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L’Oreal is not cruelty-free. It is a multinational parent company who is complicit in animal testing and owns a plethora of brands who are equally complicit.
Is L’Oreal Cruelty-Free?
L’Oreal is not cruelty-free.
It sells products in markets where animal testing can be mandated by law and has no control over whether products will or won’t be tested on animals in those markets.
L’Oreal Ethical Overview
- No L’Oreal isn’t cruelty-free
- Yes L’Oreal sells its products in China
- No it isn’t vegan, but is vegetarian
- L’Oreal isn’t palm oil free
Is L’Oreal sold in China?
Yes L’Oreal sells products in China.
Both L’Oreals own products – and the products of most of the companies under its umbrella – are sold in China.
UPDATE: 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.
What is L’Oreal’s Official Stance on Animal Testing?
“Today, L’Oreal no longer tests its ingredients on animals. L’Oréal no longer tolerates any exception to this rule.
Certain health authorities may nevertheless decide to conduct animal tests themselves for certain cosmetic products, as it is still the case in China.
L’Oréal is the most active company working alongside the Chinese authorities and scientists for over 10 years to have alternative testing methods recognized, and permit the cosmetic regulation to evolve towards a total and definite elimination of animal testing.”
So whilst L’Oreal claims it is committed to finding alternatives to animal testing, it is very much complicit in large scale testing of products and ingredients on animals.
Cruelty-Free Alternatives to L’Oreal
These are a few of our favourite cruelty-free, sustainable makeup brands that we (Adelle) use all the time.
You could also try one of our favourite cruelty-free shampoos as an alternative to L’Oreal.
FAQs
No L’Oreal isn’t certified cruelty-free by any organisations because it sells its products in China.
No L’Oreal isn’t Leaping Bunny certified.
No but L’Oreal is a member of multiple sustainable PO bodies, sells 100% certified RSPO PO and has complete supplier traceability.
And they must be deforestation-free. So as larger companies go, L’Oreal’s stance on sustainable palm-oil is ahead of the curve.
Yes L’Oreal is technically vegetarian. Although as it tests on animals we could never consider it so.
No L’Oreal isn’t organic – and it doesn’t claim to be.
No L’Oreal isn’t paraben-free.
L’Oreal is not a vegan brand as its products contain multiple animal derivatives.
And even though it has recently launched a new vegan line, we would never consider L’Oreal a vegan brand because it sells products in markets where animal testing is required by law.
And L’Oreal has a history of labelling brands as vegan whilst testing products on animals.
