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.
Kendo (Bite’s parent company) is indeed cruelty-free. I left OCC on the list because Sephora online still has some stock. 🙂
also Josie Maran is not cruelty free?
Hi! I just wanted to let you know that urban decay is not actually cruelty free 🙁 based on what I have researched they either associate with or are owned by companies that do conduct animal testing
They are owned by Loreal, which conducts animal testing, but as a part of their buy out agreement, none of Urban Decay’s products may be used for animal testing.
Marc Jacobs beauty website FAQ says they DO NOT test on animals and that most of their cosmetics are devoid of animal by-products. However, you stated on this list that they DO test on animals… I’m now confused about where you’re getting your source of information from. If you are wrong about Marc Jacobs beauty, you may want to re-evaluate all the other companies since there may be errors as well.
Here is the link to their FAQ page:
http://www.marcjacobsbeauty.com/category/customer+service/faqs.do
You’re correct! I just moved Marc Jacobs Beauty to my cruelty-free list recently. It’s Marc Jacobs Fragrances that tests on animals. Here’s the full explanation if you’re interested: https://staging.crueltyfreekitty.com/news/marc-jacobs-cruelty-free/
I thought Urban Decay did not test on animals!! I switched from using Mac to Urban decay for that reason!! What happened?
UD doesn’t test on animals! Sorry if there’s any confusion. Only UD’s parent company, L’Oreal, tests on animals.
Why is Anastasia BeverlyHills included on PETAs animal testing list?
Hey Becca, here’s the recent update on Laura Mercier!
https://staging.crueltyfreekitty.com/news/does-laura-mercier-test-on-animals/
I wish I could get ahold of cruelty free make up where I live, but I can’t. The only brand that doesn’t test on animals that I can buy off is Too Faced, but we don’t even have everything they sell, just some eyeshadow palettes (I bought one yesterday instead of buying from Urban Decay) and powder. I really feel guilty of using products tested on animals, even more now that I own a rabbit, and he’s the cutest animal I’ve ever seen. I’d die if I had to watch how someone tortured one, but my parents don’t allow me to buy online 🙁
I recently visited Hong Kong and NARS had their own store there…
Hong Kong doesn’t share the same mandatory animal testing laws as the rest of China. All good. 🙂
would you be able to let us know which cruelty-free brands are also vegan. I heard that just because they’re not testing on animals the products might still be made with animal derived ingredients especially when it comes to making pigment colors for cosmetics
Hi, I had heard Murad was recently bought by Unilever. Though they might not test on animals Unilever is one of the biggest testers on animals. If Kate S was scratch from the list above then I will assume Murad should be too.
Hi, I work for Murad and would like everyone to know that the brand continues to be cruelty free and is not distributed in China or Brazil. Kate Somerville is also cruelty free. These were major topics of concern voiced by employees when Unilever bought both brands.
Ty!
Thank you for this information but I just want to inform the publisher, of this article, that Urban Decay Cosmetics is a cruelty-free company even though they were acquired by L’Oreal in 2012. It would be very useful if the information on Urban Decay to be changed. Thank you.
What about Benefit?
Hey India! They sell in mainland China and can’t be considered cruelty-free for that reason.
On Benefits website they say that do not test on animals…???
Hi Lena,
While Benefit’s company may not test ingredients or finished products on animals, they must approve their products to be tested on animals in order to be sold in mainland China. By law, any cosmetic companies importing their products to sell in China must sign off on and follow their regulations (ie. any products being imported into the country need to be tested on animals before being sold). Therefore, any companies willing to have their products tested on animals in order to sell their products in mainland China cannot be considered cruelty free.
Hope this helps!
Hi Vick- I get where you’re coming from, but Kendo itself is considered a cruelty-free parent company. LVMH hasn’t tested on animals in 2 decades, except of course in China. So while LVMH isn’t cruelty-free, the direct parent company of KVD is. I believe LVMH made this change specifically to have a cruelty-free branch.
You’re very welcome. Companies that choose to sell in China also choose to have their products tested on animals and finance those tests. This means that these companies are NOT cruelty-free as far as I’m concerned. Let me know if you have more questions!
I looked at Leaping Bunny’s archives and at no point do I see Too Faced on their list. I’ll e-mail Leaping Bunny to check.
Please let us know what they tell you. For the life of me I cannot find that e-mail. I should have found it before I commented…
I did find a letter from a Too Faced:
———-
Good afternoon Brandy,
Thank you for your message. Too Faced Cosmetics is proud to be 100% cruelty-free, right down to our Teddy Bear hair make-up brushes. We have never and will never test our products on animals. Whereas we do not test any of the materials within our products on animals, I cannot speak for any other companies in regards to their cruelty free status. I can tell you that Too Faced is very careful in deciding where our products are manufactured and where they are sold in order to ensure that our products are not tested on animals. In fact, we are not sold in some large markets because they require animal testing in order to even sell products there. I hope you find this information to be helpful!
Have a great day!
Sincerely,
Aun’JenelleWebsite Customer Relations Coordinator
——-
In response I asked them if they were considering rejoining the leaping bunny program and they said they were “exploring opportunities with Leaping Bunny”, but that was it.
At any rate, thank you for keeping this site!
thank you so much for the updated list! it is greatly appreciated. any chance on getting a list for fragrances? i’ve called the company nest to ask about their cruelty-free status and they say they are, but i’m suspect.
Not sure about NEST yet, did they claim not to sell in China?
Thanks so much for this great database of information. Bummed to hear that Fresh is not CF. Have you heard of Farmhouse Fresh? They have some wonderful vegan products and claim to be CF. I hooe you havent you heard otherwise? Thanks again,
Thanks Adele! Yes, unfortunately Fresh sells in China which is why they’re not cruelty-free. I’ll look into Farmhouse Fresh. 🙂
Some are vegan and some contain beeswax. Dip brow I believe is vegan. Just watch out for beeswax in the ingredient list. 🙂
Smashbox pulled out of China about a year ago, but their policy remains to test on animals where required by law. I posted about this change here if you’re interested: https://staging.crueltyfreekitty.com/does-smashbox-test-on-animals/
Is Too Faced still cruelty-free? I read in another blog post that they lost the Leaping Bunny, but on their FAQs they still say that they do not test on animals.
I’m looking for a great setting powder to complement my Josie Maran Protect + Perfect!
Too Faced is still very much cruelty-free! They’re still PETA certified, and they were never Leaping Bunny certified. I def recommend their Primed + Poreless setting powder!
Thank you!
I did a lot of research about Tarte and it seems like although it’s Acquired by Kose, their products are going to remain cruelty-free
Tarte itself is still cruety-free, yes. 🙂 I just removed brands owned by a non-cruelty-free parent company, but I’ll add a little paragraph for Tarte, UD, etc.
Hi, I love your website! Ha e you ever tried Aroma Zone?
Also briogeo is completely crueltyfree and vegan! It is a hair care brand that is really very good
Thanks so much for keeping up on this information!!
How is Kat Von D still CF? I thought they were owned by Sephora who you state is not CF? Also, I absolutely love your site! It is super helpful and has opened my eyes. I was so proud to buy Tarte because I knew (or so I thought) I was buying CF, but now I know my purchase was ultimately benefiting animal testing. 🙁
Hi Megan! Kat Von D is actually owned by Kendo, which is cruelty-free. All Kendo brands except Marc Jacobs are cruelty-free, and as far as I know they’re making a true effort. Kendo is then owned by LVMH, which doesn’t test on animals either (but owns Sephora, which does). Hope this is helpful and not confusing! 🙂
Oh that is very helpful! Thank you so much! I’m planning to go make-up shopping this weekend and I’ve heard great things about Kat Von D, but I wanted to make sure they were truly cruelty free. Thanks for all your helpful information. 🙂
I couldn’t get a confirmation from Laura Geller. I’m still trying. 😐
Thanks! One more question. What about coastal scents?
I’ve heard this rumor a few days ago, and I’m looking into it! Thanks for letting me know!
Caudalie unfortunately isn’t cruelty-free anymore! They started testing on animals where required by law and selling in China. 🙁
If a company tests in China, it isnt’t cruelty-free! Organizations like PETA and the Leaping Bunny do not perceive these compnies as cruelty-free, and most bloggers wouldn’t either. The animal tests performed in China are as cruel as any animal tests can be, and if a company finances those tests, they can’t be cruelty-free!
I hope this helps. The only advocates of still being cruelty-free while selling in China are the companies that do so. They claim to be cruelty-free because the don’t test on animals here, but omit to say they do so in China.