Revlon, Clinique, Maybelline: Makeup Companies Still Testing on Animals in 2026

There is a persistent, comfortable myth in the beauty industry that animal testing is mostly over — a 1980s problem now largely solved. It isn’t. As of 2026, some of the most-purchased makeup brands in the world still sell in markets that legally require animal testing, which under rigorous cruelty-free certification standards disqualifies them entirely. The list hasn’t changed as much as the PR would suggest. Understanding which brands genuinely qualify as cruelty-free — and which ones claim to be while quietly selling in China’s general retail market — is the most important piece of information a conscious beauty consumer can have. For the practical verification guide, see our post on how to make sure your products are truly cruelty-free and our guide to vegan facial serums.

Key Takeaways

• Selling in China’s general retail market requires animal testing under Chinese regulations for imported cosmetics — any brand selling through physical Chinese retail stores cannot be Leaping Bunny certified, regardless of their claims elsewhere.
• According to Leaping Bunny, both Leaping Bunny and PETA’s Beauty Without Bunnies are the two most meaningful cruelty-free certifications — both require supplier-level audits and commitment to no animal testing anywhere in the supply chain.
• Parent company matters — a “cruelty-free” sub-brand owned by a company that tests other products on animals is still funding animal testing. The most rigorous consumers research the parent company, not just the brand name.
• China updated its regulations in 2021 to exempt certain categories of domestically manufactured cosmetics from mandatory animal testing — but imported cosmetics sold in physical retail still require testing as of 2026, according to China’s National Medical Products Administration.
• The most reliable way to verify cruelty-free status is the Leaping Bunny certified brand list, updated regularly. Brand self-declarations on websites and packaging are not independently verified.

The Brands That Still Test on Animals

Revlon

Revlon sells in China’s general retail market. Under Chinese regulations for imported cosmetics, this requires post-market animal testing conducted by Chinese government authorities. Revlon is not Leaping Bunny certified and does not qualify under PETA’s Beauty Without Bunnies standards. This applies to all Revlon products, including Elizabeth Arden. The brand has not made any public commitment to exiting China’s general retail market to pursue cruelty-free certification.

Clinique

Clinique is owned by the Estée Lauder Companies, which operates across Chinese retail markets at scale. The Estée Lauder brand portfolio — including Clinique, MAC, Origins, and La Mer — is not cruelty-free at the parent company level. Clinique markets itself with a “dermatologist-developed, allergy-tested” identity that implies safety scrutiny, but safety testing and cruelty-free are entirely different standards with no overlap.

Maybelline

Maybelline is owned by L’Oréal, one of the world’s largest cosmetics companies, which explicitly operates in China’s physical retail market. L’Oréal has made public commitments to eventually ending animal testing globally but has not achieved this as of 2026. This applies across the L’Oréal brand family: Maybelline, Lancôme, NYX, Garnier, and others. NYX in particular is frequently misidentified as cruelty-free by shoppers who don’t check the parent company.

The distinction that matters: Cross-border e-commerce vs general retail

China’s 2021 regulatory update created an exemption for cosmetics sold via cross-border e-commerce platforms. Some brands have restructured their China presence to operate exclusively through e-commerce channels — ColourPop and e.l.f. Cosmetics have done this successfully and both hold current Leaping Bunny certification. According to Leaping Bunny, the key question is always: does this brand sell through physical retail stores in China? If yes, it cannot be Leaping Bunny certified.

Verified Cruelty-Free Alternatives on Amazon (2026)

Pacifica Beauty Stellar Gaze Mascara — Best Leaping Bunny Certified Mascara

100% vegan, Leaping Bunny certified, packaged in recycled glass. Pacifica Stellar Gaze Mascara is certified at the supplier level — the most rigorous standard available. Rated 4.2 stars, with buyers noting the lengthening formula and the eco-glass packaging as genuinely differentiating versus plastic-packaged competitors. Around $18–24.

Physicians Formula Organic Wear Mascara — Best Organic Certified Option

USDA Organic ingredients, Leaping Bunny certified, hypoallergenic, free of parabens and synthetic fragrance. Physicians Formula Organic Wear Mascara carries both organic and cruelty-free credentials simultaneously. Rated 4.2 stars, with buyers specifically noting the suitability for sensitive and contact lens-wearing eyes. Around $12–16.

Physicians Formula Organic Eyeliner — Best Cruelty-Free Eyeliner

Physicians Formula Organic Wear Eyeliner — USDA Organic, Leaping Bunny certified, smudge-resistant, ophthalmologist tested. Rated 4.3 stars, with reviewers praising the pigmentation and the staying power relative to other clean formulas. Around $10–14.

wet n wild So Defined Mascara — Best Budget Cruelty-Free Option

PETA certified, vegan, under $9. wet n wild So Defined Mascara is the most accessible entry point into cruelty-free beauty for shoppers switching from Maybelline or Revlon on a tight budget. Rated 4.3 stars, with buyers noting the lengthening effect and easy removal. Around $6–9.

EcoTools Start the Day Brush Set — Best Cruelty-Free Brush Alternative

Most conventional makeup brushes use animal hair including squirrel, pony, and goat. EcoTools Start the Day 6-Piece Set uses 100% synthetic vegan fibres with recycled bamboo handles and recycled aluminium ferrules. Leaping Bunny certified. Rated 4.5 stars from over 15,000 reviews. Around $12–16.