Is Himalaya Cruelty-Free, Vegan Or Clean?

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If you wonder, “Is Himalaya 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 Himalaya fits your conscious beauty values.

Is Himalaya Cruelty-Free?

No, Himalaya is not cruelty-free. They may test on animals, either themselves, through their suppliers, or through a third party.

Is Himalaya Owned By A Cruelty-Free Parent Company?

Himalaya is owned by Himalaya Global Holdings Ltd, which may test pharmaceutical products on animals. (Source)

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 Himalaya Cruelty-Free Certified?

No, Himalaya is not certified by any organizations.

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 Himalaya Sold Where Animal Testing Is Required By Law?

It is currently unclear whether Himalaya is available in countries where animal testing is required by law. I reached out to the brand and am waiting for their response.

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 Himalaya Vegan?

Himalaya is not fully vegan, meaning some products may contain animal-derived ingredients. However, most of their products are actually vegan (with some exclusions).

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 Himalaya Vegan Certified?

No, Himalaya is not certified vegan by any organizations.

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 Himalaya Clean?

No, Himalaya is not a clean beauty brand. Some of their products contain Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone, Phenoxyethanol, EDTA, Disodium EDTA, and Ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate – 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 Himalaya Organic?

The brand states: “All Himalaya products are grown with no pesticides or herbicides, but since the empty capsule itself is not organic, we can’t always meet that ruling due to the 70% weight requirements to certify a product organic. The capsule takes up part of the weight of the product and affects its certifiability.“

Is Himalaya Safe?

Everyone’s skin is different, and no product is completely risk-free. However, here’s what we found about Himalaya 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 Himalaya Fragrance-Free?

No, Himalaya is not fragrance-free.

Is Himalaya Paraben-Free?

No, Himalaya is not fully paraben-free. Some of their products contain Methylparaben and Propylparaben. However, the brand offers some paraben-free products..

Is Himalaya Gluten-Free?

No, Himalaya is not fully gluten-free. Some of their pharmaceuticals are gluten-free. However, he brand does not share any information on the use of gluten in their personal care products, which probably means these products may contain gluten.

Is Himalaya Nut-Free?

No, Himalaya is not nut-free. Some of their products contain Juglans Regia (English Walnut) Shell Extract, Sweet Almond Oil, Argan Oil, and Shea Butter.

Is Himalaya Talc-Free?

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

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 Himalaya Non-Comedogenic?

Based on the research I did through random sampling, most Himalaya’s products are non-comedogenic. However, a few of their products contain cocoa butter, which is known for being comedogenic and could potentially clog pores. So, 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 Himalaya 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 Himalaya Manufactured?

Himalaya’s products are manufactured in India.

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 Himalaya Sustainable?

Yes, Himalaya is committed to sustainability. Himalaya has received the ISO-14001:2004 certification. Since 2012, Himalaya has planted over 8,00,000 trees across the Eastern and Western Ghats belts, Meghalaya, and Bengaluru.

These trees consist of various species of food and medicinal saplings that are native to the respective regions. The brand has also implemented FSC® (Forest Stewardship Council) certification for cartons, shippers, tea filter paper, and wipes, constituting more than 50% of their portfolio.

They have also undertaken measures to collect, recycle, process, and responsibly dispose of the plastic waste generated from post-consumer use. The “Wealth Out of Waste” program in their own retail stores encourages customers to return used product packs.

The collected packs go through a proper segregation and reprocessing system to be reused in the primary packaging stream.

Is Himalaya Socially Responsible?

Yes, Himalaya is socially responsible. Himalaya, in association with Smile Train India, has been on a mission to spread smiles through their flagship social impact initiative, Muskaan.

Raising awareness about cleft lip and palate treatment at the grassroots level, Muskaan has been reaching out to children with clefts and providing them with corrective surgeries to help improve their quality of life.

Similarly, Project Lakshmi by Himalaya Wellness empowers rural women in India through training and employment, helping over 5,000 women gain financial independence.

The initiative has conducted 50+ training sessions and supported communities during COVID-19. Additionally, Himalaya’s “Kisaan Mitra” program supports small farmers with organic farming training, fair pricing, and increased incomes, benefiting over 750 farmers.

Moreover, Himalaya Wellness Company’s “Jagriti” campaign educates women on reproductive health and menstrual hygiene. Launched in 2019 in collaboration with the United Sisters Foundation, it aligns with India’s National Health Mission and the Ministry of Women and Child Development’s SABLA program.

Does Himalaya Source Ingredients Ethically?

Himalaya shares that over 4,000 independent farmers grow herbs for Himalaya, and they are all paid a fair living wage for their area (a minimum of 15-20% higher than the cost of cultivation and often higher).

Apart from favorable wages, other benefits include an assured market. Their farmers are guaranteed a market for what they are growing, and thereby, guaranteed an income. They’re also guaranteed an assured price. Agricultural commodity prices are highly fluctuating, so they are protected from the ups and downs of the market.

The brand also states: “We also pay our farmers’ costs for any necessary certifications that may be required of them to grow our herbs, and we also pay their packaging and transportation costs. We work very hard every day to take care of the farmers who take care of all of us.”

Is Himalaya Environmentally Certified?

Himalaya has received the ISO-14001:2004 certification and has the FSC® (Forest Stewardship Council) certification for its packaging.

We check whether Himalaya 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 Himalaya. 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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