Olay is a famous beauty brand that many people believe to be cruelty-free. However, there is some debate over whether or not their products are animal-friendly.
There is some debate over whether or not Olay is cruelty-free. Some people say that the company tests animals, while others claim that they do not. Keep reading this article, resTORbio will let you know whether Is Olay Cruelty Free?
About Olay
- Finished products tested on animals: Yes, where required by law
- Ingredients tested on animals: Uncertain
- Suppliers test on animals: Uncertain
- Third-party animal testing: Yes, where required by law
- Sold where animal testing is required by law: Yes
This brand, which was initially created in South Africa and referred to as ‘Oil of Olay’, was founded by Graham Wulf in 1952. Wullf is a former employee of Unilever.
The first product did not have a label. It had a moisturizer-like consistency but was marketed as an anti-aging item. This brand has continued to make anti-aging products for people who want to reduce wrinkles and increase skin elasticity.
Is Olay Cruelty-Free?
It is not cruelty-free. This brand pays for animal testing and permits products to be tested on animals if the law requires them. It sells products in China, where animal testing for cosmetics is required.
This brand is also owned by P&G, a parent company that is not cruelty-free.
Olay Animal Testing Policy
Olay’s website states that it doesn’t test its products on animals. It may have to submit products to animal testing labs in some countries. This brand doesn’t claim to be cruelty-free for these reasons.
Below is a screengrab of Olay’s current website content:
Olay’s animal testing policy states that “in some countries where this brand product is sold, governments still require animal tests.” this brand may have to submit products to laboratories where they know animal tests occur in these cases.
This could mean that their products might be sold in mainland China, where animal testing is required for most imported cosmetics.
Is Olay Vegan?
Unfortunately, it isn’t easy to find information online about the source of Olay’s ingredients. It was best to determine if the primary ingredients are animal- or plant-based. Here are the primary components of this brand.
This product only lists Glycerin as an ingredient. We had to look at the other ingredients and compare them with vegan ingredient resource guides.
These resources include Peta’s Animal-Derived Ingredients List, VRG’s Questions About Ingredients, and EMJ’s Common Vegan & Not Vegan ingredients List.
Olay ingredients are derived primarily from plants, except one. Olay lists Retinol as its source for Vitamin A. Peta states that “Retinol” is an Animal-derived Vitamin A. EM-J also says that there is a Vegan version of Retinol, but it is almost always derived from an animal.
It is not vegan because Retinol is found in nearly all products. Knoji and a discussion on veggieboards.com confirm that this brand isn’t vegan-friendly.
Olay Sold in China?
Later, I discovered that Olay products could be sold in China.
This brand decided to sell its products in China’s mainland stores. They must consent to and pay the Chinese government for testing their products on animals.
This brand asserts that they don’t believe these tests are necessary for evaluating safety and performance. They [China] refuse to accept any other non-animal testing methods. We will not give up on alternative ways of ending animal testing in the industry.
It may not be performing these animal tests, but they don’t believe that these tests are necessary. They also consent to the Chinese authorities testing their products on animals to ensure they sell in China.
Many cruelty-free brands won’t sell in China until China has changed its animal testing requirements. Olay, however, refuses to follow the example of other cruelty-free brands and puts profits above the welfare of animals.
They claim that they have been working closely with China to develop alternative methods of eliminating animal testing in the beauty and skincare industry.
They also partnered with Humane Society International’s BeCrueltyFree campaign, which aims at banning animal testing for cosmetics in all significant beauty markets worldwide by 2023.
Cruelty-Free Alternatives to Olay
Are you looking for an alternative to Olay that is cruelty-free? The following cruelty-free brands are recommended:
- Mario Badescu – SOME VEGAN OPTIONS
- Skyn Iceland – 100% Vegetarian
- Paula’s Choice: SOME VEGAN OPTIONS
- Murad *OWNED CURRENTLY BY UNILEVER – SOME VEGAN OPTIONS
Is Olay Vegan and Cruelty-Free: FAQs
Is Olay Organic?
It isn’t organic, and they don’t claim to be. Cocokind and Tula Skincare are two examples of organic skincare. Burt’s Bees also offers organic skincare in their drugstore.
Is Olay Paraben-Free?
It is paraben-free. Here’s the statement on their website:
“Yes, Olay products contain parabens. They are also natural ingredients in many fruits and vegetables, part of our daily diet.
Parabens are the best choice for products that we use. We continue to research new options for preservatives for our products. We use only the safest amounts for those products as determined by regulatory and scientific agencies.
Parabens are preservatives, and the FDA has approved them in tiny quantities. You will never regret using them in cosmetics. Never. We do appreciate Olay’s candor about this topic.
Is Olay Gluten-Free?
P&G owns olay, and this brand does not offer a list of gluten-free products. All products containing gluten will be labeled with this information. Trace gluten, produced by shared machinery such as CNC machines, is the problem.
Is Olay Phthalates-Free?
Olay doesn’t state whether they are phthalates-free. Phthalates are a common ingredient in perfumes and fragrances. They are often listed on labels as ‘fragrance‘. Ther products may contain fragrance, so they are more likely to contain phthalates.
Because phthalates can cause endocrine disruptions and fertility problems, they are highly polarizing. Avoid them if you can. You will never regret it. You can find phthalate-free Olay products by choosing their fragrance-free products.
Is Olay Non-Comedogenic?
This brand of moisturizers that are not pore-clogging is non-comedogenic. These include the Olay All-Day Facial Moisturizer with Sun Protection Factor (SPF) and the Moisturizing Lotion to soothe sensitive skin.
It’s not easy to find a non-comedogenic SPF, so this is a nice touch. These are their fragrance-free, non-comedogenic products.
Is Olay Owned by a Parent Company That Tests on Animals?
Procter & Gamble owns Olay, a company that tests on animals. This brand is not cruelty-free, and neither is their parent company.
What’s the Difference Between Vegan and Cruelty-free Products?
Many people use the terms cruelty-free and vegan interchangeably. Although veganism is committed to eliminating animal cruelty, these terms can have different meanings.
Vegan products are free of animal or animal-derived components. The development and ingredients have not been tested on animals to ensure cruelty-free.
Many companies lie to their customers and claim that their products have not been tested on animals. They don’t talk about the ingredients in their products, just like Olay. Many of the ingredients in products that claim to be cruelty-free are tested on animals.
However, a product can’t be considered vegan if tested on animals. Not all vegan products are cruelty-free.
Is Olay Animal Cruelty-Free: Conclusion
This brand is known worldwide for its high-quality, affordable products that are widely accessible to everyone. But It is such a shame that this brand is not cruelty-free! We hope that they will change their politics and make their products cruelty-free!
