Is I’M FROM Cruelty-Free and Vegan in 2023?

I’M FROM looks like a wholesome, earth K-Beauty skincare brand. But looks can be deceiving. Is I’M FROM cruelty-free, vegan, and as sustainable as it makes out?

I’M FROM is cruelty-free but not 100% vegan, meaning some products contain animal-derived ingredients. It does not conduct animal testing on its products or distribute cosmetics where animal testing is required by law.
I’M FROM tries to keep ingredients as close to how they’re found in nature while making a safe product that’s ‘clean’ beauty. The packaging managed to look simple, and each product tells you where the main ingredient was sourced from.

With lines that use classic Korean skincare staples like ginseng, mugwort, and rice, I’M FROM caters to all kinds of skincare concerns.

The brand also focuses on simplicity- from ingredients to formulation, production, and packaging.

But why did such a simple brand prioritize cruelty-free policies and not veganism? And do they have the cruelty-free certifications to back it up (when so few Korean Beauty brands do)?

Looking for the best vegan alternatives? We preselected the best ones, click here. 

Table Of Contents
I'm from Product Shot

I’M FROM's Ethical Overview

Cruelty-free: Yes

Vegan: No but I’M FROM cannot be considered vegan if it is not cruelty-free

Clean ingredients: Yes

Sustainable & Ethical: Moderate efforts

Mica Mining Policy: Undetermined

RSPO Palm Oil Certified: Undetermined

I’M FROM Is Cruelty-Free

Test any of its products or ingredients on animals

NO

Purchase any ingredients tested on animals within its supply chain

NO

Distribute its products to any countries that require animal testing by law.

NO

I’M FROM is owned by parent company Wish Company, which doesn’t test on animals.

I’M FROM Does Not Test on Animals When Required By Law

I’M FROM has been committed to creating effective and affordable cosmetics that are also cruelty-free since it was founded.

What Is I’M FROM’s Cruelty-Free Status in 2023?

While there is no official statement regarding its cruelty-free policies, the brand does say that it is avidly against animal testing methods. 

I’M FROM also has the cruelty-free certification to support this.

I’M FROM is PETA Certified

While this is a good start, there are loopholes that mean some brands could still sell in China and be part of PETA’S Beauty Without Bunnies program.

PETA Certification Doesn't Guarantee a Product is Cruelty-Free
  • PETA is not doing any audits at the moment to verify that any product it certifies as cruelty-free upholds the claim. All a brand requires is their signature to a voluntary pledge.
  • PETA is not doing any audits at the moment to verify that any product it certifies as cruelty-free upholds the claim. All a brand requires is their signature to a voluntary pledge.
The pledge is written as follows: "The brand must pledge not to test on animals anywhere in production. The brand's ingredient suppliers must pledge to the same statement." – PETA.org
Why Leaping Bunny Certification is Better?

Currently, Leaping Bunny is the only internationally recognized cruelty-free organization. It sets the highest standard for any brand that is accredited. This includes random audits throughout the brand's supply chain.

Here are its requirements:

  • 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 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 want to know more about Leaping Bunny and cruelty-free labels, you can trust – you need to read this article: What Cruelty-Free Logos Can You Trust?

I’M FROM Is Not Sold Where Animal Testing is Required By Law.

I’M FROM 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 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?

I’M FROM is Not Vegan

Although the brand is not entirely vegan, I’M FROM has an extensive range of vegan products from which to choose. 

https://wishtrend.com/collections/im-from/products/rice-serum

Some of the most common animal-derived ingredients I’M FROM uses are: (honey / beeswax / royal jelly/ propolis/ bee venom/ bee pollen)

What I’M FROM Products Are Vegan?

If you love, I’M FROM’s products but want to support its vegan ranges – we’ve got your back.

To save you some time, here are some of I’M FROM’s most popular products to choose from:

  • I’M FROM Rice Toner
  • I’M FROM Rice Cream
  • I’M FROM Fig Cleansing Balm
  • I’M FROM Mugwort Essence
  • I’M FROM Rice Serum

You can find a complete list of I’M FROM’s vegan products on its website.

Vegan Alternatives to I’M FROM

Brand

price range

100% vegan

Certification

Krave Beauty

$3 - $17

Yes

PETA

Dear Klairs

$5 - $30

Yes

PETA, KARA

Purito

$5 - $25

Yes

None

Sweet Chef

$5 - $20

Yes

Leaping Bunny

BYBI

$15 - $30

Yes

Leaping Bunny

I’M FROM is Considered Natural but not Organic

I’M FROM is natural but does not market itself as organic.

However, it does aim to use safe and simple ingredients, as close to how they are found in nature as possible.

All products use a certain amount of synthetic ingredients in their formulas. I’M FROM is no exception – but it does choose to use better or clean synthetics.

Each I’M FROM product also tells you what harmful ingredients it's free of on the product page!If a synthetic ingredient is "clean," it means it is safe and non-toxic for us. Its purpose is to preserve the stability of a beauty formulation.

I’M FROM Has A 91% Allergen-Free Ranking

According to Skin Safe, I’M FROM has a 91% allergen-free ranking for each product.

Many of I’M FROM’s products are free of allergens such as talc, parabens, lanoline, topical antibiotics, coconut, MCI/MI, nickel, gluten, soy, Propylene Glycol, irritants, dyes, and SLSs. 

Reading the ingredient list is crucial because I’M FROM is not 100% hypoallergenic or non-comedogenic, and they do not claim to be.

However, certain products specifically address these concerns, so make sure you buy what your skin needs. 

The EU/UK Have Stricter Ingredient Regulations

We don’t want to scare you, but you HAVE to read up on any product’s ingredient list before you make a purchase – especially if you live within the United States. The reason why will shock you.

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!

Luckily, I’M FROM is a cleaning beauty brand that sets a great example of transparency. You don’t have to worry about any serious hidden nasties in its products by telling customers what is in their formulas.

With skincare, you want to avoid these ingredients:

  • Ethoxylated ingredients (PPG, PEG, and polysorbate)
  • Ethanolamine compounds (DEA, MEA, and TEA)
  • Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE, aka teflon®)
  • Propylene glycol (pg) & butylene glycol
  • DMDM Hydantoin
  • Triclosan

I’M FROM Is Moderately Sustainable and Ethical

I’M FROM takes environmental accountability by:

  • Developing formulas that are kinder to the environment.
  • Working on sustainable packaging developments.
  • Ensuring that the plastic containers they use are recyclable.
  • Encouraging consumers to recycle their products.
  • Reducing the use of virgin plastic in their product and shipping packaging.
  • Avoiding extra packaging and only use sustainable or recycled materials (paper and glass) when needed.
  • Prohibiting the use of synthetic microbeads that pollute our waters and harm marine life.
  • Reducing harmful surfactants in formulas.
  • Using glass jars instead of plastic.
  • Reducing greenhouse gas emissions by minimizing raw material processing.

Final Thoughts

By being cruelty-free, I’M FROM takes a stand for the kind of world they want. And the brand shows us its values instead of telling us. 

While it’s a pity that the skincare house is not vegan, they have many vegans to choose from. 

This is all good news, and I’M FROM does more than many K-Beauty competitors regarding sustainable packaging and ingredient transparency. 

It’s great to know where each product's main ingredient is sourced. However, it would be even better to know if any palm oil used to be sustainably certified by RSPO (Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil).

We think the brand gets involved in ethical initiatives and philanthropy too. Lastly, we’d love to see I’M FROM be certified by a more reputable anti-animal testing organization, li