Is Sensodyne Cruelty-Free?

Does Sensodyne test on animals or sell in China?

Sensodyne is a well-known toothpaste brand for people with sensitive teeth that can be found all over the world. But is Sensodyne cruelty-free?

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 Sensodyne doesn’t meet the above cruelty-free requirements and is not considered to be a cruelty-free toothpaste brand. 

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

Is Sensodyne 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.

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

Does Sensodyne Test on Animals?

The next step in my research is going directly to the company’s animal testing policy to see where they stand. Sensodyne does not have an animal testing policy on its website. However, I was able to find GlaxoSmithKline’s policy about its line of non-medicinal products. Here is what it states:

“We only test non-medicinal products on animals where there is a specific legal or regulatory requirement to do so, in order to make a health benefit claim. We do not carry out animal testing for products whose primary use is to improve the appearance of individuals (i.e. aesthetic purposes).  When  scientifically needed,  animal  studies will be performed using as few animals  as is  scientifically feasible.”

GlaxoSmithKline’s animal testing policy states that they will conduct animal testing when it is required or for other scientific purposes. Also, they choose to sell in China where animal testing is required for imported cosmetics. Therefore, Sensodyne does allow animal testing on its products.

Is Sensodyne Sold in China?

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

Yes, Sensodyne is owned by GlaxoSmithKline, 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 Sensodyne Vegan?

Sensodyne 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 Sensodyne?

There are several cruelty-free toothpaste alternatives to Sensodyne. Check out the list below:

• Hello Sensitivity Relief and Whitening
• Tom’s of Maine Rapid Relief
• Jason Total Protection
• Kiss My Face Sensitive
• Green Beaver All Natural

Wrap Up: Is Sensodyne Cruelty-Free?

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

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