Cruelty-Free Beauty

Making the switch to cruelty-free beauty products isn’t as hard as you’d think! There are actually quite a few brands to choose from, some of them you’re likely already using! Knowing which brands are cruelty-free can be a bit tricky, however. For this reason, I’ve comprised a list of current cruelty-free makeup and skincare brands, ranging from drugstore to high-end.

The brands on my list are either listed in the Leaping Bunny Program database or have confirmed they are cruelty-free with myself or another trusted party directly (reputable bloggers, etc.) For now, I’ve only included well-known brand names but will be updating the list regularly with new CF brands of all types.

Before We Start

Before we dive into the list, I feel it’s important to explain a few things to you:

1. There are varying degrees of “cruelty-free“. For example, a cruelty-free brand may be owned by a parent company that is not cruelty-free. While the child brand has every right to deem themselves cruelty-free, some people may not be comfortable supporting them due to the parent company’s animal testing policies.
2. Vegan and cruelty-free are not the same. Cruelty-free only refers to the absence of animal testing. Brands can still be deemed “cruelty-free” if they use animal by-product in their formulas (beeswax, goat’s milk, etc.). On the other hand, a brand can be completely vegan but test their products on animals.
3. The Leaping Bunny Program is the best source for finding cruelty-free brands. The Leaping Bunny Program was created by eight national animal protection groups, also known as the Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics (CCIC). Every brand listed in the Leaping Bunny database have been thoroughly investigated and verified as cruelty-free. To earn this certification, not only is the brand itself investigated but all the other companies that have a hand in the creation of the product (ingredient source, lab, distributor, etc.).

Navigating The Brand List

I have broken the list down into five main sections, drugstore, high-end/ specialty store, indie, organic/natural and professional.

For your convenience, I have also noted which cruelty-free brands are vegan, leaping bunny certified and/or owned by a parent company that is not cruelty-free using the icons below.

= Vegan
= Leaping Bunny Program Certified
= Owned by a parent company that is NOT cruelty-free
= Assumed to be cruelty-free but not 100% clear

Cruelty-Free Makeup & Skin Care Brands List

Last Updated: July 31st, 2018

*Although I have conducted a large amount of research to comprise this list, I cannot guarantee that it is 100% without error. I will be updating the list regularly, however, don’t be afraid to reach out to a brand directly if you’re uncertain about something. I’m happy to reach out for you if you would prefer, just submit a request here.  

You Should Also Know…

• In the United States, there are currently no regulations limiting what a brand can say about their animal testing policies. This gives brands the power to put just about anything on their labels, even if it is misleading to consumers. Having a random image of a bunny or the words “not tested on animals” on the packaging does not always mean the brand is cruelty-free. This is why conducting your own research is vital.
• PETA’s Beauty Without Bunnies is not a great resource. It is out of date and nearly anyone can be put on the list with little to no verification of cruelty-free claims.
• A great way to tell if a brand is NOT cruelty-free is to see if they sell their product in China or Brazil. Regardless of what their website may say, animal testing is required in order to sell beauty products in those countries. However, just because a company does not sell their product in China or Brazil does not automatically mean they are cruelty-free.

Disclaimer: May contain affiliate links. All opinions are my own.