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You’re here because you want to know the answer to “Is Sun Bum cruelty-free?” and you’re at the right place. We at Conscious Bunny do thorough research to discover everything about a brand, including whether Sun Bum 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 Sun Bum Cruelty-Free?
Yes, Sun Bum is cruelty-free and does not test on animals. The company has confirmed that it does not test its finished products or ingredients on animals. Furthermore, their suppliers and any third parties involved in the manufacturing process also adhere to the same policy.
Is Sun Bum Owned By A Cruelty-Free Parent Company?
Sun Bum is owned by a parent company that tests on animals. The parent company is S.C. Johnson, which 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 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 Sun Bum Cruelty-Free Certified?
Yes, Sun Bum is certified by Leaping Bunny & Peta. Companies can be fully cruelty-free without being certified, but the certifications are a good indicator of their ethical practices.
Is Sun Bum Sold In China?
Sun Bum is not sold in China or any other countries where animal testing is required by law.
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.
Furthermore, 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 Sun Bum Vegan?
Sun Bum is not fully vegan, meaning that some of their products contain animal-derived ingredients. Most of their products are vegan though, except for the Coco Balm Lip Balms, Tinted Lip Balms, Signature Lip Balm, Mineral Lip Balm and Baby Bum Diaper Rash Cream contain beeswax (from bees).
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 Sun Bum 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.
Yes, Sun Bum is considered a clean beauty brand. They formulate their products without parabens, retinyl palmitate, phthalates, sulfates, formaldehyde, and gluten. Plus, their sunscreens are both Oxybenzone free and Octinoxate free, which makes Sun Bum Hawaii Act 104 Reef Compliant.
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 Sun Bum Fragrance-Free?
No, Sun Bum is not fully fragrance-free. However, their Signature line, Mineral line, Baby Bum SPF products, SPF Face Lotions, and Daily Mineral Sunscreen Moisturizer are all fragrance-free.
None of their Skin Care products contain synthetic fragrances. The natural fragrance products are the Daily Cleanser, Daily Sunscreen Moisturizer SPF 30, Daily Sunscreen Face Mist SPF 30, and Restoring Face Mask.
Is Sun Bum Paraben-Free?
Yes, Sun Bum is paraben-free.
Is Sun Bum Sustainable?
Sun Bum is somewhat committed to sustainability. Their focus lies on the environment, so they make their sunscreens Oxybenzone and Octinoxate-free. They also provide sun education by supporting Protect The Groms, a non-profit organization that partners with public and charter elementary schools and nonprofits dedicated to outdoor experiences around the country to provide playground shade structures, sun safety education, and sunscreen to kids who live and play in the sun.
There isn’t any information on recyclable packaging or any other initiatives to reduce their waste or carbon footprint, for example.
Is Sun Bum Reef Safe?
Sun Bum complies with Hawaii Act 104, as it successfully eliminated all oxybenzone and octinoxate from its sunscreens. I don’t think many people were aware that sunscreen could affect reefs (I’m not judging; I wasn’t either!) before Hawaii enacted Hawaii Act 104, which banned the use of sunscreen containing oxybenzone and octinoxate.
However, Sun Bum is not 100% reef-safe. Just because sunscreen complies with Hawaii Act 104 does not mean it’s fully safe for our reefs.
I found out about the “HEL” list, which is a more extensive list of ingredients that pose a threat to the ecosystem. According to this list (and through research conducted by Journeys In Focus), only 7 out of the 47 Sun Bum products are reef-safe.
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, or ask them 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)? |
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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