Given that the label ‘clean beauty’ can be interpreted in many different ways, it can be hard to know where to start when you simply want to shop more ethically for your beauty products. From organic ingredients and natural products to sustainable packaging, there’s a wide range of points to consider when assessing just how ‘clean’ a product may be. But perhaps one of the easiest places to start is with cruelty-free beauty.
The cruelty-free and anti-animal testing movements have been going strong for over 30 years, so there are, fortunately, plenty of brands adhering to their standards—which mean not only not testing products on animals, but also not using ingredients from suppliers that test on animals, and not allowing third parties to test their products on animals either.
It’s not always easy to establish if a brand ticks all of those boxes, but thankfully, there are a number of different resources you can turn to when you want to make sure that the beauty brands you’re investing in are officially cruelty-free and committed against animal testing. From PETA to the Leaping Bunny Program and, of course, our very own comprehensive guide to cruelty-free beauty brands…
Scroll down to meet 11 beauty brands that are proudly cruelty-free.
The best cruelty-free beauty brands:
1. Pai Skincare
London-based skincare brand Pai was born out of its founder’s personal need for effective products that wouldn’t irritate her hyper-sensitive, acne-prone skin. Starting off with the (now cult) Rosehip Oil (see below), the brand has expanded its offering, which ranges from cleansers and serums to masks and moisturisers—all of which are both organic and cruelty free.
Pai
Skincare Rosehip Bioregenerate Oil
This lightweight but nourishing oil doesn’t just help to soften and moisturise dry skin, it also helps to brighten skin and heal scarring—and it’s suitable for acne-prone skin types.
2. Susanne Kaufmann
Austrian brand Susanne Kaufmann is known for its luxurious skincare and body care staples, with Meghan Markle amongst its high-profile fans. The brand—which recently collaborated with Byredo—prides itself on ‘absolute transparency’ in everything from ingredient sourcing through to its manufacturing processes.
Susanne Kaufmann
Hyaluron Serum
Utilising multiple forms of hyaluronic acid, plus brown algae, this lightweight gel serum helps to bind moisture to the skin in order to keep it looking and feeling plump and healthy.
3. Pacifica
Abiding by strict ‘compassion standards’, California brand Pacifica is so committed to producing cruelty-free vegan and formulas that it has over 1800 ingredients on its banned list. While well-known for its ethically-based fragrances, the brand has since expanded into makeup, skincare, and haircare—and has stayed true to its roots without needing to compromise on the efficacy of its science-backed formulas.
Pacifica
Coco Peptide Shampoo
Thanks to a peptide-rich formula, this gentle, nourishing shampoo works to cleanse hair and scalp without stripping moisture. In addition, it helps to repair broken hair shafts, allowing hair to grown longer and stronger.
4. Antipodes
Antipodes was founded in 2006 with sustainability front of mind. Since then, the brand has become well known for the use of native New Zealand ingredients in its formulations, all of which also adhere to cruelty-free and organic certifications.
Antipodes
Aura Manuka Honey Mask
Powered by wild-sourced Manuka honey, this gentle mask works to simultaneously cleanse and hydrate skin, while also calming and soothing any irritation or breakouts.
5. The Body Shop
Founded in 1976, The Body Shop was the first international beauty brand to campaign against animal testing in cosmetics, which was the birth of its (now global) Forever Against Animal Testing campaign. The brand’s cruelty-free principles remain at its heart to this day—and arguably pioneered the way for the rise of the cruelty-free and sustainable beauty movements that followed.
The Body Shop
Camomile Cleansing Butter with Rose De Mai
The latest limited edition version of The Body Shop’s cult cleansing balm sees the addition of rose de mai oil to the formula. Together with chamomile, it works to cleanse and soothe sensitive skin.
6. Milk Makeup
There’s a reason why Milk Makeup is always at the forefront of beauty trends. The brand’s easy-to-use, innovative products are perfect for those who love wearing creative and expressive makeup. Not only that, the brand prides itself on being 100% vegan and cruelty free.
Milk Makeup
Matte Bronzer
This buildable cream bronzer is the perfect tool for quickly and easily sculpting and warming your complexion. The result? A sunkissed but shimmer-free finish.
7. Aesop
With chic packaging and bold fragrances, it’s no surprise that Aesop has gone from strength to strength since first emerging on the Melbourne beauty scene in 1987. The brand is committed to sourcing and producing only through ethical and sustainable methods which means that all of its products are Cruelty Free International Leaping Bunny approved and included on PETA’s cruelty-free list.
Aesop
Geranium Leaf Body Cleanser
There’s a reason why this body wash is always sold out. Its vibrant green scent provides your morning shower routine with an invigorating wake-up call. What’s more, the fragrance will linger on your skin all day long.
8. Summer Fridays
Co-founded by beauty influencers Marianna Hewitt and Lauren Ireland, Summer Fridays champions a vegan and cruelty-free approach to skincare and makeup. Kim Kardashian, Jessica Alba, and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley have all raved about the brand, which is also a firm favourite amongst the Who What Wear team.
Summer Fridays
Jet Lag Overnight Eye Serum
Constantly dealing with puffy, tired, eyes and dark circles? This all-in-one intensive eye treatment will fix that, thanks to its cooling gel texture and retinol-enriched formula.
9. Drunk Elephant
Being cruelty-free has been central to Drunk Elephant’s ethos ever since the brand was first founded in 2012 with the launch of its Pekee Cleansing Bar. Now proudly Leaping Bunny certified, the brand’s range encompasses everything from moisturisers to eye creams.
Drunk Elephant
D-Bronzi Anti-Pollution Drops
Don’t have time to fake tan? Add these cult bronzing drops to your morning moisturiser to give dull morning skin an instantaneous glow up instead.
10. Fenty Beauty
Since founding her namesake beauty brand in 2017, Rihanna has ensured that her products and their ingredients are never tested on animals. If you’re looking to kit your makeup bag out with cruelty-free products, look no further. From foundations and concealers to lipsticks and eyeshadow, Fenty Beauty has everything you need.
FENTY BEAUTY
Eaze Drop Blur + Smooth Tint Stick
Fenty Beauty has base products for every type of coverage, but if lightweight and natural makeup is your jam, this swipe-on foundation stick will be too. Expect a weightless, natural finish in seconds.
10. Lush
Ever since it was founded, Lush’s MO has been its pioneering anti-animal testing policy, which mean that Lush will not buy any ingredients from any supplier that tests any materials on animals. In addition, the brand attempts to keep packaging as minimal as possible throughout its product range.
While Lush’s range covers skincare, makeup, haircare, and even fragrance, it’s the body care products that really stand out. Take, for example, this oat milk and lavender infused body lotion—perfect for massaging on before bed.
11. Glossier
Best known for its Boy Brow brow gel and Balm Dotcom lip treatment, Glossier also happens to Leaping Bunny certified. That’s right, you’ll be pleased to read that the brand behind some of your favourite makeup and skincare staples is committed to being cruelty free at all stages of ingredient and product development.
Glossier
Invisible Shield SPF50
If you still not wearing sunscreen every single day, this may just be the formula that finally convinces you to do so. Weightless and invisible, it melts onto skin, providing broad-spectrum SPF50 protection and a smoothing base for makeup.