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You can find Zoeva cruelty-free products at
Zoeva is Cruelty-Free
Zoeva 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 Zoeva to be Cruelty-Free.
Below is a screenshot of what’s currently stated on Zoeva’s website about its animal testing policy:
What About China’s Animal Testing Laws?
Zoeva has confirmed they do not sell their products in retail stores in mainland China; therefore, they are not required to test on animals.
“ZOEVA does not sell products to any stores in mainland 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.
Zoeva 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 Zoeva, not all of their products are vegan. But they have some products that are suitable for vegans.
Update! Zoeva no longer sells makeup brushes made from real animal hair. All of their makeup brushes are now 100% vegan and they only use synthetic fibers now!
The following is a screenshot of what’s currently stated on Zoeva’s website about its vegan makeup brushes:
How to know which of Zoeva’s products are vegan?
All of Zoeva’s vegan products are clearly marked on their website.
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 Zoeva’s products made?
Zoeva states on its website:
“Where are ZOEVA products manufactured?
Our ZOEVA cosmetic brushes are manufactured in the northeastern region of China. There, the craft has been passed down through generations for centuries and is traditionally rooted in the culture. The warm, dry climate provides optimal manufacturing conditions, which is why the brush is native to this part of China.
Our cosmetic products are made in Italy and Germany, our skincare products are made in South Korea and Germany.”
*Note: Cosmetics made in China are not required to be tested on animals. Only cosmetics that are imported and sold in physical stores in mainland China are required to be tested on animals according to China’s animal testing laws.
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 Zoeva if their mica is ethically sourced without the use of child labor and they responded by stating,
“Thank you for your patience regarding your question about mica sourcing.
All of ZOEVA’s color cosmetic products are produced within Europe. We are happy to confirm and share with you that we require all of our suppliers to sign ethical agreements that adhere to numerous international rules, regulations, and guidelines that foster human rights throughout the entire supply chain.
ZOEVA’s frame of reference encompasses the principles promoted in:
- The Universal Declaration of Human Rights
- The United Nations Global Compact
- The United Nations Women’s Empowerment Principles
- The Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development
- The conventions of the International Labor Organization (“”ILO””)
- The European Union Timber Regulation (“”EUTR””)
- The European Union Cosmetic Regulation (“”EUCR””)
We can also confirm that audits are performed regularly which are intended to maintain a high standard of compliance.
We really appreciate you raising this very important question! We are members of an organization that empowers ethical supply chains as these topics are also very important to us. We have forwarded your question to our team for further information and as soon as we have an answer, we will get back to you.”
I hope this article helped you to understand Zoeva’s cruelty-free and vegan status and by choosing cruelty-free together, we can help end animal testing for cosmetics once and for all!
