As a company, it began in 1945 with the development of the Soothing Bath Treatment by brothers Albert and Sidney Musher. Aveeno products are infused with colloidal oats or oat extracts called anthracites, which are referred to as “active naturals”. As Aveeno’s slogan puts it, “Better Ingredients. Better Skincare.”.
There is a product by Aveeno that treats a variety of skin conditions, including eczema and psoriasis. Aveeno offers products for the treatment of chickenpox, hives, and sunburn as well as other skin conditions. Aveeno is based in the US and is manufactured in Korea and Canada. Aveeno is a Johnson & Johnson brand and is not made in China.
What does Aveeno claim?
As per Aveeno’s claims, it does not conduct animal testing of any of its cosmetic products anywhere in the world, except in instances where governments or laws mandate it.
In their words, “At Aveeno, we will never compromise on the safety or quality of our products or stop searching for alternatives to animal testing.”
But is it true?
Despite its cruelty-free claims, Aveeno sells its products in countries that require animal testing under the law, which means it does not adhere to its claims.
Aveeno’s cruelty-free claims are contradicted by its ownership by Johnson & Johnson, which conducts animal testing. This means Aveeno is not cruelty-free, nor is its parent company.
Aveeno has no cruelty-free certifications from any organization. Although Aveeno might have some vegan products, we recommend avoiding any products offered by this company even if they are vegan. The company is not cruelty-free.
Aveeno is not certified organic, but they do try to source natural products. The term “natural” can be misleading in the beauty industry since there is no clear definition or regulation for what the word means.
The Aveeno products are free of pesticides. However, there are concerns of some greenwashing by using ingredients that are not natural. The company offers products that contain parabens and phthalates, as well as aluminum and PEGs, which are not natural and can cause cancer. Neither a natural, nor a vegan brand would even consider using those ingredients.
Aveeno s sold in Mainland China, so it cannot be entirely cruelty-free. It is lawful to test them on animals there. All brands sold there are subject to lawful testing. Many companies aren’t cruelty-free because of China. Fortunately, many companies avoid selling their products in Mainland China to stay cruelty-free. Chinese online retailers can still sell their products without testing on animals.
Paraben-Free
They are linked to adverse health effects as well as environmental harm. In addition to being chemical preservatives, parabens mimic the body’s natural estrogen. Even though Aveeno product lines do not contain 100% parabens, they do have a good selection of paraben-free products.
Gluten-free
In many of Aveeno’s products, the company says that they are gluten-free, but the company does use oats in its products. In one of their statements they stated that, however, they cannot guarantee that no cross-contamination occurs during the production process, even though they do everything possible to ensure the oats remain gluten-free.
Gluten allergies should be handled with caution if you are prone to them. Since cross-contamination is a consistent risk, you should always consult your doctor first.
Phthalates-Free
During pregnancy, they can cause cancer, developmental problems, and even genetic problems due to their hormone-like properties. Avoid them if you can.
The Aveeno company maintains that all of their products are phthalate-free, yet some of them contain parabens and phthalates! Curiously, Aveeno claims to be natural, yet many of its products contain parabens and phthalates.
Non-Comedogenic
The term non-comedogenic means it does not clog pores. Aveeno’s whole line of products is not non-comedogenic, however, a large number of their face products are, including their cleansers, moisturizers, and eye creams. Aveeno points out that it is usually facial care products that need to be non-comedogenic and not body care products.
Cruelty-free certification by PETA
Aveeno is not certified by PETA. There is no way Aveeno can be approved by PETA since they don’t follow the animal welfare standard. Unless they leave Mainland China, PETA will not approve Aveeno. It is largely believed that their cruelty-free claims are meaningless, even in the US since they still conduct animal experiments.
Alternative to Aveeno products
A great place to find cruelty-free and vegan beauty products in Superdrug. They have a really good selection of their products next to their non-cruelty-free alternatives. The range is not only certified vegan but is also significantly cheaper than Aveeno – so you can save a penny while organizing your skincare.
The vegan body lotion Dream Cream by Lush also received many recommendations since it contains oat milk, rose water, fairtrade organic cocoa butter, and chamomile oil.
Conclusion
However, Aveeno is neither cruelty-free nor vegan and their claims that their products are organic and natural seem a little on the nose as well. Another example of a brand doing greenwashing, and there are lots of them out there.
