Is Shiseido Cruelty Free? The Definitive Answer 2025 

Shiseido, founded in Japan in 1872, has grown into one of the world’s most recognized beauty brands. With a wide range of skincare, makeup, and fragrance products sold in over 90 countries, many conscious consumers in the wider beauty industry want to know: 

Is Shiseido truly cruelty-free, and what are the implications for those seeking cruelty-free products? This article gives you the clear, evidence-based answer with all the context you need to make informed choices about your beauty products.

Is Shiseido Cruelty Free?

No, Shiseido is not cruelty-free in 2025. Despite claims about reducing animal testing, Shiseido still allows its products or ingredients to be tested on animals when testing is required by law, meaning the company effectively engages in animal testing through these legal loopholes.

According to Shiseido’s official statement on their website: 

“Shiseido has researched alternative test methods that can be performed without animal testing for over 40 years… We completely abolished animal testing and introduced a safety assurance system without animal testing in 2013.” However, the asterisk points to an important exception: “Except when required by governmental and regulatory authorities.” Shiseido Company

This exception means Shiseido cannot be considered truly cruelty-free. For a brand to be genuinely cruelty-free, it must completely avoid animal testing under any circumstances, regardless of what local laws might require.

Does Shiseido Test on Animals?

While Shiseido itself claims to have stopped direct animal testing of their finished products, their official policy reveals that animal testing still occurs under certain conditions, allowing their products to be tested via third parties:

1. When required by law, Shiseido allows animal testing when “absolutely mandated by law” in countries where they sell their products
2. Where there are “no alternative methods” – Their policy states testing may occur “where there are absolutely no alternative methods for guaranteeing product safety”

This means that while Shiseido may not directly perform animal tests themselves, they still permit third parties to test their products tested on animals to comply with certain countries’ regulations, effectively making them a company that tests on animals by proxy.

The Exception Clause: “When Required by Law”

This exception is particularly significant because Shiseido sells products in China, where animal testing for cosmetics has historically been mandatory for many foreign brands. 

According to Ethical Elephant:

 “Shiseido does not test its cosmetic products or ingredients on animals except when absolutely mandated by law, or where there are absolutely no alternative methods for guaranteeing product safety.” Ethical Elephant

The China Connection: Understanding Global Animal Testing Regulations

The primary reason Shiseido cannot be considered cruelty-free is its presence in the Chinese market. Until recently, China required mandatory animal testing for cosmetic products that were imported.

China’s Animal Testing Requirements

As of 2021, China has updated its regulations, and these recent changes are important to understand:

• “General cosmetics” (like makeup, skincare, haircare) may qualify for exemption from pre-market animal testing
• “Special cosmetics” (like sunscreens, hair dyes, products claiming new efficacy) still require animal testing
• Products for children or containing new ingredients still require testing
• Brands, or rather companies, must obtain the proper safety certificates and meet specific criteria to qualify for exemption

Despite these changes, evidence shows Shiseido continues to sell some of their cosmetics that still fall under China’s mandatory testing requirements, including special-use cosmetics, making the goal of selling all cosmetics in china without animal testing still elusive for them under current practices.

Post-Market Testing Risk

Even if some products might qualify for pre-market testing exemptions, all products sold in physical stores in China may be subject to “post-market testing,” and this post-market testing is required in certain instances. 

This means random testing after products hit shelves, often triggered by customer complaints. Truly cruelty-free brands must have a policy in place to withdraw products rather than allow such testing.

Cruelty-Free Certification Status

Given Shiseido’s policy and market presence, the brand lacks certification from any major cruelty-free organizations:

• PETA: Lists Shiseido on their “Companies That DO Test on Animals” list with a clear warning that “This company DOES test on animals.” PETA
• Leaping Bunny: Shiseido is not certified by the Leaping Bunny program, considered the gold standard of cruelty-free certification
• Choose Cruelty Free (CCF): Does not recognize Shiseido as cruelty-free

These certifications require brands to adhere to strict standards, committing to a complete ban on animal testing throughout their entire supply chain, including every supplier, with no exceptions for legal requirements. Some brands might claim to be cruelty-free, but it’s harder to verify if they are fully cruelty-free without being certified by such bodies.

Parent Company and Brand Portfolio Analysis

Shiseido Company is both a brand and a parent company that owns multiple beauty brands. The company’s prestige brand portfolio includes:

• SHISEIDO (their namesake brand)
• Clé de Peau Beauté
• NARS
• Drunk Elephant
• IPSA
• Tory Burch Beauty
• Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare

None of these brands owned by Shiseido Company can be considered cruelty-free due to the parent company’s policy and market presence in China; it’s a common issue where parent companies are not cruelty-free, impacting their entire portfolio.

The NARS Controversy

In 2017, NARS (owned by a parent company, Shiseido) sparked outrage when it announced it would enter the Chinese market despite its previously cruelty-free status. 

This decision highlighted how brands, especially when their parent company tests on animals or allows testing, often prioritize market expansion over ethical commitments.

Is Shiseido Vegan?

No, Shiseido is not vegan. While some Shiseido products might not contain animal-derived ingredients, and some consumers might wonder if they offer vegan products even on a limited basis, the brand cannot be considered vegan because, for products to be vegan in the true sense, they must meet stricter criteria:

1. For products to be truly vegan, meaning a brand can confidently offer vegan items, they must be both free of animal-derived ingredients AND not tested on animals
2. Many Shiseido products contain animal-derived ingredients

Common Non-Vegan Ingredients in Cosmetics

Many beauty products, including some from Shiseido, may contain these animal-derived ingredients (indeed, many conventional products may contain a variety of non-vegan components):

The Science Behind Animal Testing Alternatives

Shiseido claims to have researched alternative testing methods for over 40 years. Modern safety assessments based on alternative methods to animal testing include:

1. In vitro testing: Using cell and tissue cultures in a lab
2. Computer modeling: Using artificial intelligence to predict how ingredients will react
3. Human tissue samples: Testing on donated human tissue
4. 3D skin models: Creating lab-grown human skin equivalents

These methods are often more accurate, faster, and less expensive than animal testing. 

According to Cruelty Free International, 

“Replacing animal tests does not mean putting human patients at risk. It also doesn’t mean halting medical progress. Instead, it means improving safety for humans and delivering more effective treatments.” Cruelty Free International

Truly cruelty-free companies have proven it’s possible to ensure product safety without animal testing, showing that companies can be fully cruelty-free by using these alternative methods and avoiding markets with mandatory testing requirements.

Truly Cruelty-Free Alternatives to Shiseido

If you’re looking for cruelty-free options to replace products from brands like Shiseido, consider these certified cruelty-free brands, some of which are also fully vegan brands:

High-End Alternatives

• Tatcha (similar luxury Japanese-inspired skincare)
• Biossance (high-performance clean skincare)
• Drunk Elephant (effective formulas without controversial ingredients)
• Sunday Riley (active treatment products)

More Affordable Alternatives

• Glow Recipe (Korean-inspired skincare)
• e.l.f. Cosmetics (budget-friendly makeup)
• The Ordinary (simple, effective formulations)
• Pacifica (accessible vegan beauty)

All these brands have committed to no animal testing, including not selling in markets that require it.

Making Informed Consumer Choices

Your purchasing decisions have power, and how you choose products can make a difference. Here’s how to effectively choose to support brands aligned with your values:

1. Look for certification logos: Leaping Bunny and PETA’s cruelty-free bunny are reliable indicators
2. Check company policies: Look for explicit statements against animal testing with no exceptions
3. Research parent companies: Some cruelty-free brands are owned by non-cruelty-free parent companies. It’s worth investigating if these subsidiary brands operate independently from the parent company regarding their cruelty-free policies, though often the parent company’s stance influences all its holdings. Truly operating independently from the parent company on this ethical front can be rare.
4. Contact brands directly: Ask specific questions about their testing policies and China sales. What a brand states publicly versus in direct communication can sometimes differ, and their transparency is a good indicator of their ethical stance.

Remember that “cruelty-free” isn’t regulated by the FDA or other government agencies, so third-party certification provides the most reliable verification and is a key indicator of their ethical practices.

Conclusion

Despite Shiseido’s claims about reducing animal testing, the brand’s continued involvement in animal testing (even if indirect or by legal requirement) means it cannot be considered cruelty-free in 2025 because it allows animal testing when required by law and sells products in markets where such testing is mandatory. 

For consumers who prioritize cruelty-free beauty and may choose to boycott brands with such policies, numerous certified alternatives offer similar quality and performance without compromising ethical standards.

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