CeraVe has a longstanding award in many skincare drawers; it’s gentle yet effective, and despite not being especially cheap, it isn’t overly expensive either. It is dermatologist tested, and loved by many skincare enthusiasts and experts such as Hyram Yarbro. Unfortunately, its non-irritating agents don’t extend to all species—CeraVe is not cruelty-free.

While it’s not the worst of the worst as far as animal testing goes, it certainly still relies on this practice. Since CeraVe sells its products out of mainland China, where products are required by law to pass animal testing before they can hit the shelves, it is undoubtably not cruelty-free.

However, CeraVe is not the only ubiquitous skincare brand that still tests on animals. Cetaphil, Neutrogena, Biore, and Eurcerin are all big skincare names that also are not cruelty-free. L’Oréal is the large parent company of many others, such as Thayers and the previously mentioned CeraVe, who has struck down many of the cruelty-free ideas due to its mainland China sales. This can be misleading since Thayers has a cruelty-free seal and claims to be completely vegan when this is not the case.

False information can be spread easily, which is why when discovering if a brand is cruelty-free or not, it is necessary to use third-party websites that have no connection or involvement with the company; obviously, the company itself is not going to be upfront about its mistreatment of animals.

Thankfully, there are many other reputable and reliable skincare companies that are cruelty-free and even offer vegan products. Some of these may be smaller, and at times pricier, but that does not hinder their effectiveness and there are options that align with the skin types of all.

The Ordinary.

Based on my review of The Ordinary’s brow and lash serum, it’s pretty clear that I already love this brand. I only added more items to my cart once I discovered that The Ordinary is cruelty-free and has several vegan products. Although some of the products that they offer are for those with more skincare experience, such as acids that must be used with caution, there are also gentle cleansers that can be used by anyone, such as their Squalane Cleanser. This brand is also one that won’t empty your wallet, and while the cleanser is on the pricier side, most of their products are fairly cheap.

Garnier

Garnier is one of the companies that I’ve been on the fence about as far as my personal preferences go, but it does not fall short of my expectations as far as ethics go. It is both cruelty-free and vegan, as well as reaching toward being more sustainable. They have the stamp of approval from the Cruelty Free International Leaping Bunny programme, validating their claims. Although I only have experience with one serum and their micellar water, I generally like the brand and don’t have any significant grievances. Despite the fact that the micellar water is at the forefront of Garnier, they offer more products than I expected, from sheet masks to moisturizers. These are also pretty inexpensive while still being beneficial, which is an impressive feat with their sustainable actions taken into consideration.

e.l.f

e.l.f is another affordable yet promising alternative to CeraVe and other harmful companies. They are 100% cruelty-free and vegan, never using animal hair and approved by PETA. They offer more than just creams and washes as well, selling tools, applicators, and brushes at inexpensive prices. I personally have always strayed away from this brand due to my lack of knowledge regarding it, but after more research, I’m nearly certain that I will be making purchases in the future.

The Inkey List

Seen as one of the leading competitors to The Ordinary that has begun to rise to fame, The Inkey List is another cruelty-free company that offers vegan products. Similarly to others on this list, each of its retinols, serums, cleansers, and moisturizers are priced at a reasonable point. It even offers a wider variety of cleansers that can be compared to those of CeraVe, for every skin type: oily, dry, normal, and combination. The website also offers a routine builder, adding to its general high-quality feel.

Despite the fact that I will have to say goodbye to one of my favorite brands that has faithfully cleaned and strengthened my skin, there is hope for other brands that are much more friendly to animals and the environment as a whole. The moment I use up my current skincare routine, I will certainly be working to rebuild it with products that are not tested on animals and kinder to innocent beings from these equally healthful and helpful companies.