CeraVe is a cult classic skin care brand and their products are used and loved by people all over the world. But you might wonder is CeraVe cruelty free and vegan?
CeraVe is not cruelty free. There are a few products from Cerave that are vegan, but as a brand is CeraVe not 100% vegan.
In this article, you’ll find all the details about why CeraVe is not considered cruelty free and vegan.
We will also share our top vegan and cruelty free alternatives to CeraVe.
Who is CeraVe Owned By?
CeraVe is owned by the French cosmetics company L’Oréal, which is not a cruelty free company.
About CeraVe
Cerave’s products are developed with dermatologists and are loved by many people. Their products are affordable and are especially suitable for sensitive skin, dry skin and skin with eczema, psoriasis or itchiness. Their mission with their products is to restore and maintain a healthy skin barrier.
The products are fragrance-free, packed with essential ceramides (ceramide 1, 3, and 6-II), fatty acids, and hyaluronic acid to restore skin barrier function, and sustain long-term moisturization.
CeraVe moisturizers are recommended by many dermatologists all over the world and their products are now available to purchase in over 35 countries worldwide. In 2017, the French cosmetic company L’Oréal acquired the brand.
CeraVe’s products are available in the following countries: The Americas, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Peru, Uruguay, Europe, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom, Asia and Middle East, Australia, China, Hong Kong, Russia, and Taiwan.
Is CeraVe Cruelty Free? Does CeraVe Test on Animals?
CeraVe is NOT cruelty free. Their products may be tested on animals. CeraVe is NOT Leaping Bunny certified or PETA approved.
CeraVe claims in the FAQ section on their website:

However, this is misleading because a brand is not cruelty free if the ingredients are tested on animals by suppliers or third parties. CeraVe sells their products in countries, like in mainland China, where it is required by law to perform animal testing.
The term “cruelty free” doesn’t have a legal definition so any brand can use this term even though their products are tested on animals. It’s up to you and your ethical standard whether you consider brands like this as cruelty free.
To eliminate any doubts related to whether a company is cruelty-free or not you should check the Leaping Bunny or PETA website for the list of brands that have been approved as cruelty-free.
Sometimes, organizations that are cruelty-free certified have the bunny logo on their websites, most often under the FAQ. Some brands also include the bunny logo on their product labels.
So, according to our criteria, CeraVe is not cruelty free – the ingredients and/or the finished products may be tested on animals.
Where is Cerave Manufactured?
CeraVe products are made in the U.S. The brand CeraVe doesn’t manufacture its products in China. CeraVe manufactures its products in America before shipping them to different parts of the world.
Is CeraVe Sold in China?
Yes, CeraVe is sold in mainland China, where animal testing is required by law.
In 2017, the brand was acquired by the L’Oreal, a non cruelty free cosmetic brand. L’Oreal brought CeraVe to the Chinese market. Cerave then started funding for mandatory animal tests run by Chinese Governments.
For cosmetic products to be sold in physical stores in mainland China, animal tests are required by law. The country requires that all skincare and makeup brands sold in physical stores in China have to pay for animal testing.
Products can be drawn back from the shelves and tested on animals at any time because of customer complaints or health concerns.
Beauty brands agree to have their products tested on animals by selling skin care and makeup products in stores in mainland China. According to our ethical standards, this is why CeraVe is not considered to be cruelty free.
Is CeraVe Vegan?
CeraVe is NOT vegan as a brand. Some of their products are vegan, but as a brand, CeraVe is not 100% vegan. The brand claims that they are offering vegan-friendly products. They don’t have a vegan line but labels a few products as vegan products.
The brand is considering going completely vegan in the future. They recently made a statement saying their products will be completely vegan by 2021. However, CeraVe currently uses lanolin, beeswax, honey, cholesterol, glycerin, and similar animal-derived ingredients in some of their products which makes them non-vegan.
We recommend checking the list of ingredients if you are searching for vegan CeraVe products. You could also contact the brands’ customer service for more information on a specific product.
Is CeraVe Vegetarian?
No, CeraVe is NOT vegetarian as a brand. Some of their products are vegetarian, but as a brand, CeraVe is not vegetarian.
Some CeraVe skin care products contain ingredients from animal fats like cholesterol and glycerin that are not vegetarian-friendly.
Vegan and Cruelty Free Alternatives to CeraVe
CeraVe skincare products are recommended by dermatologists all over the world as they are great for almost all skin types and especially for sensitive skin and eczema-prone skin types. The good news is that we have found some skin care products that can act as CeraVe cruelty free alternatives.
One CeraVe cruelty free dupe is Acure that is 100% vegan and a cruelty free brand. This is one of our favorite skincare brands as their products are also paraben-free, sulfate-free, mineral oil-free, formaldehyde-free and fragrance-free.

Acure Everyday Eczema Lotion is a great dupe for the cult classic moisturizer and body lotion CeraVe Moisturizing Cream. Both of these contain the ingredient colloidal oatmeal to protect skin barrier & soothe the skin.

The beloved Hydrating Facial Cleanser from CeraVe is a gentle and hydrating facial cleanser. An amazing vegan and cruelty free alternative is Acure Seriously Soothing Cleansing Cream. This hydrating cleanser is packed with good ingredients and will have your sensitive skin feeling calm, clean, and hydrated.
Another great CeraVe dupe that is cruelty free and vegan is the skincare brand Pacifica. Pacifica products contain no animal ingredients, colorants, phthalates, parabens, sulfates, propylene glycol, benzene, mineral oil, petroleum, peanut oil, or triclosan.

As a cruelty free dupe for the popular face moisturizer CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion we do recommend Pacifica Youth Day & Night Face Cream instead. This moisturizer is packed with peptides, antioxidants, and floral stem cells, it’s lightweight on the skin, deeply moisturizing, good for your pocket, and good for the animals.
Alba Botanical is also a great cruelty free and vegan alternative to CeraVe. Their sunscreens are enviromental friendly, vegan and not tested on animals.

The Alba Sensitive Fragrance Free Mineral Sunscreen Lotion Spf 30 is an alternative to the popular sunscreen CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30. Alba Botanica mineral sunscreen is vegan and coral-reef friendly. It’s also fragrance-free and will not give you a greasy white cast.
Now, we would love to hear your thoughts.
What do you think? Is CeraVe cruelty free? What are your favorite vegan and cruelty free alternatives to CeraVe products?
Let us know in the comments below!
