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Herbal Essences is neither cruelty-free nor vegan. Whilst it claims not to personally test ingredients and products on animals or work with suppliers who do so, it sells products in markets where animal testing can be mandated by law like its parent company Procter & Gamble.
Is Herbal Essences Cruelty-Free?
Herbal Essences is not truly confirmed as cruelty-free. Even if it claims otherwise.
Whilst the brand claims to not perform tests on animals personally – or work with third parties who may do – it is present in markets where animal testing can be mandated on imported cosmetics.
Head & Shoulders still features on our list of brands who are not cruelty-free.
Herbal Essences Ethical Overview
- No Herbal Essences isn’t cruelty-free
- Yes it sells products in China
- No Herbal Essences isn’t vegan
- Herbal Essences is not palm oil free – P&G is a substantial user of palm oil
- Herbal Essences is owned by Procter & Gamble
Is Herbal Essences sold in China?
Yes Herbal Essences sells products in mainland China.
And selling imported cosmetics in China still puts products at risk of being tested on animals in pre or post market. Whilst PETA have welcomed Herbal Essences onto the ‘Beauty Without Bunnies’ list, it is unclear how Herbal Essences could get round the Chinese authorities.
PETA’s statement reads:
“And even though Herbal Essences is sold in China, where tests on animals are required for many products, the brand has worked within Chinese regulations to make sure that will never happen.”
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.
Is Herbal Essences Vegan?
Herbal Essences is not a vegan brand.
Whilst Herbal Essences may offer some vegan products, many products contain honey and beeswax. And as the brand is likely complicit in animal testing, it cannot be considered vegan.
Cruelty-Free Alternatives to Herbal Essences
FAQs
Herbal Essences is owned by P&G – Procter & Gamble – an American multinational consumer goods corporation who also own brands like: Gillette, Olay, Aussie, Head & Shoulders and Fairy.
Whilst Herbal Essences is certified cruelty-free by PETA, the brand may not test products or ingredients on animals personally, it sells products in China.
And its explanation of how it gets round China’s animal testing laws is not completely transparent.
No Herbal Essences isn’t Leaping Bunny certified. However PETA features Herbal Essences as a brand that does NOT test products on animals and isn’t complicit in animal testing.
Herbal Essences claims to not test on animals personally, but still sells products in China.
As such the brand is complicit in animal testing as it pays for local authorities to test its products on animals in pre or post market testing.
Whilst Herbal Essences bio:renew shampoos qualify as 90% natural and are free-from parabens and other synthetic preservatives and potentially toxic ingredients, Herbal Essences is not paraben free.
Whilst Herbal Essences has a line of sulfate-free shampoos, the brand does use sulfates in other products so be sure to check every label carefully.
Whilst Herbal Essences bio:renew shampoos qualify as 90% natural and the brand is free-from: BHA, coal dyes, mineral oil, phthalates and colourants, it does not qualify as all-natural.
It does also have a range of sulfate-free shampoos. But sulfates do feature in other products.
Herbal Essences is not a palm oil free brand.
Whilst its parent company – P&G – has partnered with the WWF to source sustainable palm oil, P&G has a chequered past with the palm oil it, and its subsidiaries have used. And it still has Ethical Consumer’s worst rated palm oil policy.
