Who Owns Lancôme?

Lancôme operates under L'Oréal's group-wide sustainability program, "L'Oréal for the Future," which sets targets for 2030. These include using 100% recycled or bio-based plastic in packaging, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 50% per finished product, and sourcing 100% of bio-based ingredients sustainably. As of L'Oréal's 2024 sustainability report, the company reported that 73% of new or renovated products had an improved environmental or social profile.

Lancôme is not certified cruelty-free by Leaping Bunny or PETA. L'Oréal stopped testing finished products on animals in 1989 but continues to sell in mainland China, where post-market animal testing is legally permitted for imported cosmetics. This disqualifies Lancôme from cruelty-free certification under both Leaping Bunny and PETA standards. L'Oréal has invested over €1 billion in alternative testing methods since 1989 and has been a leader in developing in vitro testing technologies, but the China market requirement remains a barrier to certification.

Lancôme is not vegan-certified by The Vegan Society. Some products contain animal-derived ingredients such as beeswax, lanolin, and carmine. The brand has not sought formal vegan certification, though certain individual products are formulated without animal-derived ingredients.

L'Oréal has faced criticism from environmental groups regarding packaging waste in the luxury beauty sector. In response, Lancôme has introduced refillable packaging for several products, including the Absolue skincare line and select fragrances. The brand has also reduced the weight of glass bottles and increased the use of recycled glass. However, critics note that luxury beauty packaging remains resource-intensive.

Lancôme's supply chain includes sourcing of natural ingredients like jasmine, rose, and other botanicals from regions including Egypt, France, and Madagascar. A 2024 BBC investigation found that jasmine used by Lancôme and other luxury perfume brands was picked by minors in Egypt. L'Oréal responded by stating it was "actively committed to respecting the most protective internationally recognised human rights standards" and conducted an on-site human rights impact assessment in January 2024. The company stated it has an action plan with suppliers ahead of the June harvest.

In August 2024, California's Proposition 65 notices of violation were filed against Lancôme by Environmental Health Advocates, Inc. The notices alleged that two Lancôme mascara products, Definicils High Definition Lengthening Mascara and CILS BOOSTER XL Mascara Base, exposed consumers to Diethanolamine (DEA), a chemical listed as a carcinogen under California Proposition 65. The notices alleged that Lancôme and retailer Sephora failed to provide required consumer warnings. The 60-day notices were filed in August 2024. The current status of these claims has not been publicly resolved as of July 2025.

In March 2025, L'Oréal recalled all lots of Effaclar Duo, an acne treatment sold under the La Roche-Posay brand (a L'Oréal sibling brand to Lancôme), in the United States due to benzene contamination. While this recall did not directly involve Lancôme products, it raised questions about benzene contamination risks across L'Oréal's portfolio. The recall was prompted by findings from independent laboratory Valisure, which had flagged benzene contamination in benzoyl peroxide acne treatments in 2024. The FDA did not issue a broader recall mandate as of July 2025.

In February 2024, a BBC investigation reported that jasmine used in Lancôme fragrance products, including Lancôme Idôle L'Intense, was harvested by child laborers in Egypt. The investigation found that minors picked jasmine at farms supplying Givaudan, a fragrance house that produces for Lancôme. L'Oréal stated it was "deeply alarmed" by the findings and that it had conducted an on-site human rights impact assessment in January 2024. Givaudan described the investigation as "deeply alarming" and committed to taking action. The current status is that L'Oréal has implemented an action plan with suppliers and deployed teams to Egypt to evaluate compliance ahead of the 2024 and 2025 harvest seasons.

Lancôme has faced ongoing criticism from animal welfare organizations regarding L'Oréal's sales in mainland China, where post-market animal testing is permitted for imported cosmetics. PETA and other advocacy groups have listed Lancôme as a brand that tests on animals. L'Oréal maintains that it does not test finished products on animals except where required by law and has invested heavily in alternative testing methods. This issue remains unresolved as L'Oréal continues to sell in the Chinese market.