The short answer: No, Estée Lauder is not cruelty free.
The long answer: Founded in 1946, Estée Lauder is a female-targeted brand that sells fragrances, skin care, and makeup products. It is the flagship brand of The Estée Lauder Companies Inc., which also handles Tom Ford Beauty and Bumble and bumble. The high-end brand is currently being sold in over 150 countries and territories around the world, online and in store.
In its website, Estée Lauder states that the company is firmly against animal testing. “More than 30 years ago, we were one of the first cosmetics companies to eliminate animal testing as a method of determining product safety. From individual ingredients to final formulation, our integrated global R&D facilities use the most up-to-date, innovative, scientific, non-animal cosmetic testing evaluations to demonstrate safety.”
However, this contradictory statement follows: “Animal testing on cosmetics products exists if a regulatory body demands it for its safety or regulatory assessment.” Just like M·A·C Cosmetics and Clinique, Estée Lauder is being sold in China, where it is mandatory for imported cosmetic products to be tested on animals before and after entering the market. As such, Estée Lauder cannot be considered 100% cruelty free.
References:
Is Estee Lauder Cruelty-Free in {2020}?
