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Is La Mer Cruelty-Free?
La Mer is NOT cruelty-free.
Is La Mer Vegan?
La Mer might have some products without animal-derived ingredients, but I don’t consider any of their products vegan since they test on animals.
Is La Mer Certified Cruelty-Free?
No, La Mer is not certified cruelty-free from Leaping Bunny or PETA. PETA also lists La Mer as a company that tests on animals.
Is La Mer Owned By A Parent Company That Tests On Animals?
Yes, La Mer is owned by Estée Lauder, which is not a cruelty-free company.
La Mer’s Animal Testing Policy
La Mer admitted in their email response (you can read the entire email below) that they test on animals when required by law.
Estée Lauder has the following paragraph on their website:
“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 La Mer Sold in Mainland China?
You can see from the image below that La Mer sells products in stores in China:
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?
This is how La Mer responded:
La Mer does not test our products on animals & we don’t ask others to test for us. If a regulatory body demands it for its safety assessment, an exception can be made. The Company is proud to collaborate with organizations that advocate for practical solutions and acceptance of animal testing alternatives. Learn more here: https://estee.cm/2OPYeQt.
Read More About Living Cruelty-Free and Vegan:
- 100% Cruelty-Free and Vegan Brands
- List of Officially Cruelty-Free Brands
- Companies That Test on Animals
- The Complete List of Vegan Documentaries on Netflix
- Vegan Handbag Brands