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I bet you have heard about Yves Saint Laurent (YSL), one of the most iconic luxury brands in the world. With their luxurious perfumes and cosmetics that always make a statement, it’s no wonder why many beauty enthusiasts love YSL products.
However, with animal cruelty being such an important issue nowadays, more and more people are wondering: is YSL cruelty-free? Well, let me tell you all about it!
The first step is to understand the difference between cruelty-free and vegan. Cruelty-free means that the products were not tested on animals, while vegan means that the products do not contain any animal ingredients or byproducts.
Some companies claim to be both cruelty-free and vegan, while others may focus on one or the other.
In this article, I will share if YSL is cruelty-free, vegan, and/or sustainable. But also if it’s clean, non-toxic, fragrance-free, and/or paraben-free. This way, you can easily decide whether you want to buy their products.
Is YSL Cruelty-Free?
YSL is not cruelty-free. They may test on animals, either themselves, through their suppliers,
or through a third party.
Is YSL Owned By A Cruelty-Free Parent Company?
YSL is owned by L’Oreal, a parent corporation that still engages in animal testing.
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 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 YSL Cruelty-Free Certified?
No, YSL is not certified by any organization.
Companies can totally be cruelty-free without having official certifications, but these certifications from organizations like Leaping Bunny and PETA are a great way to spot the good guys who are really committed to ethical practices. These two groups are well-known for giving out the cruelty-free seal of approval.
Is YSL Sold In China?
YSL is sold in China or any other country where animal testing is required by law. Because YSL Beauty has decided to sell in mainland China stores, they must consent and pay to have their products tested on animals.
Starting in 2023, Brands now 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 YSL Vegan?
YSL is not vegan-friendly, as its cosmetic products contain animal-derived ingredients. It might be possible to find some vegan-friendly options within the YSL product line, but it’s important to do your research if you’re looking to shop 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 YSL Considered Clean?
Let’s start with a little background on what exactly is meant by “clean.” 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?
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 |
So, Is YSL A Clean Beauty Brand?
No, YSL is not a clean beauty brand, as they still use harmful ingredients in their products.
However, they do state that all the ingredients used in YSL Beauty’s products are safe and have been subject to a rigorous scientific evaluation of their safety by their internal experts and independent experts. They use an increasing variety of natural ingredients along with synthetic ones.
However, if you want to avoid certain ingredients like parabens, phthalates, or fragrances, you may need to use YSL as a brand in general.
Is YSL Fragrance-Free?
Yves Saint Laurent (YSL) is not fragrance-free; many of their products may still contain fragrance and aren’t suited for people with sensitive skin.
Is YSL Paraben-Free?
No YSL is not paraben-free; many products may still contain parabens. The brand doesn’t share much about their use of parabens at all.
Is YSL Gluten-Free?
YSL does not have information on its website about products being gluten-free. Based on this, I assume that their products may contain gluten.
Is YSL Soy-Free?
YSL does not have information on its website about products being soy-free. Based on this, I assume that their products may contain soy.
Is YSL Nut-Free?
YSL does not have information on its website about products being nut-free. Based on this, I assume that their products may contain nuts.
Is YSL Sustainable?
YSL takes steps towards being more sustainable. They’re part of programs such as “Rewild Our Earth” and are committed to reducing their impact.
YSL shares: “Our Change the Rules, Change the Future commitment encompasses all aspects of YSL Beauty’s value chain, from the sourcing of natural ingredients to product formulation to packaging design, in order to minimize the brand’s environmental footprint on natural resources and ecosystems.”
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)? |
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.
Conclusion On Is YSL Cruelty-Free
After diving into the world of YSL and its animal testing policies, I can say with confidence that, unfortunately, YSL is not a cruelty-free brand. It’s disheartening to know that such a big and influential name in the beauty industry is still using unethical practices when it comes to testing on animals.
But there is hope! By educating ourselves on these issues and supporting brands that align with our values, we can make a difference and push for change in the industry. There are so many amazing luxury cruelty-free options out there, such as Charlotte Tilbury, Tatcha, and Chantecaille (check out all cruelty-free brands here).
At the end of the day, it’s up to us as consumers to use our purchasing power wisely. So next time you consider buying from YSL or any other brand, ask yourself: does this company align with my values? And if not, maybe it’s time to look elsewhere.