Coty Inc. is a global beauty company renowned for its wide array of fragrance, skincare, and cosmetic products. Founded in 1904 by François Coty, a visionary perfumer from France, the company emerged as a trailblazer in the fragrance industry.
Coty’s inception was driven by a desire to revolutionize the perfume world by introducing luxurious scents accessible to a broader audience. François Coty’s innovative approach to creating affordable yet sophisticated fragrances marked the beginning of a legacy that continues to thrive today.
Initially focusing on perfumes, Coty expanded its portfolio over the years to encompass various beauty categories. The company’s strategic acquisitions, partnerships, and brand developments have propelled it to become a powerhouse in the beauty industry.
Some of Coty’s notable brands include Covergirl, Rimmel, Bourjois, MaX Factor, Lancaster, Kylie Skin, Kylie Cosmetics, and SKKN, among many others. This diverse brand portfolio caters to a wide range of consumer preferences, from high-end luxury fragrances to everyday cosmetics and skincare essentials.
The company’s rich heritage, coupled with its forward-thinking approach, positions it as a significant player in the beauty industry, continually shaping and redefining the way people perceive and experience beauty products.
In recent years, Coty has undergone strategic transformations and collaborations to further solidify its position in the market. The company has focused on digital innovation, sustainability initiatives, and adapting to evolving consumer preferences to maintain its relevance in the dynamic beauty landscape. But is Coty vegan?
Is Coty Vegan?
No. Coty is not vegan. Coty has a lot of brands in its portfolio and some of them use animal-derived ingredients. In addition, Coty is not considered cruelty-free as it allows tests on animals. Therefore, Coty as a whole is not vegan.
A vegan skincare product does not contain ingredients of animal origin. This means that none of its ingredients are derived from animals or their by-products. In addition, vegan skincare is never tested on animals. Meaning it is always cruelty-free.
Read more about Vegan And Cruelty-Free Skincare: Are They The Same?
Coty Vegan Overview
Is a vegan firm: no
Owns vegan brands: yes
Tests on animals: yes, where required by law
Sells where animal testing is mandatory: yes
Is Coty Cruelty-Free?
No. Coty is not considered a cruelty-free company. While some of its brands are certified cruelty-free or vegan, the company as a whole still allows animal testing, particularly for products sold in markets like China where such testing is required by law.
Even though the beauty firm might refrain from directly conducting animal tests itself, its decision to sell in China involves consenting to potential animal testing by authorities in that market.
Consequently, this choice does not align with cruelty-free principles as it indirectly permits animal testing, thus disqualifying the company from being classified as cruelty-free.
Coty Brands
Coty is known as “a parent company”. It owns a diverse portfolio of prestigious beauty, skincare, fragrance, and makeup brands.
While Coty permits animal testing where mandated by law, some brands it owns have separate policies. Among these brands, some are certified cruelty-free and abstain from selling in regions where animal testing is obligatory. Coty even owns some fully vegan brands.
Please note, that even though some of its brands uphold cruelty-free practices, they are under the ownership of a parent company that isn’t classified as cruelty-free.
CoverGirl
CoverGirl, a prominent cosmetics brand established in 1961 was founded to make makeup accessible and affordable to a wide range of women. The brand has a history of featuring diverse models and celebrities in its advertising campaigns to promote inclusivity. While CoverGirl is not entirely vegan, it offers some vegan options and holds Leaping Bunny certification, signifying its cruelty-free status. See CoverGirl’s vegan product list.
Rimmel
Rimmel is a cosmetics brand established in 1834 by Eugene Rimmel, a French perfumer, in London, England. Originally, Rimmel specialized in perfumes, but it gained prominence for introducing innovative makeup products. While not entirely vegan, Rimmel offers some vegan options and has been certified cruelty-free by Leaping Bunny since 2022, confirming no animal testing. See Rimmel’s vegan product list.
Kylie Skin And Kylie Cosmetics
Kylie Cosmetics was founded by Kylie Jenner, an American media personality. The brand was officially launched in 2015 and it is 100% vegan. Kylie Cosmetics gained immense popularity, particularly for its signature lip kits featuring liquid lipsticks and matching lip liners. Read more: Kylie Cosmetics Vegan Product List
Kylie Jenner, already known for her successful cosmetics line, expanded her business ventures in 2019 into skincare with the creation of Kylie Skin. Kylie Skin is also 100% vegan. Read more: Kylie Skin Vegan Product List
SKKN
In 2022, Kim Kardashian introduced SKKN, aiming to merge expert dermatological knowledge with accessible skincare. Inspired by her journey with psoriasis, Kim sought to develop effective skincare solutions. Despite not containing animal-derived ingredients, SKKN is not classified as vegan due to its association with animal testing, as permitted by law. Read more: Is SKKN Vegan?
Bourjois
Bourjois is a French cosmetics brand established in 1863 and initially focused on theatrical makeup. Over time, the brand expanded its offerings to cater to a wider consumer base, creating cosmetics that blended quality with creativity. Despite its popularity, Bourjois isn’t vegan or cruelty-free due to animal-derived ingredients and allowing animal testing as required by law. Read more: Is Bourjois Vegan & Cruelty-Free?
MaX Factor
Max Factor was founded in 1909 and it revolutionized makeup artistry in Los Angeles with innovative cosmetic formulations tailored for film actors. Despite its popularity, Max Factor isn’t vegan or cruelty-free, using animal-derived ingredients and permitting animal testing where mandated. Read more: Is MaX Factor Vegan & Cruelty-Free
Lancaster
Lancaster Beauty, a renowned skincare brand, was founded in Monaco in 1946 by Georges Wurz, a pioneer in the field of sun care. Georges Wurz introduced innovative suncare products that revolutionized the way people protected their skin from the sun. Despite its reputation, Lancaster Beauty isn’t vegan or cruelty-free. Read more: Is Lancaster Beauty Vegan & Cruelty-Free?
FAQ About Coty
No. Coty is not considered a cruelty-free company. While some of its brands are certified cruelty-free or vegan, the company as a whole still allows animal testing, particularly for products sold in markets like China where such testing is required by law. Even though the beauty firm might refrain from directly conducting animal tests itself, its decision to sell in China involves consenting to potential animal testing by authorities in that market.
Yes. Coty sells in China.
Coty owns various brands, some with separate cruelty-free policies. Brands like Kyle Skin, Kylie Cosmetics, Rimmel, and CoverGirl are cruelty-free and offer vegan products despite being under a non-cruelty-free parent company.
No. Coty is not vegan. Coty has a lot of brands in its portfolio and some of them use animal-derived ingredients. In addition, Coty is not considered cruelty-free as it allows tests on animals. Therefore, Coty as a whole is not vegan.
Summary
Cotu is a well-known parent firm for a lot of skincare, makeup, and beauty product companies. Founded in 1904, it boasts a diverse brand portfolio. While known for its large brand portfolio, the company isn’t cruelty-free or vegan. It allows animal testing where required by law.
However, the company owns various brands, some with separate cruelty-free policies. Brands like Kyle Skin, Kylie Cosmetics, Rimmel, and CoverGirl are cruelty-free and offer vegan products despite being under a non-cruelty-free parent company.
We hope that Coty will take on the goal of going cruelty-free and vegan one day. Until then, keep checking Vegan Avenue for an updated vegan brands list.
See also: Best Vegan Skincare Brands, Best Vegan Makeup
