
The Estée Lauder Companies Inc., which owns several beauty brands, has a complicated history with animal testing. While the company claims that they don't test on animals and don't ask others to do so on their behalf, they acknowledge that their products are sold in countries where animal testing is required by law. This includes mainland China, where the company distributes its products in physical stores, and authorities mandate animal testing for most cosmetic items. As a result, Estée Lauder allows its products to be tested on animals when required by law, and the company bears responsibility for these experiments as they sign off on and fund them. However, it's important to note that Estée Lauder has joined the #BeCrueltyFree campaign, led by Humane Society International (HSI), to end cosmetic animal testing worldwide. They are also collaborating with Cruelty Free International and investing in industry consortiums and non-profits to advocate for alternatives to animal testing methods.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Cruelty-free | No |
| Tests on animals | Yes |
| Sold in countries that require animal testing | Yes |
| Parent company that tests on animals | No |
| PETA-certified | No |
| Leaping Bunny-certified | No |
| Vegan | No |
| Part of #BeCrueltyFree campaign | Yes |
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What You'll Learn

Estee Lauder is not cruelty-free
Estee Lauder is available for sale in countries with mandatory animal testing, such as China, where certain cosmetic products may be subject to mandatory animal testing regulations. In such cases, companies need to pay for cruel animal tests to be performed using their products, and while the company itself isn't executing these experiments, they bear full responsibility as they sign off on and fund them.
Estee Lauder is not certified by any organizations, and while companies can be fully cruelty-free without being certified, it is still a good indicator of their ethical practices. PETA and Leaping Bunny are the two most trusted organizations that give out cruelty-free certifications.
Estee Lauder is also not vegan, meaning some of their products contain animal-derived ingredients. The company might offer some vegan products, but they are not 100% vegan.
Therefore, it is recommended to avoid any Estee Lauder products, even if they are vegan, as the company is not cruelty-free.
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$140

They may test on animals through suppliers or third parties
Estée Lauder is not cruelty-free. While the company claims that they do not test their products on animals and do not ask others to test for them, they acknowledge that their products are sold in countries where animal testing is required by law. This means that their products are likely tested on animals.
In addition, while Estée Lauder is not owned by a parent company that tests on animals, the company falls under the Estée Lauder Companies Inc. umbrella, which owns several other beauty brands. This parent company has stated that they are committed to ending animal testing and have joined the #BeCrueltyFree campaign, led by Humane Society International (HSI). They have also partnered with Cruelty Free International, a London-based animal protection group, to further demonstrate their commitment to finding alternatives to animal testing.
However, it is important to note that Estée Lauder may test on animals through suppliers or third parties. While the company itself may not be conducting these animal tests, they allow their products to be tested on animals in order to comply with the laws of the countries in which they sell their products. This is particularly relevant for sales in mainland China, where animal testing is still required for most beauty items. By choosing to sell their products in these markets, Estée Lauder is consenting and paying to have their products tested on animals.
Furthermore, even if Estée Lauder does not explicitly ask for animal testing, they bear full responsibility for any animal experiments conducted on their products. This includes signing off on and funding these experiments. Therefore, it can be concluded that Estée Lauder may indeed test on animals through suppliers or third parties, even if it is not directly conducted by the company itself.
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They sell in countries where animal testing is required by law
Estée Lauder is not a cruelty-free brand. While the company itself may not be executing animal experiments, it sells its products in countries where animal testing is required by law. This means that their products are likely tested on animals.
In a statement, Estée Lauder acknowledges that their brands are sold in countries where animal testing on cosmetics or cosmetic ingredients is required by law. They further state that while they do not test their products on animals and do not ask others to test for them, some regulatory bodies require the testing of their products or ingredients on animals to demonstrate cosmetic safety. In such cases, they take all practical and available steps to encourage the acceptance of existing non-animal test data instead.
As of 2024, the vast majority of beauty brands available in China have had their products tested on animals. Mainland China still requires mandatory animal tests for most companies. Estée Lauder is sold in stores in mainland China, and therefore, their products are likely tested on animals. While China is gradually relaxing its animal testing laws, brands selling in China no longer have to be an immediate no-go for cruelty-free shoppers. However, it is important to note that Estée Lauder has not taken any steps to meet the preconditions to avoid animal testing while selling in China.
Estée Lauder is not vegan either, meaning some of their products may contain animal-derived ingredients. While they might offer some vegan products, because the company is not cruelty-free, it is recommended to avoid any products they offer even if they are vegan.
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They are not certified by any cruelty-free organisations
Estée Lauder is not certified by any cruelty-free organisations. While companies can be fully cruelty-free without being certified, certification is still a good indicator of a company's ethical practices. The two most trusted organisations that give out cruelty-free certifications are PETA and Leaping Bunny.
Estée Lauder is not cruelty-free. They may test on animals, either themselves, through their suppliers, or through a third party. They are sold in countries where animal testing is required by law, such as China. Estée Lauder admits to testing on animals where it is required by law, stating: "We don't test our products on animals, and we don't ask others to test for us. We acknowledge our brands are sold in countries where animal testing on cosmetics or cosmetic ingredients is required by law."
In addition, Estée Lauder does not claim or market itself to offer any vegan-friendly options. They might offer some vegan products, but they are not 100% vegan, meaning some contain animal-derived ingredients.
In 2020, Estée Lauder Companies joined the #BeCrueltyFree campaign, which is led by Humane Society International (HSI). The campaign aims to end all cosmetic animal testing worldwide. However, as of 2024, Estée Lauder is still not considered cruelty-free by Cruelty Free Kitty, a website that tracks the cruelty-free status of beauty brands.
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They are taking steps to end animal testing
While Estée Lauder is not a cruelty-free company, it has taken some steps to end animal testing. Firstly, Estée Lauder stopped testing on animals in 1990, although it later resumed animal testing when it began selling its products in China, where animal testing is required by law for many beauty items. Despite this, Estée Lauder has expressed a commitment to producing high-quality beauty products that meet ethical standards and has joined the #BeCrueltyFree campaign led by Humane Society International (HSI). This campaign is the largest global effort to end cosmetic animal testing, and Estée Lauder has stated that they are “proud” to partner with HSI in working towards this common goal.
Estée Lauder has also emphasised its support for alternatives to animal testing, stating that they believe alternatives are achievable through collaborations with scientists, industry groups, and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) worldwide. They are a member of the Personal Care Products Council's (PCPC) Science and Support Committee (SSC), which oversees non-animal alternatives in testing. Additionally, they have partnered with Cruelty Free International, a London-based animal protection group, to advocate for cruelty-free consumption and production measures in the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Estée Lauder has also stated 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 claim that they take steps to encourage the acceptance of existing non-animal test data in such cases. While Estée Lauder's efforts are a step in the right direction, it is important to note that they still allow their products to be tested on animals in certain jurisdictions, which means they cannot be considered a cruelty-free company.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Estée Lauder is not cruelty-free. They may test on animals, either themselves, through their suppliers, or a third party. They also sell their products in countries where animal testing is required by law.
Estée Lauder sells its products in more than 150 countries and territories. While it is not clear if they sell their products in Australia, they do sell their products in countries where animal testing is required by law, such as mainland China.
Estée Lauder claims that they don't test on animals and don't ask others to do it on their behalf. However, they admit that their products are sold in countries where animal testing is required by law.
Yes, Estée Lauder has joined the #BeCrueltyFree campaign, led by Humane Society International (HSI), to end all cosmetic animal testing worldwide. They are also working with Cruelty Free International to encourage leaders to embed cruelty-free consumption and production measures.
Yes, Estée Lauder has been advocating for alternatives to animal testing methods in cosmetics to demonstrate safety. They are working with leading scientists, industry groups, and NGOs worldwide to achieve this common goal.






























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