Aesop is a luxury skincare brand known for their gorgeous soaps, scrubs and skincare. They are pricey but oh boy do their products look gorgeous and luxurious on your vanity and top shelf! What makes Aesop unique is their plant-based, high quality ingredients and sustainable packaging. There’s not many brands like them that offer luxury, plant-based and skin friendly formulations.
Aesop is cruelty-free and it’s no shock given their standard of ingredients and sustainable practices! Aesop actually holds PETA cruelty-free and vegan certifications. It’s a huge feat and it gets better because they’re also paraben-free! If you’re looking to treat yourself to some quality, vegan and cruelty-free products…Aesop is the brand to go for.
Is Aesop Cruelty-Free?
Yes! Aesop is cruelty-free and they’re certified by PETA. They don’t sell in China so there’s no grey zones. All their products are tested on human volunteers!
Here is the statement from their website;
“No Aesop product or ingredient utilised in our formulations is tested on animals. Aesop has never conducted nor commissioned animal testing for any product. All new ingredients are reviewed by our Research and Development team prior to use. We research the registration status of these ingredients in world markets and note any past testing. Before we consider entry into a new country, we extensively review the regulatory requirements to ensure that compulsory animal testing on our products is not required. We are pleased to advise that Aesop products are listed on both PETA’s Cruelty-Free and Vegan Lists.”
Is Aesop Vegan?
Yes — Aesop’s ingredients are vegan! Yay! They don’t use any animal byproducts like carmine, lanolin or beeswax. Aesop also has a vegan certification from PETA.
Is Aesop Organic?
Aesop states that they do not use the words ‘organic’ or ‘natural’ to describe their products. So, no they are not organic and nor do they claim to be. Aesop does use a lot of plant-based ingredients and they work to make sure they’re skin-friendly and coming from reputable sources.
Here’s their statement on that from their website:
“We do not use these words to describe our products. Many of the ingredients we use are ‘natural’ by definition, but some are not. Since Aesop’s inception, we have been fascinated with the benefits that plant-based products can have for the skin; however, we also appreciate the remarkable results that science can deliver. Accordingly, we choose to incorporate high-quality, scientifically validated and skin-friendly ingredients in our products to perform specific functions, from a selection of reputable sources.”
Where is Aesop Made?
Aesop is headquartered in Melbourne, Australia. It’s owned by Brazilian brand, Natura Cosméticos.
Is Aesop Sold in China?
No, Aesop is not sold in Mainland China because they do not test on animals. In Mainland China, testing on animals is required by law to be sold in physical stores. Aesop products are still available on aesop.com, just not in Mainland China stores.
Is Aesop Paraben-Free?
Yes! All Aesop products are paraben-free. Parabens are highly debated in beauty products as they are linked to endocrine disruption and breast cancer. They are present in beauty products and preservatives to extend the shelf life and prevent mold and bacteria. They’re approved by the FDA in small amounts but they’re best to avoid when you can.
Studies have also shown that parabens are bad for the environment! Parabens were found in marine animals likely from products that get washed down the drain and released back into the environment.
Is Aesop Gluten-Free?
Not all Aesop products are gluten-free but they have a great selection of them!
Their gluten-free products include:
- B Triple C Facial Balancing Gel
- Parsley Seed Antioxidant Hydrator
- Bitter Orange Astringent Toner
- Chamomile Concentrate Anti-blemish Mask
- Amazing Face Cleanser
- Body Lotion SPF 50
- Tea Tree Leaf Facial Exfoliant
- Mouthwash
- Purifying Facial Cream Cleanser
- Coriander Seed Body Cleanser
- Gentle Facial Cleansing Oil
- Parsley Toner
- Reverence Aromatique Handsoap
- Resurrection Aromatique Handsoap
- Olous Aromatique Room Spray
- Immediate Moisture Facial Hydrosol
- Sage and Zinc Facial Hydrating Cream
- Primrose Facial Cleansing Mask
Is Aesop Phthalates-free?
Yes — pretty much all of Aesop’s products are phthalate-free. To avoid phthalates, avoid DEP, DBP and DEHP in the ingredients list. Phthalates help to make plastics bendable and less breakable and are often found in products like nail polish or hairspray.
Phthalates are also very commonly found in most fragrances. The only Aesop products that contain fragrance are their perfumes, room sprays and body butter.
Is Aesop Non-Comedogenic?
No, Aesop is not non-comedogenic. They use coconut oil and shea butter which can sometimes be comedogenic or pore clogging. Ren, Skinceuticals and Cerave are non-comedogenic skincare brands.
Is Aesop PETA Cruelty-Free Approved?
Yes, Aesop is PETA cruelty-free approved and they are also PETA vegan approved! This is a huge testament to the standards they set for creating their products. They set the bar high and work hard to source skin friendly, effective ingredients without harming animals. All their products are tested on human volunteers and don’t contain animal byproducts.
Where to Buy Aesop?
Aesop is available on their website as well as Nordstrom, Skinstore and Neiman Marcus.
Aesop also has stores all over the US including Los Angeles, Dallas, Chicago, New York and Boston. They’re sold in most high end department stores, too.
Final Thoughts
So happy to report that Aesop is cruelty-free, vegan and paraben-free! There’s a lot that Aesop does well starting with the plant-based, vegan, CF formulations down to the sustainable, low waste packaging. They’re not entirely natural but they choose quality, reputable ingredients backed by science! Their products aren’t for everyone but if you value aesthetic and quality, their products are exceptional.
At the end of the day, you will never regret using good skincare with quality ingredients! ‘Good’ being a blanket term for quality ingredients and formulations backed by science sans ingredients like parabens. Hopefully more beauty brands will follow Aesop’s footsteps! There is so much emphasis on quantity when brands should be focusing on their quality of their formulations and packaging.