Is MAC Cruelty-Free?
Does MAC Cosmetics test on animals or sell in China?
MAC is a well-known makeup brand that can be found all over the world. But is MAC 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 MAC 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 MAC 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.
MAC is not found on any of these organizations’ cruelty-free lists. However, they are found on Peta’s list of brands to avoid.
Does MAC Test on Animals?
The next step in my research is going directly to the company’s animal testing policy to see where they stand. MAC’s policy can be found in the footer section of their website. Here is an excerpt:
“M·A·C does not test on animals. We do not own any animal testing facilities and we never ask others to test on animals for us. While some governments conduct animal testing to prove safety before they will allow us to sell our products, M·A·C has never tested on animals and we continue to be a leader in the movement to end animal testing globally. To this end, we are proud to partner with IIVS (INSTITUTE FOR IN VITRO SCIENCES) to expand the use and acceptance of non-animal testing methods worldwide.”
MAC’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, MAC does allow animal testing on their products.
Is MAC Sold in China?
Yes, MAC does sell in China. After doing a quick Google search I was able to locate MAC’s Chinese website. A brand doesn’t create a website for another country unless they are 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, MAC 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 MAC Owned By a Parent Company?
Yes, MAC 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 MAC Vegan?
MAC 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 MAC?
There are several cruelty-free makeup alternatives to MAC. Check out the list below:
Wrap Up: Is MAC Cruelty-Free?
No, MAC is not a cruelty-free beauty 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, MAC 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 MAC? Please leave your comments below!
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