1. Benefit: Not Cruelty-Free
I don't know exactly what it is about Benefit, but it's one of those brands people always assume is cruelty-free. Despite their claims, this is a brand that can't be considered cruelty-free.
Benefit's animal testing policy, however, is clear about the fact the company tests on animals where required by law. We also know that Benefit products are sold in mainland China, as Chinese Sephora stores carry the brand.
From the FAQ: We do not test our products on animals nor do we permit others to do so except where it is required by law.
If you like Benefit, try these cruelty-free alternatives:
- Too Faced (parent company not cruelty-free)
- (parent company not cruelty-free)
2. Nuxe: Not Cruelty-Free
Nuxe is marketed as a natural brand that uses safe ingredients and botanical extracts. It makes some sense for a small, natural company to be cruelty-free, but Nuxe is anything but that! They're big. They're not all that natural. They also sell in mainland China, and not only online, as confirmed by their Paris headquarters. This is not a cruelty-free company.
If you like Nuxe, try these cruelty-free alternatives:
- (parent company not cruelty-free)
3. L'Oreal: Not Cruelty-Free
L'Oreal has recently published that they've taken major steps towards ending animal testing within their company, which has led to a mass disinformation. This is why I felt the need to dedicate a full post to L'Oreal's animal testing policy, and how their change in status does not mean that the company is cruelty-free. Their fine print clearly mentions loopholes: they still test new ingredients on animals, and they still continue to retail their products in China and test on animals.
From the FAQ: L’Oréal no longer tests any of its products or any of its ingredients on animals, anywhere in the world. Nor does L’Oréal delegate this task to others. (...) An exception could be made if authorities required it for human safety or regulatory purposes.
If you like L'Oreal, try these cruelty-free alternatives:
4. Rimmel London: Not Cruelty-Free
Maybe it's because it's one of the smallest drugstore brands, or maybe it's because it's a British company, but many people assume that Rimmel London is cruelty-free. Looking at their website, there's a message saying "Rimmel London against animal testing. Find out more." When you click that, you have to click again (it's like a russian doll; they don't want to admit to the testing) and what you find out is that Rimmel does test on animals when required by law. Boo!
From their animal testing page: The only exceptions are the very few countries where, by law, the regulatory authorities require us to submit our products or ingredients to them for testing on animals as a mandatory part of their regulatory protocols in compliance with their local regulations.
If you like Rimmel, try these cruelty-free alternatives:
Wet'n'Wild(no longer cruelty-free)- Flower (Walmart stores)
- NYX (parent company not cruelty-free)
5. Organix: Not Cruelty-Free
This is a hair care brand that loves greenwashing as well as convincing its customers that they're cruelty-free. On social media, they swear up and down that they don't test on animals, but when you ask them about selling in China, they go very quiet. PETA has removed Organix from their cruelty-free list and moved them to the list of companies that do test on animals. Below is their official stance. You can read more about Organix and animal testing in this post.
From the official website: Given that there are countries that require animal testing by law, we do our best to respect governing law and regulations set by that governing body.
If you like Organix, try these cruelty-free alternatives:
6. Yves Rocher: Not Cruelty-Free
Yves Rocher doesn't test on animals unless required by law, and they do sell their products in mainland China. Hence, they can't be considered cruelty-free.
If you like Yves Rocher, try these cruelty-free alternatives:
7. Younique: Not Cruelty-Free
Younique is NOT cruelty-free. They currently claim that they don't test on animals, and neither do their manufacturers. However they can't be considered a cruelty-free company. Here's their animal testing statement before it was deleted:
This means that Younique isn't able to confirm that their ingredients aren't tested on animals, which is one of the big pillars of being a cruelty-free brand. Younique is also currently expanding to new markets, which could possibly include China.
If you like Younique, take a look at my cruelty-free makeup guide here with over 100 cruelty-free brands to choose from!
BONUS: MAC and Mary Kay are not cruelty-free!
I get so many comments about both of these brands being cruelty-free, when neither of them are.
Are there any other non-cruelty-free companies you feel you should warn people about?
Which Brands Are Cruelty-Free?
Download our list of 600+ verified cruelty-free brands straight to your device. Bring it with you everywhere you go, and never worry about supporting animal testing again. Click here to download
The body shop isn’t owned by L’oreal anymore
I have just checked on the Kiehl’s website and they now appear to be cruelty free. They now no longer state they “test when required to by law”. They note that they even check their suppliers haven’t involved any ingredients in animal testing or cruelty. Which is just magical.
They aren’t cruelty free, still animal test
OGX states that they are cruelty free, and from what I found they do not sell their products in Mainland China. However, given the differing opinions have you been able to clarify this statement?
I didn’t see anyone mention Clinique. Many people assume they are cruelty-free but they aren’t!
Hi guys, I just want to check something with you, because I was searching on Nuxe website and they do say they are cruelty-free. Do you think that they have changed or is it false advertising? Great article by the way 🙂
Thanks! Nuxe still sells in China and they’re still not cruelty-free unfortunately.
if the foreign brand sells online only in China, it is not requested on animal testing.
Can someone please let me know whether arbonne is actually cruelty free because they’ve never been here on cruelty free kitty, and they’re not listed by choose cruelty free either. I’m very weary of them now
Thanks
Even there are some local brands aw well as many international ones that claim to be cruelty free. Now that I understand many of them have loopholes. How to ensure if the packaging tells the truth?
please excuse my language, but what pisses me off about OGX(organix) is that on their products they put “never tested on animals” yet they arent cruelty free like cant they get in some sort of trouble for putting that on their products
Younique is EUROPEAN union compliant and the European Union does not allow for animal testing, you may want to research a bit more…
Nuxe revamped their line a few years back and upped the ante on the fragrance front too. Fragrance is not natural. I think the people at Beautpedia who termed this kind of line as “natural themed”, are right. It’s far more honest than pushing it as natural when it is anything but.
I kept thinking benefit and soap&glory are cruelty-free. They are not!
Really disappointed with Yves Rocher. I tried their foundation before and it’s one of those few foundations that suit my skintone and have a natural finish.
L’Occitane en Provence are another company that aren’t cruelty free. They sell in China and explain this on their website.
I’m really sad that Yves Rocher is not cruelty free. Now I have to try something else.
Some people may assume that Cover Girl is cruelty-free because Ellen Degeneres is/was their spokesperson, but they aren’t.
I’ve never shopped them, and likely never will.
I honestly can’t think of an animal-testing company whose products could entice me to ignore their cruelty policy.
For example, I used to be a TOTAL MAC-head, but dumped them when they started selling in China.
I’ll admit that it hurt, and I would love to shop them again, but I won’t until and unless they change their ways.
There are so many cruelty-free alternatives out there.
For example, Silk Naturals’ lipsticks are every bit as good as MAC’s, but cruelty-free, and a fraction of the price. The packaging is quite utilitarian, but who cares?
Wow, thanks a lot for this! I always used to think L’ORÉAL was cruelty-free because of all the things I’ve heard about it, and I really feel bad that I’ve been buying my products from them for so long. Thank you for informing us about this! It was really helpful, as well. 🙂
Hi Lex, Thanks so much for your comment! I’m so glad it was helpful! 🙂
Please take the Body Shop off this list as an alternative! The Body Shop is owned by the company Neslte which is a horrible country regarding the environment. Nestle is taking water from drought ridden places, bottling it, and selling it back at at much higher price. All the while people who actually live in these places have restrictions on how much water they are allowed to use while Nestle can take almost as much as they want. They are a predatory company when it comes to profiteering in the water business with no regards to the implications it has in the environment in the cities, states, and countries that they are in. Boycott all Nestle products and all other companies they own!
They. Aren’t owned by nestle but some Brazilian company go search body shop owner.
Body Shop > L’Oreal > Nestle
Body shop is not owned by Nestle anymore Loreal bought them out. http://www.babymilkaction.org/archives/15235
The CF Brazilian brand Natura purchased the Body Shop from L’Oreal last year. Joanne, the link you’ve provided states that 🙂 (has possibly been updated since you posted it)
I just checked the FAQ section for benefit and they say they are cruelty free. I could have misread but I’m pretty sure I understood they are. I could be wrong but could you double check on it? I took a screenshot of their response from their FAQ page but couldn’t see a way to post it on here. Thank you 🙂
They sell to China not cruelty free
I definitely think something changed within the company, but I’m not able to find out what. Maybe time will tell!
You do know that companies who have their products made in china don’t always test. They can make products in china but still not test. The reason they make them in china is because it’s cheaper for them to make it. As for Benefit seeling in china if they sold in hong kong and only hong kong then they can be classed as cruelty free. They can’t sell to businesses because of the law in china. That’s like when MAC counter girls tell people that the products in the UK aren’t tested on animals so they’re cruelty-free. It’s lies and Benefit have counters they don’t sell their products to a company for that company to sell it and make profit. That’s why they have concession stands.
*Sigh* Before I knew that animal testing didn’t mean just rubbing some lipstick on an animal and making sure their fur didn’t fall out or something, Rimmel was my go-to brand for makeup and nail polish. The funny thing is, while I’ve never found exact dupes for my favourite Rimmel products (Rimmel themselves no longer make them either), your recommended alternative brands are the very ones I’ve turned to! I love that even if you are poor, as I am, with Wet n Wild and E.L.F. you can still get good makeup and not have to worry about what poor creatures were tortured and killed so you can have it. If you haven’t tried them because their low prices scare you, you really should give them a chance. You might just be pleasantly surprised 🙂 Every now and then I get ahold of a lipstick that is too waxy; if I do I just give it to my little girl to paint her face with. lol For $1 you can afford to do that!
Wet N Wild is no longer cruelty-free they sell in china as well!!
Guys, i hot confused with my cosmetic at home. Could you tell me whether NYX and Korres are cruelty free? And i mean everywhere not just for some countries.
Thanks
Korres is, nyx is but owned by animal testing company.
On Benefit’s FAQs, they answer a question about animal testing and it does not say “except where required by law”. I think that is where the misleading comes from. I have not personally contacted the company, that is just what their website says. https://www.benefitcosmetics.com/us/en/help/faqs
They animal test they sell in china
If you go one benefit’s website now, it says this: “Benefit does not test our products on animals.
Since 1989, the Perfumes & Cosmetics companies of LVMH group (including Benefit Cosmetics) have not performed any tests on animals for our products – this was implemented long before the 2013 official ban set by the European Union.
We are deeply committed to the elimination of animal testing. We’re playing a leading role in developing alternative methods through our support of the “Fund for Alternatives to Animal Testing” in the United States. We also actively participate in validation studies of new alternative tests in the framework of the European cosmetics association, Cosmetics Europe. We are one of only a few companies to have invested in creating our own internal department to test raw materials and ingredients to further ensure the quality of our products and the satisfaction of our customers, which is our top priority.
We are hopeful that alternative testing methods will be adopted worldwide and we will see an end to animal testing.”
So are they lying? I am very confused
Yes they’re not giving you a complete answer. They test on animals where required by law.
Revlon and Almay have told me they’re cruelty free, but we know they’re not. I asked them once, and they swore they were CF, but we know the difference. Why are these companies a bunch of liars?
Pur cosmetics is also certified cruelty free…I love all their products!! Vegan friendly, cruelty free, paraben free U.S. company….and they work like a dream!!
Cruelty free but not all products are vegan.
But do they make money by selling products, or by recruiting other sellers? If they’re making money, they’re most likely recruiting others (and those people need to recruit more people to make a living, making it a neverending cycle that only truly benefits those at the top). It’s a flawed system. You’re making your family and friends lose money in order to keep your rank.
Would love to know if you think Perfectly Posh is cruelty free. They actually do not *have* to recruit to get basic commission which is 20-25% but then you do get bonuses or 1-5% off downline. So many are scams with pushing people to have so much product and keep recruiting. SAHM trying to bring in extra income and keep their independence. Sucks. But Posh seems pretty decent so far. New… so crossing fingers doesn’t go the way of many.
Younique uses being cruelty-free as a marketing tool, but it clearly states on their website that they test on animals.
And I 100% agree that multi-level marketing is a scam. I want to write a post about it pretty badly but my goal isn’t to offend anyone.
I am curious to know where on their website you’re finding that information. I am specifically not buying it from an acquaintance due to this question but I look on their website and it very clearly says that they do NOT test on animals though they are not seeking certification at this time. Can you tell me where you find this information on their website? As for the MLM…I couldn’t care less really. It’s a free country. MLM “businesses” are not illegal and so it’s not my business. I’m only here to worry about the suffering of animals. Thank you. 🙂
Of course they changed their statement now. It used to be in their FAQ and you can probably find it using waybackmachine (or send them an email and ask them if they test on animals where required by law).
how is multi-level marketing a scam? it’s just a business model. I think you’re thinking of pyramids which are illegal. there’s a huge difference–learn them. with pyramids, there’s no product, no service. there’s nothing wrong with MLM, if it’s done with integrity, and there’s a product and a service. and, on this site, we’re worried about whether or not there’s animal testing and cruelty.
If you don’t want to read my opinions about MLM/pyramid schemes, by all means, don’t read my blog. But don’t tell me what I am or am not allowed to talk about on my own blog.
I care about more than animal testing, and I’m sure many other people here do too. There’s a lot of human exploitation going on in MLMs which isn’t something I want to be silent about.
I’m very interested in reading more of your opinions of these companies. Have you or are you planning to write any articles about them? Thanks!
Thank you, will do!
I agree with regard to MLM’s. Vulnerable women get sucked into these schemes and many lose so much money. Don’t get me started in the aggressive sales tactics and pushers who think their products are oerfect one size fits all. These sales models should be illegal in my opinion.
That’s a great point!
I use Arbonne products which are cruetly-free and vegan and know they will be opening a location in Taiwan and selling there. Does Taiwan have the same stance as China in regards to animal testing as I cannot find anything on this. If they are I will have to find new products.
Hi Cheryl! Taiwan doesn’t have the mandatory animal testing laws that mainland China has. Just watch out for them having distributors in mainland China.
Thank you, I will.