Is Sephora Cruelty-Free? Your Guide to Ethical Beauty 2025

More shoppers today want beauty products that don’t harm animals. This growing demand has made “cruelty-free” a hot topic in the beauty world. 

If you shop at Sephora, you might wonder about their stance on animal testing. This guide will explain Sephora’s animal testing policies, what “cruelty-free” really means, and how to find truly kind beauty options at this popular store.

Is Sephora Cruelty-Free?

No, Sephora is not cruelty-free. This means that Sephora, as a retailer, does not meet the standards required to claim cruelty-free status. 

While Sephora itself doesn’t directly test finished products on animals in their development, they do allow third parties to test their products on animals where required by law.

According to PETA’s Beauty Without Bunnies program, Sephora is listed with a warning that “This company DOES test on animals,” PETA.

It’s important to understand the difference between Sephora, the retailer (which sells many brands), and Sephora Collection (their own brand). Neither is fully cruelty-free because both are connected to animal testing in some markets.

Does Sephora test on animals?

Yes, Sephora does allow animal testing. 

While Sephora doesn’t directly test their finished products on animals during product development, their official policy shows a significant loophole: they do permit animal testing “where required by law.”

This means that Sephora allows third-party testing on animals in countries where local regulations demand it. Sephora’s parent company, LVMH (Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy), follows similar policies and is not considered cruelty-free.

LVMH states that they do test on animals where required by law, Conscious Bunny.

This includes:

• Testing raw ingredients on animals
• Allowing third-party testing in certain markets
• Selling products in mainland China (which until recently required animal testing for imported cosmetics)

Is Sephora vegan?

No, Sephora as a brand is not vegan. Being “vegan” means a product contains no animal ingredients or animal-derived ingredients. 

While Sephora Collection offers some vegan products, the brand as a whole is not vegan-certified.

It’s important to understand that “vegan” and “cruelty-free” are different:

• Vegan = No animal ingredients in the product
• Cruelty-free = No animal testing at any stage

A product can be vegan but still be tested on animals. For shoppers who care about both issues, look for products that are both certified vegan AND cruelty-free.

Sephora does have a “Vegan Makeup” filter on their website, but some shoppers have found products listed that may contain carmine (a red colorant made from insects) still appearing in these results on Reddit.

Understanding Cruelty-Free in the Beauty Industry

The term “cruelty-free” means beauty products made without animal testing. However, there’s no single legal definition, which leads to confusion.

Three main organizations certify brands as cruelty-free:

1. Leaping Bunny Program – The gold standard certification. A key criterion for their approval is that brands must commit to:
   
   • No animal testing on ingredients or finished products
   • No third-party testing
   • No testing in countries that require it by law
   • Supplier monitoring systems
   • Independent audits
2. PETA’s Beauty Without Bunnies – Less strict certification that:
   
   • Relies on company statements
   • Doesn’t require on-site audits
3. Choose Cruelty-Free – an Australian organization with similar standards to Leaping Bunny.

Watch out for misleading claims like “we don’t test unless required by law” – this actually means they DO test when selling in certain markets. 

True cruelty-free brands don’t allow testing in any country, even if it means not selling there.

Why Sephora Cannot Claim Cruelty-Free Status

The main reason Sephora isn’t cruelty-free is its business in mainland China. Until recently, Chinese regulations required animal testing for all imported cosmetics, a requirement that would trigger animal tests for brands like Sephora Collection.

While there have been changes to China’s animal testing laws in recent years, complications remain. In May 2021, China implemented updates that allow some cosmetics to qualify for animal testing exemptions, Ethical Elephant.

However, even with these changes, Sephora still doesn’t qualify as cruelty-free because:

1. Post-market testing may still occur (testing after products are on shelves)
2. Their parent company, LVMH, maintains policies allowing testing where “required by law,” which is a common complication when a specific brand is owned by a parent company with different ethical commitments.
3. Not all of their product types qualify for the new exemptions

Some truly cruelty-free brands have chosen not to sell in China rather than compromise their animal testing policies. 

Others use strategies like manufacturing in China to avoid testing requirements. Sephora hasn’t made these commitments.

Cruelty-Free Brands Available at Sephora

While Sephora itself isn’t cruelty-free, they do carry many brands that are, including a growing selection of vegan brands. Here’s a list of verified cruelty-free brands available at Sephora in 2025:

Makeup Brands:

• Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez
• Anastasia Beverly Hills
• Fenty Beauty
• KVD Beauty (100% vegan)
• Milk Makeup
• Tower 28
• Ilia
• Merit
• Saie

Skincare Brands:

• Tatcha
• Drunk Elephant
• Summer Fridays
• Farmacy
• Youth to the People (100% vegan)
• Herbivore
• Biossance
• Glow Recipe
• Ole Henriksen

Haircare Brands:

• Amika
• Briogeo
• Bread Beauty Supply
• JVN
• Ouai
• Pattern Beauty

Some of these brands are owned by parent companies that aren’t cruelty-free. For example, Drunk Elephant is owned by Shiseido, which does test on animals. This is called the “parent company issue,” and different shoppers have different comfort levels with it.

Finding Truly Cruelty-Free Products: A Shopper’s Guide

To determine if a product is truly cruelty-free, follow these steps:

1. Check for certification logos:

• Leaping Bunny logo (most reliable)
• PETA’s Beauty Without Bunnies logo
• Choose Cruelty-Free logo (in Australia)

2. Read product labels carefully:

• Look for “Cruelty-free” or “Not tested on animals.” It’s also wise to verify with other sources if the brand is cruelty-free in its entirety, not just for a specific product.
• Be wary of vague claims like “We don’t test on animals” (may mean only the final product)
• Check ingredient lists for animal-derived ingredients if you want vegan products

3. Use Sephora’s website filters:

• On Sephora’s site, use the “Ingredient Preferences” filter and select “Cruelty-Free.”
• Double-check these results with a third-party source.s

4. Download helpful apps:

• Cruelty-Cutter app – Scan products for quick animal testing status
• Leaping Bunny app – Up-to-date database of certified brands
• PETA’s Beauty Without Bunnies app – Search by company name

5. Check trusted websites:

• Logical Harmony
• Cruelty-Free Kitty
• Ethical Elephant

These resources help you make informed choices while shopping at Sephora or elsewhere.

The Future of Cruelty-Free at Sephora

The beauty industry is slowly moving away from animal testing. More brands are choosing cruelty-free certification, and regulations are changing.

Recent developments that could affect Sephora:

1. China’s regulatory changes in 2021 created exemptions for some imported cosmetics
2. Growing consumer demand for ethical products, including those focused on animal welfare and broader sustainability initiatives, is pushing more brands to go cruelty-free
3. Advanced testing alternatives are becoming more accepted by regulators

According to Green Matters, China no longer requires animal testing for all cosmetics as of January 2023, which opens the door for more truly cruelty-free brands to enter this market Green Matters.

Will Sephora ever become fully cruelty-free? It seems unlikely in the near future unless:

• They stop selling in markets requiring testing
• All countries where they operate end animal testing requirements
• Their parent company, LVMH, changes its policies entirely

For now, the best approach is to support the cruelty-free brands within Sephora while pushing for broader change.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

Sephora, both as a retailer and through its Sephora Collection line, is not cruelty-free in 2025. While they don’t directly test finished products on animals, they allow third-party testing where required by law and sell in markets that have animal testing regulations.

The good news is that Sephora carries many truly cruelty-free brands. By using the tools and information provided in this guide, you can make choices that align with your values while shopping there.

For the most ethical shopping:

1. Look for certified cruelty-free logos
2. Use verification apps and websites
3. Support brands with the strongest animal welfare policies
4. Let Sephora know you value cruelty-free options; you can often contact their customer service to share your feedback.