Is OPI Cruelty-Free and Vegan?

If you want to know is OPI cruelty-free or is OPI vegan you are not alone. The cosmetics brand is one of the well-known brands in nail care and nail polish. Players in the cosmetics industry have been experiencing a shift and a large portion of consumers want to know the animal testing practices of their favorite and popular brands. The interest in cruelty-free and vegan hair care, makeup, skincare cosmetics, and fragrances has been growing steadily over the last decade.

Is OPI Cruelty-Free?

OPI is not cruelty-free. OPI is a well-known cosmetics company that develops and markets a range of popular nail care and nail polish products. The brand’s wide range of products is loved by many people going for different looks. It’s is a popular brand that is unfortunately not cruelty-free.

FACTORS	OPI
CRUELTY-FREE	NO
VEGAN	SOME PRODUCTS
5-FREE	NO (3-FREE)

OPI is one of the brands that is owned by Coty a multinational cosmetic and fragrance giant. The cosmetic brand has chosen to adhere to policies that are similar to those of its parent company. Coty is not cruelty-free and includes some form of animal testing.

Coty allows different brands under its portfolio to operate under different policies. After being acquired by Coty, the brand maintained its policies and conducted testing on animals’ post-production.

Many of the brands under Coty’s portfolio are not cruelty-free including and Rimmel and Max Factor. However, Cover Girl also owned by Coty is cruelty-free.

Coty states that as an international corporation that owns brands that sells worldwide it aims to support an end to animal testing. The company also states that they want to have another brand under it certified as cruelty-free.  Currently, Coty and its brands supply their products to customers through authorized retailers as well as through different official websites. However, different nations have different testing requirements.

Is OPI Sold in China?

Yes, OPI is sold in China. The brand is not cruelty-free because it does agree and it also pays for animal testing. The tests are requirements for the items to be sold in physical stores in Mainland China. The country still insists on all cosmetic brands sold in physical stores in the nation to pay and participate in post-production animal testing.

OPI, just like many other cosmetic brands, has made the decision to market and sell in the Chinese market. The brand has agreed to submit and pay for their products to be tested on animals so as to be allowed to market and sell in Mainland China. Many other companies agree to the testing so as to abide by the mandatory requirements set by Chinese regulators.

Where is Opi Manufactured?

OPI products are made in Carolina. The brand OPI does not manufacture any of its products in China. The products are then shipped to different parts of the world. The brand sources the ingredients used to make the products from different places.

Is OPI 100% Vegan?

OPI is not a brand that is 100% vegan. The brand doesn’t make any claims or label any of its products as vegan.

The brand currently uses animal-by-products and animal-derived ingredients from fish, bugs and other animals when making its products which makes them non-vegan.

It’s advisable to check the list of ingredients if you are searching for OPI vegan products. You could also contact the brands’ customer service for more information on a particular product.

Is OPI Organic and Natural?

OPI is not organic or natural. The company doesn’t make any claims that its products are made with organic or natural ingredients.

Is OPI 5-Free?

No, OPI is 3-free. Some of the nail polish brands are 5-free and also exclude two more toxins namely formaldehyde and camphor. OPI and Essie are two of the most popular nail polish brands used in salons.

Many cosmetics companies have changed their formulas to eliminate toxic compounds from their products. Almost all nail polish brands are 3-free, however, only a few go further and eliminate other toxins. So, if you’re wondering is OPI 5-free? The answer is NO, OPI is only 3-free. The brand excludes toluene, dibutyl phthalate, and formaldehyde in its formulations.

Is OPI Gluten-Free?

OPI is not 100% gluten-free. However, the brand creates many products that are gluten-free. The brand indicates that all of its products that don’t contain wheat protein as an ingredient are in fact gluten-free.

There is no official list of OPI gluten-free products, it’s advisable to contact the customer service for further information on the particular product.

Is OPI PETA Cruelty-Free Approved?

OPI is not PETA approved. The popular nail polish and nail care brand OPI does test on animals and is, therefore, not certified by PETA. Now you have the answer to is OPI cruelty-free?

The brand has never been cruelty-free since it was developed in 1981. After it was acquired by Coty in 2010, the brand did not become cruelty-free.

It can sometimes be difficult to know for sure whether brands are cruelty- free or not.  The confusion is confounded further when it comes to brands that are themselves cruelty-free but owned by brands that are not cruelty-free.

The statements most of the brands make on their websites can also deceptive and aimed at confusing the public. Sometimes brands use words such as “not tested on animals” or cruelty-free”. Many brands also claim that they don’t advocate animal testing which is a rather vague claim.

However, it’s important to note that even though brands don’t conduct any animal testing in their private testing facilities, some companies pay third parties to do it for them. It is also common for brands to use materials from suppliers who conduct tests on animals independently.

The most common type of animal cruelty reported by far in the industry takes place after the final products are developed. Many of the cosmetics brands conform to post-production-testing requirements. Brands agree because they want to access large markets such as Mainland China.

However, there are many American and European brands that remain cruelty-free and don’t adopt the testing policies of their parent companies.

OPI Cruelty-Free

OPI does not have Leaping Bunny certification. Which further answers the question is OPI cruelty-free?

One of the ways of eliminating any doubts related to whether a company is cruelty-free or not is checking the Leaping Bunny or PETA website. The organization has a complete list of brands that have been approved as cruelty-free. Sometimes, organizations that are cruelty-free approved have the bunny logo on their websites, especially under the FAQ. Some even include the bunny on product labels. 

OPI develops great products and has been in the business for many years. The brand has been manufacturing and selling to different parts of the world for ages. The brand has been focused on producing gentle products and is famous for its beautiful range of nail polish.

It is also good to note that not all brands seek certification from different bodies. Different brands have different ways of approaching certification. Some cosmetic brands seek certification from just one organization while others don’t which seems to be the case with OPI.

Where to Buy OPI Products?

OPI products are available on the company’s websites which are different depending on the region. The brand products are also available in many cosmetic product retailers including Ulta, Walmart, and Target. 

The brand expanded to sell and ship to many countries around the world including Belgium, U.S., Ireland, China, Mexico, Brazil, and New Zealand. In some of the locations that the brand ships outside of the U.S. or sells in physical stores, animal testing is still practiced. The choice has made the brand remain not cruelty-free.

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