Cruelty Free Brands

We as a society are becoming much more concerned about our social responsibility when it comes to animal welfare and the environment. According to statista there are currently 600,000 vegans in the UK. Amongst consumers in the UK the interest in reducing meat consumption is growing, their motivations behind this increase in interest are said to be due to a number of reasons. Some of the motives include ethical reasons such as animal welfare, others are due to the belief that a vegan diet is more healthy. In this article we are going to be discussing animal welfare, veganism and cruelty free brands. 

This list is for anyone who is looking to avoid supporting brands that test on animals or fund animal testing. All of the brands we have included on our list have been vetted and confirmed as cruelty free by an external source. 

What is meant by ‘cruelty free brands’?

If a product has a bunny on it, or clearly states that it is ‘cruelty free’, this means that it has not been tested on animals. ‘Cruelty free’ is an animal rights movement and label for products that do not harm or kill animals. Products that are cruelty free have been manufactured or developed using methods that do not involve any cruelty to animals. 

What's the difference between ‘cruelty free’ and ‘vegan’?

What many people don’t realise is that there is a difference between a product or brand being ‘cruelty free’ and ‘vegan’. Cruelty free means that the products were developed without any tests on animals, vegan on the other hand means the product does not contain any animal derived materials. If you want a product that is cruelty free and vegan, look out for both labels or symbols. 

Our favourite cruelty free brands

We have put together a list of our favourite cruelty free brands that are all animal cruelty free approved. 

Victory Colours

First on our list of cruelty free brands had to be us of course! Here at Victory Colours we produce cruelty free and vegan paint that is not tested on animals. What’s more, our products are 100% vegan because our paints do not contain any animal derived ingredients. 

Many people are sadly unaware of the fact that many paint brands contain animal derivatives or test on animals. We wanted to create a unique paint that is safer for the environment, animals and us. 

Bondi Sands

The next cruelty free brand we would like to include on our list is Bondi Sands, a truly cruelty free brand that is also vegan- Bondi Sands. This brand does not test on animals nor does it contain any animal derived products. What we love about this company is that just like Victory Colours, it does not compromise on quality just because it is cruelty free. Bondi Sands use high quality formulas that aim to help you achieve the ultimate Australian tan. 

Charlotte Tilbury

A cosmetics brand that we love is Charlotte Tilbury, with her beautiful range of makeup and skincare products we were delighted when we discovered that they are cruelty free. After rigorous checks the brand has also earned leaping bunny cruelty free status to confirm the fact that the products are not tested on animals. In addition to this, Charlotte Tilbury now also offers a wide range of award winning vegan makeup and skincare products. 

Mario Badescu

Another skincare brand we love and are glad to share is also cruelty free is Mario Badescu. None of their products' ingredients, formulas, or finished products are tested on animals. Although they are not fully vegan, they do sell vegan products. 

What animal derived ingredients can be found in products?

So far we’ve covered our favourite cruelty free brands, although some of them do still sell products containing animal derived ingredients. This may have left you wondering, what exactly are these animal derivatives, and more importantly, what am I actually putting on my skin? We’re here to get to the bottom of this, and here are the common animal derivatives that can be found in cosmetics: 

• Beeswax
• Lanolin (wool grease)
• Squalene (shark liver oil)
• Carmine (crushed beetles)
• Gelatin (cow / pig bones, tendons or ligaments)

Which brands and products are not cruelty free?

Unfortunately, there are still many popular brands that dominate their markets yet still continue to test on animals. Some smaller companies are now owned by parent companies who test on animals meaning they are not animal cruelty free either. Here is our list of brands to watch out for because they are not 100% cruelty free:

• Aveeno 
• Bareminerals
• Aussie
• Fenty
• Laura Mercier
• Too Faced

The parent brands that still test on animals:

• Unilever
• L’Oreal
• P&G
• Estee Lauder
• Shiseido
• LVMH
• Johnson & Johnson