Every month, we bring you up to $195 worth of cruelty-free and vegan products for only $34.99 with our subscription box. Click here to find out more and claim your May box.

If this is your first time here or you're new to everything cruelty-free, please take a few moments to read this page. Going cruelty-free can be easy--all the information you need is right here!

I will answer all of your cruelty-free questions, and you'll also have a better idea of the work we do here.

Table of Contents

Who's Behind CFK?

My name is Suzana, and I'm the founder of Cruelty-Free Kitty. Since going cruelty-free in 2014, I've worked tirelessly to gather the animal testing policies of the most popular beauty brands on the market. Today, we have close to 1000 total brands in our database, and we're constantly adding more.

My mission is to end animal testing in the beauty industry by helping as many people as possible shop truly and reliably cruelty-free. To create this resource, I've spent thousands of hours researching company policies and cruelty-free regulations and spoke with experts from all over the world, including Cruelty Free International and Humane Society International.

Today we have a small team, and I still have the final say regarding each brand we vet. I'm also involved in other projects like Ethicalista, an ethical fashion resource, and of course, our Cruelty-Free Kitty Box, which is a monthly subscription box.

Our Resources

These are our most popular pages:

• List of verified cruelty-free brands (use the refine button)
• Companies that test on animals
• Search for brands to find out if they're cruelty-free
• Find specific cruelty-free products (use the refine button)
• Download our list of cruelty-free brands and stay up to date

What Does "Cruelty-Free" Really Mean?

The term "cruelty-free" is not regulated by the FDA, meaning any company can claim to be cruelty-free, regardless of their animal testing policy. This is why we verify each brand on our cruelty-free list to ensure they're genuinely cruelty-free, from ingredients to finished products and don't test on animals at any point, anywhere in the world.

"Some cosmetic companies promote their products with [cruelty-free] claims [...]. The unrestricted use of these phrases by cosmetic companies is possible because there are no legal definitions for these terms."

FDA.gov

This is why we verify cruelty-free claims. A brand is only truly cruelty-free if:

• The brand itself doesn't test finished products or ingredients on animals
• The brand's suppliers don't test finished products or ingredients on animals
• No third parties test the finished products or ingredients on animals
• The brand doesn't test on animals where required by law

5 Questions To Determine If Brands Are Cruelty-Free

We verify brands by asking them a series of questions we call the Cruelty-Free 5. These are the exact questions we ask them:

• Does your brand test on animals, for either finished products or ingredients?
• Do your suppliers test on animals? How do you ensure this?
• Do any third-parties test on animals on your behalf?
• Do you test on animals where required by law?
• In which countries are your products sold (excluding online sales)?

If you're trying to determine if a brand is cruelty-free, feel free to contact them using our questions. They should answer "no" to the first four, and they shouldn't be available for sale in stores in mainland China. This doesn't include Hong Kong, nor does it include online sales (such as Tmall or the brand's online store).

How Some Brands Mislead You

Brands sometimes mislead their customers, which is the case with brands like L'Oreal and MAC. The most common way this happens is when a brand is available in parts of the world that have mandatory animal testing laws. Because foreign governments are the ones performing these mandatory animal tests on their products, the brands claim no responsibility for it.

The truth is that when these tests occur, the brands not only agree to it but also fund the tests themselves. We don't consider any brand that tests on animals through a third party to be cruelty-free, regardless of where these tests are performed in the world.

If a brand claims to be "cruelty-free" while also testing on animals "where required by law", the claim is false and misleading, and the brand is not truly cruelty-free.

The following brands may imply that they don't test on animals, however, they're not cruelty-free according to our criteria:

• Aveeno
• Benefit
• Bioderma
• CeraVe
• Clinique
• Fresh
• Jergens
• Kiehl's
• L'Occitane
• L'Oreal
• MAC
• OGX
• Olay
• Philosophy
• Revlon
• Yves Rocher

For a full list of brands that test on animals, visit this page.

Why "Cruelty-Free" And "Vegan" Are Not The Same

These two terms have different meanings and can not be used interchangeably! Some products are cruelty-free and not vegan, and just the same, some products can be vegan and not cruelty-free.

Cruelty-free: Not tested on animals.

Vegan: Does not contain animal-derived ingredients.

Cosmetics sometimes contain animal-derived ingredients. For example, carmine is a popular red pigment used in blushes and eyeshadow, made from crushed beetles. Beeswax is another popular ingredient used in skincare products and lip balms among others. See my list of cruelty-free and vegan lip balms here if you're looking for beeswax-free options.

All the brands in our cruelty-free database are cruelty-free, but not all of them are 100% vegan (though most offer a selection of vegan products). You can find brands that are cruelty-free and 100% vegan here.

Greenwashing Alert: Beware Of Marketing Terms

A cruelty-free brand is not necessarily vegan (as mentioned above), nor is it made from "natural" or "clean" ingredients. The cruelty-free status of a brand only pertains to animal testing and not to the other ethics of the brand. Cruelty-free brands are not necessarily more sustainable or environmentally friendly. I've also compiled a separate list of cruelty-free and sustainable beauty brands here if you're looking for both.

The Parent Company Dilemma

Some cruelty-free brands are owned by big corporations that test on animals. Most people consider these brands to be cruelty-free; however, some cruelty-free shoppers choose to avoid them. This is why we mark them as "owned by a parent company that tests on animals," and we decided not to include them in the Cruelty-Free Kitty Beauty Box.

Some brands owned by parent companies that test on animals include:

• NYX, owned by L'Oreal
• Tarte, owned by Kose
• CoverGirl, owned by Coty
• Drunk Elephant, owned by Shiseido
• Hourglass, owned by Unilever
• KVD Vegan Beauty, owned by LVMH
• Kylie Cosmetics, owned by Coty
• Ole Henriksen, owned by LVMH

It's up to you whether or not you will support these brands. Some cruelty-free shoppers support them to show the parent company the demand for cruelty-free beauty. In contrast, others avoid them since they would prefer not to support a company that tests on animals indirectly.

For a full list of cruelty-free brands owned by a parent company that tests on animals, please visit this page.

How To Use Our Cruelty-Free List

Our main list of verified cruelty-free brands is the best way to shop cruelty-free. It's more of a tool than a simple list. Our team has manually categorized each brand so you're able to find exactly what you're looking for.

You can refine the list by the following criteria:

• Only show 100% vegan brands
• Only show black-owned brands
• Only show sustainable and/or clean brands
• Only show brands without a parent company that tests on animals
• Only show brands that ship to (or are avaiable in) your region (USA, UK/Europe, Canada, Australia, or Internationally)
• Only show brands available at certain stores like Sephora, Ulta, Target, or Amazon
• Refine by price range (budget-friendly, mid-range, high-end)
• Refine by product type (skincare, makeup, deodorant, and many more categories)

You can also combine the criteria above to be super-specific. For example, I can search for budget-friendly skincare products from 100% vegan brands that are not owned by a parent company that tests on animals. It's a super convenient way to find the exact cruelty-free brands you're searching for.

How To Find Cruelty-Free Products

To find specific products, use the Find Products section in the menu.

We have a database of over 1000+ top-rated cruelty-free products. We don't sell these products through our website! We link to the brands, or to retailers like Sephora, Ulta, Target, and Amazon so you can purchase through them.

You can also go really narrow with the filters to find exactly the products you're looking for.

Search For a Specific Brand

If you're looking to know the status of a specific brand, use the search in the menu (the magnifying glass symbol). If the brand is in our database, you'll find out if it's cruelty-free, not cruelty-free, or in the gray area.

We recommend avoiding brands that are either "not cruelty-free" or in the gray area. You'll see cruelty-free alternatives for these brands, so you can find brands that are similar but cruelty-free.

Why Go Cruelty-Free In 2022?

Most people assume that their beauty and personal care products aren't tested on animals in 2022. Unfortunately, this is false. Many companies still test on animals today, either themselves or by funding animal tests.

Today, there's no reason for these brands to test on animals. Here's why.

• Companies can choose from a list of over 7,000+ safe ingredients to use in their products.
• Our advanced technology has made alternative methods possible, and they're more reliable than animal tests. Companies only choose animal tests because they're cheaper.
• Companies can sell their products anywhere in the world without testing on animals. In markets which require animal testing, they can choose to sell online, thus bypassing animal testing.
• Animal tests are extremely cruel. Bunnies, mice, and even dogs are tortured, maimed, and killed in the process.

We're voting with our money by buying cruelty-free and letting brands know that we won't support animal cruelty. With so many cruelty-free brands available, making the change is easy.

What You Can Do To Help

First, join our insiders community of over 25,000 kitties. It's the best way to stay up to date with the latest cruelty-free news, and you'll also receive my downloadable cruelty-free brand list you can take with you wherever you go.

Second, share our list of cruelty-free brands with your friends and family. Let them know how easy it is to choose cruelty-free companies and find exactly what they need with Cruelty-Free Kitty.

If you've made it to the end of this post, thank you for your help and support! I hope I continue to help you on your cruelty-free journey.

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

Every month, we bring you up to $195 worth of cruelty-free and vegan products for only $34.99 with our subscription box. Click here to find out more and claim your May box.

I created this site in 2014 and it's now grown beyond my wildest expectations to become the biggest online cruelty-free resource. I work on this blog full-time to help you find amazing cruelty-free brands and products, from budget to high-end.

Lists Of Cruelty-Free Brands

I maintain lists of cruelty-free brands that are updated regularly. This makes it super easy for you to shop cruelty-free, without having to do any time-consuming research.

Start by taking a look at these lists of cruelty-free brands:

• List of Cruelty-Free Brands 2017
• Cruelty-Free Brands Available at Sephora
• Cruelty-Free Brands Available At Ulta
• Cruelty-Free Drugstore Brands
• Ultimate Guide To Cruelty-Free Makeup

Why Cruelty-Free?

If you believe that animal testing for cosmetics is cruel and unnecessary, going cruelty-free is a great way to voice your opinion against animal cruelty in the beauty industry.

You can vote with your money. Show beauty brands that you won't be lining their pockets if they maintain their animal testing practices. Cruelty-free shoppers are already sparking changes in the beauty industry, so join us and make a difference!

Please check out the post Everything You Need To Know About Animal Testing to learn more about this and how you can help.

What Makes A Brand Cruelty-Free?

Determining whether or not a brand is cruelty-free isn't as simple as it sounds. Brand work in collaboration with suppliers which provide their raw materials. They also sometimes allow third parties to test on animals on their behalf, or sell in countries that require animal testing by law.

This is what cruelty-free brands must stand by:

• No animal testing conducted by their company on any finished product or ingredient.
• No animal testing conducted by their suppliers.
• No animal testing conducted by third parties on behalf of the company.
• No animal testing where required by law.

Brands To Avoid

A lot of companies claim not to test on animals when that isn't the whole truth. I get questions about brands like Benefit, Rimmel, L'Oreal, and Avon (among others). All these brands claim not to test on animals, but if you read their full disclaimer, they state that they DO test on animals where required by law and finance animal testing in China.

Unfortunately, you can't always trust what brands tell you and you have to dig deeper. Take a look at my List Of Companies That Test On Animals to make sure you're not supporting animal cruelty.

Social Media

If you enjoy my guides here, please follow me on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.

I mostly post about cruelty-free beauty with the occasional cute animal. I'll also update you when there's big news in the beauty industry (a new cruelty-free brand, or a brand losing its cruelty-free status).

Sharing Is Caring

Don't forget to share my guides with your friends and family to spread the word. If they're not open to making the switch to cruelty-free products, I especially recommend sharing these posts with them:

• List of Cruelty-Free Brands: An updated cruelty-free brands list to nudge them in the right direction.
• Everything You Need To Know About Animal Testing: Brief history of animal testing and why it's unnecessary today (nothing graphic).
• Companies That Test On Animals: Many people don't know that their favorite brands might test on animals.

To share them on Facebook or other social media, simply click on the post and use the light link social sharing icons at the top of the post.

You can also share this post using the buttons below. Thank you in advance for taking the time to share it! :)

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