Is The Body Shop Cruelty-Free?

  • This post may contain affiliate links which - at no cost to you - may generate a small fee for us. It helps us research and review products more effectively

Yes, The Body Shop is cruelty-free – it has actually always been very active in this space and is one of the best cruelty-free makeup brands.

From its very own cruelty-free activism page – “On October 4th 2018, World Animal Day, The Body Shop and Cruelty Free International took 8.3 million signatures against cosmetic animal testing to the United Nations Headquarters in New York City.

This was designed to create a global framework to end animal testing while advancing the United Nations’ sustainable development agenda.”

What is The Body Shop’s Testing Process?

As a brand it has a 4 stage testing process:

  1. In silico computer-based analysis – you can read more about this on our alternatives to animal testing page
  2. Laboratory-grown skin is grown from human skin cells for animal-free testing
  3. Patch testing is performed on humans
  4. Controlled user trials

There was controversy when L’Oreal bought The Body Shop, as L’Oreal has never been cruelty free. However, The Body Shop is now owned by Natura & Co, which is cruelty free (endorsed by the Leaping Bunny scheme).

Is The Body Shop vegan?

No, The Body Shop is not entirely vegan.

It does have a clearly labelled vegan range on the website though.

The Body Shop Forest Logo
Is The Body Shop Cruelty-Free?
A cruelty-free staple
A staple on almost every UK high street, The Body Shop has an outstanding range of cruelty-free products with a proud animal testing free history.
Company ethics
8.5
Transparency
8
Product range
8.5
Product quality
8
Price
8.5
Sustainability
8.5
Reader Rating1 Vote
1.8
Pros
In-store refills available
Widely available
Passionate about ending animal testing
Cons
Online store not as good as bricks and mortar
8.3

Product range

  • Moisturiser, cleanser and toner
  • Facial serum, face and eye masks, exfoliators and peels
  • Bath & shower products: shampoo, conditioner, soap…
  • Makeup: lipstick, primer, mascara, foundation, concealer, eyeliner…
  • Perfume and aftershave
  • Body butter and scrub
  • Hand wash and moisturiser

The Body Shop’s Hero Product

white musk perfume body shop

Anything from the new refill range (visit your local shop to see this in action).

My teenage self, and now my adult self would recommend the white musk perfume, which is vegan.

The Body Shop features in our following listicles:

The Body Shop Ethical FAQs

What percentage of The Body Shop’s products are vegan?

Around 50% of The Body Shop’s products are vegan. The rest primarily contain honey and beeswax.

Is The Body Shop vegetarian?

Yes, The Body Shop is 100% vegetarian.

Is The Body Shop all-natural?

If we define all-natural as totally plant-based and chemical-free, then no it is not an entirely natural brand.

When it was conceived as a brand, it was entirely natural and chemical-free. Now it focuses more on animal-welfare, fair trade products and parity for growers.

Which in our eyes is a much improved focus.

Does The Body Shop use palm oil?

Yes The Body Shop does use palm oil, but 100% of the palm oil used is RSPO certified.

Does The Body Shop sell products in China?

No, The Body Shop doesn’t sell any products in mainland China, in duty-free stores, or in other locations where cosmetic animal testing is required.

Who owns The Body Shop?

Since 2017 The Body Shop has been owned by Natura &Co. Previously it was owned by L’Oreal.
Natura &Co is a Brazilian personal care cosmetics group that also own Aesop and Avon.

Is The Body Shop paraben-free?

Its products are not entirely paraben-free. It estimates around 80% are both paraben and sulfate-free. But please check the label carefully

Is The Body Shop PETA certified?

Yes The Body Shop is certified cruelty-free by PETA.

Does The Body Shop sell products in China?

As of August 2021 The Body Shop does not trade any goods in mainland China.

As China’s animal testing laws have changed in recent times, the brand may be able to do so without contravening its animal testing policies.

Zeen is a next generation WordPress theme. It’s powerful, beautifully designed and comes with everything you need to engage your visitors and increase conversions.

Cruelty-free Christmas deals
Get the best deals on cruelty-free makeup and skincare this holiday season - up to 80% off