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Yes Aesop is certified cruelty-free by PETA and the Leaping Bunny Certification.
It does not sell any products in countries where animal testing can be mandated by law, work with suppliers who may test ingredients on animals or test ingredients or products on animals itself.
Aesop do – occasionally – offer some discounts on their website. Which you can find below, alongside our pick of the deals.
Is Aesop Vegan?
Yes Aesop is a completely vegan brand. Every product is free-from animal byproducts.
There are no animal-derived ingredients (such as beeswax, honey or lanolin) used in Aesop products. So you can shop safely in the knowledge that every product is vegan-friendly.
Is Aesop a Clean Beauty Brand?
Aesop cannot be considered a clean beauty brand because it isn’t free-from chemicals associated with unclean beauty. Preservatives like parabens for example.
Whilst we would consider Aesop clean – thanks to the lack of animal testing, products and sustainable options – it doesn’t fit into the clean beauty movement.
Aesop’s Product Range?
Aesop’s Hero Product
Aesop’s Primrose Facial Cleanser is a firm favourite of ours.
This very mild exfoliant – thanks to the presence of lactic acid and ultra-nourishing jojoba oil. is super for sensitive skin and at fighting the signs of ageing.
At £28.70 for 200ml it is a premium product that’s worth every penny.
What else do we love about Aesop?
Aesop’s product quality is almost unwaveringly good. But that’s not the main reason we love Aesop. That’s an almost non-negotiable with premium products.
What really stands out to us the environmental commitment from the start.
- Supply chain transparency – key for anything animal testing related and the sustainable sourcing of materials
- Continuous evaluation – of environmental and manufacturing processes to minimise impact
- Biodegradable – key for cleaning solutions and SPF-based products – to ensure they’re all ‘reef safe’
Aesop Cruelty-Free Review FAQs
Aesop does not sell products in China.
Whilst selling general use cosmetics in China no longer puts them at risk of animal testing, Aesop has never sold products in China.
Aesop does not test any products or ingredients on animals, work with suppliers who may do or sell products in countries where animal testing can be mandated by law.
Yes Aesop is certified cruelty-free by PETA’s leaping Bunny Accreditation.
Yes all of Aesop’s products are paraben-free.
No Aesop is not zero waste.
The products and packaging are largely made very sustainably and it incorporates a huge amount of recycled material at every opportunity. But it is not zero waste.
All Aesop products are made in Australia with the exception of the shaving accessories which are manufactured in England and Japan, and the fragrance and room spray ranges which are manufactured in France.
No Aesop’s products are not exclusively organic.
Whilst many of the brands products would be labelled as natural, many formulations contain scientifically created synthetic fragrances or ingredients.
Aesop is not a completely palm-oil free brand, but it is a member of the RSPO.
As part of the palm trace scheme, it offsets all remaining palm oil (and derivatives) consumption, which gives back to growers from communities who need it.
Aesop is owned by Natura & Co – a Brazilian corporation who also own cruelty-free stalwarts The Body Shop amongst other brands.
Aesop is not fragrance-free.
Many of the products contain synthetic fragrances as substitutes for animal -based ingredients.
Yes Aesop’s packaging is (largely) recycled and recyclable. Aesop do have a page on the sustainability (and ethos) of the packaging used for its products.
And since inception the packaging has never stood out. It has always looked fairly premium and polished. But it is definitely minimalist. And that stems from the desire to minimise planetary impact.
Over 80% of the plastic packaging is made from PCR and as a brand Aesop seems to be focused on continuing to minimise the amount of packaging used.