While a lot of companies claim to be animal-friendly, it’s tough to get an accurate answer on whether or not they are truly animal-friendly.
I’ve done my research on E.l.f products and have found out whether they are vegan or cruelty-free.
Is E.l.f Vegan and Cruelty-Free?
What does cruelty-free mean?
Cruelty-free products are not made from animals or animal-derived ingredients and do not support animal testing.
They may contain some synthetic ingredients, but the overall ingredients in a product are completely natural.
In addition, these companies try to be as transparent as possible about their business practices by providing a list of all their suppliers.
Is E.l.f. cruelty-free?
No, this company is not cruelty-free (and neither is Urban Decay). Its parent company is L’Oréal, which tests on animals and is not vegan or vegetarian; that said, they have taken steps to make sure they’re no longer using animal products.
Does E.l.f. Test on Animals?
E.l.f. is considered a cruelty-free brand because the company does not test on animals, nor do they allow their suppliers or any third parties to conduct animal testing on their behalf.
Additionally, E.l.f.’s supply chain is audited each year to ensure compliance with its animal welfare policy and again during its annual supplier certification process.
Furthermore, E.l.f’s policy applies to all products sold in China and other countries that require animal testing for cosmetics sold within the region; however, the company does not sell directly to these markets itself (i.e., China) through its own channels but rather relies on third parties (i.e., retailers) who are required by law to submit samples of the product for testing prior to being made available for consumer purchase in-country or online through platforms like Alibaba’s Tmall Global e-commerce site.”
What Is E.l.f’s Animal Testing Policy?
E.l.f has a strong commitment to non-animal testing, including in-house testing and the use of manufacturers that have not conducted animal tests on their products.
The company is a part of PETA’s Caring Consumer program, which requires E.l.f to be cruelty-free and never test products or ingredients on animals after a fixed cut-off date.
Additionally, E.l.f.’s suppliers are also required to follow this policy and must sign a statement confirming that all raw materials used by the brand have been manufactured without animal testing for finished products or ingredients involved in producing them.
E.l.f is also certified as cruelty-free by both the U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Is E.l.f Environmentally Friendly?
While the company does not appear to be carbon neutral, it has several green initiatives that indicate a commitment to environmentally friendly business practices.
For example, E.l.f. has implemented a recycling program whereby any customer can return five empty containers for free shipping on their next order.
It also offers free shipping on all orders over $25, as well as an auto-refill subscription service that allows customers to have their favorite products automatically sent every month with no extra charge for shipping and handling.
In addition to its environmental policies, E.l.f has other programs in place that allow it to be more sustainable and eco-friendly post-purchase: the brand uses 100% recyclable packaging and offers refillable makeup palettes which reduce the amount of plastic waste created by consumers who would otherwise buy each individual product separately (in non-recyclable plastic).
The only major downside is that you will have to wash out your refillable palette after use—but this helps save money because refills are cheaper than buying new products!
Does Elf Sell in China
Yes, and no—the situation is a bit complicated.
Here’s why: E.l.f has recently ceased distribution of products in mainland China due to the country’s requirement that animal testing is performed on all imported cosmetics before they’re allowed to be sold within the country.
This means that at this time, you won’t find any products from E.l.f in stores in Beijing, Shanghai, or other large cities (cities with fewer than 20,000 residents are not required to test).
But what about Hong Kong?
Well, even though Hong Kong isn’t part of mainland China, it does still require some forms of animal testing for new ingredients used in cosmetics; however not all cosmetic companies have completely abandoned selling their product here as E.l.f has done with mainland China.
Is E.l.f Approved by Peta?
You may have heard that E.l.f. is cruelty-free, but there’s another level of certification that Peta offers for companies that are both vegan and cruelty-free: the Peta-approved bunny logo.
This is one of the hottest seals to get as a cosmetics company because it lets consumers know your brand is completely ethically made from start to finish and has never been tested on animals at any point in production or sale.
It’s no surprise then that so many brands are racing to get this coveted seal.
But unfortunately, E.l.f.’s efforts haven’t been enough to achieve this status yet—and they’ve actually tried pretty hard!
They’ve even gone as far as applying for Peta approval in the past but were denied because their products still contained ingredients derived from animals or insects—which is not allowed if you want to receive Peta’s stamp of approval.
What Animal Derivatives Are in E.l.f Products?
It’s important to note that some of e.l.f’s products do contain animal-derived ingredients, such as beeswax.
Beeswax is a by-product of honey production and is commonly found in lipsticks, mascaras, and eyeliners, which explains why none of the above-mentioned products are suitable for vegetarians.
Are the Brushes From E.l.f Vegan and Cruelty-free?
E.L.F. Cosmetics is a cruelty-free, vegan makeup brand that’s made it easy to look gorgeous without costing a fortune.
To help you get the best tips and advice on looking your best, here are some things you should know about E.L.F.:
- E.L.F is vegan and Leaping Bunny certified
- E.L.F.’s brushes are made with synthetic bristles
- The brand has a wide range of cosmetics ranging from eyeshadow palettes to liquid lipsticks.
Is the E.l.f. Brush Shampoo Vegan?
The E.l.f Brush Shampoo is vegan, so if you’re seeking a vegan brush shampoo, add this to your list of options!
The ingredients are Water (Aqua), Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Glycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Polysorbate 20, Hexylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin , Fragrance (Parfum), and Citric Acid.
Final Thoughts
At the time of writing this article, E.l.f cosmetics is NOT cruelty free and they do (in fact) test on animals.
They are not cruelty-free because they provide some of their products to China, which in turn requires that these products are tested on animals.
This is why in order to sell in China, brands cannot be sold from their website and most The Body Shop brands are sold on various Chinese e-commerce sites.
