Is CeraVe Cruelty Free, Vegan, and Sustainable?

Unfortunately, CeraVe skin care isn't considered cruelty free, vegan, or sustainable. Part of The L’Oréal Group, CeraVe may offer budget-friendly products rooted in the science of dermatology, but the brand doesn't develop its line with environment or sustainability in mind.

Not Cruelty Free Certified

CeraVe is not certified cruelty free by any global organizations that certify these types of products, such as PETA or Leaping Bunny.  Although CeraVe says it doesn't directly test its products on animals, it fails to monitor its ingredient providers and third-party suppliers for animal testing practices. 

Additionally, CeraVe sells products in Brazil and mainland China, which up until 2021 had legal requirements for animal testing on imported cosmetics. While these laws are rapidly changing, companies committed to being cruelty free don’t directly sell products in these regions.

Is CeraVe Vegan?

CeraVe can't be considered a vegan brand because many of its products contain animal derivatives, including glycerin and cholesterol.

According to CeraVe representatives, the products don't contain porcine, bovine, or ovine-originating ingredients except for lanolin (derived from sheep). They may, however, leverage ingredients derived from bees, fish, or eggs.

Sustainability Issues

As of 2022, CeraVe doesn't use recycled shipping materials or deploy carbon offsets. The company employs plastic containers to package its products, which may not be recyclable depending on your municipality’s program. The brand's cleanser bars are its only products packaged in recyclable cardboard, but these are merely three items out of 77 personal care products on offer.

What about environmentally unfriendly ingredients? Many CeraVe Products contain dimethicone, a common palm oil derivative. While consuming products containing palm oil is a complicated issue, CeraVe's use of this ingredient is an additional hole in the company's sustainability profile.

Petrolatum is another ingredient found in CeraVe products. Often used in skin care for its ability to create a protective barrier to retain moisture, the ingredient is derived from petroleum (oil). Petrolatum may also be called petroleum jelly, mineral oil, white petrolatum, or paraffin oil in ingredient lists.

Ethical Concerns

CeraVe is a subsidiary of The L’Oréal Group, a company that has received negative reviews from The Ethical Consumer. The L’Oréal Group's supply chain is not particularly transparent, making it difficult for watch groups to verify whether ingredients are sourced using animal, child, or slave labor. 

The L'Oreal Group's Sustainability Goals

Treehugger attempted to obtain more information from CeraVe regarding its ingredient sourcing and sustainability practices but received only a superficial response from company representatives referencing The L’Oréal Group's 2030 vision for global sustainability. CeraVe has been part of The L’Oréal Group since 2017.

The group's sustainability manifesto, issued in June 2020, states that the company intends to reach complete carbon neutrality by 2025 and use 100% recycled or bio-based plastics by 2030. The document also establishes ambitious goals regarding the ethical and sustainability practices of the company, its suppliers, and consumers. What these commitments mean for CeraVe specifically remains to be seen.

Alternatives to CeraVe

CeraVe isn’t cruelty free or vegan, but other companies with similar product lines do prioritize green skin care alternatives. Check out these suggestions from Byrdie’s roundup of effective sustainable skin care.

• Cleansing: Klur Gentle Matter cleanser lifts oil and dirt from pores, and offers a sustainable alternative to CeraVe’s Hydrating Cleanser. 
• Retexturing: A plant-based alternative to CeraVe Smoothing Cream is Cocokind’s Texture Smoothing Cream. It’s lightweight, nutrient-rich, and effective.
• Eye Cream: Instead of using CeraVe’s Eye Repair Cream, try Youth to the People Dream Eye Cream. The cream refreshes the skin and the brand is cruelty free and vegan, and uses sustainable packaging.