• Browse by: category | company | brand | product type  
  • HOME
  • THE GUIDE
  • ISSUES
  • GET INFORMED
  • GET INVOLVED
  • SHOP
  • ABOUT
  • CONTACT US
  • All  |
  • Baby  |
  • Clothing  |
  • Food & Drink  |
  • Household  |
  • Office Supplies  |
  • Personal Care  |
  • Pet  |
  • Retail  |
  • Technology  |
  • Toys
  • |  Print Guide  |
  • App
  • Clothing  |
  • Electronics  |
  • Food & Drink  |
  • Household & Personal Care
  • Issues  |
  • New! Clothing  |
  • Why Shop Ethically?  |
  • 5 Principles  |
  • Companies to avoid  |
  • News  |
  • Sign Up for Updates
  • Go ethical at school, work, home  |
  • Campaign  |
  • Spread the Word  |
  • Volunteer  |
  • Workshops  |
  • Movie Nights  |
  • Fundraising
  • All Products  |
  • Shop Ethical! app  |
  • Shop Ethical! book  |
  • Stockists  |
  • Other books  |
  • Fregie sacks  |
  • FREE STUFF!  |
  • DONATE
  • Introduction  |
  • About Us  |
  • Ratings & Assessment  |
  • Media Mentions  |
  • Testimonials  |
  • FAQ

elf Cosmetics

OVERALL

Owned
USA
Rating
Praises, some criticism

Cosmetics retailer

Cosmetic brand founded 2004 (e.l.f. stands for eyes, lips, face). In February 2015 private equity firm TPG Growth LLC acquired a majority stake with co-founder Joey Shamah and his family continuing to own a stake. Listed on the New York Stock Exchange in September 2016. Products are not tested on animals and makeup brushes use synthetic alternatives to animal hair. Acquired skin care brand Naturium in 2023.

elf Beauty Inc   USA     website   email   facebook   twitter

> About the Ratings

Company Assessment

PRAISE CRITICISM INFORMATION
elf Beauty Inc
Animals Cruelty free company
This company has either signed PETA's statement of assurance or provided a statement verifying that they do not conduct or commission any animal tests.
Source: PETA (2023)
Business Ethics Fined for North Korea sanction flout
In 2019 this company dodged a US$40 million fine by agreeing to pay just under US$1 million to settle a civil liability case for 156 'apparent' violations of the North Korea Sanctions Regulations, according to reports from The Guardian and CNBC. The mass market beauty brand was found to have imported 156 shipments of false eyelash kits worth US$4.43 million from two Chinese suppliers over a period of almost five years. The suppliers in question had sourced materials for the kits from North Korea. The brand could have been slapped with penalties amounting to US$40 million for the infraction but the fact that it self-reported and the kits accounted for less than 1 percent of revenue caused the Treasury to be lenient on this occasion.
Source: news article (2019)
Business Ethics How2Recycle member
This company is a member of How2Recycle. The How2Recycle Label is a voluntary, standardized labeling system that clearly communicates recycling instructions to the public. It involves a coalition of forward thinking brands who want their packaging to be recycled and are empowering consumers through smart packaging labels. Companies must be a member of the program to use the How2Recycle Label.
Source: How2Recycle (2023)
Social Skin Deep hazard scores
Skin Deep is an online safety guide to cosmetics and personal care products and their potential hazards and health concerns, with over 75,000 products rated from 1 (low hazard) to 10 (high hazard).
Source: Environmental Working Group (2019)
Business Ethics CEO Pay Ratio of 42:1
In 2022 the median pay for a worker at this company was US$123,656. The CEO was paid 42 times this amount. Exorbitant CEO pay is a major contributor to rising inequality. CEOs are getting more because of their power to set pay, not because they are increasing productivity or possess specific, high-demand skills. The economy would suffer no harm if CEOs were paid less (or taxed more). In contrast, the CEO-to-typical-worker compensation ratio was 20-to-1 in 1965 and 58-to-1 in 1989.
Source: AFL-CIO (2023)

> About the Icons

Company Details

Type Public company
Founded 2004
Revenue 191 million USD (2015)
Employees 159 (2017)

Contact Details

Address Oakland, California, USA
Email help@elfcosmetics.com
Website www.elfcosmetics.com

Products / Brands

elf Cosmetics
e.l.f. Cosmetics
Naturium Skin Care


  • About Us

    • Introduction
    • About Shop Ethical!
    • About ECG
    • About the Ratings
    • Assessment sources
    • Shop Ethical! database
    • Shop Ethical! book
    • Shop Ethical! app
    • Contact us
    • FAQ

    • Copyright
    • Privacy
    • Disclaimer
  • Get Informed

    • ISSUES
    • GET INFORMED
    • Electronics Guide
    • Clothing Guide
    • Values Screen
    • Why Shop Ethically?
    • 5 Principles
    • Be Inspired
    • Calendar
    • Local Harvest
  • Get Involved

    • GET INVOLVED
    • Go Ethical at school,
      work, home, church
    • Run a workshop or tour
    • Host a movie night
    • Spread the word
    • Resources
    • Volunteer
    • Support us
  • Connect

    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Suggest brand/company
    • Report an error
    • Give feedback
    • Sign up for updates
    • Past newsletters
    • >>DONATE<<

    • GET the GUIDE
        • App Store
        • Google Play
        • buy our book