Is Elemis Cruelty-Free? The Definitive 2025 Answer

More people than ever are looking for beauty products that aren’t tested on animals. In fact, searching for “cruelty-free” labels and, by extension, cruelty-free brands, has become a top priority for many shoppers. 

But figuring out which brands truly don’t test on animals can be confusing, a situation that can challenge consumer ethics when making choices. Companies often make claims that sound good but might not tell the whole story. 

This guide will give you clear answers about Elemis’ current cruelty-free status, their animal testing policies, and what to look for if you want truly cruelty-free alternatives.

Is Elemis Cruelty-Free?

No, Elemis is NOT considered cruelty-free by most authoritative sources in 2025. This conclusion means that for many, Elemis is not cruelty-free. 

Despite what the company claims, there are several important reasons why Elemis fails to meet the standards for being truly free from animal testing involvement:

• Elemis sells its products in mainland China, where animal testing is still required for certain imported cosmetics
• The brand is owned by L’Occitane, a parent company that is not considered cruelty-free
• Elemis lacks certification from recognized third-party organizations like Leaping Bunny or PETA’s Beauty Without Bunnies program.

While Elemis makes statements about not testing on animals themselves, these claims don’t address the full picture of what it means to be truly cruelty-free in today’s beauty industry.

Does Elemis Test on Animals?

According to Elemis’s official website, the company states: 

“We do not test our products, active ingredients, or raw materials on animals at any point in the product development or manufacturing process, and we require all our suppliers to fully respect the same rigorous standards.” Source

This policy is intended to ensure that even if their suppliers test on animals is not something that occurs for Elemis ingredients.

However, this statement doesn’t tell the whole story. Many beauty companies make similar claims while still allowing testing by third parties when required by law. This creates a loophole where the brand itself doesn’t conduct testing, but their products are tested on animals somewhere in the supply chain or sales process.

Elemis’s statement carefully avoids addressing whether their products might be subject to animal testing after production, particularly when required by countries like China for imported cosmetics.

The China Question: Does Elemis Sell in China?

Yes, Elemis is sold in mainland China, which is a critical factor in determining their cruelty-free status. This is important because of China’s complex animal testing laws for cosmetics. The sale of their products in China has a significant impact on this status.

In 2021, China updated its regulations regarding animal testing for imported cosmetics. While there are now some pathways for certain “general” cosmetics to avoid pre-market animal testing, post-market testing (often for product safety validation) can still occur in specific situations. 

Additionally, many exemptions require extensive documentation and certification that not all brands can meet, meaning some imported beauty products must still undergo testing. In cases where animal testing is required, brands selling there cannot be considered cruelty-free by stringent standards.

Elemis claims on their website: 

“As a British brand sold in China, our products are not tested on animals by local authorities in China. There is an agreement in place between the Chinese and UK authorities.” Source

However, cruelty-free experts and certification bodies disagree with this interpretation of China’s regulations because, in some instances, beauty products must be submitted for testing.

Why Different Sources Have Different Conclusions

You might find conflicting information about Elemis’s cruelty-free status because different organizations use different criteria for their evaluations:

• Some sources only consider whether a brand conducts animal testing themselves
• Others (like CrueltyFreeNow and Ethical Elephant) use stricter standards that include third-party testing and selling in markets that require animal testing
• The most rigorous standards also look at parent company policies and supply chain testing

For example, Zoobop lists Elemis as cruelty-free, while Cruelty-Free Kitty, Ethical Elephant, and Conscious Bunny all categorize Elemis as NOT cruelty-free. 

This difference comes down to how thoroughly each organization investigates a brand’s full testing policies and practices, including whether the brand might perform or commission tests indirectly.

The most trusted sources in the cruelty-free community consider selling in mainland China a disqualifying factor for cruelty-free status unless a brand can provide clear evidence of exemptions.

Elemis’s Parent Company: L’Occitane’s Animal Testing Policies

In 2019, Elemis was acquired by L’Occitane International S.A. for approximately $900 million. This acquisition is significant because parent company policies, especially from a large corporation, often influence the practices of their subsidiaries, including other brands owned by them.

L’Occitane, like Elemis, sells its products in mainland China. The company makes similar statements about being against animal testing while continuing to sell in markets where such testing may be required by law, meaning the parent company also effectively engages in animal testing indirectly by an authoritative definition when its products are tested by others to meet legal requirements.

For many conscious consumers, a brand’s parent company is an important consideration. Some shoppers prefer to support only brands whose entire corporate structure aligns with cruelty-free values.

Is Elemis Certified Cruelty-Free by Any Organizations?

No, Elemis is not certified by any major cruelty-free certification organizations. The brand does not appear on:

• Leaping Bunny’s approved list
• PETA’s Beauty Without Bunnies program
• Choose Cruelty Free’s certified brands

This lack of third-party certification is a significant red flag. Certification from these organizations requires brands to meet strict standards and undergo regular audits to verify their claims about not testing products on animals.

The Leaping Bunny certification is particularly rigorous, requiring documentation from suppliers and regular independent audits. PETA’s certification is somewhat less stringent but still requires companies to sign legally binding agreements confirming they don’t test on animals.

The absence of these certifications suggests that Elemis cannot meet the standards required by these organizations.

Is Elemis Vegan?

It’s important to understand that “vegan” and “cruelty-free” mean different things. A product can be vegan (containing no animal ingredients) but still be tested on animals. 

Therefore, the statement that Elemis is not vegan applies to the brand overall, though they do offer some vegan products. According to their website, the following Elemis products are vegan-friendly:

• Pro-Collagen Marine Cream
• Tea Tree S.O.S. Spray
• Pro-Collagen Overnight Matrix
• Instant Refreshing Gel
• Pro-Collagen Super Serum Elixir
• Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Wash
• Soothing Apricot Toner
• Superfood Vital Veggie Mask

However, many Elemis products may contain animal-derived ingredients such as:

• Honey (found in Pro-Collagen Quartz Lift Peel-Off Mask)
• Milk protein and milk lipids (found in various Amino Active products)
• Beeswax (found in certain balms and lip products)

Even though some Elemis products are formulated without animal ingredients, many cruelty-free advocates recommend avoiding all products from non-cruelty-free brands, even their vegan options.

Is Elemis Clean?

Yes, Elemis is generally considered a “clean” beauty brand. According to their website, they have banned over 2,000 potentially harmful ingredients from their formulations, including:

• Parabens
• Mineral oils
• Phthalates
• DEA
• Artificial dyes
• Aluminum
• Formaldehyde
• Oxybenzone

Elemis states: “We prioritise safety and efficacy over trends. We have pioneered the use of natural and bio-engineered ingredients in highly transformative formulations.”

It’s worth noting that “clean” is not a regulated term in the beauty industry and can mean different things to different brands. Elemis focuses on excluding ingredients it considers potentially harmful while combining natural ingredients with science-backed formulations.

How Elemis’s Position Has Changed Over Time

Elemis’s stance on animal testing has evolved over the years. Before entering the Chinese market, the brand was considered cruelty-free by some standards. However, their decision to sell in mainland China changed their status in the eyes of many cruelty-free certification bodies and watchdogs.

In 2021, China updated its animal testing requirements, creating some pathways for certain cosmetics to avoid pre-market testing. These recent changes are complex. However, post-market testing can still occur, and many exemptions require extensive documentation that not all brands can provide.

Elemis has attempted to address these concerns by claiming that they have a special agreement between the UK and Chinese authorities. However, cruelty-free experts remain skeptical of these claims, as such agreements would need to be transparent and verifiable. It’s wise for consumers to ask critical questions and not just take marketing claims at face value.

Cruelty-Free Alternatives to Popular Elemis Products

If you’re looking to replace your favorite Elemis products with truly cruelty-free options when you next purchase beauty items, here are some alternatives:

For Pro-Collagen Marine Cream:

• Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Cream (Luxury)
• Dermalogica Skin Smoothing Cream (Mid-range)
• The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors (Budget)

For Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm:

• Farmacy Green Clean Makeup Removing Cleansing Balm (Luxury)
• Naturopathica Manuka Honey Cleansing Balm (Mid-range)
• The Body Shop Camomile Cleansing Butter (Budget)

For Superfood Facial Oil:

• Sunday Riley C.E.O. Glow Face Oil (Luxury)
• Herbivore Phoenix Facial Oil (Mid-range)
• The Ordinary 100% Plant-Derived Squalane (Budget)

All these alternatives are certified cruelty-free by reputable organizations and offer similar benefits to their Elemis counterparts.

Conclusion

Based on comprehensive research from multiple sources, Elemis cannot be considered truly cruelty-free in 2025. Despite their claims of not testing on animals themselves, the brand sells in mainland China, where animal testing may still be required by law. 

Additionally, they lack certification from major cruelty-free organizations and are owned by a parent company (L’Occitane) that is not cruelty-free.

For consumers who prioritize truly cruelty-free beauty across the world, it’s recommended to choose brands that not only avoid animal testing themselves but also don’t sell in markets where such testing is required. 

If in doubt, it’s always a good idea to contact brands directly for clarification on their policies.

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