16 makeup brands · last verified Oct 2, 2026
Cruelty-free makeup brands: which of 16 brands test on animals
Cruelty-free makeup brands are brands that do not test finished products or ingredients on animals anywhere, as certified by Leaping Bunny, Cruelty Free International or PETA. Of the 16 makeup brands checked on October 2, 2026, 8 are cruelty-free: e.l.f., essence, NYX, Milani, CoverGirl, Morphe, Tarte and Benefit.
- cruelty-free brands
- 8 of 16
- certified picks
- 33
- cheapest pick
- $2.99
Which makeup brands are cruelty-free?
16 of 16The makeup brands that are cruelty-free today are 8 of the 16 checked; 2 are not certified and 6 are not cruelty-free.
- BenefitCruelty-freeCruelty Free International
- CoverGirlCruelty-freeCruelty Free International
- e.l.f.Cruelty-freeLeaping Bunny · PETA, vegan
- essenceCruelty-freePETA
- MilaniCruelty-freePETA
- MorpheCruelty-freeLeaping Bunny
- NYXCruelty-freePETA · owned by L'Oréal
- TarteCruelty-freePETA
- Charlotte TilburyNot certifiedSays it does not test · no current certification
- Fenty BeautyNot certifiedSays it does not test · no current certification
- CliniqueNot cruelty-freeOn PETA's testing list · The Estée Lauder Companies
- L'Oréal ParisNot cruelty-freeSold in mainland China
- MACNot cruelty-freeSold in mainland China · The Estée Lauder Companies
- MaybellineNot cruelty-freeOn PETA's testing list · L'Oréal
- NARSNot cruelty-freeSold in mainland China
- RevlonNot cruelty-freeOn PETA's testing list
Cruelty-free: listed today by Leaping Bunny, Cruelty Free International or PETA. Not certified: says it does not test, but no certifier lists it. Not cruelty-free: PETA lists it as testing, or it sells where animal testing is required by law.
What are the best cruelty-free makeup products?
The best cruelty-free makeup products, by category, come only from certified brands and carry their price, store and date. The cheapest pick costs $2.99 and the most expensive one $42.00.
How do you check if a makeup brand is cruelty-free?
You check if a makeup brand is cruelty-free in three steps, and the brand’s own claim is the last thing to trust.
- Search the brand on Leaping Bunny or, for a brand outside the US and Canada, on the Cruelty Free International list.
- Search the brand on PETA’s Ultimate Cruelty-Free List to see whether PETA lists it as cruelty-free, as testing on animals or as not having signed its pledge.
- Read the brand’s own policy for the words “except where required by law”, which mean that a government may test the products for it.
Certification programs
Leaping Bunny
Leaping Bunny certifies a brand only after it proves a fixed cut-off date, supplier monitoring, independent audits and an annual recommitment.
Certification programs
PETA's Ultimate Cruelty-Free List
PETA's Ultimate Cruelty-Free List names brands that sign a statement of assurance that they and their suppliers never test on animals.
What does cruelty-free actually mean?
The definition, the loopholes and the two certifications that close them.
Read the definition