Folks, just to reiterate, I will no longer be accepting comments regarding what brands are/are not cruelty free UNLESS the commenter provides a link to the relevant information. I get tons of comments that just say “XYZ company is cruelty free!” with no backup information. These can be inaccurate and will be deleted. Please provide backup information. It’s important to do your research and verifying sources before claiming a company is or is not cruelty-free.
Thanks for being concerned about animals! I’m both a glitter lover and an animal lover, but it’s very important to me to use cruelty-free products on my nails, on my blog and in my shop. Cosmetics testing done on animals are cruel, unnecessary and just plain wrong. Be fabulous, not cruel! Support brands that don’t engage in animal testing or pay others to do so. Every dollar counts! Personally, I avoid all companies that test and their subsidiaries, even if those subsidiaries do not engage directly in animal testing. It’s a personal choice, of course, but that’s the official NTMG stance. I have a limited number of dollars, and I choose not to enrich companies that use animal testing in any of their brands. Why put money in the hands of companies that are OK with cruelty? I choose to spend with companies that don’t test at all. Other folks will use a cruelty-free brand that’s owned by a corporation that tests, but I don’t consider that to be acceptable as a truly cruelty-free option. Again, just a personal choice.
One big issue in 2016 and beyond is China. All kinds of made-in-China products from cosmetics to dog good have a truly pitiable safety record, yet the Chinese government requires animal testing on Western branded cosmetics before they’re allowed on the Chinese market. It just knocks my socks off. China is a country where baby formula was tainted with toxic melamine to make the suppliers a few extra bucks. They literally poisoned babies for profit. But they’re worried about hand cream from Switzerland. But, all that aside, this means that Western companies who want to sell in China will need to agree to animal testing to do so. Simply distilled, they are willing to test on animals to have access to that market. Whenever you see phrases like, “We test only when required by law or by regulatory agencies,” or “We do not test our products, formulations and ingredients on animals except in rare cases when required by government regulations,” then you know they’ll put profit before principles.
My source for companies that test/don’t test is Caring Consumer, compiled and regularly updated by PeTA. While I don’t always agree 100% with them, I trust their data.
Update: 6/13/14: There’s a new app for iPhone called Cruelty Cutter, which allows you to scan products as you shop to learn more about the cruelty-free (or not) status of the manufacturer. I don’t use it myself, as I don’t have an iPhone, but thought it might be of interest to some of you. Check it out! It’s free. 🙂
Brands that DO Test on Animals or Are Owned By Parent Companies who Test On Animals:
- Almay- Brand itself is cruelty-free but owned by Revlon, who does currently test on animals.
- Aussie
- Aveeno (Aveeno, Clean & Clear, Listerine, Lubriderm, Neutrogena, Rembrandt, ROC, tests cosmetic products in addition to their medical products)
- Avon. Avon was the first major cosmetics company to end animal testing on both on its finished product and ingredients in 1989, but appears to have re-started in 2012 to expand into the China market. What a joke.
- Bic
- Bobbi Brown- Allegedly not currently not testing on animals but parent company resumed in 2012.
- Borghese
- Burt’s Bees– sold out to Chlorox, a testing company. Chlorox Bee’s just doesn’t have the same ring to it, does it?
- Chanel- check this link out: http://rswack.blogspot.sg/2011/07/does-chanel-animal-test.html
- Clairol
- Clean and Clear
- Clinique– owned by Estee Lauder, who has resumed testing in 2012.
- Coppertone
- Cover Girl (Proctor and Gamble)
- Dial
- Dolce & Gabana
- Dove
- Essie– used to be cruelty free as an independent brand but was acquired by L’Oreal, which is not cruelty free.
- Estee Lauder– unfortunately resumed animal testing in 2012 after a two decade moratorium. Boo! This affects Aveda, Bobbi Brown, Bumble + Bumble, La Mer, Prescriptives, Origins, Clinique, MAC and several other subsidiary companies.
- Garnier
- Gilette
- Hawaiian Tropic
- Head and Shoulders
- Johnson and Johnson
- Jovan
- JOOP
- Kiehl’s
- Lancome
- L’Oreal (Kérastase, Matrix, Mizani, Redken, L’Oréal Paris, Garnier, Maybelline New York, SoftSheen-Carson, Biotherm, The Body Shop, Cacharel, Diesel Perfumes, Giorgio Armani Parfums, Guy Laroche, Helena Rubinstein, Paloma Picasso, Ralph Lauren, Shu Uemura, Victor et Rolf parfum, Dermablend, La Roche-Posay, SkinCeuticals, Vichy Laboratoires.) L’Oreal says they don’t “generally” test but will not sign a statement confirming it, so for safety’s sake, they go on the Bad Guy list). They do test for their China market.
- MAC, see Estee Lauder.
- Mary Kay. Resumed in 2012 in order to comply with Chinese regulations to sell in China. What a joke.
- Maybelline
- Marc Jacobs (perfumes and cosmetics)
- Max Factor
- NARS, owned by Shiseido*.
- Neutrogena
- Nicole by OPI
- NUXE, unfortunately now selling in China.http://www.crueltyfreekitty.com/does-nuxe-test-on-animals/ Boo! I really liked this brand back in the day. 😦
- NYC Cosmetics- owned by Coty
- NYX- Boo! Acquired by L’Oreal Q2 2014. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-06-18/l-oreal-agrees-to-acquire-u-s-makeup-artist-brand-nyx-cosmetics.html
- Philopsophy
- Proctor and Gamble (Always, Aussie, Cover Girl, Clairol, Crest, Downey, Eukanuba, Febreze, Gillette, Head & Shoulders, Iams, Infusium 23, Ivory, Joy, Max Factor, Mr. Clean, Olay, Pampers, Pantene, Physique, Puffs, Scope, Secret, Swiffer, Tampax, Tide, Zest, Old Spice)
- Pure Ice
- Revlon (Used to be one of the Bad Guys, then stopped testing, then resumed again in 2012 for overseas sales.)
- Rimmel- parent company Coty, who does test on animals
- Sally Hansen– Seems to have flip flopped, went to the dark side after being acquired by Del/Coty.
- Sephora by OPI
- Shiseido*. Shiseido says they’ve stopped animal testing. Mostly. Sort of. Under certain circumstances, kind of. http://www.lavieengreen.com/blog/shiseido-to-abolish-animal-testing-for-cosmetics
- Smashbox. Was cruelty free but has been purchased by L’Oreal.
- Stila. Same old China BS story. http://phyrra.net/2013/10/stila-cosmetics-longer-cruelty-free.html
- St. Ives, after being purchased by Unilever.
- Tarte, after being purchased by Kose. I am really mad about this one! They make a big deal out of their “cruelty free, vegan products” but sold out to a Japanese (yikes!) company that tests on animals. Yeah, you’re really concerned with animals. The Flaming Vegan says it better here: http://www.theflamingvegan.com/view-post/The-Tarte-Dilemma-and-the-Search-for-Truly-Cruelty-Free-Cosmetics-1
- Unilever (Axe, Dove, Lux, Ponds, Suave, Sunsilk, Vaseline, Caress, Degree, Lever 2000.)
- Urban Decay is NO LONGER CRUELTY FREE. This has been a soap opera and a half. They were cruelty-free and for years, but in early 2012 decided to start selling cosmetics in China, which would likely require animal testing. (Animal testing is OK as long as it opens a new market?) As of July 2012, they have announced they WILL NOT be selling in China and thusly will not be conducting animal testing, so I suppose they’re still on the “good guy” list. UD has been purchased by L’Oreal, a company that does test on animals. Lookss like they’re not committed to cruelty-free status if the $ is right. Shame on them! Q1 2014 Update: For some reason, they are on the PeTA Do Not Test list at the moment, not sure why that is, but since the above facts hold true, I’m avoiding them.
- Victoria’s Secret. Boo! This was a good mass-market option for cruelty-free stuff, but unfortunately, they’ve sold out to sell in China. http://www.logicalharmony.net/victorias-secret-is-no-longer-cruelty-free/#axzz3Hq8q1PHt
- Yves St Laurent, owned by L’Oreal.
Cruelty-Free Companies- Spend your $$$ Here As mentioned above, these companies do not test on animals and have either sent me an email confiming it or signed a statement.
- American International Industries (China Glaze, Seche, 5 Second Nail Glue, ESN European Secret Nails)
- Barry M
- Bath and Body Works. Fuzzy. The brand is cruelty free but owned by L Brands, who is pursuing the China market with their Victoria’s Secret cosmetics, but B&BW is not sold there now. PeTA still says they’re cruelty free as of 12/22/14. http://goo.gl/OJDZ5F Still seeing what’s cooking with this.
- Bonnie Bell
- Butter London- also vegan
- Cleancolor
- Crabtree & Evelyn
- Color Club- not only cruelty free but vegan too!
- DuWop Cosmetics
- e.l.f
- FingerPaints
- Garden Botanika
- GOSH Cosmetics (vegan too)
- Hard Candy
- Jane Cosmetics
- Julep
- Kiss Products (nail glues, etc.)
- Kiss My Face– Face and body care.
- Kleancolor. http://www.kleancolor.com/nav/faq.html
- LA Girl
- LUSH
- Milani
- Method– Hand soaps, household cleaners, etc. Not technically cosmetics but a brand I personally use and vouch for. The Blue Poppy foaming hand soap is fab! Lots of cruelty-free home cleaning products too!
- Nubar- Not only formaldehyde, DBP and tolulene free, but vegan and with an awesome formula
- Pacifica- vegan too! http://www.peta.org/blog/petas-beauty-without-bunnies-program-welcomes-pacifica/
- Paul Mitchell Haircare
- Physician’s Formula
- OCC Cosmetics (vegan too) If you love crazy colors, check these guys out.
- Orly
- Sally Beauty Supply House Brand Nail Polish
- Spa Ritual- vegan too!
-
Tarte*- Has been acquired by Kose, a Japanese cosmetics brand in Q2 2014. Remains to be seen what will happen with the brand’s cruelty-free stance, though Japanese companies have a very poor track record on animal testing.
- TooFaced- http://www.peta.org/living/beauty-and-personal-care/companies/690.aspx
- Wet N Wild. http://www.peta.org/living/beauty-and-personal-care/wet-n-wild.aspx
- Zoya
Here are two printable sheets from Caring Consumer detailing Companies That Do Test On Animals (boo! hiss!) and Companies That Don’t Test On Animals (yay!). Pass it on! And just in case you need a little motivation to keep supporting cruelty-free brands, or even to start on your cruelty-free journey, check out this video. It’s former animal-tested beagles getting rescued, out of the lab into the light of day, feeling grass under their paws for the first time. Sadly, beagles are often used in animal testing due to their docile nature. These guys are the lucky ones who get to start a new life outside the lab. (Video courtesy of Beagle Freedom Project). With the support of caring consumers boycotting animal testing, more victories like this can happen every day. Never underestimate the contribution YOU can make just by choosing cruelty-free.
NeverTooMuchGlitter Nail Wonderland 
I just found your blog and I love it, you’re so creative!
I’m with Mary Kay and I wanted to let you know that as a whole MK does not do animal and does not agree with it at all. Yes by Chinese law they are required to submit products for testing, but the company itself does not do the actual testing. In response to this law and because MK has a new plant in China (to service only China) they said “We hope our efforts as the first cosmetics company to join the International Outreach Consortium of the IIVS, along with our long track record of past and present activities, will be instrumental in the Chinese regulatory authority’s evaluation, validation and eventual acceptance and adoption of alternative testing methods.”
I don’t agree with animal testing either and I’m so glad you posted the list of the companies that support animal testing. I’ll have to change up my hair products now : )
Thanks for your comment and some inside info from Mary Kay! It’s a joke that China requires animal testing when *their* adulterated products regularly cause death to humans and animals around the globe.
You really can’t defend MaryKay. They are purposefully profiting big time from animal cruelty. It doesn’t matter if it’s them doing the testing or not. DOWN WITH MARYKAY.
Okay, I can see you’ve got a real Mary Kay vendetta going on there! I don’t defend them- they are just as bad as anyone else.
@MK LADY- sorry but whether the company itself does the animal testing or pays someone else to do it- THEY ARE STILL THE ONES RESPONSIBLE!! It’s disturbing how easily you can allow yourself to somehow justify their actions and completely ignore the the animal testing they ARE doing! Opening a plant in China so they are only torturing and murdering animals for products sold in China does NOT make it ok or excuse their actions!! They obviously hold profit above the immoral and unnecessary acts of torture against animals and they ARE solely responsible for these cruel methods and animal abuse taking place. I am deeply bothered by the blatant ignorance expressed in your comment and would hope that most people are not misunderstanding that information as blindly as you unfortunately do.
im very confused about the makeup brand clinique
on there website it says they stopped animal testing
othet websites like the list similiar to this one on PEETA comfirms that too
then i come here and i see they do im just realy confused and if the truth is they do i will stop using there products
please help me decide
Hi there,
Yes, it can be very confusing! Thanks for trying to figure it out even though sometimes it’s very difficult.
Clinique is no longer on PETA’s latest “Do Not Test” List as of June 2012. Clinique was formerly cruelty-free BUT their parent company, Estee Lauder, decided to re-start animal testing so they could sell their product lines in China, which requires animal testing. They are now listed as a “Does Test on Animals” company. http://www.peta.org/living/beauty-and-personal-care/companies/search.aspx?Testing=1&Range=2
That’s why they stated they were cruelty-free in the past, and were allowed to be listed as “cruelty free” on websites like PETA’s. However, they are no longer cruelty-free. They may not conduct animal testing in the US, but they are OK with animal testing on their products so they can sell in China.
Hope that clears it up a bit! This is a pretty new development, so that might be part of the confusion.
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Urban Decay isn’t on the good guy list. Latest episode of the drama: they’ve been bought by L’Oreal =/
The deal hasn’t been approved yet, but yes, once it goes through and they are purchased by L’Oreal, I will update the list accordingly. I’ll make a note for now though.
great list! if you have anything to add or discuss in mine please do, as i have just decided to go polish vegan. i’d be glad if u joined my willing to be growing community of consciouss friends in laquer helping each other improving in nail art and consciouss beauty. ur blog is lovely.
Yes, how can I forget about Barry M? Thanks for the heads up!
Physician’s Formula has color cosmetics and facial care products. They do not test on animals.
Thanks for the info, I did confirm they are cruelty free and have added them to the list.
Physicians Formula has been making good products for years. I hope they always remain cruelty free, no matter what the market. I just today received some samples from EcoGlo Minerals, which is a cruelty free cosmetics company. But, as I educate myself further, as a vegan who is striving for an eco-friendly and sustainable life on this our only planet, I have learned there is more to the story of ethical consumerism. Please, also be aware of product source, direct or peripheral impact on the environment and wild species, fair trade practices and workers’ conditions, etc.. For instance, no animal testing doesn’t necessarily mean no animal product in the merchandise. Deforestation is a major contributor to climate change, diminishing resources and biodiversity, with the extinction of flora and fauna species. The palm oil industry is a major culprit in such deforestation. Read labels and do research. It’s not easy, but we can drive the market with our conscience, if we don’t give up.
I know I am three years late getting involved in this conversation, but Petit Vour is an American distributor that sells only cruelty-free, non-toxic and ethically made beauty and lifestyle products.
The conversation is ongoing! Do you have any more info about the brand?
Isn’t Almay owned by Revlon, which tests on animals? I could be mistaken, but I think that’s what I read on another site. Other than that, the list is great and helpful! Thanks!
You are correct, Revlon went back to testing to sell in China and are the current parent company of Almay, so I’ll update the list. Thanks so much!
This list has helped me alot:) But what about Too Faced? They do not test on animals, right? And do you know who owns Too Faced?
Hi there, TooFaced is cruelty-free, according to PeTA. http://www.peta.org/living/beauty-and-personal-care/companies/690.aspx So go ahead and enjoy! I think it’s an independent company as of April , but many smaller companies do get bought out by larger ones who do test so I’ll keep an eye on that in the future.
Hi there,
Do you mind if I link this page on my blog?
Also, I think Tarte can be added to the cruelty free list!
hello! I’d be very happy if you shared the page- it’s great to get the word out about animal welfare issues! 🙂 I will check into Tarte as I’m not familiar with it. I’ve heard the name but it’s not big here in Asia, so don’t know much about it. Do you have any further info?
Ah yes I didn’t realize you were in Asia! All I know is that I buy it at Sephora here in Canada. from what I can remember, they don’t have a parent company and they don’t sell in China. And they don’t test on animals in any way:)
UPDATE 04/2015: Tarte has sold out to KOSE and is no longer cruelty-free. Boo! http://www.theflamingvegan.com/view-post/The-Tarte-Dilemma-and-the-Search-for-Truly-Cruelty-Free-Cosmetics-1
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A few products I have researched and do not seem to do animal testing:
Australis
Natio
Face of Australia
Innoxa
SHE
Youngblood
I’m so glad I’ve found a fellow cruelty-free beauty blogger on WordPress – hurray!
I was thinking la roche posay don’t do test on animals and I ask them and this is what they said to me:
Hi Melanie, In 1989, L’Oréal, which owns La Roche-Posay, voluntarily stopped using animal testing for the evaluation of its entire range of finished products. The company has invested $800 million over the last 25 years to develop innovative, alternative methods to animal testing, particularly in the area of reconstructed tissue development. We are totally committed to a future without tests on animals. To learn more about L’Oréal’s work in the area of alternative methods to animal testing, please visit L’Oréal’s Sustainability website at http://www.sustainabledevelopment.loreal.com/research-innovation/focus-on-predictive-evaluation/a-new-generation-of-predictive-evaluation-methods.aspx.
Right, this is a carefully worded statement by L’Oreal. ..”voluntarily stopped using animal testing for the evaluation of its entire range of *finished* products..”
They still test raw ingredients and also have other companies do so on their behalf.
Check out these links:
http://www.peta.org/living/beauty-and-personal-care/companies/2660.aspx
Interestingly enough, when someone else recently wrote to them this year asking about animal testing, they admitted that they did (but they claim it’s on less than 1% of products).
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20130319155651AAR8noH
So, basically, I think they are not telling you the whole truth.
As of today (08JAN14) Urban Decay (L’Oreal) is BACK on the Cruelty-free list and carries the PETA logo
http://features.peta.org/cruelty-free-company-search/cruelty_free_companies_search.aspx?Donottest=-1&Product=0&Dotest=-1&Regchange=-1&Country=-1&Keyword=urban+decay
Thanks for the link with the update. I think many folks are weary of that UD saga- they got bought by L’Oreal, going to sell in China, not going to sell in China, etc. It has personally turned me off the brand forever. They were absolutely willing to sell out their values for the Chinese market- and only reversed when there was a larger backlash than expected. I’m done with them, but at least this is good news (until the next time they decide to sell out for profit.)
Hi, just an inquiry… as far as I had known, Bath and Body Works DOES test on animals, just not their finished products. I looked at one of my roommate’s shower gels that she bought last year which states “This finished product not tested on animals.” Which always means that the company tests the ingredients on animals, but does not test the final lotion, shower gel, etc. on animals. Has this changed in the last year? That would be wonderful if it has changed, but if not I just thought I should let you know!
BB&W puts this labelling on products to comply with EU rules, I believe. PeTA (who are sometimes a bit nuts, but generally do good research on what is/isn’t tested on animals) have stated BB&W don’t test, and have have this to say:
http://www.peta.org/living/beauty-and-personal-care/companies/473.aspx
About the labelling used: http://www.peta.org/about/faq/Ive-seen-a-few-products-with-labels-that-say-This-finished-product-not-tested-on-animals-Does-that-mean-that-the-individual-ingredients-have-been-tested-on-animals.aspx
Hope this clears it up and thanks for caring about animals! 🙂
Unfortunately Smashbox was bought by Estee Lauder. So the parent company does test on animals. I don’t think they pass the test anymore?
Hi, do you have any links for that? I’ll check it out.
Great info., but do you have a list of companies that DO NOT test on animals, and whose products DO NOT contain animal products?,and are completely vegan?
Yes, there’s a link to Caring Consumer (who compiles the lists) in the post, as well links as Companies that Test and Companies That Don’t Test in the post- just click on them to be redirected to those pages.
Great post, very helpful, I wish everyone would make the switch to animal testing free or vegan cosmetics! I did a blog post about it (http://head-full-of-flowers.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/making-switch-animal-testing.html) a while ago incase you fancy a peak! Lovely post, thanks for the very educational read. I’m so pleased when I find bloggers who use cruelty free products and I’ll definitely be visiting your online shop. You’re so right ‘Be fabulous, not cruel!’ xx
Hello I wanted to tell you I really appreciate your blog! I am all about cruelty free and I love vegan products. I am always looking for new lines. I hate that people do makeup tutorials and use products tested on animals! I did want to let you know I have also read that smashbox now test on animals. I will post that link below. Tarte is cruelty free.
http://tartecosmetics.com/faq.php.
http://www.smashbox.com/customer_service/faq
Thanks for your comment and the links! Let me check it out and then I’ll adjust my list as needed. Shame of Smashbox if that’s true! 😡
Hi There
I’m from the UK, and completely new to your blog as of today – hi again!
I’m going to the US on vacation in a couple of weeks, and was planning on purchasing a whole new cosmetics range whilst out there from Sephora, but your new information has me stumped!
I want a range that is not too expensive, and is available in the UK but it absolutely HAS to be cruelty free in every way.
I was going to go with Smashbox, but these comments and some googling have confirmed that these guys are now owned by Estee Lauder – shame as I love their stuff.
Can you recommend me a brand to try ? I don’t want to ask in store and risk getting a shop assistant that is not as knowledgeable as yourself and therefore coming home with a case full of cruelty
Many Thanks
Gill x
Hi Gill,
Thanks for your comment and for wanting to be cruelty free!
I haven’t been in a US Sephora in quite some time, but here’s a few lines I think they carry that are cruelty-free. Unfortunately, I’m not sure what’s available in the UK but here’s a list of some companies to start you off:
OCC Cosmetics- vegan and cruelty-free. Lip Tars are their most famous product- a little of this goes a long way and are mixable to make custom colors.
Illumasqua- cruelty free and also available in the UK, I think it’s a British brand.
Tarte
Hourglass- amazing face powders- quite expensive but a little goes a long way!
Unfortunately, Urban Decay and Smashbox both sold out and resumed animal testing to sell in China! BOO!
Arbonne is amazing and do not test in animals! They have some if the best products available! Not bought in stores.
I’ll check it out, thank you!
I heard that Urban Decay was going vegan?!
Urban Decay was sold to L’Oreal, who tests on animals, AND they sell in China, so they had to undergo animal testing to get into that market. They have a disgusting, self-serving justification on their own Facebook page here: http://www.facebook.com/urbandecaycosmetics/posts/252445838188526 stating “To all our UDers: We have decided to sell Urban Decay products in China. Because of China’s policies, this has upset some of our loyal fans who are also animal rights activists. For complete information, please visit http://www.urbandecay.com/chinainfo. We are listening to all of your feedback and questions, and will try to address every single one of you. We do want to address one FAQ: No, Urban Decay will not test on animals in China. However, the Chinese government may conduct a test using our products before they can be sold there. We absolutely realize that for many of you, it makes no difference who is doing the testing. But, animal rights are still very much important to Urban Decay…” DISGUSTING.
They’ve waffled back and forth since then, but I have heard from reliable sources that UD products are available in China as of this summer.
Hi!
There are a few brands on your d’ont test list that I can’t find on PETA’s list such as Barry M, Butter London, Milani, and Zoya. Where did you get the info that these bands were cruelty-free?
Plus, on PETA’s list, it is said that Smashbox is owned by Estee Lauder.
I’ve actually already written to Butter London but I’ve never got any reply from them and the person from Zoya I spoke with told me that he could not garantee me that their suppliers did not tests their ingredients on animals because he had no idea…
I don’t find these brands on the One Voice’s list, but we can’t trust in One Voice anymore. And I did not find them on the other lists…
I contacted the companies directly, calling or writing as many times as I needed to to get an answer. In some cases I talked directly to the CEO or company president. I had updated the page re Smashbox but I guess it didn’t save, it has been updated. Thanks for letting me know.
Wow you are taking a lot of effort on this. Thanks!
Thank you! It’s an issue that is very important to me, and there are so many good cruelty-free options out there that I want to share with my readers. 🙂
hello, is there a list available somewhere for non-animal-tested perfumes? I am not big on cosmetics but love my smellies. Also, good quality face creams would be good to know as I want to stay clear now of clinique. Thanks.
Hi there, you can check this out- this is companies that Don’t Test http://www.peta.org/living/beauty-and-personal-care/companies/search.aspx?Product=8.54
Unfortunately, a lot of mass market fragrance brands are owned by Coty, who does test on animals. Here’s a list of their fragrances:
http://www.coty.com/brands?cat=fragrance
As far as a face cream, it’s hard to say without knowing your skin type, but I’ve had great luck with the French brand Nuxe, which is cruelty-free.
Stella perfumes. Strange Invisible perfumes. Victoria’s Secret Perfumes.
I only use Creed Perfumes, AJNA, TOCCA, and Harvey Prince, who are cruelty free. Here is a link that lists others as well.
http://www.veganbeautyreview.com/2015/06/favorite-crueltyfree-vegan-perfumes.html
Thanks for that info! I will be updating my list in November and will add those brands. 🙂
Thanks for the reply. Someone else suggested Weleda, so I think I am covered for moisturiser at least. Disappointed that all my favourite perfumes are on the ‘do test’ list.
Hey! Thank you very much for the helpful post. Though I found several companies that do test on animals, which disappointed me to no end.
It’s all because of China! >_< Okay, it's understandable that the main goal of a company is to grow and increase their sales and not making the world a nicer place. But why does China require the imported products to be tested on animals? It's China, for god's sake! =="
I know, I can’t believe the nerve of the Chinese government requiring products from the US and EU requiring animal testing, when the products produced in China are what’s really dangerous! A Chinese company cut their own baby formula with plastic to gain a few bucks, and wound up killing a bunch of innocent children. But the government doesn’t trust Western products? Give me a break…>:(
Except for e.l.f., many products from companies on the Cruelty-Free are too expensive. I also get some weird reactions to some of their products, as well as wet n wild (however you spell it). I say just do the best you can. Some people cannot afford the more expensive stuff. As long as they are trying, that’s what counts. As for China, I cannot understand either how a country that sells poisoned products to its own people and other countries requires animal testing. Now THAT is the real joke!
Hi about urban decay and smashbox both of these products have the cruelty free nummy on them the white and pink one, certification pretty rigorous. I see companies on your list as not testing that have no certification, indications on packaging etc like NYx and physicians formula?? Please explains same with leaping bunny cert. it’s not like u can just put that in your packaging.
Thank you,
Jessica
Hi there, to answer your question, the parent company of Urban Decay is L’Oreal, who tests on animals. UD may be cruelty-free but the parent company is not, same with Smashbox. Unfortunately both companies sold out in the past year or so to companies that do engage in animal testing. The companies on my Do Not Test list have been researched and I have contacted the companies directly to get confirmation about their animal testing policies. Not all companies apply for the cruelty-free certification with the organization, so it’s possible to have a cruelty-free product with no bunny on it.
Thanks for the info. Cruelty free is very important to me, just been given some Kiehls stuff, gorgeous but tested on animals ;((
Neal’s Yard and Liz Earle are wonderful products and on the PETA cruelty free list.
Thanks for your comment and so glad to hear you’re living cruelty free! I love Neal’s Yard but it is practically impossible to get outside of the UK and Japan. I wish it was available to a wider audience.
LimeCrime and Tarte do not test on animals. I think they are both Vegan too, please correct me if I am wrong.
I’ll add them to the list if you have any links to further info. I haven’t used either of these brands since I think they’re mostly North American but send some info my way and I’ll check it out!
MaryKay always tested and lied.
They re selling furbrushes made in china.
avon never was cruelty free
L’oreal, S&H, J&J Garnier,all chemicaltrashy brands – never stop animal tested (bc its not effective method.)
What’s your point? I don’t understand what you’re saying.
I have read in many places that COTY does not test on animals. I believe they own Marc Jacobs, opi and such. A lot of other websites have email confirmation sand actually this is the only blog I’ve seen say they are testers.
You are misinformed. They do test on animals. By their own admission. Sure, they gloss it over to make it sound like it’s totally necessary in certain markets (“. We accede to mandated testing by the authorities on animals only as a last resort.”), but they could avoid those markets if they so chose. Read their own response here:
http://www.teethtreschic.com/2013/04/coty-inc-animal-testing-policy.html
Hi. I just found your site as I was searching for information about whether or not Chanel N5 contains animal products today—-hoping it doesn’t since I love the fragrance, I know in days past it had ambergris and civet ingredients. I found your site, have posted it on FB. Thank you for being the Lightworker you are are…all over the world. Cornelia in Florida
Hi there- thanks for looking out for animals and for spreading the word! 🙂 Chanel allegedly uses synthetic civet extract these days in the No. 5. I can’t find any info on the ambergris, though. But while ambergris is technically an animal-based ingredient, it generally washes up upon the shore and is not “harvested” from the whale. They may well be using synthetics for that too, but I can’t find any info. Chanel is not cruelty-free since they entered the China market and do mandated animal testing for that, but the No. 5 perfume at least should be civet-free these days.
Please add Josie Maran Cosmetics and Hourglass Cosmetics to your list : )
Sure, please give me some links about their cruelty-free policies and I will add them after review. 🙂
I’m not sure I understand your first list.. Do those listed companies test or are they owned by a testing company? More specifically I’m wondering about Garnier.
Testing= either the brand itself or parent company tests on animals. Garnier is not cruelty-free, sorry to say.
Wait, I thought The Body Shop was against animal testing…I have products from them that are labeled “against animal testing.” :O
The BS products cruelty-free, but they are owned by L’Oreal, who does conduct animal testing because they sell in China (and were one of the earlier brands to enter that market, I believe.) I was very disappointed when they sold out to L’Oreal, I liked their stuff and their philosophy a lot when they were independent.
Oh no! 😦 I really enjoyed their products and was so happy to see that they were cruelty-free….
Well at least I know now, and thank you for the list of cruelty-free businesses you have on here, very helpful! 🙂
Well, people do have different opinions, for example some will use products from Body Shop, etc. because, strictly speaking, those products are cruelty free, even if the parent company is not. Others boycott it altogether- it’s really a personal choice. Thanks for being concerned about animals!
Though VS PINK line does not use animal testing they do use animal ingredients.
Thanks for commenting- do you have some details about the animal products they use?
I personally don’t agree with condemning companies that are cruelty free just because of their non-cruelty free parent companies. Because they still are C.F. & that’s all that matters is that they don’t hurt animals in the process. If we show a large rise in income with a cruelty free brand over the parent company that does animal testing then I think that’ll send the message to the parent c. to go cruelty free again because it’s a bigger profit. Also, China needs to stop buying our cosmetics, get your own cosmetics companies!
Personally, I don’t want to put any money in the pockets of animal-testing companies when there fine alternatives that don’t condone testing at all, but that’s just my personal preference. As for China, unfortunately they have a big demand for Western luxury goods and many companies are willing to do whatever it takes to get in that market. Boo!
HI! LOVE the blog!
Im struggling to find any cruelty free perfume, apart from lush! Any recommendations?
writing a series on my skin care favs etc and all cruelty free if you wanna check it out (www.honeypopkisses.com) xxx
Thanks for your comment! Hmm…I often wear perfume oils but not standard perfume (like the spray-on kind.) I get a lot of mine on Etsy since there are so many cool indie cosmetic companies there- try a search for “vegan perfume” and there’s a ton of vegan/cruelty free stuff.
Hi
I use Nato products and love them. They are affordable in Australia and can be brought at Priceline Pharmacy.
My questions is do Christian Dior test on animals? I have found conflicting information on this company. Thanks for your help
Christian Dior does have a presence in China, which means they have agreed to animal testing to be in that market. They may not conduct tests in other markets, but are willing to do so for China sales. 😦
Thanks for such a great blog–and requiring citations at minimum. Things are changing rapidly as China opens up to the world. I think that might be why people are expecting that company web sites and PETA’s web site are always accurate. It’s difficult to keep up with all the changes, especially the disgusting caving by companies who brag about their cruelty-free status. Yes, Urban Decay, I’m looking at you. First they sell out directly, then retract, and then sell out surreptitiously through L’Oreal. I own so many of the previously cruelty free products. One solution I found that’s easy: Buy the drugstore/generic copycat of the sell-out brand. For example, I haven’t found a cleanser that works better on my skin than Neutrogena’s Pink Grapefruit. Well, CVS sells a copycat. What do you think of buying generics as a way of not endorsing China testers? Do you think it makes a point or just fizzles?
You are really right- there are a lot of changes as China’s consumers start demanding international brands. Unfortunately, most companies will agree to animal test as per Chinese government regulations (which is a huge joke, considering some of the scandals to come out of China). The Urban Decay thing really upset me- I decided not to buy from them after the flip-flop, and then they sold to L’Oreal anyway.
I see nothing wrong with generics if they’re cruelty-free. I use them a lot- you’d be surprised at how good they can be sometimes. A lot of companies share formulas under different brands, so with some experimentation, you may be able to find a very similar generic formula.
The inherent problem with this ideology/practice is that *most* drugstore brands (CVS and Walgreens the biggest offenders, having chosen as of April, 2015, to make NO commitment to change [many readers will be saddened to learn Starbucks is also another offender, providing no-to-little promise to discontinue Palm Oil use]) contribute heavily to deforestation and loss of indigenous species’ habitats by freely putting Palm Oil (sometimes merely labeled as something as benign as vegetable oil, or disguised as over 150 other chemical names IF they bother to list it in the label at all) in the majority of their products. This isn’t limited to solely food.
http://www.ucsusa.org/global-warming/stop-deforestation/palm-oil-scorecard-2015#store
Orangutans, one of our great ape species, have been listed in the Red book as ”critically-endangered” since sometime in the 70s. Once numbering into the 200,000s in the wild, inhabiting over 10 countries, they’ve now dwindled to less than 10,000 and confined only to the Indonesian islands of Borneo and Sumatra. It’s believed only 2,000 Sumatran orangutans exist. If we don’t do something now, they will be gone in 5 years.
The problems are complex. The demand for Palm Oil is so great that the equivalent of 500 football fields of Rainforest are cleared every HOUR (!) to raise up Palm Oil plantations. Before corporations can slash and burn the land legally, they must obtain a permit from the Indonesian government. Not only are illegal loggers clearing land for exported timber to make furniture, but the government is now issuing permits to companies to clear PROTECTED national forest, vehemently in denial, natch.
As the forests dwindle and disappear, Orangutans, in a desperate search for food, are driven straight to the plantations, where they feast on the Palm Oil shoots. The outcome is that plantation owners who view them as pests and a threat to their precious crop will either shoot the mothers, or kill them with machetes (if they aren’t benevolent and will contact a rehabilitation organisation to rescue them). A large number of infants are now turning up with machete wounds to their heads/faces, or missing limbs altogether because they got in the way, hanging onto their mothers for dear life as she was being hacked to death for being hungry. And because the US is a primary contributor to the illegal pet trade, the babies will be peeled from the dead mother’s body (the only way to get an infant orangutan is to literally kill the mother; she will die protecting the baby, and their instinct is to grip her fur so tightly you have to unwrap their fingers) and sold on the black market. If it’s not plantation owners, it’s ignorant villagers who haven’t been raised to appreciate the fragility of their own ecosystems.
And all because we need a better lipstick.
I apologise profusely for the length of this post, but the truth is, over 50% of the products in our homes contain PO. And less than 20% of the world’s consumers know what’s happening. I needed to tell you the brutal truth behind our cosmetics industry, in hopes that it will be an eye-opener.
Boycotts are not the answer here, simply because the demand far outweighs the amount you may consume in a lifetime. It won’t make a dent.
But letting your grocery store/drugstore know that until THEY stop carrying products with PO, you will stop shopping there will have a bigger effect because when you threaten a person’s wallet, they tend to listen.
Palm Oil CAN and is being produced through sustainable means that won’t cause the fires that release so much Carbon into the atmosphere that it’s now the 2nd largest cause of global warming.
But it won’t matter unless we all decide to change.
I am not a conservationist, nor do I work with Orangutans. I’m just a student, seeking double doctorates in Astrophysics and Applied Math who loves animals intently, and is crazy enough to think one person can ALWAYS make a change.
Thanks for reading.
Palm oil is certainly a huge environmental/animal welfare concern. I am not sure how to address the palm oil issue, as it’s a mainstay in many food and cosmetics. I live in Southeast Asia, so palm oil plantations are a very real part of the fabric of life here. I believe the best way forward on this issue is global education on the environmental costs and awareness is the first step. Then consumers can make more informed choices.
Since many palm oil plantations are in less developed nations, that’s another concern. Many “ignorant villagers” are in situations which people from developed nations cannot understand. I was in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, and a child stole a handful of rice from a roadside food stall and stuffed it in her mouth. The mother opened up the child’s mouth, forcibly scooped the rice out and ate it herself. I cannot tell you how shocked I was. The point of this story is, when you are faced with desperate poverty, anything can and will become a resource for you to get by, even if it’s brutal. The reason palm oil plantations operate at great environmental cost is because there are few, if any economic alternatives. Education is important but economic alternatives are essential. If there is no way to make money, people will resort to slash and burn agriculture and animal poaching. A real solution has to address all these needs. Sustainable fair-trade palm oil will have to start from people seeing the economic benefit.
I’m not sure CVS or Walgreens will stop selling products made with palm oil in response to consumer threats, particularly when they know their competitors do the same. It’s worth a try, though! Let us know how it works out for you, and what alternatives/palm tree oil companies you find. I think the palm oil issue will be better approached with the carrot than the stick. If consumers are more aware of the issue and choose fair-trade alternatives, then that may cause companies to think about their sourcing and supply chains. Although it’s starting off small, the fair trade approach worked for chocolate coffee and shea butter and brought general awareness to the havoc wreaked by plantation farming in less developed nations.
Hi,
I couldn’t find a directly reply button beneath your response, and wanted to follow up on a few salient points you raised.
You wrote:
I am not sure how to address the palm oil issue, as it’s a mainstay in many food and cosmetics. I live in Southeast Asia, so palm oil plantations are a very real part of the fabric of life here. I believe the best way forward on this issue is global education on the environmental costs and awareness is the first step. Then consumers can make more informed choices.
Absolutely! I had read in a previous comment where you are in Asia, so I wanted to let you know that I know this means you would be automatically aware of that issue, and I didn’t mean for my comment to seem as if you were being slighted in that regard.
I think one of the main problems is the education, which is what I meant with my comment that over 50% of the US households alone aren’t aware of how many products include Palm Oil. I think if we bring up the issue enough times on blogs alone (since they seem to be one of the first lines of communication to the general public–more so than they were maybe 10 years ago when the idea was just beginning), then the public may begin to get the idea. But it’s for sure that nothing will change if we say nothing.
You wrote:
Many “ignorant villagers” are in situations which people from developed nations cannot understand.
Please don’t take me out of context. I mentioned this phrase ONLY in connection with their attitudes toward the species, and NOT that they were too ignorant to look for other choices in household cooking oil, nor did I mean to appear as being unnecessarily harsh or unsympathetic to their plight. I was very careful in that distinction. 🙂
There are tons of videos on the internet in which Rehabilitation organisations get called daily to go and rescue an orangutan that is being kept as a pet, and these people know full well that it is illegal to do so, but their ignorance keeps them tied to unnecessary traditions and attitudes. The biggest media-attentive story of my sweet Budi comes to mind. I found him quite by accident in early January when doing a search for crying orangutans (I’ve never even seen one in a zoo, and had seen videos of how they laugh and smile like humans, so I wanted to know if they also got sad). His story popped up, and it affected me so deeply I cried for about the next ten days.
International Animal Rescue had been called to go and rescue this little 10-month-old being kept as a pet, but the owner said he was now sick. When they arrived, they found him alone, scared and cold, with only a thread-bare blanket for warmth, in a dark chicken coop inside her shed behind her house. It didn’t even have windows. She “said” the mother had ran away and left him (uh, no). She thought she was acting in his best interest, but because of her ignorance, he was dying. She was afraid that fruit may hurt him, so she only fed him condensed milk for that first ten months. That stuff is nothing but sugar, and by the time the team reached him, he was in the final stages of malnutrition, his limbs so swollen that when they lifted him to move him out of the cage, he literally cried like a human baby with tears rolling down his face. Go to the link below and you can see the video they took of his first few minutes at the centre that day. You have never heard such a heart-wrenching sound as his tormented cries of pain. No animal should ever have to endure that.
In some of their photos taken, he had actually been wedged between two wooden struts in his cage and had been in that position for so long that his limbs had become stiff. Who keeps an animal as a PET and then doesn’t even take them out of their cage for attention?? None of her story added up.
Of course, IAR reached him in time and now he’s doing amazing but still has some residual effects from his starvation that will never heal. You can follow his progress here: http://www.internationalanimalrescue.org/budi
(Srry, I just wanted to make sure you knew I had intended a distinction between ignorant villagers who weren’t making the right choice for cooking oil, and in what I really meant: those who keep orangutan infants as pets and then feed them coffee, tea and rice because they don’t know better. Ignorance is different from stupidity.)
Michelle Desilets, Executive Director of the Orangutan Land Trust, and I have spoken previously about this issue, and since she’s a UK transplant in Indonesia, she has spoken out on the Palm Oil issue and how ungodly expensive ANY other alternatives are to you guys, and that Palm Oil is pretty much the only oil on offering to you and countries like India, where about 75% of the population lives far below the poverty line. This means most folks can’t afford other alternatives, even if they wanted to use them.
I began addressing this very issue to the hoards of insensitive comments on places like YouTube and conservation groups on Facebook, where you get a zealous and well-meaning middle-aged and middle-class woman who wants to do all she can to support the conservation effort in pretty much the only way she knows how: She will bark at people to, “STOP KILLING ORANGUTANS! STOP USING PALM OIL!”
A nicer sentiment than effective one, I’m afraid, and I got my own throat slashed when I tried to broach that very point. To say something like that on a page with global access to any reader with an internet connection is just insensitive, to me, and I wanted to bring that to folks’ attention. And while the initial reaction was more hurt, but fueled by embarrassment, I endured the yelling, but knew full-well they weren’t inclined to make such a mistake again.
You wrote:
A real solution has to address all these needs. Sustainable fair-trade palm oil will have to start from people seeing the economic benefit.
Again, right there witchoo.
A lot of people I hear talking about the issue, like to toss out the argument that the plantations are beneficial for the locals, but the truth is, they don’t see very much of the money.
The entire situation is so complicated and stinks so much, unless people buy land and put wildlife on it, I don’t see how they’re in any kind of winning situation.
You wrote:
It’s worth a try, though! Let us know how it works out for you, and what alternatives/palm tree oil companies you find.
Oh, it’s not going to make a dent if it’s just me. It would take everyone getting on board with the idea, and as you point out, not everyone wants to make that sacrifice.
But I’ll be more than happy to post the alternatives as I find them. Maybe that’s a better, more realistic place to start.
You wrote:
If consumers are more aware of the issue and choose fair-trade alternatives, then that may cause companies to think about their sourcing and supply chains.
That’s a boycott, and as I said, they’ve discovered that in this situation, they’re just not effective. This is something else crucial I learned from Michelle. China alone uses so much PO that I’m convinced the entire of the US boycotting would still not match that country’s demand.
You wrote:
Although it’s starting off small, the fair trade approach worked for chocolate coffee and shea butter and brought general awareness to the havoc wreaked by plantation farming in less developed nations.
I’ve not heard of chocolate coffee, but I can’t imagine those products would be in as great a demand as Palm Oil. It’s just so darned inexpensive and available, that it’s not very cost-effective yet to produce the alternatives. Add in the ridiculous fact that those folks who think they’re going green by driving a Prius are only adding to the deforestation because Palm Oil is contained in the fuel, and you’ve got a pretty unwinnable situation.
Factor in the Indonesian mob and how they have government officials in their pockets, and honestly? I just don’t know what the answer is. I know most effective change happens with education, but then what? This is such a dynamic situation, with people learning as they go, I don’t think anyone has the full scope of answers yet.
Thanks for the discourse, though! At least we’ve given it a voice, which is a good beginning.
Thanks for having this as a reference. It’s SO hard to sift through everything and make informed choices. I tend to assume companies have “bad guy” status until proven otherwise. I appreciate that you require proof and verification before adding to your list. Great job! By compiling this for people, you are really making a difference for animals.
It’s my pleasure- it’s something small I can do for animals. A lot of people will do the right thing, if they just know about the issues behind animal testing. It’s not as hard to find good alternative cosmetics as it used to be, and a lot of new companies are coming into the market as the consumer demand grows.
Help! Is there a tinted moisturizer out there that is not tested on animals
was sad to find out Aveeno is not the bad guy list.
I thought they were good. : (
Yeah, Aveeno’s parent company is Johnson and Johnson, which does test. I don’t use tinted moisturizer myself- can anyone help?
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When was this last updated I’v just began to switch to cruality free products,so I have been doing a lot research however a lot of lists on sites and blogs tell different from what Im guessing it might be from different times. Just need to clarify whats what in 2014
I update it on a regular basis. My definition of cruelty-free is more strict than some others may be. Now that many Western companies are selling products in China, they have agreed to allow animal testing on products to enter that market by Chinese law. So they may still be technically “cruelty-free” in the US, but they are engaging in animal testing elsewhere for other markets. Do keep doing research!
I really like this post! It really gives a good overview! I’m still confused when it comes to Urban Decay, just because they are on the PETA List for cruelty-free cosmetics?Can someone help me out here because I actually really like UD but if they are not cruelty-free I wouldn’t buy anything again..!
They’ve been bought by L’Oreal (who tests) after tons on waffling on their cruelty-free stance. Not sure why they’re still on the list, but they have indeed sold out. 😦 I used to really like them as well, but the almighty dollar has won out in this case.
Hello there! Nice to see that many other people also care about cruelty-free products 🙂 Today I discovered the brand Nuxe, which up to now seems pretty cruelty-free:
http://americas.nuxe.com/en/the-brand
Are NUXE care products cruelty-free?
In order to assess the performance of NUXE care products, we resort to cruelty-free tests.
NUXE products are tried on voluntary healthy people or on cell cultures. Safety tests are performed according to alternative or substitution methods, sponsored by renowned experts and never resorting to animal testing.
I just in case sent them an e-mail asking if they perform animal testing or pay to someone to perform such or oblige the ingredients suppliers not to test and if they sell in countries where animal testing is obligatory, so once they reply I can paste the e-mail here 🙂
NUXE is cruelty-free as far as I know. I contacted them last year about their products and at that time they told me they do not do or pay others to test on animals. I would be happy if you’d post their latest response as well just as an update. I use and enjoy their products-especially the Huile Prodigeuse dry oil.
I see a lot of people asking about Urban Decay. From what I understand and I did speak to someone at PETA about the whole Urban Decay debacle, Urban Decay still states that they do not test on animals at any part of the manufacturing process. Yes, they are owned by a parent company that does, but they still have the bunny logo certification from PETA because the Urban Decay products in particular still meet the requirements. Now, I understand not wanting to support them, esp. with their past of going back and forth when it suits them, but since they are clearly listed as cruelty free by PETA here http://www.mediapeta.com/peta/PDF/companiesdonttest.pdf I think the list above confuses people. Perhaps it would be best to make a note that according to PETA they are cruelty free but perhaps explain why some may still want to avoid them. Just a suggestion. Thanks for all the research you have done to come up with this list!!
Thanks for your comment! I do disagree with PeTA at times, and this is one of them. UD is owned now by L’Oreal and they showed a total willingness to test on animals for profit till the backlash was larger than expected. The fact that they’re owned by L’Oreal is enough to keep them on the last.
According to this, Gabriel Cosmetics does not test on animals or use animal products: https://www.gabrielcosmeticsinc.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=page.display&page_id=62
Thanks for that info! I’ve never seen that brand but it’s always nice to have some more cruelty-free options to choose from!
Great info! Thank you 🙂 I’m a massive Barry M fan!
Thanks for your comment. I haven’t tried much of Barry M, but I like what I’ve seen! 🙂
Rimmel doesn’t test on animals..
Rimmel’s parent company, Coty, does engage in animal testing, so they’re staying on my Bad Guy list. Coty also sells their products in China and willingly engages in tests for that market as well.
The Body Shop do not test on animals. The company as a whole are extremely against it and always have been. It may be owned by L’Oréal but Peta has written confirmation that they still do not test.
Here is The Body Shops own website with all their values :
http://www.thebodyshop.co.uk/values/index.aspx
And here is the Peta article confirming the above :
http://www.peta.org/living/beauty/body-shop-tom-s-maine/
Thanks for your comment and the documentation. In my list, I do include The Body Shop and other “cruelty free” divisions of animal testing companies on the Bad Guy side. I understand The Body Shop itself does not test, but their parent company does, so I personally don’t use their products. I’d rather support 100% cruelty free ventures, especially independent or startup companies, rather than L’Oreal.
I stumbled on your blog today in my neverending quest for cruelty-free beauty products. I cannot tell you how much I appreciate your stance on parent companies and testing!! It’s a perspective I hadn’t thought of and I’m SO glad you opened my eyes to it. Yes, it’s harder to shop cruelty-free but my heart tells me it’s worth it. I’m encouraged by you to continue to do research as I shop. Thank you for caring so much about our animal friends!! 🙂
I’m so glad you came across my blog and that you’re embarking on your cruelty-free journey! It’s so worth it, even though sometimes it can be confusing to keep on top of it. There’s a new app called the Cruelty Cutter, if you have an Iphone you can scan bar codes of products as you shop to tell you more about the product’s cruelty-free status. I don’t use it since I don’t have an Iphone and I’m out of the US, but it’s worth a look, fi you might be interested. http://cruelty-cutter.org/ Additionally, if you want more info about furry friends rescued from animal testing, check out these guys: http://www.beaglefreedomproject.org/ They don’t sugar coat the realities of animal testing, but they do work to rehab lab animals and get them released as much as possible (rather than them being “disposed of” when they’re not useful anymore.) Thanks again for being kind to animals!
Thank you!!! I do’nt have an iPhone either but I’m going to check out both sites! And I hope you continue to inspire more people on their cruelty-free journey too! 🙂
Thanks for this list! Very informative and well researched. It’s good to know there are people out there who think about what they are buying. Keep up the good work x
Thanks for caring about animals! Pass the word on- the cruelty-free movement has had a lot of victories to date, but there’s lots we can still do. Information is power.
ive heard mars candy does test an ive heard they dont. thenvi read they had another company that does but its been a few years since theyve did any testing do you know? if i gotta give up my dove chocolate i will!:-)
It appears Mars tests on animals in their Symbioscience division, at the very least. They admit to it themselves here: http://www.mars.com/gcc/en/commitments/pets-and-society/animal-welfare.aspx
Here’s some more details about the whole situation: http://hamptonroads.com/2012/01/truth-about-mars-incorporated
PeTA weighs in here with more details: http://action.peta.org.uk/ea-campaign/clientcampaign.do?ea.client.id=5&ea.campaign.id=1795
Even if you give up Dove, you can more onto Hershey’s, who doesn’t test. 🙂
theres another brand that we sell at work that i try persuade customers to buy its called “yes to” yes to carrots, yes to blueberry no animal testing best shampoo an conditioner ive ever used hands down!
I’ve heard of those..haven’t had a chance to try them here in Asia but I’ll try to find them on my next trip to the USA!
I’m not sure if you’ve heard the unfortunate news about NYX, but Loreal just bought them. Looks like I won’t be buying NYX anymore 😦
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-06-18/l-oreal-agrees-to-acquire-u-s-makeup-artist-brand-nyx-cosmetics.html
Ugh! That’s a bummer, thanks for the info. I’ll update the list accordingly.
Hi, Burt’s bees is a cruelty free brand
http://features.peta.org/cruelty-free-company-search/cruelty_free_companies_company.aspx?Com_Id=311&Donottest=-1&Product=0&Dotest=-1&RegChange=-1&Country=-1&Keyword=Burt's+bees
Burt’s Bees may not test, but their parent company, Chlorox, does. On this blog, non-testing divisions of companies that employ animal testing are considered to be cruel to animals. That’s just my personal view on it, others may vary. I don’t want any of my dollars to go to companies tht test on animals at all.
Hawaiian Tropic is listed at cruelty free on Cruelty Cutter app for iPhone.
That’s interesting, do you have a screenshot? I believe that’s an error, since Hawaiian Tropic are owned by Energizer Personal Care Holdings, who does test. If it does say it’s cruelty-free, I’d contact the folks at CC and check it out. I’m sorry, I don’t have any iPhone and I live overseas, so I can’t check it out myself. If you get an update, let us all know!
Debi Rodrigues
Sent from my iPhone
Sorry, is there supposed to be an attachment/message here? I don’t see anything.
I sent a screen shot; but it didn’t show up, so I’m sending it as an actual attachment to this e-mail. Debi Rodrigues
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It would be awesome if you also made a list of companies that are cruelty free themselves even if their parent company is not cruelty free. Personally I support brands like the body shop, UD, Nars as long as they choose not to sell in China. Do you know if NYX is remaining CF and out of China even though they are owned by L’Oreal? I am a CF beauty blogger myself but I always like reading other CF blogs.
In my life and on this blog, I do consider companies with parent companies that test as not being cruelty-free. Just my opinion, but since there are many totally cruelty-free options, that’s what I personally choose. Any corporation which engages in animal testing is not getting my dollars, regardless of which brand in their portfolio is “cruelty-free.” Again, this is just my stance on it and others definitely have their own options on what they products they wish to use. In that line of thinking, I consider NYX to no longer be cruelty-free since it’s owned by L’Oreal.
Hey!
I have seen a lot of controversy with L’Oreal, but recently have heard/ noticed that they (claim to) no longer do animal testing, of any sort.
I’m not sure how valid this information is, and have been trying to find out more on it. But their website does state that they no longer test any of their products/ ingredients on animals in any of the countries that they sell in.
http://www.loreal.com/csr-commitments/loreal-answers/the-question-of-animal-testing.aspx
I just thought I’d share this here, and see if anyone else has any insight/ thoughts on this!
Thanks for your comment and this info. I don’t trust companies own PR, generally, and L’Oreal is one of the sneakiest. they make it sound like all testing has ceased, and then Tey go on to say “In China, the regulatory authorities carry out within their evaluation centers animal tests for finished cosmetics products before these are placed on their market. We think these tests are unnecessary but we cannot prevent them.” So, apparently, they ARE still testing or allowing tests to be done. Read the full statement here: http://www.loreal.com//Faq.aspx?topcode=CorpTopic_Comt_Answers_AT_FAQ#CorpTopic_Comt_Answers_AT_FAQ_7
So basically, they don’t test unless they “have to” so they can have their products in a certain market, ie China. My interpretation of this is that they feel animal testing is OK if it’s for “regulatory purposes.” It’s a step in the right direction, but I still think they have a long way to go.
Hi I checked up on garneir because I love their products. PETA says that their parent brand, loreal tests on animals but on both loreal and garnier’s websites it says that they haven’t tested since 1989.
L’Oréal no longer tests on animals any of its products or any of its ingredients, anywhere in the world. Nor does L’Oréal delegate this task to others. An exception could only be made if regulatory authorities demanded it for safety or regulatory purposes.- from the loreal website.
Who do I believe? PETA or the company?
Thank you!
Thanks for your comment. Believe L’Oreal when they admit in their own statement about testing “if regulatory agencies require.” That means if the Chinese government requires them to test, they are perfectly willing to do so in the interest of being involved in that market. They’ll test if they want to be in a certain market badly enough, all the while claiming that they don’t test. But they know many consumers will be turned off, so they try to blame it on “regulators.” Sneaky!
What’s always so frustrating is when I purchase a cruelty free cosmetic/beauty product that I really like and is reasonably priced only to discover that it was just purchased by a company that isn’t cruelty free ie Milani, NYC & I have to start anew. Ugh!
I definitely understand your frustration. I do believe Milani is still cruelty-free, though. There was some confusion over that recently, but they cleared it up. http://milanicosmetics.com/t-faq.aspx another cruelty free blogger has more info here: http://www.humanelychic.blogspot.sg/2014/06/milani-and-jordana-still-cruelty-free.html
Excellent – thank you so much for the update on Milani – I’m relieved and hoping they’re true to their verbal commitment. Their mascara is awesome, comparatively inexpensive and available at my local CVS drugstore. 🙂
Urban Decay don’t sell their products in China.
They’re still owned by l’Oreal anyway, so not cruelty-free. They decided in 2012 not to sell in China, but I have no news on the current situation.
Do you know anything about Illamasqua? I like their nail polishes a lot, but I couldn’t find any info regarding animal testing. Thanks!
Illumasqua is cruelty-free and has no parent company, as far as I know! 🙂
Hi! I absolutely love this list! Thank you so much for it. I was wondering if there was any update to why TooFaced lost their leaping bunny logo.. I’m also disappointed they’re not fully vegan. If they don’t support testing on animals, why use animal products. Also, there’s this makeup/creams called Pacifica that claims to me cruelty free and vegan. They have very cute products so maybe you could check it out. I’ve had vegan makeup review blogs recommend it to me so it could maybe be added to the list. Hope that helps! 🙂
Here is a clear statement directly from Kiehl’s and representing Loreal that declares animal testing is no longer performed or delegated by the company. I love Kiehl’s products because most of their ingredients are natural. Please take them off this list…
http://www.kiehls.com/on/demandware.store/Sites-kiehls_us-Site/default/CustomerService-ContactUs
Thanks for your comment. Kiehl’s is owned by L’Oreal, who tests on animals by their own admission in the statement they provide. “L’Oréal no longer tests any of its products or any of its ingredients on animals, anywhere in the world nor does L’Oréal delegate this task to others. An exception could only be made if regulatory authorities demanded it for safety or regulatory purposes.” http://www.loreal.com/csr-commitments/loreal-answers/the-question-of-animal-testing.aspx
They DO engage in testing in markets that demand it, like China. They are willing to test to have access to those markets. Thus Kiehl’s is tested on animalsand are NOT cruelty-free, so they will NOT be taken off my list. Oh, and as for “natural” ingredients, there is no legal definition for the standard. A whole lot of “natural” ingredients are anything but. And if you want to get down to it, arsenic and petroleum are both natural. Sorry to be harsh but that’s how it is!
Is 100 percent pure cruelty free?
P.S. Your blog is absolutely the best thing ever!
Thank you very much! Hmm, I never heard of that brand, I’ll have to look into it.
Smashbox is not testing on animal. And L’Oréal did not buy Smashbox, Estée Lauder did. And is still not test on animal.
You are correct in that Estee Lauder bought Smashbox. However, Estee Lauder tests on animals, so even if Smashbox doesn’t test, their parent company still does. So they’re staying right on my Test list.
You have Marc Jacobs on the bad list, I just got a marc Jacobs perfume as a gift and don’t want to use it if that’s true, but their website adamantly claims that they do not test on animals:
Does Marc Jacobs Beauty test on animals?
Marc Jacobs Beauty does not test on animals and uses only the highest quality ingredients. All of Marc Jacobs Beauty brushes are also cruelty-free.
So what’s the real story?
Thanks for your comment and your interest in being cruelty-free! Marc Jacobs fragrances are manufactured by Coty, who does test on animals. So, technically, Marc Jacobs doesn’t test (maybe), but Coty does. Check this very good post out: http://humanelychic.blogspot.sg/search/label/marc%20jacobs Plus, Marc Jacobs is available in China, which demands animal testing. Don’t get me started on what a huge joke that is, considering China makes some of the crappiest, most dangerous products on the market (melamine-tainted baby formula, anyone?) yet demands Western companies with fine safety records undergo animal testing to sell in the China market. All that aside, that is a very sneaky statement by Marc Jacobs.
Coty tells us how much they hate testing on animals, blah blah blah but then here’s the honest part: “We accede to mandated testing by the authorities on
animals only as a last resort.” Translation: We hate testing on animals, but we’ll certainly do it to make $$$. But it’s really only a last resort. We feel bad. We swear.”
Check out this post as well: http://budgetfriendlytoo.wordpress.com/2014/02/21/email-response-from-coty-inc-animal-testing/ It’s bad enough to test on animals. I REALLY hate it when they pretend not to, or that they’re sorry when they have to do it as a “last resort.” Yeah, sobbing all the way to the bank, I’m sure.
That may be more of an answer than you were bargaining for, but the short answer is: Marc Jacobs perfumes are made by Coty, who tests on animals. So MJ gets others to do the dirty work so they can say they’re cruelty-free.
Love your blog and agree totally on your 100% animal cruelty free and vegan ♡♡♡ keep it up girl
Thank you!
Hello. I just went to L’Oreal’s web site to check on the NYX acquisition. I’m so mad because I was indulging in buying a lot of NYX cosmetics because they were cheap AND didn’t sell in China. I saw that now L’Oreal has acquired Carol’s Daughter. Just an FYI. I did see something interesting on the site and was wondering if you know any further details about what this information means to the advancement of in vitro (non-animal) testing in China:
29 September 2014
L’Oréal has been granted a Chinese business licence for Shanghai Episkin Biotechnology Ltd. The company will market its reconstructed skin models Episkin which are essential for the validation of alternative methods to animal testing for cosmetic products and ingredients. An alternative method makes it possible to evaluate the safety of products and ingredients without animal testing.
Link:
http://www.loreal.com/press-releases/loreal-obtains-a-business-licence-for-reconstructed-skin-models-episkin-in-china.aspx?mediaType=cp&returnPage=?parentCategory=&groupBy=&type=cp&startDate=1900-01-01&endDate=2099-12-31&keyword=&cat=&returnTopcode=&sort=
Thanks for your comment! Hmm, that is some very interesting info…However, I’m not actually sure that 1) L’Oreal will use Episkin themselves instead of animal testing (or will just produce Episkin in China to sell to other companies) and 2) the Chinese government has approved Episkin in lieu of animal testing for their own market. Interesting info…will check into it and see what others have to say about it. Any other readers know anything? China moves slowly, and as of today, are still requiring animal testing for products in their market. Interesting link, though! Hopefully it’s a first step into getting the Chinese to turn around their ridiculous stipulations about required animal testing.
I read recently that China no longer insists on mandatory animal testing but leaves the decision to the company . this is great news.for animals. I would not buy from a company that ever tested on animals. Thanks for all the great work. A pity that more users of cosmetics do not research the products for abuse of animal.
I know nothing about this, unfortunately China has a very poor record on animal testing and they move very slowly when it comes to changing regulations. I find it hard to believe they’ve just turned it around like that. In the future, I hope they will, but they don’t really seem to be all that eager to halt animal testing. Any more info?
According to the link yo provided The Body Shop ( as listed at http://features.peta.org/cruelty-free-company-search/cruelty_free_companies_company.aspx?Com_Id=664&Donottest=6&Product=0&Dotest=-1&RegChange=-1&Country=-1&Keyword=) is animal cruelty free. They made an agreement before selling to Loreal that there would be no animal testing done with any of their products or the product ingredients. Are you being a bit misleading then, by listing them ( and a few others) as testing on animals? As a vegan, I take animal cruelty extremely seriously but if we were to boycott everyone that had any affiliation with a ‘mother company’ that was not as serious as the actual brand….we’d be finding grocery stores out of bounds.
Thanks for your comment. I do consider product lines/brands with parent companies who test not to be cruelty-free. That’s my final stance, and I am very clear about it. Others take a different view on it. I’m really tired of talking about The Body Shop, but here it goes again: They are not cruelty-free. The Body Shop also sells in mainland China and thus has allowed their products to be tested on animals for that market. I have seen Body Shop products in China myself. Here’s some further info: http://www.choice.com.au/reviews-and-tests/food-and-health/beauty-and-personal-care/cosmetics/the-body-shop-sells-out-on-animal-testing.aspx
http://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/beauty/body-shop-under-scrutiny-as-crueltyfree-products-found-in-china-20140311-34iv0.html
So much for that “agreement” they made to L’Oreal then, eh?
Seems like Body Shop pulled out of mainland China duty free shortly after.
http://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/beauty/body-shop-pulls-products-from-chinese-airport-shops-20140313-34ozn.html
I am based in China and have never seen Body Shop stores or products being sold here. Like your blog and respect your stance on cruelty free products, just wanted to share that info : )
Thanks very much for the info! I did see some a couple years ago when I went to China, but it was at sort of an “international brand fair” type of event in Beijing. Glad to hear that at least they’re not on the open market there yet.
You have Victoria’s Secret listed but from what I’ve read they aren’t cruelty-free. 😦 http://www.logicalharmony.net/victorias-secret-is-no-longer-cruelty-free/#axzz3Hq8q1PHt
Boo! That’s too bad- I’ll update my list.
I’ve heard that the face shop tests on animals but when I search it up online they say they don’t…I’m really confused because I love their products and I always thought that they were cruelty free… Do you know anything about that? Thanks 🙂
Hmm…not familiar with this brand. They do sell in China, so they have agreed to testing. Korean brands are generally not cruelty-free as it’s not especially a priority there. I cant say for sure, but I’d be highly suspicious of this one.
Thank you so much for this super informative post! I had no idea there were still so many major brands testing on animals. What a shame!
It really is a shame, and while some progress is being made because of consumers getting more and more aware, there’s still a long way to go! But awareness and education is the key. It’s how so much progress is being made, so feel free to pass the info on when you can! 🙂
It all readily saddens me because I have lived in China for nearly a decade and still do. I cannot physically and financially cover my skincare needs for year in advance on occasion I travel:( I ask friends sometimes to bring stuff from overseas that’s not sold here and therefore is cruelty free and have been using coconut oil as body moisturizer for a while, but it’s really difficult to now to find anything. Any good recipes of non-oily moisturizer? Most stuff online is oil-based, and I just don’t want to walk out with shiny face when I need to go to work. I tried jojoba, coconut, some other oils but it all just leaves my oily skin shiny.
Thanks for your comment! I also spent some time in China and I definitely understand the situation there and applaud you for wanting to go cruelty-free in a country where that is really not a priority. I have dry skin, so I just used facial oils, but you could try this recipe: http://pinsandprocrastination.com/homemade-aloe-vera-face-moisturizer/ she mentions she reduced some of the oil in it and it works for oilier skin. Hyaluronic acid, despite the name, is also good for attracting moisture to the skin and is not oily. It’s either created from rooster combs (poor rooster!) or made synthetically via bacterial fermentation. They are the same on a molecular level. You can buy serums or lotions with it from a lot of independent skincare companies or Etsy. (Just look for the “vegan” version of it unless you want to be involved with rooster torture.)
Sorry if this info has already been discussed or is incorrect. I went vegan about 7 months ago so I’m still learning with brands that are and aren’t cruelty free. You mentioned that you do not use brands that are owned by a company that does test on animals even if the brand itself does not. I understand that, but here is my confusion: I’ve always been told (even before going vegan) that Bath and Body Works and Victoria’s Secret are both owned by the same company. You have Victoria’s Secret listed in the do NOT buy list and Bath and Body Works listed under the safe list. I’m not sure if they’re still owned by the same company, but Wikipedia has them both listed as being owned by L Brands INC. IF all of this is accurate, wouldn’t that mean Bath and Body Works should be avoided as well? Once again, sorry if this is not accurate, I’m just genuinely curious because I love Bath and Body Works and do not want to give my money to a company that isn’t cruelty free. I would love clarification on the subject. Thanks! Here is the link I found on them being owned by the same company. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L_Brands
Hmm, let me check it out. Victoria’s Secret was cruelty-free for a long time, and recently decided to start selling their line in China, which moved them off the list. Let me contact them and do a little more research on the situation. I do know that Bath and Body Works do not sell in China as of now. I’ll make a note on my list.
Great list! Thank you for being thorough about vetting these companies and sources for cruelty-free status. I do cruelty-free product reviews on Instagram and know how challenging it can be! I completely understand and respect your decision to not support companies whose parent companies are not cruelty-free; however, one tidbit I read some years ago doing research has always stuck w/ me. When big, bad companies buy out smaller, cruelty-free ones, it’s bc they’re profitable and the big companies see earning potential. When we abandon those companies and discontinue purchasing from them, they can potentially be less successful and the parent companies are more likely to change practices to increase profit margins, and ultimately making these small companies lose their values we love. Continuing to support cruelty-free companies is the best way to vote w/ your dollar and show big business the practices and values we want to support and potentially influence them to change and follow in suit. There are so many grey areas in the world of cruelty-free products, and it’s up to every individual to spend their money as they please, but I think this point is worth considering. The important thing is that together, we are all making a difference for the lives of many innocent animals out there!
Thanks for your comment- that’s an interesting perspective. There are indeed a lot of gray areas and there’s a lot of persuasive arguments for a lot of different positions (whether to support parent companies who test, etc) but I respect people who follow their hearts and try to do the best they can for our furry friends. I do get into a lot of detailed discussions about the finer points of cruelty-free living and which company does what, etc. but I think it’s most important to remember to spread the bigger message: that animal testing still exists, and that we as consumers can stop it. We can promote awareness, boycott testing companies/brands, volunteer our time/money/support, and encourage legislation and act on a politicial level to stop cruel practices. That’s something I think we can all agree on!
I don’t know why I haven’t replied to this sooner, but thank you so much! I love that there is a list that is getting updating as often as you do!
I think it might interesting if you had a “gray area” list. I find it intesting to see what companies are trying to stay cruelty free even if the big company is not. See how many can keep it up.
You are very welcome! Some other bloggers do have a “gray area” list, but I haven’t done that since I boycott all animal testing as much as I possibly can. I just don’t want to give them any of my dollars, regardless of if a certain brand in their portfolio is cruelty-free. I do understand there are shades of gray, but I’m happiest staying away from animal testing as much as I can. Yes, I do wear glasses now instead of contacts, and I have missed out on some cool nail polish, but that’s life, right?;)
Thanks! 🙂 What about MAC?
Sorry for the delay in answering! MAC itself used to be cruelty-free, but was then bought out by Estee Lauder, which is not cruelty-free. They do engage in animal testing to sell in the China market. 😦
Hi! I’m wondering if you know if the brand “clean” perfume is cruelty-free? Thank you & thank you for your information on this blog!
That’s a good question…I haven’t been able to trace their parent company, it seems to be both Fusion Brands and Fragrantica (?) Clean does state that they are cruelty-free here: http://cleanperfume.com/our-clean-footprint but I don’t have any further details about their parent company. But the brand itself seems to be cruelty-free.
Is Yankee Candle cruelty-free? I haven’t been able to find any info on this.
That’s a very interesting question…I did a quick search and can’t find much. I did find this: http://penny.jeltz.myfreeforum.org/archive/yankee-candle-company__o_t__t_1915.html They don’t test their products (and I don’t think they’d be required to by law) but can’t vouch for all their suppliers. Very vague…
Please let me know if there is anything I need to know regarding Phyto hair products – http://www.phyto-usa.com/faq#category0-3
Hi there, I’m not sure about that brand. I use the Internet to search, I don’t have any access to any special database or anything like that. You may try sending them an email to clarify? One of their answers in the FAQ is a bit odd. “We do not use animal-testing. We use new alternative methods recommended by our toxicology expert They are chosen case by case according to the type of product.” On the plus side, though, I haven’t seen this brand sold in mainland China, so that’s good news. I’d give it a cautious thumbs up but more info is needed to be sure- if you email them, let us know what they said!
Hi:) thank you for all what you are doing.
I have a blog too and I am an animal advocate.
You can add Mac to the list of the brands that test on animals.
Mac belongs to Estee Lauder and they also sell in China:(
Nuxe doesn’t seem to be cruelty free either, same with L’Occitane.
http://www.crueltyfreekitty.com/does-nuxe-test-on-animals/
I will give you the link of my blog if you want to have a look:) I am on FB also.
The animals thank you<3
MAC is already on my list under Estee Lauder, it’s a shame since I really liked their stuff way back in the day. Thanks for the info, I will update the list accordingly.
This is my blog:
Hi! I know I’m late to the party, but I just came from L’Oreal’s website and they state they do not test on animals anymore. Here is the link: http://www.loreal.com/csr-commitments/loreal-answers/the-question-of-animal-testing.aspx. The exception they refer to is a possibility, but it’s better than nothing.
Thanks for your comment. L’Oreal does absolutely willingly test on animals to have access to the China market. Click on the “What About China” tab on the page you referenced. Their sneaky statement totally minimizes their involvement. They state “In China, the regulatory authorities carry out within their evaluation centers animal tests for finished cosmetics products before these are placed on their market. We think these tests are unnecessary but we cannot prevent them…”
Sure you can. Don’t sell in China.
Believe L’Oreal when they admit in their own statement about testing “if regulatory agencies require.” That means if the Chinese government requires them to test, they are perfectly willing to do so in the interest of being involved in that market. They’ll test if they want to be in a certain market badly enough, all the while claiming that they don’t test. But they know many consumers will be turned off, so they try to blame it on “regulators.”
Apparently, this law in China was ended, so these companies no longer need to do this testing. http://sinosphere.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/06/30/china-ends-animal-testing-rule-for-some-cosmetics/?_r=0
Thanks for your comment and the link. I want to clear things up since the saying “the Chinese testing law was ended” is not the whole story. Unfortunately, they’ve only stopped requiring testing a tiny fragment of products, such as some shampoos. Mandotory testing under Chinese law still applies for most cosmetics, including cosmetics imported to China for use in that market and “special use products” such as sunblock and hair dye, so this law is still in place for the VAST majority of products in China. Considering that the Chinese themselves make some of the most dangerous products in the world (ie baby formula poisoned with melamine, just to name one), requiring Western/foreign brands to test on animals for their domestic market is beyond outrageous. Hypocrisy at its absolute finest. Or maybe they just think everyone else in the world is as willing as they are to adulterate food and cosmetics with poison to make a few cents profit.
I wish to add to your list a french comany who produce natural cosmetics free of PEG, silicone, bisphenol A; most of the time free of coloring, and synthetic preservatives, products are developed in order to minimize the impact on the environment,recyclable or biodegradable containers are used,cruelty free beauty and also,French company who produce natural make up .
Hi, I will need some information in English on these companies before I can add them. Please send me their statements on animal testing and I’ll review it.
hello,
http://www.laboratoires-jerodia.com/eng/laboratoires-commitments.php
this is the link wher you can find what you need
Jerodia is producer for
PHYT’S
PHYT’S ORGANIC MAKE-UP
BIONATURAL
B-HOME
GAMARDE
FRANÇOISE MORICE
JÉRODIA INSTITUTE
I’m wondering about companies that do NOT test but their parent company does, should we still support the non-testing company even if their parent company does? Or is it better to avoid them? It’s been bothering me whether it is worth purchasing from them or avoiding because the parent company is not?
The answer to that one really depends on your own feelings. I personally feel that since I have a limited amount of dollars to spend, those dollars are going to companies that are truly cruelty-free (ie also have cruelty-free parent companies.) If my $$ will ultimately go to corporations that test (whether or not one brand in their portfolio is cruelty-free), then to me there would no point in bothering with cruelty-free. However, some people are OK with supporting a brand that is cruelty-free, even if the parent company is not. It’s really a matter of personal choice and what feels right to you.
Awesome blog! I’ve been a Mary Kay girl for about 8 years now and have always had the understanding that they have gotten around animal testing, as well have fought against it in other countries and have stood their ground! Their website states “Mary Kay Inc. does not support animal testing.
Mary Kay Inc. is committed to the elimination of animal testing and is a strong advocate of utilizing alternative methods to substantiate the safety of our ingredients and products. We do not conduct animal testing on our products or ingredients, nor ask others to do so on our behalf, except when absolutely required by law. For more than two decades, we have been a global leader in helping to develop alternative testing methods for product safety. This commitment continues today, in partnership with global regulatory agencies that manage cosmetic safety, with animal advocacy groups and with leading animal alternative researchers.” There is a few areas in my spending where I will admit to being “grey” and even if Mary Kay currently allows testing on some products across the pond, this is my shtick; this awesomely massive company can pull a LOT of weight out there to fight those mean laws. I can’t. I’m going to BUY Mary Kay product and support them till they win that battle cause I believe they will or will help win it!
I’m afraid to say I don’t share the Mary Kay love. They agreed to animal testing to be able to sell their products in China. I really dislike their misleading and hypocritical statements, which are in total opposition to their actions as a company. If they were “truly committed to the elimation of animal testing,” they would not have agreed to test on animals to have access to the China market. From their own statement, “We do not conduct animal testing on our products or ingredients, nor ask others to do so on our behalf, except when absolutely required by law.” They could have just stayed out of China to avoid that testing that is “absolutely required by law.” Mary Kay are no heroes for animals- they’ve put profit first. And been very sneaky about pretending not to. I just can’t get behind that. We all have to do what we feel is right, and if you don’t mind using their products and think they will bother to effect any change regarding animal testing, then I respect your position and thank you for being concerned for animals. But I think they’re a bunch of hypocrites and will have nothing to do with them or their products.
One for the list of goodies – “Cowshed” and their fledgling cosmetic range “Cheeky”. The FAQs section of their website addresses their standpoint of animal testing. I use them as they are one of very few brands I’m not allergic to. They are quite a small, premium range UK company but I believe they are starting to sell in the US as well. Pricey but well worth it, especially if you have allergies or sensative skin.
I can’t find any info on Cowshed’s parent company, if there is one. They say they don’t test on animals but then I see this: “All of the products in our spa-inspired range are legally required to undergo a skin safety assessment test in order to go on the market. Safety assessment tests are carried out to make sure products are safe for human use.” I wonder what kind of test they’re using? Best to check into it. http://www.cowshed.com/spa/our-treatments/faqs#no-nasties
There are 2 brands I use, Pacifica and le couvent des minimes, that I believe to be cruelty free/vegan. Was wondering if you have heard of either and know if they have parent companies, I share your stance on parent companies 🙂 thanks for the helpful list!
Pacifica is cruelty-free, according to PeTA: http://www.peta.org/blog/petas-beauty-without-bunnies-program-welcomes-pacifica/ It doesn’t seem they have a parent company and they don’t appear to have a presence in China. Yay!
Le Couvent des minimes…can’t find any info on their status, unfortunately. More research needed on that one.
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Hi – thanks for the great list and thorough info! I saw an earlier poster asked for reccomendations for a tinted moisturizer, and I could use the same. Better yet, one with really good coverage that perhaps addresses rosacea. I was so excited to find one at Target today only to come home to realize their parent company is L’Oreal, so I’ll have to take it back. Any advice on products?
Thanks for your comment! I hate it when I find a new product/line and check it out, only to find it’s the same old crappy parent company. I don’t use much makeup (other than on my nails!)so I’m at a bit of a loss on this one. Can any readers help out?
I too have rosacea. I get white bumps from any BB or CC cream I try. However, a cheap and good solution for me was Elf’s foundation. Only $6 at my Target and it even has a pump! Their Porcelain color is still slightly too dark for me, so I use little and blend as much as possible. No white bumps, either, and it’s oil free. I don’t look for SPF in my foundation, just my primer, so that I have the option to wear it (usually) or not (at events where I’m being photographed). Good luck!
I believe that Bath and Body Works is now sold in China. I use an app on my phone called Cruelty Cutter sponsored by the wonderful group The Beagle Freedom Project and they have recently added B&BW to their “companies that DO test list”
Hmm, thanks for the info. Any readers in China who can comment on this? PeTA still lists them as cruelty-free as of Sept 2015, http://features.peta.org/cruelty-free-company-search/cruelty_free_companies_company.aspx?Com_Id=473&Donottest=0&Product=0&Dotest=-1&RegChange=-1&Country=-1&Keyword= but Cruelty Cutter usually does their research too. I’ll check into it some more, since we have two different stories.
Hi,
Do you have any update about this? I noticed too that BnBW is listed as a company which DOES tests on the Cruelty Cutter app. I’m aware of the connection between VS and BnBW, however, why is it that Cruelty Cutter lists them as non cruelty-free and PETA still lists them as cruelty free? Thanks in advance!
I’m still working this out, not getting any answers on it. Strange that PETA hasn’t made any statements…
I don’t see China Glaze on either list, unless I’m missing it. I was under the impression that they were cruelty free. Has something changed? I hope not since I was do excited to find that they were cruelty free and widely available.
I read your blog and love it, but I actually came across this post looking for info on Duwop because I found a sample of lip venom I’ve had for ages and was wondering about the brands status.
Any thoughts on the South Korean plan on phasing out testing? I’ll admit that I haven’t studied it that closely, but I’m hoping it will be a good thing in the long run. I’ve been looking at some Asian beauty product blogs and forums and they have some amazing products that I’d love to try, but it’s so hard to tell if anything is cruelty free or not.
Thanks for your comment. China Glaze is on the Cruelty Free list under American International, their parent company. So you can keep on CG’ing away. 😉
Duwop…hmm, I’ve never personally seen this one, but a quick PeTA check states they’re cruelty free: http://features.peta.org/cruelty-free-company-search/cruelty_free_companies_company.aspx?Com_Id=372&Donottest=-1&Product=0&Dotest=-1&RegChange=-1&Country=-1&Keyword=duwop
As for South Korea’s plans, I have very little optimism. I hope it’s true, but SK is a country where you can buy puppies at the market for dinner. I have seen it with my own eyes, because I didn’t believe it was true. To say it’s not a nation of animal lovers would be putting it mildly. But it seems to be a step in the right direction, so let’s see what happens.
Thank you sooooo much for your superb blog!!!!
I have been using Barry M products for ages as i took it for granted that i was told they are vegan by another vegan. Now i know they are not all vegan so i will start using only all vegan cosmetic brands. The Peta list i looked at was obviously old as i could not see Malibu Suncare anywhere so was a bit worried as bought a shed load of it for my holiday this year! Thankfully yours is an up to date list and halle-fricking-lujah they were on the vegan list :).
Keep up the brilliant work it is so appreciated xxxx
Thanks for stopping by! My pleasure! Keep up the good work for animals.
Man, I really wish I had a printer so I could take this list to the store with me. I also wish there were more crossover between cruelty free products and all natural or sulfate/surfactant free products that I didn’t have to search high and low for online. I really love Hair One conditioning cleanser, which is sold at Sally’s. Do you have any info about that?
This is awesome, btw!
Hi there, thanks for stopping by. If you don’t have a printer, but you do have a smart phone, try checking out cruelty-cutter.org. They have an app that scans products in the store to tell you about its cruelty free status. I don’t have a chance to use it because I am in Asia, but a lot of people and find a convenient way to instantly check out products on the go.
Wish I did. I stick with the cheap ol’ pay-as-you go deals. My phone supposedly can go online but the reality is it never really works well…
I’m in the same boat- I have a prepaid el cheapo too! 🙂
Hi there!
‘So sorry I can’t give a lot of links here… (‘maybe 2-3 links, I’ve been able to cut & paste via my phone-I don’t have a laptop, & have limited motor skills (typing)-so this process is sort of agonizing-but worth it!). . :)! …But here are some truly cruelty free brands I’ve just spent about 5 weeks researching/verifying:
I learned much through Nordstrom and purchase of cruelty free, 3rd party parent companies, etc.
1. Chanticalle is a high quality, high end brand that states it’s cruelty free, no parent companies, no selling in other countries. They also donate a portion of proceeds to conservationist efforts…they have a “Save the Wolves”-eye shadow pallet, a “Save the Elephants”- blush with an elephant embossing on it, and a “Save the Bees”-cosmetic, as well… all proceeds from those promotional items go to animal causes. All of this is researchable by tracking it, starting with nordstrom.com and following the company through links there. Chanticalle is the first company I’ve tried, and I’m highly impressed with the information they give-they are very transparent.
Also-
2. Ellis Faas-they test on supermodels only- their website says it all: ellisfass.com. They have a PHENOMENAL philosophy & back it up. They are endorsed by high profile vegan celebrities like Gwyneth Paltrow.
3. I am 99% sure La Vanila is also qualified here. It holds an amazing printed cruelty free policy (*sorry- I have a disability & can’t type a ton, but did do the research). La Vanila has amazing deodorants & perfumes. ‘No aluminum, ‘works incredibly well (I have all 3 deodorants -love the grapefruit/vanilla scent especially, & perfumes just smell like a heavenly vacation…) & they are cruelty free. Found link by starting at Sephora & then validating and reconfirming over and over …I’m sure you will want to verify for yourself, but wanted to give you that name …the products are amazing and the ingredients listed are also great. Everything I’ve read seems very legit. and there is no tricky language-‘very sorry I don’t have a website specifically for this one.
4. By Terry is another high end, cruelty free line that doesn’t retail to 3rd parties or have sales in foreign countries. Again, ‘going through Nordstrom provides a great path to finding the hardcore research.
As far as the palm oil debate, it crushes me, and breaks my heart. These products do not necessarily qualify as using sustainable palm oil sources…I do know that the awareness is out there, but I cannot guarantee they do not have palm oil ingredients which are not from sustainable resources. Some might not even be on the list for change- although many companies now are heading in that direction, it seems, & many list dates by which they will have phased out all non-sustainable palm oil resourcing. Consumers are now demanding change… the only companies that are very greedy & dense about this are companies like Dairy Queen and Nabisco …clearly, there are many others who are blindly refusing to address palm oil issues; those are the two first that came to mind.
I apologize for not having more palm oil info, but at least these are 4-5 cosmetic brands, which after researching almost a week per brand, I feel confident they do not sell in China or any other country (other than where their flagship company is-which is in Europe (France or England for most of these), & they regulate themselves & publish their standards transparently, have strict anti-cruelty practices, test on human tissue (*such as the “supermodel testing”-philosophy by Ellis Faas) and are verifiable. The products are wonderful…
Again, Chanticalle is amazing, and By Terry is the only line I haven’t tried, but the reviews are phenomenal.
‘Hope this info is helpful and up-to-date (September of 2015) & adds some helpful contributions.
Thanks so much for doing this painstaking work to help our beloved, sentient creatures, who share our planet & often end up being innocent victims of greed. I truly appreciate the work you put in. .. thanks again!!! Xxxooo
P.S. I have also heard that Hourglass is cruelty free…don’t have the link, but they make a big point in branding to tout their synthetic brushes, & seem highly transparent in what I’ve read…’Can’t say 100% though, as I haven’t read about their cosmetics -‘Only brushes.
P.S.S. Mars is horrible as far as testing-‘was glad to see you include them. The cute m&m is so misleading…ugh.
Last brand: ‘forgot this one-I’ve used all product categories in their line & they are wonderful :(*powder, foundation, primer, eye shadow, brushes, blushes, nail color…’everything except mascara. Here is their website:
http://www.illamasqua.com/blog/our-cruelty-free-stance/
Their philosophy is phenomenal, what they write says it all, and they back it up. The entire page is dedicated to how consumers can research cruelty-free practices (*along with their own standards and practices-which are impeccable). You do have to order out of the UK, but they easily convert pounds to dollars on the site, and shipping is not any more expensive than it is in the US. ‘Highly recommend them…they have very creative colors, too -‘lots of pastels and interesting things you would not find with traditional lines. Love their philosophy.
‘LOVE!!
Thanks for the info! I’m sure it will provide some interesting options for some brands readers might not otherwise know about.
Illumasqua is definitely an interesting brand! I’ve only tried a couple of things from them, but so far so good.
Gray areas are hard. Do you think using essie is okay?
Essie is owned by L’Oreal, which is not cruelty-free, so I don’t use them anymore. I do have some polish from their old days, but after the sellout to a testing company, they’re out of my life. 😦
Sometimes just because it is owned by L’oreal doesn’t mean it is definitely tested on animals. It should be something to double check.
The Body Shop is cruelty free, this has now been owned by L’oreal but they remain cruelty free despite the company that owns them, they are sticking to their own rules.
As mentioned, I don’t use companies that test or with parent companies that do. Just my personal decision, but I’m not giving any of my dollars to companies that test. I don’t differentiate between brands in their portfolio. That’s why the Body Shop is not on my cruelty free list.
Hi, thanks so much for the great list, some of these were surprising to me! As someone just starting their first cruelty free beauty blog, I am very inspired by all of your work! Thanks again 🙂
Wow, I’m glad to check out your site. I’ve been using Tarte and Bars since I thought they were on the “safe” list…. This is sad…. I now need to look for another brand. I’d think with our so-called advancement in technology, we should NOT rely on animal testings anymore….
I totally agree! Thanks for caring about animals, let us know if you find any good alternatives!
Also Marc Jacobs are cruelty free, according to PETA and the Marc Jacobs website
Their parent company is not cruelty free.
…Thanks for being on top of it. ‘Neither Bobbi Brown, nor Marc Jacobs are cruelty free. Most companies now that are cruelty free understand how badly consumers want this aspect, & have a full page on their website (or at least a tab) dedicated to their practice of cruelty free/not selling in third party countries/& not selling to parent companies who are testing on animals, etc. They truly understand this issue & they devote their PR people to be effectively communicating this to the client. It can be misleading & frustrating, but if you look up a brand you truly like, & do the research, you can find out, verbatim, if they test or not/if they sell to parent companies that test/ or are owned by companies that test/ or sell in China or other countries requiring testing, etc. It’s not impossible to do, as the companies who are truly ethical advertise it with no apology, & make it very easy to trace on their website; ‘easy to find out if you go directly to the company & get no inadvertent answers or “grey area”-responses.
Thanks again for clarifying for people. Sadly, Sephora is actively misinforming in some stores. I went in there 2 days ago & was told about 3-4 brands (Benefit, Fresh & Estee Lauder, to name a few) all of which ABSOLUTELY test on animals or have parent companies or are indeed in selling in China/3rd party areas that test on animals… & I was told that these absolutely are cruelty free. 😦 I think people trust the Sephora reps-which makes me really sad/angry when they’re giving misinformation. ‘Glad to have this blog which is diligent and makes sure what is posted is current and accurate information.
Thanks again & Merry Christmas!
Thanks for your thoughtful comment. My stance is that animal testing taints the entire brand portfolio, which is a harder line than many people take. It’s totally disingenuous for a company to test and then tout one of their brands that doesn’t. There is no actual “need” to test cosmetics, except to have access to a market and profits. Last time I checked, people in China are not going to die if they can’t get a certain lipstick.again, it’s a case of profits over all else, and I think the Sephora reps take the easy way out and don’t tell the whole story. Thanks for doing your research and we’ll keep working in 2016 to keep people informed.
My mom is a Mary Kay representative and just strong armed me into joining prior to me finding out about the change in status of their animal testing policy for China. She paid $125 plus shipping for me to join and get a website to sell their stuff. I don’t want to because I’m a strong advocate for companies to not test on animals. She is the type of person who believes what she hears and if I say that she’s wrong she just ignores me. I always do my research. I don’t want to be a consultant (she used me to get her red coat), and I never wanted to be. How do I get out of this while not having to stop having contact with my mom and dad because it would hurt my son? I refuse to sell their stuff. I would let the consumers know they are no longer cruelty free, and that doesn’t sell products. I would proudly be the anti consultant.
Sounds like your mom is not respecting boundaries. Mary Kay is, without a doubt, testing on animals for access to the China market. They even say so themselves. It’s not a rumor, it’s absolutely true. Given how you feel about animal testing, you just can’t sell it. You may just have to take a deep breath and say, “Mom, I appreciate that you wanted to give me this opportunity to sell Mary Kay. But they test on animals and I can’t be part of that. I’m just not going to sell it. I’m against it and I’m sure the customers will pick up on that.” Your mom can return the kit, you can try to pay her back for it over time, or maybe you could donate it to a worthy cause like a women’s shelter so they can provide makeovers to domestic violence survivors. Good luck! Hope that helps. Sometimes things are hard to say, but in the end it’s harder to go on and NOT say them, if to that makes any sense. Good luck and thanks for caring about animals.
Hi, I didn’t know where to write this because it seems like I cannot write on your post… Anyways, LimeCrime is a cruelty free brand, and also lots of their products are Vegan. Same Gerard Cosmetics and The Sola Look. These 2 I discovered on Instagram. I live in a country in South America where national cosmetic industry is cruelty free (animal testing for beauty purposes is prohibited by law, sadly not all the national products are of an excellent quality but it’s a start. For example, there is this brand, Petrizzio, which is CF and some of their products are really good! But some other aren’t u.u)
Love your blog! And NYX and MAC broke my heart 😦
Thanks for the info. This post is locked due to a lot of individuals posting information. Glad to know there’s some countries where cruelty-free is law, even if the products are still evolving!
Can you confirm if Kiko is cruelty free please? Thanks.
Hi there, thanks for your question. I’ve never actually heard of Kiko, but a quick look at their website would seem to suggest they are cruelty-free: http://www.kikocosmetics.com/en-us/frequently-asked-questions/animal-testing.html I’m not sure who they are owned by, so I can’t totally confirm they’re cruelty-free, but perhaps shooting them an email inquiry would work?
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One thing I would like to point out is that just because a brand is owned by a company that tests on animals doesn’t mean the brand itself does. For example, The Body Shop is owned by L’oreal but does not test on animals.
Yes, I think that’s understood. But I’m totally against cruelty, so why would I shop at The Body Shop and ultimately put my money in the hands of L’Oreal, who test on animals? Supporting a “cruelty free” brand that’s owned by a company that tests is the same as supporting the testing company, in my opinion. That’s the basis on which my decisions are made. Of course others have different standards, I would never support a company that tests, directly or indirectly.