Is Olay Vegan & Cruelty-Free In 2024?

By Anett Rannamets. Updated: January 2024.
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Olay, the renowned skincare and beauty brand, was founded by South African chemist and entrepreneur Graham Wulff in 1952. Olay’s website is https://www.olay.com/.

Graham Wulff’s vision for Olay was to create a skincare product that would be gentle on the skin while providing effective moisturization. He sought to offer women a way to achieve healthier and more youthful-looking skin. The brand’s first product, initially named the “Oil of Olay Beauty Fluid,” aimed to provide skin nourishment without the heavy, greasy feel of many other moisturizers of its time.

Olay’s commitment to effective and gentle skincare has made it a trusted and widely recognized name in the beauty industry, offering a diverse range of products tailored to address various skincare needs. But is Olay vegan?

Is Olay Vegan?

No, Olay is not vegan. Olay uses animal-derived ingredients in its products. In addition, Olay is not cruelty-free.

Olay Vegan Overview

Is a vegan brand: no
Uses non-vegan ingredients: yes
Has a vegan selection: no
Tests on animals: yes
Sold where animal testing is mandatory: yes
Has a parent company that tests on animals: yes (Procter & Gamble)

Does Olay Have Official Vegan Certifications?

No. Olay does not have any vegan certifications. Olay is not a vegan brand as it uses animal-based ingredients.

Has Olay Indicated Going Vegan?

No. Olay has not indicated going vegan. 

Does Olay Test on Animals?

Yes. Olay does not perform any animal tests on its products by itself. However, Olay allows animal testing where it is required by law.

We quote: “We do not test our products on animals. Olay is working closely with governments around the world to provide alternative research methods to eliminate testing on animals, enabling cruelty-free skin care in the beauty industry. For example, in a few countries where Olay is sold, governments still mandate animal tests. In those cases, Olay can be required by law to submit our products to labs where we know animal tests are happening. This is why we do not claim cruelty-free on our packaging.” 

Is Olay Certified Cruelty-Free?

No. Olay is not certified cruelty-free. Olay allows tests on animals where it is required by law. Therefore, Olay cannot be considered cruelty-free.

Who Owns Olay?

Olay is owned by Procter & Gamble (P&G), a multinational consumer goods company based in the United States. P&G acquired Olay in 1985. Since then, Olay has been one of the many brands under the Procter & Gamble umbrella. 

P&G is not a cruelty-free firm. Therefore, Olay is also owned by a non-cruelty-free company.

Which Olay Products Are Vegan?

None of Olay’s products are considered to be vegan as Olay allows tests on animals where it is required by law.

Summary

Olay, the well-known skincare and beauty brand, was founded in 1952 by a South African chemist. The aim was to create gentle yet effective skincare products that could help women achieve healthier and more youthful-looking skin. 

However, Olay is not a vegan brand, as it uses non-vegan ingredients and allows animal testing where required by law. The company is not certified as cruelty-free and is owned by Procter & Gamble (P&G).

We hope that Olay will take on the goal of going cruelty-free and fully vegan one day. Until then keep checking in on Vegan Avenue for an updated vegan product list.

See also: Best Vegan Skincare Brands

Anett is a passionate journalist, writer, and magazine editor with almost 7 years of experience. Through engaging articles, she brings kinder and more environmentally-friendly choices closer to everybody.