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Skincare is quickly evolving – science, investment and new brands are constantly innovating this world. At the forefront of innovation and kindness are cruelty free skincare brands. Big brands, like Garnier, have made the cruelty free leap, but our best of the best list also features independent, specialist brands too.
What’s on this page?
Ren
Clean skincare for a clean planet
Equally committed to quality skincare and being kind to the planet, Ren has a ‘clean stamp’. This means it is committed to not including any ‘nasty’ ingredients in any of its products, its SPF is also reef safe. The range is big, and every product is suitable for sensitive skin. Now also stocked in Marks and Spencers.
- Certified cruelty-free: PETA
- Vegan: Not entirely, but there’s a vegan range
- Price range: ££ – £££
Tropic
Beautiful, fresh ingredients
The most profitable business from any past Apprentice candidate, Susie Ma’s Tropic is now a household name in the cruelty free world. With beautiful packaging, exceptional ethics, and super skincare, Tropic is a brand to try if you haven’t yet. Skincare discovery kits are great value, and its range of serums/oils is unbeatable.
- Certified cruelty-free: PETA and Cruelty Free International
- Vegan: Yes, and one of the only brands to be certified by the Vegan Society
- Price range: ££
Beauty Pie
Luxury skincare at a fraction of the cost
Beauty Pie has top skincare created in its Swiss labs, and sells it for usually around a third of the RRP. The catch? You pay to be a member – it’s worth it though, you make the cost back very quickly. It used to be a monthly membership model, but it’s now a one-off cost, which makes it more accessible.
- Certified cruelty-free: Cruelty Free International
- Vegan: Vegan options – always check the label
- Price range: ££ – £££
Skin & Tonic
100% natural skincare
London-based and independent, Skin and Tonic literally serves up, well tonic for the skin! With expert oil blends, the smell of the products is lovely. As a trained aromatherapist the founder has ranges to suit all skin types, and I must say the packaging is also beautiful.
- Certified cruelty-free: Not certified, but clear policies and assurances are provided, and everything is made in the UK (where animal testing is banned)
- Vegan: All products, except two (clearly labelled)
- Price range: ££
Ethique
Plastic-free alternative
Products, packaging and shipping are 100% plastic free. You even get told how much plastic, and water you’re saving on each product, which is a nice touch. All the products are ‘bars’ and the range goes from face wash, through to scrubs and moisturisers.
- Certified cruelty-free: Cruelty Free International
- Vegan: All products are vegan
- Price range: ££
Balade en Provence
France’s finest
Zero waste, organic and vegan – everything about Balade en Provence is ethical. The products are made with lovely, high quality ingredients too. Everything is made in France, but you can purchase via Amazon and other third party sellers in the UK.
- Certified cruelty-free: Not certified, but clear ethical code and practices place
- Vegan: All products are vegan, and certified by the Vegan Society
- Price range: £-££
Dr. Organic
Wales’ finest
Dr Organic is a staple in the cruelty free world. With a huge product range (for both men and women), this Welsh brand is focused on being environmentally friendly and using organic ingredients. Also sells shampoo, makeup and toiletries.
- Certified cruelty-free: No certification, but follows UK and EU guidelines, and is committed to always being cruelty free (also, doesn’t sell in China)
- Vegan: All products are vegan
- Price range: ££
Garnier
High street hero
Garnier only became cruelty free in 2021, but the long wait was worth it. The products aren’t as innovative or targeted as some in this list, but it’s an accessible range in terms of availability and price.
- Certified cruelty-free: Cruelty Free International
- Vegan: Working towards being vegan, but for now check each product
- Price range: £
Simple
High street favourite
Like Garnier, Simple is an accessible high-street range. You know what you’re getting with the products – they aren’t as luxury as other brands, but they do the job.
- Certified cruelty-free: PETA-certified
- Vegan: No, some products are though (check labels)
- Price range: £
Codex Beauty
Plant-based skincare
Codex Beauty has really excellent ethics – it goes beyond being cruelty free and vegan, to having clear sustainability practices and charity partnerships. The skincare is great too – tailored to specific skin types, problems and goals, you can tell the website what you are/what you want and voila, it’ll tell you the product you need.
- Certified cruelty-free: Cruelty Free International
- Vegan: All products are vegan, certified by the Vegan Society
- Price range: £££
Murad
Effective skincare, huge range
Murad has a huge and well-honed skincare range. Shoppable by skin-type, there is a luxury, effective product for everyone here. Uses top-class ingredients, but it also comes with quite a hefty price tag.
- Certified cruelty-free: PETA
- Vegan: There is a vegan range, but not all products are
- Price range: £££
The Body Shop
High street fave
No cruelty free list is complete without one of the pioneers in the field: The Body Shop. The skincare range is large, and affordable, and smells great. There are also refillable skincare options in store now, which is great for sustainability and the planet.
- Certified cruelty-free: Cruelty Free International
- Vegan: There is a vegan range (clearly labelled), but not all products are
- Price range: £-££
LUSH
Handmade on the high street
Lush has almost cult status on British high streets. Lush uses fresh ingredients to create a great skincare range – I particularly like the face masks. Affordable, fresh, and also does a men’s skincare range too.
- Certified cruelty-free: PETA
- Vegan: Some vegan products, some not – everything is clearly labelled
- Price range: £-££
Love Absolute
Plant-based
Highly ethical company committed to creating products with flowers, plants and oils that help wildlife survive and thrive.
- Certified cruelty-free: Not certified, but promised cruelty-free
- Vegan: Yes
- Price range: ££
Polaar
Arctic-inspired setbacks
When you think of skincare, you don’t naturally think of the arctic, but Polaar does. With skincare ranges inspired by all-things nature, with arctic flowers, shrubs, and berries all playing their part.
- Certified cruelty-free: Cruelty Free promise from the company (which includes ingredients), but no official certification
- Vegan: Yes, except lip balm (beeswax)
- Price range: ££
Glossier
Beauty superstore
Glossier has a big makeup range, but also has a very large skincare range too. With multiple serums, toners, cleansers and scrubs. Glossier is excellent value and has really excellent reviews.
- Certified cruelty-free: Leaping Bunny
- Vegan: No, but there are plenty of vegan products
- Price range: £-££
Superdrug
High street staple
Superdrug ‘own brand’ products are all cruelty free and vegan. Superdrug actually have a couple of its own ranges – B Skincare is probably the best. You can get some excellent bargains here.
- Certified cruelty-free: Cruelty Free International
- Vegan: Yes, all ‘own brand’ products are vegan
- Price range: £
Wrapping Up
The skincare market is absolutely booming, and there are more ethical and cruelty free brands than ever. Whether you’re looking for a high-street, budget option, or bespoke skincare from zero waste brands, we hope this list has given you plenty of options. Happy cleansing, toning, seruming, moisturings, sunscreening, and whatever else is in your skincare routine!
Our Methodology: How we created this list
To appear on this hair care list, each company either has to be accredited as cruelty free by an official body, or have a strict company policy, which can be backed up. A company must not test on animals themselves, or employ any third party to do so on its behalf to be considered cruelty free. This doesn’t just just apply to the company and a finished product, but also each ingredient within the product.
FAQs
– Tropic
– Beauty Pie
– Skin and Tonic
– Ethique
– Ren
– Balade en Provence
– Garnier
– Simple
– Codex
– Murad
– The Body Shop
– Lush
– Love Absolute
– Polaar
– Superdrug
And many more – but these are our top picks.
– L’Oreal
– Nivea
– Clinique
– Estee Lauder
– Elemis
– Caudalie
– These are some of the most popular brands, but it is not an exhaustive list.
The safest way is to check for official certification from either PETA or Cruelty Free International. Many companies claim to be against animal testing, however they may sell their products in territories that require animal testing, or they may source ingredients from companies who test on animals.
