Animal Testing

Summary

• More than 30 years ago, we were one of the first cosmetics companies to eliminate animal testing as a method of determining product safety.
• From individual ingredients to final formulation, our integrated global R&D facilities use the most up-to-date, innovative, scientific, non-animal cosmetic testing evaluations to demonstrate safety.
• Animal testing on cosmetics products exists if a regulatory body demands it for its safety or regulatory assessment.
• We seek to end cosmetic animal testing and we are proud to collaborate with global organisations that advocate for practical solutions and acceptance of animal testing alternatives.
• We continue to invest in industry consortiums and non-profit organisations.

Our Position Against Animal Testing

More than 30 years ago, The Estée Lauder Companies was one of the first cosmetics companies to eliminate animal testing as a method of determining cosmetic product safety. We don’t test our products on animals and we don’t ask others to test for us. We acknowledge our brands are sold in countries where animal testing on cosmetics or cosmetic ingredients is required by law. As a global company dedicated to bringing many of the beauty industry’s most beloved products and experiences to our consumers in over 150 countries and territories, we believe it is our responsibility to contribute to the sustainable solution to end animal testing for cosmetics, and we believe that through strong partnerships, sharing our science and engaging with our communities in a meaningful way, we can contribute to the global end of cosmetic animal testing.

Our Approach

We are proud to work with organisations that have a proven track record of advocating for practical solutions and acceptance of alternatives to cosmetic animal testing. We invest in industry consortiums and non-profit organisations that champion a collaborative and effective approach. We are furthering our expanded partnerships and aligning efforts through our three key focus areas:

1. Demonstrating Proven Scientific Alternatives to Animal Testing for Cosmetics: We continue to support research and adoption of alternatives to animal testing to determine cosmetics safety.
2. Supporting and Aligning on Legislation: We work closely with key stakeholders to align on legislation that balances animal welfare, existing regulations and science.
3. Global Approach: We are committed to working with both global and local partners to promote alternatives to animal testing in the cosmetics industry.

Our Product Safety Philosophy and Process: Going Deeper

What we and others in our industry helped establish so many years ago - and what we continue to share widely today - is that product safety for cosmetics can be determined via non-animal, modern, scientific evaluation and methods. This is achieved through leveraging deep knowledge of toxicology, skin biology, both historical and current data and evaluations of cosmetic ingredients, and utilising the most modern scientific methodologies, in silico, in vitro and clinical.

Our integrated global R&D network works together to help discover and advance the most modern, scientific cosmetic testing methodologies in the world. We constantly explore new technology and in fact, more than 20 years ago, we began using synthetic skin technology to evaluate the effects of products on human skin.

Our process is as follows:

1. Our toxicologists and safety experts assess every cosmetic ingredient before it can be used in our products.  For each ingredient, we consider its chemistry along with all available scientific and biological data.  If needed, experiments are conducted using state-of-the-art in vitro tests and/or computer-based models to expand our understanding of the ingredient’s safety profile. We also evaluate each ingredient to be sure that it meets the requirements of governmental, regulatory and scientific bodies. We use all of this information to formulate our products, taking into account the way they are intended to be used by our consumers.
2. We evaluate the safety of the ingredient as part of a cosmetic formula. The initial evaluation compares the new cosmetic formulation to other similar formulas and our extensive database of clinical and safety information. We may conduct additional confirmatory clinical testing or in vitro tests of the formula as part of the safety review.
3. Once the cosmetic formula as a whole meets our high safety and comfort standards, it is placed on the market for our consumers to enjoy.

We also actively monitor feedback from our consumers, allowing us to maintain high standards for our products. We continuously participate in scientific and regulatory communities in order to stay current on ingredient and product safety.

Our Partners: Advancing Alternatives and the Global End to Cosmetics Testing

The Estée Lauder Companies has long been advocating for alternatives to animal testing methods in cosmetics to demonstrate safety. As a company, we wholeheartedly believe that alternatives to animal testing are achievable through collaborations with leading scientists, industry groups, and NGOs worldwide that share our passion and dedication to reach this common goal.

Cruelty Free International

The Estée Lauder Companies is proud to partner with Cruelty Free International and join the leading voices around the world to be a part of the solution and the global end of animal testing on cosmetics. Cruelty Free International is a London-based animal-protection group, whose work is deeply rooted in advocating for better science and cruelty-free living. 

The Estée Lauder Companies supports Cruelty Free International’s efforts to encourage leaders to embed cruelty free consumption and production measures in the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Our collaboration with Cruelty Free International underscores the importance of bringing cosmetics animal testing in product supply chains to a global end, in support of the United Nations’ SDGs on responsible consumption and production.

Institute for In Vitro Sciences

We have a long-standing, strong partnership with the Institute for In Vitro Sciences (IIVS), a non-profit research and testing consortium dedicated to advancing the science of in vitro (non-animal) methods worldwide. IIVS develops and implements programmes where alternatives to animal testing are currently not accepted.

Through IIVS we support a wide array of activities including:

• Hands-on training programmes for scientists and regulators on the use of alternative methods
• Scientific exchange and knowledge sharing
• Engaging and collaborating with local experts
• Working with industry partners [peers] to advocate change

European Partnership for Alternatives to Animal Testing

We are members of the European Partnership for Alternatives to Animal Testing (EPAA), an initiative launched in 2005 by stakeholders from various industries, including the European Commission, to promote the sharing of knowledge across industries and facilitate the validation and acceptance of alternative test methods and strategies.

Cosmetics Europe

Since its inception 20 years ago we have supported research programmes for the replacement of animal tests coordinated by the European trade association, Cosmetics Europe. This broad programme includes projects co-funded by the European Commission such as SEURAT (Safety Evaluation Ultimately Replacing Animal Testing.)

Personal Care Products Council (PCPC)

Founded in 1894 as the Manufacturing Perfumers’ Association, the Council's more than 600-member companies manufacture, distribute and supply the vast majority of personal care products marketed in the US and are global leaders committed to product safety, quality and innovation. Since the early 1980s, PCPC has advocated for alternatives to animal testing.  In 1981, PCPC Board members approved a programme for the industry to fund a national centre for the development of alternatives to animal testing, and to this day supports the cause. The Estée Lauder Companies is a member of PCPC’s Science and Support Committee (SSC), where we serve as an information resource to the Cosmetics Ingredients Review (CIR) and their Expert Panel, which monitors/oversees non-animal alternatives in testing.

Our Compliance: When Animal Testing is Required by Law Advancing Alternatives and the Global End to Cosmetics Testing

The Estée Lauder Companies is a global company with 25+ brands, sold in 150 countries and territories. While most regulatory bodies accept non-animal data to demonstrate safety in cosmetics, some regulatory bodies require the testing of our products or ingredients on animals to demonstrate cosmetics safety. In such cases, we take all practical and available steps to encourage the acceptance of existing non-animal test data instead.

Our Cruelty Free Brands

Within our brand portfolio we do have brands that identify as cruelty-free that have an existing certification with PETA. Brands marked with an asterisk (*) denote brands that are also Leaping Bunny approved.

These brands currently include:

• Aveda*
• Bumble and bumble
• DECIEM family of brands, including The Ordinary and NIOD*
• LE LABO
• Smashbox
• Too Faced