Cruelty-Free Makeup & Skincare Brands

*For a master list of CLEAN and cruelty-free brands, please view this page instead.

Cruelty-Free Beauty Brands

Last Updated 6/14/22

Knowing which beauty brands are cruelty-free can be a bit tricky. American brands can state whatever they want on their packaging in regards to animal testing. Unfortunately, these claims are rarely verified and there’s no legal way to reprimand a brand for misleading consumers. Until laws are in place to prevent this, we (consumers) must do our research. Talk about time-consuming, huh?

Before you fret, there’s good news! We’ve taken all of the legwork out for you, and comprised a list of cruelty-free makeup and skincare brands. We’ve verified that these brands and their suppliers do not test ingredients or finished products on animals and do not sell their products in areas where animal testing is required.

We update and audit this list regularly so be sure to bookmark this page! 🙂

Our Definition of Cruelty-Free

“Products that are developed and sold (in places) without animal testing.”

How We Determine Cruelty-Free Brands

Our cruelty-free list only includes brands that meet ALL of the following criteria:

1. The brand does not test its product or individual ingredients on animals.
2. The brand does not hire a third party to test their product or individual ingredients on animals.
3. The brand does not source ingredients from suppliers who test on animals.
4. The brand does not sell its product anywhere that animal testing is required (ex: mainland China).
5. If the brand uses honey, beeswax, milk, or any other animal-derived ingredient in its product, it does not result in harm or death to an animal.

Learn more about Our Clean & Cruelty-Free Standards.

Cruelty-Free Makeup & Skin Care Brands List

You Should Also Know…

• In the United States, there are currently no regulations limiting what a brand can say about its 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 It is out of date and nearly anyone can be put on the list with little to no verification of cruelty-free claims. All PETA requires is a questionnaire and a promissory note.
• A great way to tell if a brand is NOT cruelty-free is to see if they sell their product in mainland China. Regardless of what their website may say, animal testing is required in order to sell beauty products in China unless sold exclusively in Hong Kong. On the other hand, just because a company does not sell its product in China does not automatically mean they are cruelty-free.

This post is not sponsored but may contain affiliate links from which we earn a commission at no additional cost to you. Nothing stated in this article should be used in place of professional medical advice. All opinions are our own.