Vegan, cruelty-free and halal skincare: three different claims
They often appear side by side on a pack, but each one means something else and needs its own proof. Here is what each claim covers, the rules behind it and how certification works.
Vegan means the product contains no ingredients of animal origin. Cruelty-free means neither the product nor its ingredients were tested on animals. Halal means the ingredients and the way the product is made meet Islamic requirements, confirmed by a halal certification body. A product can be one, two or all three.
| Claim | What it covers | Proof | With us |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vegan | No animal-derived ingredients, such as beeswax, lanolin, carmine, animal collagen, snail mucin or honey | Ingredient review; optional certification by an independent body | Vegan certification quoted per product |
| Cruelty-free | No animal testing of the product or its ingredients | Supplier statements; optional certification such as Leaping Bunny | We do not test on animals; our tests use lab methods and human volunteers |
| Halal | Permitted ingredients, no contamination in production, and certified handling | Certification by a recognized halal body | Not offered at the moment |
Vegan skincare
A vegan claim needs every ingredient checked, including the small ones: glycerin and squalane can come from plants or animals, and some emulsifiers, colorants and actives have animal sources. We confirm the source of each ingredient from the raw material documents. For a vegan logo on the pack, an independent body, such as The Vegan Society or V-Label, reviews the formula and the supplier documents; we quote the certification per product.
Cruelty-free skincare
- EU: animal testing of cosmetics and their ingredients is banned, and since 2013 so is selling cosmetics tested on animals for that purpose.
- UK: the same bans apply under UK law.
- Korea: the Cosmetics Act has banned animal testing of cosmetics and their ingredients since 2017, with narrow exceptions, such as when an importing country's law requires it.
- US: there is no federal ban, but a growing number of states, starting with California, ban selling cosmetics newly tested on animals.
- Certification: programs such as Leaping Bunny or PETA's list check the brand's supply chain and ask suppliers for statements.
More on how to word and back up these claims in our article on vegan and cruelty-free claims.
Halal skincare
Halal certification looks at the ingredients (for example, no pork-derived materials, and animal-derived ingredients only from permitted sources), how alcohol is used, and whether the production line is kept free of contamination. Each certification body has its own standard, and buyers usually ask for a body that is recognized in their country.
- Indonesia: is phasing in mandatory halal certification for cosmetics through its halal agency, BPJPH. The deadlines have moved before, so check the current date with your importer.
- Malaysia and the Gulf: halal certification is widely expected by buyers, and a recognized certificate helps distributors list the product.
- KoreanOEM: we do not offer halal certification at the moment. If your market requires it, tell us at the start so we can discuss what is possible before you commit.
Words to use carefully
- "Vegan" and "cruelty-free" are claims, so the EU and UK criteria for claims apply: they must be true and supported by evidence.
- "Natural", "clean" and "free from" claims are not defined in law in most markets, and the EU does not allow "free from" an ingredient that is banned anyway.
- Certification logos can only be used under the certifier's license and rules.