Is OGX Cruelty-Free and Vegan?

Established in 2006, OGX is a beauty brand that makes hair care and body care products. The brand makes hair products like shampoos and conditioners, as well as finishing mists, hairsprays, mousses, serums, and hair masks.

It also makes and distributes body care products, such as body wash, oils, and lotion.

OGX was acquired in 2016 by Johnson & Johnson, a company that tests on animals. Ever since this acquisition, many of our readers are keen to know whether OGX still maintains its cruelty-free policy.

This is why we researched OGX to see if the brand is still cruelty-free or if the policy of Johnson & Johnson has rubbed off on the brand.

Is OGX Cruelty-Free?

Animal cruelty practices involve testing the safety and efficiency of new products on animals. However, being cruelty-free is much more than avoiding internal laboratory trials on animals.

It is a practice that extends outside of the cosmetic brand’s walls and into the market and after-market activities.

For a brand and its products to truly be considered cruelty-free, they have to meet the following criteria:

• None of their products must be tested on animals.
• Products should not be tested on animals even when this is required by law.
• None of the products should be available for sale in physical stores in China.

Does OGX Test Its Products On Animals?

Looking at the above, we can confirm that OGX is not cruelty-free.

The brand itself says that, although it shares concerns about the risks of animal testing and that this practice should be obsolete already, it still tests on animals when the law in the operating country requires this.

Violating one of our requirements for being cruelty-free, OGX cannot, therefore, be considered to be cruelty-free.

As confirmed by the company in its animal testing policy above, we can see OGX tests on animals. This information comes from both its website and PETA’s website.

On PETA’s site, OGX is currently blacklisted as an animal testing brand, as you can find in the screenshot below:

Does OGX Test Its Products On Animals Even When Required By Law?

OGX says it is against animal-testing practices and supports actions against them. However, OGX also says it tests on animals wherever they are required to do so.

Again, this information can be found on their official website.

Does OGX Sell Its Products In China?

Cosmetic products made in foreign countries and sold via cross-border shipping are not actually subjected to animal testing in mainland China.

This is a way many foreign brands that sell in China are able to keep their status. However, OGX products are available in physical stores in China – not just via online commerce.

For example, OGX products are sold in Watson’s, the biggest convenience store in Asia.

Is OGX Cruelty-Free Certified?

OGX is not accredited by PETA or by any other cruelty-free organizations in the world. This is apparently because of its animal testing policy and its decision to start selling in China.

Thus, it has no cruelty-free certification for any of its products.

Is OGX Owned By a Parent Company?

OGX is currently owned by another company, Johnson & Johnson, an American pharmaceutical and consumer goods brand.

In fact, not long after Johnson & Johnson came onboard, OGX started selling in China and veered away from its anti-animal testing policy of pre-2016.

Is OGX Vegan-Friendly?

OGX is not completely vegan. Some of its products contain ingredients that are derived from animals. However, they have some vegan products in both hair and body product categories.

Some examples include:

• Extra Strength Biotin & Collagen Shampoo (Hair)
• Deeply Restoring + Pracaxi Recovery Conditioner (Hair)
• Extra Strength Biotin & Collagen Conditioner (Hair)
• Kandee Johnson’s Pop Glam Ultra-hydrating Conditioner (Hair)
• EUCALYPTUS MINT BODY COLLECTION BODY WASH (Body)
• Hydrate + Marula Oil Body Wash (Body)
• Lavender Essential Oil Body Wash (Body)

Check out their vegan offerings on the OGX website

Summary

OGX used to be cruelty-free until 2016 when it was acquired by Johnson & Johnson. Since then, it started selling in China and doing animal testing.

The brand is also not completely vegan, although it has a lot of vegan-friendly products on offer.

It has no cruelty-free certification from any animal organization and is currently listed by PETA as a company to avoid for its animal testing policy and presence in mainland China.