Cover FX offers high-performance and customizable beauty for all skin types. They believe in making beauty accessible and expressing authenticity through makeup – but are they cruelty-free and vegan? It's difficult to know since you can't find the products in-store easily.
Cover FX 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. Cover FX is also 100% vegan – it doesn't use animal-derived ingredients.
Cover FX was launched in 2000 by Toronto-based Lee Graaf. It was initially developed as a skincare brand to treat skin issues and sensitivities. But over time, the medical strategist and beauty veteran saw an opportunity to add a cosmetics line.
Cover FX was an excellent addition to our makeup options, given how much cheap foundation we used to cake on our skin and clog our pores during the Y2K years.
The brand has gone through some highs and lows. It's even been discontinued from Sephora in many locations. But its loyal following has kept the brand afloat as many new and more "exciting" cosmetics have been launched in recent years.
In February 2022, AS Beauty bought the brand, and it has been doing seemingly well. We can't blame people for sticking to a brand that offers dermatology-inspired skincare and cosmetics.
Before deciding on what to buy, here's what you need to know about Cover FX's current animal testing policies, vegan ranges, formulation, and sustainability.
Is Cover FX Cruelty-Free and Vegan?
Cover FX is 100% Cruelty-Free
It does not:
We're so happy to announce that Cover FX is against all animal testing.
The brand is also owned by AS Beauty, a private firm not known to be associated with animal testing, but it is also PETA accredited.
This brings us to our next bit of fantastic information:
Cover FX is Vegan
Hell yes! Cover FX is entirely vegan. It does not use animal-derived ingredients in any of its products – this includes its range of makeup brushes and tools.
This brand gets a big thumbs up from us.
However, it's worth knowing that Cover FX 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:
If you're interested in their best vegan products or finding vegan brand alternatives – keep reading or click on this link: Cover FX vegan products.
Animal Testing Policy and History
Cover FX has been committed to creating dermatologist-approved skincare and cosmetics that are also cruelty-free. This has been its intention since it was founded in 2000.
It's not often you'll hear decade-old brands are this committed to cruelty-free cosmetics!
Cruelty-Free Status in 2022
Here is a screenshot of Cover FX's official statement regarding its cruelty-free policies and vegan products, taken from their website:
Certification
Cover FX is currently PETA accredited. But it would be nice to see more certification from the brand since it's a proudly cruelty-free brand.
While you might know PETA very well – it surprisingly doesn't hold the strictest cruelty-free regulations. 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:
If you see a little PETA 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 Cover FX Sold Where Animal Testing is Required By Law?
Cover FX does not distribute any of its products in retail stores in China or any country that requires animal testing on cosmetics by law.
Cover FX also doesn't ship directly to China, but some websites ship the brand's products to Chinese citizens.
Doing your shopping online is a great way to avoid animal testing because these items go directly to consumers’ homes and are not opened or tested at customs.
While some Cover FX products are manufactured in China, it does not test on animals at all.
This law is purely enforced on international cosmetic products entering China and not on products made within the country itself.
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 Cover FX Products
Let's get to the exciting stuff – Cover FX has an incredible selection of vegan skincare and cosmetics that we just love.
There's a reason why the classics stick around, and it's because they work! Although the brand has remained relatively consistent over the last 22 years – they have updated the packaging to give it a modern and minimalistic feel.
If we were to shop the Cover FX range, here's where we'd spend our money.
You can find everything on their website for a complete list of Cover FX vegan products, you can find everything on their website.
Vegan Alternatives to Cover FX
Cover FX is an excellent option for vegans and provides vegan products that other brands haven't cared to try yet.
They have noteworthy transparency with their consumers and are 100% cruelty-free, vegan, clean, and effective.
But if the brand is not easily accessible to you, here are some alternatives for you to try:
Is Cover FX Natural and Organic?
Cover FX is not natural or organic and doesn't claim to be. Their focus is on producing quality, clean cosmetics that are pharmaceutically safe for all skin types.
All its ingredients are dermatologically tested, and they produce high-performance formulas.
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 always good. Just because an ingredient is natural doesn't mean you should rub it on your skin. Poison ivy is natural – but we wouldn't recommend rolling in a field of that stuff!
Almost all products use a certain amount of synthetic ingredients in their formulas, and Cover FX is no exception. But it chooses to use better or clean synthetics.
If a synthetic ingredient is "clean," it is safe and non-toxic for us. Its purpose is to preserve the stability of a beauty formulation.
Does Cover FX Use Safe Ingredients?
According to Skin Safe, Cover FX has an 82- 100% allergen-free ranking. Not bad, huh?
The brand claims that all its products are free of allergens, including parabens, alkyl sulfates, phthalates, glutens, talc, fragrance, mineral oil, coal tar, and paraffin.
Reading the ingredient list is crucial because Cover FX is not 100% hypoallergenic or non-comedogenic, and they do not claim to be.
However, many of their 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!
Although Cover FX has stringent ingredient policies – it's still important to check each label. With skincare and cosmetics, you want to avoid these ingredients:
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 animals.
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 is no need.
If you’re interested, here’s more on the subject: Are Cruelty-Free Cosmetics Safe?
Is Cover FX Sustainable and Ethical?
Cover FX does not claim to be a sustainable and ethical brand, nor does it market itself as one.
It values inclusive color ranges, vegan and cruelty-free products with clean ingredients. Still, no further initiatives can be found on its website or press clippings.
Cover FX states that it uses Mica as a clean alternative to talc. And luckily, their suppliers can confirm with us that the Mica they use is responsibly sourced with no forced or child labor.
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 Cover FX could take strong environmental accountability is by:
Final Thoughts
Cover FX is 100% vegan and has maintained fantastic reviews from magazines and beauty influencers for many years.
There's so much about this brand that we love, BUT there are still a couple of issues they should address.
If Cover FX wants to stay in the cosmetics game – these are essential changes.
This brand is developing and listening to your needs, so keep following its movements. Using platforms like social media to ask for better from brands does really work!
