If you’re fond of beauty products, specifically body lotion, skincare, and scrubs, then you’ve probably come across St. Ives. However, if you’re someone who cares about animals, you might wonder whether St. Ives is cruelty-free and vegan. In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know about St. Ives and its products. We’ll discuss whether or not St. Ives is cruelty-free, vegan, and if it is a good option for those who prioritize cruelty-free and vegan beauty products.
What is St. Ives?
History of St. Ives
St. Ives is a brand for personal care products under Unilever, a global corporation that owns numerous brands. St. Ives is a USA-based company founded in the year 1980. St. Ives is famous for its hypoallergenic beauty products and scrubs that are made with natural ingredients.
St. Ives Products
St. Ives offers a range of skincare products such as face scrubs, lotions, body wash, and masks. They are popularly known for their Apricot Scrub and Collagen Elastin Body Lotion.
Parent Company of St. Ives
As mentioned earlier, St. Ives is owned by Unilever, which also owns other personal care brands, such as Dove, Axe, and Pond’s. Unilever is famous for buying cruelty-free brands, which it later downgrades to comply with Chinese animal testing laws.
Is St. Ives Cruelty-Free?
Cruelty-Free Standards
What is cruelty-free? A cruelty-free product indicates that it was not tested on animals, both during the manufacturing process and after. The product’s ingredients and finished products are not tested on animals. A company may claim that it is cruelty-free, but it has to meet certain standards to carry this label.
Animal Testing Policy
St. Ives claims that it does not test on animals, and their suppliers do not test their products. However, the brand does not have an official cruelty-free certification from any of the popular organizations. The absence of certification raises doubts about the authenticity of their claims.
PETA’s Certification
St. Ives is not certified by PETA, nor does it feature on PETA’s list of cruelty-free brands. This is another red flag. Brands that are committed to being animal-friendly, usually apply for PETA’s Beauty without Bunnies certification.
Is St. Ives Vegan?
Animal-derived Ingredients
Veganism promotes ethical treatment of animals, including avoiding any products or services derived from animals. Although St. Ives uses natural ingredients, some of their products contain ingredients of animal origin, like beeswax, collagen, and glycerin.
Vegan-friendly Products
St. Ives does have some vegan options. Scrubs that contain crushed almond, oatmeal, and cornmeal are vegan-friendly. However, it is quite difficult to determine the products that are entirely vegan or not. It is recommended to check their ingredients list while considering St. Ives’ products.
St. Ives Apricot Scrub
St. Ives Apricot Scrub is one of their best-selling products. However, it has been a controversial topic among the beauty industry. Although the product isn’t vegan, the apricot beads it contains have no connection to animal-derived products. It may not be fully vegan, but it remains cruelty-free.
Does St. Ives Test on Animals?
Required by Law
Animal testing on cosmetic and personal care products are mandatory in some countries such as China. However, St. Ives is fortunate enough that they don’t have to test their products on animals as it is not a legal requirement in the USA where the company is based.
Finished Products
St. Ives does not perform any animal tests on finished products but only relies on the ingredients that are already CNP (Cosmetic Notification Portal) registered and categorized as safe. Hence, purchasing their products can be considered cruelty-free.
Parent Company’s Animal Testing Policy
As for their parent company Unilever, it conducts animal testing on its products. Hence, it is important to note that the parent company’s animal testing policy should not be entirely associated with St. Ives’ integrity as a cruelty-free brand.
Alternatives to St. Ives
Cruelty-Free and Vegan Scrubs
There are a lot of cruelty-free and vegan scrubs available in the market such as The Body Shop’s Tea Tree Squeaky-Clean Scrub, Kiss My Face’s Exfoliating Face Wash, and Acure Brightening Facial Scrub.
Cruelty-Free and Vegan Body Lotions
With so many vegan and cruelty-free lotion brands out there, finding a good alternative won’t be a challenge. Consider brands such as Pacifica Beauty, Lush Hand and Body Lotion, and Josie Maran Whipped Argan Oil Body Butter.
Cruelty-Free and Vegan Skincare Brands
Many companies specialize in cruelty-free and vegan skincare products, such as Derma E, Avalon Organics, and Juice Beauty.
Conclusion
St. Ives is a brand known for its skincare products that use natural ingredients. Although the brand claims to be cruelty-free and has some vegan-friendly options, it lacks an official certification. It is important to note that the brand’s parent company, Unilever, performs animal testing. If you are conscious of the products that you use, there are several cruelty-free and vegan alternatives available in the market.
