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EDITED: NOV 23, 2016

Younique products have made several appearances in my social media feed in the past 2 years with their popular 3D fiber lash mascara. What intrigued me the most was that Younique and all of Younique’s representatives have been promoting their products as cruelty-free but I have not seen Younique listed on any cruelty-free database or list.

Younique is not listed on

Leaping Bunny

PETA’s Companies That Don’t Test On Animals

Choose Cruelty Free

Logical Harmony

Cruelty Free Kitty

So what’s the deal? Is Younique actually cruelty-free as they claim?

Younique Animal Testing Policy

Here is a statement taken directly from their website:

“Younique does not test our products on animals. We are in the process of exploring/procuring official certification as a cruelty-free company. However, Younique has not conducted an in-depth cruelty-free review tracing each ingredient back to such ingredient’s original source at this time.”

This is an excellent example of how anyone can virtually call their products “cruelty-free”. Although Younique may not test their products on animals, the raw ingredients may have been sourced from suppliers that do test on animals.

Younique Ingredient Suppliers

Now it’s not clear whether if their ingredient suppliers do or do not test on animals based on their statement, so I thought the best way to get a clear answer is to e-mail Younique directly and ask how far along they are in their process to being certified cruelty-free.

Related: What Makes A Product “Cruelty-Free”?

In order to be certified cruelty-free, companies must prove that:

none of their products are tested on animals

none of their ingredients are tested on animals

they do not commission animal testing to a third party

they must verify that none of their raw material suppliers test on animals

and finally they must not retail their products in countries that require animal testing by law (such as China)

My original email inquiry to Younique:

Hi there,

I was extremely happy to read on your website that Younique does not test their products on animals and is currently working on being certified cruelty-free. I just wanted to follow-up with this statement and was wondering how that process is going and which cruelty-free certification programs (like Leaping Bunny, PETA’s Caring Consumer, Choose Cruelty Free) are you exploring?

I’m also curious to know if any of Younique’s products retail in China or if you have plans to distribute there in the near future?

Younique’s response:

Hello Vicky,

Unfortunately, we are unable to provide you with further information at this time. Younique does not test our products on animals. However, Younique has not conducted an in-depth cruelty-free review tracing each ingredient back to such ingredient’s original source at this time.

Currently, we are shipping and selling in the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the UK, Mexico, and Germany.

We are beginning to expand globally. While we don’t have a definite date as to when we will be opening in other countries, we hope it’s soon

Younique’s Lack Of Transparency

What concerns me about Younique’s response is the lack of transparency. As any cruelty-free consumer knows, the statement, “Younique does not test our products on animals” does not provide us with enough assurance that their products and ingredients were not tested on animals at all stages of production.

At this point and based on their response, I would not consider Younique to be a cruelty-free brand.

It’s up to companies to decide if they choose to do business with certain suppliers and all cruelty-free companies must verify and make sure that their ingredient suppliers consent to a no animal testing policy. Unfortunately Younique has failed to do this.