Is Benefit Cosmetics Cruelty-Free?

Does Benefit Cosmetics test on animals or sell in China?

Benefit Cosmetics was created by twin sisters in San Francisco, California in 1976. They became the go-to for high-end eyebrow makeup. But is Benefit cruelty-free or do they test on animals?

For a company to be considered cruelty-free they have to meet all of the following criteria:

• Do not test any of their products or ingredients on animals
• Don’t allow others to test on their behalf 
• Do not sell in a country where animal testing is required. 

After doing a bit of research, I found that Benefit doesn’t meet the above cruelty-free requirements and is not considered to be a cruelty-free makeup brand. 

Let’s look into what all of that really means and what you can do about it.

Is Benefit Certified Cruelty-Free?

When researching a brand’s cruelty-free status my first stop is the certified cruelty-free list. There are three organizations that give official certifications to brands around the world: Leaping Bunny, Peta, and Choose Cruelty-Free.

Benefit Cosmetics is not found on any of these organizations’ cruelty-free lists. However, they are found on Peta’s list of brands to avoid. 

Does Benefit Cosmetics Test on Animals?

The next step in my research is going directly to the company’s animal testing policy to see where they stand. Benefit’s policy can be found in the ‘FAQ’ section of their website. Here is what it states:

“Benefit does not test our products on animals. Since 1989, the Perfumes & Cosmetics companies of LVMH group (including Benefit Cosmetics) have not performed any test on animals for our products – this was implemented long before the 2013 official ban set by the European Union.

We are deeply committed to the elimination of animal testing. We’re playing a leading role in developing alternative methods through our support of the “Fund for Alternatives to Animal Testing” in the United States. We also actively participate in validation studies of new alternative tests in the framework of the European cosmetics association, Cosmetics Europe. We are one of only a few companies to have invested in creating our own internal department to test raw materials and ingredients to further ensure the quality of our products and the satisfaction of our customers, which is our top priority.

As a result, all Benefit products undergo very strict tolerance tests using non-animal methods during the development of each product to ensure quality and safety prior to market.

Some customers expressed concern regarding the situation in China. Our products are made in Europe and for imported cosmetics, the Chinese health authorities order some tests on animals: they require companies to make their products available to be tested in state-certified laboratories for registration purposes only, as it is currently their only recognized method to demonstrate product safety.

We are hopeful that alternative testing methods will be adopted worldwide and we will see an end to animal testing.”

Benefit’s animal testing policy contradicts itself. It states that they do not test on animals and are using alternative methods.  However, they choose to sell in China where animal testing is required for imported cosmetics. Therefore, Benefit does allow animal testing on their products.

Is Benefit Sold in China?

Yes, Benefit does sell in China. They are listed as a brand on the Sephora China page. I’ve included an image of the website below. 

What About China’s New Animal Testing Laws?

China has announced that as of May 1, 2021, general cosmetics such as shampoo, body wash, lipstick, lotion, and makeup can be sold without being tested on animals. However, a company is required to jump through various hoops for this to happen. As of now, Benefit has not been exempt and their products can still be tested on animals by the Chinese health authority. Even if an exemption happens it is still possible that the products can be subjected to post-market testing. 

Is Benefit Cosmetics Owned By a Parent Company?

Yes, Benefit is owned by LVMH Group. 

Is Benefit Vegan?

Benefit is not considered to be vegan because they test their products or ingredients on animals or allow others to do so on their behalf. So, until this changes, we choose not to look into whether they may or may not have products that don’t contain animal ingredients.

What are Cruelty-Free Alternatives to Benefit?

There are several cruelty-free cosmetics alternatives to Benefit. Check out the list below:

• Milk Makeup
• Urban Decay
• Illamasqua
• BareMinerals

Wrap Up: Is Benefit Cosmetics Cruelty-Free?

No, Benefit is not a cruelty-free skincare brand. Even though they claim to not test on animals, they choose to sell in a country that requires imported cosmetics to be tested on animals.

Therefore, Benefit is not considered to be cruelty-free. They will be added to my list of brands that test on animals. 

Now I’d like to hear from you…What are your thoughts about Benefit Cosmetics? Please leave your comments below!

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