Aveeno: Is It Cruelty-Free?

Shelia Swartz

is Aveeno cruelty free
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Whether you are interested in skincare or not, you have probably heard of the brand Aveeno. Who doesn’t? In every beauty section of the mall, you can see many of their products, especially in the body lotions aisle. This brand is super well known for their effective and highly moisturizing body lotions, and many people will swear by the powers of their formulas.

But although they are deemed as one of the top skincare brands out there, they are not exempted from imperfection.

If you do a little research, you will find out that Aveeno is not cruelty-free.

Yes, their formulas may be astounding, but they allow their products to be tested in countries such as China and other countries required by law to test on animals before marketing them to the public.

It states that they do not do animal testing on their website, except for the rare exception of when some countries require them. Although Aveeno itself proclaimed this, they still do not pass the standards of PETA when it comes to animal testing.

But aside from that, what makes Aveeno a good brand?

About the Brand

Aveeno logo

The name Aveeno is derived from the scientific name of oat—Avena Sativa.

Aveeno has a strong belief that balance is the key to wellbeing. They are a brand that balances scientific research with nature’s very own products. The innovative science that they use transforms natural ingredients into products that will balance and nurture your skin.

They proudly provide a clinical solution to cure skin concerns such as dryness and dullness.

Nature is their top inspiration for their formulas. They believe that nature holds the secrets of health, therefore they depend on it when creating their products.

Aveeno is currently owned by the parent company Johnson and Johnson. But before they were even known as a household name, they were just a small company, and their first product was their Soothing Bath Treatment. It’s amazing how one company can evolve to being one of the very best on the planet!

History

Aveeno was founded by the brothers Sidney and Albert Mushner, who studied the skin benefits of oat back in 1945. Oat has had a long history wherein people use it to soothe and nourish the skin. Since ancient times, it has been a staple in maintaining the beauty of the skin.

The Mushner brothers studied the benefits of oat and discovered that the finely-milled colloidal oatmeal benefits from healing dry and compromised skin. They were pioneers in providing oat-derived skincare products. The dermatologists of the famed Mayo Clinic even recognized their work. Thus, the brand Aveeno was known to the world as a trustworthy brand.

Their Formulas

The scientists in Aveeno’s laboratories are experts in the microbial diversity of healthy and compromised skin. Using their knowledge and research, they then produce solutions for the body, face, hair, and baby care. It’s like they have the answer to everything skincare-related!

When creating formulas, the scientists at the Aveeno labs cultivate their natural ingredients, especially oats, in perfect conditions to harvest them in an eco-friendly way. They care a lot about the environment, and it shows in their process of creating formulas.

They have an activation process that maintains the good benefits of natural ingredients without using chemical solvents.

Their natural ingredients are completely pure and concentrated on providing you the best possible results, and you will definitely get your money’s worth. And through their extensive research, every one of their products is tested and proven to balance the skin and make it look healthier and stronger.

Aveeno goes beyond “good” when it comes to their products. They never settle for just “good enough.” They always take the extra mile to ensure that their products are of top quality. Their standards are higher than other brands, and their testing for their ingredients’ quality is meticulous and advanced. No wonder they are a top brand!

What Products They Offer

Their hair products are not their signature products, but they offer formulas that nourish that hair and maintain its moisture and even strengthen the roots for healthy, strong hair that fights off damage.

Aside from body products, they offer face products specially designed to moisturize the skin and fight off signs of aging by keeping it plump and healthy. It’s amazing how they can use products for both the body and the face. You get the best of both worlds!

And since they are well known for their lotions products, they also offer sun protection formulated to protect the skin from the harshness of the sun’s rays. They offer different varieties of sun care products, with SPF ranging from 15 to 70. That’s a lot of variety, and you are free to choose whichever you want for your skin! These sun protection products come in special varieties both for babies and adults.

Speaking of babies, they also have baby products. This is great because they provide some of the best lotions in the skincare industry, and you will also want those benefits for your child. Their formulas are mild and safe for babies and will keep them looking adorable and looking moisturized and healthy!

Controversy

Despite proclaiming that their products are safe for both the skin and the environment, Aveeno has been under fire for including microbeads in their formulas. Microbeads help with exfoliation and get rid of dead skin cells to grow fresher newer ones.

However, these are small plastic balls that cannot be removed from the sewage system and can potentially clog up and cause harm to the environment, especially the ocean.

In 2017, Johnson and Johnson addressed this concern and removed microbeads from their formulas to maintain their eco-friendly title.

Conclusion

Aveeno is one of the top skincare brands for a reason. The reasons stated above all shine a positive light on them. But let’s not forget the real point of this article.

Aveeno is not cruelty-free because they allow testing in some countries. Although they claim to not test on animals, this still does not pass the standards of organizations on animal cruelty. Sure, they have some pretty awesome products, but is it really worth buying them knowing that they could have been tested on animals?

It is your decision to trust their statement. Ultimately, it depends on the consumer.

If you strictly live a cruelty-free lifestyle, I advise you not to purchase Aveeno products.

But if you trust them as a brand and adore their products, then you are free to do whatever you want!

Just make sure you are taking care of your skin and not harming the environment.

I hope you learned a lot from this article, and as usual, have a happy skin day!

Photo of author

Shelia Swartz

Combination Skin Type | Shelia is part of the editorial team over at Beautypickup. She got into skincare because of acne, like most of us. She is super outgoing, she enjoys backpacking and adventuring in the wilds and loves surfing during the summer!

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