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If you’re wondering, “Is Fresh 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 Fresh 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 Fresh Cruelty-Free?
Fresh is not cruelty-free. Their US website shares the following statement, implying that they’re cruelty-free: “Fresh does not test our products or the ingredients used in our products on animals. We are deeply committed to the elimination of animal testing, and we are actively working on the development, validation, and acceptance of alternative methods to animal testing.”
However, Ethical Elephant discovered that the Fresh Hong Kong website shares a different statement and after reaching out to them, this was their response: “Our products are made in Europe and the USA, and for imported cosmetics, the Chinese health authorities require companies to make their products available to the authorities to be tested in state-certified laboratories for registration purposes only, as it is currently their only recognized method to demonstrate product safety. These tests are not carried out by us but by the Chinese authorities.”
This means that Fresh lets others do tests on animals when required.
Is Fresh Owned By A Cruelty-Free Parent Company?
Fresh is owned by a parent company that tests on animals. The parent company is LVMH, and this is not a cruelty-free company. LVMH states that they do tests on animals where required by law.
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 Fresh Cruelty-Free Certified?
No, Fresh is not certified by any organization.
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 Fresh Sold Where Animal Testing Is Required By Law?
Yes, Fresh is sold in countries with mandatory animal testing, which means that its products were likely tested on animals.
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 can 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 Fresh Vegan?
Fresh is not vegan. Although they offer some vegan products, they are not 100% vegan, meaning some contain animal-derived ingredients. Moreover, I wouldn’t recommend their “vegan” options because the brand is not cruelty-free.
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 Fresh Clean?
Yes, Fresh is clean. The brand claims that its skincare is formulated without parabens, MIT/MCI, formaldehyde and formaldehyde donors, BHA, phthalates, silicones D4 & D6, hydroquinone, triclosan, and triclocarban. In fact, it bans hundreds of ingredients and regularly updates its list.
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 Fresh Fragrance-Free?
Fresh is not entirely (synthetic) fragrance-free. The brand may offer fragrance-free options.
Is Fresh Paraben-Free?
Fresh is paraben-free.
Is Fresh Gluten-Free?
Fresh doesn’t share a gluten statement, so I assume they’re not gluten-free.
Is Fresh Nut-Free?
Fresh doesn’t share a statement about their use of nuts, so I assume they’re not nut-free.
Is Fresh Soy-Free?
Fresh doesn’t share a statement about their use of soy, so I assume they’re not soy-free.
Is Fresh 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.
Fresh is somewhat conscious. The biggest problem with the brand is its animal-testing status. I really hope to see a difference in the near future because Fresh could actually be a conscious option. This is based on the following:
Where Is Fresh Made?
Fresh is made in Europe and the USA.
Is Fresh Sustainable?
Fresh is committed to sustainability. They’ve been working on several projects related to sustainability (such as setting reduction targets, using recyclable packaging, etc.) and are working towards goals they’ve set for 2025 and 2030.
They share their key milestones of the previous years:
- 2021: Ensure all innovation is eco-designed moving forward
- 2022: Ensure 100% of gift set packaging is made with recycled material or is recyclable
- 2023: Ensure 100% of paper product packaging is certified from responsibly managed forests
Is Fresh Socially Responsible?
Fresh is potentially socially responsible. It has a program called Forever Fresh, which is its commitment to working responsibly with communities where it sources its hero ingredients. However, the brand doesn’t expand on how it does this.
Is Fresh B Corp Certified?
Fresh is not B Corp Certified. However, a brand can still potentially 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 Fresh. 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: