Does Laneige Test on Animals? Is it Cruelty-free brand?

Animal testing is an incredibly controversial issue in the cosmetics industry. As consumers become more educated on the topic, many are starting to demand cruelty-free products that weren’t tested on animals. This begs the question – does Laneige test on animals?

Laneige is a popular Korean skincare and makeup brand that claims to use innovative technology and formulas inspired by nature. However, there has been some debate around whether Laneige actually tests their products on animals before selling them to consumers. In this article, I’ll go through Laneige’s stance, the evidence around their animal testing practices, the problems with animal testing, and what you as a consumer can do.

Laneige’s Stance on Animal Testing

If you look at Laneige’s website or talk to their customer service representatives, they will tell you that Laneige does not test on animals. Here are some direct quotes from Laneige on their animal testing policies:

• “Laneige does not test on animals and is firmly committed to ending animal testing in the cosmetics industry.”
• “None of our products or ingredients are tested on animals.”
• “Laneige adheres to a strict no animal testing policy globally.”

However, there is an important caveat. While Laneige claims not to test on animals, they do sell their products in China where animal testing is required by law for all imported cosmetics.

This means that even if Laneige is not directly testing on animals, their products are still subjected to mandatory animal testing in order to be sold in mainland China. This allows Laneige to reap the profits of the Chinese market while still claiming to be cruelty-free.

Evidence That Laneige Does Test on Animals

Despite their public statements claiming not to test on animals, there is significant evidence indicating that Laneige does in fact conduct or pay for animal testing:

• Laneige pays the Chinese government to test their products on animals in order to meet regulations. Although Laneige isn’t directly involved, they are essentially outsourcing animal testing.
• Laneige is owned by consumer goods conglomerate AmorePacific that does conduct animal testing on some of their other brands.
• Records in China show that Laneige continues to submit product samples for mandatory animal testing via AmorePacific. Laneige is even classified as a “dissimulation brand” for their misleading cruelty-free claims.
• Recent undercover investigations by animal rights organizations like PETA found that AmorePacific actively conducts animal testing on ingredients, formulations and finished products in their China-based labs to comply with regulations.

The evidence clearly shows that while Laneige’s branding portrays them as a cruelty-free brand, in reality Laneige continues to enable and pay for animal testing in China in order to market and sell their products.

The Problem With Animal Testing

There are many issues around animal testing in the cosmetics industry:

• Animal testing is incredibly unreliable when it comes to assessing human safety. Reactions in animals often do not translate to humans. Rabbits provide no useful information when it comes to cosmetic safety.
• It’s extremely cruel and causes animal suffering. Tests involve forced substance ingestion, skin and eye irritation, lethal overdoses, and more. Every year thousands of animals including rabbits, guinea pigs, and mice suffer and die.
• There’s a lack of regulation and oversight around animal testing facilities and practices. There are many inhumane conditions and unethical experimentation.
• Viable alternatives exist that are more relevant to human safety. Alternatives include testing on human skin cell cultures, computer modeling, and human volunteer studies. These alternatives are faster, more reliable, more ethical, and already embraced by many progressive companies.

For a modern, innovative company like Laneige, there is no excuse for animal testing when viable ethical alternatives exist. Consumers should not have to choose between great cosmetics and cruelty-free products.

What Consumers Can Do

As consumers, we have collective power to demand change in the cosmetics industry. Here are some tips for making cruelty-free choices when it comes to your beauty routine:

• Look for the Leaping Bunny logo. This logo certifies that a brand adheres to a strict no animal testing policy. Leaping Bunny has approved cruelty-free lists you can search for brands like Laneige.
• Download cruelty-free apps like Bunny Free or Cruelty Cutter. These apps scan product barcodes to see if they are cruelty-free.
• Contact Laneige via social media or their website contact forms. Urge them to adopt a strict global ban on all animal testing throughout their supply chain.
• Spread awareness on social media using hashtags like #BeCrueltyFree. Educate others on cosmetic animal testing issues.
• Support legislation that bans cosmetic animal testing requirements globally. Sign relevant petitions and call/email your representatives.

With enough pressure from conscientious consumers, companies like Laneige will have no choice but to go 100% cruelty-free. Even in difficult markets like China, innovative alternatives to animal testing can be found, paving the way for an ethical, cruelty-free future.

The Bottom Line on Laneige and Animal Testing

At the end of the day, Laneige wants to present an image of being a natural, cruelty-free brand. However, the reality is that Laneige does enable and pay for animal testing in China in order to sell their products, despite their misleading public messaging.

This is unfortunately common practice for many brands who want access to the profitable Chinese market. However, consumers have immense power to demand change through their voices and their spending. By being informed, mindful shoppers and spreading awareness, we can pressure Laneige and other brands still complicit in animal testing to fully embrace cruelty-free ethical standards globally. After all, our purchasing power enables every change in the marketplace. With enough action from compassionate consumers, cosmetic animal testing can become a thing of the past.

Animal Testing Policies in South Korea

To fully understand Laneige’s stance on animal testing, it’s important to consider the policies in their home country. South Korea currently does not have a ban on animal testing for cosmetics. This means it is still legal to test personal care and beauty items on animals during development or to prove certain claims.

However, the Korean government has announced a plan to implement a cosmetics animal testing ban by 2023. This is certainly a step in the right direction. Even with this policy change, foreign markets could still legally require animal testing on cosmetics made in South Korea.

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Laneige’s Current Animal Testing Status

After reviewing information from PETA and other sources, it appears Laneige is not currently cruelty-free. This is because they do allow some animal testing where required by law.

Laneige’s parent company, AmorePacific, has the following policy:

“AMOREPACIFIC pledges the elimination of unnecessary animal testing for cosmetics to respect all living creatures. We have voluntarily discontinued animal testing on cosmetic ingredients and finished goods since 2008. And as of May 1, 2013, will expand the non-animal testing policy to our suppliers. Through continuous cooperation with academia, AMOREPACIFIC will further enhance our efforts to develop alternative testing methods. However, if local governments or laws require or mandate animal testing, exceptions to this rule will apply.

So while Laneige itself stopped animal testing in 2015, the company makes exceptions if it is mandatory by law in certain countries. As a result, markets like China may have recently required the testing of Laneige products on animals.

Laneige also continues to sell products in mainland China, where imported cosmetics must undergo animal testing per regulatory requirements. So despite their voluntary ban and pursuit of cruelty-free certification, Laneige is not able to claim a 100% commitment to ending animal testing at this time.

The Takeaway

In summary, yes, Laneige does currently allow some animal testing where required by law. So they do not meet the criteria many consumers and organizations have for being 100% cruelty-free.