Hello Beauty Buns! Last week, I talked with a customer at my job about cosmetics. She is a Mary Kay consultant. I told her I liked some Mary Kay products but do not purchase from them because they are not a cruelty-free company. The consultant’s response was that Mary Kay is cruelty-free in the US. The conversation ended with a bad taste in my mouth because I didn’t know the answers to some of her questions. I did some digging, so let’s dive into this rabbit hole!

Mary Kay – “Our Product Promise”

The Mary Kay consultant was correct. The information provided on the Mary Kay website states,

Mary Kay would fall into the “Required by Law” category for those who remember my Cruelty-free research article because they sell their products in China.

What are the Cosmetic Regulations in China?

The best way to get information about Chinese cosmetic regulations is to pretend you are a business. Many companies are designed to help brands sell their products internationally. Biorius is the current company I trust for information on international cosmetic regulations. Biorius’s website is easy to navigate, doesn’t require users to pay for a membership, and provides easy-to-read graphics highlighting important information. I will use the Biorius guide, “China Cosmetic Regulations – Comprehensive Guide.”

Cosmetics in China are divided into two categories, General and Special Use. Special Use Cosmetics are “products for the function of anti-freckle/whitening, sunscreen, hair dye, hair perm, anti-hair loss, and new efficacies.” (CIRS Group) Special Use cosmetics must be tested on animals, while General cosmetics are not.

Could Mary Kay be cruelty-free in China?

Mary Kay is not cruelty-free in China because it sells products that claim to be “brightening” and “anti-wrinkle.” (Mary Kay CN) Mary Kay could become cruelty-free in China if it discontinued selling these products. However, that is not the only way Mary Kay could become cruelty-free in China. Mary Kay currently sells their products in China through consultants. If Mary Kay transferred sales of their products onto an online platform, it would be able to bypass the animal testing requirements.

That is all from me today! I hope you enjoyed diving into this rabbit hole. As always, let me know if you have any questions!