Cruelty-Free Cosmetics

Quick answer: A cosmetic is cruelty-free when neither the finished product nor its ingredients were tested on animals by the brand or anyone acting for it. The term is not legally protected, so the most reliable signal is an independent certification such as Leaping Bunny or PETA’s Global Animal Test-Free logo. Cruelty-free does not mean vegan: a never-tested lipstick can still contain beeswax or carmine.

Key facts

• Cruelty-free = no animal testing; vegan = no animal ingredients. A product can be one, both or neither.
• The EU banned animal testing of finished cosmetics in 2004, of ingredients in 2009, and completed a ban on selling animal-tested cosmetics on 11 March 2013 (European Commission).
• Mainland China has allowed imported general cosmetics to skip mandatory animal testing since 1 May 2021, under conditions; special-use cosmetics can still require it (ChemLinked).
• The United States has no federal ban; several states restrict cosmetic animal testing or sales.
• Main certifications: Leaping Bunny (testing only, with supplier monitoring and audits), PETA (testing, plus an optional vegan logo), Vegan Society trademark (ingredients and testing, per product).
• Market size: Grand View Research estimated the global cruelty-free cosmetics market at USD 14.8 billion in 2023, projecting USD 23.5 billion by 2030; other firms’ estimates differ.

Cruelty-free versus vegan

The two terms describe different things:

A product can therefore be cruelty-free but not vegan, vegan but not cruelty-free, both or neither. Definitions also vary between certifying bodies: some require that no ingredient has been tested on animals after a fixed cut-off date, and some consider whether the parent company sells products in markets where animal testing occurs.

How to check whether a brand is cruelty-free

Shoppers often search for a specific brand (“is this brand cruelty-free?”). The most dependable way to answer that question yourself is:

1. Search the certifiers’ own databases. Leaping Bunny publishes shopping guides from Cruelty Free International (UK and international) and the Leaping Bunny Program (US and Canada); PETA runs its Ultimate Cruelty-Free List; the Vegan Society has a product search for its trademark.
2. Check the date and scope. Certification applies to a brand (or, for the Vegan Society, to individual products) at a point in time. Brands can be added, removed or change ownership.
3. Read the brand’s own policy critically. “We don’t test on animals” may refer only to the finished product, or only to the brand’s own facilities, and may have exceptions “where required by law”.
4. Note the parent company. A certified brand can belong to a group that sells animal-tested products under other names. Whether that matters is a personal choice.
5. Check ingredients separately if you also want the product to be vegan (see below).

The itsvegan cruelty-free brand directory does this checking for a curated list of brands, with a dated source link for every certification and a page for each brand. A brand being absent from the directory does not mean it tests on animals; it only means we have not verified it. The directory explains this in brands that are not on our list.

Animal testing in cosmetics

Historically, cosmetic ingredients and products were tested on animals such as rabbits, guinea pigs, mice and rats to assess irritation, sensitisation and toxicity. Campaigns against cosmetic animal testing gained momentum from the 1970s and 1980s onward, and alternative methods, including cell-based tests, reconstructed human tissue models and computer modelling, have since been developed and validated for many purposes.

Legislation

European Union

The European Union introduced a phased ban on cosmetic animal testing under what is now the Cosmetics Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 (European Commission):

1. 2004 – testing finished cosmetic products on animals was banned in the EU.
2. 2009 – testing cosmetic ingredients on animals in the EU was banned, along with a marketing ban for most tests.
3. 2013 – a full marketing ban came into effect, prohibiting the sale in the EU of cosmetics whose ingredients or finished products had been tested on animals for cosmetic purposes, regardless of where the testing took place.

PETA and other campaigners note remaining gaps: some ingredients may still be tested on animals under separate EU chemical safety legislation, which covers worker and environmental safety rather than cosmetic use, and products tested elsewhere can be sold if those data are not used for the EU safety assessment (PETA FAQ).

United Kingdom

The UK banned animal testing of finished cosmetic products and their ingredients in 1998. In May 2023 the Home Secretary announced that no new licences would be granted for animal testing of chemicals intended exclusively as cosmetic ingredients (Cosmetics Business).

China

China historically required animal testing for many imported cosmetics. Since 1 May 2021, imported general cosmetics can be exempted if the manufacturer holds a GMP certificate issued in its home country and the product’s safety assessment fully confirms its safety. Special cosmetics such as hair dyes, sunscreens and whitening products are outside the exemption, and testing can still be required for products intended for children or containing new ingredients (ChemLinked).

Other countries

Many other jurisdictions have introduced bans or restrictions, including India (2013 testing ban, 2014 import ban), Norway, Israel, South Korea, Taiwan, Australia, Mexico, Colombia, Brazil and Canada (2023), while the United States has no federal ban but several state laws (NZAVS overview; Humane World for Animals). Rules continue to change, so consumers often rely on certification rather than assumptions about particular markets. A country-by-country summary with sources is part of the itsvegan cruelty-free guide.

Labels and certifications

Unregulated claims such as “not tested on animals” on packaging may refer only to the finished product, not its ingredients. Certification schemes are discussed in more detail in vegan certifications and labels.

Common animal-derived ingredients

Vegan shoppers often check ingredient lists for the following (see also hidden animal ingredients and the is it vegan? ingredient guide):

• Carmine (cochineal, CI 75470) – a red pigment made from insects (is carmine vegan?)
• Lanolin – a grease from sheep’s wool (is lanolin vegan?)
• Beeswax (cera alba) and honey (is beeswax vegan?)
• Shellac – a resin secreted by lac insects, used in nail polish (is shellac vegan?)
• Keratin and collagen – proteins often derived from animal tissue
• Guanine – a shimmer agent that can be derived from fish scales
• Squalene – sometimes derived from shark liver oil, though plant-derived versions (often from olives) are common
• Tallow derivatives and some stearic acid – used in some soaps
• Glycerin – can be plant, animal or synthetic (is glycerin vegan?)
• Milk, silk proteins and snail mucin

Many of these ingredients have plant-based or synthetic equivalents, and the ingredient name alone does not always reveal the source.

The cruelty-free cosmetics market

Market-research firm Grand View Research valued the global cruelty-free cosmetics market at USD 14.8 billion in 2023 and projected USD 23.5 billion by 2030, a compound annual growth rate of 6.8% from 2024, with Europe the largest region at about 37% of revenue (Grand View Research). Estimates vary considerably between research firms, which define the market differently, so any single figure should be treated as indicative rather than precise.

Practical tips

1. Look for a recognised certification rather than relying on general marketing claims.
2. Check ingredient lists for animal-derived substances.
3. Contact companies directly for clarification about testing policies and ingredient sources.
4. Consider brushes and tools, which may use animal hair; synthetic alternatives are widely available.
5. Use up existing products gradually if transitioning, as many people do.

Frequently asked questions

What does cruelty-free mean on cosmetics?

It means the product and its ingredients were not tested on animals by the company or anyone acting on its behalf. Because the phrase is not legally defined in most countries, an independent logo such as Leaping Bunny or PETA’s bunny is a more reliable signal than a brand’s own claim.

Is cruelty-free the same as vegan?

No. Cruelty-free refers to animal testing, while vegan refers to ingredients. A product needs both labels, or a scheme that covers both such as the Vegan Society trademark or PETA’s “Animal Test-Free and Vegan” logo, to meet both standards.

How do I know if a specific cosmetics brand is cruelty-free?

Search the brand on the Leaping Bunny, PETA and Vegan Society databases and check when it was listed. Our cruelty-free directory lists verified brands with links to those sources. If a brand is not in any certifier’s database, you can contact it and ask whether it, its suppliers or third parties test its ingredients or products on animals anywhere in the world.

Are cosmetics sold in the EU and UK automatically cruelty-free?

Not automatically. Animal testing for cosmetics and the sale of animal-tested cosmetics are banned, but campaigners point to loopholes involving chemical-safety testing and data generated outside the EU. Certification checks a brand’s whole supply chain and every market it sells in.

Can a cruelty-free brand be owned by a company that tests on animals?

Yes. Certifiers assess the brand, not its owner. Some shoppers avoid such brands; others buy them to support cruelty-free lines. Our brand pages show the parent company where a certifier names it.

Sources

• European Commission – Ban on animal testing
• Cosmetics Business – UK government bans animal testing of chemicals used exclusively as cosmetic ingredients (May 2023)
• ChemLinked – China to exempt animal testing for imported general cosmetics (2021)
• NZAVS – Bans on animal testing
• Humane World for Animals – Canada bans cosmetics animal testing and trade (June 2023)
• Leaping Bunny – The Leaping Bunny Standard
• PETA – Ultimate Cruelty-Free List and FAQ
• The Vegan Society – Vegan Trademark standards
• Grand View Research – Cruelty-free cosmetics market report

Last reviewed: 31 October 2026.

See also

• Labels et certifications vegan
• Ingrédients animaux cachés
• Mode vegan
• Véganisme éthique
• Spécisme