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If you wonder, “Is Victoria’s Secret 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 Victoria’s Secret fits your conscious beauty values.
Is Victoria’s Secret Cruelty-Free?
No, Victoria’s Secret is not cruelty-free. They may test on animals, either themselves, through their suppliers, or through a third party. Even both Cruelty Free Kitty and PETA say this brand is not cruelty-free.
However, the brand suggest they might potentially be cruelty-free with their animal policy: “Victoria’s Secret & Co. is against animal testing, and no branded products, formulations, or ingredients are tested on animals. As of April 2021, all personal care products that we sell in China are made in China to avoid animal testing.”
Some people pointed out that the “no branded products” statement could be a loophole—for instance, it might allow them to produce unbranded items or products under a different logo that are still tested on animals. However, after reaching out to Victoria’s Secret, they clarified that “no branded products” refers specifically to merchandise.
Also, while it’s possible that VS avoids animal testing in China by manufacturing locally, there’s still no clear information on whether their suppliers or third-party partners conduct animal testing.
Is Victoria’s Secret Owned By A Cruelty-Free Parent Company?
Victoria’s Secret is an independent, publicly traded company.
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 Victoria’s Secret Cruelty-Free Certified?
No, Victoria’s Secret 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 Victoria’s Secret Sold Where Animal Testing Is Required By Law?
Victoria’s Secret is available for sale in China. However, the brand states that all personal care products sold there are made in China to avoid animal testing.
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 Victoria’s Secret Vegan?
Victoria’s Secret is not vegan, meaning that some of its products may contain animal-derived ingredients.
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 Victoria’s Secret Vegan Certified?
No, Victoria’s Secret is not certified by any organization.
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 Victoria’s Secret Clean?
No, Victoria’s Secret is not a clean beauty brand. Many of their products contain Acrylates, Mineral Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Hexamethylindanopyran, EDTA, Disodium EDTA, Tetrasodium EDTA, Methylparaben, DMDM Hydantoin, and Propylparaben – 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 Victoria’s Secret Organic?
No, Victoria’s Secret is not certified organic.
Is Victoria’s Secret Safe?
Everyone’s skin is different, and no product is completely risk-free. However, here’s what we found about Victoria’s Secret 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 Victoria’s Secret Fragrance-Free?
No, Victoria’s Secret is not fragrance-free.
Is Victoria’s Secret Paraben-Free?
No, Victoria’s Secret is not paraben-free. Many of their products contain Methylparaben, Propylparaben, and Butylparaben.
Is Victoria’s Secret Gluten-Free?
No, Victoria’s Secret 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 Nut-Free?
No, Victoria’s Secret is not nut-free. Many of their products contain Shea Butter and Sweet Almond Oil.
Is Victoria’s Secret Talc-Free?
Based on the research I did through random sampling, Victoria’s Secret’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 Victoria’s Secret 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 Victoria’s Secret Manufactured?
Victoria’s Secret beauty products are manufactured in China, North America, and Europe.
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 Victoria’s Secret Sustainable?
Yes, Victoria’s Secret is committed to sustainability.
The brand has partnered with several industry-leading organizations like, Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC) to help them reduce water and energy consumption and waste generation, the Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemical (ZDHC) and Apparel and Footwear RSL Management (AFIRM) groups to help them improve chemical management and eliminate pollution discharge and Textile Exchange to help them improve the sustainability of their materials.
In 2023, VS&Co achieved pay equity certification for all genders, races, and ethnicities, and the intersection of these identities. Additionally, the brand has reduced the amount and bulk of packaging used to house and ship e-commerce orders and prioritizes paper/packaging with recycled content. For instance, their PINK store shopping bags contain 75-100% post-consumer recycled content.
Is Victoria’s Secret Socially Responsible?
Yes, Victoria’s Secret is socially responsible.
VS&Co has funded $13 million since 2021 to foster innovation in the understanding, prevention, interception, early detection, diagnosis, and treatment of breast and gynecologic cancers with the goal of eliminating cancer health disparities and improving patient outcomes.
Additionally, through the VS&Co Essentials program, the brand donates quality undergarments to women in need, providing a critical necessity but also restoring a sense of confidence and dignity to women across the country.
In 2023 alone, VS&Co helped nearly 75,000 women in partnership with I Support the Girls (ISTG) and hundreds of other nonprofits nationwide, with the goal of impacting one million people by the end of 2025.
In 2022, the brand donated $300,000 to support:
- Screening and diagnostic services for people who have insufficient health insurance coverage or no insurance at all
- Increased access to genetic counseling and testing services in historically marginalized communities
- Education around risk factors, screening guidelines, and how to advocate for your health
The brand also provides support internationally with $25,000 donation to the Future Dreams Breast Cancer Charity, headquartered in London.
This organization offers practical and emotional support to women across the U.K. Their contribution will help operate their Bra Room—a unique space where women post-surgery can speak to expert bra fitters about their needs—for an additional three days per month.
Does Victoria’s Secret Source Ingredients Ethically?
According to the brand, VS&Co is fully committed to protecting human rights throughout their value chain and to ensuring all their products are ethically sourced.
VS&Co prohibits its suppliers from using conflict minerals that may directly or indirectly finance or benefit armed groups in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and its nine adjoining countries in accordance with the Dodd-Frank Act’s Conflict Minerals Provisions.
They periodically survey suppliers to conduct reasonable country of origin inquiries regarding conflict minerals.
However, the brand doesn’t disclose details about its mica sourcing.
Is Victoria’s Secret Environmentally Certified?
No, Victoria’s Secret is not environmentally certified by any organization.
We check whether Victoria’s Secret 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 Victoria’s Secret. If not, please feel free to leave a comment below or reach out through the contact form. I’m more than happy to help!
Here are some of the resources we provide to help you on your cruelty-free journey:
- Cruelty-Free Symbols & Vegan Labels
- Parent Companies And Their Cruelty-Free Brands
- What Makes A Beauty Product Vegan?
- Difference Between Vegan And Vegetarian Beauty
- What Is Clean Beauty & Why Would You Care?
- How To Spot Greenwashing In Beauty
If you found this helpful, please share it with fellow conscious beauty lovers or follow us for more insights!
