Ahava is not cruelty free because their products are tested on animals where required by law (in mainland China).
Ahava products don’t contain any animal-derived ingredients or by-products, which means Ahava is a vegan brand. However, because their products are tested on animals in mainland China, I wouldn’t consider them a vegan-friendly brand.
To learn more about this brand and find out why they’re not cruelty free, keep on reading!
If you’re looking for new cruelty free products to add to your skincare routine, make sure to check out the last section of this post where you’ll find some of the best Ahava cruelty free alternatives.
Let’s dive right in!
Is Ahava cruelty free? Are Ahava products tested on animals?
Ahava is NOT cruelty free.
In order to be cruelty free, brands:
- Must not test their finished products or ingredients on animals
- Must make sure that their suppliers don’t test on animals
- Must not commission third parties to test their products on animals
- Must not sell their products in stores in mainland China, or other countries where animal testing is still required by law
Ahava doesn’t have an official animal testing policy and there’s little information about them online.
So, I reached out to this brand with my cruelty free questionnaire, and this was their response (I’ve highlighted the important part):
AHAVA has always been ahead of its time. Our birthplace by the legendary Dead Sea enables us to observe up-close the flora and fauna within its surroundings, and so decades ago when we began, it was a founding principle that all our products would be free from animal-derived ingredients. To this day, AHAVA’s formulations are 100% vegan- because we truly believe that Wellbeing is created when beauty is combined with heart and humanity to all.
Source: email communication with Ahava
We do sell our products in China.
In 2015 Fosun International purchased a controlling share of the company.
In the highlighted point, Ahava admits that their products are sold in mainland China, where animal testing is still required by law.
Selling in China is in contradiction with one of the requirements for cruelty free brands.
Since Ahava does sell their products in mainland China, their products may be subjected to animal testing there.
Therefore, Ahava is not cruelty free.
Keep on reading for more information!
Is Ahava sold in China?
Ahava is sold in mainland China where animal testing is still required by law.
Why can’t cruelty free brands sell in mainland China?
Animal testing is still happening for products sold in physical stores in mainland China.
Pre-market animal testing is required for all special-use imported products, and non-routine post-market testing on animals may also be done in cases of customer complaints.
However, please keep in mind that this doesn’t apply to products sold in stores at the airports, or in Hong Kong.
Also, products can be sold online and shipped to mainland China without being tested on animals.
Is Ahava owned by a parent brand? If yes, is it cruelty free?
Ahava is owned by Fosun International, a Chinese multinational conglomerate holding company that has investments in a wide range of sectors.
Is Ahava vegan?
Ahava is 100% vegan because none of their products contain any animal-derived ingredients or animal by-products.
However, please keep in mind that since Ahava products may be tested on animals in mainland China, I definitely wouldn’t consider them as a vegan-friendly brand.
Cruelty free and vegan alternatives to Ahava
Ahava is a skincare brand that focuses on skin care products made of mud and mineral-based compounds from the Dead Sea.
There are so many skincare brands that are cruelty free!
That’s why, in my opinion, there’s really no excuse for supporting brands that test on animals.
Some of the best cruelty free alternatives to Ahava are:
The Ordinary
Paula’s Choice
Krave Beauty
Skyn ICELAND
Pacifica
Youth to the People
Drunk Elephant
If you want to discover more cruelty free skincare brands, check out my post on The 7 Best Cruelty Free Skin Care Brands in 2021 That Are Also 100% Vegan and Sustainable.
Now it’s your turn!
What are your favorite cruelty free brands?
Let me know in the comments below!