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You’re here because you want to know the answer to “Is Vaseline cruelty-free?” and you’re at the right place. We at Conscious Bunny do thorough research to discover everything about a brand, including whether Vaseline 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 Vaseline Cruelty-Free?
No, Vaseline is not cruelty-free. Vaseline itself says it doesn’t test on animals and references the website of their parent company, Unilever, for more information. This means that Vaseline is following the same animal testing policy as Unilever.
Unilever also states that they don’t support animal testing and are “doing their best to ban animal testing completely”, however, they also mention the following:
“Occasionally, across our wider product portfolio, some of the ingredients we use have to be tested by our suppliers to comply with legal and regulatory requirements in some markets; and some governments still test certain products on animals as part of their regulations.“
Unilever, in particular, talks a lot and has multiple huge documents and articles to show that they’re against animal testing and that they’re committed to ending animal testing globally, but with just that one sentence above, they completely contradicted their own words.
Unfortunately, Unilever and Vaseline state they will allow their products and ingredients to be tested on animals if the law requires it. For those reasons, Vaseline is NOT cruelty-free.
Is Vaseline Owned By A Cruelty-Free Parent Company?
Vaseline is owned by Unilever, a company that tests on animals.
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 Vaseline Cruelty-Free Certified?
No, Vaseline 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 Vaseline Sold In China?
Vaseline is sold in China. 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, Vaseline was available in China way before the animal testing laws were relaxed in 2023, and it’s not stated that Vaseline changed its approach to avoid animal testing. Moreover, 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.
In addition, this doesn’t mean that China completely banned animal testing—it 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 Vaseline Vegan?
No, Vaseline is not vegan. This means that some of its products may contain animal-derived ingredients. Vaseline might offer some vegan products; however, because this company is not cruelty-free, it’s recommended to avoid any products it offers, even if they are 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 Vaseline 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, Vaseline is not a clean beauty brand. The brand mentions that its Vaseline® Jelly is hypoallergenic, non-comedogenic, non-irritating, and held to the highest purity standards. However, they don’t mention anything about parabens, phthalates, formaldehyde, etc. I reached out to the brand to see if they have more information and am waiting for a reply.
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 |
Ingredient Deep-Dive
At Conscious Bunny, we prioritize transparency and inclusivity in pursuing cruelty-free, vegan, and clean beauty. We understand that living with allergies can be challenging, so we are committed to providing thorough information about the ingredients, in addition to mentioning whether they are cruelty-free, vegan or clean.
We aim to create a welcoming space where everyone can confidently explore and enjoy beauty products that align with their values and meet their specific needs.
Is Vaseline Fragrance-Free?
Vaseline is not fragrance-free.
Is Vaseline Paraben-Free?
Vaseline is not paraben-free.
Is Vaseline Gluten-Free?
No, Vaseline is not gluten-free. However, Vaseline® Jelly only contains one ingredient: petroleum jelly, which is gluten-free. This doesn’t mean that the company or its manufacturers are gluten-free, though.
Is Vaseline Nut-Free?
No, Vaseline is not nut-free. Its website does not have information about nut-free products, so I assume that its products may contain nuts.
Is Vaseline Soy-Free?
No, Vaseline is not soy-free. Vaseline does not have information on its website about soy-free products, so I assume that its products may contain soy.
Is Vaseline Sustainable?
Vaseline is not committed to sustainability. Although Unilever claims to be a responsible sourcer, the ingredients used in its products are not earth-friendly. In addition, Vaseline uses plastic for most product packaging.
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 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)? |
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.