Yves Saint Laurent is not cruelty free because their products are tested on animals where required by law (in mainland China).
Additionally, Yves Saint Laurent is not 100% vegan as a brand.
To learn more about this brand and find out why they’re not cruelty free, keep on reading!
By the way, if you’re looking for new luxury 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 Yves Saint Laurent cruelty free alternatives.
Let’s dive right in!
Is Yves Saint Laurent cruelty free? Are YSL products tested on animals?
Yves Saint Laurent 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
Yves Saint Laurent doesn’t have an official animal testing policy.
However, during my research, I confirmed that Yves Saint Laurent products are sold in mainland China (more on that below).
Currently, all brands that sell their products in stores in mainland China have to agree to have their products tested on animals, so they can’t be cruelty free.
Therefore, Yves Saint Laurent is not cruelty free.
Keep on reading for more information!
Is Yves Saint Laurent sold in China?
Yves Saint Laurent is sold in mainland China where animal testing is still required by law.
They have multiple stores in China, and you can find them with the store locator on their website.
Yves Saint Laurent has been selling in China for quite a while.
And just 25 September [2012], the brand took another great leap forward with the opening of its first Saint Laurent Paris boutique — in China. The roll-out of Saint Laurent Paris boutiques will follow with upcoming openings in Paris and Berlin.
The 3,200-square-foot Shanghai store is the first of its kind, designed by Mr. Slimane and set to sell both men’s and women’s ready-to-wear lines.
Source: His Style Diary
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 Yves Saint Laurent owned by a parent brand? If yes, is it cruelty free?
Yves Saint Laurent is owned by Kering, a company that tests on animals.
Kering is a French multinational corporation that owns other luxury brands that aren’t cruelty free, including Gucci and Bottega Veneta.
Is Yves Saint Laurent vegan?
Yves Saint Laurent is not 100% vegan. Some of their products contain animal-derived ingredients or animal by-products.
Additionally, Yves Saint Laurent is definitely not a vegan-friendly brand.
They’ve been criticized by animal rights activists for the use of leather and fur for a very long time.
Cruelty free and vegan alternatives to Yves Saint Laurent
Yves Saint Laurent is a well-known luxury beauty brand. They focus on high fashion and luxury cosmetics and accessories.
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 Yves Saint Laurent are:
If you want to discover more luxury and cruelty free brands, check out my post on the 12 Best Luxury Cruelty Free Brands: The Ultimate Guide.
Now it’s your turn!
What are your favorite cruelty free brands?
Let me know in the comments below!