Garnier is a cosmetics brand that was founded in 1904 in France. The founder was Alfred Amour Garnier, who decided to patent his plant-based hair lotion. Soon after, the company expanded towards sun-care items, and in 1960 Garnier became the first manufacturer of permanent hair color.
As the years went by, Garnier expanded into various beauty fields and began producing nature-based products to fight multiple problems such as acne, UV light damage, fatigue, and even skin problems caused by pollution.
Today, Garnier’s products are being sold in stores and pharmacies all over the globe. It has expanded to be one of the most prominent hair dye and hair care products manufacturers.
Is Garnier Cruelty-Free?
| Not sold in China? | No |
| PETA Certified | No |
| Leaping Bunny Certified | No |
| Has vegan products | No |
| Not owned by a Parent Company that does Animal Testing? | No |
No, Garnier is not cruelty-free.
The brand doesn’t have a public cruelty-free policy. Despite the laws in the EU, which prevents final products from being tested on animals, Garnier still allows third parties to test on their behalf. Also, there is no information about whether or not the ingredients used are being tested on animals.
Garnier claims to be “committed to new methods of assessing safety that doesn’t involve animals.” However, they still allow animal testing of their products, and they profit from this by selling the same products.
Best Alternative Cruelty Free Hair Dyes
Amazon.com
Are Garnier products sold in China?
Yes, Garnier’s products are sold in mainland China.
During 2020, though, Garnier put out claims that they have stopped selling any “functional” products in China. This caused some to believe that Garnier has become a cruelty-free brand. Despite this being a step in the right direction, Garnier is still not cruelty-free. Chinese regulations have a lot of loopholes, and its products are most likely being tested despite this change. This is why Garnier cannot be considered a cruelty-free brand as long as it doesn’t pull back its products from the Chinese market.
[epcl_box type=”information”]
What is the Deal with China?
Even though animal testing is proven to be an unnecessary and unethical practice, some countries still require it by law. This is the case with the second-biggest market in the world, China.
China requires any beauty product to be tested on animals before allowing importation and being sold in Chinese stores. Any company or brand that makes the decision to sell in China has also decided to test on animals – either by themselves or, usually, by paying a third-party company to test on their behalf. This is the main reason why a lot of brands can’t achieve a true cruelty-free status. After growing public outrage, China did lift some regulations in 2014, which allowed certain beauty products, such as shampoos and other skincare items, to be imported without testing, but this is still a small percentage.
A lot of brands that claim to be cruelty-free are being misleading thanks to these laws. Even if a brand doesn’t conduct animal testing on its own, by deciding to take the opportunity and sell in countries such as China, it is allowing a third-party to test the final product on animals. This is why PETA and the Leaping Bunny Program have forbidden brands that they certify to expand their market in this direction – and rightfully so.
A lot of companies are working with the Chinese government on lifting these regulations, and legislation was proposed in 2019 that should stop mandatory animal testing. However until today, no substantial progress has been made in this regard, we continue to wait patiently.
[/epcl_box]
Is Garnier Vegan?
No, Garnier is not a vegan brand. Despite them having various organic and natural product lines, such as Fructis, most of them are not considered fully vegan. They contain certain animal-derived ingredients or animal by-products. And even if you find a Garnier product with vegan ingredients, keep in mind that this is a brand that conducts animal testing. As vegan is more than just formulations, it is up to debate whether a company that tests on animals could ever be considered vegan.
Who owns Garnier and does the parent company test on animals?
Ever since the 1970s, Garnier has been owned by L’Oreal, a company that is not cruelty-free as it sells its products in China. However, L’Oreal allows its brands to have their own animal testing policies, so Garnier had a choice about being cruelty-free or not.
What products does Garnier sell?
Garnier is best known for its box hair dyes that remain gentle to the scalp. Its products are suitable for people with sensitive skin – although it is always a good idea to check the ingredients, as Garnier’s products are not hypoallergenic.
The company also manufactures other hair care products, such as shampoos and conditioners. It has a line of skincare items, and its products are used to help people with various skin conditions. Garnier is also one of the first brands that launched a virtual shade selector tool that enables customers to see how they look with certain Garnier products.
Best Alternative Cruelty Free Hair Dyes
Amazon.com
