A Cruelty Free makeup, skincare or beauty product is one that has not been tested on animals at any stage of its production, including ingredients, formulations and finished products.

The definition of Animal Testing is the use of non-human subjects (such as rabbits, mice, dogs, monkeys etc) to test products before production and distribution.

Sadly no. A Cruelty Free makeup or beauty product is one that has not been tested on animals at any point in production where as a Vegan makeup or beauty product is one that does not contain any animal derived ingredients or animal by-products.

For example, a lip balm that contains beeswax is not vegan because beeswax is derived from bees.

Yes, and vice versa. It is a common misconception that Cruelty Free makeup and beauty products are also Vegan, but this isn't always the case. A product may not be tested on animals and still contain animal derived ingredients AND a product may not contain animal derived ingredients and still be tested on animals.

For example, a lipstick can be free from animal testing BUT it may contain an ingredient like lanolin, which is derived from sheep, and therefore is not vegan.

On 1 July 2020, Australia banned animal testing on new cosmetic ingredients.

This means that new ingredients used exclusively in cosmetics made or sold in Australia (including those imported by a supplier or retailer), can’t use information from animal testing to prove their safety from this date.

Cosmetics comprise of many everyday products used for personal care and cleanliness, including products for oral hygiene, skincare, hair care, hairdressing, nail care, deodorants, colognes and makeup. In Australia, these products cannot use animal testing data to prove their safety.

Cosmetics do not include products that are used for medical purposes (like sunscreens, anti-dandruff shampoos, prescription medicines, vaccines, vitamins, minerals), they are known as Therapeutic Goods and are regulated differently in Australia and may be subject to Animal Testing.

It’s important to note that multi-use chemicals (eg. perfumes and scents used in both cosmetics and cleaning products) that are also used as cosmetic ingredients are excluded from the Australian Animal Testing ban.

Some countries, such as Mainland China, have passed legislation that legally requires products to have been tested on animals before they can be imported to the country and sold in stores. But other countries in Europe, including Russia, and states within America have also been known to test on animals for cosmetics when required by regulatory authorities.

In 2014, China allowed companies manufacturing so-called “ordinary” cosmetics (such as shampoo and mascara) within the country to avoid animal tests for their products, while still requiring animal testing for imported products.

In 2021, China again amended its regulations making it possible for some companies to import ordinary cosmetics into the country without the need for animal testing.

While this is a positive step, “special use” cosmetics (such as hair dye and sunscreens) still require animal testing as many non-animal test methods are not yet accepted by Chinese regulators.

The main way to determine if a brand is truly Cruelty Free is by looking for a globally recognised Cruelty Free certified logo from organisations such as Cruelty Free International (Leaping Bunny logo) and PETA (Beauty Without Bunnies logo). By getting Cruelty Free certified by organisations such as Cruelty Free International and PETA, a brand is prohibited to distribute their products in these regions.

Unfortunately there are some dishonest brands who will display a bunny logo on their packaging and say they are Cruelty Free when the product is not or they knowingly sell into countries where animal testing is a legal requirement.

It's also important to note that getting products Cruelty Free Certified can be an investment not all brands are in a financial position to make so just because they don't display a globally recognised Cruelty Free logo doesn't mean they test on animals.

It's easy to see why there are so many grey areas when it comes to determining a brands Cruelty Free status which is why it is important to do extra research and shop from reputable retailers like Wild & Cruelty Free who ensure all products meet Cruelty Free and Vegan standards before stocking them.

You can usually find a brands animal testing policy on a FAQ page on their website or on a page dedicated to their ethical values and sustainability practices.

Most brands who are proud to be Cruelty Free will share this all over their website and on their product packaging. It will be on their homepage, product pages and on their FAQ page. Some brands may just have a statement on their FAQ page to the effect of "We do not test our products on animals and only test on human volunteers" and will share any Cruelty Free certifications they have acquired.

BUT some brands will display a lengthy animal testing policy statement which may be confusing or misleading.

Below is an example of an Animal Testing statement from a global skincare brand that contradicts that their products are Cruelty Free:

"'Brand' is committed to the elimination of animal testing. We are equally committed to consumer health and safety and bringing to market products that comply with applicable regulations in every country in which our products are sold.

We do not conduct animal testing on our products or ingredients, nor ask others to test on our behalf, except when required by law."

This is an example of a brand that IS NOT Cruelty Free.

The last sentence states "we do not conduct animal testing on our products or ingredients" - so they are claiming they do not directly test on animals. BUT "except when required by law" signals that this brand is shipping into countries where they know animal testing is a legal requirement which means they ARE NOT Cruelty Free.

Here is another example from a global makeup brand:

"We do not own any animal testing facilities and we never ask others to test on animals for us. While some governments conduct animal testing to prove safety before they will allow us to sell our products, 'brand' has never tested on animals and we continue to be a leader in the movement to end animal testing globally. China tests on animals as part of its safety assessment of cosmetic products. We love our fans and we never want to exclude them anywhere."

So again, the brand doesn't personally test on animals but they are still selling their products into China where they know animal testing is taking place.

Many brands are developing in-house non-animal testing technologies which is amazing BUT if animal testing is a countries legal requirement (eg. Mainland China) and a brand continues to sell there, they are knowingly supporting an unethical market that doesn't value the lives of animals.

In my opinion, if a brand is not willing to pull out of a market that they know tests on animals then they care more about money than about the lives of innocent animals. To say "we love our fans and we never want to exclude them anywhere" is not really about wanting to exclude anyone, it is saying we don't want to miss out on making money in China so we will continue to sell there.

Sometimes we have to read between the lines of these statements to truly reveal the value of these corporations.

Yes! We’ve done the research to make navigating and shopping safe and ethical Vegan and Cruelty Free makeup, skincare and wellness products easy and effortless.

We are proud to support Australian cruelty free makeup and beauty brands who tread lightly on the earth and embody ethical and sustainable business and production practices.