Garnier inherits the policy of its parent company, L'Oreal, which sells their products in China and tests on animals where required by law.
Like L'Oreal, they share the misleading claim that certain products manufactured and sold in China like shampoo, body wash or makeup are no longer tested on animals. However, as stated in their official policy below, they still sell their other products in China, where animal testing is mandatory for foreign cosmetics. Because of this, Garnier isn’t considered to be a cruelty-free brand.
At A Glance
- Finished products tested on animals: No
- Ingredients tested on animals: No (possible exceptions)
- Third party animal testing: No
- Tested on animals where required by law: Yes
- Sold in mainland China: Yes
- Certifications: None (On PETA's "do test" list)
- Parent company: L'Oreal
- Parent company status: NOT cruelty-free
Official Policy
Here is Garnier's official policy as stated on their website:
Thank you for your interest in Garnier, a brand of The L’Oréal Group.
Our consumers’ health and safety have always been an absolute priority for L’Oréal. As is the support of animal welfare.
L’Oréal has developed a very rigorous safety evaluation procedure of its products, backed by research. Well before the question of animal testing was raised by civil society or within a regulatory framework, L’Oréal has been committed to new methods of assessing safety that don’t involve animals. A true pioneer, L'Oréal has been reconstructing human skin models in laboratories to elaborate in vitro safety tests since 1979, as an alternative to animals. In 1989, L’Oréal completely ceased testing its products on animals, thus 14 years before the regulation required so. Today, L'Oréal no longer tests its ingredients on animals and no longer tolerates any exception to this rule.
Certain health authorities may nevertheless decide to conduct animal tests themselves for certain cosmetic products, as it is still the case in China. L’Oréal has been the most active company working alongside the Chinese authorities and scientists for over 10 years to have alternative testing methods recognized, and permit the cosmetic regulation to evolve towards a total and definite elimination of animal testing. Thanks to this, since 2014, certain products manufactured and sold in China like shampoo, body wash or make-up are no longer tested on animals.
They’re also on PETA’s list of companies who DO test on animals:
Bottom Line
Garnier is not a cruelty-free company and they DO test on animals where required by law. For affordable and cruelty-free alternatives to Garnier, check out our guide on Cruelty-Free Drugstore Brands!
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I have an important question because I am a little clouded on company’s definitions. For example if a brand tests their products on animals because they are required to in China are those same products not being tested on animals in the US? Do they do two separate testings? Do they just use China’s testing policies and apply them across the board to save money?? If I buy a product at Sephora does that mean this product and its ingredients were tested for the Chinese market and are still being sold in the US? I hope I am being clear! I love your site thank you so much!
OK, as much as I like makeup, can we talk about cruelty free dishwashers, laundry detergents, toothpastes, etc.? I don’t wanna sound mean, but I noticed that when cruelty free blogs talk products, it’s always cosmetics. How about, let’s say, ask a dental product if they’re cruelty free & ethical? That’d be refreshing to hear.