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If you’re wondering, “Is SheaMoisture 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 SheaMoisture 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 SheaMoisture Cruelty-Free?
Yes, SheaMoisture is cruelty-free. They don’t test their finished products or ingredients on animals, and neither do their suppliers or any third parties.
Is SheaMoisture Owned By A Cruelty-Free Parent Company?
SheaMoisture is owned by Unilever, which is not a cruelty-free brand.
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 SheaMoisture Cruelty-Free Certified?
No, SheaMoisture is not certified by any organization. The brand used to be certified by PETA but shares the following on why they’re not certified anymore: “As part of our commitment to bringing the best solutions to our melanin-rich community, we’ve expanded into new product categories (including antiperspirants and SPF face creams), which require some ingredients that we have not used before.
Unfortunately, in recent years, suppliers have tested these ingredients on animals to comply with regulatory requirements. We at SheaMoisture do not choose to work with these specific suppliers but rather select those who assure us they have not conducted animal testing.
Because these ingredients have public animal test data and were not part of the SheaMoisture portfolio at the time of submitting our PETA application, they do not meet the stringent criteria we have with PETA to continue to call our brand PETA-approved.”
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 SheaMoisture Sold Where Animal Testing Is Required By Law?
SheaMoisture has confirmed that it does not sell its products in retail stores in mainland China; therefore, it is 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 SheaMoisture Vegan?
SheaMoisture is not 100% vegan, meaning some products contain animal-derived ingredients.
Brands can be cruelty-free without being vegan and claim to be vegan without being cruelty-free. This is because “cruelty-free” refers to the animal testing aspect, while “vegan” refers to the 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 SheaMoisture Clean?
Yes, SheaMoisture is a clean beauty brand. The brand’s products are formulated without sulfates, phthalates, parabens, mineral oil, and petrolatum.
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 SheaMoisture Fragrance-Free?
No, SheaMoisture is not fragrance-free.
Is SheaMoisture Paraben-Free?
Yes, SheaMoisture is paraben-free.
Is SheaMoisture Gluten-Free?
No, SheaMoisture 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 SheaMoisture Nut-Free?
No, SheaMoisture 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 SheaMoisture Soy-Free?
No, SheaMoisture 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 SheaMoisture 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.
SheaMoisture is conscious. This is based on the following:
Where Is SheaMoisture Made?
Unless otherwise stated specifically on the label, all SheaMoisture products sold in the U.S. are manufactured there.
Is SheaMoisture Sustainable?
SheaMoisture is committed to sustainability. The brand has a big focus on being socially responsible, which I love. However, they also do well on the sustainable side which is shown through their Certified B Corporation™ since 2015.
SheaMoisture uses organic ingredients to protect the environment and workers’ health by avoiding contact with harmful chemicals during the farming and processing of shea butter. This also provides additional income for shea nut collectors, as organic ingredients command a 15-20% premium.
Is SheaMoisture Socially Responsible?
SheaMoisture is socially responsible. SheaMoisture reinvests at least 1% of its net sales each year into economic opportunities for underserved entrepreneurs and Black business owners. The company has provided over $1 million in COVID-19 relief and delivered more than 50,000 education hours to Black business owners. They have invested in over 250 Black-owned small businesses.
SheaMoisture collaborates with various organizations like Girls With Impact, Brown Girl Jane, Dartmouth Tuck School of Business, Good Mirrors Aren’t Cheap, New Voices Foundation, The Savannah Fruits Company, Swivel, and The Gathering Spot to support Black and brown communities.
The SheaMoisture Fund, powered by product purchases, addresses racial inequality through entrepreneurship. It gives $1 million annually to small, Black-owned businesses, offering grants, business development services, and retail distribution support.
To celebrate 30 years of supporting Black entrepreneurship, SheaMoisture launched The Next Black Millionaires Program, providing $100,000 in funding, retail distribution consulting, mentoring, coaching, and investment pipeline access to selected businesses featured in a streaming docuseries.
SheaMoisture ethically sources key raw ingredients from women-led cooperatives in West Africa, ensuring fair wages and improving livelihoods across generations.
Is SheaMoisture B Corp Certified?
SheaMoisture is B Corp Certified. Even though a brand can still be conscious without this certification, it is a good indicator.
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 SheaMoisture. 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: