Is GlamGlow Cruelty-Free? (in 2022)

Does GlamGlow test on animals or sell in China?

GlamGlow is a popular skincare brand known for treating problem skin conditions. But is GlamGlow 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 GlamGlow doesn’t meet the above cruelty-free requirements and is not considered to be a cruelty-free skincare brand.

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

Is GlamGlow 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.

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

Does GlamGlow Test on Animals?

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

“All GLAMGLOW products are tested for irritants and allergens using biological assays and human volunteers. We do not test our products on animals, nor do we ask others to conduct animal testing on our behalf, except when required by law.
We are proud of the enviable safety record The Estée Lauder Companies, Inc. has sustained since our company was founded in 1946, and of our continued commitment to producing quality products.”

GlamGlow’s animal testing policy contradicts itself. It states that they do not test on animals. However, they will make an exception to satisfy a country’s laws. Therefore, GlamGlow does allow animal testing on their products.

Is GlamGlow Sold in China?

Yes, GlamGlow does sell in China. They are being sold on the Sephora China website. 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, GlamGlow 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 GlamGlow Owned By a Parent Company?

Yes, GlamGlow is owned by Estee Lauder, a company that tests on animals. You can view a full list of brands that they own to see which other companies you should avoid.

Is GlamGlow Vegan?

GlamGlow 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 GlamGlow?

There are several cruelty-free skincare alternatives to GlamGlow. Check out the list below:

Wrap Up: Is GlamGlow Cruelty-Free?

No, GlamGlow 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.

Therefore, GlamGlow 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 GlamGlow? Please leave your comments below!