Animal Testing Laws?

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

“Our products are not sold in China.”

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.

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

How to know which of UZ’s products are vegan?

All of UZ’s vegan products are clearly marked on their website.

In addition, on their FAQ page, it states:

“The following eyeliners are vegan: Black, Brown Black, Brown, Gray, Khaki, Yellow, Light Blue, White, Pitch Black, Matte Black, Metallic Black, Platinum Black, Green Black.

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.

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.

Thankfully, UZ’s products do not contain mica.


I hope this article helped you understand UZ’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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