IS ELEMIS CRUELTY-FREE? DOES THE BRAND TEST ON ANIMALS, ARE THEY VEGAN, DO THEY SELL IN CHINA, AND WHAT IS THEIR CURRENT CRUELTY-FREE STATUS?
Is Elemis Cruelty-Free?
Are Elemis products cruelty-free? No, Elemis is not cruelty-free. Elemis products are sold in countries where animal testing is required by law.
Animal Testing For Cosmetic Products
The cosmetic industry is massive and brings in over $500 billion in revenue every year. With this amount of money on the line, cosmetic companies must ensure that their products are safe for human use.
Unfortunately, the way that many of these products are tested results in the death and injury of millions of animals. As a consumer, it’s important to understand where your beauty products come from and ensure they align with your values.
Animal Testing And The Cosmetics Industry
Animal testing has been used in the cosmetic industry for nearly 100 years. The most common animals used in cosmetic product testing are rats, mice, rabbits, and guinea pigs.
Some examples of animal testing include:
- Rubbing the product on shaved skin to see if there will be a rash or other allergic reaction.
- Applying cosmetics around or directly in the eye to test if the product will cause irritation.
- Forcing ingestion over a set amount of time to see if there will be any long-lasting effects such as cancer, birth defects, or other chronic illnesses.
- Giving increasingly large quantities of a substance to determine what amount is harmful or even lethal.
Typically, the animals used in these tests receive no pain relief or medication. Animals who are injured beyond their usefulness in a lab are usually euthanized.
The good news is that more and more companies are moving away from testing that involves animals. Many of the non-animal tests available today are more accurate, faster, and safer than traditional animal testing.
Does Elemis Test On Animals?
Elemis products are sold in mainland China where animal testing is required by law.
Is Elemis Vegan?
Is Elemis vegan? No, Elemis products are not 100% vegan meaning some of their products contain ingredients derived from animals or animal by-products.
Vegan And Cruelty-Free: What’s The Difference?
While many people use the terms vegan and cruelty-free interchangeably, there is a distinct difference. If you are going to make an informed decision about the products that you purchase and consume, it’s important to understand the terminology and exactly what you are buying.
If a product is vegan, there will be no animal-derived products found on the ingredient label. Some animal products can be easily spotted such as beeswax and milk protein. Other animal products are not so obvious such as collagen, keratin, and lanolin. Look for products that are clearly labeled as vegan to avoid accidentally purchasing cosmetics that contain animal products.
The process by which a product is tested will determine whether it is cruelty-free or not. Only products that have not been tested on animals can be labeled as cruelty-free.
Keep in mind that just because a product is vegan or cruelty-free does not mean they are both. Vegan refers only to the ingredients and cruelty-free only refers to the testing process.
It’s possible for a product to be vegan and not cruelty-free. Likewise, a product can be cruelty-free and not vegan. For example, you could purchase an eyeliner that contains no animal products but was tested on animals.
Elemis Animal Testing Policy
The Elemis animal testing policy states:
ELEMIS do not test on animals and does not use animal bi-products apart from honey, beeswax and milk proteins.”
Is Animal Testing Ethical?
This can be a landmine of a question depending on who you ask. Some people argue that animal testing is perfectly fine since you are using it to ensure no further suffering in humans.
Others will argue that no level of benefit will ever justify the pain and suffering that these animals are subjected to. This is a decision that every person will have to make on their own.
Is Elemis Owned By A Parent Company?
Who owns Elemis? Elemis is owned by L’Occitane, a parent company that tests on animals.
Is Elemis Sold In China?
Does Elemis sell in China? Yes, Elemis is sold in mainland China where animal testing is required by law.
Is Elemis Palm Oil Free?
Does Elemis use palm oil in their products? Yes, Elemis products contain palm oil which means they are not 100% palm oil free.
Elemis Falls Into One Or More Of The Following Categories:
- Their finished products have been tested on animals
- They have outsourced or commissioned animal testing to third parties
- Their products are sold in mainland China
- Their products are sold in countries where animal testing is required by law
- The individual ingredients in their products have been tested on animals at some point
Should Animal Testing Be Banned?
If you believe that animal testing is unethical, you will be happy to know that many countries have already begun the process of banning or limiting the use of animal testing in cosmetic products.
The European Union, India, Israel, and Norway have banned animal testing and imported cosmetics that have been tested on animals. Several other countries have proposed similar legislation so this list is likely to grow.
If you believe that animal testing should be banned, there are things that you can do to shape the future of the cosmetics industry. First, you can decide to purchase only vegan and cruelty-free products.
If people stop buying unethical products, companies will stop producing them. Next, encourage your local representatives to propose legislation or support any cruelty-free legislation that is pending approval.
Finally, be sure to educate your friends and family about animal tested products.
