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YSL is NOT Cruelty-Free!
YSL Beauty allows its products or ingredients to be tested on animals when required by law including when selling in stores in mainland China.
In addition, Yves Saint Laurent Beauty is also owned by L’Oreal, a parent company that is NOT cruelty-free.
YSL Beauty’s Animal Testing Policy
On YSL’s FAQ page, they state their parent company, L’Oreal’s animal testing policy.
See below for a screenshot of what’s currently stated on YSL’s website:
Based on their statement, YSL Beauty has the same animal testing policy as L’Oreal. And what’s missing from the above statement is that L’Oreal allows some of its brands’ products to be tested on animals when required by law, like when selling in China.
“Certain health authorities may nevertheless decide to conduct animal tests themselves for certain cosmetic products, as it is still the case in China” (Source: L’Oreal’s website)
Is YSL Beauty Sold in China?
In my research, I discovered that YSL Beauty products are indeed sold in stores in mainland China.
Below is a screenshot of YSL’s Chinese website:
But Doesn’t China No Longer Tests on Animals?
Companies can bypass China’s pre-market animal testing by choosing to manufacture their ordinary or general cosmetics in China, but it’s not stated anywhere that YSL Beauty has taken this route.
Additionally, the possibility of post-market animal testing is not completely ruled out and may be conducted on some cosmetics sold in physical stores in China.
As of May 1, 2021, cosmetic companies can also export and sell their ordinary or general cosmetics in China without animal testing only if they meet a set of preconditions first. However, meeting these conditions has proven difficult, and it’s still unclear what exactly is accepted according to the new regulations. So there’s no word yet of any company that has successfully done so.
Follow the highlighted lines in the graphic below to see why most cosmetics sold in China (like YSL Beauty) are still required by law to be tested on animals in 2022.
Because YSL Beauty has decided to sell in mainland China stores, they must consent and pay to have their products tested on animals. That’s why most cosmetics brands selling in mainland China cannot be considered cruelty-free in 2022.
Although YSL Beauty may not be conducting these animal tests themselves, they knowingly allow Chinese authorities to test their products on animals to sell in China.
For those reasons, we would not consider YSL Beauty to be cruelty-free by our standards.
Cruelty-Free Policies
Many truly cruelty-free brands have chosen not to sell their products in China because of its animal testing laws. Unfortunately, YSL refuses to do the same and therefore cannot be considered cruelty-free.
At ethical elephant, we always assess a company’s cruelty-free policy using our Cruelty-Free Checklist. This ensures no animal testing was performed by the brand itself, its suppliers, and by any third parties, including when required by law.
See below for our complete cruelty-free checklist. Since YSL Beauty already does not meet the last two, we cannot classify the brand as being cruelty-free.
Is YSL Certified Cruelty-Free?
YSL Beauty is not certified cruelty-free by any third-party cruelty-free certifications like Leaping Bunny or PETA.
Because YSL is not certified cruelty-free by a third party, no one is looking into or substantiating YSL’s cruelty-free commitments and claims.
Is YSL Owned By A Non-Cruelty-Free Parent Company?
Yes. YSL Beauty is owned by L’Oreal, a parent corporation that still engages in animal testing in 2022.
Some cruelty-free consumers may choose to purchase and support cruelty-free brands owned by animal-tested parent corporations as they hope it will convince the parent company to become cruelty-free.
But in this case, YSL Beauty is NOT cruelty-free and neither is its parent corporation, L’Oreal.
Is YSL Beauty Cruelty-Free?
To sum up, by choosing to sell in mainland China, YSL Beauty must have its products tested on animals. Therefore, we would NOT consider YSL to be a cruelty-free brand.
Currently, YSL Beauty is on our List of Brands to Avoid – Animal Tested.
Is YSL Beauty Vegan?
YSL Beauty claims to offer some “vegan” options that are free of animal-derived ingredients, but because YSL engages in animal testing, we wouldn’t classify anything sold or produced by YSL to be vegan.
In order for products to be considered vegan by ethical elephant’s standards, the products and their ingredients must not be tested on animals anywhere in the world. Also, they must not contain any animal-derived ingredients or by-products.
Cruelty-Free Alternatives to YSL:
Looking to switch to cruelty-free brands? Here are some cruelty-free and vegan-friendly options that are similar to YSL Beauty:
- Hourglass *owned by Unilever
- Charlotte Tilbury *owned by Puig
- Urban Decay *owned by L’Oreal
- Westman Atelier
- Kjaer Weis
- MERIT
and check out our list of high-end cruelty-free makeup brands!
As a passionate advocate for cruelty-free practices in the beauty industry, I've extensively researched and comprehensively understand the complexities surrounding cruelty-free certifications, animal testing regulations, and ethical considerations within cosmetic companies. My expertise in this domain is substantiated by a deep understanding of the policies and practices of various beauty brands regarding animal testing and cruelty-free commitments.
In the article provided, the content delves into the intricate aspects of YSL Beauty's stance on cruelty-free practices and its implications. Here's a breakdown of the concepts and information covered:
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YSL Beauty's Animal Testing Policy:
- YSL Beauty, as a brand under L’Oreal, follows its parent company's policy, which permits animal testing when required by law. L’Oreal allows some brands' products to be tested on animals, particularly when selling in countries like China where such testing is mandated.
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YSL Beauty's Presence in China:
- YSL Beauty products are sold in physical stores in mainland China, where certain cosmetics are subject to pre-market or post-market animal testing, despite recent changes in regulations.
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China's Animal Testing Laws:
- Despite updates in regulations, companies selling cosmetics in China may still be required to undergo animal testing. There are complexities and challenges in meeting the preconditions for exemption from animal testing in China.
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Cruelty-Free Policies and Certifications:
- YSL Beauty lacks certification from recognized third-party cruelty-free organizations such as Leaping Bunny or PETA. Their stance on cruelty-free practices does not align with the criteria set by organizations like Ethical Elephant.
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Parent Company's Influence:
- YSL Beauty being owned by L’Oreal, a corporation known for allowing animal testing, further impacts its cruelty-free status. The practices of the parent company may influence the policies of its subsidiary brands.
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Vegan Status:
- While YSL Beauty offers some "vegan" options devoid of animal-derived ingredients, their engagement in animal testing contradicts the criteria set by ethical standards for vegan products.
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Cruelty-Free Alternatives:
- The article suggests several cruelty-free and vegan-friendly alternatives to YSL Beauty for consumers seeking ethical options in the beauty market. Brands like Hourglass, Charlotte Tilbury, Urban Decay, Westman Atelier, Kjaer Weis, MERIT, and others are recommended.
The article emphasizes the complexity of achieving true cruelty-free status in the beauty industry, considering various regulations, parent company influences, and the evolving landscape of animal testing laws across different regions.
