If there's one thing we call use, it's soap. So why not make sure it's cruelty-free? The following 20 brands should help you find soap you'll love, whether you prefer bar soap or liquid.
None of the brands listed here are owned by a parent company that tests on animals, so you don't have to worry about the parent companies not being cruelty-free. Some brands that make soap and are owned by parent companies that test on animals include Tom's of Maine and Mrs. Meyers.
Almost all of the brands below are also certified by the Leaping Bunny, and almost all of them are vegan. In a few rare cases, the label stated that the product is 100% vegetarian. I marked all Leaping Bunny and vegan products in the pictures.
Soap Brands To Avoid
Before I begin, consider the soap brands to avoid (which sadly make up 95% of our drugstores).
Note that Dove is still not cruelty-free as of 2019, even though they claim to no longer test on animals.
- Dove
- Irish Spring
- Ivory
- Dial
- Palmolive
- Softsoap
- Pears
- Lux
- L'Occitane
- Neutrogena
- Aveeno
- Olay
- Purpose
- Johnson's
- Caress
Cruelty-Free Soap Brands
1. Kiss My Face (Various Scents)
This is a natural olive oil soap, meaning that it's also super moisturizing and leaves your skin soft. Palm oil free. It's available in multiple scents: Lavender, Chamomile, Green Tea, and Aloe. Format: 1 bar, each 8oz.
Where to buy: Amazon (best price).
2. Kiss My Face (Unscented)
The same great soap from Kiss My Face, without the scent. It's palm oil free and only contains 3 ingredients: olive oil (86%), water, and sea salt. Format: 3 bars, 4oz each.
Where to buy: Amazon (best price).
3. Nubian Heritage (Various Scents)
This soap contains certified organic ingredients, and it's also fair trade and sustainably produced. It's available in several scents: Coconut & Papaya, Mango Butter, and Raw Shea Butter just to name a few. Format: 1 bar, each 5oz.
Where to buy: Amazon - iHerb ($4.32).
4. Desert Essence (Tea Tree)
Desert Essence makes sure their ingredients are certified sustainable and 100% vegan. This Tea Tree Therapy bar soap doesn't contain any harsh chemicals and it works for sensitive skin. Format: 1 bar, each 5oz.
Where to buy: Amazon (best price) - iHerb ($3.59).
5. Hugo Naturals (Various Scents)
Hugo Naturals offers handcrafted soaps that are a mix of botanical extracts and essential oils. They're made in the USA, don't contain harsh chemicals or synthetics, and soy free. The scents include Vanilla & Sweet Orange, French Lavender, Grapefruit, and Rose. Format: 1 bar, each 4oz.
Where to buy: iHerb ($3.44).
6. Dr. Bronner's (Peppermint)
Dr. Bronner's makes a popular castile liquid soap that has a multitude of uses. This is their solid bar soap, and it's just as good and made from organic and sustainable ingredients. Format: 5 bars, each 5oz.
Where to buy: Amazon (5-pack).
7. Shea Moisture (Various Scents)
Made from natural and organic ingredients and great for dry skin. Comes in several scents: Coconut & Hibiscus, Lemongrass & Ginger, Fruit Fusion, and more. Format: 1 bar, each 8oz.
Where to buy: Amazon.
8. Out Of Africa (Unscented)
Made from 100% pure and unrefined Shea Butter, with no artificial dyes or ingredients. Good for dry or sensitive skin. This one is unscented but they also make African Black Soap. Format: 1 bar, each 4oz.
Where to buy: Amazon - iHerb ($2.77).
9. Auromere (Various Scents)
Auromere is based on Ayurvedic principles and offers holistic products that heal body and mind. This soap contains organic Neem, and it's moisturizing enough for dry skin. Format: 1 bar, each 2.75oz.
Where to buy: Amazon - iHerb ($1.80).
10. Yes To Tomatoes
This soap is specifically intended for oily skin and contains activated charcoal. You can use it on your body and face as well, and it contains 98% natural ingredients. Format: 1 bar, each 7oz.
Where to buy: Amazon.
11. Yes To Coconut
This is another soap from Yes To, but it's meant for dry skin. This makes it perfect to use as an everyday hand soap, and it provides gentle exfoliation. Format: 1 bar, each 7oz.
Where to buy: Amazon.
12. Olivella (Various Scents)
Olivella's entire line is 100% vegan and cruelty-free, and their natural olive oil soap is super affordable too! They have several scents including Pomegranate. Format: 1 bar, each 5oz.
Where to buy: Amazon (12-pack).
13. Saavy (Various Scents)
Another cruelty-free and vegan soap available at Ulta, and it's all-natural and made with jojoba oil and virgin coconut oil. They offer multiple scents like Mango Papaya, Vanilla, and Rose. Format: 1 bar, each 5oz.
Where to buy: Amazon.
14. 100% Pure (Various Scents)
100% Pure makes everything from makeup to skin and body care. Their products are natural, and use pigments derived from real fruit. Their soaps are super rich and moisturizing. Format: 1 bar, each 4.5oz.
Where to buy: .
15. Puracy (Various Scents)
If liquid hand soap is your jam, you can't go wrong with Puracy. It's natural, non-toxic, and made in the USA, not to mention it's 100% plant-based and disinfects well.
Where to buy: Amazon.
16. Method (Various Scents)
Method also makes great liquid hand soap and it's really gentle on your hands. They also have environmentally-conscious packaging since you can buy refills. It comes in many scents.
Where to buy: Amazon.
17. Trader Joe's (Oatmeal & Honey)
EDIT: This one is NOT vegan as it actually contains Honey in the ingredients. Thank you Janne for pointing this out!
Trader Joe's makes many cruelty-free personal care items, and their soap is really affordable. It's made from pure vegetable oil, and you can find it online or at your local Trader Joe's. Format: 4 bars, each 4oz.
Where to buy: Amazon.
18. Giovanni (Grapefruit)
The hair care brand Giovanni doesn't only make shampoo, but also this liquid hand soap. Just like their shampoo, this hand soap is super moisturizing and labeled as "eco chic".
Where to buy: Amazon.
19. Avalon Organics (Lemon)
Avalon Organics is famous for their skin and body hair, and their liquid hand soap hits the mark. It comes in multiple scents including Lemon, Lavender, and Rosemary. All-natural and 70% organic.
Where to buy: iHerb ($6.39).
20. Pangea Organics (Canadian Pine)
Pangea makes this cruelty-free, vegan, and organic hand soap. It's free from any harsh chemicals and suitable for dry skin. It contains antimicrobal and antiseptic White Sage leaves.
Where to buy: Amazon.
What's your favorite cruelty-free soap?
Which Brands Are Cruelty-Free?
Download our list of 600+ verified cruelty-free brands straight to your device. Bring it with you everywhere you go, and never worry about supporting animal testing again. Click here to download
Is Method owned by a parent company that tests on animals?
Is Buff City Soap cruelty free? I could not find any info on their website so I’m thinking Not.
They recently opened s store in my area.
Thanks.
Toms of Maine is cruelty free
Please confirm that 365 by Whole Foods Market, Foaming Hand Soap Refill, Lavender, 64 Fl oz, doesn’t animal test, as they so state on their package.
I am really surprised at this list (that uses animal products!) Recently, I was aghast and shocked to learn there are actually products that use collage, etc. from aborted fetuses! Can you research that and post a list, please?
Thank you for your information! There is no place for animal testing!
You ROCK. I keep a copy of your and PETAs lists in my handbag.
Thank you ????
Thank you for your list. I just ran out of my stockpile of Method foaming hand soap and much to my displeasure and sadness found out that both Method and Mrs. Meyer’s are now owned by SC Johnson. So they are no longer cruelty-free. On to finding new CF brands to support.
I have oily skin and have been using Neutrogena acne prone bar soap for years. Would anyone know of a cruelty free option that is very similar?
What upsets me most about all of these “cruelty free” products is that almost all of them contain palm oil.
While they may not be tested on animals, the harvesting of palm oil is destroying the natural habitat of Orangutans which is leading to their deaths.
The hand soap I use now is from this brand called Everyone. It is made with all natural ingredients (yes I read the label, but the real reason I bought it was because it’s cruelty free), and it’s Leaping Bunny certified. It’s gentle and smells lovely. Would totally recommend it!
But I read that olive harvests in the Mediterranean kill millions of song birds annually, so how can anything with olives in the ingredients be cruelty free?
I am looking for a cruelty free vegan soap to use on my sensitive lady parts…suggestions
What about Vermont Soap’s blue bar?
Avalon Organics and Alba Botanicals are available on Walmart.com… Yardley also makes CF soap… it’s only a $1.00 in stores!
Hey, thank you for providing such a great information about Vegan Soaps I have been using Saavy (Various Scents) Since 3 months and satisfied with the product BTW thanks a lot for your information 🙂
i thought i read recently that method is no longer cruelty free… maybe on logical harmony? such a shame because i love their foaming hand soaps, and the one at trader joe’s just isn’t as good 🙁
Hi,
Did anyone try YesTo Coconut brand soaps, if so how was your experience?
Hi my name is maddie I’ve been a vegetarian for a while now and just wondering if the brand “Softsoap” was tested on animals. We have so much of this in our house and I hope it’s cruelty free.
Soft soap is on the list of cruelty brands to avoid.
I thought L’Occitane was cruelty free? It’s not? I inquired at one of their stores.
They started selling in China. I was seriously bummed about this as I’ve still not found a brand that made such a difference for my skin.
Thank you so much for this list and all the lists! Ordering some face soap as we speak from this list. Trying to find something to replace my Clinique as I slowly make everything in my house cruelty free!!!
Hi Katrina,
Thanks so much for your kind words and congrats on going cruelty-free! 🙂
Do u know if asepxia cleansing bar is vegan or cruelty free ?
eu tambem gostaria de saber 🙂
Hi, thank you for taking your time into making this list, but I have an observation to make:
N. 17: Trader Joe’s Oat and Honey – Honey is not vegan
Oh no, sorry I let that slip! Fixing it now.
how come no lush?
This is a great list! Thanks so much for the post! There’s a foaming hand soap that I’m in love with. I’m not sure about their parent company but they are leaping bunny certified. It’s J.R. Watkins. We keep a bottle of their lemon soap by the kitchen sink always. It gets rid of some really nasty smells like fish or onions. 🙂
Is there any cruelty free body soap at target??
Target has a lot of cruelty free soaps. You can get the full Method line there, Seventh Generation hand soap, Alba Botanica body wash, Yes To soap and body wash, Shea Moisture soap and body wash, and more depending on what your Target offers.
thank you!!
they also have Mrs.Meyer’s which is backed up by leaping bunny. they have hand soap and body wash also laundry detergent and dish soap.
Just be careful cuz some of Mrs. Meyers products contain palm oil which I don’t agree with…even though they say it’s responsibly-sourced.
I LOVE this new series you have created! I pinned it to my Pinterest for future reference since there are so many new soaps I can’t wait to try! Thanks Suzi!
Thanks so much Jen! 🙂
Thank you so much for this list! I need to switch to a CF bar soap and didn’t really know where to start.