Rare Beauty has quickly become a popular makeup brand since its launch in 2020. Founded by singer and actress Selena Gomez, the brand is known for its inclusive approach to beauty. But many conscious consumers want to know: Is Rare Beauty truly cruelty-free? Let’s dive into the facts.
Is Rare Beauty Cruelty Free?
Yes, Rare Beauty is 100% cruelty-free. The brand does not test its finished products or ingredients on animals at any stage of product development, and they have a clear policy on this.
They also don’t allow third parties or suppliers to conduct animal testing on their behalf. This commitment to being cruelty-free is a core part of the brand’s identity and values; indeed, Rare Beauty is cruelty-free.
Rare Beauty’s cruelty-free status is certified by two major organizations:
- PETA’s Global Beauty Without Bunnies Program: Rare Beauty has been certified by PETA since its launch in 2020. This certification confirms that the brand does not conduct, commission, or pay for any tests on animals for ingredients, formulations, or finished products.
- Leaping Bunny Program: As of April 2024, Rare Beauty has also received certification from the Leaping Bunny Program, which is considered one of the most rigorous cruelty-free certifications in the industry. This certification requires brands to verify that no animal testing occurs at any stage of product development, fulfilling a key criterion for ethical brands.
To celebrate their Leaping Bunny certification in April 2024, Rare Beauty released limited-edition dog toys, showing their continued commitment to animal welfare and their dedication to providing an alternative to practices that harm animals.
Does Rare Beauty Test on Animals?
No, Rare Beauty does not test on animals in any way. The brand has confirmed multiple times that they maintain strict policies against animal testing and:
- Do not test finished products on animals
- Do not test ingredients on animals
- Do not allow suppliers to test on animals
- Do not allow third parties to test on animals
- Do not sell in regions that require animal testing by law, meaning they do not sell their products where animal testing is a condition.
Their website clearly states:
“We are free of animal-derived ingredients or animal byproducts, and never test on animals (nor do we ask others to test on our behalf).” Source
It’s reassuring that some companies can be fully cruelty-free in today’s market.
Rare Beauty’s Cruelty-Free Certifications
Having cruelty-free certifications provides additional assurance to consumers that a brand truly doesn’t test on animals.
While some brands might claim to be fully cruelty-free without being certified, these official endorsements offer a higher level of trust. Let’s look at Rare Beauty’s certifications in more detail:
PETA Certification
Rare Beauty has been certified by PETA’s Global Beauty Without Bunnies program since its launch. This certification means that:
- The company has signed PETA’s statement of assurance verifying that they don’t conduct, commission, or pay for any tests on animals for their ingredients, formulations, or finished products anywhere in the world
- They have committed to never testing on animals in the future
- They allow PETA to list them as a company that doesn’t test on animals
When you buy Rare Beauty products, you might notice they feature PETA’s Global Beauty Without Bunnies logo, which helps consumers identify cruelty-free products and helps make it easy for them to shop ethically.
Leaping Bunny Certification
In April 2024, Rare Beauty achieved Leaping Bunny certification. This is significant because Leaping Bunny is known for its rigorous standards. To receive this certification, companies must:
- Commit to no animal testing in all stages of product development
- Agree to independent audits to verify their claims
- Implement a supplier monitoring system to ensure ingredients are not tested on animals
- Renew their commitment annually
According to the Leaping Bunny website, “It took a long time” for Rare Beauty to achieve this certification, showing the thoroughness of the process and how they adhere to strict guidelines.
Is Rare Beauty Vegan?
Yes, Rare Beauty is 100% vegan. This means that none of their products contain any animal-derived ingredients or animal byproducts.
Being vegan goes beyond just not testing on animals—it means that no animal products are used in the formulation of their makeup. Many vegan brands strive for this dual commitment.
Common animal-derived ingredients that are NOT found in Rare Beauty products include:
- Beeswax (often used in lip products)
- Lanolin (derived from sheep’s wool)
- Carmine (red pigment made from crushed insects)
- Animal hair (for makeup brushes)
The brand clearly states on their sustainability page: “We are free of animal-derived ingredients or animal byproducts.” They offer vegan options across their entire range, ensuring you can find vegan products even for your most specific needs.
It’s important to note that a brand can be cruelty-free without being vegan. The fact that Rare Beauty has committed to being both cruelty-free and vegan shows their strong commitment to animal welfare.
Is Rare Beauty Clean?
When it comes to being “clean,” Rare Beauty follows strict standards but isn’t officially labeled as a clean beauty brand at some retailers like Sephora.
According to their sustainability page, Rare Beauty formulates without:
- Animal-derived ingredients
- BHAs (Butylated Hydroxyanisole)
- Various phthalates (BBP, DBP, DnHP, DEHP, DIDP, DINP)
- Formaldehyde
- Parabens
- Retinyl Palmitate/Retinyl Acetate
- And more
The brand states:
“We go by the strict cosmetic standards of the European Union, which means we ban more than 1,600 chemicals from going into our products.”
This is a strong commitment to consumer safety and aims to use responsibly sourced ingredients.
However, they also note:
“We go above and beyond to exclude these ingredients from our formulas; however, trace amounts are sometimes unavoidable. We work closely with our manufacturers and third-party labs to keep them within safe and permitted industry levels.”
This transparency about potential trace contamination might be why the brand doesn’t qualify for some “clean” certifications, despite having strong standards overall. The packaging for these carefully formulated products is often recyclable and sometimes printed with water-based ink.
Is Rare Beauty Non-Toxic?
Rare Beauty aims to create non-toxic products by excluding many harmful ingredients from their formulations. According to the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep database, many Rare Beauty products score in the low to moderate hazard range.
The brand states that “Each and every ingredient we use is researched and tested by both internal and independent scientific experts,” including chemists, microbiologists, ophthalmologists, dermatologists, and regulatory experts.
They also conduct additional testing:
“Once the ingredients are approved as safe for use, we send our products through several external tests, including safety, trace contaminant, and microbiological testing with third-party labs.”
They also aim to use recycled materials where possible in their packaging.
While no beauty product can claim to be 100% non-toxic (as even water can be toxic in large enough quantities), Rare Beauty does take steps to ensure their products are as safe as possible for consumers.
Some packaging components are made from FSC-certified materials, further showing their commitment.
Is Rare Beauty Gluten-Free?
Rare Beauty formulates without gluten-derived ingredients, but they are transparent about the possibility of cross-contamination. On their sustainability page, they note:
“*We formulate without gluten-derived ingredients; however, due to unavoidable cross-contamination in the manufacturing process, traces of these ingredients are sometimes possible.”
This means that while the brand aims to be gluten-free, they cannot guarantee that their products are completely free of gluten traces.
People with severe gluten allergies or celiac disease should be aware of this potential cross-contamination. If you have specific concerns, please feel free to reach out to the brand directly for more detailed information.
Verifying Cruelty-Free Claims as a Consumer
When trying to verify if a beauty brand is truly cruelty-free, consider these steps:
- Look for trusted certifications: Check if the brand has certifications from organizations like Leaping Bunny or PETA. Rare Beauty has both, which is a strong indication of their commitment to being cruelty-free. These certifications are a good indicator of their ethical stance.
- Check the brand’s official statements: Visit the official website to find their stance on animal testing. Rare Beauty clearly states their cruelty-free commitment on their sustainability page. This transparency is a positive indicator of their ethical practices.
- Research the parent company: Some brands may be cruelty-free but are owned by parent companies that test on animals, such as those under conglomerates like Estee Lauder. This can be a complex issue, as some brands owned by larger corporations may still operate independently from the parent company in their ethical sourcing and testing. However, Rare Beauty is not owned by a parent company that tests on animals; they maintain their standards independently from the parent company, if they had one that tested. For many consumers, it’s important to know if parent companies are not cruelty-free, as they may choose to boycott these.
- Verify if the brand sells in China: Until recently, all foreign cosmetics sold in physical stores in mainland China had to be tested on animals. This meant that brands selling products where animal testing was mandatory could not be considered truly cruelty-free by many. Rare Beauty does not sell its products in regions where mandatory animal testing is required by law, a regulation that many brands find problematic. Current animal testing laws are evolving, but vigilance is key.
- Look for cruelty-free symbols: Products that are certified cruelty-free often display logos like the Leaping Bunny or PETA’s bunny logo on their packaging. Rare Beauty features PETA’s Global Beauty Without Bunnies logo. Seeing these symbols helps shoppers choose with confidence.
Conclusion
Based on all available evidence, Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez is a truly cruelty-free and vegan beauty brand. With certifications from both PETA and Leaping Bunny, consumers can feel confident that the brand does not test on animals at any stage of product development. Understanding that rare beauty’s cruelty-free status is verified helps consumers make informed decisions.
The brand goes beyond just being cruelty-free by also ensuring all their products are vegan, meaning they don’t contain any animal-derived ingredients. They also exclude many potentially harmful chemicals from their formulations, following the strict cosmetic standards of the European Union. They also work to educate consumers about their practices.
FAQs About Rare Beauty’s Cruelty-Free Status
Is Rare Beauty actually cruelty-free?
Yes, Rare Beauty is certified cruelty-free by both PETA and Leaping Bunny, two of the most respected cruelty-free certification organizations. The brand does not test on animals at any stage of product development, nor do they allow suppliers or third parties to test on their behalf. They do not fund animal testing in any capacity.
Why isn’t Rare Beauty clean at Sephora?
While Rare Beauty follows strict standards regarding ingredients, they acknowledges that trace amounts of certain substances might be present due to manufacturing processes. This transparency about potential trace contamination might explain why they aren’t labeled as “clean” at Sephora, despite having strong ingredient standards overall.
Is Rare Beauty unethical?
No, Rare Beauty is considered an ethical brand. Beyond being cruelty-free and vegan, the brand is committed to sustainability efforts and social responsibility through their Rare Impact initiative, which supports mental health awareness and has raised over $7 million in 2023.
Are Rare Beauty blushes vegan?
Yes, all Rare Beauty products, including their popular Soft Pinch liquid blushes, are 100% vegan. This means they don’t contain any animal-derived ingredients or byproducts. The brand’s commitment to being fully vegan is stated clearly on their website.