Veganie has long presented itself as the first French e-shop dedicated to vegan cosmetics, with a catalog boasting over a thousand references. The brand attracted a clientele charmed by the promise of makeup and skincare without animal-derived ingredients, at accessible prices. However, with an online store that has become inaccessible and very polarized customer reviews, the current situation of Veganie deserves a factual examination.
Veganie store unavailable on Shopify: what this really means
The site veganie.com has displayed an unavailable store message for several weeks, managed by the Shopify platform. This type of page appears when a merchant can no longer manage their e-shop, whether due to an unpaid subscription, a contractual dispute with Shopify, or a voluntary decision to close.
For consumers who recently placed orders, this situation poses a direct problem. No orders can be processed or shipped as long as the store remains offline. Requests for refunds or package tracking become difficult to fulfill, as customer service is also cut off.
Field reports vary on this point: some buyers report having received their products before the shutdown without issue, while others describe weeks of waiting without a response. Before placing an order on a site displaying this type of status, it is wise to check if the store has been reactivated, for example by consulting my review of Veganie for recent feedback.
Trustpilot reviews on Veganie: two profiles, two very different ratings
A detail that few consumers notice: Veganie has two distinct profiles on Trustpilot. The first, associated with the domain veganie.com, has a rating of 3.2 out of 5, described as “average.” The second, linked to the URL www.vegan-mania.com (the former domain name), drops to 1.2 out of 5 with 193 reviews, classified as “poor.”
This duality skews perception. The oldest reviews, often the most critical, are found on the second profile. The recurring complaints focus on three points:
- Delivery times significantly exceeded compared to the announced estimates, with orders sometimes never received
- A customer service described as non-existent or only responding with automated messages, without concrete solutions offered
- Products received not matching the description (different shades, damaged packaging, missing items in the package)
In contrast, a few positive reviews praise the quality of the products themselves when they arrive, particularly the lipsticks and facial care items. The main issue does not seem to be the formulation of the cosmetics but the logistical and commercial reliability.
Vegan cosmetics: what the label means (and does not mean) in Europe
The term “vegan” applied to cosmetics does not have a legal definition in European law. Regulation (EC) No. 1223/2009, which governs the safety and labeling of cosmetic products, does not define the notion of “vegan” nor does it provide a verification procedure for brands using this label.
In practice, “vegan” on a cosmetic means that the manufacturer declares not to use animal-derived ingredients in the formulation. This says nothing about the manufacturing conditions, the origin of plant-based raw materials, or the environmental impact of the product.
Confusion with the “cruelty-free” label remains common. A cruelty-free product guarantees the absence of animal testing but may contain animal derivatives (beeswax, lanolin, keratin). Conversely, a vegan cosmetic could theoretically have been tested on animals in a non-European Union country, even though European regulations have prohibited such testing since 2013 for products sold on its market.
Labels and certifications to check
To go beyond the manufacturer’s simple declaration, several independent labels allow verification that a cosmetic meets specific criteria:
- The Vegan Society certification (sunflower logo) verifies the total absence of animal products and animal testing throughout the production chain
- The Leaping Bunny label (CCIC) specifically focuses on the absence of animal testing, with regular audits of suppliers
- The EVE Vegan label, of French origin, certifies both the absence of animal ingredients and compliance with additional environmental criteria
The European anti-greenwashing directive, applicable from September 2026, is expected to strengthen the requirements for justification for all environmental and ethical claims on consumer products, including cosmetics. Brands that use the “vegan” label without third-party certification risk sanctions.
Alternatives to Veganie cosmetics: which reliable vegan brands in France
The closure (temporary or permanent) of the Veganie store leaves a gap for consumers seeking a wide catalog of vegan cosmetics in one place. Several French retailers and brands offer certified ranges, with verifiable traceability.
Brands like Avril, Boho Green Make-Up, or Zao focus their catalog on products that are both certified organic and vegan, with visible labels on each product page. These brands are available in specialized physical stores in Paris and several major cities, as well as on their own e-commerce sites.
Checking for the presence of a third-party label on the packaging remains the most reliable action to ensure that a vegan cosmetic truly lives up to its promises. The INCI list (International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients) also helps identify common animal derivatives like carmine (CI 75470), lanolin, or marine collagen.
The Veganie case illustrates a point often underestimated in the online vegan cosmetics market: the quality of a product is not enough if the logistics and after-sales service do not follow. With the upcoming tightening of European rules on “vegan” and “cruelty-free” claims, brands that rely on solid certifications will gain a decisive advantage over those that settle for a self-declared label.