Is Origins Cruelty-Free? (in 2022)

Does Origins test on animals or sell in China?

Origins is a high-end beauty brand that sells skincare, makeup and bath, and body products. But is Origins cruelty-free or do they test their products 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 Origins doesn’t meet the above cruelty-free requirements and is not considered to be a cruelty-free cosmetics brand.

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

Is Origins 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.

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

Does Origins Test on Animals?

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

“Our belief is that science can end animal testing.
We don’t believe in testing on animals. We believe in the power of nature and the proof of science. And we know science has proven it’s unnecessary to test products for safety on animals. So we don’t do it. Instead, we use volunteers to test out our products. And they help us make sure everything is totally safe for you.
Some countries where Origins is sold require animal testing on all imported cosmetics as part of their regulator safety process. As a brand rooted in science, we’re doing everything we can to put an end to animal testing worldwide through science. That’s why we’re partnering with The Institute for In Vitro Sciences (http://wwww.iivs.org) in their mission to ensure alternative testing becomes the global standard.”

Origins’ animal testing policy contradicts itself. It states that they do not test on animals and they believe that it’s unnecessary. Yet, they choose to sell in China where animal testing is required for imported cosmetics. Therefore, Origins does allow animal testing on their products.

Is Origins Sold in China?

Yes, Origins does sell in China. After doing a quick Google search I was able to locate Origins’ 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, Origins 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 Origins Owned By a Parent Company?

Yes, Origins 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 Origins Vegan?

Origins 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 Origins?

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

Wrap Up: Is Origins Cruelty-Free?

No, Origins 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, Origins 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 Origins? Please leave your comments below!