Is Benefit Cruelty Free and Vegan? (2024 Update)

Benefit Cosmetics is not cruelty free. Some Benefit products are vegan, but Benefit is not 100% vegan as a brand.

Read my analysis below and find out why Benefit is not cruelty free and vegan.

Make sure to keep reading till the end, because in the last section I’ll also share some of my favorite cruelty free and vegan alternatives to Benefit.

Is Benefit cruelty free? Are Benefit products tested on animals?

Unfortunately, Benefit is not cruelty free. Their products are tested on animals.

This is the official Benefit animal testing policy:

Benefit does not test our products on animals.

Since 1989, the Perfumes & Cosmetics companies of LVMH group (including Benefit Cosmetics) have not performed any tests on animals for our products – this was implemented long before the 2013 official ban set by the European Union.

We are deeply committed to the elimination of animal testing. We’re playing a leading role in developing alternative methods through our support of the “Fund for Alternatives to Animal Testing” in the United States. We also actively participate in validation studies of new alternative tests in the framework of the European cosmetics association, Cosmetics Europe. We are one of only a few companies to have invested in creating our own internal department to test raw materials and ingredients to further ensure the quality of our products and the satisfaction of our customers, which is our top priority.

As a result, all Benefit products undergo very strict tolerance tests using non-animal methods during the development of each product to ensure quality and safety prior to market.

Some customers expressed concern regarding the situation in China. Our products are made in Europe and for imported cosmetics, the Chinese health authorities order some test on animals: they require companies to make their products available to be tested in state-certified laboratories for registration purposes only, as it is currently their only recognized method to demonstrate product safety .

We are hopeful that alternative testing methods will be adopted worldwide and we will see an end to animal testing.

Basically, they say that they themselves do not test on animals, but later admit that their products are tested by third parties, where required by law.

Their products are manufactured outside of mainland China, but are sold there, which means that pre-market animal testing is required for Benefit products.

Additionally, post-market animal testing in mainland China is still performed in cases of customer complaints, so Benefit products may be also tested on animals as part of the post-market testing.

They don’t mention anything about the ingredients used within their products. Their suppliers may also test the ingredients on animals.

Brands that sell in mainland China and/or can’t provide evidence that their suppliers don’t test the ingredients on animals can’t be cruelty free.

Benefit is on PETA’s “companies that do test on animals” list.

So, in conclusion, Benefit is not cruelty free because they agree to have their finished products tested on animals in China. Additionally, their suppliers may test the ingredients on animals.

Let’s take a look at the details.

Is Benefit sold in China?

Yes, Benefit is sold in mainland China, where animal testing is still required by law.

Brands that sell in physical stores in mainland China can’t avoid animal testing in any way as of 2021. Therefore, Benefit can’t be cruelty free.

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 Benefit owned by a parent brand? If yes, is it cruelty free?

Benefit is a subsidiary of LVMH, a giant multinational conglomerate, which is not cruelty free.

They own a huge number of brands. Some of them include Bvlgari, Givenchy, Louis Vuitton, Sephora and Christian Dior.

Louis Vuitton (owned by LVMH) is definitely not an animal-friendly brand – they use fur, leather, wool and other animal-derived materials. They have been especially criticised by PETA for their participation in the exotic skins industry (warning: the linked PETA article contains content which might be disturbing to some readers).

Is Benefit vegan?

Benefit is not 100% vegan.

Some of their products are vegan, but as a brand, Benefit is not 100% vegan.

Animal-based ingredients used in some of Benefit’s products are: lanolin, beeswax, glycerin and similar animal by-products.

Cruelty free and vegan alternatives to Benefit

Benefit Cosmetics is a makeup brand, famous for their brow products, as well as mascara, foundation and lip products.

These are my favorite cruelty free alternatives to Benefit, that are within the same price range:

e.l.f. Cosmetics (100% vegan)

Essence

NYX

Urban Decay

Tarte

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Now, I’d like to hear from you.

What do you think about Benefit’s cruelty free status? What are your favorite cruelty free and vegan alternatives to Benefit products?

Tell us in the comments below!