Is Clinique Cruelty-Free?

Within recent years, makeup consumers have begun to care more about what makeup they are buying. That’s right, we’re talking about cruelty-free cosmetics.

When you opt for something that is cruelty-free, you are standing against animal-testing policies that are cruel and inhumane. However, it turns out there are other benefits to buying cruelty-free products. They tend to be much better for your skin. Most of the time, contain healthier and simpler ingredients lists. So, if you have sensitive, acne-prone, or mature skin, cruelty-free cosmetics might be more suited towards you.

One of the most popular cosmetics companies out there is Clinique. So many people are wondering, is Clinique cruelty-free? Unfortunately, Clinique is not a cruelty-free brand.

But let’s dive into why this is and more about Clinique’s products.

Is Clinique Cruelty-Free?

No, Clinique is not cruelty-free. Clinique pays money to testing facilities to test their products for safety reasons. These facilities are not cruelty-free meaning they test the products on animals. In addition, Clinique sells its products in countries where it is required by law to test on animals.

Here is the statement Clinique makes in the FAQ section of their website:

“Clinique Laboratories, LLC. is committed to the elimination of animal testing. We are equally committed to consumer health and safety, and bringing to market products that comply with applicable regulations in every country in which our products are sold.

We do not conduct animal testing on our products or ingredients, nor ask others to test on our behalf, except when required by law. We evaluate our finished products in clinical tests on volunteer panels.”

You’ll notice that although Clinique says they don’t conduct animal testing themselves, they do allow it to happen when it is required by law. This means they are selling their products in countries where this animal testing is required.

Is Clinique Vegan?

No, Clinique products are not vegan.

Some products technically do not have any animal products in them. However, since they are not cruelty-free, they ethically cannot be labeled as vegan.

Still, even if you are basing it off of the ingredient list itself, some of Clinique’s products are formulated with ingredients derived from animals. This makes it not a vegan company.

Is Clinique Organic?

No, Clinique is not considered to be organic.

When you look at Clinique’s ingredient list, a lot of their products are actually formulated with a lot of harmful ingredients. Some of these ingredients include Petrolatum, Phenoxyethanol, Octinoxate, and more.

These ingredients can soak into the skin and cause serious health concerns. This is especially a concern for those with health issues and/or sensitive skin.

Is Clinique Owned By A Parent Company?

Yes, Clinique is owned by Estee Lauder. Estee Lauder is another cosmetics company that is also not cruelty-free.

Where is Clinique Made?

CLinique manufactures and produces its products in the United States. Then, they ship it out to various parts of the world.

Is Clinique Sold in China?

Yes, Clinique is sold in China.

In mainland China, it is required by law for imported cosmetics products to be tested on animals. So, if a company sells its products in China, they have no control as to if their products are tested on animals. Therefore, they cannot be considered cruelty-free.

Since Clinique does sell its products in mainland China, they are not completely cruelty-free.

Is Clinique Paraben-Free?

Yes, Clinique has recently revamped their products and have made them paraben-free. This is much better for your skin and will prevent breakouts and other skin issues.

Is Clinique Gluten-Free?

No, not all of Clinique’s products are gluten-free.

Is Clinique Phthalates-free?

When Clinique rebranded and vamped up their products, they also made their products phthalates-free. This makes their products much more suited for sensitive skin and just generally healthier.

Is Clinique Non-comedogenic?

Not all of Clinique’s products are non-comedogenic, but some are. For example, one of their products that is non-comedogenic is the Clinique Anti-Blemish Solutions Liquid Makeup.

Is Clinique PETA Cruelty-Free Approved?

No, Clinique sells its products in countries where animal testing is required by law. Since they do this, PETA does not consider them to be a cruelty-free brand.

Where To Buy Clinique

Luckily, Clinique is a pretty accessible cosmetics brand. It can be found at lots of places both in-store and online.

When looking in stores, you can buy Clinique at both beauty and department stores. You can purchase their products as beauty stores like Ulta and Sephora. In terms of department stores, some include JCPenney and Walmart.

Here are some of the most common places you can buy Clinique online:

Cruelty-Free Alternatives

If you are looking for other brands similar to Clinique that are cruelty-free, here are a few great ones:

Final Thoughts

Unfortunately, Clinique is not cruelty-free nor vegan. But, they are still a makeup brand loved by many. If you still have Clinique makeup products, don’t throw them away. Use them in their entirety to avoid any waste. But if you are looking to be more ethical with your makeup consumption, maybe try a cruelty-free alternative.