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If you’re wondering, “Is LUSH 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 LUSH 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 LUSH Cruelty-Free?
Yes, LUSH is cruelty-free. The brand shares, “Lush do not test on animals, do not use materials that contain animal derivatives that are unsuitable for vegetarians and only buy raw materials from companies that are not involved in the use of, or commission the use of, animals for testing and have no plans to do so in the future.”
Is LUSH Owned By A Cruelty-Free Parent Company?
LUSH is not owned by any parent company that tests on animals.
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 LUSH Cruelty-Free Certified?
Yes, LUSH 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 LUSH Sold Where Animal Testing Is Required By Law?
LUSH has confirmed they do not sell their products in retail stores in mainland China; therefore, they are not required to test 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 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 LUSH Vegan?
LUSH is not 100% vegan, meaning some products contain animal-derived ingredients. However, the brand claims that all of its products are 100% vegetarian and 95% vegan. The products that are vegan are certified by the Vegan Society.
“We do use ingredients like honey and lanolin in a few of our products, which is why our product range is only 95 percent vegan. However, when we do source these non-vegan ingredients, we work tirelessly to ensure they come only from suppliers as staunch about their own cruelty-free practices as we are—and we’re always actively researching new ingredients and new formulas that allow us to create vegan alternatives for some of our most beloved products.”
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 LUSH Clean?
No, LUSH is not a clean beauty brand. However, the brand does use more natural ingredients than synthetic ingredients (synthetic isn’t necessarily bad by the way). LUSH shared that they still use parabens, fragrance, SLS, titanium dioxide, etc. This means that we can’t call them a clean brand, but they’re a better option than some other brands on the market.
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 LUSH Fragrance-Free?
No, LUSH is not fragrance-free. They share: “Scent is such an important part of our identity, something that makes us who we are. Most of our products contain essential oils, but even our most gentle products have fragrance because the ingredients themselves have a scent.
To remove that scent and be truly “fragrance-free,” we would have to introduce more synthetics, which isn’t the direction that our company wishes to take at this time.“
Is LUSH Paraben-Free?
No, LUSH is not paraben-free. The brand says it uses parabens because all of the other preservatives available don’t have the research parabens have.
Is LUSH Gluten-Free?
No, LUSH is not gluten-free. The brand shares the following statement: “Many of our products do not contain gluten. However, we do make and store all of our products within the same facilities. As a warning for those with extreme allergies, we take great care to prevent cross-contamination, but there’s always a risk that they’ve come into contact with gluten-containing ingredients.
Transparency is important to us, and you can find a list of the ingredients for every product on its packaging (if applicable), gift insert, in-store sign, and our website product pages. Check the list of ingredients for each individual product before use.”
Is LUSH Nut-Free?
No, LUSH is not nut-free. The brand shares the following statement: “Many of our products do not contain nuts. However, we make and store all our products within the same facilities. As a warning for those with extreme allergies, we take great care to prevent cross-contamination, but there’s always a risk that they’ve come into contact with nut-containing products.
Transparency is important to us, and you can find a list of the ingredients for every product on its packaging (if applicable), gift insert, in-store sign, and our website product pages. Check the individual product’s ingredients list before use.“
Is LUSH Soy-Free?
No, LUSH 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 LUSH 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.
LUSH is conscious. This is based on the following:
Where Is LUSH Made?
All of the LUSH UK products are made at our factory in Poole. The brand also has factories in Europe, Japan, North America, and Australia that supply those markets.
Is LUSH Sustainable?
LUSH is a sustainable brand. To get the best ingredients, LUSH’s Buying team searches the world. They work hard to find top-quality essential oils, natural materials, safe synthetics, and recycled packaging, removing palm oil from products.
The brand is also known for its package-less/zero-waste products and, in my opinion, is at the forefront of this change in the beauty community.
LUSH created Charity Pot hand and body lotion in 2007 to raise money for small, grassroots charities and campaigners in animal protection, human rights, and the environment. It is now sold in 35 countries. In 2020, LUSH launched the packaging-free Charity Pot Coin and Grassroots fine fragrance.
100% of the proceeds of these three products (minus the VAT) is channeled into the Charity Pot fund, which offers grants from £100 – £10,000.
Is Lush Socially Responsible?
Yes, LUSH is socially responsible. They believe ingredients should be bought in a way that protects the environment and has a positive social impact. LUSH supports Fair Trade and Community Trade. They check how buying affects people and the environment and make responsible choices about where and how to buy ingredients and packaging.
LUSH considers several ethical factors when buying ingredients:
- Workers’ rights: fair pay, health and safety, no child labor, no discrimination
- Environment: organic, sustainable practices, no endangered species, no genetic modification
- Animal protection: no animal testing, vegetarian ingredients only
- Transport: minimizing travel distance and air freight, using eco-friendly packaging
LUSH tries to buy directly from farmers, growers, and processors. The Buying team travels the world to meet suppliers and see how ingredients are made. This helps LUSH understand where ingredients come from, how they are produced, and any potential issues.
By buying directly, LUSH builds strong, honest relationships with suppliers, ensuring a steady supply of quality materials. This way, LUSH and suppliers understand each other’s needs and limitations. LUSH also supports and funds positive projects worldwide through direct buying.
LUSH follows the International Labour Organization (ILO) standards on child labor. The company believes the minimum working age should be the same as the age for finishing school. LUSH insists suppliers do not use child labor and, if found, they must support the child back into education.
Sometimes, LUSH sells special products during campaigns, donating proceeds to related organizations. Here are a few examples:
- After the 2011 earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear disaster in Japan, LUSH created FunD to help children in affected areas. They worked with local groups to provide fun activities for children in contaminated areas. Enough money has been raised to support these groups for several more years.
- In 2018, LUSH launched an orangutan-shaped soap, selling 14,600 soaps. All proceeds went to the Sumatran Orangutan Society to help buy and rewild 890 acres of palm monoculture land.
- LUSH also supported Access Now’s #KeepItOn campaign against internet shutdowns by launching the Error 404 bath bomb. Proceeds went to the Digital Fund to help grassroots digital activists.
- During the #GayIsOk campaign, LUSH partnered with AllOut to sell ‘Love Perfume’ scented soaps. Proceeds supported LGBTQ+ rights groups, especially in areas with harsh laws.
Is Lush B Corp Certified?
LUSH 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 LUSH. 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: