Clinique, a brand established in 1968 as one of the first dermatologist-developed cosmetics lines, has earned a reputation for simple, effective skincare. As a subsidiary of Estée Lauder, this popular brand can be found in department stores worldwide.
But with today’s growing demand for ethical beauty options, many consumers are asking one important question: Is Clinique cruelty-free? This guide will provide you with clear facts about Clinique’s animal testing practices so you can make informed choices about the products you buy.
The Direct Answer: Is Clinique Cruelty-Free?
No, Clinique is not cruelty-free in 2025. The brand tests on animals in situations “where required by law,” primarily for products sold in mainland China. For a brand to be truly cruelty-free, it must not test on animals at any stage of product development, whether done by the company itself, its suppliers, or third parties.
While Clinique claims to prioritize alternatives, its allowance for legally mandated testing disqualifies it.
Clinique’s official stance allows for animal testing in certain circumstances, which means they do not meet the criteria set by major cruelty-free certification bodies.
For ethical consumers who want to avoid supporting animal testing, this means Clinique’s cruelty-free products are not available under this brand name.
Understanding Clinique’s Animal Testing Policy
Clinique’s animal testing policy states: “We do not conduct animal testing on our products or ingredients, nor ask others to test on our behalf, except when required by law.”
The key phrase here is “except when required by law,” which is the critical factor that prevents Clinique from being considered cruelty-free, as testing is required by law in certain regions where they sell.
This statement means that while Clinique may not perform animal testing in the United States or other regions where it’s not mandatory, they do allow their products to be tested on animals in countries that require such testing by law. When we break down their testing practices:
- Clinique’s finished products are tested on animals in regions that require it
- Ingredient testing may occur on animals when mandated by local regulations
- Third-party testing is permitted when legally required
- It’s possible that suppliers test on animals to comply with certain market regulations
These practices directly conflict with true cruelty-free standards, which require no animal testing at any point in the supply chain; truly ethical companies can be fully cruelty-free only by adhering to this comprehensive standard.
Does Clinique Test on Animals?
Clinique allows its products to be tested on animals when required by law. The main market where animal testing is required is mainland China, where certain cosmetic products must undergo animal testing before they can be sold in physical retail stores.
A visit to Clinique’s store locator shows numerous retail locations in mainland China, confirming their presence in this market where products are sold. By choosing to sell products in China, Clinique has accepted that its products will be subject to mandatory animal testing protocols.
As part of the Estée Lauder Companies, Clinique follows the parent company’s overall approach to animal testing.
The parent company, Estée Lauder, along with its subsidiaries, including Clinique, continues to permit animal testing where required by law, which means none of their brands can be considered truly cruelty-free by today’s standards, confirming that some parent companies are not cruelty-free.
China’s Animal Testing Laws & Clinique
China’s regulations require animal testing for many foreign cosmetics sold in physical retail stores. While there have been some changes to these animal testing regulations in recent years, they don’t fully eliminate animal testing requirements.
In 2021, China updated its regulations to allow some “general” cosmetics (like skincare and makeup) to avoid animal testing, but only under specific conditions. To qualify for exemption, products that comply with applicable new rules must:
- Only be classified as “general” cosmetics (not “special” cosmetics like sunscreens)
- Not designed for infants or children
- Does not contain “new cosmetic ingredients”
- Have proper safety certificates from the country of origin
Additionally, if post-market testing is required, companies must have strict policies against animal testing and instead recall products rather than allow animal testing.
Selling cosmetics in China without animal testing is possible, but requires meeting these specific criteria.
Despite these changes, it has not been stated anywhere that Clinique has taken steps to meet these exemption criteria.
Since they continue to sell products in stores in mainland China without any public declaration about meeting these specific requirements, their products are still subject to animal testing under Chinese regulations, meaning animal testing is still a reality for the brand. It is not clear anywhere that Clinique has taken any steps towards qualifying for these exemptions.
Clinique’s Cruelty-Free Certification Status
Clinique holds no recognized cruelty-free certifications from organizations like Leaping Bunny, PETA’s Beauty Without Bunnies program, or Choose Cruelty Free. These certifications are important because they require rigorous verification of a brand’s animal testing policies, ensuring a brand is fully cruelty-free without being certified is difficult for consumers to verify independently.
To receive certification from Leaping Bunny, for example, a company must:
- Not conduct animal testing on their finished products or ingredients
- Not commissioning animal testing through third parties
- Implement a Supplier Monitoring System to ensure suppliers don’t test on animals
- Commit to these standards across their entire product range
- Agree to independent audits of their claims
Clinique fails to meet these requirements because its policy allows for animal testing when required by law, and Clinique sells in markets where such testing is mandatory.
Is Clinique Vegan?
No, Clinique is not vegan. While they might offer some vegan products, the brand is not 100% vegan overall. Common animal-derived ingredients found in Clinique products include:
- Lanolin (a waxy substance from sheep wool)
- Beeswax (used in many balms and cosmetics)
- Carmine (a red pigment made from crushed insects)
Additionally, for a product to be truly vegan in the eyes of many ethical consumers, it must not only be free of animal ingredients but also free from animal testing.
Since Clinique allows animal testing where required by law, even their vegan products, even if free of animal ingredients, cannot be considered vegan by strict standards.
Clinique does claim to offer some “vegan” options that don’t contain animal-derived ingredients. However, since the brand still engages in animal testing in some capacity, many ethical consumers wouldn’t consider any Clinique products truly vegan.
Although Clinique might offer some vegan options, the brand’s overall policy conflicts with vegan ethics for many. We can’t definitively state that all their products are vegan.
Is Clinique a Clean Brand?
Clinique is somewhat of a clean beauty brand, but not entirely. The brand has made progress in removing certain controversial ingredients:
- Clinique products are paraben-free
- Their formulations are phthalate-free
- Many products are fragrance-free, which helps reduce skin sensitivity
However, some Clinique products still contain ingredients that clean beauty advocates avoid, such as:
- EDTA (a preservative and chelating agent)
- Phenoxyethanol (a common preservative)
- Titanium dioxide (a mineral used in sunscreens and cosmetics)
This places Clinique in a middle ground—better than some conventional brands regarding ingredients, but not meeting the stricter standards of truly clean beauty brands.
Clinique’s Sustainability Initiatives
Clinique has set goals to improve its environmental impact through various sustainability initiatives:
- By 2025, Clinique aims to make 75% of its packaging recyclable, refillable, reusable, recycled, or recoverable
- 100% of their secondary packaging will be Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified
- The brand has implemented carbon offset programs for some shipping in the US
Clinique is taking steps to offset carbon emissions from US shipping by funding the Doe Mountain Improved Forest Management Project, which protects 8,600 acres of mixed-hardwood forest in Northeastern Tennessee.
While these efforts are positive steps toward sustainability, they don’t change the brand’s status regarding animal testing. For many ethical consumers, a brand’s cruelty-free status is a separate consideration from its environmental initiatives.
Cruelty-Free Alternatives to Popular Clinique Products
If you’re looking to replace your Clinique favorites with cruelty-free options, here are some of the best cruelty-free alternatives:
Take The Day Off Balm Alternatives
- Farmacy Green Clean Makeup Removing Cleansing Balm – A gentle, effective balm that dissolves makeup and is certified cruelty-free
- Good Molecules Cleansing Balm – An affordable option that removes makeup thoroughly without harsh ingredients
- Then I Met You Living Cleansing Balm – A luxurious cleansing balm with sea buckthorn oil that melts away makeup
Black Honey Almost Lipstick Alternatives
- e.l.f. Sheer Slick in “Black Cherry” – A sheer, buildable lip color with a similar berry tone
- Burt’s Bees Lip Shimmer in “Fig” – A natural option with a similar sheer berry finish
- Jouer Cosmetics Essential Shine Balm in “Dahlia” – A glossy, hydrating formula in a flattering universal shade
Dramatically Different Moisturizer Alternatives
- Tatcha Water Cream – A lightweight, oil-free moisturizer for combination to oily skin
- Farmacy Honey Drop – A lightweight moisturizer with honey and hyaluronic acid
- Youth To The People Superfood Air-Whip Moisturizer – A clean, lightweight moisturizer with antioxidants
Even Better Foundation Alternatives
- Too Faced Born This Way Foundation – Medium to full coverage with a natural finish
- Rare Beauty Liquid Touch Foundation – Buildable coverage in a wide shade range
- Cover FX Natural Finish Foundation – Provides coverage similar to Even Better with skincare benefits.
Finding Truly Cruelty-Free Brands
To identify genuinely cruelty-free brands, look for the following verification methods:
Certification Logos
- Leaping Bunny – The gold standard for cruelty-free certification, requiring the most rigorous standards
- PETA’s Beauty Without Bunnies – A widely recognized program certifying cruelty-free brands
- Choose Cruelty Free – An Australian certification with strict standards
Questions to Ask When Researching Brands
- Does the brand test finished products on animals?
- Does the brand test ingredients on animals?
- Do suppliers test ingredients on animals for the brand?
- Does the brand sell in markets requiring animal testing by law?
- Is the brand owned by a parent company that tests on animals?
Resources for Ethical Shopping
- Dedicated apps like Cruelty-Free and Bunny Free
- Websites such as Cruelty-Free Kitty, Ethical Elephant, and Logical Harmony
- Leaping Bunny’s shopping guide and searchable database
The Evolution of Cruelty-Free Beauty
The beauty industry is seeing significant growth in the cruelty-free sector. According to market trends, cruelty-free beauty is growing faster than the conventional beauty market, with more consumers prioritizing ethical considerations in their purchasing decisions.
Regulatory changes worldwide are also affecting animal testing requirements. The European Union banned animal testing for cosmetics in 2013, and many other countries have followed suit. Even China, which has long required animal testing, is slowly changing its regulations to offer limited exemptions. This global shift favors the elimination of animal testing.
Advancements in alternative testing methods, such as in vitro testing (using cell cultures rather than live animals), computer modeling, and human tissue samples, are making animal testing increasingly unnecessary from a scientific standpoint.
Conclusion
To summarize, Clinique is not cruelty-free in 2025. The brand allows animal testing where required by law, primarily in China, which prevents them from meeting cruelty-free standards.
Clinique is also not a fully vegan brand, though they offer some products without animal ingredients; these cannot be considered truly vegan products by strict ethical definitions due to the animal testing policy.
While Clinique has made strides in sustainability and removed some controversial ingredients from their formulations, these efforts don’t change their status regarding animal testing.
For consumers who prioritize cruelty-free beauty, numerous alternatives exist that offer similar benefits without compromising on ethical standards.
By using certified cruelty-free brands, you can enjoy effective beauty products while supporting companies that have committed to ending animal testing.
FAQs
Why does Clinique still test on animals?
Clinique tests on animals where required by law because they’ve chosen to sell their products in markets like mainland China, where animal testing is mandatory for many foreign cosmetics sold in physical retail stores. Clinique is available for sale in these regions, and the brand has prioritized access to these markets over maintaining a completely cruelty-free status.
How ethical is Clinique?
Clinique has made some positive steps regarding sustainability and removing certain controversial ingredients from its products. However, their continued participation in animal testing, where required by law, means many ethical consumers would not consider them an ethical brand based on animal welfare standards.
Who owns Clinique owned by?
Clinique is owned by Estée Lauder Companies, a large beauty conglomerate that owns numerous brands. Like Clinique, Estée Lauder Companies as a whole is not cruelty-free, as their overall policy permits animal testing where required by law.
Are there affordable cruelty-free alternatives to Clinique?
Yes, many affordable cruelty-free brands offer alternatives to Clinique products. Brands like e.l.f, NYX, Pacifica, The Ordinary, and Pixi provide budget-friendly options that are certified cruelty-free. Additionally, mid-range brands like Tarte, Too Faced, and Urban Decay offer cruelty-free alternatives in a similar price range to Clinique.
Has Clinique ever been cruelty-free?
No, Clinique has never been certified as cruelty-free by major certification organizations. Since the brand’s inception, it has maintained a policy that allows for animal testing where required by law, which has prevented it from achieving cruelty-free status. “`