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If you’re wondering, “Is Herbal Essences 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 Herbal Essence 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 Herbal Essences Cruelty-Free?
Yes, Herbal Essences is cruelty-free. They don’t test their finished products or ingredients on animals, nor do their suppliers or third parties. It’s also verified that their products are not tested on animals anywhere in the world, including mainland China.
Is Herbal Essences Owned By A Cruelty-Free Parent Company?
Herbal Essences is owned by Procter & Gamble, which is not a cruelty-free 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 Herbal Essences Cruelty-Free Certified?
Yes, Herbal Essences is certified by PETA.
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 Herbal Essences Sold Where Animal Testing Is Required By Law?
Herbal Essences does sell some of its products in China. However, to avoid animal tests, the brand has confirmed it only sells general cosmetics that were domestically manufactured in China. Herbal Essences sells in China without having to test on animals and, thus, can keep their cruelty-free status.
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 Herbal Essences Vegan?
Herbal Essences is not 100% vegan, meaning some products contain animal-derived ingredients.
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 Herbal Essences Halal?
No, Herbal Essences is not halal. The brand shared: “If no synthetic or vegetable ingredients are available, we will use animal ingredients. These ingredients come from beef or pork, typically the hide or bones.” Other non-vegan ingredients they may use:
- Alcohol (fatty)
- Gelatin
- Glycerin
- Hydrolyzed Collagen
- Keratin Amino Acids
- Tallow Glycerides
Is Herbal Essences Clean?
Herbal Essences is not fully a clean beauty brand, but it provides options for customers who value this, which is a good approach. The brand has Paraben-Free, Gluten-Free, and Sulfate-Free shampoo and conditioner options available.
All Herbal Essences bio:renew traditional shampoos and crème rinse conditioners are formulated to meet the ingredient standards of the Cosmetics Directive of the European Union Commission. These EU regulations exclude over 1,300 ingredients from personal care and beauty products.
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 Herbal Essences Fragrance-Free?
No, Herbal Essences is not fragrance-free.
Is Herbal Essences Paraben-Free?
No, Herbal Essences is not fully paraben-free. However, the brand offers paraben-free options.
Is Herbal Essences Gluten-Free?
No, Herbal Essences is not fully gluten-free. However, the brand offers gluten-free options.
Is Herbal Essences Nut-Free?
No, Herbal Essences 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 Herbal Essences Soy-Free?
No, Herbal Essences 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 Herbal Essences 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.
Herbal Essences is conscious and also very transparent, which I respect. The brand may not be clean or vegan, but it openly shares its processes and ingredients. Moreover, based on the following information, we can also conclude that the brand is conscious:
Where Is Herbal Essences Made?
For Herbal Essences’ products sold in the United States, if the product is made in the U.S., there will be no country of origin marking on the product. If the product is manufactured outside of the United States, it will be indicated on the package.
Is Herbal Essences Sustainable?
Herbal Essences is committed to sustainability by reducing single-use plastic and encouraging recycling. The brand aims to make 90% of its packaging recyclable or reusable by 2025.
Herbal Essences uses How2Recycle™ labels to help customers recycle empty bottles properly. For packaging that isn’t locally recyclable, the brand partners with TerraCycle® to offer a national recycling program in the U.S.
Herbal Essences focuses on responsible sourcing by working with trusted partners to ensure that plant-based ingredients are sustainably sourced, respecting human rights and protecting ecosystems.
The brand uses 100% renewable electricity and operates with zero manufacturing waste to landfill at all P&G Beauty sites. By 2030, Herbal Essences plans to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 50% and improve water efficiency by 35%.
Through its #PlantForward program, Herbal Essences collaborates with global organizations to protect biodiversity and replant nature. The brand supports seed banking endangered plants and replanting forests with partners like Kew Gardens and The Nature Conservancy. In 2022, Herbal Essences pledged to help plant 200,000 trees.
Herbal Essences is reducing plastic waste by incorporating recycled plastic into packaging. Some bottles use advanced recycled plastic, while others use 50% recycled plastic.
Is Herbal Essences Socially Responsible?
While Herbal Essences is not specifically mentioning their social efforts besides sustainable sourcing and respecting human rights, their parent company does mention several great actions.
For example, the Children’s Safe Drinking Water (CSDW) Program provides clean water to those in need. Their P&G Purifier of Water packets acts as a water treatment plant.
Each P&G water purification packet treats 10 liters of water, kills bacteria and viruses, and removes parasites and solid materials. In just 30 minutes, a family of five can have clean drinking water for an entire day.
Is Herbal Essences B Corp Certified?
Herbal Essences and its parent company are not B Corp Certified. However, Procter & Gamble is a BBB-accredited business. Moreover, 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 Herbal Essences. 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: