For a lot of people in Asia, a hard part about going cruelty-free is having to give up using a many Korean brands because a lot of them are not cruelty-free. While there are a lot of Filipino cruelty-free brands that offer products to help you mimic your favorite k-beauty trends without using makeup that's been tested on animals - those aren't your only options. You can still rock your favorite k-beauty looks and skin care trends using Korean brands!
That's right, there are some Korean brands out there that are actually cruelty-free! I don't see this topic getting talked about a lot so I wanted to highlight this in today's feature. Here is a look into where the country stands with animal testing and what Korean brands that are cruelty-free as well.
South Korea's Legal Stand on Animal Testing
In 2016, South Korea passed a bill stating that by 2018, animal testing must cease in the whole country itself. So while animal testing is now illegal in the country, the law does not stop Korean brands from selling their products where testing is required by law (like Mainland China). This has confused many people into either assuming that no Korean brands are cruelty-free or that all Korean brands are cruelty-free now.
But that's far from the truth, and this is where things get complicated.
You see, some Korean brands continue to sell in physical stores in mainland China where they are required to test on animals to do so. Other brands try to avoid this by creating two different lines. One product line is sold in mainland China to be tested while the other product line is sold in South Korea and wherever else animal testing is banned. Either way, many brands use these practices as a way to mislead people into thinking that they are cruelty-free when they are not.
While it is completely normal to feel confused about this topic, don't lose hope. With a bit of research, and hopefully with the help of this article, you can slowly start finding cruelty-free and vegan replacements for your favorite K-beauty brands. Who knows, you might end up liking them even more!
What Brands Can You Use Then?
I will be highlighting some of the more popular Korean brands. I would also like to clarify that cruelty-free and vegan are defined differently by brands. There are brands in the list below that are cruelty-free but offer vegan options in their product line, and some Korean brands below are completely vegan too! Here are a few:
Atrue (Vegan)
Love your tea-infused skin care products? Atrue has you covered so you can switch. All the black tea used in their products is sourced from Compagnie Coloniale, one of the oldest tea brands from France. While they don't have any type of certification but they are working on getting one from a vegan organization. Black tea definitely make stheir products stand out, but everyone, regardless of their skin type, can use Atrue's products too!
Benton (Not Vegan)
If you loved the benefits of the snail skin care that many Korean brands have and feel sad that you might need to give it up to go cruelty-free, think again. Benton might have some great alternatives for you! Benton is certified by PETA (which I think is a good thing for Asian brands) and is known for using premium natural ingredients in their products.
Their dedication to using fresh ingredients in small batches should also be noted as it shows that they are socially conscious. Their Snail Bee line is apparently really great, so it might be a good idea to try it out.
Chica Y Chico (Not Vegan)
Chica Y Chico is a Korean brand that offers skin care and makeup products, great for people who want to switch out both types of products. Their skin care products contain a multitude of ingredients that are made to soothe your skin and improve its appearance day by day. Chica Y Chico also has a sizable range of makeup products like liquid eyeliner, small eyeshadow palettes, concealer, cheek powders, lip products, and more. Definitely worth checking out!
COSRX (Not Vegan)
I hear this name a lot when it comes to Korean beauty, and I am glad to tell you that they are cruelty-free as well! COSRX does not sell in Mainland China at all, and only sell in South Korea and other areas where animal testing is banned. Their skin care products are said to have a lot of effective ingredients that will transform your skin. If you're thinking of switching out your favorite snail mucin product or exfoliant for something that isn't tested on animals, COSRX might have something you'll love.
Dear, Klairs or Klairs (Not Vegan)
This is another popular Korean brand that I am glad to say is cruelty-free. If you're already an avid or casual user of their products, you don't need to switch at all! Another important thing you'd be glad to know is that Klairs is working against having suppliers that do test on animals too. Not a bad brand at all methinks.
E Nature (Not Vegan)
If you have particularly sensitive skin and can only use skin care products that have natural ingredients and don't contain synthetic additives or parabens, E Nature has what you're looking for! Their brand is all about naturalism, so you don't have to worry about their products being bad for your skin.
Glow Recipe (Not Vegan)
Glow Recipe is known for their innovative and aesthetically pleasing products. If there's a skin care brand that's all about what appeals to people in this day and age, it's Glow Recipe. This is also a more accessible brand as you can buy their products online, including Sephora. While Glow Recipe is not 100% vegan, they do have vegan products. You can learn more about that here.
Hip Chic (Not Vegan)
If you love Korean hair care products, Hip Chic is a great cruelty-free alternative. This brand has a wide array of fun and deeply nourishing hair care products that repair dry and damaged hair (yes, they're great for colored and bleached hair!). Also, they're affordable too.
L.O.C.K. Color (Not Vegan)
Another Korean makeup brand that's cruelty free! The brand name stands for "Long-Lasting Original Color Keeper", and they have a wide range of makeup products to suit your needs. Since L.O.C.K. Color was created by some of South Korea's leading makeup artists, these products are meant to be high-quality and high-performing (I'd expect them to be). Don't feel intimidated by that though, L.O.C.K. Color is meant to be for every kind of makeup lover. They are all about fun and creativity.
Julep (Not Vegan)
While this brand is a Western brand, it is owned by a Korean woman, so I would still call this a Korean brand. Julep has skin care, makeup, and nail polish - and has a wide range of products for each category. They have creams and skin treatments for different skin types. They have a wide range of makeup products (including makeup brushes)!
Oh, and who could forget their huge nail collection? While Julep isn't fully vegan, ALL their nail polishes are completely vegan. So if you're looking for alternatives to your non-vegan nail polish, definitely check their range out!
Purito (Not Vegan)
If you like your skin care products with high-grade natural ingredients, Purito is a great cruelty-free brand to switch to! Their products are safe to use, making them great for people with sensitive skin. Moreover, many of their ingredients are certified by the Environmental Working Group. Check out the group's breakdown on two of their products.
Re:p (Vegan)
Not only is this brand cruelty-free AND vegan, they also make an effort to use natural ingredients and environmentally-friendly packaging for their products. If you're also conscious about the environmental effects as well as the skin benefits of the products you're using, they're a great brand you can try out. Oh, and they're Leaping Bunny Certified too!
While their products are definitely on the pricier side of things, their products are meant to be one-and-done type products that perform multiple functions. So these products are definitely more of an investment (which skin care definitely is). Who knows, you might find their products working really well for you!
With My (Vegan)
With My was created by a dentist and philanthropist who wanted to provide dental care products that are effective and charitable as well. The brand is PETA certified, and their Lemon toothpaste is verified by EWG too. Moreover, 10% of their profits is donated to fund efforts for children's education and oral health around the world. If you're looking for a better toothpaste, this may well be it. Make sure to use a bamboo toothbrush too!
My Final Thoughts
Well, there you have it. While this list is far from comprehensive, I included the brands that are popular and those whose status I can verify from different sources. If you're curious to learn more about other cruelty-free Korean brands as well as those that fall in gray areas and why, I will additional sources below.
I certainly hope this article was eye-opening and helpful in your journey to becoming cruelty-free!
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