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Is Cetaphil Cruelty-Free?
Cetaphil is NOT cruelty-free.
Is Cetaphil Vegan?
Cetaphil might have some vegan products, but I don’t consider any of their products vegan since they test on animals.
Is Cetaphil PETA Certified?
No, Cetaphil is not PETA certified.
Is Cetaphil Leaping Bunny Certified?
No, Cetaphil is not Leaping Bunny Certified.
Is Cetaphil Owned By A Parent Company That Tests On Animals?
Yes, Cetaphil is owned by Galderma, a company that tests on animals.
From Their FAQ
This may look promising, but, unfortunately, it is not. Here is why:
“Cruelty-free” has no legal definition. Any brand can claim “cruelty-free” even if they do test on animals. Some brands like to say that they are “cruelty-free” because it is a marketing buzzword to sell more products. The only way to find out is to ask the company. One important question to ask is if their products are sold in China.⠀⠀
Animal Testing in China
Animal Testing is required by law in China for all foreign cosmetics companies. All American and European cosmetic brands that are sold in China must undergo animal testing.
Any brand that chooses to sell their products in China cannot be considered cruelty-free. Even products that can bypass mandatory tests may still be pulled from the shelves by Chinese authorities to be tested on animals.
This does NOT include products that are made in China, only if they are sold in China.
The only way to know if a brand sells products in China is to ask them directly. Make sure to note that Hong Kong is not included in this policy, and neither are products only sold online to Chinese consumers.
Is Cetaphil Sold in Mainland China?
Yes, Cetaphil admitted in their email to me that they sell their products in mainland China.
Also, here is a screenshot of their Chinese website:
Vegan and Cruelty-Free Alternatives to Cetaphil Products
ACURE
ACURE is 100% cruelty-free and vegan. All of their products are also paraben-free, sulfate-free, mineral oil-free, petrolatum-free, and formaldehyde-free.
Facetheory
Facetheory is a vegan and cruelty-free skincare brand that makes clean and affordable products.
Fenty Skin
Fenty Skin is a vegan and cruelty-free brand that was created by Rihanna, and the products are designed to complement Fenty Beauty makeup. Rihanna brings together ingredients from around the world and pairs them with skincare powerhouses, such as hyaluronic acid and niacinamide—for clinically proven results.
Herbivore Botanicals
Herbivore Botanicals is a cruelty-free and vegan brand that was created by a husband and wife duo in their attempt to create plant-based, food-grade skincare from scratch.
Mother Dirt
Mother Dirt creates vegan, cruelty-free, and biome-friendly skincare products that aim to restore and maintain good bacteria on the skin. A chemical and biological engineer by training, Aganovic’s mission for Mother Dirt is to create a world where clean comes with healthy. She believes that healthy bacteria is your complexion’s best friend and that probiotics help your microbiomes stay balanced, and work with your sweat to keep ph levels in check, reduce sensitivities, and control face oils.
Shop the full list of 100% vegan and cruelty-free brands.
Email to the Company
Before classifying any brand as cruelty-free and vegan, I send them an email with the following questions:
- Are your products vegan? If only some are vegan, which ones?
- Are any of your products or ingredients tested on animals?
- Do you have a Leaping Bunny or PETA certification?
- Do your suppliers or any third parties test animals on your behalf?
- Does your company sell products in mainland China (except Hong Kong)?
- Are you owned by a parent company that tests on animals?
Here is how Cetaphil responded:
Per Galderma policy, we do not test Cetaphil® products on animals except if required by law. Specifically, we are required by law to submit Cetaphil® products for animal testing to import Cetaphil® into the People’s Republic of China (i.e., Mainland China). This is no different than other similarly situated companies.
Some Cetaphil® product ingredients are sourced from other countries, including China. All ingredients are inspected to ensure their identity, strength, quality, and purity prior to use.
The U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other global health regulatory agencies currently require all pharmaceutical manufacturers to protect the public health by demonstrating product safety, effectiveness, and quality through industry standard and validated testing methods, which may include animal testing in some instances. Galderma, as a manufacturer, is legally obliged to comply with these guidelines for testing pharmaceutical products and medical devices.
We do not have a Leaping Bunny or PETA certification.
Some of our products contain an ingredient derived from animal sources whereas some do not. It is dependent on the product.