Does Dior promote cruelty-free products? Directly from their official website, Dior has clearly stated they refrain from testing any of their products on animals. It looks pretty straightforward, doesn’t it? However, it’s not that simple.
In my eye-opening research, I’ve found that, unfortunately, companies have ways to twist their words to make us believe something that couldn’t be further from the truth.
PETA warns that Dior is a company that tests on animals. How’s it possible that they’re claiming otherwise? To understand what’s going on, we’ll first have to dive into what makes a product cruelty-free.
What Does Cruelty-Free Mean?
According to the FDA, “cruelty-free” means the product was not tested on animals.
Not only that, but the company must also make sure that the suppliers of its raw materials don’t do animal testing either. In addition, it shouldn’t outsource other companies to conduct the tests in its place.
This now brings us to the next bit.
Is Dior Cruelty Free?
As I mentioned, Dior states that it doesn’t test any products on animals. This is most likely true. However, it doesn’t say that it’s cruelty-free, even if it could be advantageous for Dior to advertise it. I mean, it could attract more customers with that, right?
Here’s the thing. It’s no secret that Dior is a big company. That means it can undoubtedly demand its suppliers stop conducting animal tests.
Suppliers would want to appease Dior. But again, it doesn’t do this.
Another point is that the brand is big and rich enough to find alternatives to animal tests, like using human cells and tissues in a lab. It could even hire consenting people to participate in controlled human-use testing instead of animal testing.
Instead, Dior chooses to hire other companies to do animal tests for it, and in doing this, wash its image clean. If that’s not cruelty, then I don’t know what is.
Is Dior Animal-Friendly?
The Humane Society says that animals live in inhumane conditions during animal testing. It claims that the animals are deprived of basic necessities, exposed to painful chemicals, and killed after the experiment.
Some companies even re-use the animals in other experiments.
It’s unfathomable that countries like China have a law that requires all foreign companies to have their products tested on animals. However, China has a very lucrative market in which some companies are willing to make animals suffer for sales.
In the first half of 2020, Dior made $21.6 billion just in China. Since it’s in the law that animal testing is required, is there still any doubt that Dior tests products on animals? You tell me.
Okay, Okay, But Is Dior Cruelty-Free In America?
Some sources say that Dior only conducts animal testing when it’s required by law. Meaning it doesn’t do tests on animals in America. Dior also claims it contributes significantly to supporting the Fund for Alternatives to Animal Testing in America.
While Dior has products that can fall naturally under the cruelty-free category, I would like to point out that it still hasn’t applied any of those alternatives to itself.
So no, I don’t believe that Dior is 100% cruelty-free, even in America.
Just When You Think It Couldn’t Get Any Worse, We Remember That Dior Sells Handbags = Is Dior bag cruelty-free?
I’ll now tell you about the dark side of leather products. Let’s not forget that cows produce 14.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Those same cows, billions of them, are slaughtered for their skin each year.
Dior is a brand that still uses leather, fur, wool, down, and even the skins of exotic animals in its products. This is despite petitions made for the brand to use cruelty-free textiles.
So why do luxury brands like Dior refuse to make the switch? My only guess is it’s because of us—the consumers.
Most people still have this idea that genuine leather is more luxurious and any alternative is thought of as a cheap knockoff. This is something that I’d like to prove wrong.
The Silver Lining
Fortunately, we live in a time when faux leather can look and feel real. The World Forum states that cacti leather saves water by 164,650% compared to animal leathers.
Meanwhile, leather made from pineapple leaves is now used by brands like Paul Smith, Hugo Boss, and Nike.
What Luxury Brands Are Animal-Cruelty-Free?
1. Fossil
2. Gucci
3. Stella McCartney
4. Vaute Couture
If what I’ve talked about has resonated with you, then you might want to look into luxury bags officially certified as cruelty-free by PETA.
Here are some that I’d like to recommend:
1. Fossil’s Kier Cactus Leather Tote
To make this bag*, cactus leaves are sun-dried for 6 days and naturally tanned. The original cacti are also left intact so that they can grow the leaves back to be harvested again.
The result is genuinely fantastic, classic handbags that look made from actual leather.
2. Svalla Simma Tote Bag
This one doesn’t look like leather, but it’s way better. The Svalla Simma tote bag is made from cork, and actual gold is in the material.
The bag is lightweight, and the design looks natural and unique.
3. Urban Expressions Star Crossbody Bag
This bag comes in multiple colors and is made from vegan leather. The bag has a lot of personality and looks fun and chic.
What Perfumes Are Animal-Friendly?
Thank goodness for guilt-free vegan perfumes! I recommend these:
1. Lush’s Karma Perfume
Words can’t describe how much I love Lush’s products.
All their products are vegan, but my favorite is the Karma perfume, made with orange, spices, and patchouli scents.
2. The Body Shop’s White Musk Fragrance Mist
The Body Shop’s mist* is a delicate blend of earthy and floral scents that will leave you feeling fresh.
A bonus is that this perfume bottle is made with 42% recycled glass.
What Makeup Brands Still Test on Animals in 2023?
Here are some makeup brands that aren’t certified as cruelty-free:
- Maybelline
- Elizabeth Arden
- Nars
- Origins
- Benefit
- Bobbi Brown
- Make Up For Ever Professional Paris
- La Mer
- OPI
- Clarins
The Takeaway
Does Dior test on animals? The simple answer is yes, it does. We’ll always try to hide this fact to deceive us and unfortunately, we are willing to let it slide unless the facts blatantly stare us in the face.
I believe it’s time to call for change and stop enabling companies to carry on like this. It’s time for us to spread awareness and support using brands that advocate for cruelty-free products.
*Disclosure: We only recommend products we would use ourselves and all opinions expressed here are our own. This post may contain affiliate links that we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.
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