Mizon was put on the map because of its snail slime products. They’ve used research and science to give us effective Korean skincare, but how much of that has been put into their cruelty-free and vegan policies?
Mizon 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.
Most of their success has been attributed to their massive range of snail mucin products which are definitely their best sellers. But they have also somehow been branded as a cruelty-free brand.
Without a straightforward statement from the brand on their cruelty-free policies, how much can we truly trust the little they share?
Looking for the best vegan alternatives? We preselected the best ones, click here.
Mizon Ethical Overview
Mizon is 100% 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
Mizon is another brand that doesn’t have a history of animal testing, but they don’t have a solid statement saying they are completely against it.
Nothing tells us they aren’t 100% cruelty-free but proceed cautiously.
Mizon was founded by and is still owned by Nabion R&D Company which is not associated with animal testing.
Does Mizon Test on Animals?
Since Mizon is proudly established and made in Korea, we know they don’t test on animals themselves.
Of course, this doesn’t stop many Korean brands from shipping to China – but where Mizon is different is that they are using a loophole to avoid animal testing in China by selling through Hong Kong.
At this point, nothing suggests that Mizon is testing on animals throughout its supply chain. This makes them cruelty-free, but it would be nice to see more solid claims from the brand itself.
What Is Mizon’s Cruelty-Free Status in 2023?
Mizon has no official statement regarding its cruelty-free policies and vegan products on its website or social media. After reaching out, we still haven’t received a response from the brand.
If anything changes or Mizon responds, we will update the article.
Mizon Has No Cruelty-Free Certification
Although Mizon is supposedly cruelty-free, the brand still has no cruelty-free certification to prove it.
Now, when a multi-million dollar brand that could easily be certified and claims to make “cruelty-free products” without any backing – we have to ask ourselves why?
Ideally, all brands that consider themselves cruelty-free should be Leaping Bunny certified.
While you might know PETA very well – it surprisingly doesn't hold the strictest cruelty-free regulations. Leaping Bunny certification is the gold standard to live up to.
Is Mizon Sold Where Animal Testing is Required By Law?
Mizon technically does distribute its products to China but Mizon is currently using a loophole to avoid animal testing by selling to mainland China through Hong Kong with online sales. This makes them exempt from any animal testing required 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?
Mizon is Not Vegan
Mizon has a couple of vegan products to choose from, but they can be difficult to find.
And remember, the brand doesn’t have the most solid claim to being cruelty-free. So while we consider them cruelty-free right now, this can change easily.
Some of the most common animal-derived ingredients that Mizon uses are honey, squalane, collagen, marine collagen, milk protein, bee venom, and snail mucin.
If you're interested in which products are vegan or finding vegan brand alternatives – keep reading or click on this link: Mizon vegan products.
What Mizon Products Are Vegan?
Most Mizon products are not vegan, so sifting through their products for the few 100% vegan ones can be frustrating.
To save you some time, here are all of Mizon’s confirmed vegan products to choose from:
Unfortunately, Mizon does not have a dedicated page for its vegan products.
However, you can email customer service, and they will send you an extensive list of exactly what you want to know.
You can also scroll through Mizon’s website and see which vegan products once you've selected them. But be aware - they are very inconsistent with how they tell you if a product is vegan or not
Vegan Alternatives to Mizon
Brand | price range | 100% vegan | Certification |
|---|---|---|---|
$5 - $44 | Yes | Leaping Bunny | |
$15 - $30 | Yes | Leaping Bunny | |
$5 - $30 | Yes | PETA, KARA | |
$5 - $20 | Yes | Leaping Bunny | |
$9 - $65 | Yes | Leaping Bunny |
Mizon is Not Considered Natural or Organic
While Mizon has some products with a high percentage of naturally derived ingredients, as a whole the brand isn’t natural or organic.
Mizon clearly states that the brand is all about innovative products that use both science and nature. They have some natural ingredients, but there is a fair share of synthetic ingredients as well in each product.
All products use a certain amount of synthetic ingredients in their formulas. Mizon is no exception – but it does choose to use better or clean synthetics.
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.
Mizon Has A 91% Allergen-Free Ranking
According to Skin Safe, Mizon has a 91% allergen-free ranking for each product.
Many of Mizon’s products are free of allergens such as gluten, coconut, nickel, top common allergy-causing preservatives, lanolin, paraben, topical antibiotic, MCI/MI, soy, irritant/acid, dye, and SLS.
Mizon has also leveled up their game by being completely hypoallergenic.
However, we recommend reading a product’s ingredient list before purchasing, as formulas can be subject to change.
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, Mizon sets a great example of what true clean beauty is meant to be, and you shouldn’t have to worry about any serious hidden nasties in its products.
With skincare and cosmetics, you want to avoid these ingredients:
Mizon Is Not Sustainable and Ethical
You won’t find even a single donation or a word of support for any ethical and social causes from Mizon.
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.
And Mizon is taking this into consideration by doing – nothing.
Yep, you won’t see much of anything going on from Mizon in terms of sustainability or environmental accountability.
You might find vague phrases from third parties about specific products having recyclable glass bottles, but it’s unlikely that anything recyclable from Mizon was made that way intentionally.
Final Thoughts
Mizon has made a name for itself in the Korean cosmetics game in the past two decades. Mizon is known for its effective products, but the brand is heavily associated with snail mucin.
From what we can tell, the brand is 100% cruelty-free, with a handful of vegan products. But in all honesty – they aren’t our first pick regarding effective Korean skincare.
Mizon is not transparent and has no solid statements confirming that they are cruelty-free. They don’t have cruelty-free or vegan certifications, so how much can we trust the little they tell us?
With how successful they are, Mizon isn’t going anywhere. They are another brand we, as consumers, need to communicate our needs with. They aren’t the worst, but there’s a lot to be improved on.
