Clarins is not cruelty free. This means that their products are tested on animals.
Additionally, Clarins is not 100% vegan as a brand.
If you’d like to know why they’re not cruelty free and learn more about this brand, keep on reading!
And by the way, if you’re looking for new cruelty free products to add to your beauty routine, make sure to check out the last section of this post where you’ll find some of the best Clarins cruelty free alternatives.
Let’s dive right in!
Is Clarins cruelty free? Are Clarins products tested on animals?
Clarins 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
Let’s look at Clarins’ animal testing policy (I’ve highlighted the important point):
Clarins does not test on animals. Clarins Research uses alternate testing methods and the latest advances in non-animal safety testing to ensure product excellence. Some countries where Clarins is sold require animal testing on all imported cosmetics as part of their regulatory safety process.
source: the Clarins FAQ page
In the highlighted part above, they’re referring to mainland China, where animal testing is still happening.
So, Clarins admits that their products are sold in mainland China. This is in contradiction with one of the requirements for cruelty free brands.
Even though China has relaxed their animal testing requirements, brands that sell in China still can’t be cruelty free.
Therefore, Clarins is not cruelty free.
Note: Clarins has launched their My Clarins product range, which is marketed as vegan and cruelty free.
Through the My Clarins products’ ‘Vegan Friendly’ label, Clarins is guaranteeing that you are buying cosmetic products that do not contain any animal-derived raw materials, and have not been tested on animals, as they are not sold in countries where animal testing is mandatory.
source: Clarins’ Beauty FAQ
This is misleading because a brand can’t be cruelty free just because one of their product ranges is not sold in mainland China. Being cruelty free requires commitment and consistency across the entire supply chain, all of the product lines and all markets on an international level.
Keep on reading for more information!
Is Clarins sold in China?
Clarins is sold in mainland China where animal testing is still required by law.
You can read more about Clarins’ strategy for the Chinese market here.
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 Clarins owned by a parent brand? If yes, is it cruelty free?
Clarins is not owned by a parent company.
Is Clarins vegan?
Clarins is not 100% vegan.
They have a vegan product line and may have some other vegan products as well, but a lot of their products do contain animal-derived ingredients or by-products, which means they can’t be vegan as a brand.
Also, please note that since Clarins products may be tested on animals in China and are therefore not cruelty free, I wouldn’t consider them vegan-friendly.
Cruelty free and vegan alternatives to Clarins
Clarins is a beauty brand that is focused on skincare.
There are so many beauty 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 Clarins are:
Now it’s your turn!
What do you think about Clarins’ animal testing policy? What are your favorite cruelty free brands?
Let me know in the comments below!