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Is MAC Cosmetics Cruelty-Free?
MAC is NOT cruelty-free.
Is MAC Cosmetics Vegan?
MAC might have some products without animal-derived ingredients, but I don’t consider any of their products vegan since they test on animals.
Is MAC Cosmetics PETA Certified?
No, MAC is not PETA certified, and PETA lists MAC as a company that tests on animals.
Is MAC Cosmetics Leaping Bunny Certified?
No, MAC is not Leaping Bunny Certified.
Is MAC Cosmetics Owned By A Parent Company That Tests On Animals?
Yes, MAC is owned by Estée Lauder, a company that tests on animals.
MAC’s Animal Testing Policy
MAC has the following paragraph on their website about animal testing:
Estée Lauder’s Animal Testing Policy
Estée Lauder, MAC’s parent company, has the following information on its 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 its 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 MAC Cosmetics Sold in Mainland China?
Yes, MAC products are sold in mainland China.
Here is a screenshot from their store locator:
MAC also admits to selling in China on their website:
Chinese consumers could still buy MAC products online if MAC decided not to sell them in stores.
Vegan and Cruelty-Free Alternatives to MAC Cosmetics
Urban Decay
Urban Decay is a 100% cruelty-free and vegan brand. Urban Decay was born in Southern California in 1996 to disrupt the industry’s sea of pink-dominated counters.
***Urban Decay is owned by a parent company that tests on animals.
RMS Beauty
RMS Beauty is 100% cruelty-free, but not all products are vegan. RMS Beauty was created by celebrity make-up artist, Rose Marie Swift. RMS Beauty is a mid-range brand that sells makeup and skincare. The products are formulated with raw, organic ingredients. RMS Beauty products are non-GMO, hypoallergenic, non-comedogenic, soy-free, paraben-free, and sulfate-free. RMS Beauty products are formulated using raw, food-grade, organic, wildcrafted, and natural ingredients that are as close to their natural state as possible.
Bite Beauty
Bite Beauty is 100% cruelty-free and vegan. It is a Canadian-based makeup brand, mostly known for its lip products, but they sell many types of cosmetics products. All of Bite Beauty’s products are made with food-grade ingredients that are infused with resveratrol.
***Bite Beauty is owned by a parent company that tests on animals.
Shop the full list of 100% cruelty-free and vegan 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?
This is how MAC Cosmetics responded to my email:
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. More info here: bit.ly/1RPhyXe
Additionally, while we don’t maintain comprehensive lists of products that do or do not contain certain ingredients, you can find full ingredient listings right on www.maccosmetics.com! Simply navigate to the product page of interest until you locate “Ingredients” in the Full Description area.