Adorn Cosmetics (also known as Adorn) is all about ‘luxury without the guilt.’ From skincare to makeup – they strive to make a positive social change using holistic ideals and natural ingredients. But do they fall short with their cruelty-free and vegan credentials?
Adorn 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. Adorn is also 100% vegan – it doesn't use any animal-derived ingredients.
Australian-based Briony Kennedy founded Adorn in 2008 when she set out to create beauty products that were kind to skin, animals, and the Earth.
Adorn is now Australia’s most certified beauty brand. They want to ensure each customer can trust that the brand’s operations match its holistic marketing messages.
Although the brand may have a high price tag, is it worth it? Read on to decide if they measure up to your cruelty-free and vegan expectations.
Is Adorn Cruelty-Free and Vegan?
Adorn is 100% Cruelty-Free
It does not:
Adorn has a solid cruelty-free message, and it shows. It is accredited by Choose Cruelty Free and PETA.
The brand is also privately owned – so there’s no need to worry about unethical parent companies in the picture.
This brings us to our next exciting point:
Adorn is Vegan
Yup – this conscious skincare and cosmetics brand is entirely vegan. It does not use any animal-derived ingredients in any of its products.
And if you’re dubious about what this means – their certification from The Vegan Society should put your mind at ease.
These accreditations are definitely the flex we’re looking for in the beauty industry.
Most mainstream skincare brands are not 100% vegan. Here are some animal-derived ingredients to look out for:
If you're interested in their best vegan products or finding vegan brand alternatives – keep reading or click on this link: Adorn vegan products.
Animal Testing Policy and History
Adorn has been committed to creating clean and effective cosmetics that are cruelty-free since it was founded.
Cruelty-Free Status in 2022
Here is a screenshot of Adorn’s official statement regarding its cruelty-free policies and vegan products, taken from their website:
Certification
Adorn is a cruelty-free brand with accreditation from PETA and Australia’s Choose Cruelty Free (CCF). CCF is part of Cruelty Free International and the global Leaping Bunny family.
Although it is not approved by the Leaping Bunny Program, it now has the opportunity.
The Leaping Bunny association is very strict and reliable, which ensures that:
If you see a bunny stamp on 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 fool 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 Adorn Sold Where Animal Testing is Required By Law?
Adorn 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 animal testing globally, with over 20 million animals used per year. The U.S doesn't sit far behind that with 17 million animals killed per year for experimentation and testing.
However, if you live in China or are concerned about its cruel beauty policies, there are a couple of loopholes.
Here’s how to find cruelty-free cosmetics in China: Are Cosmetics Made in China Cruelty-Free?
The Best Vegan Adorn Products
Adorn is a proudly vegan (and certified) brand. It has a vast range of cosmetics – from makeup, skincare, body care, etc.
It’s safe to say that this Australian brand is a beaming light of hope for all vegans out there!
We've got your back if you’re feeling overwhelmed by all their product choices and don’t know where to start.
Here are some of its award-winning products to try:For a complete list of Adorn vegan products, you can find everything on their website.
Vegan Alternatives to Adorn
We love what Adorn stands for. Or should we say we adore it? (Not funny – we know!)
The brand does have strong cruelty-free and vegan principles that act strongly in its favor.
But if the brand is not easily accessible to you or if it’s out of your price range, here are some alternatives we recommend:
Is Adorn Natural and Organic?
Adorn is a natural brand. It claims to use 100% natural ingredients in each product and as many organic ingredients as possible.
Although Adorn uses many organic ingredients, it is not certified organic, nor does it advertise itself as an organic cosmetics brand.
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.
To Adorn – it means both.
Here's the thing: "natural" doesn't mean it's good for you. Take gluten, for example. It's a natural protein found in wheat that certain people are highly allergic to. Even topical application can lead to terrible health issues.
All products use a certain amount of synthetic ingredients in their formulas. Adorn is no exception – but it chooses to use a few of the safest synthetics possible.
If a synthetic ingredient is "clean," it is safe and non-toxic. Its purpose is to preserve the stability of a beauty formulation.
A few naturally-derived Adorn uses to enhance its cosmetics include:
Does Adorn Use Safe Ingredients?
Although Adorn isn’t listed on Skin Safe, we can confirm that it uses safe ingredients. Each one of their products has an allergy-free and toxin-free certification from Safe Cosmetics Australia.
Adorn products are free from parabens, phthalates, petrochemicals, BKC, bismuth oxychloride, EDTA, MEA, DEA, TEA, formaldehyde, hydroquinone, PEG compounds, and synthetic fragrances.
Reading the ingredient list is crucial because Adorn is not 100% 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, have banned 1,328!
Australia has pretty strict laws, so we wouldn’t worry much. However, it’s always worth knowing that you want to avoid these ingredients in skincare and makeup:
Are Cruelty-Free Ingredients Safe?
If you’re worried about how safe it is to use cosmetics not tested on animals – please relax and take a sigh of relief.
There is no reason why cruelty-free products shouldn’t be as safe as 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.
If you’re interested, here’s more on the subject: Are Cruelty-Free Cosmetics Safe?
Is Adorn Sustainable and Ethical?
Adorn has strong sustainability and ethical initiatives that align with the company values. The more research we do – the more we respect this brand.
As it stands, they:
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 Adorn is taking strong environmental accountability is by:
Final Thoughts
Adorn is a cosmetics brand that considers various ethical and environmental factors.
The fact that they are certified as cruelty-free and vegan is a step towards a more sustainable future in cosmetics.
We appreciate that it has a transparent supply chain and is open to the public about its testing, purchasing, and distribution policies.
Since Adorn is serious about limiting its environmental impact and making positive social change, it’s an excellent choice for activists who go the extra mile.
Especially since the brand uses no palm oil and is open about its responsible ingredient sourcing.
We know it comes with a slightly higher price tag – but think about the fact that you’ll be saving the planet while keeping your beauty regimen in check.
We hope more cosmetics brands start stepping up and operating as holistically as Adorn. They get a gold star from Cruelty Free Soul.
