Animal testing in the beauty industry remains at large. Despite years of research and using advanced technology, many companies are still choosing to test on animals because it saves on costs. The practice of animal testing is both unnecessary and inhumane, which is why it’s time to start supporting companies that are certified cruelty-free.
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The term “cruelty-free” can be misleading, which is why it’s important to look out for certified logos. One of the most recognized logos is the Leaping Bunny. For a company to be certified, they must comply with strict requirements and renew their commitment to the program annually. There are currently over 2,000 brands that are Leaping Bunny Certified. Together we can show our support for companies that want better for animals, their consumers, and our planet.
5 Affordable Cruelty-Free Brands You Have to Try
1) Thayers Natural Remedies strives to create pure and effective products using the highest quality ingredients sourced from nature. All formulations are free from artificial fragrances, colors, dyes, and more. All products are cruelty-free and prioritize using recycled and renewable materials when sourcing packaging.
Thayers Rose Petal Facial Toner
Thayer’s Rose Petal Facial Toner has been my go-to skincare product for years. Not only is it alcohol-free, cruelty-free, and vegan friendly, but it’s also very affordable. This natural and effective toner provides all day hydration, maintains the skin’s moisture barrier, and is gentle on the skin.
2) NYX Professional Makeup encourages everyone to express their creativity through colors. All of their products are cruelty-free and they also have a growing section for vegan friendly options too. NYX also recently partnered with It Gets Better Canada, which is a registered charity that supports, empowers, and uplifts Two-spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (2SLGBTQ+) youths across Canada. All products from their Proud Allies for All collection go directly to this charity.
NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream
Several years ago, when matte liquid lipsticks were all the rage, this was the only product with a formula that didn’t dry out my lips. There are so many beautiful shades to choose from, but my go-to is Cannes.
3) Garnier has been specializing in hair and skin products since 1904. As of 2021, Garnier has officially received the Leaping Bunny certification, ensuring that all products are cruelty-free. They take pride and commit to sustainable sourcing, reducing the environmental impact of their packaging, and supporting vulnerable communities. They even came out with their new Shampoo Bar, which provides up to 48 washes using 94% plant-based ingredients!
Garnier Moisture Rescue
This gel-cream has been a great addition to my skincare routine. Its lightweight and gentle formula has been wonderful for my dry and sensitive skin. I like to combine this product with a heavier cream for the dry winter months, but it’s perfect on its own for spring and summer!
4) Andalou Naturals offers high quality products that are certified cruelty-free, 98% nature-derived, non-GMO, gluten free, and has a large variety of vegan products to choose from. This woman owned brand strives to influence the beauty industry to do better. You won’t find ingredients that contain pesticides, harsh chemicals, or synthetic fragrances.
Andalou 1000 Roses Body Butter
Andalou’s Sensitive 1000 Roses collection was one of the first cruelty-free skincare lines that I tried when I was making the swap. When I first discovered this line, there were only 3 products available. Now, there are over 10 different products to choose from. If you have delicate skin, I highly recommend trying this line.
5) The Ordinary offers simple and effective products at a great price point. You may have seen many people raving about their favorite Ordinary products online, and there’s a reason for it! They offer cruelty-free products for skincare, makeup, hair, and body.
The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5
This multi-purpose serum been the perfect addition to my skin, hair, and body care routine. I like to use 1 drop in my skincare routine, 2-3 drops in damp hair after the shower, and 4-5 drops in my body lotion. This product is cruelty-free, vegan friendly, alcohol free, oil free, and silicone free.
Let’s start the year off right by supporting cruelty-free beauty brands. I hope this post inspires you to make the swap. For an official list of cruelty-free products, visit Cruelty-Free Kitty or check out Leaping Bunny’s Cruelty-Free Shopping Guide app. What are some of your favorite cruelty-free brands? I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Love this list! I’m a HUGE fan of NYX as they are super affordable for someone like me who doesn’t know/apply much makeup. Thanks for sharing! xx
Lynn | https://www.lynnmumbingmejia.com/
NYX is wonderful! The quality is great and so is the price. Thank you for reading Lynn!
Thank you so much for making me aware of these products. I definitely need to check out the Garnier shampoo bar. This would be so convenient for traveling this summer, as I don’t like to check bags when flying.
Shampoo bars are wonderful for travel! It’s great not having to check if all of your liquids can fit in the tiny plastic bag. Thank you for reading Heidi!
Ooo I haven’t heard of a few of these. It is great to know what garnier is cruelty free. I have used that brand before. Thank you for sharing this list.
Lauren.
It’s a great brand and I’m glad they’re using the Leaping Bunny seal. Thank you for reading Lauren!
This is a great list. I know most of these brands, but didn’t know they are cruelty free!
That’s great Wendy! I love that popular and familiar brands are starting to ban testing on animals. Thank you for reading Wendy!
It’s great to promote cruelty free brands and products! There’s no excuse for it anymore, is there? Also, I had no idea that NYX is cruelty free, that’s a surprising one. I’ll keep them in mind.
NYX was one of the first cruelty-free brands that I could find in the drugstore back in the day! I’m happy to see them expanding their line. Thank you for reading Coralle!
It’s so sad that companies are still doing this! All beauty companies should stop this. Thanks for the recommendations of products to use. We like supporting Lush because of this.
I agree! Lush Cosmetics is great, I love how they also offer so many plastic-free products. Thank you for reading!
Thank you so much for sharing this! We hate that beauty companies are still testing on animals.
Me too, it’s such an unnecessary and cruel practice especially with today’s advancements. Thank you for reading!
As someone who is an animal lover I really appreciate you letting me know about these products. Thanks for sharing about them.
My pleasure! I’m happy to see that more brands are starting to end this cruel practice. Thank you for reading Jodie!
It’s great to see more and more cruelty-free brands and products; I will have to check some of these out as I am about to update my skincare and make-up soon!
That’s great to hear! I hope you find some awesome new brands to try. Thank you for reading Molly!
I’m a huge fan of Nyx! I love their lip creams and foundations, and another great cruelty free drugstore brand is Milani! ☺️
I love Milani! I actually had no idea they were cruelty-free as well. Thank you for sharing Winnie!
I often use the ordinary products because I love the quality of them and the affordability of them! There are some great brands on this list x
The Ordinary is such a great brand! Thank you for reading Kayleigh!