Plant Apothecary claims to unite science with nature to give us clean and effective skincare. It claims to have high ethical standards and that “it’s our duty to do better” as a society. But does this translate into its actions? Here are its real cruelty-free and vegan policies.
Plant Apothecary 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. Plant Apothecary is also 100% vegan – it doesn't use any animal-derived ingredients.
Plant Apothecary is a Brooklyn-based botanical brand that is a force to be reckoned with.
Beyond its cruelty-free and vegan status, the brand is committed to evolving and improving according to the environmental issues we face as a planet.
We are about to look at how safe the brand's ingredient choices are, what to avoid, and whether you can confidently spend your money knowing animal welfare and the environment are considered too.
In the end, you'll know whether to click "add to cart" for your next Plant Apothecary purchase or if you need to fill out a feedback form with the words, " we think you can do better."
Is Plant Apothecary Cruelty-Free and Vegan?
Plant Apothecary 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
Plant Apothecary is against animal testing and is adamant that everyone involved in the product manufacturing process comply with its beliefs.
The brand is also owned by Rare Beauty Brands – a corporate body that is firmly against animal testing too. And there’s more good news.
Plant Apothecary is Vegan
Yes, you heard right, Plant Apothecary is entirely vegan. It does not use any animal-derived ingredients in any of its products.
However, it's worth knowing that this is the exception, not the rule.
Most mainstream skincare brands are not 100% vegan. Some animal-derived ingredients to look out for in general include honey, beeswax, lanolin, collagen, carmine, and squalane.
If you're interested in the best Plant Apothecary vegan products or finding brand alternatives – keep reading or click on this link: Plant Apothecary vegan products.
Animal Testing Policy and History
Plant Apothecary is against animal testing. None of its suppliers, manufacturers or formulators tests on animals either. It also does not ship to countries that require animal testing by law.
Cruelty-Free Status in 2022
Here is a screenshot of Plant Apothecary’s official statement regarding its cruelty-free policies and vegan products, taken from its website:
Plant Apothecary's Certification
Plant Apothecary is PETA certified, which is not a bad start.
While you might know PETA very well – it surprisingly doesn’t hold the strictest cruelty-free regulations. It only requires a brand’s written consent that abides by the PETA code of conduct.
Leaping Bunny certification is ideal because it holds rigorous standards and does regular audits to ensure they are upheld.
Is Plant Apothecary Sold Where Animal Testing is Required By Law?
Plant Apothecary does not distribute any of its products to China or any country that requires animal testing on cosmetics by law.
China conducts the most animal testing globally, with over 20 million animals used annually.
If you live in China or are concerned about its cruel beauty policies – please know that there are a couple of loopholes.
Here's how to find cruelty-free cosmetics in China: Are Cosmetics Made in China Cruelty-Free?
What Plant Apothecary Products Are Vegan?
When a brand is all-vegan, like Plant Apothecary, it can be challenging to know where to start since there are many appealing options.
To save you some time, here are some of its most popular skincare products:
You can find all of Plant Apothecary’s vegan products on its website.
Vegan Alternatives to Plant Apothecary
Plant Apothecary embodies the core values that consumers should support.
It’s 100% cruelty-free, vegan and has sustainability initiatives to lessen its impact on the environment.
But if the brand is not easily accessible to you, here are some of our other favourite skincare brands to choose from:
Brand | price range | 100% vegan | Certification |
|---|---|---|---|
$5 - $20 | Yes | Leaping Bunny | |
$20 - $70 | Yes | PETA, Leaping Bunny | |
$30 - $80 | Yes | PETA, Leaping Bunny | |
$20 - $80 | Yes | PETA, Leaping Bunny | |
Superzero | $5 - $20 | Yes | None |
Is Plant Apothecary Natural and Organic?
Plant Apothecary offers completely organic, natural and plant-based products.
The brand doesn’t even use synthetic fragrances. It sticks to ingredients that are good for the planet and comply with the industry clean lists.
Clean vs. Natural Ingredients
The term "natural" is not regulated for cosmetics and skincare. I.e. It doesn't hold one specific meaning or standard.
For the most part, natural means a product is free of certain more toxic synthetic ingredients like parabens, phthalates, or sulfates. But people also interpret "natural" as ingredients of immediate plant origin.
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.
Does Plant Apothecary Use Safe Ingredients?
Skin Safe only lists one product from Plant Apothecary – luckily, it has a 91% allergen-free ranking.
Plant Apothecary doesn’t use allergens such as nickel, top common allergy-causing preservatives, lanolin, paraben, topical antibiotics, MCI/MI, propylene glycol, dyes, and SLS.
Reading the ingredient list is crucial because Plant Apothecary 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
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, Plant Apothecary 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, you want to avoid these ingredients:
Are Cruelty-Free Ingredients Safe?
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 Plant Apothecary Sustainable and Ethical?
Sustainability and ethics are a big priority for Plant Apothecary. They believe it’s their duty to do better as a manufacturer, and we couldn’t agree more.
It is involved with BKLYN UNLTD, which helps adults with mental and physical disabilities find employment.
Some of the ways Plant Apothecary is taking strong environmental accountability is by:
Final Thoughts
Plant Apothecary is an effective, ethical, clean skincare brand with some high ethical standards. We give it a huge thumbs up and admire its dedication to the planet.
There’s very little to criticize either since all we see is a brand that continues to grow in the right direction.
Two things to consider: