Estée Lauder
Flagged · AvoidOne of the world's largest cosmetics conglomerates, owning brands including Clinique, MAC, Aveda, Jo Malone, and Tom Ford Beauty.
Last updated May 31, 2026
Reasons to avoid
Issues span:ConsumerEnvironmentPrivacy
- A federal court allowed a securities fraud lawsuit against Estée Lauder to proceed after finding the company plausibly misled investors between 2022 and 2023 by concealing its heavy reliance on prohibited gray-market "daigou" resellers in China. The company agreed to a $210 million settlement in 2025 while insiders sold $306 million in company stock during the same period.
- In January 2026, Estée Lauder pleaded guilty to two counts of violating Canada's Environmental Protection Act after being caught selling eyeliner products containing a PFAS "forever chemical" and then failing to comply with a government order to rectify the violation. The company was fined $750,000 and added to Canada's Environmental Offenders Registry.
- A security researcher discovered in early 2020 that Estée Lauder had left an unprotected database containing over 440 million records — including internal emails, IP addresses, and IT logs — openly accessible on the internet with no password protection. It was unclear how long the database had been exposed before it was reported.
Ethical alternatives
Makeup & Cosmetics
ILIA Beauty
Clean makeup made with organic, skin-loving ingredients. Certified B Corp with cruelty-free formulas and responsible packaging.
✅ B-Corp🐰 Cruelty-Free🌿 Clean Beauty
Visit →
RMS Beauty
Organic, raw, food-grade makeup formulated without toxic chemicals. Founded by a makeup artist focused on ingredient integrity.
🌿 Organic🐰 Cruelty-Free🌿 Clean Beauty
Visit →
Kjaer Weis
Certified organic luxury makeup with refillable, sustainable packaging. High-performance formulas free from synthetic preservatives.
🌿 Organic🐰 Cruelty-Free♻️ Sustainable
Visit →
Ere Perez
Natural, plant-based cosmetics made with food-grade ingredients like oat, avocado, and chamomile. Cruelty-free and independently owned.
🌿 Natural🐰 Cruelty-Free🌿 Clean Beauty
Visit →Skincare
Youth to the People
Certified vegan and cruelty-free skincare using superfood ingredients. Committed to sustainable packaging and ingredient transparency.
🐰 Cruelty-Free♻️ Sustainable🌿 Clean Beauty
Visit →
Pai Skincare
Certified organic skincare formulated for sensitive skin. B Corp certified with transparent sourcing and cruelty-free certification.
✅ B-Corp🌿 Organic🐰 Cruelty-Free
Visit →