Is Benefit Cruelty-Free?
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Is Benefit Cosmetics a Cruelty-Free Company?
The label “cruelty-free” refers to a finished cosmetic product that has not been tested on animals. The term “cruelty-free” is not regulated by the US Food and Drug Administration and has not been legally defined. As a result, many cosmetic companies claim their products are cruelty-free when the truth is at least some of their product ingredients have been tested on animals.
Benefit Cosmetics is a makeup and skincare brand founded in San Francisco, California. Benefit Cosmetics was acquired by French luxury giant LVMH Group in 1999. Benefit states on its website that it does not conduct testing on animals, and the LVMH Group also states that the LVHM Group has not conducted animal testing since 1989.
Benefit Selling in China...
However, Benefit cosmetic products are sold in China, where mandatory animal testing is required for all cosmetic products sold in China but manufactured outside of China. Benefit admits that while its products are made in Europe, Chinese law does require companies that sell products in China “make their products available to be tested in state-certified laboratories for registration purposes only, as it is currently their only recognized method to demonstrate product safety.”
The Verdict: Benefit is NOT cruelty-free.