Is NARS Cruelty Free in 2024? Uncovering the Truth

Are you an ethical shopper looking for cruelty-free makeup brands? If NARS is on your radar, you may be wondering about their policies around animal testing. It’s a controversial topic, with conflicting information out there. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll dig deep to uncover the truth about whether NARS is truly cruelty-free in 2024.

The bold truth is that currently, NARS is not considered a cruelty-free brand. Even though they claim not to test on animals themselves, there are several key issues with their practices that go against cruelty-free principles. We’ll explore all the details in this article, including:

• What “cruelty-free” really means for cosmetics
• NARS’ official stance and policy changes over time
• The impact of selling in China where animal tests are required
• Perspectives from animal rights groups on the controversy
• How to identify truly cruelty-free brands
• Whether NARS products are vegan and free of animal-derived ingredients
• The future of ending animal testing for cosmetics globally

Let’s start by clearly defining what it means to be a cruelty-free cosmetics brand.

What Does “Cruelty-Free” Mean for Beauty Products?

In the beauty industry, a brand is considered cruelty-free if neither the finished products nor ingredients are tested on animals at any stage of development. This includes not testing on animals themselves, as well as not allowing any third parties or suppliers to test on animals on their behalf.

Being cruelty-free is important to many ethical consumers who want to avoid supporting practices that cause animal suffering and cruelty. While animal testing was previously a routine part of product safety testing, there is increased awareness of animal cruelty concerns. Many companies have started offering affordable, effective cruelty-free products to meet this consumer demand.

However, regulations around animal testing for cosmetics vary significantly around the world. In many places, including the United States, there are no laws requiring animal testing for cosmetics. The European Union has also banned animal testing for cosmetics and the sale of any new ingredients tested on animals.

China, on the other hand, has maintained policies requiring animal testing for products developed outside the country before allowing them to be sold on the Chinese market. This creates challenges for global brands looking to expand into the lucrative Chinese beauty market.

With that context about what cruelty-free means, let’s take a closer look at NARS’ background and policies.

About NARS Cosmetics

NARS (short for Natural Radiant Life) is a major cosmetics brand founded by make-up artist Francois Nars in 1994. Based in New York City, NARS is known for its high-quality makeup products including foundations, concealers, blushes, lipsticks, and eyeshadow palettes.

Some of NARS’ most iconic and best-selling products over the years include:

• Radiant Creamy Concealer
• Orgasm Blush
• Sheer Glow Foundation
• Powermatte Lip Pigment
• Climax Mascara

NARS has developed a reputation for inclusivity, with an extensive range of shades for different skin tones and types. The brand is popular among makeup artists and beauty influencers for its luxurious yet wearable aesthetic.

NARS was considered cruelty-free, but recent policy changes have raised questions about their animal testing stance.

Is NARS Considered a Cruelty-Free Brand in 2024?

For a long time, NARS maintained strong anti-animal testing stances and claimed to be cruelty-free. However, in 2017 the brand announced plans to start selling products in mainland China, where animal testing for most imported cosmetics is still mandatory by law.

NARS confirmed they would have to comply with this regulation, stating on their website:

“NARS does not test on animals or ask others to do so on our behalf, except where required by law. We are subject to the local laws of the markets in which we operate, including in China where products are subject to animal testing.”

This revelation that NARS was willing to allow animal testing when legally required sparked major backlash from ethical beauty consumers and animal rights advocates who had trusted the brand’s former cruelty-free claims.

The policy was viewed by many as a reputational loophole, paying lip service to being “cruelty-free” while still allowing and paying for animal testing to happen behind the scenes for market access. This contradicted the definition of a truly cruelty-free brand.

In 2023, NARS reiterated in their FAQ that the brand “does not test on animals nor do we ask others to test on our behalf, except where required by law.”

So currently in 2024, while NARS claims not to directly conduct or pay for animal testing themselves, the exceptions for legally-mandated tests in markets like China disqualify them as a cruelty-free brand under most major certification standards.

This decision to prioritize expansion into the Chinese beauty market over their previously cruelty-free values has continued to face criticism and calls for boycotts from ethical shoppers.

NARS’ Parent Company Policies

Adding another layer to the controversy is the fact that NARS’ parent company, Shiseido, is not cruelty-free either. Shiseido states they conduct animal testing where required by law, following similar policies as NARS.

While NARS products may not be directly tested on animals by Shiseido, the parent company profits from and allows animal testing in its portfolio of brands. Experts note this incentivizes the brands under their corporate umbrella, like NARS, to capitulate to animal testing laws for market access.

NARS claims to be “cruelty-free” but sells in China where animal tests are required and is owned by a non-cruelty-free parent company, which undermines its claims in the eyes of many conscientious consumers.

Cruelty-Free Alternatives to NARS Makeup

If you’re looking to avoid brands like NARS because of animal testing concerns, there are many affordable, high-quality, and certified cruelty-free makeup alternatives to explore:

Drugstore Brands:

• e.l.f. Cosmetics
• Wet n Wild
• Milani
• Physicians Formula
• Flower Beauty

Mid-Range Brands:

• Tarte Cosmetics
• Too Faced
• Urban Decay
• KVD Beauty
• ColourPop

Luxury Brands:

• Ilia Beauty
• Kosas
• Tower 28
• Merit Beauty

Top cruelty-free product dupes for popular NARS items include:

• e.l.f. Cosmetics Putty Primer for NARS Soft Matte Complete Concealer
• Milani Baked Blush in Luminoso for NARS Orgasm Blush
• Tarte Shape Tape Concealer for NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer
• KVD Beauty Everlasting Liquid Lipstick for NARS Powermatte Lip Pigment

With so many affordable, ethical, and high-performing options, cruelty-free shoppers have no shortage of alternatives to NARS and other brands still allowing animal tests.

The Cruelty-Free Controversy Continues

The decision for previously cruelty-free brands like NARS to allow animal testing for the Chinese market remains hugely divisive and controversial within the beauty community.

Animal rights organizations like PETA criticize these moves as being driven purely by profits and greed over ethics. They argue there is no such thing as being “required by law” to test on animals – it is a voluntary choice brands are making for market access.

PETA urges companies like NARS to use their influence to push for accepted alternatives to outdated animal tests, rather than capitulating to them. The organization believes brands are being dishonest with “cruelty-free” marketing claims while paying for animals to suffer behind the scenes.

On the other hand, some argue that NARS and similar brands are just playing by the only rules that currently exist in certain markets. They claim it’s an issue of consumer freedom – if Chinese citizens want access to NARS products, the government policies on animal testing are out of the brands’ control.

There are also ethical debates around how much responsibility lies with individual brands versus the governing policies and the lack of widespread alternatives to animal tests. Critics point out that boycotting NARS alone does little to change the root issue of animal testing requirements.

These are complex issues with valid arguments on multiple sides. But for now, most experts and certifying bodies concur that actively selling in China where tests are mandatory disqualifies a brand from being able to claim a “cruelty-free” distinction.

How to Identify Truly Cruelty-Free Brands

With the NARS controversy exemplifying some of the nuances around what constitutes being “cruelty-free,” it’s important for ethical shoppers to look beyond just marketing claims. Here are some tips for vetting if a cosmetics brand truly deserves the cruelty-free label:

Look for Third-Party Certifications

Rely on objective third-party cruelty-free certifications like Leaping Bunny and PETA’s Beauty Without Bunnies programs. These have rigorous standards that require proof of no animal testing at any point in a product’s development for approval.

Check Policies for Required Testing Exceptions

No brand can be considered cruelty-free if it makes exceptions for conducting or paying for animal testing when “required by law” in certain markets like China. Truly cruelty-free companies will avoid selling anywhere that mandates tests on animals.

Ask About Supplier and Third-Party Testing

Be wary of brands that make vague claims like “we don’t test on animals.” A cruelty-free policy must extend to not allowing any suppliers or third parties to test ingredients on animals on their behalf either.

Look at Corporate Ownership

Similar to NARS, brands owned by parent companies that still conduct animal testing cannot reasonably claim to be cruelty-free themselves. The profits still support unethical practices.

Consider Brand Transparency

Truly cruelty-free companies should be upfront about their policies and commitments on their website and marketing materials. Ambiguous statements are often a red flag.

The key is moving beyond just trusting a brand’s marketing and doing your due diligence as an ethical consumer. With so many affordable, certified cruelty-free options available now, there’s no need to compromise your values.

Is NARS Vegan? Exploring Animal-Derived Ingredients

In addition to concerns around animal testing, many shoppers also care about whether their beauty products contain any actual animal-derived ingredients or byproducts. So is the NARS makeup range vegan?

The simple answer is no, NARS is not a fully vegan brand as of 2024. Some of their products do contain animal-derived ingredients like:

• Lanolin (from wool-bearing animals)
• Carmine (red pigment from crushed insects)
• Beeswax
• Squalene (can be plant or shark-derived)

However, NARS does offer some products that are considered vegan and free of any animal-based components. These are usually clearly labeled as such, both on the website and on product packaging.

For strictly vegan shoppers, avoiding NARS may be ideal, both due to potential animal components and animal testing policies. But those less concerned with being 100% vegan may feel comfortable purchasing some of the NARS vegan offerings.

There are a growing number of affordable, all-vegan makeup brands to explore as an alternative to NARS. Some examples include:

• KVD Beauty
• Milk Makeup
• Elf Cosmetics
• Hourglass Cosmetics
• Pacifica Beauty

NARS is not vegan-friendly due to its animal testing stance and use of non-vegan components, despite some products being free of animal ingredients.

The Future of Ending Animal Testing for Beauty Products

While the current NARS policies disappoint many ethical shoppers, positive efforts are happening globally to move the beauty industry away from outdated animal testing requirements.

Since 2021, some regions of mainland China have started to accept certain non-animal alternative tests for new domestic cosmetic ingredients. This marks an important first step in китaining exemptions from animal testing for more product categories over time.

The Institute for In Vitro Sciences (IIVS) is working with the Chinese government to educate and advocate for modernized non-animal testing methods. Other expert groups like PETA’s Science Consortium are also at the forefront of research into developing affordable, effective alternatives that can replace animal tests.

Leading beauty conglomerates like L’Oreal, Unilever, and Estée Lauder have united behind the goal of overhauling outdated animal testing policies globally by 2023. With their market influence, these giants can hopefully create a turning point and path for smaller brands like NARS to follow.

For individual consumers, continuing to “vote with your wallet” for certified cruelty-free brands creates further financial incentives for companies to drop animal testing permanently. As the ethical beauty market grows, policies are likely to modernize to allow more affordable non-animal safety assessments.