Introduction
When it comes to selecting skincare and sun protection products, many of us are increasingly concerned about ethical practices, including whether the brands we choose are cruelty-free. Sun Bum is a popular brand that markets itself as safe and trustworthy, but the question remains: Is Sun Bum Cruelty-Free? As consumers become more aware, it’s crucial to base our decisions on comprehensive research and fact-based insights. Understanding the complexities behind terms like cruelty-free, vegan, and clean can be challenging, especially when the beauty industry’s labels aren’t always straightforward.
In a landscape where transparency is key, Sun Bum has made strides in aligning with the values of its community, promoting sustainable and allergen-free products. However, with the abundance of unregulated terms and labels in the market, it’s important to delve deeper into the brand’s mission and practices. By doing so, we can make more informed choices with the confidence that our selections reflect our personal ethics and the supporting values we hold dear.
Cruelty Free Path Green Beauty Standards: Sun Bum
- Cruelty Free: Certified by PETA or Leaping Bunnies.
- Vegan: Sun Bum isn’t entirely vegan; it includes animal-derived ingredients in some of its products.
- Sustainable: Sun Bum shows some commitment to sustainability by being Hawaii Act 104 Reef Compliant and making their sunscreens free of Oxybenzone and Octinoxate, though their overall efforts aren’t fully detailed.
Is Sun Bum Cruelty-Free?
Yes, Sun Bum is cruelty-free. The brand has confirmed that its finished products and ingredients are not tested on animals at any stage of the manufacturing process. This commitment extends to ensuring that suppliers and third parties involved in the production process also adhere to this standard. Sun Bum has taken steps to ensure that their cruelty-free policy is verified and upheld anywhere in the world, including markets like mainland China where animal testing is often required by law for cosmetic products sold in physical stores.
Sun Bum is listed in Cruelty-Free Checklists and Cruelty-Free Directories, which further validates its status as a cruelty-free brand. The brand’s dedication to maintaining these ethical standards highlights their commitment to producing products that are both effective and aligned with the values of consumers who prioritize animal welfare. This assurance provides peace of mind for those looking to make informed and ethical choices in their beauty and skincare routines.
Is Sun Bum Owned By A Cruelty-Free Parent Company?
No, Sun Bum is not owned by a cruelty-free parent company. Sun Bum is owned by S.C. Johnson, a company that is known to conduct or commission animal testing when required by law, meaning it is not cruelty-free. While Sun Bum itself adheres to strict cruelty-free policies, ensuring their products are not tested on animals, their parent company’s practices do not align with the same ethical standards.
This situation is not uncommon in the beauty industry, where smaller, cruelty-free brands are often owned by larger companies like L’Oreal, Estee Lauder, or Procter & Gamble, which do engage in animal testing. For shoppers who prioritize cruelty-free products, this can present a dilemma. Some choose to support the cruelty-free brand despite the parent company’s practices, while others may opt to boycott the brand altogether to avoid indirectly supporting animal testing. This decision often depends on personal values and the extent to which consumers are willing to engage with the complexities of corporate ownership in the global beauty industry.
Is Sun Bum Sold In China?
No, Sun Bum is not sold in China, which means it does not face the mandatory animal testing regulations required by law in that country. In Mainland China, cosmetic products sold in physical stores must comply with animal testing regulations, which could involve animal cruelty during the registration process or post-market testing. Sun Bum has chosen to avoid this market to maintain its cruelty-free status.
While beauty brands that sell in China often face challenges in bypassing these regulations, some manage to sell online through Hong Kong or other regions where animal testing is not required. However, this is a rare possibility due to the strict regulations in place. By not selling in Mainland China, Sun Bum ensures that its products remain cruelty-free, free from the risks of being tested on animals to comply with local laws.
Cruelty-Free Alternatives
| Skincare Brands | Makeup Brands |
| Pura-D’or | NYX-PROFESSIONAL |
| Youth To The People | Physicians Formula |
| Bio-Oil | Essence |
Is Sun Bum Vegan and ethical?
No, Sun Bum is not fully vegan, as some of its products contain animal-derived ingredients such as beeswax. While the brand is cruelty-free, certain items, like Coco Balm Lip Balms, Tinted Lip Balms, and Baby Bum Diaper Rash Cream, include ingredients that are not suitable for those strictly following a vegan lifestyle.
Despite being PETA and Leaping Bunny certified, which confirms the brand’s commitment to being cruelty-free, Sun Bum does not have full vegan certifications across its entire product line. Products containing beeswax or other animal-derived ingredients like Carmine and Collagen mean that while many of their offerings are vegan, the brand as a whole cannot be considered entirely vegan or free of animal products. For consumers who prioritize vegan and ethical choices, it’s essential to check specific product labels to identify those that align with vegan standards.
Non-Vegan Ingredients to Avoid
For those embarking on a vegan journey, whether it’s refining your beauty regimen or embracing a full vegan lifestyle, I suggest delving into the ingredient lists of your favorite products. Pay close attention to these widely recognized and commonly found animal-based ingredients — they’re the ones to steer clear of for a truly vegan path.
- Lanolin: A waxy substance derived from sheep’s wool, found in moisturizers and lip products.
- Beeswax (Cera Alba): Often used in lip balms, mascaras, and creams.
- Collagen: Often derived from animal connective tissue, found in anti-aging products.
- Keratin: Derived from animal hooves, feathers, and hair, used in hair care products.
- Carmine (Cochineal, Carminic Acid, E120): A red pigment made from crushed cochineal insects, used in lipsticks, blushes, and eyeshadows.
- Guanine (CI 75170): Derived from fish scales, used to add shimmer to cosmetics.
- Honey: Found in moisturizers, lip balms, and masks.
- Squalene: Often sourced from shark liver oil, used in moisturizers and treatments.
- Elastin: Derived from animal connective tissue, used in skin-firming products.
- Shellac: Made from the secretions of the lac insect, used in nail polish and hair products.
- Stearic Acid: Can be derived from animal fats, used in soaps and lotions (though plant–based alternatives exist).
- Tallow (Sodium Tallow ate): Rendered beef or mutton fat, used in soaps and some skincare products.
- Ambergris: Derived from whale vomit, used as a fragrance in some perfumes (synthetic alternatives exist).
- Musk: Originally derived from the glands of musk deer, used in perfumes (now often synthetic).
Vegan Ingredient Alternatives to Look For
Vegan alternatives for animal-derived ingredients include plant-based squalene from olives, wheat germ, and amaranth; collagen from seaweed and algae; carmine substitutes from beetroot and carrots; lanolin replaced by shea, coconut, and olive oils; beeswax with candelilla, carnauba, and vegan waxes; keratin from soy, wheat, and oat proteins; gelatin with agar agar, carrageenan, and guar gum; guanine with synthetic mica or bismuth oxychloride; honey with maple syrup and agave syrup; silk with bamboo and hemp fabrics; and animal fats and oils with coconut, olive, and avocado oils.
Is Sun Bum considered Clean?
No, Sun Bum is not entirely considered a clean beauty brand, but it does make significant strides toward that standard. The brand is known for formulating its products without harmful ingredients like parabens, phthalates, sulfates, and formaldehyde. Additionally, Sun Bum products are Oxybenzone and Octinoxate free, making them Hawaii Act 104 Reef Compliant, which is a positive step toward protecting marine life and coral reefs.
However, the term clean beauty remains controversial and not regulated, which means there are no universal standards for what qualifies as “clean.” While Sun Bum aligns with many strict guidelines for safer ingredient use, such as avoiding synthetic fragrances that may harm human health, animal health, and the environment, it still falls into a gray area where the label clean beauty can be subject to interpretation. Therefore, while Sun Bum is a safer choice for many, it may not meet every consumer’s definition of clean.
Harmful Ingredients You Want To Avoid
Regrettably, numerous ingredients — indeed, thousands — are considered or suspected to be detrimental to humans, animals, and the environment. Clean beauty products often exclude substances like sulfates, silicones, phthalates, parabens, pesticides, petroleum derivatives, artificial colorings, and synthetic fragrances due to these concerns.
Is Sun Bum Fragrance-Free?
Sun Bum is not entirely fragrance-free, but their Signature line, Mineral line, Baby Bum SPF products, SPF Face Lotions, and Daily Mineral Sunscreen Moisturizer are fragrance-free. None of their skincare products contain synthetic fragrances, while the Daily Cleanser, Daily Sunscreen Moisturizer SPF 30, Daily Sunscreen Face Mist SPF 30, and Restoring Face Mask have natural fragrances.
Is Sun Bum Paraben-Free?
Yes, Sun Bum is paraben-free.
Is Sun Bum Gluten-Free?
Yes, all Sun Bum products are gluten-free.
Is Sun Bum Nut-Free?
Sun Bum products may contain nuts.
Is Sun Bum Soy-Free?
Sun Bum products may contain soy.
Is Sun Bum Sustainable?
Sun Bum shows some commitment to sustainability, as they are Hawaii Act 104 Reef Compliant and make their sunscreens Oxybenzone and Octinoxate-free. Their skincare line bottles, tubes, and non-aerosol spray cans are recyclable, and their spray bottles use a pressurized can system with compressed air instead of chemical propellants.
Sustainable Alternatives
| Skincare Brands | Makeup Brands |
| RMS beauty | ILIA Beauty |
| The Inkey List | bare Minerals |
| Supergoop | Tower 28 |
How to check if a Brand is Cruelty-Free and/or Vegan by Yourself?
Easiest Way to Determine a Brand’s Commitment
Navigating the world of cruelty-free and vegan beauty products can seem daunting, but it becomes much simpler when you know where to look. The easiest way to ensure a brand adheres to ethical practices is by looking for third-party certification from reputable organizations like Choose Cruelty-Free, Leaping Bunny, or PETA. These certifications mean the companies have committed to strict guidelines against animal testing. Similarly, for vegan products, the Vegan Society’s Vegan Trademark is a reliable sign that no animal-derived ingredients are in the products. In my journey towards a more conscious lifestyle, discovering these symbols on packaging has become a hallmark of trust, signifying a brand is truly committed to ethical standards.
Questions
Do you conduct animal testing on your products or ingredients?
Do your suppliers engage in animal testing?
What steps do you take to verify they abstain from it?
Do any third parties perform animal testing on your behalf?
Is animal testing carried out by your brand in cases where it’s required by law? Where are your products available for purchase in physical stores (excluding online sales)?
Conclusion
After examining the details, Sun Bum can be confidently identified as a cruelty-free brand, as it does not test on animals at any stage of production, and this policy is upheld by its suppliers and third parties. However, while the brand is owned by a parent company that does conduct animal testing, Sun Bum operates independently in its commitment to ethical practices. For those seeking a brand that aligns with both cruelty-free and partially vegan standards, Sun Bum is a viable choice, although not all of its products are vegan. In conclusion, Sun Bum makes a strong case for conscious consumers looking for a reliable, cruelty-free option in the beauty industry.