Home Blog Makeup Complete 2021 Guide To Cruelty-Free Brands at Ulta (50+ Brands)

Complete 2021 Guide To Cruelty-Free Brands at Ulta (50+ Brands)

by Suzana Rose

Apr 10, 2022

I'm happy to share my guide to cruelty-free beauty at Ulta! Ulta has an overwhelming choice of brands and products, so it's not an easy experience for a cruelty-free shopper. But what's great about this retailer is that they offer products for every budget, which is why I really wanted to do some research.

I split everything into categories: Makeup, Skincare, Hair Care, Bath & Body, Nails, and Fragrance. For each category, I'll give you a list of cruelty-free brands, brands that test on animals, brands with unclear policies, and brands that didn't share their policies.

At the begging of the post, I gathered ALL the cruelty-free brands in one list. At the end of the post, I did the same with the brands that test on animals.

All Cruelty-Free Brands At Ulta
  • AG Hair
  • Anastasia Beverly Hills
  • Andalou Naturals
  • Ardell
  • Babo Botanicals
  • bareMinerals*
  • BECCA*
  • Butter London
  • Buxom*
  • Cargo
  • Carol's Daughter*
  • Catrice
  • China Glaze
  • Covergirl
  • Derma E
  • Dermadoctor
  • Dermalogica*
  • DevaCurl
  • Dose of Colors
  • dpHUE
  • Drybar
  • Elemis
  • Essence
  • EVA nyc
  • First Aid Beauty
  • Frank Body
  • Grande Cosmetics
  • Hask
  • IT Cosmetics*
  • It's A 10
  • Japonesque
  • John Masters Organics
  • Juicy Beauty
  • Julep
  • LA Girl
  • Lanolips
  • Le Couvent Des Minimes
  • Kenra
  • Mario Badescu
  • Michael Todd
  • Murad*
  • NYX*
  • Nip + Fab
  • Nubian Heritage
  • Olivella
  • Orly
  • Ouidad
  • Pacifica
  • Patchology
  • Perfekt
  • Pravana
  • PUR Cosmetics
  • Pureology*
  • Rodial
  • Seche
  • SheaMoisture
  • Smashbox*
  • Stila
  • Tarte*
  • The Body Shop*
  • Too Faced*
  • Tula
  • Urban decay*
  • Whish
  • Yes To
  • Zoya

*Brands marked with an asterisk are cruelty-free, but their parent company still tests on animals. For more information on the exact parent companies that own each brand, keep reading.


Makeup Brands

makeup-ulta

Ulta offers more cruelty-free makeup brands than non-cruelty-free ones. This makes it super easy to not only find cruelty-free brands, but also score amazing products at every budget. Here's the full list, followed by brands that test on animals and brands with undetermined policies.

Cruelty-Free Makeup At Ulta

Makeup Tested On Animals At Ulta

  • Almay
  • Physicians Formula (no longer cruelty-free)
  • Benefit
  • Clinique
  • L'Oreal
  • Lancome
  • Maybelline
  • Revlon
  • Rimmel
  • Tony Moly

Companies With Unclear Policies

  • Honest Beauty • No mention of ingredients, suppliers, and third parties
  • LORAC • Can't guarantee suppliers don't test on animals
  • Makeup Revolution • No mention of suppliers or required by law testing

Companies That Didn't Reply

  • Mally Beauty
  • ULTA Brand
  • Lipstick Queen

Skincare Brands

ulta

When it comes to the skincare section, you have to be more careful if you want to support cruelty-free brands. Even though there are still lots of options, most brands test on animals, especially because they sell in China. Here's the breakdown:

Cruelty-Free Skincare At Ulta

Skincare Tested On Animals At Ulta

  • Aveeno
  • Bio Oil
  • Bliss
  • Clarins
  • Clarisonic
  • Clean & Clear
  • Clinique
  • Dr. Brandt
  • Elizabeth Arden
  • Exuviance
  • Garnier
  • La Roche Posay
  • Neutrogena
  • Nuxe
  • Olay
  • Peter Thomas Roth
  • Simple
  • Strivectin
  • Vichy

Companies With Unclear Policies

  • Boots • Not enough information given
  • Cetaphil • Not enough information given
  • Foreo • Unclear if they sell cosmetics in China or just beauty tools, unresponsive
  • Philosophy • Not sold in China but tests where required by law as per Coty's policy
  • St Tropez • No mention of suppliers or required by law testing

Companies That Didn't Reply

  • Anthony
  • Formula 10.0.6

Hair Care Brands

hair-ulta

The list is starting to become scarce, but there's something for everyone's hair needs, from salon brands to budget ones. Watch out for the many haircare brands that are tested on animals.

Cruelty-Free Hair Brands At Ulta

Hair Products Tested On Animals At Ulta

  • John Frieda
  • Joico
  • Matrix
  • Nexxus
  • Nioxin
  • OGX
  • Phyto
  • Redken
  • Sebastian
  • Tigi
  • Tresseme
  • Wella

Companies With Unclear Policies

  • Alterna • No mention of suppliers
  • Living Proof • No mention of suppliers
  • Not Your Mother's • Not enough info, but they're applying for Leaping Bunny certification

Companies That Didn't Reply

  • Abba
  • Batiste
  • Fairy Tales
  • Sexy Hair

Bath & Body Brands

nubian-heritage-abyssinian-oil-chia-seed

A teeny, tiny selection of cruelty-free bath and products is available at Ulta!

Cruelty-Free Bath & Body Brands At Ulta

Bath & Body Products Tested On Animals At Ulta

  • Jergens
  • Mederma
  • Nivea

Companies With Unclear Policies

  • Soap & Glory • Claims not to test but doesn't address specifics

Companies That Didn't Reply

  • AHAVA
  • Cake Beauty
  • Dionis
  • Fake Bake
  • Maui Babe
  • Vita Liberata

Nail Polish Brands

nails-ulta

There'e cruelty-free nail polish for every budget.

Cruelty-Free Nail Polish At Ulta

Nail Polish Tested On Animals At Ulta

  • Essie
  • Lancome
  • Maybelline
  • Nicole by OPI
  • OPI
  • Revlon
  • Sally Hansen

Companies That Didn't Reply

  • Morgan taylor
  • CND
  • Dermelect
  • 2B Colours

Fragrance Brands

pacifica-cruelty-free

For perfume, I'll make it easy: The only cruelty-free fragrance brand at Ulta is Pacifica. Their entire collection is 100% vegan and they have a huge collection of great scents.

Edit: I was told the brand Le Couvent Des Minimes also offers perfume!

The fragrance brands that aren't cruelty-free will be listed as part of the full list of companies that test on animals at Ulta, at the bottom.


Ulta Brands Tested On Animals

  • Almay
  • Amazing Cosmetics
  • Aveeno
  • Benefit
  • Bio Oil
  • Bliss
  • Burberry
  • Bvlgari
  • Calvin Klein
  • Chloe
  • Clarins
  • Clarisonic
  • Clean & Clear
  • Clean
  • Clinique
  • Covergirl Now CF!
  • DKNY
  • Dior
  • Dolce & Gabbana
  • Donna Karan
  • Dr. Brandt
  • Elizabeth Arden
  • Escada
  • Essie
  • Estee Lauder
  • Exuviance
  • Garnier Now CF!
  • Givenchy
  • Gucci
  • Guerlain
  • Hugo Boss
  • Issey Miyake
  • Jergens
  • Jimmy Choo
  • John Frieda
  • Joico Now CF!
  • Juicy Couture
  • Kate Spade
  • L'Oreal
  • La Roche Posay
  • Lancome
  • Marc Jacobs Fragrance
  • Matrix
  • Maybelline
  • Mederma
  • Michael Kors
  • Neutrogena
  • Nexxus
  • Nicole by OPI
  • Nioxin
  • Nivea
  • Nuxe
  • OGX
  • OPI
  • Olay
  • Paco Rabanne
  • Peter Thomas Roth
  • Phyto
  • Prada
  • Ralph Lauren
  • Redken
  • Revlon
  • Rimmel
  • Sally Hansen
  • Sebastian
  • Simple
  • Smashbox Now CF!
  • Stila Now CF!
  • Strivectin
  • Tigi
  • Tony Moly Now CF!
  • Tresseme Now CF!
  • Vera Wang
  • Versace
  • Vichy
  • Vince Camuto
  • Wella
  • Yves Saint Laurent

Don't forget to pin this list for later!

Please leave me your thoughts in the comments, and don't hesitate to bring up any brands I might have overlooked.

Do you shop at Ulta? What are your favorite cruelty-free brands available there?

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

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The more people go cruelty-free, the sooner we can end animal testing. Thank you for sharing.

+ Show Comments (146) - Hide Comments (146)
  • Shira says:

    Hi. Where does it say that China Glaze does not test on animals? I looked on PETA’s website but i couldnt find it.

  • Kristin Moritz says:

    Smashbox is cruelty free. I am a representative for them, we have the bunny and we pulled out of China almost two years.

  • Johanna says:

    Do you know if the perfume Flowers, by Kenzo, is cruelty free?

  • Susan knolla says:

    Jergens and Kao corporation confirm they DO NOT test on animals. Why are they being listed as if they do?

  • Lisa says:

    I got a response from Maui Moisture. They test when required by law. BUMMER

    http://tinypic.com/r/259ygc1/9

  • jessie says:

    Some of these brands that are listed as cruelty free on your “shopping guide” but they’re listed as tested on animals on this list 🙁
    I’m so confused!
    (the couple I noticed we’re stila, wella (hair product), and smashbox)..

  • Jade says:

    How about living proof. I see conflicting information from other bloggers who stated that they aren’t vegan and some saying they are cruelty free. I want to ensure that I’m getting the correct information. Sometimes, it’s so frustrating, but I won’t purchase until I’m absolutely sure.

  • Adrienne says:

    I had done some research on Tree Hut a while back and thought I had seen that their parent company is not cruelty free. Can you please confirm that this isn’t the case? Their stuff smells amazing and I’d love to finally try it out if they’re truly cruelty free all the way down the line. Thanks!!!

  • Estefany Fuentes says:

    What about Human + Kind?

  • Anne Portrt says:

    Makeup Revolution’s parent company TAM Beauty claims that none on of their brands test on animals on their website.

  • lourde says:

    Kate Spade handbags also skin live animals, what a shame. How can a woman owned business not also be a more compassionate business?

  • Cassie says:

    Hi there! Great post. I wanted to ask further about The Body shop as I just saw where they are circulating a petition to end animal testing globally. So I assumed they were cruelty free. ;9 you know the specifics on this? Also, if you’re interested, I have a campaign going right now to help raise money for researching alternative ways to test to end animal testing. You can read about it at glitteredbycassie.com/campaigns

    ❤️

  • Kathleen says:

    OGX packaging says it does not test on animals.

  • Kyra says:

    I was wondering about cosrx skincare. Afraid to ask because it’s from Korea

  • Abbie says:

    I contacted Make up revolution and they are cruelty free. I can forward the e-mail if you wish. They don’t yet have a vegan friendly list to share though.

  • dani says:

    sally hansen’s website says they don’t do animal testing. is its presence on this list outdated? or have you had recent correspondence with them?

  • nella says:

    I have a question hope you could reply… I read that in Revllon’s web page it says that they are cruelty free but here says that they’re not. So what is the real answer??
    this is the link: http://www.revlon.com/about/animal-testing-policy

    • Charity says:

      Some of the countries Revlon sells their products in require animal testing by law. While their policy states they don’t test on animals, they most likely give third-party companies permission to do so on their behalf to sell in those countries as it states they follow regulations set forth by each country.

  • Priscilla says:

    Do you know if the skincare brand Botanics is cruelty free? I was looking at the Ulta website and came across it.

  • Erica says:

    I was sure that Rimmel and Smashbox were CF. What changed?

  • Holly Robertson says:

    Hi Suzi!
    I just discovered your blog and love it and everything you stand behind. I wish everyone would join in on buying cruelty free products!
    I noticed on your overall list for 2017 that Hask haircare brand is not included but is included on the Ulta guide. I am unclear why it’s not on both? And the other reason for my concern/question is that I purchased a bottle of Hask shampoo today and noticed the bunny logo doesn’t match any of the three logos you discussed on your site. I just want to make sure that I’m definitely buying cruelty free! Thank you!!

  • Ava says:

    I thought the German brand Herbacin was CF, no?

  • AVA says:

    As well, are Laura Geller and Laura Mercier cruelty free?

  • AVA says:

    You wrote that Stila was a cruelty free brand in “Cruelty Free Brands in Sephora 2017”, but wrote them as Non-Cruelty Free here. Are they or not?

    Love you blog xx.

    • Suzi says:

      Yes they are! They just turned cruelty-free so I needed to update every post. Thanks for letting me know I missed this one! It’s fixed now. 🙂

  • Amber says:

    Can anyone let me know of a good cruelty free sunless tanner?

  • Shannon says:

    I’m surprised to see Devacurl on the list of companies that test on animals. Their bottles sport the Caring Consumer (PETA) bunny label,and other website list the brand as C.F. and vegan.

    • Suzi says:

      Devacurl IS cruelty-free! You’re probably referring to the image which unfortunately has a mistake on it.

  • Brooklyn Barrella says:

    Is soap & glory cruelty free? I can’t find an answer anywhere

  • Stila just went cruelty-free so I added them this week (I have yet to update this post again). Essie on the other hand isn’t cruelty-free and isn’t on PETA.

  • Lindsay Wilson says:

    Does the Ulta brand specifically test on animals. Ulta has their own makeup line, that was what I was looking for. Not just all thr brands at Ulta. Thank you!

  • kelseym says:

    I use IT brand cosmetics because they are made specifically for individuals with rosacea but want to find an alternate brand now that they are owned by L’Oreal. Any recommendations that don’t require tons of product?

  • MelissaM says:

    They ARE cruelty free!!

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