There are a lot of bunnies on laundry boxes these days. Some of them mean a lot. Some of them were drawn by the marketing team on a Tuesday.

Quick answer: "cruelty-free" means no animal testing. A logo from an independent program means someone checked. A brand's own bunny means the brand says so.

Cruelty-free vs vegan

These get mixed up all the time.

A product can be one without the other. The best case is both.

The labels you'll see

• Leaping Bunny: an independent program that asks brands to commit to no animal testing across their supply chain.^†
• PETA's Beauty Without Bunnies: a list brands join by signing a statement.^†
• A brand's own bunny or badge: a self-claim. It may be totally true. It just hasn't been checked by anyone else.

Article 113 goes deeper on Leaping Bunny vs PETA.

How to check a claim in two minutes

1. Look for the program's name, not just a bunny drawing.
2. Search the program's own directory for the brand.
3. Check the parent company too. Policies can differ.
4. Ask the brand if anything's unclear. Good brands answer.

Where we stand

We don't test on animals, and nothing in our formulas comes from animals. We're working toward independent certification, and we'll show the logo only once we've earned it.^†

No drawn-on bunnies here. Our designer is disappointed.

FAQ

Is cruelty-free the same as vegan? No. Cruelty-free is about testing. Vegan is about ingredients.

What's the most trusted cruelty-free label? Independent programs like Leaping Bunny check more than self-claims do.

Can a brand say cruelty-free without a logo? Yes, but then you're taking their word for it. Look for a program name if that matters to you.

Is Just 7 cruelty-free? We don't test on animals and use no animal ingredients. Certification is in progress.