How Many Beauty Products Are Actually Made in the USA?
Ahhh the joys of shopping. Who doesn’t love a good beauty haul? Organizing and adding to your prized beauty and skincare collection can be so rewarding, but when was the last time you thought about where your products came from? If you check the packaging, you might notice the “Made in…” claim, with most of them coming from all over the world. Does it really matter what country your products come from?
Supporting USA-manufactured beauty brands comes with many benefits, including peace of mind. When you shop products made in the USA, you're supporting businesses that typically treat their employees ethically and have a safe working environment, a far cry from the oftentimes inhumane labor practices going on overseas. You're also more likely to end up with a higher quality product in your hands, especially if you're willing to spend a few dollars extra and shop from indie brands. On top of everything else, you can feel good about helping the economy thrive in the country where you live.
When shopping around though, it can be difficult to tell what is and isn’t manufactured in the US. That’s why we’re taking a closer look at where beauty products are actually manufactured before making it to store shelves.
First, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is the agency that sets the standards as to when a product can claim to be made in the USA. However, there’s no approval process in making this claim, meaning the FTC does not regulate or grant approval to companies who make this claim on their packaging. Companies are expected to know the standards and only make the “Made in USA” claim if it’s truthful. Essentially they’re going off the honor system. It isn’t until complaints are made that the FTC will launch an investigation.
Second, some companies try to skirt around the Made in USA claim by rewording it to “Designed in USA.” While the packaging may have been designed by someone in the US, this claim and other similarly worded ones don’t mean the product was actually manufactured in the US. A bit sneaky, isn’t it?
Look through the websites and social pages of the brands you’re interested in to determine if they manufacture here in the US. Since "Made in USA" is a great selling point, most companies will point this out in relatively prominent areas in their marketing. Many will even have a section of their website dedicated to it (including us here at Henné!). Just check their Mission or About pages.
L’Oréal proudly claims on their website that more than 2/3 of its US sold products are manufactured in the US. Here’s a spoiler for the rest of the list though: L’Oréal is the exception, not the rule.
2. Estée Lauder
Estée Lauder is a universal brand known for its high-end skincare and makeup. Based on their website, they seem to manufacture all across the globe from Asia, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and the Americas. They don’t specify how much they manufacture in each region though.
3. Chanel
While Chanel clothing, bags and other products are made in a handful of countries in Europe, it seems that their beauty products are manufactured in France. While their products aren’t natural, we do have to give them props for having their manufacturing in a country known for its quality!
4. Shiseido
This Japanese cosmetic company manufactures solely in Japan. A plus if you prefer Asian beauty products.
5. Nivea
Nivea is a German personal care brand most well known for their lotions and face creams. While they do mention that their suppliers are located around the world, (ironically on their ‘Honesty and Transparency’ page) they aren’t as transparent when it comes to sharing which countries those are nor where Nivea US products are manufactured.
6. Coty
Coty is the parent company of well-known brands such as Sally Hansen, CoverGirl, Rimmel, and Philosophy, as well as many others. In their Modern Slavery Statement, they claim that 80% of their products are manufactured in the US, Europe, Brazil, and China. They don’t specify what percentage of that 80% are made in the US.
7. Procter & Gamble
Procter & Gamble is the parent company to brands such as Old Spice, Olay, and Secret. They don’t give specifics to where they manufacture but do mention their suppliers are global.
8. Unilever
Unilever is home to Love Beauty & Planet, Dove, and Vaseline. They state that 61% of this company’s manufacturers come from Asia and Europe. While they have manufacturers across the globe, their North American manufacturers only make up 7% of the total.
9. Johnson & Johnson
Johnson & Johnson is known for brands such as Aveeno, Clean & Clear, and Neutrogena. While they don’t specify where their manufacturers are located, they do mention having 45,000 suppliers across the globe.
10. Mary Kay
Known for their beauty products and skincare, Mary Kay states that they mainly manufacture in the US, though they do have manufacturing in China as well.
Here at Henné we formulate and produce everything in-house, meaning we oversee production from start to finish, ensuring each Henné product is consistent in its high quality. Since these top beauty brands manufacture all over the world, they most likely have third party contractors mass-producing their products, which means they don’t have as much oversight in each batch of goods. On top of that, each Henné product is lovingly handcrafted by our small, close-knit team, something you won’t find in mass-produced goods.
So the next time you’re shopping for your new beauty favorite, consider a brand that exclusively manufactures right here in the US (like Henné!).
Supporting USA-manufactured beauty brands comes with many benefits, including peace of mind. When you shop products made in the USA, you're supporting businesses that typically treat their employees ethically and have a safe working environment, a far cry from the oftentimes inhumane labor practices going on overseas. You're also more likely to end up with a higher quality product in your hands, especially if you're willing to spend a few dollars extra and shop from indie brands. On top of everything else, you can feel good about helping the economy thrive in the country where you live.
When shopping around though, it can be difficult to tell what is and isn’t manufactured in the US. That’s why we’re taking a closer look at where beauty products are actually manufactured before making it to store shelves.
But First, What Does “Made in USA” Even Mean?
When you take a look at the outer packaging of your beauty products, they usually say “Made in USA”, “Made in China” or whichever country produced it. But when claiming to be made here in the US, what does that actually mean? In the world of packaging regulations, these claims can be confusing to navigate, especially when “Made in USA” doesn’t necessarily guarantee the product is actually made in the USA.First, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is the agency that sets the standards as to when a product can claim to be made in the USA. However, there’s no approval process in making this claim, meaning the FTC does not regulate or grant approval to companies who make this claim on their packaging. Companies are expected to know the standards and only make the “Made in USA” claim if it’s truthful. Essentially they’re going off the honor system. It isn’t until complaints are made that the FTC will launch an investigation.
Second, some companies try to skirt around the Made in USA claim by rewording it to “Designed in USA.” While the packaging may have been designed by someone in the US, this claim and other similarly worded ones don’t mean the product was actually manufactured in the US. A bit sneaky, isn’t it?
So, How Do You Tell if a Company Manufactures in the USA?
Companies that truly manufacture solely in the US will proudly display the claim anywhere and everywhere. Though we know the “Made in USA” claim isn’t regulated, most companies aren’t going to take the risk of lying to customers. In the event that they’re caught, their reputation would take a massive hit, and customers would be left wondering what else the company is lying to them about.Look through the websites and social pages of the brands you’re interested in to determine if they manufacture here in the US. Since "Made in USA" is a great selling point, most companies will point this out in relatively prominent areas in their marketing. Many will even have a section of their website dedicated to it (including us here at Henné!). Just check their Mission or About pages.
And Now the (Not So) Surprising Truth About Where Your Cosmetics Are Made
Today we’re breaking down the top 10 beauty producers and where they manufacture. Keep in mind, most of these are parent companies, so if you really want to be sure, you should check your favorite brands to see who owns them. You may just be surprised where your skincare and makeup come from.Top Ten Beauty Producers Based on Sales:
1. L’OréalL’Oréal proudly claims on their website that more than 2/3 of its US sold products are manufactured in the US. Here’s a spoiler for the rest of the list though: L’Oréal is the exception, not the rule.
2. Estée Lauder
Estée Lauder is a universal brand known for its high-end skincare and makeup. Based on their website, they seem to manufacture all across the globe from Asia, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and the Americas. They don’t specify how much they manufacture in each region though.
3. Chanel
While Chanel clothing, bags and other products are made in a handful of countries in Europe, it seems that their beauty products are manufactured in France. While their products aren’t natural, we do have to give them props for having their manufacturing in a country known for its quality!
4. Shiseido
This Japanese cosmetic company manufactures solely in Japan. A plus if you prefer Asian beauty products.
5. Nivea
Nivea is a German personal care brand most well known for their lotions and face creams. While they do mention that their suppliers are located around the world, (ironically on their ‘Honesty and Transparency’ page) they aren’t as transparent when it comes to sharing which countries those are nor where Nivea US products are manufactured.
6. Coty
Coty is the parent company of well-known brands such as Sally Hansen, CoverGirl, Rimmel, and Philosophy, as well as many others. In their Modern Slavery Statement, they claim that 80% of their products are manufactured in the US, Europe, Brazil, and China. They don’t specify what percentage of that 80% are made in the US.
7. Procter & Gamble
Procter & Gamble is the parent company to brands such as Old Spice, Olay, and Secret. They don’t give specifics to where they manufacture but do mention their suppliers are global.
8. Unilever
Unilever is home to Love Beauty & Planet, Dove, and Vaseline. They state that 61% of this company’s manufacturers come from Asia and Europe. While they have manufacturers across the globe, their North American manufacturers only make up 7% of the total.
9. Johnson & Johnson
Johnson & Johnson is known for brands such as Aveeno, Clean & Clear, and Neutrogena. While they don’t specify where their manufacturers are located, they do mention having 45,000 suppliers across the globe.
10. Mary Kay
Known for their beauty products and skincare, Mary Kay states that they mainly manufacture in the US, though they do have manufacturing in China as well.
The Takeaway
In conclusion, most bigger brands are vague about where their products are produced, and it's even harder to figure out how much they outsource their manufacturing to third parties - an extremely common practice. Still, a lot of cosmetic production takes place in Western countries which overall is a positive. But keep in mind that large-scale cosmetic manufacturing is a highly automated process with few humans involved, so it makes sense that some bigger players (and often penny crunchers) deem it affordable to even have a portion of their production here in the US.Here at Henné we formulate and produce everything in-house, meaning we oversee production from start to finish, ensuring each Henné product is consistent in its high quality. Since these top beauty brands manufacture all over the world, they most likely have third party contractors mass-producing their products, which means they don’t have as much oversight in each batch of goods. On top of that, each Henné product is lovingly handcrafted by our small, close-knit team, something you won’t find in mass-produced goods.
So the next time you’re shopping for your new beauty favorite, consider a brand that exclusively manufactures right here in the US (like Henné!).
