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If you’re wondering, “Is Shiseido 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 Shiseido 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 Shiseido Cruelty-Free?
No, Shiseido is not cruelty-free. The brand states: “Shiseido does not test its cosmetic products or ingredients on animals except when absolutely mandated by law, or where there are absolutely no alternative methods for guaranteeing product safety.”
Is Shiseido Owned By A Cruelty-Free Parent Company?
Shiseido is owned by Shiseido Company, a company that still 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 Shiseido Cruelty-Free Certified?
No, Shiseido is not certified by any organization.
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 Shiseido Sold Where Animal Testing Is Required By Law?
Shiseido is available for sale in countries with mandatory animal testing, including China.
With the recent changes to China’s animal testing laws, cosmetic companies can now export and sell some of their cosmetics in China without animal testing (explained below). However, it’s not stated anywhere that Shiseido has taken any steps to meet the requirements to avoid animal testing.
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 Shiseido Vegan?
Shiseido is not vegan, meaning that some of its products may 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 Shiseido Clean?
No, Shiseido is not a clean beauty brand. The brand uses ingredients like parabens, talc, and more that we don’t consider clean.
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.
Is Shiseido Fragrance-Free?
No, Shiseido is not fragrance-free.
Is Shiseido Paraben-Free?
No, Shiseido is not paraben-free. The brand states that it uses ethylparaben and methylparaben at lower concentrations than those set up by regulatory bodies.
Is Shiseido Talc-Free?
Shiseido is not fully talc-free. However, the brand does offer products made without talc.
Is Shiseido Non-Comedogenic?
Based on the research I did through random sampling, Shiseido’s products are non-comedogenic. However, I recommend checking the ingredients of the specific product you want to purchase to be sure.
Is Shiseido Allergy-Safe?
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 Shiseido Gluten-Free?
No, Shiseido is not gluten-free. While Shiseido skincare and makeup products do not contain gluten or gluten-derived ingredients, the brand cannot guarantee that their products are entirely free from trace amounts of gluten due to the variety of raw materials and equipment used in the manufacturing process.
Is Shiseido Nut-Free?
No, Shiseido 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 Shiseido Soy-Free?
No, Shiseido is not soy-free. Due to the range of raw materials and equipment used during the manufacturing of our products, the brand cannot confirm that their products are entirely free from any traces of soy.
Is Shiseido 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.
Shiseido is conscious when it comes to the environment and social efforts, but since the brand is not cruelty-free, we don’t want to call it fully conscious.
Where Is Shiseido Made?
Shiseido is are manufactured in Japan, Asia Pacific, USA, and Europe
Is Shiseido Sustainable?
Yes, Shiseido is committed to sustainability. Shiseido is taking steps toward climate action, having achieved 100% renewable electricity at all its factories and distribution centers by 2023. Their focus includes CO₂ emission reductions and sustainable raw material sourcing.
They’ve launched the BeauRing® project to recycle plastic containers and were recognized in CDP’s 2023 A List for climate change and forests. They request suppliers to comply with the following guides for sustainable sourcing:
- Comply with the principles and criteria of our sourcing—the RSPO’s for palm oil and the FSC’s
for paper, respectively. - Respect and protect the rights of indigenous peoples and local communities.
Is Shiseido Socially Responsible?
Yes, Shiseido is socially responsible. They respect workers’ rights, such as freedom of association, the right to collective bargaining, and fair remuneration, while strongly opposing human rights violations, such as human trafficking, forced labor, child labor, and discrimination.
The company collaborates with local communities and organizations to support education, health, and wellbeing, while encouraging employee participation in social contribution activities like volunteering.
Is Shiseido’s Mica Sourced Ethically?
Shiseido states it joined the Responsible Mica Initiative and has been taking action on improving sustainable procurement. They also use synthetic mica, which contains less social concerns.
Is Shiseido B Corp Certified?
Shiseido 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 Shiseido. 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: