Versed is eager to bring modern consumers clean, cruelty-free, and vegan cosmetics. The brand wants you to feel empowered by the beauty decisions you make and experience the skin health improvements that go with it.

Versed 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.  Versed is also 100% vegan – it doesn't use any animal-derived ingredients.

Millennials and Gen Z's – this brand was designed for YOU. 

Versed was founded in 2018 by serial entrepreneur Katherine Power under the parent company Offspring Beauty Co., in California.

Power wanted to develop clean cosmetics at a fraction of the price so that they were accessible to everyone – enter Versed! 

According to Forbes, it's become one of the fastest-growing clean skincare brands in the world. 

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

Is Versed Cruelty-Free and Vegan?

Versed 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.

Versed has a solid cruelty-free message, and it shows. It has accreditation from Leaping Bunny – the only internationally recognized certification that guarantees a brand is cruelty-free. 

The brand is also owned by Offspring Beauty Co. which is cruelty-free and Peta certified. 

The good news just keeps on coming here:

Versed is 100% Vegan

Yup – this well-priced and accessible skincare brand is entirely vegan. It does not use any animal-derived ingredients in any of its products.

However, it's worth knowing that Versed 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 & 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.

    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.
  • 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.

If you're interested in Versed's most popular vegan products and brand alternatives – keep reading or click on this link: Versed Skincare vegan products

Animal Testing Policy and History

Versed has been committed to creating clean, effective, and innovative cosmetics that are also cruelty-free. This has been its intention from inception.

Cruelty-Free Status in 2021

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

Versed Skincare Cruelty-Free Claim

"Versed Skincare. Vegan, cruelty-free, and clean skincare for all."

Certification

Versed is Leaping Bunny certified. 

While you might know PETA very well – it surprisingly doesn't hold the strictest cruelty-free regulations out there. It seems to only require a brand's written consent that abides by the PETA code of conduct. 

Certification from Leaping Bunny is ideal because it holds rigorous standards and does regular audits to ensure they are upheld.

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.

If you see a bunny stamp at the back of your product bottle – that's an excellent sign. But don't be fooled by the image itself. A lot of brands are using fake logos to mislead 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 Versed Sold Where Animal Testing is Required By Law? 

Versed 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?

The Best Vegan Versed Products

Versed has a great range of vegan products that continues to expand. It prides itself in developing a product with you (the consumer) and the planet in mind.

To save you some time, here are some of its most popular skincare products:

  • Dew point moisturizing gel-cream
  • Press restart gentle retinol serum
  • Mood lighting luminizing glow drops
  • Back-up plan acne-control body mist
  • Doctor's visit Instant resurfacing mask

For a complete list of Versed's vegan products, you can find everything on the website: Versed's Vegan Product List 

Vegan Alternatives to Versed 

We love what Versed represents. 

It's 100% cruelty-free, vegan, affordable, and users claim it to be effective too. 

But if the brand is not easily accessible to you, here are some other options to choose from: 

  • Pacifica Beauty,
  • Juice Beauty, 
  • Skin Proud,
  • BYBI Beauty, and 
  • Kylie Skin. 

Is Versed Natural and Organic? 

Versed does claim to use safe, simple, and clean ingredients. However, it is not considered natural or organic.

Its whole ethos is to make clean formulas and products that anyone can use.

Clean vs. Natural Ingredients

The terms "natural" and "clean: are not regulated for cosmetics and skincare. In other words, they don't hold one specific meaning.

Usually, they mean 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" is not necessarily a good thing. Just because an ingredient is natural (take chili peppers, for example) doesn't mean you should rub it on your skin. 

All products use a certain amount of synthetic ingredients in their formulas, and Simple is no exception – but it can 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.

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

  • Niacinamide – is a form of Vitamin B-3 that has a vast amount of benefits for your skin. For example, it protects against sun damage, treats hyperpigmentation, it keeps your skin retain moisture and keep firm.
  • Vitamin C – has multiple skin benefits, including helping your skin form collagen, heal wounds, brighten your complexion, even skin tone, and prevent premature aging.
  • Salicylic Acid – is a cleansing pharmaceutical derived from willow tree bark. It works by shedding surface layers of dead skin cells and unclog pores. It gets deep into your skin which makes it great for targeting acne, pimples, and red or inflamed skin.

Does Versed Use Safe Ingredients?

Versed uses safe and clean ingredients that can benefit your skin. The brand also avoids using anything that could be harmful – even to sensitive skin.

According to Skin Safe, Versed usually has an exceptional 91% - 100% allergen-free ranking for each product.

Beyond following the EU's standards and avoiding over the 1350 question ingredients they have banned, Versed has taken its clean formula further.

Here is its official "keep it clean" statement:

Versed Beauty Keep it Clean Website Statement

The EU & UK Have Stricter Ingredient Regulations

As a conscientious shopper, you must 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 and the UK, on the other hand, have banned 1,328!

Given Versed is an American-made brand that follows the EU ingredient policies – you don't need to worry too much.

But unlike the EU, Versed is not legally obliged to follow these regulations.

So as commendable as its statement is – you should always check a product's ingredients before you purchase it, especially if you suffer from allergies or have a chronic illness. 

When it comes to skincare, here's what you need to avoid: 

  • DEA, MEA, and TEA
  • DMDM Hydantoin and urea (that often release formaldehyde) 
  • PEG (Polyethylene glycol)
  • Phthalates
  • Propylene glycol (pg) & butylene glycol
  • Triclosan 

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.

If you're interested, here's more on the subject: Are Cruelty-Free Cosmetics Safe?

Is Versed Sustainable and Ethical? 

Versed 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 toxic or allergen-triggering ingredients that could harm your overall health. 
  • 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. 

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

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

  • Creating product formulas that are 100% biodegradable and will not pollute the environment. 
  • Formulating SPFs with non-nano zinc oxide to keep the reefs safe.
  • Only using 100% FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) paper packaging to ensure it's not contributing to further deforestation.
  • Incorporating as much PCR (post-consumer recycled) plastic as possible in its packaging.  
  • It has had a net-zero greenhouse gas emission policy since its launch. It is Climate Neutral Certified. 
  • Not using any petrochemicals such as mineral oils and petrolatum at all.

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

Final Thoughts

Versed is a well-developed skincare and makeup care brand that strives to be clean, sustainable, and healthy for you. It is Leaping Bunny certified, 100% vegan, and competitively priced.

It is a brand developed with the modern and knowledgable consumer in mind, the wellbeing of their skin, and the environment around them.

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

If you are concerned that Versed may not be as effective as a higher-end brand – we recommend trying it first since it is designed to deliver the same high-quality results at a more accessible price.

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