The 10 makeup companies that do not test on animals which are featured in this article have achieved great success, despite some coming from humble beginnings, proving that high-quality, high-performing products do not need to be tested on animals first before being deemed safe or effective for humans.
In the late 1930s, the United States Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act was signed into law, which introduced certain safety standards for cosmetics that pushed companies to test their products on animals first. These tests, such as Draize eye and skin irritancy tests, used to be considered the most important cosmetic safety assessments and were mostly performed on rabbits. By the 1980s onward, activists began raising awareness and launching movements against animal testing.
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The European Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods was established in 1991 to develop and spread the use of alternative tests that do not need to involve animals. Five years later, the Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics, composed of animal welfare groups, started the Leaping Bunny cruelty-free certification program in the U.S and Canada.
The coalition felt the need to create the Leaping Bunny certification given that many companies tended to create their own logos and definition of “animal-friendly” or “cruelty-free” without the participation of animal protection groups, thus calling into question the authenticity of their claims. The Leaping Bunny certification unifies the definition into a single comprehensive standard, under a single internationally-recognized logo. The standard not only encompasses the act of animal testing, but also the purchase of animal-tested ingredients or formulations from third-party suppliers.
The Leaping Bunny’s definition of animal testing is as follows: “All testing of finished Cosmetics and/or Household Products, or any one or more Ingredients or formulations used in manufacturing or production of such products in which whole non-human animals are the test subjects, including without limitation, fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and non-human mammals. Animal Testing excludes in vitro tests or tests conducted completely with human volunteers.”
In 1998, the UK banned animal testing for makeup products. Soon after, the European Union passed a law phasing out the production and sale of makeup that was tested on animals. Other countries, such as Israel, Norway and India, as well U.S states like New York and New Jersey followed suit with their own bans and requirements to use alternative testing methods. The progress is still continuing up to the present day.
Unfortunately, some big-name companies still conduct animal testing. The blogger CrueltyFreeKitty, citing People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and independent research, called out big corporations Estee Lauder Companies Inc. (NYSE:EL), Procter & Gamble Co. (NYSE:PG), Clorox Co. (NYSE:CLX), Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ), S.C. Johnson, Reckitt Benckiser Group PLC, Church & Dwight Co. Inc. (NYSE:CHD), Unilever NV (NYSE:UN) and Henkel AG & Co. as companies with poor ethics that are not making enough or even any progress on their animal testing policies.
Some companies, such as L’Oreal and Clorox, do own brands that do not test on animals, usually those that had cruelty-free policies before getting acquired by their current owners, which were kept in place. Colgate-Palmolive Co. (NYSE:CL), despite still conducting animal testing, agreed to make gradual policy changes, which PETA described as “working toward regulatory changes to reduce the number of animals used for testing.”
The sheer influence and size of companies that still test on animals indicates that we still have a long way to go towards a completely cruelty-free makeup and cosmetic industry. However, significant strides are being made, as demonstrated by the popularity and success of the companies and brands included in this list of 10 makeup companies that do not test on animals. The brands were culled from a comprehensive list by CrueltyFreeKitty, based on information from PETA, the Leaping Bunny, and the companies’ websites.
If you like this list, also check out our list of the 11 most hated companies in America in 2017.
10. Kat Von D Beauty
Kicking off our list of 10 makeup companies that do not test on animals is Kat Von D Beauty, a relative newcomer in the makeup business. The brand began as a makeup line under Sephora and now offers a full-fledged line of cosmetics, ranging from trendy liquid matte lipsticks and eyeshadow palettes, to concealers and foundations. This makeup brand bears the name of its creator, popular tattoo artist Kat Von D. It is reformulating all the makeup it carries to be vegan, which it defines as “a product that does not contain any animal products or by-products, and has not been tested on animals.” Its vegan products are marked with the hashtag #VeganAlert on its website.
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9. Anastasia Beverly Hills
Anastasia Beverly Hills specializes in producing the best-quality brow products on the market today. However, it has now expanded to carry lip, face and eye makeup, as well as makeup tools. It offers brow products in a wide array of shades and kinds, depending on one’s preference — be it pencil, pomade or powder. Anastasia Beverly Hills was established in 1997 by Anastasia Soare, a Romanian beauty entrepreneur who introduced the brow-shaping trend of using the “Golden Ratio” (a mathematical formula that has been shown to be inherently beautiful to the human eye). The company has garnered the loyalty of many high-profile celebrities such as Oprah, Jennifer Lopez and Heidi Klum, among others.
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8. Charlotte Tilbury Beauty Ltd.
At number 8 on our list of makeup companies that do not test on animals we have Charlotte Tilbury that is a high-end makeup brand based in the UK. The eponymous founder of the brand is an award-winning makeup artist who has worked for many of the world’s biggest fashion magazines such as Vogue and Vanity Fair. Charlotte has also worked with celebrities like Kate Moss, Kim Kardashian and Gisele Bundchen. Her brand is considered high-end, but of very good quality. Charlotte Tilbury confirmed that it and its suppliers do not test their finished products or ingredients on animals.
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7. e.l.f. Beauty Inc. (NYSE:ELF)
The makeup company e.l.f. Beauty Inc. (NYSE:ELF) is known for its budget-friendly products that mostly provide similar colors or formulas as those of higher-end makeup brands. Those who are still starting to use makeup or prefer to experiment first typically use brands such as e.l.f. Some of the company’s bestsellers include its Baked Eyeshadow Palette, Makeup Mist, Baked Highlighter, and Intense Ink Eyeliner. Besides their price point, its cruelty-free products are also a step above the more expensive brands that test on animals. However, e.l.f does sell makeup brushes that use natural animal hair, which is considered animal cruelty by many, though companies often profess to obtaining the hair in an ethical manner.
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6. Wet N Wild
Wet N Wild is a Los Angeles-based drugstore brand that also offers affordable makeup comparable to those of high-end brands. Some of its eyeshadow and lipstick colors are dupes, or of similar color and/or consistency, to those of MAC Cosmetics, which is not a cruelty-free brand. Not only does Wet N Wild not test its products on animals, it also works with third-party vendors that are cruelty-free. Besides this, The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics did not find lead content in Wet n Wild’s bestselling lipsticks in a study that tested more than 400 lipsticks.
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5. Colourpop
Ranking fifth on our list of 10 makeup companies that do not test on animals is Colourpop, a neophyte brand that’s steadily gaining popularity due to its reasonably-priced products that are also well-made. It is most lauded for its trendsetting liquid lipsticks, which come in matte, satin and other finishes, but it also offers highly pigmented eyeshadows in a color range as extensive as those of its lip products. With a customer demographic that is especially trend-focused, its products are “priced for experimentation”, while keeping formulas luxurious. Established in 2014, this Los Angeles-based makeup company does not test on animals, saying it is proud to be “wallet friendly and bunny approved.”
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4. Urban Decay Cosmetics LLC – owned by L’Oreal SA (ADR) (OTCMKTS:LRLCY)
We are continuing our list of makeup companies that do not test on animals with Urban Decay Cosmetics that markets itself as “beauty with an edge,” offering products such as lipsticks and eyeshadow in a bolder color range. However, it also sells neutrals and basics, such as its bestselling product, the Naked eyeshadow palette, as well as eye pencils, primers and setting sprays. Urban Decay prides itself on breaking the mold of providing makeup lovers with typical everyday colors like pink and beige, instead producing edgy colors such as Rust, Oil Slick and Acid Rain. This brand is Leaping Bunny-certified, but it was acquired in 2012 by French cosmetics brand L’Oreal, which still tests on animals.
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3. The Body Shop International PLC – owned by L’Oreal SA (ADR) (OTCMKTS:LRLCY)
Though more popular for its skin and body care lines rather than its makeup, The Body Shop that ranks 3rd on the list of makeup companies that do not test on animals carries cruelty-free products with impeccable quality. It is famous for its great-smelling bath and body products, such as body butters and shower gels, as well as its lip care products and face serums. All of its makeup brushes are vegan, though some of its products are only vegetarian, which means they may include animal-derived ingredients such as honey and beeswax, though not ingredients obtained from animal slaughter. The company does maintain that its products are organic, wild-harvested and from sustainably-managed sources. The Body Shop is also owned by L’Oreal SA (ADR) (OTCMKTS:LRLCY), which does animal testing.
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2. Nyx Los Angeles Inc. – Owned by L’Oreal SA (ADR) (OTCMKTS:LRLCY)
Nyx, the next one on the list of makeup companies that do not test on animals was founded in Los Angeles, California and named after the Greek goddess of the night. The popularity of this makeup company transcends both age and class demographics, as Nyx offers the best quality products one can get for that price range. Despite being a drugstore brand, Nyx’s makeup is professional-quality, highly-pigmented, and provides a wide range of colors, from basic nudes to metallic, electric, and bold. Its most popular products are its bestselling Soft Matte Lip Creams, but many beauty junkies also swear by its eyeshadows, blushes and primers. Nyx was acquired by L’Oreal SA (ADR) (OTCMKTS:LRLCY) in 2014, but the makeup brand itself remains cruelty-free.
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1. NARS Cosmetics Inc.
The first place on our list of makeup companies that do not test on animals goes to NARS that is a cult favorite and a timeless staple among professional makeup artists all over the world. Known for its blushes, multi-purpose makeup sticks and lip products, NARS is deemed to be one of the best brands one’s money can buy, thanks to its rich pigments and colors that easily adhere to the skin with a natural finish. Its blush in the shade Orgasm is almost synonymous with the brand and has dominated most lists of top makeup choices by both amateurs and professionals alike. As a brand, NARS does not just produce beautiful products; it also continually innovated and pushes the boundaries of makeup. The best part is that NARS does not test on animals. However, it is owned by Shiseido, which is not cruelty-free.
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While one’s choice of makeup can seem to be a trivial thing, for many people it is actually an important part of their self-confidence and self-expression. But nowadays, it’s not just the way you do your makeup that can speak volumes about your personality; it is also where you buy your makeup and which companies you buy them from. Conscientious people who care about the bigger picture and the world tend to gravitate towards products that do not harm other living creatures.
Please share your thoughts on our list of 10 makeup companies that do not test on animals in the comments below, including your stance on cruelty-free products.
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