Updated: Jun 26, 2026

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.

List of Brands That Test on Animals

Product Type

Price Range

#
3CE

Makeup

Skincare

Makeup Skincare
A
Algenist

Skincare

Sunscreen

Skincare Sunscreen
American Crew

Body Care

Fragrance

Skincare

Hair Care

For Men

Hair Removal

Body Care Fragrance Skincare Hair Care For Men Hair Removal
AmorePacific

Makeup

Sunscreen

For Men

Skincare

Makeup Sunscreen For Men Skincare
Amway

Body Care

Household

Supplements

Fragrance

Hair Care

Makeup

Skincare

Body Care Household Supplements Fragrance Hair Care Makeup Skincare
Anna Sui

Fragrance

Hair Care

Makeup

Nail Polish

Skincare

Fragrance Hair Care Makeup Nail Polish Skincare
Aprilskin

Skincare

Skincare
Aquaphor

Body Care

Baby

Skincare

Body Care Baby Skincare
Aramis

Fragrance

Skincare

For Men

Fragrance Skincare For Men
Armani Beauty

Fragrance

For Men

Makeup

Skincare

Fragrance For Men Makeup Skincare
Aveeno

Body Care

Sunscreen

Baby

Hair Care

Skincare

Body Care Sunscreen Baby Hair Care Skincare
Avene

Body Care

Sunscreen

Skincare

Body Care Sunscreen Skincare
B
Bain de Soleil

Skincare

Sunscreen

Skincare Sunscreen
Banila Co

Makeup

Skincare

Makeup Skincare
Belif

Skincare

Skincare
Benefit

Makeup

Skincare

Makeup Skincare
Bioderma

Body Care

Skincare

Sunscreen

Body Care Skincare Sunscreen
Bioeffect

Skincare

Skincare
Biologique Recherche

Body Care

Hair Care

Skincare

Body Care Hair Care Skincare
Biore

Skincare

Sunscreen

Skincare Sunscreen
Biotherm

Body Care

Skincare

For Men

Body Care Skincare For Men
Blistex

Skincare

Skincare
Bobbi Brown

Makeup

Skincare

Makeup Skincare
Borghese

Makeup

Body Care

Skincare

Makeup Body Care Skincare
By Terry

Makeup

Fragrance

Skincare

Makeup Fragrance Skincare
C
Caudalie

Body Care

Sunscreen

Fake Tan

Skincare

Body Care Sunscreen Fake Tan Skincare
CeraVe

Body Care

Hair Care

Sunscreen

Skincare

Body Care Hair Care Sunscreen Skincare
Cetaphil

Body Care

Baby

Skincare

Sunscreen

+ See Shops
Body Care Baby Skincare Sunscreen
Chanel

Body Care

Nail Polish

Fragrance

Makeup

Skincare

Body Care Nail Polish Fragrance Makeup Skincare
Chapstick

Body Care

Sunscreen

Skincare

Body Care Sunscreen Skincare
Clarins

Body Care

Fake Tan

For Men

Makeup

Skincare

Sunscreen

Body Care Fake Tan For Men Makeup Skincare Sunscreen
Clarisonic

Skincare

Skincare
Cle de Peau

Makeup

Sunscreen

Skincare

Makeup Sunscreen Skincare
Clean & Clear

Skincare

Skincare
Clearasil

Skincare

Skincare
Clinique

Makeup

Skincare

Makeup Skincare
CND

Body Care

Skincare

Nail Polish

Body Care Skincare Nail Polish
Coty

Body Care

Hair Care

Fragrance

Makeup

Skincare

Body Care Hair Care Fragrance Makeup Skincare
Crabtree & Evelyn

Body Care

Hair Removal

Tools & Accessories

Candles

Fragrance

Hair Care

Skincare

Body Care Hair Removal Tools & Accessories Candles Fragrance Hair Care Skincare
Curel

Body Care

Skincare

Body Care Skincare
D
D’Alba

Body Care

For Men

Fragrance

Hair Care

Makeup

Skincare

Sunscreen

+ See Shops
Body Care For Men Fragrance Hair Care Makeup Skincare Sunscreen
Decléor

Body Care

Skincare

Sunscreen

Body Care Skincare Sunscreen
DHC

Body Care

Hair Care

Makeup

Skincare

Body Care Hair Care Makeup Skincare
Differin

Skincare

Skincare
Dior

Fragrance

Makeup

Skincare

Fragrance Makeup Skincare
Dolce & Gabbana

Fragrance

Skincare

For Men

Makeup

Fragrance Skincare For Men Makeup
Dr. Althea

Makeup

Skincare

Sunscreen

Makeup Skincare Sunscreen
Dr. Brandt

Body Care

Skincare

Sunscreen

Body Care Skincare Sunscreen
Dr. Jart+

Skincare

Skincare
E
Elemis

Body Care

For Men

Skincare

Body Care For Men Skincare
Elizabeth Arden

Body Care

Fragrance

Sunscreen

Makeup

Skincare

Body Care Fragrance Sunscreen Makeup Skincare
Elta MD

Body Care

Skincare

Sunscreen

Body Care Skincare Sunscreen
Erno Laszlo

Body Care

Sunscreen

Skincare

Body Care Sunscreen Skincare
espoir

Makeup

Skincare

Makeup Skincare
Estée Lauder

Body Care

Fragrance

Makeup

Skincare

Body Care Fragrance Makeup Skincare
Etude House

Body Care

Nail Polish

Hair Care

Makeup

Skincare

Body Care Nail Polish Hair Care Makeup Skincare
Eucerin

Body Care

Skincare

Sunscreen

Baby

Body Care Skincare Sunscreen Baby
Eve Lom

Skincare

Skincare
Evereden

Fragrance

Hair Care

Sunscreen

Baby

Body Care

Skincare

Fragrance Hair Care Sunscreen Baby Body Care Skincare
F
Filorga

Skincare

Skincare
Freeman Beauty

Body Care

Hair Care

Skincare

Body Care Hair Care Skincare
Fresh

Body Care

Fragrance

Skincare

Body Care Fragrance Skincare
G
Giorgio Armani

Fragrance

For Men

Makeup

Skincare

Fragrance For Men Makeup Skincare
Givenchy

Fragrance

Makeup

Skincare

Fragrance Makeup Skincare
GLAMGLOW

Makeup

Skincare

Makeup Skincare
Guerlain

Fragrance

Makeup

Skincare

Fragrance Makeup Skincare
H
Hada Labo

Skincare

Skincare
Helena Rubinstein

Makeup

Skincare

Makeup Skincare
Himalaya

For Men

Baby

Household

Body Care

Hair Care

Oral Care

Skincare

+ See Shops
For Men Baby Household Body Care Hair Care Oral Care Skincare
I
Isdin

Baby

Body Care

Hair Care

Skincare

Sunscreen

Baby Body Care Hair Care Skincare Sunscreen
J
Jergens

Body Care

Skincare

Baby

Fake Tan

Body Care Skincare Baby Fake Tan
Johnson & Johnson

Body Care

Skincare

Body Care Skincare
Joy

Body Care

Skincare

Hair Care

Sunscreen

Cleaning

Body Care Skincare Hair Care Sunscreen Cleaning
Jurlique

Body Care

Hair Care

Candles

Skincare

Body Care Hair Care Candles Skincare
K
Kao

Body Care

Skincare

Hair Care

Household

Body Care Skincare Hair Care Household
Kiehl’s

Body Care

For Men

Hair Care

Skincare

Body Care For Men Hair Care Skincare
Klorane

Hair Care

Baby

Skincare

Hair Care Baby Skincare
Kose

Body Care

Sunscreen

Hair Care

Makeup

Skincare

Body Care Sunscreen Hair Care Makeup Skincare
L
L’Occitane

Body Care

Fragrance

Hair Care

Skincare

Body Care Fragrance Hair Care Skincare
L’Oréal

Body Care

Fragrance

Hair Care

Hair Dye

Makeup

Skincare

Body Care Fragrance Hair Care Hair Dye Makeup Skincare
La Mer

Body Care

Makeup

Skincare

Body Care Makeup Skincare
La Roche-Posay

Body Care

Skincare

Sunscreen

Body Care Skincare Sunscreen
Lab Series For Men

Body Care

Sunscreen

For Men

Hair Care

Hair Removal

Skincare

Body Care Sunscreen For Men Hair Care Hair Removal Skincare
Lancaster Beauty

Skincare

Fake Tan

Sunscreen

Skincare Fake Tan Sunscreen
Lancôme

Fragrance

Makeup

Skincare

Fragrance Makeup Skincare
Laneige

Makeup

Sunscreen

Skincare

Makeup Sunscreen Skincare
Laura Mercier

Makeup

Body Care

Fragrance

Skincare

Sunscreen

Tools & Accessories

Makeup Body Care Fragrance Skincare Sunscreen Tools & Accessories
Lubriderm

Body Care

Sunscreen

For Men

Skincare

Body Care Sunscreen For Men Skincare
M
MAC

Makeup

Fragrance

Nail Polish

Skincare

Makeup Fragrance Nail Polish Skincare
Magic Molecule

Skincare

Skincare
Maleleuca

Body Care

Cleaning

Laundry

Makeup

Skincare

Body Care Cleaning Laundry Makeup Skincare
Mamonde

Body Care

For Men

Makeup

Skincare

Sunscreen

Body Care For Men Makeup Skincare Sunscreen
Mary Kay

Body Care

Sunscreen

Fragrance

Makeup

Skincare

Body Care Sunscreen Fragrance Makeup Skincare
Medicube

Skincare

Skincare

Share this post

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

+ Show Comments (756) - Hide Comments (756)
  • Kim says:

    Wtf!! Testing chemicals on innocent and defenceless animals?? This is very sad

  • Carolyn H says:

    That’s all marketing PR…same blurb from MAC and any other company selling in China. If you buy something that tests in China, the money that you spend goes to the company. The company then has to pay the animal testing agency in China to get approval for sale, so yes, if you buy something in the US, Canada, or where ever, your purchases contribute to the funding of that animal testing. And yes, there is something they can choose to do, not sell in China, like all of the real cruelty-free companies choose to do. Fine if you choose to buy it or sell it, but don’t make false cruelty-free claims.

  • Samarjit Singh Mahurkar says:

    true – do not buy products containing = sls/sles/paraben/mineral oil/palm oil

  • Elisha says:

    The first hit when you google ‘Is GlamGlow sold in China?’ should be all the evidence you need? Here’s the relevant section:
    ‘“The most important launch in Asia has been China,” says Dellimore. “Glamglow launched in China with Sephora in 170 stores and within the first week became the number one selling skin care product in Sephora China in store and online. China represents a difficult and highly competitive market and we are excited to lead the skin care world in Sephora China.”’
    http://www.cosmeticsbusiness.com/technical/article_page/Glamglow__Positively_glowing/91760

  • Elisha says:

    Sells in China.

  • Elisha says:

    Here’s the first hit when you google ‘Is GlamGlow sold in China’: http://www.cosmeticsbusiness.com/technical/article_page/Glamglow__Positively_glowing/91760

    Key section: ‘“The most important launch in Asia has been China,” says Dellimore. “Glamglow launched in China with Sephora in 170 stores and within the first week became the number one selling skin care product in Sephora China in store and online. China represents a difficult and highly competitive market and we are excited to lead the skin care world in Sephora China.”’

  • Elisha says:

    They have to test for eye, skin and respiratory irritants. Obviously I agree with you that they shouldn’t use animals to do this.

  • Elisha says:

    If a brand sells their beauty, perfume or home care products in China, they are consenting to animal testing and cannot be considered cruelty free.

  • Kimberly Punter says:

    Hi! so sad to see that so many brands still test on animals.. can I ask where you found that Origins tests on animals? I use their products and always believed they didn’t test on animals but on volunteers since that’s what they said on their website..

  • Elisha says:

    They sell in China.

  • Elisha says:

    You’ve literally linked to Avon’s statement that they conduct animal testing when required by law, ie in China.

  • Elisha says:

    So’s Physician’s Formula! It’s on PETA’s list.
    https://staging.crueltyfreekitty.com/does-physicians-formula-test-on-animals/

  • Nikki Mills says:

    Just because CHINA tests these products in CHINA does not mean that the PRODUCT COMPANIES test on animals.
    If I bought a product and tested it on my cat before I used it, that doesn’t make the company a cruelty brand.
    There is nothing the company can do once the products enter China.
    If you’re buying your products from China, then you have a problem. If you’re buying them from Europe or USA, then they are CRUELTY FREE.
    You can blame the brand for what CHINA does with it.

    • Elisha says:

      Your analogy is faulty. Here’s one: Imagine you make cruelty-free soap, and somebody told you you could increase your profits 1000% by selling to China. You are totally aware that this would mean your products would be subject to animal testing, but you do it anyway because $$$. China’s the biggest market in the world, so who cares if a few bunnies have to die?

      These companies all know the ethical cost of doing business in China, and choose to do it anyway, as per the above example. How can you defend that?

    • Carolyn H says:

      Actually, you can blame the brand, because it is the brand who is paying an animal testing agency in China so their products can be approved for sale. Given that the Chinese market is probably just as big, if not bigger than that of Europe and North America combined, so it’s not like it’s a minute amount of products being tested, it’s more like half of all of the company’s products.

    • dangkids says:

      WHAT?? You need to RE-READ WHAT you wrote yourself……..I hope you don’t think that China tears all these products down just to animal test???!!! HUH?
      NO. no, no, no….
      If a company wants to do business in China, THEN YES, that company will abide by all of China’s rules or they don’t sell anything………..

  • SourCinamonBun says:

    Nivea DOES NOT test on animals. Also L’Oreal and all of it’s affiliates (like Maybelline etc) NO LONGER test on animals anywhere in the world. http://www.loreal.com/sustainability/l'or%C3%A9al-answers/the-question-of-animal-testing

    Please update this and make sure your research is THOROUGH before posting.

    • Unfortunately this is incorrect.

      The full statement you’re quoting is: L’Oréal no longer tests on animals any of its products or any of its ingredients, anywhere in the world. Nor does L’Oréal delegate this task to others. An exception could only be made if regulatory authorities demanded it for safety or regulatory purposes.

      L’Oreal still tests on animals where required by law, meaning they’re not cruelty-free.

    • BeCompassionate says:

      “An exception could be made if regulatory authorities required it for safety or regulatory purposes.” This is right after their bolded statement in the link you provided.

      While they seem to be working toward being truly cruelty-free, they still sell in China. And mainland China still requires, at this time, animal testing. :/ So technically, they’re not cruelty-free. Sorry, Cinnamon Bun.

      Also, as a note, I’ve worked for manufacturers in the Health & Beauty industry. When a company includes vague statements like quoted above, you can bet your buns that they’re going to take advantage of the legal wiggle room those statements provide. If they didn’t, those statements wouldn’t even be there.
      Unfortunately, non-animal in-vivo testing is way more expensive than traditional animal testing, and these cosmetic mega-companies just don’t care about anything except their profit margins. 🙁 The only way it will change is when the consumer demands higher standards regarding their testing procedures. Which is why it comes down to our thorough understanding of current laws, in the US and globally, and our choices regarding what we will tolerate when it comes to animal torture.

  • Nikhi Janae says:

    It would be awesome if you labeled those which are sold in China with an asterisk or something as to why they are not cruelty-free. I’m only a transitioning vegan and while many here would still hate me for it, I’d still like to know which are “better” in that it’s China’s fault, not the company as a whole. (Yes I understand the company should still back out of China if they truly care, but it would just also be nice to know in general their stance.)

    • Elisha says:

      It’s most definitely the companies’ ‘fault’, though. They all know the ethical cost of doing business in China, and choose to do it anyway because $$$. They can be considered no less cruelty-free than any other testing company – just less honest.

  • Greg Singh says:

    Where is this information coming from?

  • D Deion says:

    Moroccan oil was listed as cruelty free but crossed out and is not currently listed as animal testing. Can anyone clarify?

  • D Deion says:

    I’ve found Moroccan oil crossed out on the cruelty free list but not on this one. Can anyone clarify?

  • Rhona Crossan says:

    Forever living Do not test on animals

  • John Manion says:

    Paul Mitchell does not test on animals. He also has a pet line of products.

  • Ricardo says:

    So… just slather coconut oil onto everything?
    I think every brand I use is in this list.

  • Thank you Marta for your kind words! Fortunately I’m used to those types of comments now. 🙂

    I find that a lot of people really want to trust that their favorite brands are cruelty-free, and don’t want to hear otherwise. It’s a shame the fake cruelty-free policies are winning sometimes.

  • Katie says:

    Thankyou so much for this!!!

  • Amber says:

    Does proactive test on animals?

  • Suzanne Campbell-Foster says:

    This is a very misleading post. I can not stand up for all of these companies… but I can stand up for the one I work for. Mary Kay – USA does not test on animals. Most of our plants in other countries do not test on animals either. However, our plants in China do – because it is REQUIRED there by their laws… not because we choose to. In fact I am most certain that quite a few of these companies listed here are for that very same reason.

    • sophie says:

      its no excuse. they choose money and suffering of animals over sound moral stance and simply the humane choice

      • Get it straight. says:

        And the humane choice is to not to try and change the rules and regulations for product testing in China? It’s no excuse to try and to right someone’s wrong doing? A country that requires many companies’ products if not all of their own products to be tested on animals? How does testing in one single country change their moral stance? So cruel they must be to want to make an actual effort in the world.

    • Elisha says:

      This argument really baffles me – it’s not like these companies have been forced at gunpoint to sell in China? They do so because $$$, plain and simple. Profits before ethics. There are plenty of ethical brands that won’t touch China with a barge pole until its laws change, big profits be damned. THOSE are the brands I choose to support.

  • Space Truckin says:

    UNILEVER is set to buy Seventh Generation …… although UNILEVER is not listed here. Some of their products are. Such as SUAVE, SUNLIGHT, etc,. So once Seventh Generation is bought buy UNILEVER …… I will not buy Seventh Generation anymore.

  • Skylar says:

    It is so frustrating to see some of the (actually almost ALL) of the top notch and my favorite brands such as YSL and Dior to be not cruelty-free.there are so many make up products that I love from these brands and now im discouraged because idk what to do if i have to switch out these products because there rlly isnt great dupes for it:((

  • Antorcha says:

    can you update it, cause in peta’s website they said pantene is cruelty free http://www.peta.org/living/humane-home/buy/

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *