Is Jane Iredale Cruelty-Free and Vegan

Jane Iredale strives to be a pioneer in the clean beauty industry. The brand cares about what goes into its products – but does it care about how product development affects others? Here's the scoop on whether Jane Iredale is truly cruelty-free and vegan. 

Jane Iredale 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. While Jane Iredale does offer a range of vegan cosmetics, it is not considered a vegan brand.

Jane Iredale founded her cosmetics company in 1994 after seeing how badly most makeup would affect women's skin in the entertainment industry. She wanted to make cosmetics that are not only pretty but genuinely good for your skin too. 

Today, Jane Iredale is a multi-million dollar brand that distributes over 400 products in 50 different countries. But has it stuck to its clean-beauty ethos? 

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

Is Jane Iredale Cruelty-Free and Vegan?

Jane Iredale 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.

Jane Iredale hits their cruelty-free credits out of the park. 

Not only are is it certified as cruelty-free, but it is also owned by a cruelty-free parent company and only produce vegan makeup brushes. 

Vegan makeup brushes are preferred because they are not made using any animal hair. While cutting some fur of a goat can be done in a cruelty-free way, it's hard to find sources that will comply with this. 

This issue stems from the fact that animal hair is usually sourced from countries with few animal welfare policies that are also harder to track from a supply chain standpoint.

You can learn more about this industry here: Can Wool Be Cruelty-Free?

This brings us to the next point:

Jane Iredale is Not Vegan

Although the brand is not entirely vegan, Jane Iredale does have extensive vegan products to choose from.  

All its vegan products and ranges are marked on its website. You can see this information once you've selected the product of your choice. 

If a product is vegan, you'll find the information underneath its picture.

Jane Iredale Vegan Stamp Website

Some of the most common animal-derived ingredients that Jane Iredale uses include:

  • Honey and 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.
  • Royal jelly – Nurse bees produce this milky substance to feed larvae and the colony's queen.

    Although there is still much-needed research on this product, there's a lot of evidence showing it also has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties and could stimulate collagen production. 

If you're interested in vegan products or find vegan brand alternatives, keep reading or click on this link: Jane Iredale vegan products.

Animal Testing Policy and History

Jane Iredale has always been committed to creating cruelty-free and kind cosmetics since its launch. It has pledged to be voluntarily cruelty-free at every stage of its product development. 

On the brand's website, you can even see Jane Iredale herself holding her pet pooch, stating that one of their charitable commitments is to the Berkshire Humane Society – which helps care for and rehabilitate homeless pets. 

Cruelty-Free Status in 2021

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

Jane Iredale Cruelty Free Makeup Pledge Website

Certification

Jane Iredale has done exceedingly well here.

Not only is it PETA certified, but it also has accreditation from Leaping Bunny – this is the only internationally recognized certification that guarantees a brand is cruelty-free.

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.

You probably know PETA very well and wondering why its certification isn't enough?

Surprisingly, PETA doesn't hold the strictest cruelty-free regulations out there. So having certification from an association like Leaping Bunny is far more credible.

Just make sure you double-check any product you buy. Simply looking out for a bunny stamp at the back of your product bottle is NOT enough. 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 Jane Iredale Sold Where Animal Testing is Required By Law? 

Jane Iredale 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?

What Jane Iredale Products Are Vegan?

Jane Iredale has a great range of vegan products that continues to expand. Amongst its hundreds of products, only 38 are not vegan. 

Just remember to select the exact shade you'd like to buy when it comes to makeup to confirm whether it's vegan or not. 

A product's vegan status can depend on its coloring. Anything with a red tone might use carmine and is, therefore, not vegan. 

So if you want to know which products are vegan and worth buying, here are some of Jane Iredale's best-selling items choose from:

  • PurePressed® Base Mineral Foundation SPF 20/15 (all colors)
  • BeautyPrep Face Moisturizer
  • POMMISST Hydration Spray
  • Glow Time® Full Coverage Mineral BB Cream SPF 25/17
  • Enlighten Plus Under-eye Concealer

Jane Iredale chose to list all of its non-vegan products for your convenience, detailing exactly which ones use carmine or other animal-derived ingredients to save you the trouble of checking each shade manually. You can find it here: Jane Iredale Non-Vegan Product List

Vegan Alternatives to Jane Iredale

Overall, Jane Iredale is a great option for vegans and provides great alternatives that other brands haven't cared to try yet. It has a clean track record and noteworthy transparency with its consumers.

If you will not support a brand that isn't entirely vegan – Jane Iredale might not be your first choice.

If you're looking for 100% vegan brands that are sustainable, some great options include:

Is Jane Iredale Natural and Organic? 

Jane Iredale is not a 100% natural or organic brand, but it:

  • Has an organic and natural range;
  • Uses organic ingredients wherever possible; 
  • Is completely non-comedogenic and hypoallergenic; and
  • Makes medical-grade skincare products.

Jane Iredale's best-selling products, POMMISST Hydration Sprays, are awarded the ECOCERT Natural and Organic Cosmetic certification. 

And its BeautyPrep™ Face Cleanser and BeautyPrep™ Face Toner are awarded ECOCERT’s Natural Cosmetic certification.

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

Whereas 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 that are of immediate plant origin. 

All products use a certain amount of synthetic ingredients in their formulas, and Jane Iredale is no exception – but it chooses to use clean synthetics. 

Clean synthetic ingredients are safe and non-toxic, which actually preserve the stability of a beauty formulation.

If you're looking for a completely organic brand, one of your best options is Dr Organic skincare

Does Jane Iredale Use Safe Ingredients?

Not only does Jane Iredale use safe ingredients, but it is also highly recommended by plastic surgeons, dermatologists, and the Skin Cancer Foundation USA. 

Jane Iredale's products are medical grade. This means anyone with health or skin issues can use its makeup and skincare ranges. Its formulas are medically driven to prioritize your skin's health. 

According to Skin Safe, Jane Iredale has an 82% - 100% allergen-free ranking for each product.

All of Jane Iredale's products are free of fragrances, preservatives, and filler ingredients that cause irritation. It is also commonly free from irritants like gluten, soy, propylene glycol, and lanolin.

Jane Iredale was the first person to develop pure mineral makeup without any petrochemicals. Today, all her products are 100% non-comedogenic and hypoallergenic makeup. 

Another brand that followed soon after was bareMinerals. It has got a great range of mineral-based products too. 

The UK & EU Have Stricter Ingredient Regulations

As a conscientious shopper, you need to 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, on the other hand, has banned 1,328!

With makeup, here are some ingredients you really want to avoid:

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

Luckily, all of Jane Iredale's products are free from all these harmful ingredients, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't check the labels. All ingredients are subject to change.

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 Jane Iredale Sustainable and Ethical? 

Jane Iredale strives to be a pioneer in clean beauty. It has some strong sustainability and ethical initiatives as it ties in with the company values.  

This means that the brand:  

  • Does not use any toxic ingredients or anything that could be an endocrine disruptor (this affects our skin a lot).  
  • Is environmentally conscious – ensuring it is respectful of the natural resources it uses and ensuring its carbon footprint is minimal.  
  • Supports its communities and charitable initiatives where possible. To date, Jane Iredale has given over one million dollars to non-profit organizations.  

Some of the ways the brand does this are by: 

  • Only using fully recyclable paper packaging from a renewable source and ensures everything is BPA and phthalate-free. 
  • Offering a range of refillable beauty products to eliminate waste.  
  • Only using palm oil that's Cosmos certified and safe for the environment.
  • Not using any petrochemicals such as mineral oils and petrolatum at all.
  • Having highly biodegradable products (given they use naturally-derived ingredients predominantly).
  • Only using synthetic Mica (like the leading eco-friendly brand Lush) developed in a lab, meaning it is not associated with child labor.

We love to see where Jane Iredale is right now – and we're looking forward to seeing their sustainability plans for the future.

Final Thoughts

Jane Iredale is a well-developed skincare and makeup care brand that strives to be clean, sustainable, and healthy for you. It aims to be a pioneers in clean beauty, and has left a great impression over the last 30 years.  

We appreciate that it has a transparent supply chain and is open to the public about its testing, purchasing, and distribution policies.

It's also fantastic that it is a dedicated cruelty-free brand with various certifications to back it up – including Leaping Bunny.  

Since Jane Iredale is not 100% vegan – it might not be the best choice for activists who go the extra mile.

But we wouldn't dismiss the brand's efforts too quickly. It has an extensive range of vegan products, and it really goes the extra mile with its sustainability efforts. 

The only thing that could be a deterrent is that it's a higher-end brand that is a bit more expensive. So if you can warrant its high cost, we believe it's a brand worth supporting. 

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