18 Cruelty-Free Skincare Brands
Over the last year I’ve almost fully transitioned into only using cruelty-free products. Every time I run out of one of my old non-cruelty-free staples, I replace it with a new cruelty-free product!
It is more difficult to transition than I expected because of 3 reasons:
Cruelty-free products are usually at least a few more dollars compared to products that test on animals.
There aren’t a ton of brands out there that are found at the usual stores I go to for beauty products (e.g. Target, CVS, etc.).
Products that say they are cruelty-free on the label often are not entirely cruelty-free… (more on that later!) and vegan doesn’t mean they don’t test on animals.
To make it easier for you to transition to a cruelty-free life, here are my favorite products and brands with some bonus tips to help you find more truly cruelty-free brands/products.
A bit about skincare
According to Soko Glam, there is a 10-Step Korean Skincare Regime. If that sounds like too many, don’t worry, a couple of the steps are only meant to be done weekly, not daily. What are the 10-steps? 1. Oil-based cleanser 2. Water-based cleanser 3. Exfoliator 4. Toner 5. Essence 6. Serums/Treatments 7. Sheet mask 8. Eye cream 9. Moisturizer 10. Sunscreen. While you don’t have to do all 10-steps, I recommend trying it out – it’s a relaxing way to wind down before bed.
Below are my favorite skincare brands and some of the products I love!
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Coola
If you don’t know, I am allergic to sunscreen. I got a sample of COOLA in my Birch Box months ago and finally tested it out and to my surprise I am not allergic to it! It is on the pricier end for sunscreen, but is organic and PETA certified.
Favorite product: Classic Face SPF30 Cucumber
Where to buy: Sephora | Ulta
First Aid Beauty (FAB)
This is a brand I have gotten many samples from in my Ipsy Glam Bag. They have a great range of skincare and it is especially great if you have sensitive skin. They even have over 1,300 ingredients on their “no-no list”. FAB is PETA certified.
Favorite products: Hello FAB Coconut Skin Smoothie Priming Moisturizer + Ultra repair hydrating serum
Where to Buy: Sephora | Ulta
Glossier
Lumene
Lumene is a Finnish brand made of Nordic ingredients like Arctic Cloudberry and Arctic Spring Water. Their ingredients are sustainably sourced and vegan. Formulated without harmful chemicals.
Favorite products: Glow Boost Essence & Overnight Bright Sleeping Cream
Where to buy: Amazon
Murad
At the risk of sounding like a broken record, I got a sample from this brand in my Ipsy Glam Bag and loved it! Murad is on the very expensive, high-end side of the spectrum. They are PETA certified.
Favorite product: Resurgence Renewing eye cream
Where to buy: mURAD | Sephora | Ulta
The Ordinary
Pacifica
Pixi beauty
They have both makeup and skincare you can find in Target. Pixi is one of my favorite brands and I have a few different products I’ve bought from them. I actually first discovered this brand a couple years when I got a lipstick sample in my Ipsy Bag. Their skincare is really great!
Favorite products: Glow Mist + Vitamin WakeUp Mist
Where to buy: Pixi Beauty | Target
Sunday Riley
On the more expensive side is a great brand you skincare experts probably know – Sunday Riley. I was ecstatic the day I got samples from this brand in my Birch Box. This probably isn’t a brand I can afford to buy full-priced products from, but maybe you can!
Favorite products: C.E.O. Vitamin C Rapid Flash Brightening Serum + Luna Retinol Sleeping Night Oil
Where to buy: Sephora | Birch Box
Supergoop!
Another sun care brand with a wide variety of products for your skin. They even make eyeshadow with SPF in it! Supergoop is the most innovative sun care brand I’ve ever seen. They are PETA certified.
Favorite product: CC Cream Daily Correct Broad Spectrum SPF 35+ Sunscreen
Where to buy: Supergoop | Sephora
Trader Joe’s
Trader Joe’s has a small selection, but the products they do have are all natural and cruelty-free. Some Trader Joe’s products are vegan, but not all of them are.
Favorite products: Rose Water Facial Toner + Lavender Salt Scrub
Where to buy: Trader Joe’s, of course!
Yes To
In terms of skincare, this brand has mostly masks and cleansers. While I have never used their cleansers, I love their masks! Their products are 95% natural and they are Leaping Bunny Certified.
Favorite products: Tomatoes Clear Skin Detoxifying Charcoal Mud Mask + Coconut Coffee 3-in-1 Mask
Where to buy: Ulta | Target
Other popular cruelty-free skincare brands
Dermalogica – Leaping Bunny and PETA certified
Where to buy: Sephora | Ulta
Drunk Elephant – lEAPING bUNNY cERTIFIED
Where to buy: Sephora
Farmacy Beauty
where to buy: Farmacy | sephora
Herbivore Botanicals – Leaping Bunny and PETA certified
Where to buy: sephora
Nip + Fab
Where to buy: Nip + Fab
Ren Clean Skincare – PETA certified
Where to buy: Sephora
How to tell if a brand is cruelty-free
This can be tricky and depends on how strict you want to be about it. There are brands that claim to be cruelty-free and put it on their packaging even though they aren’t completely – some are even PETA certified!
How can this be, you ask? For example, Aveda claims to be a cruelty-free brand and displays the PETA logo on its packaging. Aveda is actually owned by the parent company Estée Lauder, which tests on animals. I choose not to buy from brands that I know are benefiting large parent companies that test on animals.
Another example is brands that say they do not test on animals, but sell their products in China where animal testing is mandatory. I choose not to buy from these brands because they are allowing their products to be tested on animals by selling in China.
Cruelty-Free Kitty has a long list of brands on her website where you can search to find new brands and check to see which brands test and don’t test.
Cruelty-Cutter is an app you can use to scan products and find out if they are cruelty-free. It also tells you if a brand is owned by a parent company that tests on animals. I use this all the time while shopping in stores! It doesn’t have every brand, but it has a lot!
