If you’re wondering which brands found at Sephora test on animals, and which ones are cruelty-free, this is your definitive guide. At Cruelty-Free Kitty, we’ve contacted over 1200+ brands to find out their animal testing policy, and we only include brands that fulfill our strict criteria. Whether you’re looking for makeup, skincare, hair products, or even fragrance, here are all the cruelty-free brands available at Sephora.
Welcome to our 2024 update of our list of cruelty-free Sephora brands.
This list is constantly updated, and none of the companies below sell their products in China or test on animals where required by law.
If any company on the list starts selling in China, it loses its cruelty-free status, and is then removed from the list. At the moment, only NARS has decided to expand to the Chinese market, which means NARS is no longer cruelty-free.
In this list you’ll also find a handful of skincare brands, as well as some hair and nail polish brands. Every brand on this list is 100% verified cruelty-free.
As for companies that do test on animals, the list is long: Lancome, Yves Saint Laurent, Dior, Benefit, Estée Lauder, Clinique, the Sephora brand, Bobbi Brown, Givenchy, Make Up For Ever, Marc Jacobs Fragrances — not to be confused with Marc Jacobs Beauty –, and more. Those are definitely not cruelty-free and they do test on animals, in most cases in China.
The list below is constantly updated. More brands will be added as I get in touch with the companies.
Click on your favorite brands to check out their new products. The links open in a new tab.
Cruelty-Free Makeup At Sephora
Is The Sephora Brand Cruelty-Free?
The Sephora makeup brand itself is NOT cruelty-free. Sephora doesn't test on animals except when required by law, and their products are being sold in China, where animal testing is required by law.
Brands Owned By Non-Cruelty-Free Parent Companies
Some brands on the list above are owned by parent companies that test on animals.
For example, Hourglass is owned by Unilever and Urban Decay is owned by L'Oréal.
Some people choose to support such companies and some don't. There are pros and cons, and this is a personal decision you can make. It's important to note that these cruelty-free brands are still cruelty-free, no matter their parent company. The brand that owns them doesn't have an impact on their actual cruelty-free status.
If you wish to buy from only brands that have a cruelty-free parent company, you can refine the list using the filter options at the top.
This is so helpful thank you!
Do Nars or Urban Decay sell to China? I know that animal testing is required by law in China, but on their websites they say they are cruelty free (albeit, not entirely vegan). It’s so confusing!
They don’t sell in mainland China! They absolutely wouldn’t be on this list if they did! 🙂
hi! lately i have been getting into makeup more and i was given a gift card to sephora for Christmas. i wanted to buy a foundation that is medium coverage and cruelty free but i dont know which is the best. do you have any suggestions? also i would like to buy Kat Von Ds Shade + Light palette and i was wondering if that is a good cruelty free option also. thanks!
The contour or the eye palette? They’re both great palettes! I have the Shade + Light eye palette and I’ll post a review soon. For foundation, definitely ask for a few samples at Sephora. Look into brands like Tarte, UD, and bare minerals (their liquid one).
Is Ardency Inn and Kiko Cosmetics cruelty free?
Yes to Kiko, and I’m looking into Ardency Inn (but I believe they’re cruelty-free)!
Thank you. It gets confusing when they don’t have any information on their websites.
anastasia beverly hills is cruelty free
Thank you for the detailed information! Its time consuming when looking for cruelty-free products. I just went to Sephora last night and bought the Ralph men fragrance by Ralph Lauren. Now I have to let it go since I found out that Ralph tests on all of their fragrances although I adore the scent.
I agree with you, she has personally stated while she gets multiple requests to have her products sell in China, she will not because they do test on animals, ALSO Marlena (MUG) also knows the lab which Kat uses to make her products and KAT IS 100% Vegan
That’s great to hear, thanks Kattie! I JUST posted about adding Kat Von D yesterday, so I’ll update this page right now!
thanks so much for your hard work in having this page. this has helped alot. i was starting to think i couldnt get cruetly free makeup. we did have “She” cosmetics in priceline, but they have stopped selling it 🙁 Jo – Perth WA
Trying to get more official info for LM but haven’t had any luck yet. It appears they don’t sell in China, though.
Thank you, Suzi.
I’m super interested in the question of Laura Mercier. My hands-down favorite (and apparently undupe-able) blush is LM Second Skin in “Wild Bouquet.” Her whole blush line is beautiful.
Yep, you’re right about the second part. But the companies themselves claim to be cruelty-free even if they sell in China, so it’s understandable that the Sephora staff is a bit confused. Smashbox did pull out of China months ago, but Estee Lauder brands are mostly never cruelty-free so it’s dubious IMO.
Thank you for all the information! I’ve been trying to find out if Dr, Brand skincare is cruelty free. Do you know if they are?
They sell in China unfortunately, so they’re not cruelty-free.
“It’s going to be ending of mine day, except before end I am reading this
wonderful article to improve my experience.”
Do u have a list of cruelty free and vegan?
I don’t think many brands sold at Sephora are 100% vegan, but do check out my full list of cruelty-free brands for vegan ones. 🙂
I’ve read Josie Maran is mascarading as cruelty free. Please look into her further.
Hi, Bobbi Brownand MAC are both companies that are owned by Estee Lauder and they are not cruelty-free. They test on animals and they fund animal testing in China, in order to sell their products there. They are more interested in profit than morals. I believe you should update this blog as it is misleading. Thanks x
Hi Kinga! I don’t list either of these brands as cruelty-free anywhere.
laura mercier is cruelty free, it states on their site, they also state some products are vegan, and some are not.
Thank you so much for making this list! I just made a commitment to not buy cosmetics that are tested on animals, and am trying to figure out what is safe. Very sad to give up MAC.
Thought you might be interested in this and I was wondering your thoughts?
http://www.peta2.com/blog/kat-von-d-beauty-cruelty-free/
Bite is still on the Leaping Bunny’s list thus far. I’m also looking into brands owned by Kendo as they’re on PETA’s list and for some reason claim to be cruelty-free, so maybe there’s truth to that — but Marc Jacobs doesn’t deny selling fragrances in China. I’ll post my Kendo update soon! It’s a bit shady if you ask me.
Philosophy is also an awesome cruelty free company! And most of their products are vegan as well, the ones that are not are listed on the FAQ on their website 🙂
Philosophy do animal test as they sell in China.
They actually don’t sell in China directly.
How does it work when companies sell through Sephora then?
Unfortunately they’re not cruelty-free. 🙁
FYI, I just saw Wen on the sephora, China website. I’m guessing the market was just too tempting 🙁 However, Ole Henriksen is not listed on that website 🙂
It isn’t the Wen haircare, it’s a brand that does tattoos and stickers.
Yess, thanks Eric!
Sadly Smashbox isn’t cruelty free anymore 🙁
I was told that Illamasqua weren’t cruelty free, is that the case or have they recently made the jump to cruelty free?
Illamasqua is definitely cruelty-free.
Thank you so much for this list. I really appreciate it and it makes it much easier for anyone not willing to put in the effort. Ths allowed me to try new brands wouldn’t have normally even thought to look at!
Awesome, glad to hear that! 😀
Thanks for your help xx
youtube.com/makeupforlunch
Thank you for this great list! After reading it yesterday and feeling bummed because I just bought some Kat Von D eye products, I decided to google a bit. Now the Kat Von D topic might have been overdone now, but interestingly Paula Begoun’s list of companies that do/don’t test on animals has Kat’s products on the Don’t list and Sephora on the Do list. The site does mention that they’ve categorized companies who don’t test but are owned by companies that do test on the “Don’t” list (excuse the confusing sentence there!!).
So you’ll be happy to know that yesterday I walked up to a client who was just staring down this list while looking around skincare. I was like, “Oh! Cruelty Free Kitty! Fear not, I’m here! What can I help you find?!” She is switching back to vegan and cruelty free products and had all of your lists printed off. =] She said she kept finding conflicting info online and I told her that I 100% trust your lists and updated hers (she had printed it off a few weeks ago so it still had Kate & Murad on it).
This is so awesome to hear, haha! Once again thank you so much, Beth! 😀
It happened again. =] I know it’s awesome to hear you’re making a difference so; another person was wondering around lost with your list in hand looking for the brands in the list. Yay!
Hell yes, thanks for letting me know! Cruelty-free revolution, slow but steady! 😀
I’ve noticed within the last 6 months or more than Anastasia Beverly Hills and daughter have been taking business trips to Shanghai… So they may not be a cruelty free brand much longer
What about Kat Von D? Isn’t she vegan?
I appreciate all the information! But china does NOT require animal testing anymore, so are these once cruelty free make up brands cruelty free again? any information would be appreciated! thanks!
Danielle: China still requires mandatory animal testing for all imported cosmetics, so sadly nothing had changed. The lift only applies to some domestic brands and products.
Hi,
Thank you for making this list ! But I think recently Marc Jacobs has become cruelty free.
http://www.peta2.com/blog/kat-von-d-beauty-cruelty-free/
http://www.marcjacobsbeauty.com/category/customer+service/faqs.do
Thanks for dropping by. They still sell fragrance in China! I’m trying to figure out the deets and I’ll have an update on MJ, KDV, and all Kendo brands soon!