Skin care that is not tested on animals seems to be the rule (not the exception) these days. This means, there are hundreds of cosmetic care companies around the world that offer skin care that is safe for vegans, vegetarians or anyone that may be interested in cruelty-free skin care. Cruelty free skin care can be found at companies ranging from veteran beauty products companies such as Almay (est. 1931) to ShiKai (est. 1970). Other popular cruelty-free skin care companies include Beauty Without Cruelty, Avalon Organics, Clarins, and Pangea Vegan Beauty Products. Pangea Beauty Products sells thousands of vegan and vegetarian beauty products manufactured by hundreds of cruelty free beauty, skin care, and {other} products companies.

Companies that Sell Skin Care That is Not Tested on Animals

Beauty Without Cruelty
Beauty Without Cruelty (BWC) was founded in 1963 in England. The trustees of BWC Charitable Trust, an animal welfare organization, came together for a common goal – to manufacture and distribute natural, color cosmetics that were not tested on animals and products that did not contain any animal ingredients. Beauty Without Cruelty offers a full line of cruelty-free vegetarian/vegan skin and body, and hair care products made from natural ingredients and organic aroma-therapeutic essential oils. Beauty Without Cruelty’s full line of color cosmetics reaches across all lines in order to meet the beauty needs of all women.

Beauty Without Cruelty Products may be purchased from your local natural foods retailer, and at some drug stores and vitamin shops. You can also purchase BWC products online directly from the Beauty Without Cruelty website at www.beautywithoutcruelty.com.

Avalon Organics
Founded in 1989, Avalon Organics is a producer of bath and body care products. Formerly called Avalon Natural Products, Avalon Organics creates pure bath and body care products without compromising the health and safety of animals or the environment. The company is inspired by organic agriculture and the ongoing cause of sustainability. Avalon Organic uses only 100% vegetarian ingredients and it rejects all animal testing.

Avalon Organics products are formulated without parabens, harsh preservatives, synthetic fragrances, artificial colors, sodium lauryl and laureth sulfates, formaldehyde donors (e.g., diazolidinyl urea), known carcinogens, mutagens and teratogens or grapefruit seed extract. The company offers the following argument for its decision to exclude grapefruit extract from all of its products.

In addition to a long list of vegan products for face and skin such as fragrance free body care lotions, cleansers, toners, moisturizers, and intensives, Avalon Organics also sells bath and shower products, soaps, shave products, and a line called “COQ10,” “Lavender” and “Vitamin C.” The company also produces shampoos, conditioners, and fragrance free hair care products as well as products for babies such as cleansers, moisturizers, and skin protection.

Avalon organics is mostly vegan. The vegetarian ethic allows for the use of humanely derived milk, honey, beeswax and lanolin, but only a very limited number of Avalon Organics products contain one of these ingredients. This means that the following Avalon Organics products do not meet vegan guidelines:

*Alba
Lipcare 18 SPF: Beeswax, Lanolin
Terra Tints: Beeswax
Sugar Cane Body Polish: Honey

*Un-Petroleum
Natural Lip Balm: Beeswax, Lanolin
Multi-Purpose Jelly: Beeswax
-www.avalonorganics.com

Clarins
Clarins was established in 1954. In 1987, Clarins became the first cosmetics company to stop all product testing on animals and in 1991, it stopped using cellular extracts of animal origin. The Clarins Group prides itself on consumer safety and the protection of both the environment and animals. So, since 1994 the French company has not used any ingredients of animal origin in its formulas. This move cemented Clarins’ place in history as the first cosmetics company to end the use of ingredients derived from animals. Instead of using animal ingredients, Clarins uses plants – the key component of the Clarins brand. The use of plants has benefited many animal species as well as the environment. Clarins sells an extensive line of vegan, cruelty-free face and body-care products, and cruelty-free cosmetics, and fragrances.

Clarins products can be purchased online through the official Clarins website at www.clarins.com or at a number of Clarins cosmetics counters around the world. Just a few of the fine department stores currently carrying the Clarins brand include: Saks Fifth Avenue, Macy’s, Lord and Taylor, Bloomingdales, and Nordstrom. Clarins can also be purchased at Sephora and a number of freestanding Clarins stores around the world. To search for a Clarins counter or freestanding store in your area, visit the official website to search for stores by city and state. www.clarins.com

Pangea Vegan Beauty Products

Pangea Vegan Beauty Products has an extensive list of vegan products and lotions for face and skin ranging from extract lotions and organic treatments to dry skin therapy and cellulite oil. Pangea sells NOW Neem oil and Shea Butter, ShiKai products, Dessert Essence Organics, Birch products, Avalon Organics, Glitter Girl Body Lotion, Beauty Without Cruelty Renewal Moisture Lotion, and Malcolms Miracle Treatment. Just a few top sellers include ShiKai, NOW, and Dessert Essence.

Pangea Beauty Products may be purchased online through the company’s “Vegan Store.” Customers can shop for vegan cosmetics by type or by brand. You may also order from The Vegan Store by phone by calling 1-800-340-1200. www.veganstore.com.

The World’s Oldest Cruelty Free Cosmetics Companies

There are literally hundreds of cruelty free cosmetics companies around the world. Some are household names while others are small and lesser known. While there are literally hundreds of cruelty-free cosmetics companies, a select few have been around since the late 1800’s to mid-1900s. These include: Almay, Beauty Without Cruelty, Bonne Bell, and Clarins.

Almay has been in business since 1931. Even back then, Almay used pure, hypoallergenic ingredients that were safe for even the most sensitive skin. Almay was the world’s first hypoallergenic cosmetics brand, and the first brand to make 100% fragrance-free products. It was also one of the first cosmetics companies to disclose all ingredients used, the first brand to perform safety testing for allergy irritation, the first brand to formulate for contact lens wearers, and the first brand to create cosmetics regimens for specific skin types. Almay does not test on animals and it uses natural ingredients such as soybean, rosehips, licorice, milk thistle, and aloe, to name just a few. Almay products can be purchased online through the official website or at any beauty supply house, cosmetics retailer or drug store. www.almay.com.com

Bonne Bell was established in 1927. Although the company’s products are not 100% vegan, the company’s methods of obtaining lanolin and beeswax are 100% cruelty-free. Beeswax and lanolin are the only two animal by-products used by the company. Bonne Bell stands behind its mission to deliver cruelty-free cosmetics to young girls. The company does not use animal testing, either in-house or through outside contractors, for any safety or efficacy evaluations of our products. This policy works well with our development programs. Bonne Bell products can be purchased online or at any beauty supply house, cosmetics retailer or drug store. www.bonniebell.com