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You’re here because you want to know the answer to “Is John Frieda cruelty-free?” and you’re at the right place. We at Conscious Bunny do thorough research to discover everything about a brand, including whether John Frieda 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 John Frieda Cruelty-Free?
John Frieda is not cruelty-free. This is the statement John Frieda makes: “We are often asked if John Frieda products are cruelty-free. In our never-ending quest to get our transformative formulas just right, we test our formulas rigorously, but we absolutely do not test on animals. We follow the conventions of the EU and other governmental bans on animal testing for cosmetics.
Occasionally, laws and regulations require testing of materials outside of the cosmetics category. Kao’s efforts to find alternatives to animal testing for cosmetics started more than thirty years ago, well before the official EU legislation in 2004.”
They start off by saying that they’re cruelty-free, to later admit (the bold part) that if required, they may test their products on animals. This makes them not cruelty-free.
Keep in mind that John Frieda claims to follow the EU conventions and other governmental bans on animal testing. This can be true, but it doesn’t mean that they don’t test on animals. They may test on animals outside the EU.
Is John Frieda Owned By A Cruelty-Free Parent Company?
John Frieda is owned by Kao Corporation, which does tests on animals. Not only is John Frieda not cruelty-free, but neither is their parent company.
In the beauty industry, it’s pretty standard for brands to have a bigger company behind them, which we call parent companies. These parent companies are usually big global players like L’Oreal, Estee Lauder, or Procter & Gamble.
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 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 John Frieda Cruelty-Free Certified?
John Frieda is not certified by any major animal rights organizations such as Leaping Bunny or PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals). While companies can be fully cruelty-free without being certified, these certifications often serve as a seal of approval for consumers looking for ethically produced beauty products.
Is John Frieda Sold In China?
Yes, John Frieda sells its products in mainland China both in stores and online. John Frieda is also available for sale in countries with mandatory animal testing. This means that their products were likely tested on animals.
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.
It’s not stated anywhere that John Frieda has taken any steps to meet the preconditions in order to avoid animal testing while selling in China.
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. Please make sure a brand is certified by Leaping Bunny or Cruelty-free International. Both these organizations help brands to sell in China without having to test on animals.
Is John Frieda Vegan?
Although John Frieda may have a selection of vegan options, the brand is not cruelty-free. For those who prioritize ethical standards in their beauty purchases, I recommend considering alternative products that align with cruelty-free practices.
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 John Frieda A Clean Beauty Brand?
John Frieda is not considered a clean beauty brand. Their products still contain parabens, silicones, SLS, alcohol, fragrance, and more. Due to the section on their site on ingredients, they know they’re using harmful ingredients, but they’re trying to excuse their use of them, sadly.
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.
What Are Harmful Ingredients?
Harmful ingredients commonly found in skincare and makeup products include sulfates, synthetic fragrances, parabens, mineral oils, and formaldehyde-releasing agents. These substances can have adverse effects on the skin and overall health.
When you’re on a mission to find clean beauty products, it’s important to know exactly what that means. “Clean” refers to products free of harmful chemicals or synthetic ingredients. But what exactly are harmful chemicals or ingredients?
There are way more harmful ingredients than I mentioned in the list below, but here are some of the most common and most used ingredients that are harmful:
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 John Frieda Fragrance-Free?
John Frieda is not fragrance-free. Their statement: “Every fragrance material we use is held to the same stringent standards as all other Kao ingredients to ensure a safe experience for our consumers. We collaborate with some of the top perfume houses in the world to identify and create safe, high-quality scents. Click here to learn more.“
Is John Frieda Paraben-Free?
John Frieda is not paraben-free.
Is John Frieda Sustainable?
I’m unsure if John Frieda is committed to sustainability based on the information they share on their site. They mention a few of their 2025 goals, such as reducing/replacing plastic packaging, recycling, and reusing, but it sounds more like green-washing. They do not have much, if any, information on what they’ve already achieved to reduce their impact on the environment.
How Do You 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, or ask the brand the following questions:
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)? |
Finally, look for reviews from other cruelty-free and vegan consumers. They may have had firsthand experience with the brand and can provide insight into the company’s actual practices. 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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