Is BYBI Cruelty-Free and Vegan in 2022?

BYBI’s success is attributed to how well it understands the modern consumer. This brand is setting a new ethical standard in the beauty industry – and we love it! Here’s what you need to know about this cruelty-free and vegan brand.

BYBI 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. BYBI is also 100% vegan – it doesn't use any animal-derived ingredients.

Trained skincare formulators Elsie Rutterford and Dominika Minarovic founded BYBI in 2017. The brand quickly became known for its efficacious, pro-planet formulas and standout eco packaging.

BYBI is pro-planet from 'seed to shelf.' It's is committed to producing skincare with the lowest possible environmental footprint and uses low carbon production processes throughout its supply chain.

BYBI created the world's first carbon-negative skincare product, Glowcurrant Booster – a brightening facial oil that captures more carbon than it emits. It's a sustainable beauty game-changer.

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

Is BYBI Cruelty-Free and Vegan?

BYBI 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.

BYBI does not test any of its products on animals. The brand believes that beauty should be cruelty-free and is proudly Leaping Bunny certified.

BYBI adheres to a fixed cut-off date policy and proactively monitors its suppliers to ensure that its products are 100% cruelty-free.

And the good news just keeps on coming: 

BYBI 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 BYBI 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.
  • 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.

If you're interested in BYBI's most popular vegan products and brand alternatives – keep reading or click on this link: BYBI Skincare vegan products

Animal Testing Policy and History

There is no doubt that BYBI is 100% cruelty-free and always has been. Its Leaping Bunny certification says everything you need to know as far as we're concerned.

BYBI is a passionate advocate for animal rights and goes above and beyond to ensure that no animal is harmed in the making of its products.

Cruelty-Free Status in 2021

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

BYBI Cruelty-Free and Vegan Website Claim

Certification

BYBI is Leaping Bunny certified.

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 BYBI Sold Where Animal Testing is Required By Law? 

BYBI does not distribute any of its products to China or any country that requires animal testing on 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 BYBI Products

BYBI 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:

  • Glowcurrent Booster
  • Bakuchiol Booster
  • Babe Balm
  • Day Defence
  • C-Caf Cream

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

Vegan Alternatives to BYBI

We love what BYBI 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 BYBI Natural and Organic? 

BYBI is Organic 

Although we don't know the exact percentage of organic ingredients used – we can confirm that BYBI is organic. 

The term "organic" is regulated by the European and British government and means an ingredient is free of synthetic pesticides, fertilizers or non-organic substances. 

A product cannot legally claim to be organic without passing this inspection first. 

BYBI is Natural

BYBI's products claim to be 100% natural. You will only find products made from high-quality plant botanicals and without any fillers.

It states that it uses its favorite plants, nuts, flowers, and seeds to create nourishing, moisturizing, and anti-aging products with no other chemicals added.

However, the term "clean" or "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. 

When it comes to BYBI – it means both. A few naturally-derived BYBI uses to enhance its cosmetics include:

  • Aloe Barbadensis - helps to hydrate the skin and lock in moisture.

    The sugars, also known as mucopolysaccharides, are the main reason it can do this. The ingredient is also well known for its anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties.

    Aloe vera is a natural source of salicylic acid, assisting with flare-ups of blackheads and whiteheads.
  • Citrus Aurantium Amara - is the essential oil extracted from the bitter orange flower.

    It is an extraordinary anti-inflammatory, soothing, antibacterial, and antifungal active ingredient. It purifies, illuminates, and protects the complexion from external aggression.

    It is also a skin tonic and a strong vector of cellular penetration allowing the absorption and action of the active ingredients in the skin tissues.
  • Camellia Sinensis - is used for good skin health and possesses anti-aging, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and astringent properties.

    Camellia Sinensis also aids in skin hydration, and its white tea variety are beneficial for acne-prone skin.

Does BYBI Use Safe Ingredients?

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

Many BYBI products are free of allergens such as free of Gluten, Nickel, Top Common Allergy Causing Preservatives, Lanolin, Paraben, Topical antibiotics, MCI/MI, Soy, Oil, and Dye.

Reading the ingredient list is crucial because BYBI 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, has banned 1,328!

Given BYBI is a UK/EU-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)
  • PhthalatesPropylene glycol (pg) & butylene glycol
  • Triclosan

Of course, all BYBI ingredients are also sourced in the most low-carbon way possible. So if environmentalism is at your forefront, this brand is a definite win.

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 BYBI Sustainable and Ethical? 

Is it ever! BYBI was founded with sustainability as its core value.

From conception, the brand has aimed to be the first carbon-negative beauty brand.

By 2020, it achieved net-zero carbon status - but it hasn't stopped there. BYBI has tasked itself with reducing its annual CO2 emissions and taxing itself if it fails to do so. 

It will focus on making changes across its supply chain to meet CO2 reduction measures in tonnes.

To top it off, BYBI's internal auditing system, The Susty Score, uses the following factors to obtain an ingredient's carbon footprint and decipher what environmental impact it would have in a product. 

This includes: 

  • The harvesting process
  • Source location and transport
  • Whether the ingredient upcycled or not
  • If it uses in house manufacturing as far as possible
  • Third-party manufacturing only using companies that operate on green energy, have eco-friendly waste management policies, and where use electric vehicles for product transport.
  • Packaging made from sugarcane polyethylene, glass, and grass paper.

Further to this, BYBI created the world's first carbon-negative skincare product, Glowcurrant Booster.

This brightening facial oil captures more carbon than it emits. It's a sustainable beauty game-changer.

If this wasn't enough to prove its dedication, The BYBI Susty Summit, hosted by founders Elsie and Dominika, is an educational resource provided by the brand and dedicated to improving sustainability in beauty, personal care, and beyond.

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 BYBI 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. 
  • Having a net-zero greenhouse gas emission policy since its launch. 
  • Using packaging made from sugarcane polyethylene, glass, and grass paper.
  • Only using 100% FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) paper packaging to ensure it's not contributing to further deforestation.
  • Only using PCR (post-consumer recycled) plastic.
  • Supporting suppliers of palm-derived material from the RSPO (Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil) manufacturers.
  • Having responsible MICA mining policies.
  • Initiating a recycling program called ReBYBI, where consumers can send empty glass bottles back to BYBI for free. These bottles are incorporated into their circular recycling scheme.
  • Having complete supply chain transparency. 

Final Thoughts

Gather around Cruelty-Free Soul readers; this product sets new standards in the ethical beauty industry.

BYBI 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. 

BYBI 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 BYBI 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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