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You’re here because you want to know the answer to “Is Biore cruelty-free?” and you’re at the right place. We at Conscious Bunny do thorough research to discover everything about a brand, including whether Biore is cruelty-free, vegan, and/or sustainable, and also whether it’s clean, fragrance-free, and/or paraben-free.
Let’s face it: The world of cruelty-free, vegan, and clean beauty can be a bit of a maze and even misleading. Green-washing, faking logos, and using deceiving terms are still common today. It’s our mission to cut through the noise because we believe you deserve to make choices based on facts, not fluff.
Is Biore Cruelty-Free?
No, Biore is not cruelty-free. They may test on animals, either themselves, through their suppliers, or a third party.
Biore claims to be in compliance with the EU animal testing ban, but this doesn’t mean that the brand is completely cruelty-free. They clearly state that only their “western market” products are not tested on animals, which implies that their non-western market products are tested on animals. That’s why I consider Biore not cruelty-free.
Is Biore Owned By A Cruelty-Free Parent Company?
Biore is owned by a parent company that tests on animals. The parent company is Kao, and this is not a cruelty-free company.
You might be wondering why this is important information. Now, here’s the thing: many of these parent companies aren’t cruelty-free themselves because they do some level of animal testing. And, to complicate matters, they might own a bunch of brands that also aren’t cruelty-free.
No immediate worries, though; some of the brands under these parent companies are proudly cruelty-free and have really strict policies against animal testing. So, you can still find ethically conscious options within these bigger brand families.
We do like to mention this because some consumers don’t buy from cruelty-free brands with an animal testing parent company. We respect everyone’s choice in this!
Is Biore Cruelty-Free Certified?
No, Biore is not certified by any organization. Companies can be fully cruelty-free without being certified, but the certifications are a good indicator of their ethical practices.
Is Biore Sold In China?
Biore is available for sale in countries with mandatory animal testing. This means that their products were likely tested on animals.
China, for example, has mandatory animal testing policies for certain imported cosmetic products. To comply with these regulations, some brands choose to sell their products in physical stores in China, where animal testing may occur.
Starting in 2023, brands will have the possibility to enter China and avoid animal testing, so companies can now enter the Chinese market without funding animal cruelty. However, not every brand can 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.
On top of that, this doesn’t mean that China completely banned animal testing – they didn’t. If a brand wants to test on animals, it’s still possible to do so in China. While it’s great that China is slowly relaxing its animal testing laws, I just want to warn you that it doesn’t mean that all brands sold in China are now cruelty-free.
We’re in a quite vague phase, which makes shopping cruelty-free a little harder. However, brands selling in China don’t have to be an immediate no-no anymore.
Is Biore Vegan?
Biore claims to be completely vegan-friendly, but since it engages in animal testing, I wouldn’t classify anything sold or produced by Biore as vegan.
If you want to learn more about vegan beauty products, check out our What Makes A Beauty Product Vegan guide or our List Of 13 Vegan Ingredients In Beauty Products.
Is Biore Considered A Clean Beauty Brand?
Let’s start with a little background on what exactly “clean” means. The term “clean beauty” is controversial because it isn’t regulated; this means that brands can slap ‘clean,’ ‘green,’ ‘organic’ and ‘natural’ on their products whenever they want.
How I personally approach “clean beauty” is the same as Goop explains it: clean beauty products are those made without ingredients shown or suspected to harm human health, animal health, or the environment.
No, Biore is not fully considered a clean beauty brand. They use parabens, Sodium Laureth Sulfates, fragrance, and alcohol in their products. However, Biore products do not contain any plastic microbeads.
It’s good to mention that Biore has a “Biore Clean” line of products that are formulated without ingredients like parabens, SLES, phthalates, and more.
What Are Harmful Ingredients?
Sadly, there are quite a few (actually… thousands) of harmful ingredients or ingredients that are suspected to be harmful to humans, animals, and/or the environment. Here are some of the most frequently used ingredients:
Ingredient | Concerns |
Parabens | Potential hormone disruption, allergenic potential |
Phthalates | Reproductive and developmental issues |
Formaldehyde | Skin irritation, potential carcinogenic effects |
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) | Skin irritation, oil-stripping potential |
Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) | Skin irritation, oil-stripping potential |
Synthetic Fragrances | Allergenic potential, often not fully disclosed |
Is Biore Fragrance-Free?
No, Biore is not fragrance-free. They use fragrances as a sensorial element in their skincare products.
Is Biore Paraben-Free?
No, Biore is not fully paraben-free. However, its cleansers, masks, toners, and scrubs are paraben-free, and it has a paraben-free line called “Biore Clean.”
Is Biore Sustainable?
I’m hesitant to call Biore committed to sustainability because they seem to make grand promises, but there’s very little evidence. What I could find is that, as of 2010, Biore reduced its yearly energy consumption by 14%, its water consumption by 23%, and its wastewater volume by 19%. Their products are now carbon neutral, which is confirmed by the ClimatePartner label.
How To Find Out If A Brand Is Cruelty-Free And/Or Vegan Yourself?
The easiest way to tell if a brand is cruelty-free and vegan is to look for third-party certification. Several organizations, such as Cruelty-Free International, PETA, and Leaping Bunny, offer cruelty-free certifications for companies that have agreed to adhere to their strict guidelines for animal testing.
Similarly, the Vegan Society provides a Vegan Trademark to companies that do not use any animal-derived ingredients in their products. Look for these certifications as a sign that a brand is truly cruelty-free and vegan.
It’s also important to look beyond the label. Many companies may claim to be cruelty-free and vegan but may not actually adhere to those standards.
Check the company’s website for information about their animal testing policies and ingredients.
Questions |
Does your brand test products or ingredients on animals? |
Do the companies you get your supplies from, test on animals? How do you ensure they don’t? |
Are there any other companies that test on animals for you? |
Do you test on animals when the law says you have to? |
In which countries can you find your products in physical stores (not counting online sales)? |
Moreover, they may be able to recommend alternative cruelty-free and vegan brands that meet your needs. By following these steps, you can determine if a brand is truly cruelty-free and vegan. If you would like more information and tips, check out this cruelty-free makeup and skincare guide.
With more and more companies offering animal-friendly products, it’s easier than ever to find cruelty-free and vegan products that fit your lifestyle.
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