Is Gisou Cruelty-Free, Vegan Or Clean?

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If you wonder, “Is Gisou cruelty-free?”, you’re in the right place. At Conscious Bunny, we go beyond just cruelty-free claims — we also check if a brand is vegan, clean, ethical, and sustainable. Below, find everything you need to decide if Gisou fits your conscious beauty values.

Is Gisou Cruelty-Free?

Sadly, I can’t give you a straightforward answer, but I can give you an explanation. You may have seen that Gisou is marked as cruelty-free on Cruelty-Free Kitty, while the brand is marked as “in the grey area” at Ethical Elephant.

This is confusing, so it was time for some research. Gisou claims to be cruelty-free and shares the following statement:

“Gisou is created with the mission to support the honey bees and all that they do for the ecosystem. All Gisou products, which are enriched with ingredients from the Mirsalehi Bee Garden, are produced in a bee-friendly and sustainable manner. We always prioritize the well-being of the bees and let them guide our beekeeping practices to obtain Mirsalehi Honey and Mirsalehi Propolis, our key ingredients, basing our production on the harvesting cycle, and only taking their surplus if and when appropriate. Please note that it is illegal to test cosmetic products or ingredients on animals, and we are, of course, in compliance with this law, as well as with all the European Cosmetic Regulations.”

They also share this statement about their current certification status: “We are currently not accredited by any cruelty-free organization, but please know that we have been working on it for some time now and are in the process of obtaining our accreditation by Cruelty-Free International.”

Now, Gisou is manufactured in the Netherlands (where I live!), and animal testing has been banned here and in Europe for years. Like Gisou mentioned, it is illegal to test products or ingredients on animals. Their supplier is their own garden, aka the Mirsalehi Bee Garden, which is also in the Netherlands.

Considering this, it seems like Gisou is cruelty-free. However, the bee honey isn’t the only ingredient in their products, and the brand doesn’t share any information about these suppliers or third parties testing on animals (like Ethical Elephant mentions).

Long story short, I would say that Gisou is currently in the grey area. I have reached out to them to find out if they can share more about their ingredient suppliers besides their bees.

Is Gisou Owned By A Cruelty-Free Parent Company?

Gisou is not owned by a parent company that tests on animals.

Many brands are owned by larger companies (we call them parent companies) like L’Oréal, Estée Lauder, or Procter & Gamble—some of which still conduct animal testing.

Although the parent company may not be cruelty-free, some brands under their umbrella follow strict no-animal-testing policies and are considered cruelty-free.

Some consumers avoid brands with non-cruelty-free parents, while others support the cruelty-free brand itself. We provide this info so you can decide what feels right for you.

Is Gisou Cruelty-Free Certified?

Gisou is not cruelty-free certified, but the brand states it is in the process of obtaining a certification.

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 Gisou Sold Where Animal Testing Is Required By Law?

Gisou is not sold in China or any other countries where animal testing is required by law.

In countries like China, some cosmetics still face mandatory animal testing, especially when sold in physical stores.

China has historically required animal testing, but since 2023, brands can enter the Chinese market without funding animal testing. Just remember that while China is easing its rules, not all brands sold there are automatically cruelty-free. Read our detailed guide on Animal Testing Laws In China to learn more.

Is Gisou Vegan?

Gisou is not vegan because the brand uses Mirsalehi Honey and Propolis as its key ingredients. However, the brand claims to let the bees guide their beekeeping practices to derive Mirsalehi Honey.

A brand is considered 100% vegan when all its products contain no animal-derived ingredients. Some brands may offer only a selection of vegan products rather than a fully vegan lineup.

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 Gisou Vegan Certified?

Gisou is not certified vegan by any organization.

To help you easily identify vegan brands, several organizations like Vegan Action, The Vegan Society, and The Vegetarian Society provide trusted certifications similar to cruelty-free certifications, like PETA and Leaping Bunny.

Is Gisou Clean?

No, Gisou is not a clean beauty brand. Some of their products contain Benzalkonium chloride, Phenoxyethanol, Styrene, Behentrimonium Chloride, and Cetrimonium Chloride – ingredients that aren’t considered clean.

What “clean” means to us:
The term “clean beauty” isn’t regulated, which means brands can use labels like clean, natural, or green without clear standards.

For us, clean beauty means avoiding ingredients such as parabens, phthalates, sulfates, and formaldehyde that are known or suspected to negatively impact human health, animals, 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.

Is Gisou Organic?

While Gisou is not certified organic, the brand does use organic/natural ingredients in its products.

Is Gisou Safe?

Everyone’s skin is different, and no product is completely risk-free. However, here’s what we found about Gisou when it comes to common concerns like breakouts, allergies, and irritants.

*This information is not medical advice. If you have allergies or sensitivities, consult with your doctor or dermatologist before using new products.

Is Gisou Fragrance-Free?

No, Gisou is not fragrance-free. The Honey Infused line features their signature Honey Infused fragrance, a 100% natural scent. The Propolis Infused line contains their Propolis Infused fragrance.

Is Gisou Paraben-Free?

Yes, Gisou is paraben-free.

Is Gisou Gluten-Free?

No, Gisou is not gluten-free. The brand does not share any information on the use of gluten in their products, which probably means their products may contain gluten.

Is Gisou Nut-Free?

No, Gisou is not nut-free. Many of their products contain Argan Oil, Almond, Hazelnut Seed Oil, Sweet Almond Oil, Shea Butter, and Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil.

Is Gisou Talc-Free?

Yes, Gisou is talc-free.

If you’d like to learn more about the potential health risks of talc, feel free to read my in-depth article about talc in makeup.

Is Gisou Non-Comedogenic?

Based on the research I did through random sampling, Gisou’s products are non-comedogenic. However, I recommend checking the ingredients of the specific product you want to purchase to be sure.

Non-comedogenic means a product is less likely to clog your pores, which can help prevent breakouts and blackheads. These products are a great choice for people with acne-prone or sensitive skin.

Use our free Pore-Clogging Ingredients Checker to determine if a product is non-comedogenic or contains pore-clogging ingredients.

Is Gisou Ethical?

We’re all about supporting brands that walk the talk. To us, ethical or conscious brands demonstrate this through their actions, from environmental sustainability and ethical sourcing to social responsibility, transparency, and accountability.

If you care about making more conscious choices, we’ve researched and answered the key questions to help you find products that align with your values. Here’s what we found:

Where Is Gisou Manufactured?

Gisou’s products are manufactured in the Netherlands.

We share this because manufacturing location can impact labor and environmental standards. If you’d like to learn more about this, please read This Is Why Where Your Beauty Products Are Made Matters.

Is Gisou Sustainable?

Yes, Gisou is committed to sustainability. All of their paper-based packaging is made of FSC-certified paper from sustainably managed forests.

The brand also uses eco-friendly materials such as sugarcane, aluminum, and recycled plastic instead of regular plastic.

Additionally, they close all of their shipments with paper-based tape, and their EU shipments no longer include packing slips. In addition, all of their product samples are packaged in fully biodegradable sachets.

According to the brand, they only harvest surpluses of honey and propolis from the bees. They also work to reduce their CO2 footprint worldwide throughout their supply chain:

The main manufacturing site is 100% Carbon Neutral, fully powered by solar energy, and actively works to reduce trash and water waste.
The main shipping partner across Europe ships parcels that are 100% carbon-neutral.
100% of the energy at their office in Amsterdam is generated through solar roof panels and wind energy.

Is Gisou Socially Responsible?

Yes, Gisou is socially responsible. They offer aspiring beekeepers and anyone who’s interested in bees and beekeeping the chance to become one through their Bee Learning Course.

Additionally, the Gisou Bees Project supports urban beekeeping to address the global bee population decline and enhance city ecosystems through pollination.

Since 2019, the initiative has established beehives in cities like Paris, New York, and Melbourne, partnering with local beekeepers to promote bee welfare and raise awareness.

With this project, the brand shows its support of beekeeping efforts through several initiatives such as cultivating bee gardens, collaborating with charities that promote like-minded objectives, spreading education about the bees through workshops, and gifting wildflower seeds that support bees on special occasions throughout the year.

Does Gisou Source Ingredients Ethically?

While we may not know if all ingredients in Gisou’s products are ethically sourced, their honey and propolis (their main ingredients) are ethically sourced.

Is Gisou Environmentally Certified?

Gisou is not environmentally certified by any organization.

We check whether Gisou has any recognized environmental or ethical certifications. This includes sustainability-focused labels like COSMOS, Climate Neutral, and 1% for the Planet, and broader ethical certifications like Fair Trade and B Corp.

Why Trust Conscious Bunny?

Our mission is to make it easier for you by providing clear, fact-based insights. We research everything and reach out to brands directly to gather details about their full animal testing policy, as well as details on their ingredients, sustainability efforts, and more.

Only brands that confirm no animal testing at any stage are added to our cruelty-free list. We also regularly update our information as laws or practices change. To learn more about our thorough process, check out how we rate brands.

I hope that this post answered all your questions about Gisou. If not, please feel free to leave a comment below or reach out through the contact form. I’m more than happy to help!

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