If you love Aesop Skin Care like we do you want to know is Aesop cruelty free and vegan anymore?
We are THRILLED to report that using Aesop skin care still aligns with an ethical lifestyle.
We’ll show you why, and point out one small concern in their animal testing policy you’ll need to watch overtime.
… so let’s dive in.
is AESOP cruelty free?
Aesop IS a cruelty free and vegan brand. They don’t test their products or ingredients on animals anywhere in the world. Aesop also certifies with PETA as cruelty-free.
Does AESOP test on animals?
No, Aesop Skin Care does not test their products or ingredients on animals anywhere in the world.
…but do regulators test on their products?
…or do raw material suppliers test on the ingredients?
Before we dive into this issue – let’s explore their actual testing policy.
Aesop animal testing policy
Here is the full Aesop Animal Testing policy from their website:
So this is the spot where many brands could start to mislead consumers with omission of key animal testing facts.
It’s very common to see brands say they don’t test on animals… but don’t disclose if regulators or ingredient suppliers test on animals.
BTW… in case you didn’t know… most animal testing occurs at the ingredient level, and not the product level.
…So avoiding this topic is not clear and complete disclosure on animal testing facts.
More on this in a bit… first we need to talk about testing in China.
Does Aesop sell in China?
Yes, Aesop sells in China, but only in Hong Kong where regulations do not require animal testing on cosmetics.
Aesop clearly outlines in their animal testing policy they will not sell in countries that require animal testing, and that is why they do not have stores in Mainland China.
We applaud Aesop Skin Care for taking a truly ethical stand on cruelty-free living.
China’s Tightening Hold on Hong Kong a Future Risk
The complete return of Hong Kong back to China may put at risk the animal testing exemption brands rely on right now operation from Hong Kong to sell into Mainland China. We will be monitoring this closely as it has the potential to impact many cruelty free brands.
Does Aesop Certify as Cruelty Free?
Yes! Aesop is certified with PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) as cruelty free.
PETA certification requires a brand to provide a Statement of Assurance attesting that it “does not and shall not conduct, commission, or pay for animal testing of any cosmetics and/or household products, nor will it conduct, commission, or pay for animal testing of ingredients used in, or formulations of, such products…. including, without limitation, formulations and ingredients of such products”
Do Aesop’s Ingredient Suppliers Test on Animals?
So… the next step in our investigation dives into Aesop’s ingredient testing policies.
What we really want to know is if any animal testing happens on Aesop Skin Care ingredients…
Does the Aesop animal testing policy prohibit the testing of ingredients and raw materials on animals?
Here is what we found on supplier testing
What we discovered is Aesop’s animal testing policy is very clear they do not permit or use suppliers that test on ingredients. We applaud Aesop for providing complete disclosure on ingredient testing… it is very refreshing to see instead of the legal escape clauses so many testing brands use like “except where required by law”.
In addition, Aesop certifies to PETA that no ingredient testing actually happens on Aesop cosmetics.
What disclosure is missing
We would like to see Aesop expand their PETA certification to certify as also being vegan.
They already state that all products are vegan, so taking the next step to certify the entire brand as 100% vegan would be a great marketing advantage for them over most brands you find in Sephora or Ulta, and help us shoppers with simple and clear disclosure that is comprehensive.
Many leading cruelty free brands like Aesop are now choosing to take an ethical stand and not test on animals anywhere in their supply chain, or use any animal-derived ingredients.
Is Aesop Vegan Friendly?
Aesop IS is a vegan brand and all it’s products are 100% vegan. Unfortunately they do not certify as vegan with either Leaping Bunny or Peta. Does this mean they are leaving the door open in the future to use animal-ingredients?
Why brands rarely certify as vegan to 3rd parties
It’s safe to assume that if a brand has not declared full vegan status across the brand, they allow the use of animal-derived ingredients in their formulations. Most brands are not vegan because it’s much more expensive to source and manage vegan raw materials through supply chains.
Common animal-derived ingredients
Ingredients that are often sourced from animals include:
- Hyaluronic Acid – often found in serums and moisturizers
- Retinol – found in some night creams
- Carmine – often found in blush and lipstick
- Stearic Acid – found in skin creams
- Glycerin – a humectant found in many moisturizers
- Lanolin – in some moisturizers
- Lactic Acid – found in some Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs)
- Beeswax – often found in lipstick and lip balms
- Animal hair – used in makeup brushes
- Guanine – can be used in nail polish and eye shadow
- Keratin – in hair and nail products
- Squalene – in moisturizers, eye creams and facial oils
The bottom line with vegan cosmetics is it’s really difficult to tell from the ingredient list if the source is animal or synthetic versions. As shoppers we can only rely on vegan labelling, vegan certifications, and other disclosures offered by the brand.
Our Vegan Shopping Advice
If a product is not advertised and labelled as 100% vegan you should assume it contains animal-derived ingredients.
We also want to understand if the entire brand is vegan… or just select products.
For ethical reasons many people now only use vegan products from a brand that is 100% vegan and free of animal ingredients, and has certified as vegan with either PETA or Leaping Bunny.
Who owns Aesop Skin Care?
Aesop is owned by Natura & Co who is a large cosmetics conglomerate that also owns The Body Shop and Avon. Natura & Co is cruelty-free company.
More Aesop Skin Care Cruelty-Free FAQS
Is Aesop on Peta’s Cruelty Free List?
Yes, Aesop has certified with Peta as cruelty-free.
Is Aesop on Leaping Bunny Approved cruelty-free list?
No, Aesop has not certified with Leaping Bunny as either cruelty-free or vegan.
Is Aesop Cruelty-Free and Vegan?
Yes, Aesop is considered cruelty-free and vegan and does NOT use animal-derived ingredients in its products.
Is Aesop Paraben Free?
All Aesop products are paraben free.
Aesop cruelty-free Summary
Here is a summary of Aesop’s cruelty-free assessment. Aesop Skin Care IS a cruelty-free brand at this time. To maintain this status they will have to continue avoiding sales in countries that require animal testing and maintain an annual cruelty free certification with either PETA or Leaping Bunny.
| Tests finished products on animals? | No |
| Tests ingredients on animals? | No |
| Suppliers test on animals? | No |
| Leaping Bunny Certified? | No |
| Peta Certified? | Yes |
| Uses animal-derived ingredients? | No |
| Vegan? | Yes |
| Sold in Mainland China? | No |
| Parent company? | Natura & Co. |
| Are all parent company brands cruelty-free? | Yes |
Why we consider Aesop a cruelty-free brand
To start with, there is no legal definition for the claims of “cruelty-free” or “not tested on animals” that are used by cosmetic brands.
The most common definition for “cruelty-free” is that a product or its ingredients were not tested on animals.
Aesop is considered cruelty free at this time because they don’t sell directly in Mainland China and have certified with PETA they do not test ingredients or products anywhere in the world.
Our Cruelty-Free Standard
At Beauty + Kind our standard for “cruelty-free” and “not tested on animals” is very simple. We require brand disclosure that no animal testing has occurred during any part of bringing their product to market by any party. This includes testing on raw materials, ingredients, finished products or selling in countries where animal testing is required by law.
Beauty + Kind
Aesop Cruelty-Free and vegan Alternatives
If your looking to switch to more ethical brands, here are some cruelty-free and vegan options to consider:
Certified Cruelty Free
Take the guess work out of it and browse the ultimate list of cruelty free makeup and skin care brands.
Certified Vegan
Easily find brands that certify they don’t use animal-derived ingredients on the list of vegan makeup and skin care brands.
Certified Natural
Learn more about brands using natural formulations on the ultimate list of natural makeup and skin care brands.
Certified Organic
Discover brands focused on botanicals and organics on the ultimate list of organic makeup and skin care brands.
DIY Clean Beauty
Have some fun creating clean beauty formulations from the ultimate list of DIY makeup and skin care recipes.
Should You switch to kinder beauty brands?
Our philosophy and Beauty + Kind is that TRUE CRUELTY-FREE BEAUTY means that no harm to animals has happened during the entire manufacturing and testing process. This includes the source and harvesting of animal-derived ingredients, ingredient testing, and testing of the final product.
We are thrilled to advise that Aesop Skin Care meets our Beauty + Kind standard as they are both vegan and cruelty free!
How to make the Switch to Animal-Friendly Brands
To be an animal-friendly brand you need to certify as cruelty free AND vegan. Making the switch is easier than you think once you have the right information. If you want to switch to more ethical and animal-friendly beauty brands check out the ultimate list of vegan and cruelty-free brands.
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