Laneige is a popular Korean skincare brand but is Laneige cruelty-free?

Is Laneige Cruelty-Free?

Laneige is NOT Cruelty-free. Laneige pays and allows their products to be tested on animals when required by law. Also, Laneige sells its products in stores in mainland China where animal testing is mandatory for most imported cosmetics.

In addition, Laneige is owned by Amorepacific Group, a corporation that is also not cruelty-free.

Laneige Animal Testing Statement

On Laneige’s website, they claim “LANEIGE does not conduct animal testing on cosmetics. We do not use animal-derived ingredients in LANEIGE skincare.” But this is not enough information for us to consider any brand to be cruelty-free.

The following is a screenshot I took from Laneige’s company website (laneige.com) of their official animal testing policy:

But on Laneige’s US website (us.laneige.com), Laneige posted the animal testing statement of their parent company, Amorepacific.

Including the disclaimer of “exceptions to this principle will apply, however, if animal testing is required”

Policies stating, “exceptions are made if the law requires it”, usually implies the company is selling its products in mainland China. Most imported cosmetics sold in stores in mainland China are required by law to be tested on animals.

Is Laneige Sold in China?

I did some more research and later discovered that Laneige products are indeed sold in China.

How do I know that Laneige is selling in China?

On their US website, Laneige has a direct link to their mainland China site. That’s where I found a number of beauty counters carrying Laneige products.

Below is a screenshot I took from Laneige’s Chinese website clearly showing retailers carrying Laneige products:

Because of Laneige’s decision to sell its products in stores in mainland China, they must consent and pay to have their products tested on animals. That’s why most cosmetics brands selling in mainland China stores cannot be considered cruelty-free.

Although Laneige may not be conducting these animal tests themselves, they are knowingly allowing Chinese authorities to test their products on animals in order to sell in China.

Many truly cruelty-free brands have chosen not to sell their products in China because of the country’s animal testing laws. Unfortunately, Laneige refuses to do the same and has decided to put profits before the welfare of animals.

Summary: Laneige is NOT Cruelty-Free!

By choosing to sell in mainland China, Laneige must have their products tested on animals. Therefore I would not consider Laneige to be a cruelty-free brand.

Currently, Laneige is on our List of Brands to Avoid – Animal Tested.

Is Laneige Vegan?

Since we would not consider Laneige to be cruelty-free as their products are tested on animals when required by law, we also wouldn’t consider anything sold or manufactured by Laneige to be vegan.

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, and also must not contain any animal-derived ingredients or by-products.

I also noticed Sephora listing some of Laneige products in their “Vegan Skincare” category but note that Laneige is NOT cruelty-free. Laneige products are tested on animals.

I’m assuming Sephora is labeling products as “vegan” when they’re formulated without any animal ingredients or by-products. But “Vegan” Cosmetics should also consider whether the products or its ingredients were tested on animals, anywhere in the world.

Cruelty-Free Alternatives to Laneige:

Looking to switch to cruelty-free brands? Here are some cruelty-free and vegan-friendly options that are similar to Laneige:

• Glow Recipe – some vegan options
• TATCHA *owned by Unilever – some vegan options
• Drunk Elephant *owned by Shiseido – some vegan options
• Sunday Riley – some vegan options
• Herbivore – 100% Vegan

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