Affiliate Disclosure: This post may contain some affiliate links, which means when you click, I get a small percentage of the purchase at no extra cost to you. This allows me to keep this website running, so feel free to click away! You can read my entire Affiliate Disclosure here.
Is Tarte Cruelty-Free?
Tarte is in the grey area.
We have contacted the brand three separate times without a response, so we cannot confirm that they are cruelty-free.
They are most-likely cruelty-free based on the answers below.
If someone from Tarte would like to answer our questions, please contact us, and we will update the post.
Is Tarte Vegan?
Tarte is not a 100% vegan brand, but they have many vegan products. You can find all of Tarte’s vegan products on this page.
Is Tarte Certified Cruelty-Free?
Yes, Tarte is certified cruelty-free by PETA.
Is Tarte Owned By A Parent Company That Tests On Animals?
Yes, Tarte is owned by Kose, which is not a cruelty-free company.
Tarte’s Animal Testing Policy
Tarte claims that they are cruelty-free on their FAQ page:
“Cruelty-free” has no legal definition. Any brand can claim “cruelty-free” even if they do test on animals.
Some brands say they are “cruelty-free” because it is a marketing buzzword to sell more products. Many of the brands on our list of companies that test on animals claim that they are cruelty-free when they are not.
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. Note that Hong Kong is not included in this policy, and neither are products only sold online to Chinese consumers.
Is Tarte Sold in Mainland China?
It is unclear whether or not Tarte sells their products in Mainland China.
Tarte is listed as a country option on their store locator page, but no stores show up when selecting ‘China.’ This also happens with every other country on the list except for the United States.
Vegan and Cruelty-Free Alternatives to Tarte
Au Naturale
Au Naturale is a budget makeup brand. The products are cruelty-free, vegan, organic, paraben-free, and ethical makeup.
Cover FX
Cover FX was founded on the belief that people can have both clean ingredients and high performance in one brand.
Milk Makeup
A totally new take on makeup, Milk Makeup is all about quality, ease, and fresh innovation. Each forward-thinking product is designed in NYC for easy one-handed application (no brushes required), so you can look great without spending the entire morning in the bathroom. They’re good for us, too—all products are paraben-free with a focus on good-for-you ingredients like hydrating oils and vegetable butters.
See 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?
I emailed these questions three separate times to Tarte and I never received a response.
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