Is HAUS LABS Cruelty-Free and Vegan? (And Where’s The Proof?)

Although HAUS LABS (also known as HAUS) has always been cruelty-free and vegan – does it finally have the certification to prove it since its relaunch? Well, we have some good and bad news for you.

HAUS is cruelty-free. It doesn't conduct animal testing on its products nor distribute its cosmetics where animal testing is required by law. HAUS is also 100% vegan and doesn't use animal-derived ingredients.

When Lady Gaga founded HAUS in 2019, she didn’t disappoint. The brand combines artistic expression, leading science and technology, and spreading kindness.

Gaga has always made powerful statements through her wardrobe and makeup. With HAUS, she wanted to design a cosmetics brand that could deliver those dramatic results while being kind to your skin at the same time.

HAUS’s launch was so popular that it reportedly made $141.7 million in revenue with its first Amazon-exclusive range in 2020.

HAUS is cruelty-free, vegan, clean, and even in the mid-price range – so why doesn’t it have any certification? We had to do some digging on this one.

Is HAUS LABS Cruelty-Free and Vegan?

HAUS LABS Lipgloss

HAUS LABS 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.

According to what HAUS shares, they meet all the necessary criteria to be considered cruelty-free.

Unfortunately, no third party can help us verify these claims, so it comes down to trusting HAUS and taking their word for it.

But there is some good news – HAUS is privately owned, which means it doesn’t have any pesky parent company. It has no indirect association with other brands that conduct animal testing.

This brings us to our next point:

HAUS LABS is Vegan

Yup – Gaga’s makeup brand is entirely vegan. It does not use any animal-derived ingredients in any of its products.

It’s a massive win for all her little monsters, encouraging more vegans to support her inclusive movements.

However, it's worth knowing that HAUS 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 and beeswax – 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.
  • Collagen – an essential protein that plays an integral role in strengthening your hair and firming and strengthening the roots.

    Naturally, collagen can only be found in connective animal tissue. But today, it's possible to make vegan collagen by genetically modifying yeast and bacteria.

If you're interested in their best vegan products or finding vegan brand alternatives – keep reading or click on this link: HAUS LABS vegan products.

Animal Testing Policy and History

HAUS has been committed to creating clean, effective, and affordable cosmetics that are also cruelty-free. Our correspondence with HAUS confirms that this has been its intention since it was founded and launched in 2019.

Cruelty-Free Status in 2022

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

HAUS Labs Cruelty-Free and Vegan website claim

Certification

As we’ve mentioned, HAUS has no cruelty-free certification, but we have some good news for you, so don’t despair just yet!

When we reached out to HAUS (May 2022), the brand confirmed that they are in the application process for Leaping Bunny certification. So you might see that stamp of approval very soon.

Leaping Bunny is ideal because it is the only internationally recognized certification (yes, it’s better than PETA). Leaping Bunny proves that:

  • No animal testing is conducted on the ingredients, formulas, or final products they sell.
  • 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, is considered and evaluated.

If you see a bunny stamp on the back of your product bottle – that's a good 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 HAUS Sold Where Animal Testing is Required By Law? 

HAUS does not distribute its products to China or any country requiring animal testing on cosmetics by law.

However, it ships directly to eager shoppers in China via its website and Amazon.

Doing your shopping online in China is a great way to avoid animal testing because these items go directly to consumers’ homes. They are not opened or tested at customs.

China has a shocking track record. It is the country with the most 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.

Here’s how to find cruelty-free cosmetics in China: Are Cosmetics Made in China Cruelty-Free?

The Best HAUS LABS Vegan Products

HAUS is 100% vegan and has a fantastic range of products for you to choose from.

Each product is so rich in pigment that it gives you a dramatic finish after an effortless application. We’re so impressed that Gaga and her team of experts could develop such a diverse color palette without using a single animal product.

To save you some time, here are some of HAUS’s most popular makeup products to try out:

  • Optic Intensity Eco Eyeliner
  • The Edge Precision Eyebrow Pencil
  • PHD Hybrid Lip Oil
  • Bio-Radiant Gel Powder Highlighter
  • HY Power Pigment Paint

For a complete list of HAUS vegan products, you can find everything on their website.

Vegan Alternatives to HAUS LABS

HAUS is an excellent option for vegans who want to use highly effective makeup to achieve show-stopping results.

Unfortunately, the brand has only relaunched in America and Canada at this stage. While it can be bought on Amazon, it’s still not highly accessible to people worldwide.

If this is you – we’ve got you covered!

Here are some excellent vegan makeup brands that could be more readily available in your area:

Is HAUS LABS Natural and Organic? 

HAUS is not considered natural or organic. However, it claims to use safe, simple, and effective ingredients. Its ethos is to make clean formulas and products that anyone can use.

Just because it’s not natural doesn’t make it bad – we promise!

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" 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, and HAUS 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.

A few naturally-derived HAUS uses to enhance its cosmetics include:

  • Hyaluronic acid is a substance found naturally in our skin that helps maintain moisture, boost tissue regeneration and wound healing.

    As we age, we produce less hyaluronic acid – making it an essential ingredient in our beauty products.
  • Vegan Collagen is animal-free synthetic collagen. All of the firm, supple skin and cellular regeneration- none of the icky animal sinew, tendons, bones, or hooves.
  • Plant Squalene was developed in labs in 2003 to give them the same protective, anti-inflammatory, and moisturizing properties as its animal-derived counterpart.

    Squalene was historically ‘harvested’ from sharks. Just think of all the good you do for the oceans by keeping the sharks swimming. 

Does HAUS LABS Use Safe Ingredients?

HAUS only has one product listed on Skin Safe so far. Since it’s a new brand – we’re sure it’ll be featured properly soon and get a stellar review.

We can make this assumption because of the brand’s stringent ingredient regulations.

According to their own clean standards, HAUS never uses PEGs, Phthalates, Petrolatum, Mineral Oil, Cyclic Silicones, Sulfates, Parabens, and potential carcinogens, fragrances, endocrine disruptors, and environmental toxins.

Pretty impressive – no?

Reading the ingredient list is crucial because HAUS 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 making a purchase – especially if you live in 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 HAUS LABS prides itself in using clean ingredients – it’s worth knowing which toxins or allergens to avoid for good measure. These include:

  • Butylated compounds,
  • Benzophenone compounds,
  • Triclosan,
  • Carbon black,
  • Phenoxyethanol,
  • Formaldehyde, and
  • Lead or other heavy metals.

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 HAUS LABS Sustainable and Ethical? 

HAUS continues to deliver here, and we do not suspect greenwashing.

At this stage, they have quite a few results-driven sustainability initiatives that are continuously monitored.

As it stands, the brand:

  • Help create sustainable, ethically developed products.
  • Focus on lessening the impact it has on the planet.
  • Strive to do more to help people.

HAUS Lab’s clean standards include sourcing ingredients sustainably and having no environmental toxins in formulas.

HAUS donates 1 dollar from every purchase to Gaga’s Born This Way Foundation, a mental health and substance use NGO.

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

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

  • Using natural ingredients and biodegradable formulas that are kinder to the environment.
  • Prohibiting the use of synthetic microbeads that pollute our waters and harm marine life.
  • Using Responsibly Sourced Palm Oil (RSPO certified).
  • Having highly responsible and ethical mica mining policies to prevent any associations with child labor.
  • Developing sustainable packaging made with FSC-certified paper and PCR resin.
  • Working towards being 100% carbon neutral by 2027.

Final Thoughts

For a new cosmetics brand, HAUS takes various ethical factors into consideration, and we love them for it.

We appreciate that they are open to discussing their supply chain transparency and directly communicating their testing, purchasing, and distribution policies.

HAUS is cruelty-free, vegan, sustainable, and well-rated – could you ask for more?

We actually did and were pleasantly surprised with their answer. Although it is not certified cruelty-free yet, they’re in the application process and should have that stamp of approval soon.

This is not a brand to discredit. They’re all for hearing what their customers want and developing highly ethical products with you and the planet in mind.

HAUS is developing and listening to your needs, so keep following its movements.

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