This is one of those exciting  moments when we can share a brand with you that truly has it all. Acure embodies everything that the informed, modern consumer wants from a beauty product. Here's what you need to know about their stellar cruelty-free and vegan policies. 

Acure is cruelty-free. It doesn't conduct animal testing on its products, nor does it distribute its cosmetics where animal testing is required by law. Acure is also 100% vegan – it doesn't use any animal-derived ingredients.

Acure was founded in 2010 by the husband-and-wife duo Jon and Kristy Guerra. They are passionate about seeing safe, effective, healthy, and affordable personal care options on the market. Lucky for us, they made it happen!

Twelve years later, Acure turns over $10m in revenue – not bad for a family-operated company that prioritizes hiring diverse staff – has first-class cruelty-free certification, is 100% vegan, and has woven sustainability into the fabric of its brand.

Before deciding on what to buy, here's what you need to know about Acure's current animal testing policies, vegan ranges, formulation, and sustainability.

Is Acure Cruelty-Free and Vegan?

Acure is 100% Cruelty-Free

It does not:

  • Test any of its products or ingredients on animals;
  • Purchase any ingredients tested on animals within its supply chain; or
  • Distribute its products to any countries that require animal testing by law.

You can rest assured knowing that Acure is not just cruelty-free; it's Leaping Bunny certified. This is the highest level of cruelty-free certification and 100% Cruelty Free Soul approved.

We applaud this brand's dedication to ensuring third-party certification that can leave no doubt as to where its ethics stand.

Which brings us to our next point:

Acure is 100% Vegan

Yup – this well-priced and accessible skincare brand is entirely vegan. It does not use any animal-derived ingredients in any of its products.

However, it's worth knowing that Acure is the exception and not the rule.

Most mainstream skincare brands are not 100% vegan. These are certain animal-derived ingredients to look out for in general:

  • Honey & beeswax – both these ingredients pose many health benefits to your skin and wellbeing. They have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties and are loaded with essential vitamins.

    Just because beeswax isn't vegan, it doesn't mean it can't be cruelty-free. Find out more here: Can Beeswax Be Cruelty-Free?
  • Carmine – this ingredient is the red pigment made from the crushed female cochineal insect. A little gross, no? But it is completely harmless and is used in makeup to get those rouge tones.
  • Lanolin – this ingredient, like honey and beeswax, is used in skincare and cosmetics because it is incredibly hydrating. It is basically the waxy oil that comes from sheep wool. Lanolin can be cruelty-free – follow this link for more details.
  • Carmine – this ingredient is the red pigment made from the crushed female cochineal insect. A little gross, no? But it is completely harmless and is used in makeup to get those rouge tones.

If you're interested in Acure's best vegan products or finding vegan brand alternatives – keep reading or click on this link: Acure vegan products

Animal Testing Policy and History

Acure makes it very clear that it has always been dedicated to creating 100% cruelty-free and vegan products from. It also has the credentials to back up its claims. 

Cruelty-Free Status in 2022

Here is a screenshot of Acure's official statement regarding its cruelty-free policies and vegan products, taken from its website:

Acure Cruelty-Free and Vegan Status

Certification

There is no messing around where this brand is concerned. It is both PETA and Leaping Bunny certified and we love this.

It shows that Acure not only makes an effort to ensure that no animals are harmed to guarantee the safety of its products, but it's also prepared to have rigorous third parties examine its practices to avoid any loopholes.

While you might know PETA very well – it surprisingly doesn't hold the strictest cruelty-free regulations out there. It seems to only require a brand's written consent that abides by the PETA code of conduct.

Certification from Leaping Bunny is ideal because it holds rigorous standards and does regular audits to ensure they are upheld.

Leaping Bunny certification proves that:

  • No animal testing is conducted on the ingredients, formulas, or final products it sells.
  • No animal testing is conducted by the brand suppliers or on their ingredients or formulas.
  • No animal testing is done by someone else that the company itself paid for.
  • Any other form of testing (beyond ingredient and consumer safety), such as worker safety and environmental health, are considered and evaluated.

If you see a bunny stamp at the back of your product bottle – that's an excellent sign. But don't be fooled by the image itself. A lot of brands are using fake logos to mislead consumers.

Do your homework and see which products are genuinely cruelty-free first. This article will help you: Which Cruelty-Free Logos Can You Trust?

Is Acure Sold Where Animal Testing is Required By Law? 

Acure does not distribute any of its products to China or any country that requires animal testing on any cosmetics by law.

China has a shocking track record. It is the country with the most amount of animal testing globally, with over 20 million animals used per year.

However, if you live in China or are concerned about its cruel beauty policies, there are a couple of loopholes to be aware of. Here's how to find cruelty-free cosmetics in China: Are Cosmetics Made in China Cruelty-Free?

The Best Vegan Acure Products

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Acure has a great range of vegan products that continues to expand. It prides itself in developing a product with you (the consumer) and the planet in mind.

To save you some time, here are some of its most popular skincare products:

  • The Essentials Hemp Seed Oil
  • Brightening Glow Serum
  • Radically Rejuvenating Serum Stick
  • Seriously Soothing Blue Tansy Night Oil 
  • Ultra-Hydrating Green Juice Cleanser

For a full list of Acure's best products, you can find them listed here: Acure's Vegan Product List 

Vegan Alternatives to Acure

We love what Acure represents.

It's 100% cruelty-free, vegan, affordable, and users claim it to be effective too.

But if the brand is not easily accessible to you, there are some other options to choose from within the same price range:

Is Acure Natural and Organic? 

Acure claims to be a natural that guarantees every product is free of harmful chemicals and preservatives. It also strives to use certified organic ingredients wherever possible. 

Clean vs. Natural Ingredients

The term "natural" is not regulated for cosmetics and skincare. In other words, it doesn't hold one specific meaning.

Usually, it means a product is free of certain more toxic synthetic ingredients, including parabens, phthalates, sulfates, and more. But people also interpret "natural" to mean ingredients of immediate plant origin.

Here's the thing – "natural" is not necessarily a good thing. Just because an ingredient is natural (take chili peppers, for example) doesn't mean you should rub it on your skin.

All products use a certain amount of synthetic ingredients in their formulas, and Simple is no exception – but it can choose to use better or clean synthetics.

If a synthetic ingredient is "clean," it means it is safe and non-toxic for us. Its purpose is to preserve the stability of a beauty formulation.

A few naturally-derived Acure uses to enhance its cosmetics include:
  • Organic Euterpe oleracea (Acai) Berry - is rich in the essentials needed for healthy skin and hair. It has a high concentration of vitamins A and E and an omega-6 fatty acid called linoleic acid.

    This rich combination of nutrients can prevent environmental damage and improve hair elasticity, making it less likely to become brittle and split when styling.

    It also has Omega-3s, which are extremely beneficial for skin and hair. They seal water into skin and hair, keeping the scalp and hair conditioned.
  • Organic Rubus fruticosus (Blackberry) - like many other plant oils, it's excellent for your skin.

    It contains nourishing and moisturizing fatty acids, vitamin E, phytosterols that protect the skin barrier.

    If that is not enough, it also contains squalene and carotenoids.
  • Organic Rosa canina (Rosehips) - is prized since ancient times for its valuable healing benefits, rosehip oil is packed with skin-nourishing vitamins and essential fatty acids.

    It also contains phenols that have potential antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal properties. Rosehip oil is often used as a carrier oil for essential oils too intense to put directly onto your skin.

Does Acure Use Safe Ingredients?

According to Skin Safe, Acure has an 82-91% allergen-free ranking for each product, but some products rank as high as 100%. 

Many of Acure's products are free of allergens such as Gluten, Coconut, Nickel, Top Common Allergy Causing Preservatives, Lanolin, Topical Antibiotic, MCI/MI, Soy, Propylene Glycol, and Dye. 

And all of their products are free of parabens, sulfates, mineral oil, and formaldehyde.

Reading the ingredient list is crucial because Acure is not hypoallergenic or non-comedogenic, and they do not claim to be.

However, certain products are specifically for these concerns, so make sure you buy what your skin needs.

The EU/UK Have Stricter Ingredient Regulations

As a conscientious shopper, you must read up on any brand's ingredient list before you make a purchase – especially if you live within the United States.

This is because the FDA has only banned or restricted 11 harmful chemicals from cosmetics within the country. Europe and the UK, on the other hand, has banned 1,328!

Given Acure is a US-based brand with strict ingredient policies – you don't need to worry too much.

For good measure, here are some of the ingredients you really want to avoid with skincare:

  • DEA, MEA, and TEA
  • DMDM Hydantoin and urea (that often release formaldehyde)
  • PEG (Polyethylene glycol)
  • Phthalates
  • Propylene glycol (pg) & butylene glycol
  • Triclosan

Are Cruelty-Free Ingredients Safe?

If you're worried about how safe it is to use cosmetics that are not tested on animals – please relax and take a sigh of relief.

There is no reason why cruelty-free products shouldn't be just as safe, if not safer, than anything tested on an animal.

Not only is it easy to test ingredients without using animals altogether, but there are so many pre-approved ingredients you can use to make cosmetics that there really is no need.

Here's more on the subject if you're interested: Are Cruelty-Free Cosmetics Safe?

Is Acure Sustainable and Ethical? 

Acure Terracycle Product Information Instagram

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Acure is pro-sustainable and ethical business practices. It goes above and beyond the call of duty to ensure that consumers trust its values. This means that the brand:

  • Does not use toxic or allergen-triggering ingredients that could harm your overall health.
  • Is environmentally conscious – ensuring it is respectful of the natural resources it uses and ensuring its carbon footprint is minimal.
  • Supports its communities and charitable initiatives where possible. 
  • Only uses US manufacturing facilities audited by SMETA (Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audit). This covers labor standards, health and safety, business ethics, and the environment.
  • Sources its Mica responsibly for its hair care ranges and is slowly eliminating the use of this controversial mineral altogether. 

It's no secret that the world has a huge waste problem, and cosmetic brands are only making it worse by using unsustainable packaging and harmful ingredients.

Some of the ways Acure is taking strong environmental accountability is by: 

  • Creating product formulas that are 100% biodegradable and will not pollute the environment. This includes being microbead free. 
  • Being free of palm oil and its derivatives in all of its beauty formulas.  
  • Having an active recycling program called TerraCycle® where customers can send used products back to TerraCycle and can earn points in return. These points can be redeemed as cash or donated to a charity of your choosing. 

One thing we'd like to see from Acure is a more active approach to sustainable packaging. 

At this stage, almost all its products are wrapped in plastic, and there are no claims that it incorporates PCR (post-consumer recycled) plastic into its packaging. 

Final Thoughts

Acure is a well-developed skincare and makeup care brand that strives to be clean, sustainable, and healthy for you. It is Leaping Bunny certified, 100% vegan, and competitively priced.

It is a brand developed with the modern and knowledgable consumer in mind, the wellbeing of their skin, and the environment around them.

We appreciate that it has a transparent supply chain and is open to the public about its testing, purchasing, and distribution policies. The only thing we'd like to see is a better approach to sustainable packaging. 

Acure proves that accessible, high-quality personal care products can be made with complete ethical integrity and still turn a profit. If you haven't tried its products yet, we highly recommend that you check them out!

If you are concerned that Acure may not be as effective as a higher-end brand – we recommend trying it first since it is designed to deliver the same high-quality results at a more accessible price.

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