Laura Mercier is a globally recognized makeup and skincare brand known for delivering “flawless face” products. Founded by the French makeup artist Laura Mercier in 1996, the brand has been synonymous with luxury, quality, and the art of natural beauty. Today, it is part of the Shiseido Group and its products are sold in more than 1,200 stores across 27 countries.
Laura Mercier’s product line is extensive, including everything from foundation to eyeshadow, lipstick to skincare. Their products are known for their high-quality ingredients and appealing, minimalist packaging. The brand’s philosophy is to create a “flawless face”, and they offer a variety of products designed to help achieve this goal.
However, as more consumers are becoming conscious of the impact of their purchases, many are questioning whether popular brands like Laura Mercier align with their values. Specifically, they want to know: Is Laura Mercier a clean brand? In this article, we’ll dig deeper into Laura Mercier’s cruelty-free and vegan claims, explore the meaning of ‘clean’ in the beauty industry and assess the ingredients and sources used by the brand.
Exploring Laura Mercier’s Cruelty-Free Claims
Cruelty-free cosmetics mean that they were developed and produced without any testing on animals. In recent years, being a cruelty-free brand has become a major selling point for many cosmetics companies. Laura Mercier claims to be a cruelty-free brand, but let’s take a closer look at what this claim means.
Laura Mercier is certified as “cruelty-free” by PETA’s Beauty Without Bunnies program. This means that the brand has publicly confirmed that it doesn’t conduct, commission, or pay for any tests on animals for its ingredients, formulations, or finished products anywhere in the world and has agreed not to do so in the future.
However, it’s worth noting that while Laura Mercier is cruelty-free, their parent company, Shiseido, is not. Shiseido sells its products in mainland China where animal testing is required by law for imported cosmetics. This has led to some debate within the cruelty-free community about whether or not to support brands owned by parent companies that test on animals.
Delving into Laura Mercier’s Vegan Claims
“Dermatologically and allergy tested to minimize the risk of allergies and irritation”, this is how Laura Mercier introduces its products. However, the question of whether Laura Mercier is a vegan brand is a bit more nuanced. A brand is vegan when it doesn’t use any animal-derived ingredients or by-products in its formulations.
Upon investigating Laura Mercier’s vegan claims, it’s evident that not all of their products are vegan. Some products contain ingredients like beeswax, carmine, and lanolin, which are derived from animals. For example, their popular Caviar Stick Eye Colour contains carmine, an ingredient derived from insects.
The brand does offer a selection of vegan products, such as their Flawless Lumière Radiance-Perfecting Foundation and Translucent Loose Setting Powder. However, because not all of their products are vegan, Laura Mercier cannot be classified as a fully vegan brand.
The Meaning of ‘Clean’ in the Beauty Industry
In the beauty industry, the term ‘clean’ can be quite ambiguous and it is not regulated by any governing body. It is generally meant to indicate products that are free from harmful chemicals and toxins, often also implying that they are environmentally friendly and ethically produced.
Broadly speaking, a clean product should not contain ingredients like parabens, sulfates, phthalates, and other synthetic chemicals associated with health risks. However, because the term is not regulated, different brands may have different interpretations of what ‘clean’ means.
Some interpret ‘clean’ to mean natural or organic ingredients, while others interpret it as non-toxic or safe for use. Regardless, the key idea is that clean beauty products should not harm the user or the environment.
Establishing What Constitutes a Clean Brand
To establish what constitutes a clean brand, we need a set of standards against which to assess a brand’s claims. Many experts and industry watchdogs consider a brand to be ‘clean’ if it meets the following criteria:
- Cruelty-free: The brand does not test on animals at any stage of product development.
- Vegan: The brand does not use any animal-derived ingredients or by-products.
- Free from toxic ingredients: The brand does not use ingredients linked with health risks, such as parabens, phthalates, sulfates, and synthetic fragrances.
- Eco-friendly: The brand uses environmentally-friendly packaging, sources ingredients sustainably, and minimizes its carbon footprint.
- Transparent: The brand openly shares information about its ingredient sourcing and manufacturing processes.
However, keep in mind that due to the lack of regulations in the beauty industry, these standards can vary widely.
Assessing Laura Mercier’s Ingredients and Sources
When it comes to assessing Laura Mercier’s ingredients and their sources, we find a mixed bag. The brand does use high-quality ingredients, with a focus on producing luxury cosmetics that deliver results.
However, not all their products are free from controversial ingredients. For instance, some Laura Mercier products have been found to contain parabens, a class of chemicals often associated with health risks. Parabens are typically used as preservatives in cosmetics and personal care products.
In addition, while Laura Mercier commits to being a cruelty-free brand, they do not provide much information about their ingredient sourcing or manufacturing processes. This lack of transparency makes it difficult to assess whether or not they meet the standards for a clean brand.
Expert Opinions on Laura Mercier’s Clean Status
So, what do the experts say about Laura Mercier’s clean status? Opinions are divided.
Some beauty insiders commend the brand for its cruelty-free stance and commitment to producing high-quality products. However, others criticize the brand for not being fully vegan and for using controversial ingredients in some of their products.
In the words of beauty blogger and conscious consumer advocate, Jenna Catherine, “Laura Mercier is in a grey area. They are making strides towards being a clean brand but they are not there yet. They need to improve their transparency and eliminate all controversial ingredients from their products.”
Conclusion: Is Laura Mercier Truly a Clean Brand?
Based on the evidence available, while Laura Mercier makes a strong effort to align with the clean beauty movement, it does not fully meet all of the industry’s recognized criteria for being a clean brand.
Yes, Laura Mercier is a cruelty-free brand but they fall short in being fully vegan. They also use certain ingredients that are seen as controversial in the clean beauty space and lack transparency about their ingredient sourcing and manufacturing processes.
So, while Laura Mercier shows a commitment to creating quality, cruelty-free cosmetics, there is room for them to grow in terms of becoming a truly clean brand. It would be beneficial for them to work towards greater transparency, and to consider reformulating their products to eliminate all controversial ingredients and to offer more vegan options.
In conclusion, consumers who value both high-quality cosmetics and clean beauty principles may need to make a personal decision about whether Laura Mercier aligns with their values based on the information available.
