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Clinique is not cruelty-free. It sells products in markets where companies could be required by law, so could be complicit in pre or post-market animal testing. It is also neither vegan nor vegetarian.
Is Clinique Cruelty-Free?
Clinique is not cruelty-free. It sells products in markets where animal testing is required by law.
And whilst it’s unclear if Clinique itself tests ingredients on animals, it is complicit in pre or post-market animal testing and its suppliers may test on animals too.
Clinique Ethical Overview
- Clinique is not cruelty-free
- It does sell products in China
- Clinique isn’t vegan
- Clinique is vegetarian – although it uses lanolin and carmine so may not be suitable for everyone
- No Clinique isn’t palm-oil free
Is Clinique sold in China?
Yes Clinique sells products in China.
Both Clinique’s own products – and the products of most of the companies under the Estee Lauder Companies umbrella – are sold in China. This makes Clinique (and its suppliers) potentially complicit in animal testing.
- UPDATE: China’s animal testing laws have been updated recently
Whilst we cannot now claim that countries involved in selling products in China can be cruelty-free, China’s animal testing policy is no longer as black and white is it seemed.
So what is Clinique’s Official Stance on Animal Testing?
Clinique’s official stance on animal testing is:
“We do not conduct animal testing on our products or ingredients, nor ask others to test on our behalf, except when required by law.”
Ultimately Clinique are willing to pay for – and allow others to test on its behalf – animal testing on its products or ingredients.
Cruelty-Free Alternatives to Clinique
FAQs
No Clinique isn’t certified cruelty-free by any organisations because it sells its products in China and is complicit in animal testing.
No Clinique isn’t Leaping Bunny certified.
No but at least 90% of Estee Lauder’s palm-based ingredients will be certified sustainable from RSPO physical supply chains by 2025.
And suppliers must not partake in deforestation. Although this doesn’t include third party ingredients…
So whilst Clinique is a member of the RSPO, there’s plenty of work to be done.
Yes Clinique is technically vegetarian as the animal products used are carmine and lanolin. Although some veggies don’t like the idea of using products with carmine as it is produced from beetles.
Although as it tests on animals we could never consider it so.
No Clinique isn’t organic – and it doesn’t claim to be.
Yes Clinique is free-from parabens and phthalates.
Clinique is not a vegan brand as its products contain multiple animal derivatives.
And we could never consider Clinique a vegan brand as it is complicit in animal testing.
Clinique is owned by Estee Lauder – an American multinational manufacturer and marketer of skincare, makeup, fragrance and hair care products
Who owns Clinique?
