OUR CRUELTY-FREE MAKEUP PROMISE

WE ARE, AND ALWAYS WILL BE, FOREVER AGAINST ANIMAL TESTING. THROUGH OUR PARTNERSHIPS AND PRACTICES, WANT TO BAN THE CRUEL PRACTICE OF ANIMAL TESTING IN COSMETICS.

We are firm believers in cruelty-free makeup and have been fighting for the rights of animals since 1989. Approximately 80% of countries currently have no laws around animal testing, and together with our friends at Cruelty Free International, we are committed to a promise that makeup products should be 100% cruelty-free. Our Forever Against Animal Testing campaign is working towards a worldwide ban on animal tested cosmetics forever.

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Forever against animal testing

WHAT IS ANIMAL TESTING IN COSMETICS?

According to Cruelty Free International, over 500,000 animals may be used in cosmetic animal testing worldwide, every single year. Alternative testing options exist that would allow neither animals or consumers to suffer, and in fact, non-animal tests are often more effective, more reliable and faster, proving that animal cruelty is an unnecessary evil. That’s why we’re fighting to wipe out animal testing in cosmetics for good, so animals no longer have to suffer for our beauty.

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What we have achieved so far

WHAT WE’VE ACHIEVED SO FAR

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, to create a global framework to end animal testing while advancing the United Nations’ sustainable development agenda.

These signatures celebrate the 30+ years of advocacy between The Body Shop, the first international beauty brand to campaign against animal testing in cosmetics, and our long-time campaign partner, Cruelty Free International , the first global, non-profit organisation dedicated to ending cosmetic product and ingredient testing on animals.

The joint effort is the most ambitious campaign ever against cosmetic animal testing and serves as a model to inspire action from businesses, governments and citizens to create makeup and skincare products which are cruelty-free.

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Woman looking into microscope

HOW IS OUR CRUELTY-FREE MAKEUP TESTED?

Our products undergo extensive testing to ensure they’re safe, effective and animal-friendly. We use 4 testing methods involving computer data and laboratory-created tissues. All cosmetic brands can adopt these kinds of animal-friendly testing methods.

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In-silico (computer-based) analysis uses readily available, existing data to help us to assess the suitability of similar materials through extrapolation.

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Laboratory-produced skin is grown from human skin cells. It allows us to conduct safety checks on cells that react in virtually the same way as human skin, without harming any people or animals.

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Finally, to ensure good tolerance on people, we will often test our products using patch testing. This involves placing a very small amount of product on a person's skin to ensure that it is safe and effective, usually at the final stage of testing a new formula.

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We will also carry out controlled user trials where people test our products for both skin compatibility and cosmetic effectiveness, under the supervision of medical experts when required.

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HOW DO I KNOW IF A BRAND IS CRUELTY-FREE?

To check if a makeup or beauty brand is cruelty-free, look for any logo on their products from an internationally-accredited organisation such as Cruelty Free International, Leaping Bunny or PETA. Check their websites for any commitments to against animal testing promises or look at their product pages for messaging around being cruelty-free.

Some cosmetics companies claim to be firmly against animal testing but aren’t genuinely cruelty-free. This is why it is essential to invest time to commit to a makeup testing process which doesn’t inflict harm on animals. This is also why at The Body Shop, we have worked extensively to develop our partnerships and become recognised for our core brand value of being against animal testing. Forever.

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IS CRUELTY-FREE MAKEUP ALSO VEGAN?

No, these terms don’t mean the same thing and can’t be used interchangeably. ‘Cruelty-free’ means animals have not been used for makeup creation and testing process. Whereas, vegan means they do not contain any animal traces or products. While a product can be cruelty-free without being vegan, they can be vegan but unfortunately heavily tested on animals.

Explore our vegan makeup products, which are 100% cruelty-free and discover the entire vegan beauty range.

CRUELTY-FREE ORGANISATIONS

Here is the list of some globally recognised organisations, who share our pledge of a worldwide ban on animal testing on cosmetics.

THE LATEST FROM AROUND THE WORLD

Since presenting our petition to the UN in 2018, countries around the world are taking steps to change their policies on animal testing in cosmetics, will the full support of our local teams.

AUSTRALIA

The Australian government has ended its reliance on new animal test data for ingredients in cosmetics.

CANADA

In 2023, the Canadian government passed measures to ban animal testing for cosmetic purposes.

European Union

The Body Shop and Cruelty Free International partnered up with Dove and PETA, as well as over 100 animal rights groups to secure 1,217,916 signatures for a European Citizens Initiative, calling for the end of animal testing in Europe.

TAIWAN

Cosmetic animal testing restrictions have come into force.

CHINA

Regulators have launched consultations on an animal testing waiver for imported, non-special use cosmetics. Bulldog has become the first international brand to sell in China as part of the Cruelty Free International Leaping Bunny pilot programme.

VIRGINIA, USA

The Cruelty Free Cosmetics Act has passed the Senate.

HAWAII, USA

The Cruelty Free Cosmetics Act has passed the House and moves on to the Senate for consideration.

NEVADA, USA

The Cruelty Free Cosmetics Act has been signed into law!

ILLINOIS, USA

The Illinois Humane Cosmetics bill has been signed into law!

CALIFORNIA, USA

The Cruelty Free Cosmetics Act has been signed into law!

MARYLAND, USA

The Cruelty Free Cosmetics Act has passed the Senate moves to the House for consideration.

MEXICO

The Senate has voted to outlaw animal testing in cosmetics, as well as the manufacture, import or marketing of cosmetics tested on animals anywhere in the world after the law comes into force. The bill will now move on to the next stage of the legislative process in the Chamber of Deputies.

USA

The new federal Humane Cosmetics Act has been introduced in the US House and the US Senate, to end animal testing in cosmetics across the entire United States.