Cruelty-free products are now a common norm with countries considering banning animal testing, and those that have already done so. But many of these companies will still produce products that contain animal products, which technically is not exactly cruelty-free right? Fear not, those of you who are looking for truly “cruelty-free” or otherwise “vegan” personal care/toiletry brands! Here is a list of four awesome ones:

1. Laughing Devil Designs

This brand was founded by Shielaugh V Divelbiss, and the name for this company was yes, derived from her name! The products carried by Laughing Devil Designs are made from whole raw ingredients, and from easily absorbed plant oils and natural extracts, keeping in mind sustainability – which is why they stopped palm oil in their products as well. Their products include soaps, salves, face masks, lotions, and one type of scrub.


Are they cruelty-free? Well, they do test their recipes — on Shielaugh’s family, friends, and herself! But they have been certified cruelty-free by PETA. Check out their website on Etsy, or in San Francisco at the Bluxome Street Winery Meet Market the last Saturday of every month from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.

2. Be Natural Organics

Be Natural Organics (BNO) was founded by Joanna O’Donnell because of her concern with the use of toxins, carcinogens, and harmful preservatives in skin care products. Leaping Bunny-certified, BNO’s products consist of cleaners, exfoliators, moisturizers, eye treatments, body lotions, soaps, and skin collections. Read here why their products are different and why they choose to avoid certain ingredients.

3. The Fanciful Fox

Mother-daughter duo Kathie and Amanda have been brewing up recipes for The Fanciful Fox since 2004 to perfect their products which are 100 percent vegan and cruelty-free, instead they make due to test on “dirty vegans” according to their About Us page. They were the recipient of PETA’s Compassionate Business award in 2009 and are a licensed affiliate with the organization as well. Where ever possible, the brand tries to use organic and fair trade ingredients, and their products never contain petrochemicals, parabens, formaldehyde donors, or carcinogens of any kind. They only use easy-to-pronounce ingredients!

Their products include bar soaps, body products, hair care, shower products, face products, lip balms, and they also carry products for men, pets, and babies!


4. Beauty Without Cruelty

With 40 years as a cruelty-free and vegan brand, Beauty Without Cruelty set an early standard for both consumers and manufacturers. The company was founded in England by the trustees of the BWC Charitable Trust – an animal welfare organization. Katherine Long was the main force behind the project, and along with Noel Gabriel, Katherine developed the first, full-line of cruelty-free color cosmetics. (Yay!) Their products are cruelty-free and contain no animal products. Their range includes shampoos, conditioners, moisturizers, aromatherapy products, hand and body lotions, and various cosmetics.

5. Surya Brazil

Surya Brasil is a Brazilian hair and skin care brand that offers an organic line of 100 percent vegan products, founded by Clélia Angelon in 1995. The company seeks to bring together “Nature, the science of Ayurveda, and technology” to harmonize “people with the environment while respecting the animal and plant kingdoms.” The company is also certified vegan by PETA and Vegan Action, certified organic by Ecorcert, and is a leading henna hair coloring exporter to India and have won a number of awards. They carry hair coloring, men care, and lip care products.


6. Botanicalz

Botanicalz uses only plant ingredients such as oils, butters, waxes, essential oils, extracts, and minerals, instead of honey, beeswax, tallow, collagen, keratin, lanolin, or any of the other kinds of animal derivatives normally used in body care products. The company was started with the idea to bring spas home, to make it an easy part of their customer’s lives. Their products are handmade, artisan and, of course, full of love. If you make a buy from here, you should know that 10 percent of their net profits are donated to animal sanctuaries around the world, and they also offer individual tutorials and group classes to learn how to pamper yourself with their products.

7. Face + Body

Get ready for an eye-full, this Santa Barbara-based company’s products are free from parabens, unrefined ingredients, artificial coloring, synthetic fragrances, GMO’s, mineral oils, animal testing, cruelty, and packaging that is not recyclable (meaning they use recyclable packaging!). Face + Body also does not buy or test ingredients from any one who does not comply with the Corporate Standard of Compassion for Animals. Their products include lip balms, scrubs, moisturizing butters, hand gel, and sunscreen.


8. The Orange Owl Shop

The Orange Owl is situated in Vermont and the core mission of the company is to provide simple and environmentally-friendly alternatives to essential products used in peoples’ everyday lives. Akshata Nayak, hailing from Bangalore, India, is the founder, and after working in basic research in the fields of Immunology and Emergency Medicine for six years, she decided to shift her focus. The company supports The Schooling Project – an organization that provides students in India who don’t have the financial support to be educated, to do so, and also hosts a number of workshops for extra-curricular activities. The Orange Owl donates 5 percent of the total sale on every purchase to The Schooling Project.

9. Ellovi

Kelly Winterhalter founded Ellovi, along with co-founder Ryan Pamplin, to help give customers products without artificial ingredients and cheap fillers, and they also contain no preservatives, paragons, or other secret ingredients. Their products include a six-ingredient (Macadamia nut, Coconut, Marula, Hemp seed and Shea) handmade body butter and six-ingredient lip butter (Hawaiian coconut, sunflower, hemp, macadamia, Ghanaian marula, and shea.)

10. Stark Skin Care

Founder Jess creates every Stark Skin Care product by hand in her home studio and sells them online. All their products are natural, vegan, contain highly bio-active ingredients, and are rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. When available, they use 100 percent organic ingredients and apparently some of them are even approved by goats. Their ingredients list is all here! They are also now offering to custom blend facial oils to meet every person’s individual needs on this page.

Image source: Salon Tress