Has Derma E kept up with the times? We're curious to know whether this OG in clean skincare is cruelty-free and vegan in 2022 – especially considering it's been around since the 80s when cruelty-free living wasn't in demand.
We know the brand takes pride in creating natural formulas rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals, but it needs to bring more to the table to keep with the modern consumer.
Derma E 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. Derma E is also 100% vegan – it doesn't use any animal-derived ingredients.
Derma E had a humble beginning back in 1984 when co-founders Dr. Linda Miles and David Stearn decided to release a single product line in a small health shop in Southern California.
This jar of vitamin E moisturizing cream rapidly grew in popularity, and it didn't take long for Derma E to expand.
Each product is appreciated for its efficacy, and Derma E attributes it to their founding principle: striving to see visible improvement through the right combination of clean vitamins, nutrients, and ingredients.
Today Derma E has an estimated revenue of $42 million and is owned by Topix Pharmaceuticals.
Before deciding on what to buy, here's what you need to know about Derma E's current animal testing policies, vegan ranges, formulation, and sustainability.
Is Derma E Cruelty-Free and Vegan?
Derma E is 100% Cruelty-Free
It does not:
Derma E has a solid cruelty-free message, and it shows!
It is both PETA and Leaping Bunny certified. Talk about overachieving (which we love)!
Leaping Bunny is the only internationally recognized certification that can guarantee a brand is cruelty-free, so it's a must-have in our eyes.
The brand is also owned by Topix Pharmaceuticals, a medical-grade skincare and cosmetics holding company that isn’t associated with animal testing.
This brings us to our next point (drum roll, please):
Derma E is Vegan
Let's all raise a glass to Derma E! America's largest natural facial care brand is entirely vegan. Derma E does not use any animal-derived ingredients in any of its products.
Veganism is more than just a term used to describe products free of animal-derived ingredients. Veganism is a lifestyle that refuses all forms of animal exploitation or cruelty.
This means that even if a product is free of animal-derived ingredients – it's only considered vegan if it's cruelty-free.
It's a challenging requirement, but Derma E passes with flying colors.
It's worth knowing that Derma E 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 which products are vegan or finding vegan brand alternatives – keep reading or click on this link: Derma E vegan products.
Animal Testing Policy and History
Derma E has been going strong for over 45 years, and they state that the brand's animal testing policy has been cruelty-free since launching. Can you believe it?
The brand's passion for health, wellness, and the environment has grown stronger and improved with modern advances.
Cruelty-Free Status in 2022
Here is a screenshot of Derma E's official statement regarding its cruelty-free policies and vegan products, taken from their website:
Certification
Derma E is both Leaping Bunny, and PETA certified.
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 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 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 Derma E Sold Where Animal Testing is Required By Law?
Derma E 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 Derma E Products
Now let's get down to business! Derma E has expanded its range significantly since launching its single Vitamin E moisturizer in '84.
In the last 37 years, all they've done is update their products to be cleaner, more holistic, and more effective.
If we were to shop the Derma E range, here's where we'd spend our money.
For a complete list of Derma E vegan products, you can find everything on their website.
Vegan Alternatives to Derma E
Derma E is an excellent option for vegans and provides product options that other brands can't quite get right.
They strive to be transparent with their consumers and are 100% cruelty-free, vegan, clean, and effective. We love what they stand for.
But if the brand is not easily accessible to you, here are some alternatives for you to try:
Is Derma E Natural and Organic?
Derma E claims to use a high percentage of natural ingredients in each product. Most importantly, they market themselves as a clean beauty brand.
While Derma E might use some organic ingredients, it is not certified organic, nor does it advertise itself as an organic cosmetics brand.
The company's website states that their "products are designed to be completely effective, completely vegan and completely delightful."
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 Derma E is no exception – but it can choose to use better or clean synthetics.
If a synthetic ingredient is "clean," it is safe and non-toxic. Its purpose is to preserve the stability of a beauty formulation.
Derma E is stringent regarding the ingredients they choose to use.
Here are a few naturally-derived ingredients that Derma E uses to enhance its cosmetics include:
Does Derma E Use Safe Ingredients?
According to Skin Safe, most Derma E products receive a 91%-100% allergen-free ranking. That's very high, but we expected nothing less from this beauty brand.
Derma E has cut out over 2700 potentially harmful ingredients commonly used in cosmetics, including parabens, phthalates, petrolatum, mineral oils, soy, sodium laurel sulfates, and more.
Reading the ingredient list is crucial because Derma E 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!
Even though it's doubtful you'll find a harmful ingredient in any Derma E products since it goes against the brand's ethos – you can never be too careful.
For good measure, here are some of the ingredients you want to avoid with skincare:
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 just 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 is no need.
If you're interested, here's more on the subject: Are Cruelty-Free Cosmetics Safe?
Is Derma E Sustainable and Ethical?
Everything Derma E does considers people, purpose, and the planet. The brand is aware that every one of their products eventually ends up in waterways and ecosystems, so they're doing their bit for the environment.
As it stands, the brand:
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.
As it stands, the brand is taking strong environmental accountability is by:
Final Thoughts
We know many brands that are either cruelty-free and vegan OR sustainable – but not many organizations tie everything together as Derma E does.
Beyond their founding commitment to developing cruelty-free cosmetics, Derma E strives to be a green brand that supports a variety of ethical causes too.
Derma E has been a reliable facial care brand for decades now. The fact that they are Leaping Bunny certified and vegan is a step towards a more sustainable future in cosmetics.
The only thing we'd like is a more transparent palm oil supply chain since it is still an ingredient they choose to use.
At Cruelty-Free Soul, we're elated when a brand hits these standards and still gets rave reviews. We can't wait to see what Derma E does next.