Is Laneige Cruelty-Free?
Does Laneige test on animals or sell in China?
Laneige is a well-known South Korean skincare company that can be found all over the world. But is Laneige 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 Laneige 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 Laneige 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.
Laneige is not found on any of these organization’s cruelty-free lists. However, they are found on Peta’s list of brands to avoid.
Does Laneige Test on Animals?
The next step in my research is going directly to the company’s animal testing policy to see where they stand. Laneige’s policy can be found in the ‘FAQ’ section of their website. Here is what it states:
“As an enterprise seeking peaceful coexistence between nature, human beings and businesses, AMOREPACIFIC pledges elimination of unnecessary animal testing for cosmetics to respect all living creatures. We have voluntarily discontinued animal testing on cosmetic ingredients and finished goods since 2008. And as of May 1, 2013, will expand the non-animal testing policy to our suppliers. Through continuous cooperation with academia, AMOREPACIFIC will further enhance our efforts to develop alternative testing methods. *Exceptions to this principle will apply however, if animal testing is required or bound by local governments or laws.”
Laneige’s animal testing policy contradicts itself. It states that they do not test on animals and they are working with scientists to develop alternative methods. However, they choose to sell in China where animal testing is required for imported cosmetics. Therefore, Laneige does allow animal testing on their products.
Is Laneige Sold in China?
Yes, Laneige does sell in China. After doing a quick Google search I was able to locate Laneige’s Chinese website. A brand doesn’t create a website for another country unless it is serving those customers. 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, Laneige 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 Laneige Owned By a Parent Company?
Yes, Laneige is owned by AmorePacific, a company that tests on animals, according to the above animal testing policy.
Is Laneige Vegan?
Laneige 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 Laneige?
There are several cruelty-free skincare alternatives to Laneige. Check out the list below:
Wrap Up: Is Laneige Cruelty-Free?
No, Laneige 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, Laneige 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 Laneige? Please leave your comments below!