Clinique is a well-known beauty brand that specializes in skincare, makeup, and fragrance products. The company has a strong reputation for using high-quality ingredients and conducting rigorous testing on its products before releasing them to the market. But is Clinique cruelty free?
[Read our other posts: Is Maybelline cruelty free? Is Aveeno cruelty free? Is CeraVe cruelty free?]
What Does “Cruelty-Free” Mean?
In the beauty industry, “cruelty-free” refers to products that are not tested on animals at any stage of the manufacturing process, from ingredient sourcing to finished product testing. This means that no animals, including mice, rabbits, and guinea pigs, are used in any way to test the safety or efficacy of the product.
Is Clinique Cruelty Free?
The short answer is no, Clinique is not a cruelty-free brand. The company does not claim to be cruelty-free on its website, and it is not listed on any cruelty-free databases, such as Leaping Bunny or PETA’s Global Beauty Without Bunnies program.
Clinique is owned by Estée Lauder, the company that faced a $100 million lawsuit in 2012 for “falsely market[ing] that it does not test any of its products on animals when it actually does.” Unfortunately, the judge tossed the case out at the time for lack of evidence of damage.
Then, in 2015, nine cosmetics companies including Estée Lauder were investigated following complaints by PETA in Europe. PETA said that the companies were relying on data from animal tests carried out in China on their products, and could thus be in breach of EU laws on animal testing. The outcome of this investigation and review required that “any cosmetics company that tests on animals in another country such as China, must be able to prove that it does not rely on the data from these tests to ensure products sold in the EU are safe.” At the time of the investigation, Estée Lauder had admitted to paying for tests in China. Note that this investigation was not conducted for non-EU markets.
Estée Lauder says on their website that they were one of the first cosmetics companies to eliminate animal testing. According to Estée Lauder’s animal testing policy, the company does not test its finished products on animals unless required by law. However, it does test its ingredients on animals in some regions, such as China, where animal testing is mandatory for certain cosmetic products.
Clinique’s Animal Testing Policy
Clinique states that it is committed to the “highest standards of safety and efficacy.” Clinique’s animal testing policy states, “Clinique does not test on animals and we never ask others to do so on our behalf.” However, the company’s policy also states that it may use ingredients that have been tested on animals by third-party suppliers, and that it cannot guarantee that its suppliers do not conduct animal testing.
Cruelty Free Alternatives To Clinique
There are several cruelty-free alternatives to Clinique. Many brands, such as Lush, Tarte, and Pacifica, are committed to using only vegan and cruelty-free ingredients and do not test on animals at any stage of the manufacturing process.
You can also look for products that have been certified by cruelty-free organizations, such as the Leaping Bunny program and PETA’s Beauty Without Bunnies program. These organizations require companies to undergo rigorous audits to ensure that they meet their cruelty-free standards.
This post was about whether Clinique is cruelty-free
Clinique does not test its finished products on animals, but it is not a cruelty-free brand. The company’s parent company, Estée Lauder, conducts animal testing on some of its products, and Clinique cannot guarantee that its suppliers do not conduct animal testing on its ingredients.
Instead, look for cruelty-free alternatives to Clinique and products that have been certified by cruelty-free organizations.
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