Cruelty-Free Korean Beauty Brands to Try This Summer

Apr 21, 2021 | BEAUTY, BIZ, Korea

Thanks to Korean beauty brands, switching to a cruelty-free lifestyle has never been this easy. If you want to patronize brands that pride themselves on their ethical approach, we’ve sorted out the clutter to give you the best beauty labels to try.

Are you the type of person who only gets grass-fed beef and free-range eggs, and regularly donates to your local dog shelter? If so, it’s obvious you deeply care about animals. 

But even if you haven’t done all those things before, you may be interested in making the switch to cruelty-free beauty products. Not only are these products beneficial for animals, they are also proven to have lesser harsh chemicals and toxic ingredients compared to run-of-the-mill brands. 

In recent years, Korea has become the leader in the beauty industry with its products that promise amazing anti-aging properties and youthful glow. Because of this, it comes as no surprise that they also cater to those who prefer cruelty-free items.

What Is Cruelty-Free?

When shopping for products, you may have seen the bunny icon with a pink heart on its ears. But what does this symbol really mean?  

Cruelty-free means a product and all its ingredients have never been tested on animals. This label is issued for companies who have signed PETA’s statement of assurance and have passed its verification test, together with their ingredient suppliers. 

Here are some of our favorite Korean beauty brands that offer cruelty-free products.

COSRX

COSRX has become a household name in recent years. The brand is the ultimate choice for people who want to transform their skin using chemical exfoliants. Some of their most beloved products are the Acne Pimple Master Patch, the best-selling Low pH Good Morning Cleanser, and the cult-favorite Advanced Snail Mucin Power Essence.  

Despite having snail mucin and honey-infused items, the ingredients they use are only by-products and they do not do any kind of testing on animals.  

Dear, Klairs

It’s quite challenging for people who have sensitive skin to find the best products for them. Thanks to Dear, Klairs, the search is finally over. This cruelty-free Korean beauty brand only includes the most essential and powerful ingredients in all their products to promote a more youthful, healthier, and better-looking skin. Except for their Manuka Honey, Midnight Blue Calming Cream, and Choco Body Soap, the whole brand is vegan. 

Glow Recipe

Do you want to strip your skincare routine to its simplest? If so, Glow Recipe is a godsend to you. This 100 percent vegan and cruelty-free brand offers sustainable formula for all their products. This is a result of countless hours of working closely with their labs. Some of the best products from the brand are their Watermelon Glow Pink Juice Moisturizer and their Watermelon Glow Sleeping Mask.

Aromatica

This vegan and cruelty-free Korean beauty brand offers organic and all-natural items for everyone. Although “all-natural” products have gotten a bad rep in recent years for causing breakouts, the founders of the brand made sure that every ingredient is both effective and gentle on the skin. If you want to try this brand, the Orange Cleansing Sherbet is a must-have. This product removes the traces of makeup and impurities on the skip while balancing oil production. 

Atrue

Atrue’s claim to fame is unlike any other – their products are infused with black tea water sourced from Compagnie Coloniale, one of France’s oldest tea brands. This allows them to create a one of a kind collection of products that are perfect for all skin types. They also have a very popular green tea range. Despite having honey in some of their products, they are still cruelty-free.

Benton

Benton is a certified cruelty-free Korean beauty brand that only uses ECOCERT ingredients. PETA has even approved this brand as it uses only the best natural ingredients. While some of the products of Benton are not vegan, particularly the ones that contain star ingredients such as bee extract and snail mucin, it’s still an amazing brand to try. For people who want to stick to vegan options, they can purchase the Fermentation Eye Cream and the Tea Tree Cleansing Water.