Cruelty Free 101 - Companies That Test On Animals
Are you interested in going cruelty free with your hair, makeup, skin & body products, but have NO clue where to start? I can help.
Updates are being made to this post. Check back for changes!
Defining Cruelty Free
When a product is certified cruelty free, that means that the product, and its ingredients, has not been tested on animals at any phase of the production process, and it is not sold in countries where animal testing is required by law, like China.
It is important to distinguish this from products that are certified vegan because they do not mean the same thing. Cruelty free products can still contain animal products - the line is drawn at animal testing.
Read my Non-Vegan Beauty Ingredient Guide for a list of ingredients to check for that contain animal products, which may be present in cruelty free products.
Did you know?
There are a growing number of brands out there that are certified cruelty free, which is wonderful! But did you know that some of these brands are owned by parent companies that actually do test on animals when required by law? This means that even though the making of a particular lipstick you love didn't harm any innocent animals, your money still supported animal testing in a roundabout way.
Please check out my updated blog post: Parent Companies That Test on Animals
Some people view buying these certified cruelty free products as a way to show consumer demand for ethical alternatives. Others see it as a way of still supporting cruelty. And some simply don't see a problem with it at all. Whatever your opinion may be, always remember that as consumers, we have more power than we realize!
So let's get down to business.
This post is meant to simply show how many brands test on animals. What I did was look for the corporations that manufacture the most prominent consumer beauty, fragrance, hair & body care products, and consulted their websites directly. Below you will see these companies, their quoted statements on animal testing, and a list of their brands. I understand the lists can be pretty lengthy, so here are the companies I covered if you'd like to jump to a specific one:
L'Oréal
Estée Lauder
Revlon
Coty, Inc.
Shiseido
Kosé
Henkel
Unilever
Proctor & Gamble
Reckitt Benckiser
Kao
Beirsdorf
L Brands
Johnson & Johnson
Colgate-Palmolive
LVMH (Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy) & Kendo
Avon
Ulta
Sephora
Mary Kay
The Body Shop & Natura Brasil
1. L'Oréal
Statement on animal testing:
"L'Oréal does not test any its products or any of its ingredients on animals. Nevertheless, because our products are sold in China, L'Oréal still figures on the PETA list. In China, the health authorities still require and carry out animal testing for certain products." Read more
Brands:
African Beauty Brands
Atelier Cologne
Biolage
Biotherm
Cacharel
Carita
CeraVe
Clarisonic
Decleor
Diesel
Essie
Garnier
Giorgio Armani
Guy Laroche
Helena Rubinstein
IT Cosmetics
Kératase
Kiehl’s
L’Oréal Paris
La Roche-Posay
Lancôme
L'Oreal Professional
Magic
Maison Margiela
Matrix
Maybelline New York
Mizani
Niely
NYX Professional MakeUp
Paloma Picasso
Proenza Schouler
Pureology
Ralph Lauren Fragrances
Redken
Roger & Gallet
Sanoflore
Shu Uemura
Shu Uemura Art of Hair
SkinCeuticals
Urban Decay
Vichy
Viktor&Rolf
Yue Sai
Yves Saint Laurent Beauté
2. Estée Lauder
Statement on animal testing:
“The Estée Lauder Companies does not test on animals and we never ask others to do so on our behalf. If a regulatory body demands it for its safety or regulatory assessment, an exception can be made. Our consumers can be certain that we are committed to producing only the highest quality beauty products which meet our exacting efficacy, safety and ethical standards.” Read more
Brands:
Aerin
Aramis
Aveda
Becca
Bobbi Brown
Bumble and Bumble
Clinique
Darphin
DKNY
Donna Karan
Editions De Parfums Frederic Malle
Ermenegildo Zegna
Estée Lauder
Glam Glow
Jo Malone
Kilian
Kiton
La Mer
Lab Series
Le Labo
MAC
Michael Kors
Origins
Rodin olio lusso
Smashbox
Tom Ford Beauty
Tommy Hilfiger
Too Faced
Tory Burch
3. Revlon
Statement on animal testing:
"The Company has not tested on animals since 1989 and believes that animal testing is not necessary to establish the safety of our products or ingredients. Today, there are alternative non-animal scientific methods available that can be used to validate product safety…
There are, however, a limited number of countries that have not yet adopted these alternative scientific methods. While Revlon complies with the requirements for safety in all of these countries, we continue to collaborate with other companies to advocate that these governmental authorities adopt alternative testing methods and eliminate animal testing everywhere around the world." Read more
Brands:
Almay
Arden
Charlie Fragrances
Colorsilk
Gatineau
Mitchum
Pure Ice
SinfulColors
Ultima II
4. Coty, Inc.
Statement on animal testing:
"We do not perform, nor do we ever commission any third parties on our behalf to perform, testing of our products or ingredients on animals, except where required by law." Read More
Brands:
Adidas
Alexander McQueen
Balenciaga
Biocolor
Boss
Bottega Veneta
Bourjois
Bozzano
Bruno Banani
Burberry
Calvin Klein
Cenoura & Bronze
Chloe
Clairol
Covergirl
Davidoff Parfums
Escada
Ghd
Gucci
James Bond 007 Fragrances
Jil Sander
Joop
Kadus
Katy Perry Perfume
Lacoste
Lancaster
Londa
Marc Jacobs Fragrances
Max Factor
Miu Miu
Monange
Moxx
Nautica
Nioxin
O.P.I.
Paixao
Philosophy
Playboy
Rimmel
Risque
Roberto Cavalli Fragrance
Sally Hansen
Sassoon Professional
Sebastian
Stella McCartney Fragrances
System Professional
Tiffany & Co.
Wella
5. Shiseido
Statement on animal testing:
"Shiseido has established a safety assurance system based on alternative methods and has discontinued animal testing in cosmetics/quasi drugs that are developed in April, 2013 or later. This excludes cases in which we must explain safety to society. This refers to cases in which we must prove again the safety of ingredients that are in the market and the only option in order to do so is animal testing, as well as cases in which animal testing is essential to assure the safety of cosmetics in some countries." Read more
Brands:
Alaia
Aqualabel
Bareminerals
Benefique
Clé de Peau Beauté
Dolce & Gabbana
Elie Saab
Issey Miyake
Laura Mercier
Narcisco Rodriquez
NARS
Serge Lutens
Shiseido
6. Kosé
Statement on animal testing:
"We will continue to observe our policy of not conducting animal testing, including testing entrusted to external parties, in the future development of our cosmetic products.
*This excludes instances where we are held responsible by society to evidence the safety of a product or where it is required by administrations in particular countries." Read more
Brands:
Addiction
Astablanc
Awake
Clear Turn
Crie
Decorté
Dr. Phil Cosmetics
Elsia
Esprique
Fasio
Formule
Grace One
Hadakiwami
Infinity
Je l'aime
Jill Stuart
Maihada
Nailholic
Nature & Co
Oleo D'or
Paul Stuart
Prédia
Rimmell
Savon De Bouquet
Sekkisei
Softymo
Stephen Knoll
Suncut
Tarte
Visée
7. Henkel
Statement on animal testing:
"Henkel only ever uses such tests if required by legal regulations or if no accepted alternative test methods are available for obtaining the necessary safety data." Read More
Brands:
Alterna
Antica Erboristeria
Aok
Clynol
Dial
Dry Idea
Denivit - toothpaste
Fibreplex
Igora
Pravana
Right Guard
Schwarzkopf (All Schwarzkopf product including got2b, Essensity, Brilliance, Blondme)
Sexyhair
Smooth 'n shine
Syoss
8. Unilever
Statement on animal testing:
"Occasionally, when there are no suitable non-animal approaches available, some of the ingredients we use have to be tested; and some governments test our products on animals as part of their regulatory requirements." Read More
Brands:
Aim
Axe
Caress
Clear
Closeup
Degree
Dove
Lever 2000
Love, Beauty, & Planet
Noxzema
Nexxus
Pepsodent
Pond's
St Ives
Suave
Sunsilk
Tresemme
V05
Vaseline
9. Proctor & Gamble
Statement on animal testing:
"We do not test our products or ingredients on animals anywhere in the world unless required by law. We are working hard to make it obsolete." Read More
Brands:
Always
Ambipur
Ariel
Bold
Bounty
Braun
Charmin
Crest
Dawn
Downy
Febreze
Gain
Gillette
Head & Shoulders
Herbal Essences
Luvs
Olay
Old Spice
Oral B
Pampers
Pantene Pro-V
Rejoice
Safeguard
SK-II
Swiffer
Tampax
Tide
Vicks
10. Reckitt Benckiser
Statement on animal testing:
"RB will not conduct or commission animal tests on finished products, apart from where:
there is a legislative requirement for the test; the safety of the product cannot be assured through existing information or alternative methods (i.e. where no approved or accepted alternative testing procedure exists); a limited amount of testing on animals is required to establish the mechanism of action or safety prior to testing in humans." Read More
Brands:
Clearasil
Veet
11. Kao
Statement on animal testing:
"In our development of cosmetics, we do not and will not conduct animal testing nor do we outsource this task to anyone. (This excludes instances where we need to respond to societal expectations to evidence the safety of a product or when required to do so by government agencies in particular countries. For products other than cosmetics, our policy is to not conduct animal testing unless it cannot be avoided due to lack of availability of alternative methods, regulatory requirements or other similar reasons." Read More
Brands:
Ban
Bioré
Curél
Goldwell
Jergens
John Frieda
KMS
Molton Brown
12. Beiersdorf
Statement on animal testing:
"Animal testing has been completely banned for all cosmetic products in the EU since 2004, and for all the ingredients in these products, since 2013. Beiersdorf, of course, is in compliance with this law and has long done without animal testing whenever it was possible."
Brands:
Aquaphor
Eucerin
Nivea
13. L Brands
Statement on animal testing:
"L Brands policy prohibits the testing of our branded products, formulations and ingredients on animals except in rare cases when required by government regulations." Read More
Brands:
Bath & Body Works
Henri Bendel
La Senza
Pink
Victoria's Secret
14. Johnson & Johnson
Statement on animal testing:
"The Johnson & Johnson Family of Consumer Companies does not test cosmetic or personal care products on animals anywhere in the world except in the rare situation where it is required by law or governments." Read More
Brands:
Aveeno
Clean & Clear
Johnson's Adult
Johnson's Baby
Le Petit Marseillais
Lubriderm
Neutrogena
Rogaine
RoC
15. Colgate-Palmolive
Statement on animal testing:
"After careful study by our safety experts, early in 1999 Colgate declared a voluntary moratorium on all animal testing of Colgate's Personal Care Products designed for adults, and the ingredients used in those products…However, it is necessary to maintain the option of using animal tests for this category when we cannot find other appropriate means to insure the safety of our consumers and our people." Read More
Brands:
Aveeno
Clean & Clear
Johnson's Adult
Johnson's Baby
Le Petit Marseillais
Lubriderm
Neutrogena
Rogaine
RoC
16. Kendo & LVMH
Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy (LVMH) is not a cruelty free company (you can see their products below). Kendo is affiliated with LVMH but considered to be cruelty free as they do not sell in China where animal testing is required. Read More
LVMH Brands:
Acqua Di Parma
Benefit Cosmetics
Christian Dior
Fresh
Givenchy
Guerlain
Kenzo Parfums
Maison Grancis Kurkdjian
Make Up For Ever
Perfumes Loewe
Sephora
Kendo Brands (Although affiliated with LVMH, all Kendo brands are cruelty free and are NOT sold in China):
Bite Beauty
Fenty by Rihanna
Kat Von D Beauty
Marc Jacobs Beauty
Ole Henriksen
Press
17. Avon
Statement on animal testing: "Respect for animal welfare is a cornerstone of Avon's product safety philosophy. In fact, Avon was the first major cosmetic company to end animal testing nearly 25 years ago and we do not test on animals today. Instead, we use non-animal product safety testing methods. Unfortunately, a few countries require additional safety testing, which may include animal testing." Read More
18. Ulta
It was hard to find information on Ulta's makeup brand. From my understanding, Ulta brand is not tested on animals, but is sold in regions where animal testing is required.
19. Sephora
I could not find a direct statement regarding animal testing, but Sephora is owned by LVMH (see above) and is sold in regions like China, where animal testing is required.
20. Mary Kay
Statement on animal testing:
"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."
21. The Body Shop & Natura Brasil
The Body Shop, always known for it's activism, was previously owned by L'Oreal. Since being bought by Natura Brasil, The Body Shop (along with their other brands) are now cruelty free and are not sold in regions where testing is required.
Statement on animal testing:
"Natura and its subsidiary brands do not sell any cosmetic products in regions such as China where animal testing is mandatory for imported cosmetics. Natura, The Body Shop and Aesop are all cruelty-free companies that do not believe in animal testing. None of these companies will go into markets if our values and ethics are compromised in any way."
Brands:
Aesop
Natura
The Body Shop
I know there is plenty more research to be done, and with companies ever evolving, hopefully big changes are made. I believe this is a good start for anyone considering going cruelty free with their products. The reality is, most items found in your local store have been tested on animals.
It is up to us to make a change!
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