Is Laneige Cruelty Free? The Complete Investigation 2025

Have you fallen in love with Laneige’s viral lip sleeping masks or water-based moisturizers? If you care about buying products that don’t harm animals, you might wonder about this popular K-beauty brand’s ethics, particularly the common question, “Is Laneige cruelty-free?”. 

Many beauty lovers want their skincare to be kind to animals as well as their skin, actively seeking cruelty-free products. Let’s uncover the truth about Laneige’s cruelty-free status in 2025.

Is Laneige Cruelty Free?

No, Laneige is not cruelty-free as of 2025. Despite what some may claim, Laneige does not meet the full requirements to be considered genuinely cruelty-free.

To be truly cruelty-free, a brand must ensure:

• No animal testing of products or ingredients, or finished products on animals by the company itself
• No animal testing by suppliers or third parties, and exploration of alternative testing methods.
• No animal testing where required by law, meaning they avoid markets that mandate it.

Laneige fails these standards because:

• They allow animal testing where required by law; the brand effectively engages in animal testing under these circumstances.
• They sell some of their cosmetics in mainland China, where animal testing may be required.
• They lack certification from major cruelty-free organizations, and it’s often questioned if companies can be fully cruelty-free without being certified.
• Their parent company, AmorePacific, has similar animal testing policies, and often, parent companies are not cruelty-free even if individual brands claim to be.

Does Laneige Test on Animals?

According to Laneige’s FAQ page, their parent company, AmorePacific, states: 

“Amorepacific Corporation, the parent company of the Laneige brand, strictly prohibits animal testing, having begun its commitment to alternative testing methods over 30 years ago. We ourselves do not test on animals, nor do we ask others to conduct animal testing for us. If obligated by law or regulatory bodies for reasons of safety, however, limited exceptions may apply. ” 

This statement seems positive, but the parent company, AmorePacific, is indeed a parent company that tests under certain conditions.

However, there’s a critical exception in their cruelty-free policy: 

“Limited exceptions may apply. “

This exception is the key issue. By selling products in China, where animal testing may still be required by law for certain products, Laneige cannot claim to be fully cruelty-free. The brand allows its products to be tested if regulations demand it.

When brands use phrases like “we ourselves do not test on animals,” it often means they’ve shifted responsibility to third parties or regulatory bodies, while still benefiting from selling in markets that require such testing, essentially allowing others to conduct animal testing on their behalf.

Multiple attempts by consumers to get clearer answers from Laneige’s customer service have resulted in similarly vague responses that don’t address their China market presence; it’s not stated anywhere definitively how they navigate these complexities without testing.

Why Laneige Cannot Be Considered Cruelty Free: Evidence

The most significant evidence that Laneige is not cruelty-free is their physical presence in mainland China. 

Laneige’s store locator shows numerous locations throughout mainland China, which automatically subjects them to China’s animal testing regulations because Laneige is available for sale there. Laneige being sold in physical stores in this region is a critical factor.

China’s Animal Testing Laws in 2025

While China has made progress in reducing animal testing requirements, including some recent changes, they haven’t eliminated them completely. As of 2025, here’s how the rules for mandatory animal testing regulations work:

1. “General cosmetics” (like basic makeup and skincare) manufactured outside of China may qualify for exemption from pre-market animal testing if they meet specific requirements, allowing some pathways to sell products in China without animal testing.
2. “Special cosmetics” (including sunscreens, hair dyes, and products with specific claims) still require mandatory animal testing; these products to be tested must undergo this process.
3. Products for children or containing new ingredients may require animal testing.
4. Post-market testing can still occur, where random samples might be tested on animals in response to consumer complaints; this means post-market testing is required in some instances, potentially leading to additional testing scenarios.

For imported products to avoid testing, companies must obtain the proper certificates and documentation:

• Obtain special safety certificates from their home country
• Submit extensive safety assessment documentation
• Agree to product recalls rather than allowing post-market animal testing

Cruelty-Free Certification Status

Major Certification Programs:

PETA’s Beauty Without Bunnies Program: PETA explicitly lists Laneige as a company that tests on animals. Their database includes a warning: “This company DOES test on animals,” indicating their assessment that products are tested on animals by or on behalf of the company.

Leaping Bunny Certification: Leaping Bunny is considered the gold standard for cruelty-free certification. Their process requires:

• A fixed cut-off date after which no animal testing occurs
• Regular supply chain monitoring and audits
• Commitment to avoid selling in markets requiring animal testing; in essence, strict policies against animal testing.

Laneige is notably absent from Leaping Bunny’s certified brands list. The presence or absence of certifications like those from PETA and Leaping Bunny is often a strong indicator of their ethical practices.

Is Laneige Vegan? Ingredients Analysis

First, let’s be clear about the difference between “cruelty-free” and “vegan”:

• Cruelty-free means no animal testing, eliminating unnecessary animal testing.
• Vegan means no animal-derived ingredients.

Laneige is neither cruelty-free nor fully vegan; in fact, Laneige is not vegan as a brand. While some individual Laneige products might be formulated without animal ingredients, and the brand might offer vegan options, the brand as a whole is not vegan.

Animal-Derived Ingredients in Popular Laneige Products:

Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask: Contains ingredients like beeswax in some formulations. This popular product has multiple versions, and ingredient lists may vary by flavor/variant. Therefore, not all these products are vegan.

Water Bank Line: Some products in this line may contain honey derivatives and other animal-based components.

Cream Skin Products: While primarily focused on plant-based ingredients, not all products are certified vegan.

Even if Laneige were to offer some vegan products, most ethical consumers wouldn’t consider any Laneige products vegan in the truest sense, as animal testing is a form of animal exploitation, making it difficult to consider any Laneige products vegan if the brand isn’t cruelty-free.

Is Laneige a Good Brand?

In terms of product efficacy, Laneige has earned its popularity. Their innovative water-based formulas and sleeping masks work well for many users. Their lip masks in particular have gained viral status for a reason – they deliver results for many people with dry lips.

However, “good” depends on what factors matter most to you:

• Performance: Generally high
• Price point: Mid-range to premium
• Innovation: Excellent (particularly with hydration technology)
• Ethics: Lacking in animal testing policies. Laneige, owned by AmorePacific, which also has conditional testing policies, contributes to this.
• Ingredient transparency: Moderate

For those who prioritize ethical considerations in their purchases, Laneige’s animal testing stance is a significant drawback that may outweigh the performance benefits. This is why many seek vegan brands or those with clear cruelty-free commitments.

Is Laneige Clean?

No, Laneige is not considered a “clean” beauty brand by most standards. The term “clean” usually refers to brands that avoid potentially harmful ingredients like parabens, phthalates, sulfates, and synthetic fragrances.

Laneige does not market itself as a clean beauty brand and does not commit to avoiding controversial ingredients. Their products may contain:

• Synthetic fragrances
• Parabens (in some products)
• BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene)
• Other preservatives that clean beauty advocates avoid

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) Skin Deep database rates some Laneige products in the moderate concern range due to these ingredients.

It’s worth noting that “clean” is not a regulated term, and opinions vary on which ingredients are truly problematic. 

If you have specific ingredient concerns, checking individual product labels is always recommended. It’s not stated anywhere that Laneige adheres to “clean” beauty standards.

Cruelty-Free Alternatives to Popular Laneige Products

If you love Laneige but want cruelty-free options, here are some excellent alternatives. Many  companies can be fully cruelty-free and offer fantastic products.

For Lip Sleeping Mask Fans:

1. Glow Recipe Plum Plump Hyaluronic Acid Lip Balm ($22)
   
   • Certified cruelty-free and vegan
   • Similar plumping and hydrating effect
   • Contains hyaluronic acid for deep moisture
2. Tatcha Kissu Lip Mask ($29)
   
   • Cruelty-free (owned by Unilever, but aims to operate independently from the parent company regarding its cruelty-free status)
   • Japanese-inspired formula with a similar luxury feel
   • Contains squalane and Japanese peach extract
3. COSRX Propolis Lip Sleeping Mask ($16)
   
   • Cruelty-free Korean skincare alternative from one of the brands owned by a cruelty-free ethos.
   • Contains propolis and honey extracts for healing benefits
   • More affordable option

For Water-Based Moisturizer Alternatives:

1. Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Pink Juice Moisturizer ($39)
   
   • Certified cruelty-free and vegan
   • Light, water-based formula
   • Contains hyaluronic acid and watermelon extract
2. Herbivore Pink Cloud Soft Moisture Cream ($43)
   
   • 100% cruelty-free and vegan
   • Clean ingredient list
   • Lightweight but deeply hydrating
3. Dear Klairs Fundamental Water Gel Cream ($27)
   
   • Cruelty-free Korean alternative
   • Similar water-based technology
   • Contains green tea and panthenol for soothing properties

Performance Comparison Chart:

Many users report that these alternatives, often from brands operating independently from the parent company’s non-cruelty-free policies, if applicable, perform just as well as or even better than Laneige products, with the added benefit of cruelty-free practices.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

Despite Laneige’s popularity and effective products, the evidence clearly shows they cannot be considered cruelty-free in 2025. 

Their presence in mainland China’s retail market, where they are available for sale in countries with such testing laws, a lack of third-party certifications, and their own policy exceptions regarding testing “where required by law” all confirm this status. 

This is particularly true when considering that exemptions from animal testing are only available if they meet very specific and stringent criteria; in China may not be utilized or applicable to all their products.

For consumers who prioritize ethical beauty choices, the good news is that many excellent cruelty-free alternatives exist that can match or exceed Laneige’s performance.