GLAMGLOW is NOT cruelty-free.
This means that this brand either tests on animals, pays for animal testing, or sells in mainland China. Some brands that fall under this category test on animals where required by law, which means they're not cruelty-free.
At a Glance
| Finished products tested on animals | Yes, where required by law |
| Ingredients tested on animals | Uncertain |
| Suppliers test on animals | Uncertain |
| Third party animal testing | Yes, where required by law |
| Sold in mainland China | Yes |
GLAMGLOW's Official Animal Testing Policy
“Consumer safety has always been top priority at GLAMGLOW. Therefore, our product safety review process requires collaboration of experts across several sciences, including toxicology, microbiology, environmental chemistry, manufacturing, and engineering to ensure the safety of all products brought to market by GLAMGLOW.
All GLAMGLOW products are tested for irritants and allergens using biological assays and human volunteers. We do not test our products on animals, nor do we ask others to conduct animal testing on our behalf, except when required by law.
We are proud of GLAMGLOW’s safety record and of our continued commitment to producing quality products.”
What This Means
Although GlamGlow as a company do not test their finished products on animals, they nevertheless pay others to test their products on animals “where required by law”. This means that GlamGlow is not cruelty-free.
When companies claim that they test on animals “where required by law”, it typically means that they sell their products in mainland China, where cosmetics are legally required to be tested on animals.
To learn more about animal testing laws in China, click here.
GlamGlow also doesn’t mention whether or not their suppliers test on animals or if their ingredients are tested on animals, which is a red flag.
Watch out for the “safety as a priority” trick. When a brand emphasizes product safety, like GlamGlow does above, this generally means that they prioritize safety at any cost — even if this means testing on animals to prove safety.
Why We Classify Brands Like GLAMGLOW As “Not Cruelty-Free”
The term “cruelty-free” is unregulated. This means any brand can claim to be cruelty-free without breaking the law, even if they test on animals.
Because of this, we communicate with brands directly to gather information about their full animal testing policy.
Brands who are classified as “not cruelty-free” break one or more of the Cruelty-Free 5:
- Their company engages in animal testing
- Their suppliers engage in animal testing
- They allow third-parties to test on animals on their behalf
- They test on animals where required by law
- They knowingly sell cosmetics in stores in mainland China, where animal testing could be performed
A supplier is any company that sells the brand raw materials, ingredients, or finished products. A third-party is an outside company or entity, whether or not it’s hired by the brand.
What’s The Deal With China?
Many beauty brands choose to sell their products in China. It’s important to note that these companies can not be considered cruelty-free.
As of 2020, China still requires most cosmetics to be tested on animals in order to be sold in the country.
As for products which can bypass these mandatory tests, the Chinese authorities may still pull these products from the shelves and have them tested on animals. Although the chance is small, we believe that companies can not be considered “cruelty-free” while taking this risk.
