The following list consists of companies that are not cruelty-free. Its main source is PETA, and we’ve supplemented it with our own research. These brands engage in animal testing OR fund animal testing in some capacity, the most common example being by testing on animals where the law requires it. Also note that some of the brands listed here misleadingly label themselves as “cruelty-free”, a term that is not regulated.
Big Corporations Who Test On Animals
Most of these brands are owned by a few giant corporations: L’Oreal, Estee Lauder, Procter & Gamble, Clorox, Johnson & Johnson, S.C. Johnson, Colgate-Palmolive, Reckitt Benckiser, Church & Dwight, Unilever, and Henkel.
These companies own the majority of the brands we commonly find in most retailer stores and drugstores, and they’re making no real efforts to change their unethical policies.
There are however two exceptions, the first one being Colgate-Palmolive, which have agreed to gradually change their policy. PETA currently lists Colgate-Palmolive as “working toward regulatory changes to reduce the number of animals used for testing”. This does NOT mean the company is or will be cruelty-free in the near future! It’s only a small step in the right direction, and the company still DOES test on animals at this point.
The second exception consists of a few select brands. While in most cases, brands that are owned by companies that test on animals are not cruelty-free, L’Oreal is one of the few companies to own brands that have kept their ethical stances and have remained cruelty-free under the ownership. The same goes for Too Faced and Becca (now owned by Estee Lauder but still cruelty-free) and Tom’s of Maine (Colgate-Palmolive). All the brands mentioned on this list, however, do test on animals.
Please note that this list is not exhaustive. This list only includes companies that claimed they test on animals at some point, or sell in China; there are many other companies who remained silent about their animal testing policy.
Looking for cruelty-free brands?
For a list of cruelty-free brands, visit our list of 350+ vetted cruelty-free brands.
Make up
I am looking for a cream foundation that I can buy in the UK, please?
You may want to recheck this list… Unilever as of 2019 is no longer conducting animal testing and is peta certified..
Hi! I just have heard in radio L’Oreal commercial where they saying they don’t test, and have not tested anything on animals for last 30 years unless required by law of country that they sell in (china I guess?) – is it a revolution then, or just a commercial hoax?
only info i’ve found: https://www.loreal.com/sustainability/l'or%C3%A9al-answers
https://www.loreal-paris.co.uk/faq
Please help! because if that’s true it would be a game changer!
Hi there, I am a hairstylist and colourist, and I currently work in a salon that carries some brands that I was curious about and I can receive no information on, I would like to know if Kuene is tested on animals or sold in China. It would be so helpful if there is a list for professional grade hair colour, I did look at yours above but not a complete list. Here are the brands that I am curious about Surface, Davines, Kuene, alaparf.
The only three confirmed cruelty free are Kevin Murphy, organic Colour systems, Paul Mitchell.
As someone with curly hair looking to get a cut at a salon, I am also curious about Surface brand!
Yves Rocher is a cruelty free brand -> https://www.yves-rocher.fr/questions-reponses/nos-produits
Does Nivea test on animals?
I’m trying to do a search and nothing is coming up for any of these is there a glitch maybe? Like I had it narrowed down at first but then did one for all of it and still coming back saying there is a zero result match?
I think my heart stopped when I saw Pat McGrath! But I just looked at her FAQ on patmcgrathlabs.com and it says they don’t test on animals ??♀️ I’m totally not second guessing your research, I’m just confused.
Hi! I’m a frequent visitor to your site to find out about brands but, I have so many love beauty and planet products and all of them say not tested on animals on the bottle so I don’t know if what you have on this list about this brand is 100% true. I feel like if they tested on animals they wouldn’t be putting it on the label that they don’t.
Is mario badescu products cruelty free? Would like to know ?
Anyone know if Skinmedica is cruelty free?
Hi Suzie! Is this list updated as of March, 2019 by chance? Thank you <3
Hello, do you know if korean brands like Dr. Wonder, Etude House & Innisfree are cruelty-free? Thank you!
Is the brand huda beauty and Fenty Beauty By Rihanna cruelty free ?
Does anyone know whether or not Holika Holika and Natura Siberica are cruelty-free?
Ysl and L’Oréal claims they dont test on animals on their website, and now I’m a bit confused. I also know a few of these has gone cruelty free over the oast year, so would it be possible to get an updated list?
I am the Rat-Man
What does it mean when a brand isn’t on the cruelty free list or the testing animals list? Is it a brand in the gray area?
I’m curious, my bottle of VO5 says the product isn’t tested on animals?… are they are lying or what?
I believe that Caudalie is now vegan and cruelty-free.
I’m trying to figure out if Eucerin is actually not cruelty free. I see it on your list here but I’ve also seen it on their website that they don’t test on animals and haven’t since before 2004? That they use human testing And that they are trying to help get animal testing banned. So I’m just looking for clarity on this since it’s literally the only lotion I use that doesn’t make my skin more dry, and I can’t seem to find a good swap for it. Thank you!
HI! I have Made a resourch and I found that Yves Rocher doesn’t test on animals since 1989. Xoxo
I don’t trust PETA
Wait I’m confused. I bought La Roche Posey whilst in Europe. Europe banned the sale of products with animal testing in 2013 in Europe or elsewhere. So why is the brand listed as not cruelty free?
How do we get animal testing banned around the world? Its bullshit to get it banned in US but ok in China.
Does anyone know if beautycounter is cruelty free?
Hello, according to Tony Moly’s official website “Do you test on animals?
No, we do not! We love animals as much as we love you and would never test any of our products on them.” Is this true? I’ve been hearing so much mixed information about this brand, and I have no idea where is the proof behind any of the claims, can you help me?
So I was just in a dollar general and I noticed on the back of the EOS products, they now say “not tested on animals.” Does this mean they’ve now become cruelty free?
Good to know. Procter & Gamble claim to be cruelty free, but many of their products still show up as being tested in animt!