This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, read the full disclosure here.
If you’re wondering, “Is EltaMD cruelty-free?” you’ve come to the right place. At Conscious Bunny, we’re dedicated to providing thorough and reliable information about various brands. We research whether EltaMD is cruelty-free, vegan, clean, and conscious. Additionally, we examine if a brand is sustainable, contributes to the community, and considers allergens in its products.
The world of cruelty-free, vegan, and clean beauty can be complex. With so many unregulated terms and labels, it can be challenging to know what to trust. Our mission is to make it easier for you by providing clear, fact-based insights. We delve into the details so you can make informed choices with confidence.
By relying on our comprehensive research, you can be sure you’re supporting brands aligning with your values. We believe in transparency and aim to empower you with the knowledge you need to choose products that are genuinely cruelty-free and conscious.
Is EltaMD Cruelty-Free?
No, EltaMD is not cruelty-free. On its website, EltaMD claims it does not conduct animal testing; however, “in rare instances, local regulation may require animal tests on our products at a contract facility that meets government standards and requirements.“
This means that they do animal testing themselves or let others do it for them when required by law.
Is EltaMD Owned By A Cruelty-Free Parent Company?
EltaMD is owned by Colgate-Palmolive, a company that tests on animals. Not only is EltaMD not cruelty-free, but neither is their parent company.
In the beauty industry, brands are often owned by larger parent companies like L’Oreal, Estee Lauder, or Procter & Gamble, many of which conduct animal testing to some extent.
While most parent companies are not cruelty-free, some of the brands they own adhere to strict policies against animal testing. This means that brands under these parent companies are still cruelty-free.
However, this gives you as a consumer two choices: You can choose not to support these brands because they’re part of a bigger, animal-testing parent company, or you can choose to support them because they are 100% cruelty-free even though their parent company is not.
We personally believe that since these brands operate independently from the parent company, you can support them as they’re cruelty-free. However, a small group of shoppers choose to boycott brands owned by a parent company that tests on animals.
We don’t mind which option you choose; we want to make it easy for all our readers. That’s why we decided to mention whether or not a parent company is involved.
Is EltaMD Cruelty-Free Certified?
No, EltaMD is not certified by any organization. It used to be PETA-certified in 2021, but if you look it up right now, it shows, “There is no data for this company.” It looks like PETA revoked its certificate, but it is unclear why. It may have to do with the brand starting to sell in China, but this is just my opinion; there are no facts.
Companies can be fully cruelty-free without being certified, but certifications are a good indicator of their ethical practices. The most trusted organizations that give out certifications are PETA and Leaping Bunny.
Is EltaMD Sold Where Animal Testing Is Required By Law?
Yes, EltaMD is available for sale in countries where animal testing is mandatory. According to ChemLinked, the company entered the Chinese market more than four years ago.
Brands can enter the Chinese market without animal testing (explained below). However, EltaMD sells sunscreens, which are considered ‘special’ cosmetics in China, and therefore, EltaMD is not exempt from animal testing while selling in China.
In countries like China, certain cosmetic products may be subject to mandatory animal testing regulations. If a brand wants to sell its products in physical stores in China, it has to comply with these regulations, where animal testing may occur.
Starting in 2023, brands have the opportunity to enter the Chinese market without funding animal cruelty. However, not every brand may qualify. Certain ingredients, products, and claims may still trigger animal tests during the registration process, and post-market testing involving animals, while rare, is still a possibility.
To avoid animal testing in China, companies must meet specific criteria:
- Sell only ‘general’ cosmetics in China (such as makeup, skincare, haircare, nail polish, and perfumes).
- Avoid selling ‘special’ cosmetics like sunscreens or hair dye.
- Refrain from selling products for infants, children, pregnant or breastfeeding individuals, or products containing ‘New Cosmetic Ingredients.’
- Have a policy in place to recall products if post-market testing is required, rather than allowing them to be tested on animals.
Furthermore, products can avoid animal testing in China if they are manufactured in China or if their final assembly occurs in China. If manufactured outside of China, companies must obtain the proper safety certificates from their country of origin.
Brands that have been selling in China must ensure that all their products meet the exemption criteria while providing the proper safety certificates from specific authorities. This means that many brands currently sold in China may not yet be entirely cruelty-free.
It’s essential to note that while China is gradually relaxing its animal testing laws, it does not mean that all brands sold in China are now cruelty-free. While this phase may raise questions, brands selling in China no longer have to be an immediate no-no for cruelty-free shoppers.
To provide shoppers with extra assurance, Leaping Bunny offers the China Qualification Program, which you can check before purchasing. This program ensures that Leaping Bunny-certified companies selling domestically in China remain cruelty-free.
Is EltaMD Vegan?
No, EltaMD is not vegan. This means that some of their products may contain animal-derived ingredients. EltaMD might offer some vegan products; however, because this company is not cruelty-free, it’s recommended to avoid any products they offer, even if they are vegan.
A company can have vegan products even if not all their products are vegan. If all their products are vegan, the brand is considered “100% vegan.”
Several organizations, similar to PETA and Leaping Bunny, offer vegan certifications to help you identify vegan brands. For example, Vegan Action, The Vegan Society, and The Vegetarian Society provide a Vegan Trademark to companies that use no animal-derived ingredients.
Check out our 100% Vegan Beauty Brands A-Z list, or use our free Vegan Ingredient Checker to determine whether a specific product contains animal-derived ingredients.
Is EltaMD Clean?
EltaMD is a somewhat clean beauty brand. The brand formulates its products without parabens or fragrances. Also, EltaMD products do not contain oxybenzone or avobenzone. This is a good starting point; however, I cannot find any information about their use of other harmful ingredients like phthalates and formaldehyde.
The term “clean beauty” is controversial because it isn’t regulated; this means that brands can label their products as ‘clean,’ ‘green,’ ‘organic,’ and ‘natural’ without strict guidelines.
For us, clean beauty means choosing products made without ingredients such as parabens, phthalates, sulfates, and synthetic fragrances that have been shown or even suspected to harm human health, animal health, or the environment.
Check out our Clean Beauty Brands A-Z list, or use our free Clean Ingredients Checker to determine whether a specific product contains toxic ingredients.
Allergens In Beauty Products
Besides letting you know whether a product contains harmful ingredients, we also understand that living with allergies can be tough. That’s why we discuss whether the brand contains any allergens in its products, helping you make informed decisions that suit your individual needs and preferences.
*The information provided is not medical advice. For any health concerns, please consult with your doctor before using the products.
Is EltaMD Fragrance-Free?
EltaMD products are fragrance-free.
Is EltaMD Paraben-Free?
EltaMD products are paraben-free.
Is EltaMD Gluten-Free?
The only information on gluten I could find is that EltaMD shares on their websites that “to the best of our knowledge, the vitamin E in EltaMD sunscreens is gluten-free.”
Is EltaMD Nut-Free?
No, EltaMD is not nut-free. The brand does not share any information on the use of nuts in their products, which probably means their products may contain nuts.
Is EltaMD Soy-Free?
No, EltaMD is not soy-free. The brand does not share any information on the use of soy in their products, which probably means their products may contain soy.
Is EltaMD Conscious?
At Conscious Bunny, we’re all about supporting brands that do good. We believe that brands who are conscious show this with their actions in environmental sustainability, ethical sourcing, social responsibility, transparency, and accountability.
For those of us who care about making conscious choices, we’ve done our homework on these topics. We’ve answered the big questions to help you pick products that match your values.
Based on the information below, EltaMD is somewhat conscious. However, since the brand is not cruelty-free and doesn’t provide full transparency or show actions on sustainability, I can’t call it fully conscious.
Where Is EltaMD Made?
EltaMD products are made in the U.S.A.
Is EltaMD Sustainable?
EltaMD is somewhat committed to sustainability by reducing its impact on the environment. Its green initiative begins with the goal of having all of its packaging be recyclable, reusable, or compostable by 2025.
That’s a great goal, but I would love to see more information on how it’s going, what actions they’re taking, etc. So because I’m missing some information, I can’t call EltaMD fully sustainable.
Is EltaMD Socially Responsible?
EltaMD is socially responsible. The brand sponsors Destination Healthy Skin, a free mobile skin cancer screening and education tour that travels across America, educating over 100,000 people and providing more than 29,000 free skin cancer screenings.
EltaMD also sponsors Sun Bus, a mobile dermatology service and education tour offering thousands of free skin checks annually in the US.
EltaMD collaborates with the Skin of Color Society to support research in the skin of color and sponsors mentorship programs to empower young individuals. Additionally, EltaMD supports programs that fund research to cure skin cancer and melanoma and provides sunscreen products to initiatives nationwide.
Is Elta MD B Corp Certified?
EltaMD is not B Corp Certified. However, a brand can still be conscious without this certification.
When a brand earns B Corp certification, it pledges to consider everyone impacted by its decisions, beyond just its owners. This entails workers, the communities in which they operate, suppliers, consumers, and the environment. This certification can reassure consumers, emphasizing the brand’s dedication to considering the broader impact of its decisions.
Thank You For Being Here!
I hope that this post answered all your questions about EltaMD. If not, please feel free to leave a comment below or reach out through the contact form. I’m more than happy to help!
Thank you for being here because it means that you are interested in cruelty-free beauty and are educating yourself about this subject. If you’re willing to learn even more, here are some of the resources we provide to help you on your journey: