How to check a product is cruelty-free

Is it just us or can decoding beauty product packaging feel more complex than completing a Rubik’s cube? If you’re not sure what’s what, we’re here to help you demystify the world of cruelty-free cosmetics

Unless you’ve got a PhD in beauty spiel, packaging can be hard to decode. How can you tell if something’s cruelty-free? Can you just ask a company if its products are tested on animals? If you’re seeking assurance that your favorite shampoo, serum or skincare is actually cruelty-free, we’ve got three tips to help you find out the facts. No search engine or online encyclopedia required.

What does ‘cruelty-free’ actually mean?

First things first, let’s get clear on what we mean by ‘cruelty-free’. While it doesn’t have a single, legal definition, it’s largely defined as the term for cosmetics that are created without being tested on animals during any phase of the product development process.

Some packaging might be stamped with the leaping bunny logo (you’ll spot it on some of our products), others may choose to list their cruelty-free status on a certified database. Either way, here’s our guide to understanding whether your product is truly cruelty-free…

Look out for the bunny

Want assurance at a glance? One quick and easy way to ensure your product wasn’t tested on animals is to search for a cruelty-free bunny logo on the back of the pack. There are three official, certified cruelty-free bunny logos that you can trust: PETA cruelty-free, The Leaping Bunny and Choose Cruelty-Free.

Here at Love Beauty and Planet, we’ve set out to protect the planet and everyone who lives on it as much as we can. We believe that beauty products that are safe for humans can be developed using non-animal approaches and should be made, tested and trialed using only cruelty-free methods.

You might have started to spot the cruelty-free logo popping up on our packaging (and we’re continuing to roll it out across more of our products) as we want to assure and inform our customers that we do not and will not ever test on animals. Whether or not a product is stamped with the cruelty-free logo, you can rest assured we do not test on animals.

Check out a cruelty-free online database

If you’re shopping online and want to check before getting a product delivered to your door, you can find out if it's not made using animal means by searching PETA’s online cruelty-free database. Brands must meet all of the cruelty-free criteria to be listed here, so it’s a surefire way to know your product hasn’t caused any harm to animals.

Even after certification, checks and assurances are ongoing, so you can be reassured that we at Love Beauty and Planet are living up to our cruelty-free certified status, and that all our skincare, body and hair care formulations are 100% cruelty-free.

Go ahead and ask the company

Here at Love Beauty and Planet, we’ve built a community of beauty lovers who don’t want to pick between protecting the planet and gorgeously good hair and skin. We encourage openness and honesty, which is why, if you ever have any questions or concerns, we want to hear them. Emailing or phoning a company directly can give you the reassurance you need and puts you in control.