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It’s great to see Sephora carrying a growing collection of cruelty-free and vegan brands now!
They actually have a section on their online store dedicated to showcasing only vegan makeup, vegan skincare, vegan haircare, and vegan fragrances.
They’ve also added a ‘Vegan’ filter in ingredient preferences. This allows you to narrow down your product search to only show results that are vegan.
I love this some-what new feature they rolled out but I’ve noticed a handful of products that were being categorized as ‘Vegan’ by Sephora, were actually from brands that weren’t even cruelty-free. Meaning, brands that DO test on animals, were considered Vegan by Sephora.
Related: Guide To Understanding The Difference Between “Cruelty-Free” and “Vegan” Cosmetics
Why Sephora’s ‘Vegan’ Filter Can’t Be Trusted
Sephora doesn’t explain how they classify or feature products in its Vegan product category. The only thing I see that mentions its criteria is in the header banner that says “Vegan Beauty to Love. High-performance formulas with no animal products or by-products.”
So, based on this one sentence, I’m assuming Sephora’s one and only criteria in classifying products as ‘Vegan’ is when they’re not formulated with animal ingredients or by-products. And the retailer doesn’t take into consideration whether the brand or product was tested on animals, anywhere in the world.
Unfortunately, this means many of the brands they feature in their vegan section are from brands that allow their products to be tested on animals. Usually, its because the brand is selling its products in stores in mainland China where animal testing is required by law.
‘Vegan’ Cosmetics that were Tested on Animals
In this post, I’m sharing some of the brands and their products that Sephora has labeled as ‘Vegan’ but when in fact, they aren’t Cruelty-Free. So that you can avoid these animal-tested brands while shopping at Sephora.
I think Sephora is definitely on the right track of offering a wide selection of vegan cosmetics. But, I just think they need to do a better job of filtering out brands that allow their products to be tested on animals. Or, Sephora needs to be more strict with its Vegan criteria and standards.
Origins is not cruelty-free, its products are sold in China. Origins is also owned by Estee Lauder, a parent company that is also not cruelty-free. Origins claims they don’t believe in animal testing, however, “some countries where Origins is sold require animal testing on all imported cosmetics as part of their regulator safety process.” Therefore, Origins products are required by law to be tested on animals when sold in China.
Clinique is not cruelty-free, its products are sold in China. Clinique is also owned by Estee Lauder, a parent company that is also not cruelty-free. Clinique states they do not conduct animal testing on its products or ingredients, nor ask others to test on its behalf, except when required by law. Clinique products are required by law to be tested on animals when sold in China.
Klorane is not cruelty-free, its products are sold in China. Klorane claims do not perform animal testing on any of its products. However, they state “We market our products in China and tests imposed by local regulations are performed by laboratories accredited by the Chinese authorities. Some of these tests are performed on animals. We do not agree to this practice; however we cannot oppose it.” As a result, Klorane products are required by law to be tested on animals when sold in China.
Laneige is not cruelty-free, its products are sold in China. Laneige is also owned by Amorepacific, a parent company that is also not cruelty-free. Laneige has the same animal testing policy as Amorepacific. Stating they don’t test on animals but exceptions to this prinicple will apply, however, if animal testing is required or bound by local governments or laws. Laneige products are required by law to be tested on animals when sold in China.
Algenist is not cruelty-free, its products are sold in China. Algenist claims they do not conduct animal testing, nor ask others to test on its behalf unless required by law, regulation, or a governmental authority. Algenist products are required by law to be tested on animals when sold in China.
Bobbi Brown is not cruelty-free, its products are sold in China. Bobbi Brown is also owned by Estee Lauder, a parent company that is also not cruelty-free. Bobbi Brown claims they do not test its products or ingredients on animals, or ask others to test on its behalf, except where required by law. Bobbi Brown’s products are required by law to be tested on animals when sold in China.
Caudalie is not cruelty-free, its products are sold in China. Caudalie claims none of its products or the ingredients they use are tested on animals, in accordance with European regulations. However, they state, “in China, where our products are distributed, authorities may impose random animal testing.” As a result, Caudalie products are required by law to be tested on animals when sold in China.
Eve Lom is not cruelty-free, its products are sold in China. Eve Lom claims they do not test on animals and never ask others to do so on its behalf. However, if an international authority demands such testing for safety or regulatory assessment, unfortunately, it is obliged to comply. Eve Lom products are required by law to be tested on animals when sold in China.
GLAMGLOW is not cruelty-free, its products are sold in China. GLAMGLOW is also owned by Estee Lauder, a parent company that is also not cruelty-free. GLAMGLOW claims they do not test its products on animals, nor ask others to conduct animal testing on its behalf, except when required by law. GLAMGLOW products are required by law to be tested on animals when sold in China.
Sephora’s private label, Sephora Collection is not cruelty-free. The Sephora Collection is sold in China where animal testing is mandatory for all imported cosmetics. As a result, the Sephora brand itself is not cruelty-free.
