So far Logical Harmony has let people know that popular Estee Lauder brands MAC and Smashbox are no longer cruelty free and now test on animals. With this change happening with two popular brands, I wanted to check with all of the other Estee Lauder brands to see if their stance has changed as well. Estee Lauder has openly tested on animals for a long time. However, a lot of the cosmetics brands owned by them have not and have undergone a recent policy change.
In total, Estee Lauder owns 25 brands. Aveda, Bobbi Brown, Bumble and bumble, Clinique, Estee Lauder, La Mer, MAC, Ojon, Origins and Smashbox are all popular brands owned by Estee Lauder. What my research into all Estee Lauder brands has found is that they all either openly state that they now test on animals or, as is the case with the fragrances, they make it very difficult to get an answer from them at all.
While many of these brands have never claimed to be cruelty free, many were once free of animal testing and also offered products suitable for vegans (free of both animal testing and ingredients). Please note that when the term “cruelty free” is used here on Logical Harmony, it means that the products were not tested by any company at any point during production and do not contain any ingredients that were tested by any company. In cases where all but the finished product is tested on animals or the testing is required by law, those brands will not be endorsed by Logical Harmony and will not be deemed cruelty free.
In this post, Logical Harmony will provide An Update on All Estee Lauder Brands and Animal Testing.
Since there are so many brands to cover, please click “read more” to read the entire post.
The full list of Estee Lauder brands is below. For those who don’t want to read the details of each brand, I’ve made notes next to each about their status as a cruelty free company. Below the list are details for each brand as well as an excerpt of their official stance on animal testing taken from either a company FAQ page or a representative of the brand.
- American Beauty – Not cruelty free.
- Amaris - Inconclusive due to no FAQ or brand representative contact information to be found.
- Aveda – Not cruelty free.
- Bobbi Brown – Inconclusive. There is no statement on the brand website. Waiting for a reply from a brand representative.
- Bumble and bumble – Not cruelty free.
- Clinque – Not cruelty free.
- Coach – Inconclusive. There is no statement on the brand website. Waiting for a reply from a brand representative.
- Darphin – Inconclusive. There is no statement on the brand website. Waiting for a reply from a brand representative.
- Donna Karan – Inconclusive. There is no statement on the brand website. Waiting for a reply from a brand representative.
- Ermenegildo Zegna - Inconclusive. There is no statement on the brand website. Waiting for a reply from a brand representative.
- Estee Lauder – Not cruelty free.
- Flirt! – Inconclusive due to no official website for the line exists or brand representative contact information to be found.
- Goodskin Labs – Inconclusive. There is no statement on the brand website. Waiting for a reply from a brand representative.
- Grassroots Research Labs – Inconclusive. There is no statement on the brand website. Waiting for a reply from a brand representative.
- Jo Malone – Not cruelty free.
- Kiton – Inconclusive. There is no statement on the brand website. Waiting for a reply from a brand representative.
- La Mer – Not cruelty free.
- Lab Series Skincare For Men – Inconclusive. There is no statement on the brand website. Waiting for a reply from a brand representative.
- MAC – Not cruelty free.
- Michael Kors – Inconclusive. There is no statement on the brand website. Waiting for a reply from a brand representative.
- Missoni – Inconclusive. There is no statement on the brand website. Waiting for a reply from a brand representative.
- Ojon – Not cruelty free.
- Origins – Not cruelty free.
- Prescriptives – Inconclusive. There is no statement on the brand website. Waiting for a reply from a brand representative.
- Sean John – Inconclusive. There is no statement on the brand website. Waiting for a reply from a brand representative.
- Smashbox – Not cruelty free.
- Tom Ford – Inconclusive. There is no statement on the brand website. Waiting for a reply from a brand representative.
- Tommy Hilfiger – Inconclusive. There is no statement on the brand website. Waiting for a reply from a brand representative.
1. American Beauty – A line of cosmetics, skin care and fragrances. A link to their stance on animal testing can be found on their website on the FAQ page : http://www.americanbeautycosmetics.com/templates/customerservice/faq.tmpl#test_on_animals
“We do not conduct animal testing on our products or ingredients, nor ask others to test on our behalf, except when required by law. We evaluate our finished products in clinical tests on volunteer panels.”
The bottom line : American Beauty Is Not a Cruelty Free Company.
2. Amaris – A mens fragrance line. A link to their stance on animal testing cannot be found and contact information for a brand representative cannot be found.
The bottom line : Amaris is probably Not a Cruelty Free Company, but Logical Harmony cannot be positive due to a lack of information.
3. Aveda – A line of hair care, skin care, and cosmetics. A link to their stance on animal testing can be found on the FAQ page within the Customer service section : http://www.aveda.com/cms/customer_service/faq.tmpl#faq2
“We do not conduct animal testing on our products or ingredients, nor ask others to test on our behalf, except when required by law. We evaluate our finished products in clinical tests on volunteer panels.”
The bottom line : Aveda Is Not a Cruelty Free Company.
4. Bobbi Brown – A cosmetics line. Nothing about their stance on animal testing can be found on their website. I have contacted Bobbi Brown and am waiting for a reply from a representative of the company.
The bottom line : Bobbi Brown may or may not be a Cruelty Free Company. Once Logical Harmony has heard back from a brand representative, this section will be updated.
5. Bumble and bumble – A line of hair cair, hair color, and salons. A link to their stance on animal testing can be found on the FAQ page under the Customer Service section : http://www.bumbleandbumble.com/cms/customer_service/faq.tmpl#animaltests
“We do not conduct animal testing on our products or ingredients, nor ask others to test on our behalf, except when required by law. We evaluate our finished products in clinical tests on volunteer panels.”
The bottom line : Bumble and bumble Is Not a Cruelty Free Company.
6. Clinique – A skincare and cosmetics line. A link to their stance on animal testing can be found on the FAQ page under the Customer Service section : http://www.clinique.com/cms/customer_service/faqs.tmpl#animaltesting
“We do not conduct animal testing on our products or ingredients, nor ask others to test on our behalf, except when required by law. We evaluate our finished products in clinical tests on volunteer panels.”
The bottom line : Clinique Is Not a Cruelty Free Company.
7. Coach – The fragrance and cosmetics line for the accessories brand. A link to their stance on animal testing could not be found on their website. Logical Harmony has contacted Coach about their stance and is waiting for a reply.
The bottom line : Coach may or may not be a Cruelty Free Company. Once Logical Harmony has heard back from a brand representative, this section will be updated.
8. Darphin – A skincare and dental care line. A link to their stance on animal testing could not be found on their website. Logical Harmony has contacted Darphin about their stance and is waiting for a reply.
The bottom line : Darphin may or may not be a Cruelty Free Company. Once Logical Harmony has heard back from a brand representative, this section will be updated.
9. Donna Karan – The fragrance and cosmetics line for the clothing and accessories brand. A link to their stance on animal testing could not be found on their website. Logical Harmony has contacted Donna Karan about their stance and is waiting for a reply.
The bottom line : Donna Karan may or may not be a Cruelty Free Company. Once Logical Harmony has heard back from a brand representative, this section will be updated.
10. Ermenegildo Zegna – A fragrance and skincare line. A link to their stance on animal testing could not be found on their website. Logical Harmony has contacted Ermenegildo Zegna about their stance and is waiting for a reply. At this time, no Ermenegildo Zegna fragrance or skincare products are featured on their website or online store.
The bottom line : Ermenegildo Zegna may or may not be a Cruelty Free Company. Once Logical Harmony has heard back from a brand representative, this section will be updated.
11. Estee Lauder – A line of cosmetics and skin care. A link to their stance on animal testing can be found on the FAQ page under the Customer Service section : http://www.esteelauder.com/cms/customer_service/faqs.tmpl#companytest
“We do not conduct animal testing on our products or ingredients, nor ask others to test on our behalf, except when required by law. We evaluate our finished products in clinical tests on volunteer panels.”
The bottom line : Estee Lauder Is Not a Cruelty Free Company.
12. Flirt! – A line of cosmetics. The official site for Flirt! Cosmetics simply links to their Facebook page. No additional information can be given and no brand representative contact information can be found.
The bottom line : Flirt! is probably Not a Cruelty Free Company, but Logical Harmony cannot be positive due to a lack of information.
13. Goodskin Labs – A line of skincare. A link to their stance on animal testing could not be found on their website. Logical Harmony has contacted Coach about their stance and is waiting for a reply.
The bottom line : Goodskin Labs may or may not be a Cruelty Free Company. Once Logical Harmony has heard back from a brand representative, this section will be updated.
14. Grassroots Research Labs – A line of skincare. A link to their stance on animal testing could not be found on their website. Logical Harmony has contacted Grassroots Research Labs about their stance and is waiting for a reply.
The bottom line : Grassroots Research Labs may or may not be a Cruelty Free Company. Once Logical Harmony has heard back from a brand representative, this section will be updated.
15. Jo Malone – A line of fragrances and candles. A link to their stance on animal testing can be found on the FAQ page under the Customer Service section : http://www.jomalone.com/popup/popup.tmpl?content=faq_animals
“We do not conduct animal testing on our products or ingredients, nor ask others to test on our behalf, except when required by law. We evaluate our finished products in clinical tests on volunteer panels.”
The bottom line : Jo Malone Is Not a Cruelty Free Company.
16. Kiton – A line of fragrances. A link to their stance on animal testing could not be found on their website. Logical Harmony has contacted Kiton about their stance and is waiting for a reply. At this time, no Kiton fragrance products are featured on their website or online store.
The bottom line : Kiton may or may not be a Cruelty Free Company. Once Logical Harmony has heard back from a brand representative, this section will be updated.
17. La Mer – A line of skincare. A link to their stance on animal testing can be found on the FAQ page under the Customer Service section : http://www.cremedelamer.com/popup/popup.tmpl?content=faq_animals
“We do not conduct animal testing on our products or ingredients, nor ask others to test on our behalf, except when required by law. We evaluate our finished products in clinical tests on volunteer panels.”
The bottom line : La Mer Is Not a Cruelty Free Company.
18. Lab Series Skincare For Men – A line of skincare. A link to their stance on animal testing could not be found on their website. Logical Harmony has contacted Lab Series Skincare For Men about their stance and is waiting for a reply.
The bottom line : Lab Series Skincare For Men may or may not be a Cruelty Free Company. Once Logical Harmony has heard back from a brand representative, this section will be updated.
19. MAC – A line of cosmetics and skincare. A link to their stance on animal testing cannot be found on their webpage. It used to appear there. Logical Harmony has contacted MAC about their stance and below is a part of their reply.
“We do not conduct animal testing on our products or ingredients, nor ask others to test on our behalf, except when required by law. We evaluate our finished products in clinical tests on volunteer panels.”
The bottom line : MAC Is Not a Cruelty Free Company.
20. Michael Kors – The fragrance line for the clothing and accessories brand. A link to their stance on animal testing could not be found on their website. Logical Harmony has contacted Michael Kors about their stance and is waiting for a reply.
The bottom line : Michael Kors may or may not be a Cruelty Free Company. Once Logical Harmony has heard back from a brand representative, this section will be updated.
21. Missoni – The fragrance line for the clothing and accessories brand. A link to their stance on animal testing could not be found on their website. Logical Harmony has contacted Missoni about their stance and is waiting for a reply.
The bottom line : Missoni may or may not be a Cruelty Free Company. Once Logical Harmony has heard back from a brand representative, this section will be updated.
22. Ojon – A line of haircare. A link to their stance on animal testing can be found on the FAQ page within the Customer service section : http://www.ojon.com/customer_service/shipping.tmpl#testing
“We do not conduct animal testing on our products or ingredients, nor ask others to test on our behalf, except when required by law. We evaluate our finished products in clinical tests on volunteer panels.”
The bottom line : Ojon Is Not a Cruelty Free Company.
23. Origins – A line of skincare. A link to their stance on animal testing can be found on the FAQ page within the Customer service section : http://www.origins.com/customer_service/aboutus.tmpl#/Landing
“We do not conduct animal testing on our products or ingredients, nor ask others to test on our behalf, except when required by law. We evaluate our finished products in clinical tests on volunteer panels.”
The bottom line : Origins Is Not a Cruelty Free Company.
24. Prescriptives – A line of cosmetics and skincare. A link to their stance on animal testing could not be found on their website. Logical Harmony has contacted Prescriptives about their stance and is waiting for a reply.
The bottom line : Prescriptives may or may not be a Cruelty Free Company. Once Logical Harmony has heard back from a brand representative, this section will be updated.
25. Sean John – A line of fragrances from the clothing and accessories brand. A link to their stance on animal testing could not be found on their website. Logical Harmony has contacted Sean John about their stance and is waiting for a reply.
The bottom line : Sean John may or may not be a Cruelty Free Company. Once Logical Harmony has heard back from a brand representative, this section will be updated.
26. Smashbox – A line of cosmetics and skincare. A link to their stance on animal testing can be found on the FAQ page within the Customer service section : http://www.smashbox.com/customer_service/faq#animal_testing
“We do not conduct animal testing on our products or ingredients, nor ask others to test on our behalf, except when required by law. We evaluate our finished products in clinical tests on volunteer panels.”
The bottom line : Smashbox Is Not a Cruelty Free Company.
27. Tom Ford – A line of fragrances and cosmetics. A link to their stance on animal testing could not be found on their website. Logical Harmony has contacted Sean John about their stance and is waiting for a reply.
The bottom line : Tom Ford may or may not be a Cruelty Free Company. Once Logical Harmony has heard back from a brand representative, this section will be updated.
28. Tommy Hilfiger – A line of fragrances from the clothing and accessories brand. A link to their stance on animal testing could not be found on their website. Logical Harmony has contacted Tommy Hilfiger about their stance and is waiting for a reply.
The bottom line : Tommy Hilfiger may or may not be a Cruelty Free Company. Once Logical Harmony has heard back from a brand representative, this section will be updated.
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Ugh, it is such a horrendous situation. Im so upset how so many of these companies have had such strong cruelty-free stances and just so easily flip. It is disgusting. And even more so that they care so little about their consumers and did not alert us on the change.
Especially brands like Aveda and Origins, users have some sort of expectation that the organic, natural products are also cruelty-free. And all these brands are still selling all their products with cruelty-free printed right on there.
agreed, this is SUCH a bummer. I’ve loved lots of these companies for their cruelty-free stance in the past, but now… trying to find vegan makeup can be so tricky, luckily there’s blogs like this to help!!! I’ve still got E.L.F. for makeup and Yes to Carrots for skincare, here’s to more companies following suit and going completely cruelty-free in the future!
Aveda is no longer the earthy brand it used to be–I was Aveda trained at a share school run by a friend of the original owner/founder of Aveda Horst Rechelbacher. If you turn that bottle around, you’ll see all kinds of sulfates and paraben content that didn’t used to be there before the company sold to Aveda. My old school has now opted out of the Aveda share system and is carrying Horst’s new line, Intelligent Nutrients.
If you like(d) Origins and Aveda, I strongly suggest you try out IN. http://www.intelligentnutrients.com/our-vision/not-intelligent
Thanks for the info about the new line. I was an Aveda fan, but they’ve changed a lot over the years.
So they all add “unless required by law” to their policy now? Bc a lot of those brands never had that.. why did all this suddenly change? Most of these brands wont be hard to give up for me except MAC.. I have such an attachment like many others..
Benefit had the whole “except where required by law” bit included in their info for-ev-er. Between that and the lead content of their benetint gloss (read herehttp://news.nationalpost.com/2011/05/16/arsenic-lead-and-mercury-discovered-in-canadian-cosmetics-study/ or just Google) I dropped them a long time ago, but to see that kind of slick wording appearing on the pages of other formerly cruelty free brands is sickening and disheartening.
It’s s shame the way these companies move their wording around to make it seem perfectly reasonable that they test on animals (after all, it’s the law, right?) but the fact is that these tests are cruel and unnecessary and there are so MANY wonderful cruelty free brands that there’s no excuse to even bother with the animal testing ones.
I’m a dedicated cruelty free MUA and hair stylist in NYC, and just posted a list of cruelty free products on my FB page in a note for some clients and friends asking for one.
Check it out on http://www.facebook.com/EdenDiBiancoBeauty and “LIKE” my page if you find this info useful!
It’s really a shame since they’ve bought up half the brands. I always thought that people could count on Smashbox and MAC.
Please sign and share this petition and boycott the companies until they stop all animal testing! http://goo.gl/8dMbZ
What defines “unless required by law” when it comes to animal testing? Many of these companies may have to write this in their disclaimers but in terms of cosmetic testing and new product development would not require animal testing unless they are making products which are taken internally which may require toxicity studies. I am not condoning animal testing in any way, however, reading one sentence does not mean we should all jump to conclusions. Bear in mind that nearly every single product ingredient in cosmetics was at some point, long before the bans on animal testing were in place, were tested on animal skin models. Since Europe have now banned animal cosmetics testing, perhaps the focus should be on preventing this unnecessary screening on animals in the US and China. Personally I would like to see more evidence-based product efficacy in peer-reviewed journals demonstrating in vitro testing and human testing trials to substantiate the claims and less of these patents and secrecy. If a product has claims at being anti-pigmentation, I dont want to see a painted over speckled egg but rather some anti-tyrosinase evidence or other experimental evidence.
Tashina, I’ve looked everywhere and can’t seem to locate any information about third party testing. Does Chanel test on animals?
Hi Tiffany,
Chanel is owned by L’Oreal. L’Oreal does test on animals. When I contacted Chanel before about their stance on animal testing, it was worded in a way that makes me not consider them cruelty free.
Chanel is not owned by L’oreal but owned by Chanel .. one of the last stading brands. L’oreal ownes brands like Keratine, Lancome, YSL and Biotherm.
Hi Dave!
When you email Chanel cosmetics, the response that you get does state that they are owned by L’Oreal.
I actually read the same article yesterday about Estee Lauder brands. Now I found interest of buying of this products right now.. Thanks for the update!
Dear Tashina
Have you heard anything from Tommy Hilfiger yet?
I hope that he ! is cruelty free!
Thank yoy for making a change in the world
Ibby
This just makes me want to throw up and cry. These companies have NO compassion and certainly no heart. I look at my six kitties and thank G-d that they did not end up in a lab (they were all rescues). The bottom line is apparently more important for these companies than anything else. They have disappointed their clients, and offended the beauty world as a whole, IMO. Especially Origins, with Dr. Andrew Weil, with his emphasis on beauty from nature and the earth.
I hope: 1. that these companies come to their senses and reverse their horrific policies; 2. That they lose many, many customers and that it effects their profits:
3. That NO ANIMAL has to suffer or die EVER AGAIN for something as frivolous as “Beauty.” That’s surely not my definition of beauty. Thank you for this very important information.
I’ve been browsing online more than 3 hours as of late, yet I never found any attention-grabbing article like yours. It’s pretty value sufficient for me.
In my view, if all website owners and bloggers made good content as you probably did, the net will probably be much more useful than ever before.