Trying to figure out what the cruelty-free brands at Ulta are? This guide from Logical Harmony can help!
For many beauty lovers, big retailers like Ulta, Sephora, Nordstrom, Beauty Bay, Cult Beauty, and others are some of the main places where we purchase cosmetics, skincare, and hair care. Ulta is unique in that they carry both high-end and drugstore brands. This makes it easy to do a lot of your beauty shopping in one place. Being aware of the cruelty-free brands at Ulta can be a challenge simply because they carry so many brands. In an effort to make things easier for consumers, I wanted to create and share this list of cruelty-free brands at Ulta.
Take this guide of cruelty-free brands at Ulta with you the next time you go to an Ulta store (details on how to do that are in the post!) or reference it for easy online cruelty-free shopping!
Curious about some of the brands sold at Ulta aren’t cruelty-free? That’s also in the post!
Popular cruelty-free products sold at Ulta:
This is the most recent update of a post I originally published on October 31, 2014. It was last updated on March 16, 2020.
All brands included here are sold at Ulta. They are cruelty-free, which means free of animal testing, and they all also have vegan options to choose from. Just as with the Cruelty-Free Brand List, it is noted next to a brand if they cruelty-free but are owned by a company who tests on animals. It is also noted if they are not only cruelty-free but also a 100% vegan brand.
Cruelty-Free Brands at Ulta:
Below is a full list of all of the cruelty-free brands at Ulta. This includes the cruelty-free makeup brands, cruelty-free skincare brands, cruelty-free haircare brands, and cruelty-free fragrance brands. Below this main list will be other lists broken into a category by the product type as well.
- 2B Colours
- ABBA – It should be noted that they are cruelty-free, but their parent company is not.
- Acure Organics – 100% vegan
- AG Hair
- Anastasia Beverly Hills
- Andalou Naturals
- Amopé
- Aquis
- Arctic Fox – 100% vegan
- Ardell
- Awake Beauty – It should be noted that they are cruelty-free, but their parent company is not.
- Au Naturale – 100% vegan
- Babo Botanicals
- bare Minerals – It should be noted that they are cruelty-free, but their parent company is not.
- Bare Republic (list of Bare Republic vegan products)
- beautyblender
- BECCA (list of BECCA vegan products) – It should be noted that they are cruelty-free, but their parent company is not.
- Bio Ionic
- Black Moon Cosmetics – 100% vegan
- Bliss
- Body Shop, The
- Burt’s Bees – It should be noted that they are cruelty-free, but their parent company is not.
- Butter London
- Buxom – It should be noted that they are cruelty-free, but their parent company is not.
- Cake Beauty – 100% vegan
- ColourPop
- Conair
- COOLA (list of COOLA vegan products)
- CoverFX – 100% vegan
- COVERGIRL – It should be noted that they are cruelty-free, but their parent company is not.
- DefineMe Fragrance – 100% vegan
- Delectable – 100% vegan
- Derma E – 100% vegan
- Dermalogica – It should be noted that they are cruelty-free, but their parent company is not.
- Dose of Colors
- Dr. Bronner’s
- DryBar
- Eco Tools
- ELF Cosmetics
- Ella + Mila
- Every Man Jack
- Eylure
- First Aid Beauty – It should be noted that they are cruelty-free, but their parent company is not.
- Flower Beauty
- Fourth Ray Beauty – 100% vegan
- Frank Body
- Hand in Hand Soap – 100% vegan
- Hello Products – It should be noted that they are cruelty-free, but their parent company is not.
- Hempz
- Heritage Store
- House of Lashes
- Hynt Beauty
- Indie Lee
- Jack Black
- Jane Iredale
- Juice Beauty – 100% vegan
- KKW Beauty
- KKW Fragrance
- Kopari (list of Kopari vegan products)
- Kylie Cosmetics
- LAVANILA
- Lime Crime – 100% vegan
- Loving Tan – 100% vegan
- Manic Panic
- Mario Badescu
- Michael Todd
- Milani (list of Milani vegan products)
- Murad – It should be noted that they are cruelty-free, but their parent company is not.
- MyChelle Dermaceuticals
- NABLA
- Nad’s Natural
- Note Cosmetics
- NYX – It should be noted that they are cruelty-free, but their parent company is not.
- OFRA Cosmetics – 100% vegan
- Ordinary, The
- ORLY
- Pacifica – 100% vegan
- Parissa
- Patchology
- Paul Mitchell
- Per-fekt
- Perricone MD
- Plant Apothecary – 100% vegan
- PUR Cosmetics (list of PUR Cosmetics vegan products)
- Pureology – It should be noted that they are cruelty-free, but their parent company is not.
- PYT Beauty
- Real Techniques
- Rosebud Perfume Co.
- S.W. Basics
- Seed Phytonutrients – It should be noted that they are cruelty-free, but their parent company is not.
- Schmidt’s Naturals – 100% vegan It should be noted that they are cruelty-free, but their parent company is not.
- skyn ICELAND – 100% vegan
- Smashbox (list of Smashbox vegan products) – It should be noted that they are cruelty-free, but their parent company is not.
- St. Tropica – 100% vegan
- Stila
- StriVectin
- Sugar Rush by Tarte – 100% vegan It should be noted that they are cruelty-free, but their parent company is not.
- Sugarpill
- Sunday Riley
- T3
- Tarte (list of Tarte vegan products) – It should be noted that they are cruelty-free, but their parent company is not.
- Too Faced (list of Too Faced vegan products) – It should be noted that they are cruelty-free, but their parent company is not.
- ULTA
- Urban Decay – It should be noted that they are cruelty-free, but their parent company is not.
- Yes to
- Z Palette
- Zoella Beauty
- Zoya
Popular cruelty-free products sold at Ulta:
Another great thing about Ulta is that they do not sell in China, where animal testing is required by law, and their house line is also cruelty-free.
Brands That Test on Animals at Ulta:
The following are brands sold at Ulta that are not cruelty-free.
- Aveeno
- Biore
- Clarisonic
- Clean & Clear
- EOS
- Garnier
- Jergens
- John Frieda
- Kiehl’s
- L’Oreal
- MAC
- NARS
- Neutrogena
- Nivea
- Olay
- Origins
- Proactiv
- Shiseido
Popular cruelty-free products sold at Ulta:
Editor’s Note: By using the affiliate links contained in this post you are helping to support Logical Harmony as we may receive a commission on purchases made (with no added cost to you). This helps keep Logical Harmony running, and we appreciate your support. Thank you!
127 Comments
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LOVE the info…Thank you…????????. Curious if Makeup Revolution is cruelty free? Was it already on the list and I missed it? Thanks much ??
I haven’t been able to confirm that they are cruelty-free, no.
thanks for the updated list!
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I was wondering what the status is with morphe. I saw something on another site that seemed conflicting and am perplexed.
Hi Stacey, I do not consider Morphe to be cruelty-free.
Hi,
I am supriesed, as faar i know The Body Shop not testing on Animals, but belongs to L’oreal group, which testing on Animals. Why The Body Shop is on the list cruelty -free products?
Hi Paulina!
They haven’t been owned by L’Oreal for a couple of years now.
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Physician’s Formula isn’t on the list. I read a while back that their cruelty-free status has changed. Are they still cruelty-free or not.
They aren’t. They were removed from the Logical Harmony Cruelty-Free Brand List a while ago, and are now on the Brands to Avoid list.
BH Cosmetics is cruelty free. I don’t see them on either list.
I’ve been unable to get a clear response from them about their animal testing practices.
In shopping at Ulta, I noticed that the have Butter London signage saying they are cruelty free, but the use ‘carmine’ in their eye shadow clutch pallet. They may not test on animals, but carmine is a dye made up of crushed beetle shells.
That’s correct – they are cruelty-free but not a vegan brand.
what about it cosmetics? I know they are owned by L’Oreal now, but they dont test on animals as far as I know.
I haven’t been able to confirm that they are cruelty-free unfortunately.
What About It Cosmetics? They are cruelty free as well
I haven’t been able to confirm that they are cruelty-free unfortunately.
Isn’t Marc jacobs on one of your lists as now cruelty free..? If so, the brand is available at Ulta.
Marc Jacobs Beauty is cruelty-free, but the fragrance line is a separate company (even with a different parent company) and it is not cruelty-free. Marc Jacobs Beauty is sold only at Sephora.
Hi I’d like to know if the professional color line they use at ulta is cruelty free? Do they use Redken which is not cruelty free
From my understanding, the line they use is not cruelty-free.
Note cosmetics are still cruelty free and vegan?do they have a parent company that test on animals?
They are cruelty-free and vegan and do not have a parent company that tests on animals.
did this only include makeup brands? because shea moisture is cruelty free
It includes all brands at Ulta. I haven’t been able to confirm that Shea Moisture is cruelty-free and have gotten some mixed responses from them. They are on my Grey Area list.
I heard Burt’s bees, first aid beauty perricone md are not cruelty free. Also note cosmetic is a Turkish brand and all Turkish brands are cruelty free
Burt’s Bees, First Aid Beauty, and Perricone MD are all cruelty-free. Note is cruelty-free, but there isn’t any country or region in which all brands are by default cruelty-free unfortunately.
Hi guys, wondering if you’d consider doing a CF brands list for online stores like Beauty Bay, Cult Beauty and Beautylish? Given that Ulta and Sephora US don’t ship internationally, and all the online vendors I mentioned do (and do free int’l shipping). Beauty Bay especially is a great resource for brands like Eye Of Horus, for folk in the US who don’t want to pay the big shipping from the Australian website. Just an idea. x
There are lists here on Logical Harmony for several of those sites. I’ll definitely be adding more too! It’s always super helpful to know where people are shopping so that I can make sure to have guides for those sites too.
I know Wet N Wild is sold at Ulta now, and I thought it was cruelty free but I don’t see it on this list! Have they changed their status?
They are on the list. 🙂
I see you have Ulta on the cruelty free list. Are you referring to all of the Ulta brand products?
Yup! The Ulta brand itself is cruelty-free.
is ulta beauty probucts such as makeup cruelty-free? I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST THERE BATH AND BODY STUFF?
The entire Ulta brand line is cruelty-free. 🙂
Hi Tashina,
I have been using Shea Moisture brand for a while now. They are claiming to be cruelty free, but I don’t see them on this list. They have amazing hair products!
Unfortunately, I have received some mixed responses from the brand and haven’t been able to confirm if they are cruelty-free or not.
Hi Tanisha, I remember reading something on here the Burt’s Bees was no longer CF. Did this change again? I see you have them on the Ulta shopping list.
They are cruelty-free.
Thanks for this updated list – so helpful! I thought Cover FX is 100% vegan, do you know what is not vegan of theirs?
They have some lip products that come & go on their website that aren’t vegan. Everything else is though.
First Aid Beauty can no longer guarantee that their products are cruelty free :'(
Hi Alyson,
I’ve talked to them about this and they have assured me that nothing has changed in their practices or requirements from suppliers. They do still require them to be cruelty-free and their ingredients are not tested on animals. I did give them feedback that their customer service response was confusing/misleading to people. I hope this helps!
The body shop use honey in their skin products. Does this mean they are vegan ?
I don’t consider honey to be vegan, but the brand is cruelty-free in that they do not test on animals.
Hey Tashina! Thank you for this post. Quick question: How did you find out that the Ulta Collection is cruelty free? I’ve searched far and wide trying to figure this out, and I’ve only seen it stated here on your website. Thank you in advance!
By talking to some higher ups at the corporate office. It took a long time to get that far up, but they were open to the discussion thankfully. 🙂
Welp, I just returned all of the Too Faced makeup I bought during their 20% off sale, as well as some Becca since I can’t and won’t support parented companies. I wonder how long before one of the conglomerates acquire the rest of the cruelty free brands that are available at both Ulta and Sephora. I guess it’s time to go with indie brands only that way there’s little risk of having to clear out my collection every few months. It’s too expensive.
Don’t throw out things you already own, please! The animals have already suffered and the company already has your money, so it all becomes a waste if you toss or return something you already bought.
Hi again Tashina. I was wondering about the brands Essence, Catrice and Makeup Revolution. I heard they are CF, is it true?
Nevermind, I just checked the gray area list and all three of these brands are on them….
Thank you for helping others take care of God’s creation, these precious animals. God bless you! Your information has been very helpful!!
I’d love to see a list of vegan options from the Ulta Beauty makeup line itself!
Your lists are so useful when I’m out shopping! I’m trying to be more conscious of what’s cruelty free and what isn’t, so I’m constantly pulling up your lists!
Though there is a brand I don’t see on your lists, it’s Earth Therapeutics – all of their product packaging says “not tested on animals”, “no animal by-products”, and “certified organic”. So I’m wondering if their claims or true or not?
Oops just saw they’re under awaiting approval!
Is this list still current as of April 2016?
It is!
Hi Tashina!
I recently considered going cruelty free and I have found that information I get from Rhian, Leticia, and you on youtube are very helpful. Anyways! I was really into Mary Kay products before I decided to go cruelty free. Can you tell me if this brand is cruelty free, or not?
Thank you!
Sadly, Mary Kay isn’t cruelty free. 🙁
Benefit claims to be cruelty free, so could please explain how they aren’t? There is so much controversy.
Hi Rachel,
Sadly, Benefit tests on animals when required by law. 🙁
I was directed to your blog because I’m looking for a make up line that is vegan cruelty free. I’m trying to find a line that doesn’t contain Palm oil. I was wondering if you could help me. Thank you! Btw I love your blog!
So Ulta’s brand of makeup is cruelty free? I was looking and I can’t find anything about their testing policies and procedures
IT Cosmetics is on the PETA Does Not Test list, and bears the bunny label.
Hi Michele,
To be considered cruelty free by Logical Harmony, brands have to submit certain pieces of information and complete specific forms. The responses from this brands was unclear and, despite having reached out multiple times for clarification, I was unable to get any more information. I am not comfortable promoting them as cruelty free at this point. I hope you understand.
Thanks for that, I’ve been hearing a lot about IT lately…hoping they get back sometime!
Thanks for your info…smashbox is another product that is cruelty free but parent company is not
Sadly, Smashbox still states that they do test when required by law.
Hi Tashina, I just purchased a couple of items from the Ulta cosmetics line, which you indicate as being cruelty free, however when I looked closer at the package I noticed the product is made in China. I’ve tried doing my own research on the Ulta brand cosmetics, but haven’t been able to come up with anything that indicates that are 100% cruelty free. Please advise. Thank you! BTW – Mary Kay has ventured back into animal testing, too bad, they had some great products.
Hi Julie,
A brand can manufacture in China and still be cruelty free. It’s only when they sell in China that they are required to test on animals. 🙂 I talked to Ulta and they were able to complete all the necessary forms to be listed on Logical Harmony, so I trust that they are cruelty free.
Hi Tashina. Thanks for everything you do. When did ORLY and Conair become cruelty free again?
Both brands have been cruelty free for some time. With ORLY, it was discovered that an old distributor was continuing to sell their items without their knowledge (An Update on ORLY’s Animal Testing Stance). Conair has always been cruelty free during the time that I have spoken to them. I’m not sure if this was different in the past or not. I hope this helps!
IT cosmetics and Pur minerals are awesome cruelty free brands also sold at Ulta. I really do appreciate all of the information you post please keep it going : ) Thank You!
Hi Trish,
Unfortunately, neither brand has been able to complete the process to be listed on Logical Harmony. This is something I require of brands before adding them to any area of the site. I would love to add them and hope to hear from them in the future. 🙂
Thank you for this, Tashina, I’ll make it available in my college town community where Ulta recently opened a store. Is there any hope that Mary Kay cosmetics will reconsider selling in China? They were once such a leader in their commitment against animal testing.
You’re welcome, Gail! I’m glad this helps you. 🙂 As far as Mary Kay, I am not sure. I think that if a lot of people were to ask them to reconsider any company may, but in the end the sales are likely the driving factor.
Hi so Ulta brand makeup is also lead free?
I’m not sure about that, Sandy. I would ask Ulta customer service. They should be able to help you with any questions about the ingredients in their products.
Murad (on PETA list) , Dermalogica (on PETA list) , Pur Minerals (on Peta list) DERMAdoctor, IT cosmetics (on PETA list), Zoya nail polish, Orly nail polish are some KENRA hair care, DermOrganic are some of the other brands sold by ULTA that are cruelty free:)
For all the lists here on Logical Harmony, I only include brands who have completed the forms to be on our Cruelty Free Brands List. While some of these brands are, not all of them have been responsive to my outreach. Thanks for suggesting these though! Since Ulta stores vary and the online store carries some different brands, it’s always good to know what people have available to them. 🙂
Ulta is made in China,are they still considered cruelty free?
Products can be made in China and it does not mean they are tested on animals. It is only if they are sold in China. You can find out more by reading this post – Are Cosmetics Made in China Cruelty Free? I hope this helps! 🙂
What about Brocato and It’s A 10? Thanks!
Thanks for suggesting these brands, Brianna! I have reached out to both of them and hope to add them to the list soon. Have a great day!
The Ulta near my house has Zoya nail polish, too!
TashIna- if a company now sells to China they are removed from the cruelty free list- their is no guarantee any longer. Try app cruelty cutter
Yup! I remove them from my lists as well if they partake in any animal testing. 🙂
how about batiste?? are they cruelty free? I read that they were a long time ago but it could have changed
Hi Mayola!
I have reached out to Batiste and am waiting to hear back. They are currently on the Pending Brands section of this list. Once I talk to them, they will be moved to the appropriate section of the list.
Cover FX?
I don’t believe they are sold at Ulta. They aren’t listed online and I haven’t seen them in any stores I have been to. Are they available at the locations near you?
They are now! I was very excited about that. Thank you for all your hard work.
I’ve seen that Anastasia Beverly Hills was cruelty free on other websites but didn’t see it on here. Can anyone clarify that for me? Thank you!! 🙂
Hi Melanie,
Thanks for catching that! Anastasia Beverly Hills is cruelty free and I’ve just updated this so that they are listed.
coola isn’t vegan, as many of their products contain beeswax
Thanks for catching that typo, Brittany! I don’t even have them listed as 100% vegan on the main Cruelty Free & Vegan Brands List.
I have been eating a plant based diet for about 9 months now, and recently watched the documentary film Earthlings, which changed my life. I have been scrambling to find out what beauty supplies I can still use without contributing to animal testing and this list is SUCH a sigh of relief for me! I had visions of painting my face with cocoa and beet juice and I am so happy to see Ulta carrying so many cruelty free options, including their own brand. I feel very lucky to have stumbled upon your site, and I’m going to be looking around here for some more great information (especially interested in hair products). Thanks so much!
What about Mally?
Hi Ana,
I have reached out to Mally, but they have not been able to give a clear response about their animal testing policies. Because of this, they are on the Grey Area list. I hope this helps!
Bare minerals parent company sells to China and is in fact not cruelty free.
Hi Kelsie,
That is correct that their parent company is not cruelty free, as noted in the post. Bare Minerals has been able to maintain their cruelty free stance and does not test on animals. I like to let everyone decide for themselves how they feel about parent companies.
What about iT Cosmetics and Laura Geller brands? I thought they were cruelty free……thanks for this list…..I’m going to stop purchasing from the companies whose parent company tests on animals…..
Hi Betsy,
I have reached out to Laura Geller a few times but have never received a response. IT Cosmetics has been unable to give me a clear response about their stance on animal testing. I have requested clarification but have not received any additional information from them. For the time being, I am unable to support either brand for those reasons. I hope this helps!
Hi Tashina, I will be supporting ulta now, and Sephora less, duo to the fact that ulta chose to keep clean and not sell to China, thank you for your beautiful work:)
Amen!
I had no idea ULTA’s brand was cruelty free. I am now going to go on a s hopping spree, weeee!! So ecstatic.
I had no idea ULTA’s brand was cruelty free. I am now going to go on a shopping spree, weeee!! So ecstatic.
Nvey Eco is sold at Ulta. Tashina, do you know anything about the brand? As far as I’ve been able to find out they are cruelty free.
Hi Venus,
I haven’t heard of them before. Thanks for suggesting them though! 🙂 We have reached out to them and they will be added to the Pending Brands list. Hopefully I hear back from them soon!
Isn’t Mario Badescu also cruelty free?
Hi Tasha,
I have reached out to them multiple times but have never received a response. :-/
It Cosmetics?
Hi Lisa!
IT Cosmetics is currently on the Grey Area list. They have been unable to give me a clear response about their stance on animal testing. Hopefully this changes in the future.
Thank you! I just actually asked a related question. I am new to this site. LOVE it. I am trying to find out as well from a friend who sells it. I asked her for hard data as I am having trouble finding out. One of their products uses an extract from horse tails…a horse would not have to be killed for that granted.
Hi Marcia!
This is actually a pretty common question that I get. While the name sounds like an animal ingredient, Horsetail is actually a plant. You can read more about it here – https://www.mountainroseherbs.com/products/horsetail-extract/profile.
I take it IT Cosmetics is still on the grey-area list for you? D:
They are. I have still been unable to receive a detailed response.
Why do you think they do test on animals? The girl at ultra was really trying to sell it to me and I didn’t buy it because it wasn’t on your list.
Being the Grey Area list does not necessarily mean that they do test on animals. It means that I have been unable to get a clear response from them about their animal testing stance. When I cannot get a clear response, and follow up multiple times, I simply do not feel comfortable labelling that brand as cruelty free. I hope this helps, Alex!
Just wha h was looking for! Thank you! The last tjme I was in a tiny ulta In South Dakota I actual met another vegan. (The only vegan I’ve actually, were sparse in the Midwest, jt was a good day! ) she was the associate and we talked for far longer than we should have and she meantioned that she was trying to compile a binder of all cruelty free products in their store, (what a great quick guide idea! Not to meantion it’s a small PSA!) but their store officials weren’t going for it! How insane! People don’t always knows what the little paw print next to products are. This guide will be more than helpful!
Zoya is also sold at Ulta! It’s not on the website, but it’s typically in the stores 🙂
Oh that’s awesome! I will add them to this list now! 🙂