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

C
Clairol

Hair Care

Hair Dye

Hair Care Hair Dye
H
Henkel

Hair Care

Hair Dye

Household

Hair Care Hair Dye Household
J
John Frieda

Hair Care

Hair Dye

Hair Care Hair Dye
K
Kerastase

Hair Care

Hair Dye

Hair Care Hair Dye
L
L’Oréal

Body Care

Fragrance

Hair Care

Hair Dye

Makeup

Skincare

Body Care Fragrance Hair Care Hair Dye Makeup Skincare
M
Matrix

Hair Care

Hair Dye

Hair Care Hair Dye
N
Natural Instincts

Hair Dye

Hair Dye
Nexxus

Hair Care

Hair Dye

Hair Care Hair Dye
Nice’n Easy

Hair Dye

Hair Dye
P
Phyto

Hair Care

Hair Dye

Hair Care Hair Dye
R
Redken

Hair Care

Hair Dye

Hair Care Hair Dye
Revlon

Makeup

Hair Dye

Nail Polish

For Men

Tools & Accessories

Makeup Hair Dye Nail Polish For Men Tools & Accessories
S
Schwartzkopf

Hair Care

Hair Dye

Hair Care Hair Dye
Sebastian Professional

Hair Care

Hair Dye

Hair Care Hair Dye
SoftSheen-Carson

Hair Care

For Men

Hair Dye

Hair Removal

Hair Care For Men Hair Dye Hair Removal
T
Tigi

Makeup

Hair Care

Hair Dye

Makeup Hair Care Hair Dye
V
Vidal Sassoon

Hair Care

Hair Dye

Hair Care Hair Dye
W
Wella

Hair Care

Hair Dye

Hair Care Hair Dye

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)
  • Karolina says:

    Oriflame not testing on animals

  • Marissa says:

    Love to keep up on cruelty free brand’s!

  • Nastia says:

    Hi. According Eucerin (from their official website):

    Research without Animal Testing at Eucerin:

    Eucerin does not use animals to test cosmetic products. This has been our policy since long before the directives regulating animal testing in cosmetics went into effect in the European Union in 2004. Convinced that using animals to test cosmetic products in order to prove that they are safe and effective is not necessary, we have worked successfully for more than 20 years with in-vitro alternatives to animal testing. Being a subsidiary of Beiersdorf, one of the well-known leading and accepted research companies around the world, we are actively advocating for the worldwide acceptance of existing animal test-free alternative methods by respective authorities. Furthermore, we strive to fill the gaps where alternative methods are not yet available, supporting those scientific efforts both in terms of personnel and financially.

  • Ella says:

    Sick. Why don’t we test on prisoners that are on death row. Not some innocent animal. I swear humans are the worst species on this Earth destroying it.

  • Vvvvv says:

    Is Victoria’s Secret cruelty free???

  • Julie says:

    Hello, do people regard Sanex as cruelty free? I have not found them on any website including them. However, this is on their website.
    “Besides safety concerns, Sanex also strives to produce Earth-friendly and animal-friendly products. To this end, absolutely no animal testing is carried out and our R&D operation partners with non-governmental organisations to ensure the use of ingredients that respect not only your skin, but also the environment.”
    This seems to me that they are cruelty free?

  • Natalie Campbell says:

    You said Dr.Jart Tests on animals but on the U.S. site it specifically states “Dr. Jart opposes animal testing. no Dr. Jart products have been tested on animals.”

    Here is the link : http://us.drjart.com/products/8

  • john zolis says:

    disregard comment – Companies that do test … It was late

  • john zolis says:

    You’re missing Aveda – Which right on the label states tested on models not animals

  • Alison says:

    Benefit does not test on animals. Says so right in the questions and answers.

  • Anna says:

    I would like to ask if company TopVet tests on animals.
    Thank you.

    Anna

  • Sahar Malek says:

    Please send me your newsletter. Keep the fight for good going!

  • Heather says:

    Do you have an information on La Prairie skincare or Ouai haircare?

  • Emma says:

    What about Deborah cosmetics?

  • izzy says:

    Do you know of a good (cruelty free) alternative to Aquaphor?

  • Red says:

    According to La Roche-Posay they do not sell all their products in China nor do they test on animals (see their February 21st, 2017 comment on the thread linked below stating “Our US specific products (all Anthelios sunscreens) are not tested on animals. These are not sold in China.”).

    https://www.facebook.com/LaRochePosayUSA/posts/275602529122237

    Not sure how much credence to give that statement but thought you may want to know.

  • Juju says:

    What would be some cruelty free feminine hygiene brands? Thanks!

  • Jane says:

    Thanks for this, really informative, so now I know what not to use ~ it would be good to have a list of the one’s that don’t though ……. please 🙂

  • Puzzled now says:

    the girls at lush had a conversation with me about Nivea working closely with lush to go cruelty free and use natural ingredients in their products.

  • Jacqueline says:

    Excellent work.
    This is a truly exhaustive list.
    Thank you for your hard work and
    Dedication to this extremely important cause .

  • Bianca says:

    I’m wondering if brands that have more than one categories, like L’oreal, also test on the other categories or only makeup? L’oreal also have skincare and hair products. I’m currently using their moisturizer/SPF and shampoo/conditioner. Thanks!

  • ken lang says:

    Boycott and sue them all until there are none left.

  • Lynette Mejia says:

    Are you talking about Demeter Fragrance Library? Because I’ve written to them and they said they dont test, they dont pay anyone to test, and the ingredient suppliers dont test on animals…

  • Amanda Sarrazin-Gould says:

    Have you looked into Rodan+Fields (skincare) or Cascades (toilet paper/paper towel)?

  • M. A. says:

    Please research this. This is not a black and white issue. For many US companies, the products made in the USA ARE cruelty free, but if they import from places like China, they must abide by government regulations. MANY of the companies listed in this ‘article’ have either cut back – or completely out – of importing from China and those that do have limited products so that what they import is NOT tested on animals. They have also introduced alternatives to animal testing in countries that still still require it and in many cases, the countries have listened and are using alternatives to animal testing. Check your facts before spreading stuff like this as a blanket statement. Not cool.

  • Soul destroying to see how much stuff is tested on animals. Awful. We have not right to do that. Thank you for your post. Very helpful

  • Tihana says:

    Hy, could anyone recommend me a cruelty free face fluid with an spf? So far i couldnt find any..

  • Zeina Ghannam says:

    If the company is required by law to test on animals in China, does this mean that it is only products sold in China that have been tested on animals?

  • Dee says:

    W5 just released hidden video of Animal TORCHURE CHAMBERS in Quebec…It is beyond horrific!!!! They specifically breed beagles (because they are so gentle, & good natured, So it makes the abuse so much easier!!! They chemically burn the skin of large pigs and they use monkeys until they go insane…I could not watch it, they are crying and screaming 24 hrs a day…What you need to know is that the Canadian Gov’t has no laws to protect them !!

  • Dee says:

    MAC had to AGREE TO TEST ON ANIMALS TO GET INTO CHINA (very recently) Pamela Anderson, just wrote a letter to the owner of MAC, to express her disgust of MAC agreeing to test on animals. Pam had been a model for MAC because they did not test on animals ..her org. is The Pamela Anderson Foundation(vs. animal testing and helps to stop abuse of Wild Animals, also she is VEGAN)

Leave a Reply

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