Lance Carson
The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. is a global company with 25+ brands, sold in 150 countries and territories. While the company has taken a stand against animal testing, it is not cruelty-free. Estée Lauder sells its products in mainland China, where animal testing is required by law. This means that the brand pays for its ingredients or finished products to be tested on animals, either by the brand itself, its suppliers, or third parties. Estée Lauder is not certified by any organizations, and it is not vegan. The company has responded to criticism by stating that it takes all practical and available steps to encourage the acceptance of existing non-animal test data.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Cruelty-free status | Not cruelty-free |
| Animal testing | Animal testing conducted by third parties |
| Animal testing policy | Animal testing conducted when required by law |
| Vegan status | Not vegan |
| PETA certification | Not certified |
| Leaping Bunny certification | Not certified |
| Sale in China | Yes |
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What You'll Learn
Estee Lauder's animal testing policy
The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. is a global company with 25+ brands, sold in 150 countries and territories. While the company itself claims that it does not test on animals, it acknowledges that its brands are sold in countries where animal testing on cosmetics is required by law.
Over 30 years ago, The Estée Lauder Companies were one of the first cosmetics companies to eliminate animal testing as a method of determining cosmetic product safety. They claim that they do not test their products on animals and do not ask others to do so on their behalf. However, they do not sell in any country or under conditions that may require animal testing by law.
The company has partnered with Cruelty Free International, a London-based animal protection group, to advocate for better science and cruelty-free living. They also support Cruelty Free International's efforts to encourage leaders to embed cruelty-free consumption and production measures in the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals.
Despite these efforts, some consumers have expressed disappointment that the company has not yet achieved cruelty-free status. This is because they sell their products in mainland China, where animal testing is required by law. Estée Lauder is not certified by any organizations, such as Leaping Bunny or PETA, which offer cruelty-free certification.
Therefore, while Estée Lauder claims to have a strong stance against animal testing, their decision to sell in markets that require animal testing means that they cannot be considered a cruelty-free brand.
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Estee Lauder's subsidiaries
The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. is a global corporation with over 25 brands sold in 150 countries and territories. The company has a long-standing partnership with the Institute for In Vitro Sciences (IIVS), a non-profit research and testing consortium dedicated to advancing science without animal testing. Estée Lauder has also partnered with Cruelty Free International, a London-based animal protection group advocating for better science and cruelty-free living. Despite these partnerships, some consumers have expressed disappointment that the company has not achieved a cruelty-free status, particularly due to its sales in China, where animal testing is mandated by law.
Over the years, Estée Lauder has expanded its brand portfolio through acquisitions and licensing agreements. Here is a list of some of Estée Lauder's subsidiaries:
- Clinique: Clinique is a dermatologist-guided, allergy-tested, and fragrance-free cosmetic brand that Estée Lauder introduced in 1968. It was the first women's cosmetic company to introduce a separate line for men in 1976, called "Skin Supplies."
- Origins: Estée Lauder's first wellness brand, introduced in US department stores.
- Tommy Hilfiger: Estée Lauder signed its first licensing agreement for fragrances with this fashion designer in 1993.
- Kiton: An Italian fashion house that Estée Lauder partnered with in 1995.
- Donna Karan: An American fashion designer with whom Estée Lauder signed a licensing agreement in 1997.
- Aveda: Estée Lauder's first hair care and holistic beauty brand, acquired in 1997.
- MAC Cosmetics: Estée Lauder first invested in this Toronto-based cosmetics company in 1994 and completed the acquisition in 1998.
- Bobbi Brown Cosmetics: Celebrated makeup artist Bobbi Brown's cosmetics line was acquired by Estée Lauder in 1995.
- La Mer: Estée Lauder acquired La Mer in 1997, along with the recipe for its iconic product, Crème de la Mer.
- Jo Malone London: This fragrance house was acquired by Estée Lauder in 1999.
- Bumble and bumble: Estée Lauder acquired a majority interest in this hair salon brand and completed the acquisition in 2006.
- Michael Kors: A global licensing agreement was signed with the fashion designer in 2003.
- Tom Ford: Estée Lauder signed an agreement with designer Tom Ford in 2005 to develop and distribute fragrances and cosmetics under the Tom Ford Beauty brand. In 2022, Estée Lauder announced the acquisition of the Tom Ford fashion house, with Ford remaining as creative director until at least 2023.
- Smashbox: Estée Lauder acquired this beauty cosmetics company, created in Smashbox Studios, in 2010.
- Becca Cosmetics: Acquired by Estée Lauder in 2016, this was the company's first color cosmetic group acquisition since Smashbox.
- Too Faced: Estée Lauder's largest acquisition to date, made in 2016 for $1.45 billion.
- Dr. Jart+: A Korean skincare company acquired by Estée Lauder in 2019, known for pioneering the marketing of BB cream as a cosmetic.
- Deciem Beauty Group: A Canadian company acquired by Estée Lauder in 2021, with the acquisition of its subsidiary brand, The Ordinary, completed in 2024.
These subsidiaries showcase Estée Lauder's diverse brand portfolio, encompassing cosmetics, skincare, fragrance, and hair care.
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Selling in China
Estée Lauder is a global brand, with products sold in over 150 countries and territories. One of these is China, where the brand has a registered company in Shanghai.
China has strict laws regarding animal testing, and most imported cosmetics are required to undergo post-market animal testing before they can be sold. This presents a challenge for cosmetics companies wishing to sell in China, as they must decide between adhering to cruelty-free values and accessing the large Chinese market.
Estée Lauder has chosen to sell in China, and as such, their products are subject to animal testing. This means that, despite the company's claims that they do not test on animals, they are not considered cruelty-free. While Estée Lauder may not be conducting the tests themselves, they are paying for and consenting to Chinese authorities testing their products on animals.
Some ways that companies can avoid animal testing in China include only selling online, manufacturing the products in China, or having a policy to recall products if post-market testing is required. However, these options may not be feasible or desirable for all companies, and as a result, many cruelty-free brands choose not to sell their products in China.
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Cruelty-free certification
The Estée Lauder Companies is a global company with 25+ brands, sold in 150 countries and territories. While they claim to have eliminated animal testing over 30 years ago, they acknowledge that their products are sold in countries where animal testing is required by law.
To be considered cruelty-free, a company must not only ban animal testing but also refuse to use animal-derived ingredients. There are various cruelty-free certifications that a company can obtain, such as PETA's Ultimate Cruelty-Free List and Leaping Bunny.
PETA's certification is free, and once approved, companies can choose to use PETA's global "Animal Test-Free" or "Animal Test-Free and Vegan" logos. To be included on PETA's list, companies must verify that they and their suppliers do not conduct, commission, pay for, or allow any tests on animals for their ingredients, formulations, or finished products anywhere in the world, and that they will never do so in the future.
Leaping Bunny is regarded as the global gold standard for cruelty-free cosmetics, personal care, and household products. It is the only internationally recognised programme that checks for brands conducting, commissioning, or being party to animal testing. Leaping Bunny approval applies internationally, and all products in a brand's portfolio must be included in the application. The approval process is rigorous, and companies must demonstrate an ongoing commitment to Leaping Bunny criteria.
The Estée Lauder Companies claim to support the end of animal testing and have partnered with Cruelty Free International, a London-based animal protection group. However, they have not yet obtained cruelty-free certification and continue to sell their products in countries that require animal testing by law. Some consumers have expressed disappointment in the company's lack of progress toward achieving cruelty-free status.
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Animal testing alternatives
The Estée Lauder Companies state that they do not test their products on animals and do not ask others to do so on their behalf. However, they acknowledge that their products are sold in countries where animal testing is required by law. They are also proud to partner with Cruelty Free International, a London-based animal protection group, to advocate for a global end to animal testing on cosmetics.
One example of an alternative to animal testing is the use of reconstituted human skin models, which can replace the Draize skin irritation test in rabbits and have proven to be more effective at predicting human reactions. Another example is the use of human stem cells, which have been shown to be more sensitive at detecting substances known to cause developmental problems than animal tests.
Other alternatives include the use of \"organs-on-chips\", which are innovative devices lined with human cells that can be used to study biological and disease processes, as well as drug metabolism. Almost every type of human and animal cell can be grown in a laboratory, and scientists have even managed to coax cells to grow into 3D structures, such as miniature human organs.
The development and implementation of non-animal methods are crucial to improving the quality and humanity of science. While there may be bureaucratic hurdles to implementing these methods, organisations like Cruelty Free International are working to encourage regulators to accept and promote their use.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Estée Lauder is not cruelty-free. They sell their products in mainland China, where animal testing is required by law.
Estée Lauder claims that they do not test on animals and do not ask others to do so on their behalf. However, they acknowledge that they may make exceptions if required by a regulatory body for safety or regulatory assessments.
Estée Lauder has partnered with Cruelty Free International to advocate for a global end to animal testing on cosmetics. However, they have not committed to taking definitive steps to ensure animal testing is eliminated from their supply chain or for regulatory purposes in any market.
Yes, there are several cruelty-free alternatives to Estée Lauder perfumes. Some options include:
- Pacifica (cruelty-free and vegan)
- e.l.f. Cosmetics (owned by Estée Lauder but cruelty-free)
- ColourPop (cruelty-free)
